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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 
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 
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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(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
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 on our team,

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but you're just as much a part

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of Hope Sabbath School
right there in the Cameroon.

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And I want to invite you 
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 
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
School, from Russia.

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We always watch the 
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
in the Heights."

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You can download that
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. 
I love them and I love all of you."

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Well, thank you so much, Veronica!
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 
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 
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, 
especially young people.

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Pray for us so that we can have
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 
the great country of China.

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May God bless your witness
to those around you.

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Here's one last really encouraging
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
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
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 
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 
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 
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
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
who don't know,

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in Hebrew "Praise the Lord"
is "Hallelujah!"

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So, what a beautiful, ancient,

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Scripture song with a 
message for us today.

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And, Stephanie, as you lead us

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in this important study of 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
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 
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 
differences that we see.

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Before we go looking into looking

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at some verses, we do see some differences

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between the account of Matthew
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 
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 of Luke

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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 
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?

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(Kyle) It's like the four Gospels
are all a little different

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because each one has 
a different perspective.

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God uses each personality 
to bring a new insight,

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

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(Derek) Stephanie, I 
just want to catch you

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because I understand what you are saying

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about thought inspired versus word.

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


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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

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like Daniel, and he writes it

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in his own words, rather than
being dictated.

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I think here Jesus may have said

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different things in different ways

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during the day, and for some reason,

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which maybe we'll discover in our study,

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Matthew decides, "I'm going 
to record some of these."

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By the way, he was there, right?

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He was an eye witness, Matthew.

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(Team) He was.

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(Derek) Luke has to talk to eye witnesses,

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and so he, guided by the Spirit, too,

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gets some other insights,

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but I think the Holy Spirit's definitely

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given us a reliable account 
of what Jesus said.

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(Stephanie) Amen.

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Is there a difference in the audience

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that Matthew and Luke are speaking to?

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Yes, Olric.

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(Olric) Matthew's Gospel, 
from our research,

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is more targeted to a Jewish audience,

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so in his Gospel he tends to play up

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more Jesus' kingship, and in his rendering

263
00:12:15,522 --> 00:12:17,514
of the Sermon on the Mount it is

264
00:12:17,514 --> 00:12:21,403
a little longer than Luke's version

265
00:12:21,403 --> 00:12:22,900
because we know in those days

266
00:12:22,900 --> 00:12:25,992
a king is the person invested

267
00:12:25,992 --> 00:12:27,895
with the authority to enforce the law,

268
00:12:27,895 --> 00:12:30,586
keep the law in the land like the lawgiver.

269
00:12:30,586 --> 00:12:34,571
So he spends a little more time on that

270
00:12:34,571 --> 00:12:36,795
as opposed to Luke, who was writing more

271
00:12:36,795 --> 00:12:39,826
to Gentiles, but he wanted the Gentiles

272
00:12:39,826 --> 00:12:42,545
to see the law in a way that was

273
00:12:42,545 --> 00:12:44,177
more applicable to them.

274
00:12:44,177 --> 00:12:46,007
So he did not include many of the things

275
00:12:46,007 --> 00:12:47,705
that Matthew was about.

276
00:12:47,705 --> 00:12:48,832
(Stephanie) So, would you say that

277
00:12:48,832 --> 00:12:51,922
in Matthew some of the very detailed

278
00:12:51,922 --> 00:12:59,556
renditions that Matthew shares
connects with the Jews?

279
00:12:59,556 --> 00:13:00,397
(Olric) Yes.

280
00:13:00,397 --> 00:13:02,400
(Stephanie) ...in a way that is powerful?

281
00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:03,454
(Olric) Yes, indeed.

282
00:13:03,454 --> 00:13:04,549
(Stephanie) All right.

283
00:13:04,549 --> 00:13:07,146
Let's go ahead and jump into
Matthew, chapter 5,

284
00:13:07,146 --> 00:13:10,990
and we'll read verses 17 through 19.

285
00:13:10,990 --> 00:13:14,049
And, Joshua, if you would be willing

286
00:13:14,049 --> 00:13:16,932
to read for us those first three verses 


287
00:13:16,932 --> 00:13:21,355
in Matthew, chapter 5, 
verses 17 through 19.

288
00:13:21,355 --> 00:13:23,112
(Joshua) Absolutely, and I'll be reading

289
00:13:23,112 --> 00:13:26,989
from the New King James 
Version; the Bible says:

290
00:13:57,147 --> 00:13:59,690
(Stephanie) So, what are we 
talking about here?

291
00:13:59,690 --> 00:14:02,336
We're talking about the Law of God, right?

292
00:14:02,336 --> 00:14:03,329
(Joshua) Yeah.

293
00:14:03,329 --> 00:14:04,559
(Stephanie) This is the introduction

294
00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,708
to the Law of God that Matthew 
is talking about.

295
00:14:07,708 --> 00:14:09,717
Let's go and look at a few more verses,

296
00:14:09,717 --> 00:14:12,568
and then we'll consider some questions

297
00:14:12,568 --> 00:14:15,467
as they relate to the verses that we read.

298
00:14:15,467 --> 00:14:19,325
In Matthew, chapter 5:21-22.

299
00:14:19,325 --> 00:14:21,134
Olric, would you read that for us,

300
00:14:21,134 --> 00:14:26,418
Matthew, chapter 5, verses 21 and 22.

301
00:14:26,418 --> 00:14:30,081
And then we'll read verses 27 and 28.

302
00:14:30,081 --> 00:14:34,539
(Olric) Reading from the New 
Living Translation:

303
00:15:06,099 --> 00:15:08,942
(Stephanie) Wow, that's pretty strong.

304
00:15:08,942 --> 00:15:11,509
Yes, go ahead and continue on.

305
00:15:26,620 --> 00:15:29,378
(Stephanie) So, do you see a pattern?

306
00:15:29,378 --> 00:15:32,347
What is the pattern that you see
in these verses?

307
00:15:32,347 --> 00:15:33,660
Go ahead, Tricia Lee.

308
00:15:33,660 --> 00:15:36,098
(Tricia Lee) Well, first if we
were wondering, "Well, what law

309
00:15:36,098 --> 00:15:38,477
is he talking about," it's clear
as we kept reading

310
00:15:38,477 --> 00:15:40,175
that he's talking about the 
Ten Commandments

311
00:15:40,175 --> 00:15:42,052
that the people at the time 
believed, prided themselves

312
00:15:42,052 --> 00:15:44,353
in being able to keep, 
and you start to understand

313
00:15:44,353 --> 00:15:46,523
more about what Jesus meant when He said,

314
00:15:46,523 --> 00:15:48,790
"I've come to fulfill," to give 
a clearer understanding

315
00:15:48,790 --> 00:15:50,830
of what it truly means to keep the Law.

316
00:15:50,830 --> 00:15:53,209
And at the time, they were more concerned

317
00:15:53,209 --> 00:15:56,039
about the outward physicality of behaviors

318
00:15:56,039 --> 00:15:58,367
that proved that they 
were observing the laws,

319
00:15:58,367 --> 00:16:01,428
but here Jesus starts to point 
to what's happening in our hearts,

320
00:16:01,428 --> 00:16:02,428
in our minds, in our thoughts,

321
00:16:02,428 --> 00:16:04,036
and kind of showing that

322
00:16:04,036 --> 00:16:07,551
breaking the Law or even sin 
doesn't just occur in an action,

323
00:16:07,551 --> 00:16:10,042
it kind of starts in our hearts
and our minds.

324
00:16:10,042 --> 00:16:12,969
So, again, in fulfilling that Law,
He's really kind of peeling back

325
00:16:12,969 --> 00:16:16,333
what they thought was the reality
in showing that it's much deeper

326
00:16:16,333 --> 00:16:18,269
than they thought in just the behavior.

327
00:16:18,269 --> 00:16:20,917
There's something that's happening
in the heart that only He can come

328
00:16:20,917 --> 00:16:23,392
and help them fix or 
help them actually be.


329
00:16:23,392 --> 00:16:24,858
(Stephanie) Did you have a comment, Jason?


330
00:16:24,858 --> 00:16:25,576
Go ahead.

331
00:16:25,576 --> 00:16:27,389
(Jason) Yes, I'm looking at this here,

332
00:16:27,389 --> 00:16:29,321
and it talks about how He didn't come

333
00:16:29,321 --> 00:16:30,946
to destroy but to fulfill,

334
00:16:30,946 --> 00:16:32,377
because Jesus could be accused

335
00:16:32,377 --> 00:16:34,724
of these new teachings 
as destroying the law,

336
00:16:34,724 --> 00:16:35,929
but what He's saying is,

337
00:16:35,929 --> 00:16:37,109
"Look, I'm not destroying the Law;

338
00:16:37,109 --> 00:16:38,854
I'm showing you what it really means."

339
00:16:38,854 --> 00:16:41,414
So, He's not saying what 
was said of old is untrue;

340
00:16:41,414 --> 00:16:44,507
He's saying what was said of old,
it is true, but also this.

341
00:16:44,507 --> 00:16:46,438
So, you have a very limited picture

342
00:16:46,438 --> 00:16:48,241
of what the Law is, but this is

343
00:16:48,241 --> 00:16:50,149
a greater understanding,
a greater fulfillment

344
00:16:50,149 --> 00:16:52,286
of what the Law truly is.

345
00:16:52,286 --> 00:16:53,764
And that is what He is doing 
here in the sermon.

346
00:16:53,764 --> 00:16:55,417
(Stephanie) He's expounding on that.

347
00:16:55,417 --> 00:16:56,261
Yes, Missy.

348
00:16:56,261 --> 00:16:58,271
(Missy) From the fall of humanity,

349
00:16:58,271 --> 00:17:01,055
you know, they had perfection in Eden.

350
00:17:01,055 --> 00:17:04,034
Then came the fall.
They fell so far.

351
00:17:04,034 --> 00:17:05,679
Humanity just, fell, fell, fell,

352
00:17:05,679 --> 00:17:08,308
and so, step by step, through Scripture

353
00:17:08,308 --> 00:17:11,002
you see how God is taking them

354
00:17:11,002 --> 00:17:12,724
step by step back to His ideal

355
00:17:12,724 --> 00:17:14,832
until you could see the fulfillment

356
00:17:14,832 --> 00:17:18,056
of the Law in Christ when 
He came to humanity.

357
00:17:18,056 --> 00:17:20,266
And it was supposed to be a revelation

358
00:17:20,266 --> 00:17:21,896
of who God really was.

359
00:17:21,896 --> 00:17:23,447
You know, opening our minds

360
00:17:23,447 --> 00:17:25,517
to what the Law really meant.

361
00:17:25,517 --> 00:17:26,769
(Stephanie) Yes. Nathan.

362
00:17:26,769 --> 00:17:29,926
(Nathan) Keep in mind that Matthew
is writing to Jews...

