1 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:07,464 Welcome to Heaven Earth Church. 2 00:00:07,512 --> 00:00:09,416 My name is Ross Stackhouse. 3 00:00:09,448 --> 00:00:12,680 I'm the founding pastor of Heaven Earth Church. 4 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,632 From the beginning, our heart was to be a church for people who 5 00:00:16,656 --> 00:00:18,696 don't fit neatly into church. 6 00:00:18,888 --> 00:00:22,712 Our heart is to meet people where they are, to learn their stories, 7 00:00:22,856 --> 00:00:24,072 to honor their stories. 8 00:00:24,136 --> 00:00:27,568 Because in every human story is God's story. 9 00:00:27,744 --> 00:00:31,120 In this podcast, you'll hear more about the people who now call 10 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:32,768 Heaven Earth Church home. 11 00:00:32,824 --> 00:00:36,800 Their stories, in many cases of misfits who are discovering or 12 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:38,096 rediscovering faith. 13 00:00:38,208 --> 00:00:39,312 If you want to know more about. 14 00:00:39,336 --> 00:00:42,992 Us, you can go to heavenorthchurch.org Otherwise, we 15 00:00:43,016 --> 00:00:45,340 invite you now into the story. 16 00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:48,448 Hello, good people. 17 00:00:48,504 --> 00:00:53,402 Brad Miller here, the producer of the Heaven Earth Church podcast. 18 00:00:53,576 --> 00:00:57,142 One of the main benefits of being a part of the Heaven Earth 19 00:00:57,206 --> 00:01:03,254 Church community is our Sunday morning conversations taught by founding 20 00:01:03,302 --> 00:01:05,850 pastor Ross Stackhouse. 21 00:01:06,430 --> 00:01:11,450 You can watch and participate in the Sunday morning conversation 22 00:01:11,790 --> 00:01:20,490 this Sunday morning, 9:30am Eastern time at YouTube.com heavenerthchurch. 23 00:01:21,190 --> 00:01:26,174 The audio version of the Sunday morning conversation is available 24 00:01:26,262 --> 00:01:31,118 here on the podcast, which you can find at Apple Podcasts, Spotify 25 00:01:31,294 --> 00:01:39,070 and on the website, which is heavenearthchurch.org here now is 26 00:01:39,110 --> 00:01:45,342 the first message from the Essentials series, shaped from the 27 00:01:45,366 --> 00:01:46,490 inside out. 28 00:01:47,610 --> 00:01:52,950 Continual friendship with God, with Pastor Ross Stackhouse. 29 00:01:58,970 --> 00:02:05,070 Okay, hey, we're gonna talk about this today. 30 00:02:06,330 --> 00:02:06,690 Just. 31 00:02:06,730 --> 00:02:08,590 That was a fast segue, wasn't it? 32 00:02:10,170 --> 00:02:14,264 A lot of times we think about the great commands of Jesus or of 33 00:02:14,352 --> 00:02:19,144 the scriptures that Jesus identified and reaffirmed as the 34 00:02:19,152 --> 00:02:20,248 great commands. 35 00:02:20,424 --> 00:02:23,880 But I don't know if we think about Jesus living the great commands 36 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:25,580 on our behalf. 37 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:31,020 We might think of Jesus being an example of living the great commands. 38 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,160 But we may not think of Jesus living the great commands on our 39 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:35,980 behalf. 40 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,220 I hope by the end that makes more sense. 41 00:02:41,310 --> 00:02:45,890 He calls us to live the great commands on behalf of others. 42 00:02:47,070 --> 00:02:52,550 Today we are kicking off a series on the bare necessities of 43 00:02:52,590 --> 00:02:54,170 discipleship with Jesus. 44 00:02:54,510 --> 00:02:58,118 We're talking about what are called the five discipleship essentials 45 00:02:58,134 --> 00:02:59,610 of Heaven Earth Church. 46 00:03:00,750 --> 00:03:03,718 And we're doing that by talking about. 47 00:03:03,854 --> 00:03:06,988 We're going to dig into those, dig deep into those. 48 00:03:07,044 --> 00:03:10,800 By talking about immigration. 49 00:03:20,900 --> 00:03:22,600 How do you feel right now? 50 00:03:26,420 --> 00:03:27,676 How many of you. 51 00:03:27,828 --> 00:03:31,250 Your anxiety went up just a little bit when I said that. 52 00:03:31,420 --> 00:03:32,694 Embrace, show of hands. 53 00:03:32,742 --> 00:03:34,038 Your anxiety went up some. 54 00:03:34,094 --> 00:03:34,502 No. 55 00:03:34,606 --> 00:03:35,290 Yes. 56 00:03:37,710 --> 00:03:46,150 You might be saying, ross, I come to church to rest from the political 57 00:03:46,270 --> 00:03:49,850 mayhem