363
00:17:29,926 --> 00:17:30,922
(Stephanie) Yes.

364
00:17:30,922 --> 00:17:34,332
(Nathan) ...and Moses was 
the great hero as the lawgiver.

365
00:17:34,332 --> 00:17:36,474
Moses went up on Mount Sinai

366
00:17:36,474 --> 00:17:38,238
to receive the Law from God,

367
00:17:38,238 --> 00:17:39,856
and then he gave it to the people,

368
00:17:39,856 --> 00:17:41,727
and the people did their 
best to keep the law,

369
00:17:41,727 --> 00:17:42,937
but Moses was the one

370
00:17:42,937 --> 00:17:46,210
who lead them out of slavery 
and into the Promised Land, right?

371
00:17:46,210 --> 00:17:47,456
So, the "deliverer."

372
00:17:47,456 --> 00:17:48,391
(Stephanie) Right.

373
00:17:48,391 --> 00:17:50,149
(Nathan) Now Matthew is showing

374
00:17:50,149 --> 00:17:52,408
Jesus is the One who went 
up on the mountain

375
00:17:52,408 --> 00:17:54,647
and now expounds upon the Law.

376
00:17:54,647 --> 00:17:57,611
He's the new Moses, showing them, 
"Okay, you received the Law

377
00:17:57,611 --> 00:17:59,584
on the mountain from God
through Moses."

378
00:17:59,584 --> 00:18:01,566
Now up on this mountain

379
00:18:01,566 --> 00:18:03,708
Jesus is saying, "Let me show you what

380
00:18:03,708 --> 00:18:05,287
this Law really means and how

381
00:18:05,287 --> 00:18:06,778
it applies deeply inwardly,

382
00:18:06,778 --> 00:18:08,663
and then you're going to be free,

383
00:18:08,663 --> 00:18:11,795
not just from Egypt 
but from the slavery of sin..."

384
00:18:11,795 --> 00:18:12,680
(Team) Wow.

385
00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:14,798
(Nathan) "...when we get to the depths

386
00:18:14,798 --> 00:18:16,801
of what the Law means deep in the heart."

387
00:18:16,801 --> 00:18:19,812
(Stephanie) I want to go to 
another passage before we leave

388
00:18:19,812 --> 00:18:23,653
the teaching of Jesus about the Law of God.

389
00:18:23,653 --> 00:18:28,212
We'll move to Matthew 5:43-48,

390
00:18:28,212 --> 00:18:31,554
and, Kyle, would you be willing
to read that for us?

391
00:18:31,554 --> 00:18:34,095
Matthew 5:43-48.

392
00:18:34,095 --> 00:18:39,216
(Kyle) I'll be reading from
the New King James Version.

393
00:18:39,216 --> 00:18:40,305
The Bible says:

394
00:19:35,477 --> 00:19:36,670
(Stephanie) Wow.

395
00:19:36,670 --> 00:19:38,347
There's a lot in that verse.

396
00:19:38,347 --> 00:19:41,471
What do you pull out from those verses?

397
00:19:41,471 --> 00:19:42,443
Go ahead, Joshua.

398
00:19:42,443 --> 00:19:44,311
(Joshua) I will say that it's this aspect

399
00:19:44,311 --> 00:19:46,352
of Christianity that's the most difficult.

400
00:19:46,352 --> 00:19:49,508
You know, if you compare this
sort of command from Jesus

401
00:19:49,508 --> 00:19:51,883
to the Ten Commandments,

402
00:19:51,883 --> 00:19:54,143
the Ten Commandments 
actually look pretty easy.

403
00:19:54,143 --> 00:19:55,970
You know, if you tell me I'm supposed

404
00:19:55,970 --> 00:19:58,462
to love my enemies, do good to those

405
00:19:58,462 --> 00:20:00,384
who are persecuting me,

406
00:20:00,384 --> 00:20:02,113
it's like, "Are you serious?"

407
00:20:02,113 --> 00:20:04,228
But at the same time we have to think

408
00:20:04,228 --> 00:20:05,835
about the fact that people

409
00:20:05,835 --> 00:20:08,348
outside of Christianity judge us

410
00:20:08,348 --> 00:20:10,068
based on this sort of thing,

411
00:20:10,068 --> 00:20:12,845
not simply how many times do you

412
00:20:12,845 --> 00:20:14,729
go to church in a week or how many

413
00:20:14,729 --> 00:20:16,153
Bible verses do you know,

414
00:20:16,153 --> 00:20:18,212
but it's in our character and in the way

415
00:20:18,212 --> 00:20:19,313
that we treat others.

416
00:20:19,313 --> 00:20:21,109
(Stephanie) Wow.
Go ahead, Juliana.

417
00:20:21,109 --> 00:20:22,875
(Juliana) Actually this summer I was

418
00:20:22,875 --> 00:20:25,077
traveling around in Europe and happened

419
00:20:25,077 --> 00:20:27,749
to interact with an individual on a train.

420
00:20:27,749 --> 00:20:31,288
And somehow we got to talking 
about this kind of stuff,

421
00:20:31,288 --> 00:20:33,547
and he told me, "You know,

422
00:20:33,547 --> 00:20:36,621
Christianity is supposed to be 
so much more radical than it is.

423
00:20:36,621 --> 00:20:38,292
So many people, they focus just

424
00:20:38,292 --> 00:20:39,513
on the Ten Commandments,

425
00:20:39,513 --> 00:20:42,200
but what about the Sermon on the Mount?"

426
00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,943
It kind of goes along with what 
you are saying, like, people

427
00:20:44,951 --> 00:20:47,135
from the outside are looking 
at us, and, it's like, wow!

428
00:20:47,135 --> 00:20:50,125
This is what Christianity 
is supposed to be.

429
00:20:50,125 --> 00:20:52,702
And I think that he was completely right,

430
00:20:52,702 --> 00:20:54,878
that we should be looking a lot more

431
00:20:54,878 --> 00:20:56,582
at the Sermon on the Mount for many

432
00:20:56,582 --> 00:20:58,795
of the things of how we should

433
00:20:58,795 --> 00:21:00,211
interact with other people.

434
00:21:00,211 --> 00:21:01,998
(Stephanie) So isn't it interesting.

435
00:21:01,998 --> 00:21:05,367
I think Jesus was trying to move us

436
00:21:05,367 --> 00:21:07,147
away from just a head knowledge

437
00:21:07,147 --> 00:21:08,836
to a heart knowledge, right?

438
00:21:08,836 --> 00:21:09,550
(Team) Yes.

439
00:21:09,550 --> 00:21:11,052
(Stephanie) A heart experience.

440
00:21:11,052 --> 00:21:14,219
(Derek) You know, I think, Stephanie, 
something Jason said earlier

441
00:21:14,219 --> 00:21:17,009
is really important because 
some Christians get confused

442
00:21:17,009 --> 00:21:19,056
and say the Ten Commandments
doesn't matter;

443
00:21:19,056 --> 00:21:21,153
we just need to love, but that's absurd.

444
00:21:21,153 --> 00:21:25,184
That's like saying, "Don't hate people,
but you can kill them."

445
00:21:25,184 --> 00:21:29,829
"Don't lust after someone, but you 
can commit adultery with him or her."

446
00:21:29,829 --> 00:21:31,374
It's not that.

447
00:21:31,374 --> 00:21:33,338
The Commandments stands,

448
00:21:33,338 --> 00:21:36,968
but, as Tricia Lee was pointing out,

449
00:21:36,968 --> 00:21:39,607
God is calling us to a much 
higher standard.

450
00:21:39,607 --> 00:21:43,429
In fact, to be honest, it's 
an impossible standard

451
00:21:43,429 --> 00:21:44,607
if we're going to do it

452
00:21:44,607 --> 00:21:47,379
in our own strength because we know

453
00:21:47,379 --> 00:21:48,724
how feeble we are.

454
00:21:48,724 --> 00:21:49,437
(Team) Yes.

455
00:21:49,437 --> 00:21:51,057
(Derek) It's going to take a miracle...

456
00:21:51,057 --> 00:21:51,956
(Stephanie) Exactly.

457
00:21:51,956 --> 00:21:54,409
(Derek) ...so that, as Joshua pointed out,

458
00:21:54,409 --> 00:21:57,225
people will look, and they'll actually see

459
00:21:57,225 --> 00:22:00,076
Jesus reflected, right?

460
00:22:00,076 --> 00:22:01,676
Instead of us.

461
00:22:01,676 --> 00:22:04,503
(Stephanie) And that happens as a result

462
00:22:04,503 --> 00:22:07,268
of the head knowledge going 
to our hearts, right?

463
00:22:07,268 --> 00:22:10,007
And that's the next section that we

464
00:22:10,007 --> 00:22:15,625
want to move into, this outward conformity

465
00:22:15,625 --> 00:22:18,689
versus an inward conversion.

466
00:22:18,689 --> 00:22:23,945
And, I'd like us to move 
to Matthew, chapter 5, verse 20.

467
00:22:23,945 --> 00:22:27,510
Go back to Matthew, chapter 5, verse 20,

468
00:22:27,510 --> 00:22:30,117
and, Missy, would you read that for us?

469
00:22:30,117 --> 00:22:34,337
(Missy) I am reading from 
the New Living Translation:

470
00:22:46,370 --> 00:22:48,417
(Stephanie) So, I think 
this is coming back

471
00:22:48,417 --> 00:22:50,235
to what Juliana was saying.

472
00:22:50,235 --> 00:22:53,411
People expect something more

473
00:22:53,411 --> 00:22:57,179
than just a check off, right?

474
00:22:57,179 --> 00:22:58,999
They want something real.

475
00:22:58,999 --> 00:23:05,168
(Olric) But it's not just the realness.

476
00:23:05,168 --> 00:23:06,371
Notice here he says,

477
00:23:06,371 --> 00:23:08,276
"Unless your righteousness

478
00:23:08,276 --> 00:23:11,668
exceeds their righteousness, what was

479
00:23:11,668 --> 00:23:14,593
their righteousness that was
not sufficient for God?

480
00:23:14,593 --> 00:23:16,441
Their righteousness...mind you,

481
00:23:16,441 --> 00:23:18,085
righteousness means "right doing."

482
00:23:18,085 --> 00:23:21,884
So, they had the outward expression

483
00:23:21,884 --> 00:23:25,136
of doing right, but at the same time

484
00:23:25,136 --> 00:23:27,552
the inward conversion was not there.

485
00:23:27,552 --> 00:23:30,709
What they were doing was not from a heart

486
00:23:30,709 --> 00:23:34,760
that genuinely loved God and loved people.

487
00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,109
So you find that a lot 
of what was being done

488
00:23:38,109 --> 00:23:40,996
looked right to the folks on the outside,

489
00:23:40,996 --> 00:23:43,803
but God knew that the heart
was not transformed.

490
00:23:43,803 --> 00:23:46,497
So, Jesus is saying,"It's not just

491
00:23:46,497 --> 00:23:49,184
to do right on the outside; I want

492
00:23:49,184 --> 00:23:52,478
your heart to be in 
the right condition also."

493
00:23:52,478 --> 00:23:54,795
That means that your actions

494
00:23:54,795 --> 00:23:57,400
will be inspired and motivated

495
00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,830
by the right desires.

496
00:23:59,830 --> 00:24:01,753
(Stephanie) So, it starts in the heart,

497
00:24:01,753 --> 00:24:05,696
it starts in the mind, and then
our actions follow.

498
00:24:05,696 --> 00:24:06,927
Go ahead.

499
00:24:06,927 --> 00:24:09,083
(Kyle) I'm just going to add
onto what he said

500
00:24:09,083 --> 00:24:11,157
because the Pharisees, they had a scale.

501
00:24:11,157 --> 00:24:14,499
They said, "Okay, this is a sin and 
this is worse and worse and worse,

502
00:24:14,499 --> 00:24:15,655
and this is a good deed,

503
00:24:15,655 --> 00:24:18,660
and this one's really good,
and this one's really, really good."

504
00:24:18,660 --> 00:24:21,945
And they almost would balance and 
say, "If your good deeds outweighed

505
00:24:21,945 --> 00:24:24,854
your bad deeds, then you earned
righteousness in God's sight."

506
00:24:24,854 --> 00:24:28,187
So, it was this whole outward way
of building up themselves, basically,

507
00:24:28,187 --> 00:24:30,528
to feel like they were good
and accepted by God.

508
00:24:30,528 --> 00:24:33,256
But Jesus comes, and He says,
"That's not what it's about.

509
00:24:33,256 --> 00:24:35,743
Every amount of human 
righteousness is inadequate."

510
00:24:35,743 --> 00:24:38,873
The only thing is the 
true heart righteousness

511
00:24:38,873 --> 00:24:40,903
that you were talking about, Pastor Derek.

512
00:24:40,903 --> 00:24:42,573
That is only from the Holy Spirit.

513
00:24:42,573 --> 00:24:44,165
And that's a total transformation

514
00:24:44,165 --> 00:24:46,223
of character; true perfection
in God's eyes.

515
00:24:46,233 --> 00:24:48,509
(Stephanie) By the way,

516
00:24:48,509 --> 00:24:49,856
we look at it, and we say,

517
00:24:49,856 --> 00:24:52,728
"Oh, it has to exceed the 
righteousness of the Pharisees."

518
00:24:52,728 --> 00:24:54,679
Well, we know what the righteousness

519
00:24:54,679 --> 00:24:56,124
of the Pharisees looked like,

520
00:24:56,124 --> 00:24:58,060
but for those who were listening,

521
00:24:58,060 --> 00:25:00,820
the Pharisees were on a high level.

522
00:25:00,820 --> 00:25:01,775
(Team) Right.

523
00:25:01,775 --> 00:25:03,876
(Stephanie) So, for them, they were

524
00:25:03,876 --> 00:25:06,532
thinking, "Whoa! 
For us to exceed that --

525
00:25:06,532 --> 00:25:09,673
we can't even match them!

526
00:25:09,673 --> 00:25:11,753
How do we exceed that?"

527
00:25:11,753 --> 00:25:14,403
So, what is Jesus trying to teach?

528
00:25:14,403 --> 00:25:18,925
Also another question that 
I would have, too, is that,

529
00:25:18,925 --> 00:25:23,405
have you ever tried to earn 
the favor of Christ, of God?

530
00:25:23,405 --> 00:25:25,561
I mean, let's be real.


531
00:25:25,561 --> 00:25:28,462
Have you ever been in that situation?

532
00:25:28,462 --> 00:25:30,216
Please be willing to share, I hope,

533
00:25:30,216 --> 00:25:34,742
a time when maybe you've tried to do that.

534
00:25:34,742 --> 00:25:38,006
What was that like?
Go ahead, Tricia Lee.

535
00:25:38,006 --> 00:25:40,868
(Tricia Lee) Your first question 
about how could they exceed

536
00:25:40,868 --> 00:25:42,598
the righteousness of the Pharisees.

537
00:25:42,598 --> 00:25:43,939
The Pharisees, you're right.

538
00:25:43,939 --> 00:25:46,418
They were very good at doing 
what the law required,

539
00:25:46,418 --> 00:25:48,639
and the different requirements 
that they made,

540
00:25:48,639 --> 00:25:51,837
but they did not love God, 
and they did not love other people

541
00:25:51,837 --> 00:25:53,104
other than themselves.

542
00:25:53,104 --> 00:25:54,775
And we find that that was what God

543
00:25:54,775 --> 00:25:57,984
was trying to teach them was that,
at the heart of the commandments,

544
00:25:57,994 --> 00:25:59,869
loving the Lord more than anything else

545
00:25:59,869 --> 00:26:01,676
and loving your neighbor as yourself,

546
00:26:01,676 --> 00:26:03,564
and they completely missed all of that.

547
00:26:03,564 --> 00:26:07,121
So, the "checking of the boxes" meant
nothing because they didn't love God.

548
00:26:07,121 --> 00:26:10,178
They crucified Him, tried to kill Him
at every chance they could.

549
00:26:10,178 --> 00:26:13,323
They did not love their neighbors;
they were the ones walking past

550
00:26:13,323 --> 00:26:15,392
the Samaritan on the road 
and these people.

551
00:26:15,392 --> 00:26:17,408
I think that it's hard because, as humans,

552
00:26:17,408 --> 00:26:20,724
and even as you grew up as a child,
you learned that if you study hard

553
00:26:20,724 --> 00:26:23,867
and you get a good grade, 
or if you do this then you get a reward.

554
00:26:23,867 --> 00:26:25,786
So, it goes against the way even society

555
00:26:25,786 --> 00:26:28,184
runs and functions, that,
if you do something

556
00:26:28,184 --> 00:26:30,842
then you get something.
An action has an equal reaction.

557
00:26:30,842 --> 00:26:33,936
But here God is showing us that
it really doesn't depend upon you

558
00:26:33,936 --> 00:26:38,025
or me or us, it all has 
to depend upon Christ,

559
00:26:38,025 --> 00:26:39,772
and that's where the faith comes in.

560
00:26:39,772 --> 00:26:43,230
So, it's the faith, it'is the obedience, 
it's all depending upon Christ.

561
00:26:43,230 --> 00:26:45,920
It's really His righteousness 
that's working in us.

562
00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,501
And I think what happens, 
at least for me, is that...

563
00:26:48,501 --> 00:26:52,915
and I'm sorry...it's just that
once you are honest with yourself,

564
00:26:52,915 --> 00:26:55,859
and when you realize, "I keep 
trying, and I keep failing,

565
00:26:55,859 --> 00:26:58,472
and that's not good enough,"
at some point you just have

566
00:26:58,472 --> 00:27:00,962
to get tired of trying and 
failing, and you realize

567
00:27:00,962 --> 00:27:02,830
it can't depend upon me anymore.

568
00:27:02,830 --> 00:27:05,182
I have to reach out to somebody who I know

569
00:27:05,182 --> 00:27:07,460
was successful in this life, 
and it was Christ.

570
00:27:07,460 --> 00:27:09,523
(Stephanie) And who has 
the power to do it.

571
00:27:09,523 --> 00:27:11,024
To get us out of the mess.

572
00:27:11,024 --> 00:27:13,170
And I think we've all 
been there, haven't we?

573
00:27:13,170 --> 00:27:14,047
(Tricia Lee) Yeah!

574
00:27:14,047 --> 00:27:16,061
(Stephanie) We realize that we need Jesus.


575
00:27:16,061 --> 00:27:17,798
Andrea, you wanted to share?

576
00:27:17,798 --> 00:27:19,672
(Andrea) I only wanted to reflect

577
00:27:19,672 --> 00:27:23,326
a little bit on your question, which was

578
00:27:23,326 --> 00:27:27,695
how would we express if we have been

579
00:27:27,695 --> 00:27:30,972
in a similar situation where we felt

580
00:27:30,972 --> 00:27:32,322
we needed to do something

581
00:27:32,322 --> 00:27:35,162
in order to earn God's favor.

582
00:27:35,162 --> 00:27:38,306
And I recall I was a teenager

583
00:27:38,306 --> 00:27:41,616
and have sat in church many times

584
00:27:41,616 --> 00:27:43,885
listening to baptismal appeals

585
00:27:43,885 --> 00:27:51,532
and calls to give our lives to Jesus.

586
00:27:51,532 --> 00:27:53,954
And as the pastor's daughter,

587
00:27:53,954 --> 00:27:57,912
it was something I would 
listen to very frequently.

588
00:27:57,912 --> 00:28:02,021
However, I had the feeling or a tendency

589
00:28:02,021 --> 00:28:05,377
of thinking that I have to be

590
00:28:05,377 --> 00:28:08,577
very prepared to make that step.

591
00:28:08,577 --> 00:28:13,903
So for years I have resisted the call,

592
00:28:13,903 --> 00:28:16,160
and I have considered

593
00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:18,769
I'm not ready yet, or 
I'm not good enough...

594
00:28:18,769 --> 00:28:20,069
(Stephanie) Wow.

595
00:28:20,069 --> 00:28:25,508
(Andrea) ...until I was 17 when I started

596
00:28:25,508 --> 00:28:28,399
to meditate more upon this decision,

597
00:28:28,399 --> 00:28:31,990
and decided I have to make this step

598
00:28:31,990 --> 00:28:34,822
even if I'm not feeling quite ready,

599
00:28:34,822 --> 00:28:37,501
and the Lord will take care of the rest.

600
00:28:37,501 --> 00:28:38,387
(Stephanie) Amen.

601
00:28:38,387 --> 00:28:40,272
(Andrea) I cannot tell you how blessed

602
00:28:40,272 --> 00:28:41,522
I felt afterwards.

603
00:28:41,522 --> 00:28:43,738
It was the best decision of my life.

604
00:28:43,738 --> 00:28:45,931
(Stephanie, Team) Amen.

605
00:28:45,931 --> 00:28:47,625
(Derek) You know what Jesus said,

606
00:28:47,625 --> 00:28:50,385
Stephanie, in the Sermon 
on the Mount just a little later.

607
00:28:50,385 --> 00:28:52,590
He said, "Seek first the Kingdom

608
00:28:52,590 --> 00:28:54,720
and His righteousness."

609
00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:55,739
(Stephanie) Yes.

610
00:28:55,739 --> 00:28:57,498
(Derek) And really what Tricia Lee

611
00:28:57,498 --> 00:28:59,764
is saying is righteousness is a gift,

612
00:28:59,764 --> 00:29:01,663
back to that miracle of new creation

613
00:29:01,663 --> 00:29:03,827
that we talked about in a previous study.

614
00:29:03,827 --> 00:29:07,360
God is going to change us from the inside

615
00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:12,487
so that we are motivated by love,

616
00:29:12,487 --> 00:29:14,507
even in the keeping of the Commandments.

617
00:29:14,507 --> 00:29:16,965
Love to God and love to those around us.

618
00:29:16,965 --> 00:29:19,800
And that's a miracle of the new creation.

619
00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:23,115
(Stephanie) And I believe 
John, chapter 14:15

620
00:29:23,115 --> 00:29:25,109
tells us a little bit about that.

621
00:29:25,109 --> 00:29:29,229
John, chapter 14, verse 15.

622
00:29:29,229 --> 00:29:31,294
And, Nathan, would you be willing

623
00:29:31,294 --> 00:29:34,823
to read that for us?
John, chapter 14, verse 15.

624
00:29:34,823 --> 00:29:37,663
(Nathan) Right. I'm reading
from the New King James Version.

625
00:29:37,663 --> 00:29:41,794
John 14 and verse 15:

626
00:29:46,142 --> 00:29:48,445
(Stephanie) Wow.
Very simple, right?

627
00:29:48,445 --> 00:29:49,829
(Team Member) Very plain.

628
00:29:49,829 --> 00:29:54,651
(Stephanie) So, how does your attitude

629
00:29:54,651 --> 00:29:58,142
towards God's law change when you have

630
00:29:58,142 --> 00:30:02,106
this trusting, loving relationship

631
00:30:02,106 --> 00:30:06,507
with Jesus as your Savior and your Lord?

632
00:30:06,507 --> 00:30:10,530
How does that change?
Olric.

633
00:30:10,530 --> 00:30:13,006
(Olric) You want to keep it because,

634
00:30:13,006 --> 00:30:15,823
when you have this love 
relationship with God,

635
00:30:15,823 --> 00:30:17,701
I compare it to a marriage.

636
00:30:17,701 --> 00:30:20,466
You know, for those who are 
married here on the set.

637
00:30:20,466 --> 00:30:23,155
You know, you have your spouse,

638
00:30:23,155 --> 00:30:25,515
you exchange vows and so forth.

639
00:30:25,515 --> 00:30:27,371
And, you know, some folks,

640
00:30:27,371 --> 00:30:30,508
they may be married for 
30 years, 40 years, 50 years,

641
00:30:30,508 --> 00:30:33,247
and sometimes you
question and you ask them,

642
00:30:33,247 --> 00:30:36,250
"How did you 'guys' 
maintain that relationship,

643
00:30:36,250 --> 00:30:39,923
that connection, the 
obedience to the vows?"

644
00:30:39,923 --> 00:30:41,466
And they just say to me,

645
00:30:41,466 --> 00:30:44,222
"It's very simple:
I love the other person.

646
00:30:44,222 --> 00:30:45,994
That's why I do what I do."

647
00:30:45,994 --> 00:30:48,851
So, when you are in that love relationship

648
00:30:48,851 --> 00:30:51,334
with God, you want to do the things

649
00:30:51,334 --> 00:30:55,532
that pleases Him the same way He likes

650
00:30:55,532 --> 00:30:58,153
doing things that blesses you.

651
00:30:58,153 --> 00:31:01,709
So, you are motivated by a love for God,

652
00:31:01,709 --> 00:31:04,887
that is what really propels 
you to obedience.

653
00:31:04,887 --> 00:31:06,178
(Stephanie) The heart's been changed.

654
00:31:06,178 --> 00:31:07,252
(Olric) The heart's been changed.

655
00:31:07,252 --> 00:31:09,677
(Stephanie) The heart's been changed.
Missy and then Nathan.

656
00:31:09,677 --> 00:31:12,509
(Missy) I see Scripture as God

657
00:31:12,509 --> 00:31:16,110
in continual pursuit of humanity,

658
00:31:16,110 --> 00:31:19,360
"Look at me; look at my face;

659
00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:21,120
look at what I've done for you.

660
00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:23,280
Please, keep your attention on me.

661
00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:25,240
Look at what I've said in My Word.

662
00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:26,511
Get to know me."

663
00:31:26,511 --> 00:31:27,771
(Stephanie) Yes.

664
00:31:27,772 --> 00:31:31,626
(Missy) When we are able 
to hone in on that,

665
00:31:31,626 --> 00:31:36,096
the Law is a natural 
result of the relationship.

666
00:31:36,096 --> 00:31:38,503
(Stephanie) Powerful.
Nathan.

667
00:31:38,503 --> 00:31:42,448
(Nathan) Well, I love this woman.

668
00:31:42,448 --> 00:31:44,638
(Derek) You better tell the people

669
00:31:44,638 --> 00:31:49,219
that that's your wife.

670
00:31:49,219 --> 00:31:51,661
(Nathan) This is my wife, and, you know,

671
00:31:51,661 --> 00:31:56,723
if I do something that 
hurts her, that hurts me.

672
00:31:56,723 --> 00:31:58,767
To see my wife hurting

673
00:31:58,767 --> 00:32:01,275
because of something I've done

674
00:32:01,275 --> 00:32:02,853
would break my heart.

675
00:32:02,853 --> 00:32:05,301
So when we're in love with the Lord,

676
00:32:05,301 --> 00:32:08,337
we realize that when we break 
His Law we're hurting Him.

677
00:32:08,337 --> 00:32:11,001
He's given us His Law because 
He wants us to be happy.

678
00:32:11,001 --> 00:32:12,125
(Stephanie) Yes.

679
00:32:12,125 --> 00:32:14,166
(Nathan) And when I wander away

680
00:32:14,166 --> 00:32:16,765
from that Law that He's given,

681
00:32:16,765 --> 00:32:18,726
which is a Law of freedom,
a Law of liberty,

682
00:32:18,726 --> 00:32:21,196
and it's a Law that brings joy to my life,

683
00:32:21,196 --> 00:32:24,021
I know that not only am I hurting myself,

684
00:32:24,021 --> 00:32:25,741
but I'm hurting Him.

685
00:32:25,741 --> 00:32:26,563
(Stephanie) Yes.

686
00:32:26,563 --> 00:32:28,071
(Nathan) So my love for Him just propels

687
00:32:28,071 --> 00:32:30,388
me into naturally obeying the Law

688
00:32:30,388 --> 00:32:32,008
because I don't want to break His heart;

689
00:32:32,008 --> 00:32:33,311
I don't want to hurt Him, as well.

690
00:32:33,311 --> 00:32:36,184
(Stephanie) Okay, Joshua, and then

691
00:32:36,184 --> 00:32:38,264
we'll go to Tricia Lee, and then 
we have to move on.

692
00:32:38,264 --> 00:32:40,593
(Joshua) I believe that we not only serve

693
00:32:40,593 --> 00:32:43,267
a holy God but we serve a practical God.

694
00:32:43,267 --> 00:32:45,445
So, when I look at His Commandments,

695
00:32:45,445 --> 00:32:48,310
I see that even if I weren't a Christian

696
00:32:48,310 --> 00:32:52,318
it would be in my best interest 
to still keep these Commandments.

697
00:32:52,318 --> 00:32:53,418
(Stephanie) Amen.

698
00:32:53,418 --> 00:32:55,688
(Joshua) So, if you think about what it

699
00:32:55,688 --> 00:32:57,765
would be like to murder someone, and what

700
00:32:57,765 --> 00:32:59,559
you would have to live with after that,

701
00:32:59,559 --> 00:33:01,641
if you know what it feels like

702
00:33:01,641 --> 00:33:03,983
to commit adultery and see the effects

703
00:33:03,983 --> 00:33:06,563
of that trickling after, if you look

704
00:33:06,563 --> 00:33:08,680
at each and every Law, you'll see,

705
00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:11,275
"Wait a minute. 
He's not telling me

706
00:33:11,275 --> 00:33:13,505
to keep these Laws as 
hoops to jump through

707
00:33:13,505 --> 00:33:15,461
in order to make it into Heaven,"

708
00:33:15,461 --> 00:33:23,194
but it's for our own good and for our 
best interest to keep these Laws.

709
00:33:23,194 --> 00:33:24,166
(Stephanie) Yes.

710
00:33:24,166 --> 00:33:27,123
(Tricia Lee) Something that Missy

711
00:33:27,123 --> 00:33:29,424
and Joshua mentioned 
about getting to know God

712
00:33:29,424 --> 00:33:30,697
and what's in our best interest,

713
00:33:30,697 --> 00:33:35,091
I think that the Devil's deception is that
we would think of God as someone

714
00:33:35,091 --> 00:33:37,375
who is out to get us, someone
that cannot be trusted.

715
00:33:37,375 --> 00:33:40,782
And if He's a Being that is not 
to be trusted or, you know,

716
00:33:41,027 --> 00:33:44,942
wants to hurt us, then I don't care
about what He's saying, I don't care

717
00:33:44,942 --> 00:33:47,588
about His Laws, what's not good for me.

718
00:33:47,588 --> 00:33:49,504
When we do exactly what Missy is saying,

719
00:33:49,574 --> 00:33:52,208
try to get to know Him, allow Him 
to enter our lives, and we see who He is,

720
00:33:52,208 --> 00:33:55,418
like, how Jesus came, the best 
example, a revelation of the Father,

721
00:33:55,418 --> 00:33:58,571
He lived a whole life, when 
we see the life of Christ,

722
00:33:58,571 --> 00:34:00,818
how could we not want to be more like Him?

723
00:34:00,818 --> 00:34:04,086
How could we not want to see 
truly who the Father is,

724
00:34:04,086 --> 00:34:06,360
and then everything He's saying 
starts to make sense as things

725
00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:09,880
for our best interest, as 
things that will help us

726
00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:11,781
be in a loving relationship with Him.

727
00:34:11,781 --> 00:34:14,170
So even Christ coming and expounding
and fulfilling the Law

728
00:34:14,170 --> 00:34:17,323
was us seeing the Father as who 
He really is, not the deception,

729
00:34:17,323 --> 00:34:21,054
not the lies, the angry God 
with lightening and thunderbolts.

730
00:34:21,054 --> 00:34:23,029
When we see that, then the Law
starts to be something beautiful

731
00:34:23,029 --> 00:34:26,252
for our best interest and something that
helps us be in a good, loving,

732
00:34:26,252 --> 00:34:28,042
strong relationship with Him.

733
00:34:28,042 --> 00:34:29,324
(Stephanie) We have full confidence...

734
00:34:29,324 --> 00:34:30,636
(Tricia Lee) Yeah, yeah.

735
00:34:30,636 --> 00:34:32,627
(Stephanie) ...that He has 
the best interest in mind.

736
00:34:32,627 --> 00:34:35,422
We need to move on to God's ideal

737
00:34:35,422 --> 00:34:37,216
for His children, which somewhat connects

738
00:34:37,216 --> 00:34:39,201
with what we've already 
been speaking about.

739
00:34:39,201 --> 00:34:42,896
Matthew, chapter 5, verse 48, and, Nicole,

740
00:34:42,896 --> 00:34:44,424
if you would be willing to read that

741
00:34:44,424 --> 00:34:46,800
for us, and then we'll follow it up

742
00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:52,793
with Luke 6:36, and, Nancy, if you 
would read that one after Matthew 5:48.

743
00:34:52,793 --> 00:34:54,355
(Nicole) Okay, Matthew 5:48.

744
00:34:54,355 --> 00:34:58,222
I'm reading it from the New International
Version, and the Bible says:

745
00:35:01,352 --> 00:35:04,613
(Stephanie) And then Luke 6:36.

746
00:35:04,613 --> 00:35:08,383
We're looking at these two 
in conjunction with each other.

747
00:35:08,383 --> 00:35:14,192
(Nancy) Okay, and this is from the
New King James Version.

748
00:35:22,462 --> 00:35:25,234
(Stephanie) All right, what is 
Jesus asking us to do?

749
00:35:25,234 --> 00:35:29,199
(Olric) Be like God.

750
00:35:29,199 --> 00:35:30,489
(Stephanie) To be like God.

751
00:35:30,489 --> 00:35:34,441
He's asking us, may I mention it this way:

752
00:35:34,441 --> 00:35:40,776
He's asking us to do the 
impossible without Him.

753
00:35:40,776 --> 00:35:44,391
It would be impossible without Him.

754
00:35:44,391 --> 00:35:45,945
You understand what I'm saying?

755
00:35:45,945 --> 00:35:49,518
But He's giving us the strength to do it,

756
00:35:49,518 --> 00:35:53,680
so, it's not impossible, but without Him,

757
00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:59,102
if we're trying to do it as only head
knowledge, it is going to be impossible.

758
00:35:59,102 --> 00:36:00,428
(Derek) And, you know, Stephanie,

759
00:36:00,428 --> 00:36:01,960
sometimes people read that like,

760
00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:04,281
"Be perfect," and think that's the way to

761
00:36:04,281 --> 00:36:06,392
make God love us, right?

762
00:36:06,392 --> 00:36:07,680
Never quite good enough.

763
00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:10,022
That's not what it's saying at all.

764
00:36:10,022 --> 00:36:11,085
(Stephanie) Right.

765
00:36:11,085 --> 00:36:12,979
(Derek) That's why Luke's wording

766
00:36:12,979 --> 00:36:14,509
is different is important.

767
00:36:14,509 --> 00:36:17,589
He's saying, "I want you to reflect

768
00:36:17,589 --> 00:36:18,815
the beauty of my Father's character."

769
00:36:18,815 --> 00:36:20,183
And what does it look like?

770
00:36:20,183 --> 00:36:21,973
Jesus said, "If you want to know

771
00:36:21,973 --> 00:36:23,075
what the Father is like, look at Me."

772
00:36:23,075 --> 00:36:27,380
So, He's saying, "I want you to 
reflect my character to the world,"

773
00:36:27,380 --> 00:36:30,773
and that is not to earn His love.

774
00:36:30,773 --> 00:36:34,607
He already loves us.
It's out of that loving relationship.

775
00:36:34,607 --> 00:36:38,104
(Stephanie) Yes.
Go ahead, you wanted to say something.

776
00:36:38,104 --> 00:36:39,475
(Andrea) I also wanted to add

777
00:36:39,475 --> 00:36:46,856
to what Elder Morris said, that this
perfection that God is calling us to

778
00:36:46,856 --> 00:36:52,130
is not so much a state of sinlessness

779
00:36:52,130 --> 00:36:55,924
as the spiritual maturity to which we need

780
00:36:55,924 --> 00:37:00,417
to attain, and the Lord can 
help us to attain that.

781
00:37:00,417 --> 00:37:01,653
And, of course, at each state

782
00:37:01,653 --> 00:37:03,865
of the Christain's experience,

783
00:37:03,865 --> 00:37:07,187
there is a different level of maturity

784
00:37:07,187 --> 00:37:12,597
because what is perfect for 
a grade one student to add 2 + 2

785
00:37:12,597 --> 00:37:15,515
is not perfect for a grade five student

786
00:37:15,515 --> 00:37:17,249
or a grade eight student.

787
00:37:17,265 --> 00:37:21,057
So this perfection is where we are at;

788
00:37:21,057 --> 00:37:26,320
if we just fulfill what God requires 
us to do at that stage,

789
00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:29,571
we have attained to God's ideal.

790
00:37:29,571 --> 00:37:30,983
(Stephanie) Amen.
All right, Olric.

791
00:37:30,983 --> 00:37:33,635
(Olric) Let me encapsulate 
what she's saying.

792
00:37:33,635 --> 00:37:37,889
At each stage, God reveals light to us.

793
00:37:37,889 --> 00:37:40,701
He reveals more of Himself to us.

794
00:37:40,701 --> 00:37:44,072
Perfection that is being talked about here

795
00:37:44,072 --> 00:37:48,670
is the progressive state 
of growth, Christian maturity.

796
00:37:48,670 --> 00:37:51,139
A plant starts out as a seedling,

797
00:37:51,139 --> 00:37:54,799
but then it grows to a big tree 
and bears fruit.

798
00:37:54,799 --> 00:37:57,865
A baby starts off walking on fours

799
00:37:57,865 --> 00:38:01,857
and mumbling, but eventually 
they grow, and they walk on legs,

800
00:38:01,857 --> 00:38:05,066
and now they can talk well 
and do things for themselves.

801
00:38:05,066 --> 00:38:06,995
There is maturing; there is growth.

802
00:38:06,995 --> 00:38:12,641
God's ideal of perfection is that
you should continually grow.

803
00:38:12,641 --> 00:38:15,026
Not that you reach a stage here,

804
00:38:15,026 --> 00:38:18,232
where, "Hah! You're perfect.
Now you don't need to go any further."

805
00:38:18,232 --> 00:38:19,237
No.

806
00:38:19,237 --> 00:38:23,254
His idea of perfection is 
progressive Christian maturity.

807
00:38:23,254 --> 00:38:25,449
(Stephanie) So, let me...
Go ahead, go ahead, Kyle.

808
00:38:25,449 --> 00:38:28,513
(Kyle) You know, somebody 
might be worried,

809
00:38:28,513 --> 00:38:31,809
"Well, I'm not perfect, and I 
have all these faults,"

810
00:38:31,809 --> 00:38:35,476
and my only thing I think we 
could all say: "Look to Jesus."

811
00:38:35,476 --> 00:38:36,540
(Stephanie/Team) Yes.

812
00:38:36,540 --> 00:38:38,640
(Kyle) Look to Jesus, because Jesus,

813
00:38:39,008 --> 00:38:39,978
as we look to Him, "If ye love Me,

814
00:38:40,234 --> 00:38:41,529
keep My Commandments," He says.

815
00:38:41,529 --> 00:38:44,534
The only way that we can truly grow

816
00:38:44,534 --> 00:38:46,146
in likeness to Him is to fall in love

817
00:38:46,146 --> 00:38:47,668
with Him, and how do we 
fall in love with Him?

818
00:38:47,668 --> 00:38:49,491
By looking to Him, spending time with Him.

819
00:38:49,491 --> 00:38:50,529
(Stephanie/Team) Yes.

820
00:38:50,529 --> 00:38:51,771
(Kyle) That is so key because otherwise

821
00:38:51,771 --> 00:38:53,435
we're just going to try 
to earn our righteousness,

822
00:38:53,435 --> 00:38:54,933
and that will never get us anywhere.

823
00:38:54,933 --> 00:38:56,621
So, we must look to Jesus.

824
00:38:56,621 --> 00:38:58,023
(Derek/Team) Amen. Yes.

825
00:38:58,023 --> 00:38:59,264
(Stephanie) Beautiful, beautiful.

826
00:38:59,264 --> 00:39:01,255
So, my question, I think we already have

827
00:39:01,255 --> 00:39:03,029
an answer for it, but my question is:

828
00:39:03,029 --> 00:39:05,725
Is this a means of salvation

829
00:39:05,725 --> 00:39:08,855
or an evidence of a living, 
loving connection with Jesus?

830
00:39:08,855 --> 00:39:09,952
(Olric) Simple.


831
00:39:09,952 --> 00:39:13,546
it's an evidence of a living connection

832
00:39:13,546 --> 00:39:16,376
with Jesus, not a means to salvation.

833
00:39:16,376 --> 00:39:17,468
(Stephanie) All right.

834
00:39:17,468 --> 00:39:20,279
Will you share with us a 
verse that supports that?

835
00:39:20,279 --> 00:39:22,051
(Olric) Galatians 2, verses...

836
00:39:22,051 --> 00:39:23,534
(Stephanie) Galatians, chapter 2.

837
00:39:23,534 --> 00:39:24,955
So, Olric, you'll go ahead and read

838
00:39:24,955 --> 00:39:27,296
Galatians, chapter 2, 
I believe, 20 and 21.

839
00:39:27,296 --> 00:39:33,267
(Olric) Galatians, chapter 2, 
verses 20 and 21?

840
00:39:33,267 --> 00:39:34,397
(Stephanie) Yes.

841
00:39:34,397 --> 00:39:40,000
(Olric) Reading from the 
New Living Translation,

842
00:39:40,000 --> 00:40:10,169
the Word of God says:

843
00:40:10,169 --> 00:40:11,171
(Stephanie) Wow.

844
00:40:11,171 --> 00:40:14,736
Another verse, another 
promise that we can share.

845
00:40:14,736 --> 00:40:18,145
Someone out there, as Kyle was saying,

846
00:40:18,145 --> 00:40:22,857
may be wondering, "How do I do this?"

847
00:40:22,857 --> 00:40:24,455
"How is this practical?"

848
00:40:24,455 --> 00:40:25,481
Yes.

849
00:40:25,481 --> 00:40:28,675
(Derek) Let me just say people may not 
know who wrote the Galatian letter,

850
00:40:28,675 --> 00:40:32,228
but Saul of Tarsus, later 
called Paul the Apostle,

851
00:40:32,228 --> 00:40:35,839
he had gone down that road 
of trying to earn righteousness.

852
00:40:35,839 --> 00:40:36,923
(Stephanie/Team): Yes.

853
00:40:36,923 --> 00:40:39,710
(Derek) He said, "I was 
flawless," you know?

854
00:40:39,710 --> 00:40:42,229
But he was killing people 
who believe in Jesus.

855
00:40:42,229 --> 00:40:43,844
(Stephanie) Yes.

856
00:40:43,844 --> 00:40:46,990
(Derek) So, he understands 
the miracle of his changed heart.

857
00:40:46,990 --> 00:40:48,766
And I just want to emphasize,

858
00:40:48,766 --> 00:40:51,092
I know it is one stage and then another,

859
00:40:51,092 --> 00:40:53,584
but it's a miracle at every stage.

860
00:40:53,584 --> 00:40:54,623
(Stephanie/Team): Amen. Yes.

861
00:40:54,623 --> 00:40:58,787
(Derek) For us to be who God's 
calling us to be, is a miracle.

862
00:40:58,787 --> 00:40:59,660
(Stephanie) It is.

863
00:40:59,660 --> 00:41:01,097
(Derek) And Paul would be the first one

864
00:41:01,097 --> 00:41:02,856
to say that it is a miracle.

865
00:41:02,856 --> 00:41:05,212
That's why he says that 
if anyone is in Christ,

866
00:41:05,212 --> 00:41:06,947
she or he is a new creation.

867
00:41:06,947 --> 00:41:08,026
(Stephanie) Amen.

868
00:41:08,026 --> 00:41:09,541
(Derek) Because he's seen it himself.

869
00:41:09,541 --> 00:41:10,895
(Stephanie) Amen.

870
00:41:10,895 --> 00:41:13,375
(Olric) It's key that in that verse

871
00:41:13,375 --> 00:41:16,426
is mentioned Christ now lives in me.

872
00:41:16,426 --> 00:41:19,931
He says, "It is no longer 
I who live, but I died.

873
00:41:19,931 --> 00:41:22,684
I surrender self and the old way,

874
00:41:22,684 --> 00:41:25,321
and I accept Christ in my heart,

875
00:41:25,321 --> 00:41:27,828
and He changes me internally.

876
00:41:27,828 --> 00:41:31,849
Now what I do is motivated by love."

877
00:41:31,849 --> 00:41:34,728
So, it is very important 
to see the transformation.

878
00:41:34,728 --> 00:41:36,168
(Stephanie) Would you share with us

879
00:41:36,168 --> 00:41:38,382
a time when you experienced

880
00:41:38,382 --> 00:41:43,407
or you saw someone who represented

881
00:41:43,407 --> 00:41:44,783
the character of Christ.

882
00:41:44,783 --> 00:41:46,720
What impact did that have on you?

883
00:41:46,720 --> 00:41:52,009
You saw someone had 
the character of Christ.

884
00:41:52,009 --> 00:41:55,623
What was the impact on you, or what was

885
00:41:55,623 --> 00:41:57,729
the impact when someone saw

886
00:41:57,729 --> 00:42:00,544
the character of Christ in you?

887
00:42:00,544 --> 00:42:02,548
What impact did that have on you?

888
00:42:02,548 --> 00:42:06,299
(Derek) Stephanie, I was 7 years old...

889
00:42:06,299 --> 00:42:07,515
(Stephanie) Go ahead.

890
00:42:07,515 --> 00:42:09,519
(Derek) Oh good, if I can 
just share real briefly.

891
00:42:09,519 --> 00:42:13,318
...and my teacher in Form 2
(this is back in the UK)

892
00:42:13,318 --> 00:42:15,822
was full of the love of Jesus.

893
00:42:15,822 --> 00:42:19,031
I was only privileged to go

894
00:42:19,031 --> 00:42:20,602
to a Christian school for four years,

895
00:42:20,602 --> 00:42:24,240
but that one year with Christine Emmerson

896
00:42:24,240 --> 00:42:27,418
my teacher changed my life...

897
00:42:27,418 --> 00:42:28,508
(Stephanie) Wow.

898
00:42:28,508 --> 00:42:30,670
(Derek) ...because she was 
full of the love of God.

899
00:42:30,670 --> 00:42:34,393
And when you see that, and I think

900
00:42:34,393 --> 00:42:37,850
that's the ultimate witness,
it's not just what we say.

901
00:42:37,850 --> 00:42:41,845
When the love of God fills a heart,

902
00:42:41,845 --> 00:42:46,530
we just say, "I just 
want to be like that,"

903
00:42:46,530 --> 00:42:48,441
and that person says, "Well, I'm

904
00:42:48,441 --> 00:42:50,736
a follower of Jesus, so follow Him."

905
00:42:50,736 --> 00:42:51,781
(Stephanie) Amen.

906
00:42:51,781 --> 00:42:54,687
Reflecting the light of Jesus.
Nancy.

907
00:42:54,687 --> 00:42:59,291
(Nancy) My dad is full 
of the love of Jesus.

908
00:42:59,291 --> 00:43:05,122
And, you know, what he does is he studies

909
00:43:05,122 --> 00:43:07,450
the Bible in the morning, a chapter

910
00:43:07,450 --> 00:43:10,125
in the morning, and a chapter

911
00:43:10,125 --> 00:43:12,977
in the evening, a chapter in 
the New, a chapter in the Old.

912
00:43:12,977 --> 00:43:14,650
I like to think about it

913
00:43:14,650 --> 00:43:19,521
as him "marinating" his life 
in Jesus, you know?

914
00:43:19,521 --> 00:43:23,467
It's a cooking term, when you take

915
00:43:23,467 --> 00:43:27,265
some meat or some tofu, and you put it,

916
00:43:27,265 --> 00:43:32,180
you know, in all of those 
sauces and things.

917
00:43:32,180 --> 00:43:33,685
Well, that's what he does with his life,

918
00:43:33,685 --> 00:43:37,613
and so everything he does 
is covered in Jesus.

919
00:43:37,613 --> 00:43:38,643
(Team) Amen.

920
00:43:38,643 --> 00:43:42,863
(Nancy) He's been a great example to me.

921
00:43:42,863 --> 00:43:44,090
(Derek/Stephanie) Amen.

922
00:43:44,090 --> 00:43:45,419
(Team) Praise God.

923
00:43:45,419 --> 00:43:48,757
(Stephanie) I'm guessing that he's been

924
00:43:48,757 --> 00:43:50,367
on his knees praying often,

925
00:43:50,367 --> 00:43:54,206
and I think that's the section that

926
00:43:54,206 --> 00:43:55,466
we want to move into next.

927
00:43:55,466 --> 00:43:57,245
We've talked about the head knowledge,

928
00:43:57,245 --> 00:44:00,215
and that it reaches our hearts,

929
00:44:00,215 --> 00:44:04,279
and, as a result, our hands or our actions

930
00:44:04,279 --> 00:44:07,310
produce what has already happened inside.

931
00:44:07,310 --> 00:44:09,600
Now we are going to talk 
about how we sustain that,

932
00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:13,348
and that is by spending 
time with God in prayer.

933
00:44:13,348 --> 00:44:17,440
So, Juliana, if you would read

934
00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:21,807
Matthew, chapter 6, verses 5 through 13.

935
00:44:21,807 --> 00:44:27,583
Matthew chapter 6, verses 5 through 13,

936
00:44:27,583 --> 00:44:31,657
talking about Jesus teaching on prayer.

937
00:44:31,657 --> 00:45:51,320
(Juliana) I'm reading from 
the New King James Version:

938
00:45:51,320 --> 00:45:52,651
(Stephanie/Team) Amen.

939
00:45:52,651 --> 00:45:54,968
(Stephanie) What important lessons

940
00:45:54,968 --> 00:45:57,916
can we learn about prayer
from Jesus' example?

941
00:45:57,916 --> 00:46:01,330
Go ahead, Tricia Lee.

942
00:46:01,330 --> 00:46:05,528
(Tricia Lee) I like that we're counseled
not to have vain repetitions,

943
00:46:05,528 --> 00:46:09,812
so, there were practices that heathens 
had at the time but also was part

944
00:46:09,812 --> 00:46:12,344
of the religious practices 
to repeat certain things.

945
00:46:12,344 --> 00:46:15,000
"The more I say it, then 
the more likely God will hear,"

946
00:46:15,290 --> 00:46:20,687
but here this model, in its 
simplest way, is a conversation.

947
00:46:22,022 --> 00:46:23,883
I think, even in talking to God, we are 
acknowledging that He's hearing us.

948
00:46:23,883 --> 00:46:27,120
We're not just saying phrases out,
and hoping they go somewhere.

949
00:46:27,120 --> 00:46:30,254
We're actually speaking to another 
Being who can hear and understand

950
00:46:30,254 --> 00:46:32,190
and wants to have a conversation with us.

951
00:46:32,190 --> 00:46:33,564
(Stephanie) So, we have full confidence

952
00:46:33,564 --> 00:46:35,904
in the Person that we love and trust.

953
00:46:35,904 --> 00:46:36,934
(Tricia Lee) Yes.

954
00:46:36,934 --> 00:46:37,878
(Stephanie) Amen.

955
00:46:37,878 --> 00:46:39,335
Nathan, and then we'll go to Olric.

956
00:46:39,335 --> 00:46:40,655
(Nathan) I can't miss the distinction

957
00:46:40,655 --> 00:46:43,307
Jesus is making between people who pray

958
00:46:43,307 --> 00:46:47,245
to be seen by others, and it's not just

959
00:46:47,245 --> 00:46:49,733
what they say but where they 
are when they are saying it.

960
00:46:49,733 --> 00:46:51,030
They're out on the street corners,

961
00:46:51,030 --> 00:46:53,904
versus people who are praying in secret.

962
00:46:53,904 --> 00:46:56,095
He says, "Go into your room and pray

963
00:46:56,095 --> 00:46:57,644
to your Father who is also in secret."

964
00:46:57,644 --> 00:46:59,493
So, in other words, what He's showing us

965
00:46:59,493 --> 00:47:01,723
here is this is an intimate time.

966
00:47:01,723 --> 00:47:05,189
I'm sorry if this sounds a little

967
00:47:05,189 --> 00:47:07,173
too far fetched, but just like

968
00:47:07,173 --> 00:47:09,861
a married couple behind closed doors

969
00:47:09,861 --> 00:47:11,668
and the intimacy that they share.

970
00:47:11,668 --> 00:47:15,858
They are having quiet time
or conversation, you know.

971
00:47:15,858 --> 00:47:17,748
No one else is there, and this is

972
00:47:17,748 --> 00:47:19,655
the same way, He says, "With your Father

973
00:47:19,655 --> 00:47:22,604
in Heaven, you are behind 
closed doors, intimate communion."


974
00:47:22,604 --> 00:47:24,320
It's just you and Him.

975
00:47:24,320 --> 00:47:25,859
You're not showing off to the world.

976
00:47:25,859 --> 00:47:27,223
You're not doing this before others.

977
00:47:27,223 --> 00:47:28,672
You're having quiet time.

978
00:47:28,672 --> 00:47:33,095
So, Jesus wants us to be having

979
00:47:33,095 --> 00:47:34,761
intimate communion 
with our Father quietly.

980
00:47:34,761 --> 00:47:36,031
(Stephanie) Just to think that

981
00:47:36,031 --> 00:47:38,769
He's willing to spend quiet time with us.

982
00:47:38,769 --> 00:47:39,798
(Team) Amen.

983
00:47:39,798 --> 00:47:41,212
(Stephanie) The God of the universe.

984
00:47:41,212 --> 00:47:43,819
I mean, think about that.
That's powerful.

985
00:47:43,819 --> 00:47:46,387
(Olric) It's very key that Nathan

986
00:47:46,387 --> 00:47:51,453
points that out because in 
verse 16 of that same chapter

987
00:47:51,453 --> 00:47:54,101
He uses the word "hypocrite."

988
00:47:54,101 --> 00:47:56,348
He says, "Don't fast as the hypocrites do."

989
00:47:56,348 --> 00:47:59,340
That word is a key word,

990
00:47:59,340 --> 00:48:01,367
because in the Greek it means an "actor,"

991
00:48:01,367 --> 00:48:04,214
you know, someone who puts 
on a show, a performance.

992
00:48:04,214 --> 00:48:09,104
So, what is Jesus saying about these 
individuals who pray to be heard

993
00:48:09,104 --> 00:48:13,809
by many people or use many words 
to look religious and so forth?

994
00:48:13,809 --> 00:48:15,697
He's saying, "You're just acting,"

995
00:48:15,697 --> 00:48:19,155
and my Bible says to me, "If you harbor

996
00:48:19,155 --> 00:48:23,375
iniquity in your heart, God 
will not hear your prayers."

997
00:48:23,375 --> 00:48:27,252
This was a problem with the religious 
leaders and those who were doing it

998
00:48:27,252 --> 00:48:29,688
for outward show; the heart wasn't right.

999
00:48:29,688 --> 00:48:31,063
(Stephanie) Right, He was asking

1000
00:48:31,063 --> 00:48:32,910
for an inward change.

1001
00:48:32,910 --> 00:48:33,933
Go ahead, Nicole.

1002
00:48:33,933 --> 00:48:36,215
(Nicole) Just to take it 
a little differently,

1003
00:48:36,215 --> 00:48:38,498
you can also teach someone how to pray,

1004
00:48:38,498 --> 00:48:41,329
so when I look at this verse 
and I look at this text,

1005
00:48:41,329 --> 00:48:42,929
I think about children and make sure

1006
00:48:42,929 --> 00:48:44,453
that we instill within our children

1007
00:48:44,453 --> 00:48:46,643
the desire to pray and the need to pray.

1008
00:48:46,643 --> 00:48:48,791
We have to teach them how to pray

1009
00:48:48,791 --> 00:48:50,270
and how to spend that time with God,

1010
00:48:50,270 --> 00:48:51,919
so they can then grow to a place

1011
00:48:51,919 --> 00:48:53,969
when they can spend that 
quiet time in their "closets"

1012
00:48:53,969 --> 00:48:55,582
knowing what they're to say.

1013
00:48:55,582 --> 00:48:57,441
So I think that we should really remember

1014
00:48:57,441 --> 00:48:59,436
that we all have to teach 
our children how to pray.

1015
00:48:59,436 --> 00:49:00,585
(Stephanie) I agree.

1016
00:49:01,722 --> 00:49:04,332
(Derek) You know, I'm thinking,
in the light of what Nathan said,

1017
00:49:04,332 --> 00:49:05,673
in the little book "Steps to Christ,"

1018
00:49:05,673 --> 00:49:07,535
it speaks about prayer as the opening

1019
00:49:07,535 --> 00:49:09,548
of the heart to God as to a friend.

1020
00:49:09,548 --> 00:49:11,019
That's very personal.

1021
00:49:11,019 --> 00:49:14,577
Even the Lord's prayer could become

1022
00:49:14,577 --> 00:49:17,217
a vain repetition, if you 
just repeat it ten times

1023
00:49:17,217 --> 00:49:20,305
and think that God will hear 
you by saying it ten times.

1024
00:49:21,262 --> 00:49:21,695
In fact, if you look at the Gospels,

1025
00:49:25,255 --> 00:49:26,853
Jesus prays a lot of different prayers.

1026
00:49:26,853 --> 00:49:27,734
(Stephanie) He does.

1027
00:49:27,734 --> 00:49:29,291
(Derek) He is opening His heart 
to His Father as to a friend.

1028
00:49:29,291 --> 00:49:30,732
And I think what I'm hearing

1029
00:49:30,732 --> 00:49:32,114
in this great Sermon on the Mount,

1030
00:49:32,114 --> 00:49:33,717
just like with loving obedience,

1031
00:49:33,717 --> 00:49:36,701
is when you love God you 
want to talk to Him.

1032
00:49:36,701 --> 00:49:37,811
(Stephanie) Yes.

1033
00:49:37,811 --> 00:49:39,155
(Derek) And you want to listen, too.

1034
00:49:39,155 --> 00:49:40,997
(Stephanie) You have 
an open communication.

1035
00:49:40,997 --> 00:49:44,536
Juliana, and then we need to move on.

1036
00:49:44,536 --> 00:49:46,587
(Juliana) I was just going 
to say really succinctly

1037
00:49:46,587 --> 00:49:48,216
that what this says to me,

1038
00:49:48,216 --> 00:49:50,729
and I guess why I choked up 
trying to read it,

1039
00:49:50,729 --> 00:49:53,922
was that it says we have 
a direct connection.

1040
00:49:53,922 --> 00:49:55,061
(Team Member) Amen.

1041
00:49:55,061 --> 00:49:57,059
(Juliana) We don't have 
anything else in the way.

1042
00:49:57,059 --> 00:49:58,153
(Stephanie) That's right.

1043
00:49:58,153 --> 00:49:59,471
(Juliana) That the God of the universe

1044
00:49:59,471 --> 00:50:04,007
wants to talk to me and 
wants me to talk to Him.

1045
00:50:04,007 --> 00:50:04,913
(Derek) Amen.

1046
00:50:04,913 --> 00:50:07,334
(Stephanie) Wow, that's powerful.

1047
00:50:07,334 --> 00:50:13,475
Let's move on; Matthew, chapter 7.

1048
00:50:13,475 --> 00:50:14,727
Thank you so much for sharing.

1049
00:50:14,727 --> 00:50:18,282
Matthew, chapter 7, and 
we'll go to verses 24 to 27,

1050
00:50:18,282 --> 00:50:21,444
and, Jason, would you read that for us?

1051
00:50:21,444 --> 00:50:22,767
Matthew, chapter 7, and we're moving

1052
00:50:22,767 --> 00:50:25,184
into our last section of our study

1053
00:50:25,184 --> 00:50:27,689
that is "Living What We Learn."

1054
00:50:27,689 --> 00:50:28,799
Go ahead.

1055
00:50:28,799 --> 00:50:32,087
(Jason) I'll be reading from 
the New King James Version,

1056
00:50:32,087 --> 00:50:41,335
Matthew, chapter 7, verse 24 through 27.

1057
00:51:16,446 --> 00:51:21,840
(Stephanie) What is Jesus' 
appeal in these verse?

1058
00:51:21,840 --> 00:51:24,568
What is Jesus' appeal?
Missy.

1059
00:51:24,568 --> 00:51:27,440
(Missy) Trust and obey, Just listen

1060
00:51:27,440 --> 00:51:30,109
to what He has to say and do them.

1061
00:51:30,109 --> 00:51:32,391
It's just simple.

1062
00:51:32,690 --> 00:51:34,604
(Stephanie) Yes.
Go ahead, Joshua.

1063
00:51:34,604 --> 00:51:36,260
(Joshua) I would just say to build

1064
00:51:36,260 --> 00:51:37,890
your foundation on Christ.

1065
00:51:37,890 --> 00:51:39,774
Essentially, if you look 
at family structures,

1066
00:51:39,774 --> 00:51:43,182
it never made sense to me as to why

1067
00:51:43,182 --> 00:51:46,448
atheists get married, you know?

1068
00:51:46,448 --> 00:51:48,103
Think about it just for a second.

1069
00:51:48,103 --> 00:51:49,801
Just picture that in your 
mind for a minute.

1070
00:51:49,801 --> 00:51:52,486
How is it, if you're not focused

1071
00:51:52,486 --> 00:51:55,868
on the love of Christ and the beauty

1072
00:51:55,868 --> 00:51:58,680
of His Word and the understanding

1073
00:51:58,680 --> 00:51:59,724
of His heart rather than your own,

1074
00:51:59,724 --> 00:52:01,629
how is it that you can unite yourself

1075
00:52:01,629 --> 00:52:04,585
in a marriage and try to build your family

1076
00:52:04,585 --> 00:52:07,232
on a structure that cannot stand,

1077
00:52:07,232 --> 00:52:10,850
that's built on worldly 
principles that are like sand?

1078
00:52:10,850 --> 00:52:12,577
They can change at any time.

1079
00:52:12,577 --> 00:52:14,333
They are weak.
They are futile.

1080
00:52:14,333 --> 00:52:16,828
So, when I think about 
that in my own life,

1081
00:52:16,828 --> 00:52:20,667
I say, "Okay, I have to build 
my foundation on Christ."

1082
00:52:20,667 --> 00:52:21,688
(Stephanie) Amen.

1083
00:52:21,688 --> 00:52:23,068
(Joshua) Because outside of that,

1084
00:52:23,068 --> 00:52:25,455
everything else is just going 
to be a wreck, you know,

1085
00:52:25,455 --> 00:52:27,306
and it's really that simple.

1086
00:52:27,306 --> 00:52:29,947
I think it's a lesson to us to just say,

1087
00:52:33,521 --> 00:52:33,771
"Okay, let's go about things

1088
00:52:34,352 --> 00:52:36,174
in the smartest way 
possible," and this is it.

1089
00:52:36,174 --> 00:52:37,230
(Stephanie) Amen.

1090
00:52:37,230 --> 00:52:38,473
Nathan and then we'll come up to Kyle.

1091
00:52:38,473 --> 00:52:40,971
(Nathan) Jesus is comparing 
two kinds of people here.

1092
00:52:40,971 --> 00:52:43,195
Both of them heard His Word. He says,

1093
00:52:43,195 --> 00:52:44,961
"Whoever hears these sayings of Mine

1094
00:52:44,961 --> 00:52:47,728
and does them," and then He says later,

1095
00:52:47,728 --> 00:52:50,210
"Whoever hears these sayings
and does not do them."

1096
00:52:52,283 --> 00:52:53,219
So it's not about just 
hearing and knowing,

1097
00:52:53,219 --> 00:52:53,937
it's actually about 
putting it in practice.

1098
00:52:53,937 --> 00:52:55,800
He says, "The one who puts into practice

1099
00:52:55,800 --> 00:52:57,905
these teachings of Mine, this is

1100
00:52:57,905 --> 00:52:59,761
solid rock foundation that you can

1101
00:52:59,761 --> 00:53:03,164
build on, and it's trustworthy,
so build on this.

1102
00:53:03,164 --> 00:53:04,933
But if you hear it and don't do it,

1103
00:53:04,933 --> 00:53:06,983
whatever you're building on is like sand."

1104
00:53:06,983 --> 00:53:08,155
(Stephanie) Right.

1105
00:53:08,155 --> 00:53:09,812
(Nathan) It's not a solid foundation.

1106
00:53:09,830 --> 00:53:11,050
(Stephanie) You won't 
make it through the storm.

1107
00:53:11,050 --> 00:53:12,673
(Stephanie) Kyle.

1108
00:53:12,673 --> 00:53:14,219
(Kyle) I'll just add to what Nathan said.

1109
00:53:14,219 --> 00:53:15,995
Just to think that this whole time

1110
00:53:15,995 --> 00:53:18,183
in Matthew 5 we've been 
looking at, you know,

1111
00:53:18,183 --> 00:53:19,620
Jesus' standard of righteousness versus

1112
00:53:19,620 --> 00:53:21,889
what our human standard is.

1113
00:53:21,889 --> 00:53:25,417
And if we build our lives 
on our own righteousness,

1114
00:53:25,417 --> 00:53:28,556
on our own works, then it's like sand.

1115
00:53:28,556 --> 00:53:30,345
We have no real foundation.

1116
00:53:30,345 --> 00:53:33,094
The only Rock is the Rock 
of Christ's righteousness

1117
00:53:33,094 --> 00:53:34,988
that can get us through the storm.

1118
00:53:34,988 --> 00:53:37,429
So, you know, it all connects;

1119
00:53:37,429 --> 00:53:38,748
it's dependence upon Him,

1120
00:53:38,748 --> 00:53:40,003
even the prayer thing.

1121
00:53:40,003 --> 00:53:41,899
Prayer is all about dependence on God,

1122
00:53:41,899 --> 00:53:44,260
and depending on His righteousness,

1123
00:53:44,260 --> 00:53:46,007
on His character in our hearts,

1124
00:53:46,007 --> 00:53:50,178
will give us the foundation that will

1125
00:53:50,178 --> 00:53:51,543
carry us through that storm.

1126
00:53:51,543 --> 00:53:52,636
(Stephanie) Amen.

1127
00:53:52,636 --> 00:53:55,076
Tricia Lee, did you have a
comment you wanted to share?

1128
00:53:55,076 --> 00:53:58,092
(Tricia Lee) I was just reflecting on what
Juliana mentioned about the invitation

1129
00:53:58,092 --> 00:54:00,307
to connect with the Lord, "our Father."

1130
00:54:00,307 --> 00:54:05,140
Even in reading this, I just feel as 
though personally I would be a fool

1131
00:54:05,140 --> 00:54:09,282
not to accept that invitation, that 
the great God of the universe came,

1132
00:54:09,282 --> 00:54:13,186
sent His Son, went to all this length
to show me who He really is,

1133
00:54:16,048 --> 00:54:16,558
to show me what His Law means,
to show me how to love other people,

1134
00:54:17,057 --> 00:54:19,208
who wants to love me and 
wants to accept my love to Him,

1135
00:54:19,208 --> 00:54:22,428
and He's just giving me 
the simple way to Him

1136
00:54:22,428 --> 00:54:27,313
that I have to be kind of silly in 
seeing all of this and then saying,

1137
00:54:27,313 --> 00:54:29,159
"No, I'd rather build it my own way."

1138
00:54:29,159 --> 00:54:33,542
It just really feels like it's just a 
heart-felt invitation, and that, wow,

1139
00:54:33,542 --> 00:54:36,715
how do I respond to that.
I was just thinking about that.

1140
00:54:36,715 --> 00:54:39,143
(Stephanie) So I want to move on.

1141
00:54:39,143 --> 00:54:40,711
We have one more verse to read,

1142
00:54:40,711 --> 00:54:45,947
and that's John, chapter 13:17.

1143
00:54:45,947 --> 00:54:51,127
I'll ask Tricia Lee if you 
would read that for us.

1144
00:54:51,127 --> 00:54:54,306
The question is, why does Jesus want

1145
00:54:54,306 --> 00:54:56,833
us to live in harmony with His Word?

1146
00:54:56,833 --> 00:54:59,162
(Tricia Lee) John, chapter 13, verse 17.

1147
00:54:59,162 --> 00:55:05,025
I'm reading from the New King 
James Version, and it reads:

1148
00:55:10,133 --> 00:55:11,793
(Stephanie) Tricia Lee, I think that is

1149
00:55:11,793 --> 00:55:13,527
what you were talking about.

1150
00:55:13,527 --> 00:55:14,621
(Tricia Lee) It's a blessing.

1151
00:55:14,621 --> 00:55:16,964
(Stephanie) God wants us to be happy.

1152
00:55:16,964 --> 00:55:18,109
(Team) Amen. Yes.

1153
00:55:18,109 --> 00:55:20,042
(Stephanie) It has to go from the head

1154
00:55:20,042 --> 00:55:23,310
to the heart, to the 
hands, and to the "how."

1155
00:55:23,310 --> 00:55:24,516
How do I do that?

1156
00:55:24,516 --> 00:55:25,765
By spending time with Jesus

1157
00:55:25,765 --> 00:55:29,416
and falling in love with 
my Savior and Lord.

1158
00:55:29,416 --> 00:55:31,248
Then what happens?

1159
00:55:31,248 --> 00:55:33,116
When you're sharing with others,

1160
00:55:33,116 --> 00:55:34,620
doesn't it make you happy?

1161
00:55:34,620 --> 00:55:38,012
You're in the will of God.

1162
00:55:38,012 --> 00:55:40,350
There's no better peace than that.

1163
00:55:40,350 --> 00:55:41,676
Go ahead, Olric.

1164
00:55:41,676 --> 00:55:44,900
(Olric) Let me just wrap 
this study here together.

1165
00:55:44,900 --> 00:55:47,190
We see clearly Jesus is saying,

1166
00:55:47,190 --> 00:55:51,105
"The law is important, you must keep it,

1167
00:55:51,105 --> 00:55:53,832
but I don't want you to keep it

1168
00:55:53,832 --> 00:55:57,044
from an unconverted heart because

1169
00:55:57,044 --> 00:56:00,711
to do that is to do it with a heart

1170
00:56:00,711 --> 00:56:03,000
that is not connected to the love of God,

1171
00:56:03,000 --> 00:56:07,323
that is devoid of the right
motives and right thoughts."

1172
00:56:07,323 --> 00:56:11,430
So, keep the Law but make 
sure the heart is converted.

1173
00:56:11,430 --> 00:56:12,885
Why?

1174
00:56:12,885 --> 00:56:15,080
Because when you do 
that you build your faith.

1175
00:56:15,080 --> 00:56:18,583
(Stephanie) Our faith is 
built upon the Rock, yes.

1176
00:56:18,583 --> 00:56:21,121
And our eyes are fixed on Jesus,...

1177
00:56:21,121 --> 00:56:22,022
(Team) Amen.

1178
00:56:22,022 --> 00:56:23,757
(Stephanie) ...the Author 
and Finisher of our faith,

1179
00:56:23,757 --> 00:56:26,566
and we share that with joy in our hearts.

1180
00:56:26,566 --> 00:56:29,500
What a God.
What a God we serve.

1181
00:56:29,500 --> 00:56:31,593
Thank you so much for this lesson

1182
00:56:31,593 --> 00:56:33,953
and for sharing today.

1183
00:56:33,953 --> 00:56:35,357
(Derek) Thanks, Stephanie.

1184
00:56:35,357 --> 00:56:37,478
You know, the Sermon on the Mount ends

1185
00:56:37,478 --> 00:56:38,813
by saying they were astonished

1186
00:56:38,813 --> 00:56:40,887
at His teaching because He taught as One

1187
00:56:40,887 --> 00:56:44,519
having authority, and really our authority

1188
00:56:44,519 --> 00:56:46,603
comes from that living 
connection with God, doesn't it?

1189
00:56:46,603 --> 00:56:47,635
(Team) Amen.

1190
00:56:47,635 --> 00:56:48,888
(Derek) And I want to challenge you,

1191
00:56:48,888 --> 00:56:50,277
as you think about this message,

1192
00:56:50,277 --> 00:56:51,532
I have to be honest.

1193
00:56:51,532 --> 00:56:55,457
If I look at God's ideal, 
it's an impossible standard

1194
00:56:55,457 --> 00:56:58,133
unless a miracle happens in my heart,

1195
00:56:58,133 --> 00:57:01,243
that God's grace not only saves me

1196
00:57:01,243 --> 00:57:05,450
but transforms me into that follower

1197
00:57:05,450 --> 00:57:06,896
of Jesus that He wants me to be,

1198
00:57:06,896 --> 00:57:09,204
to reflect the beauty 
of His character to others.

1199
00:57:09,204 --> 00:57:11,285
That's God's plan for you and for me.

1200
00:57:11,285 --> 00:57:15,681
Why don't we pray that that
miracle can happen each day,

1201
00:57:15,681 --> 00:57:19,980
not only for our blessing but 
the blessing of those around us.

1202
00:57:19,980 --> 00:57:20,973
Let's pray.

1203
00:57:20,973 --> 00:57:23,276
Our Father in Heaven, we're astonished

1204
00:57:23,276 --> 00:57:27,170
at the teaching of Jesus, to 
know how much You love us

1205
00:57:27,170 --> 00:57:30,612
and how much You want to 
work in us and through us.

1206
00:57:30,612 --> 00:57:34,207
Oh, Lord, forgive us where we have tried

1207
00:57:34,207 --> 00:57:36,282
to build our own righteousness,

1208
00:57:36,282 --> 00:57:40,896
to build on sand instead of 
on Jesus the Solid Rock.

1209
00:57:40,896 --> 00:57:43,548
Please, accept our lives now

1210
00:57:43,548 --> 00:57:45,122
and work in us and through us

1211
00:57:45,122 --> 00:57:47,972
as we follow you with love in our hearts,

1212
00:57:47,972 --> 00:57:51,319
is our prayer, in Jesus' name, amen.

1213
00:57:51,319 --> 00:57:54,134
Thanks for joining us 
for Hope Sabbath School.

1214
00:57:54,134 --> 00:57:57,334
We are learning a lot from 
the Gospel of Matthew.

1215
00:57:57,334 --> 00:58:00,558
Take what you learn and 
share it with those around you.

1216
00:58:00,558 --> 00:58:29,997
♪ theme music ♪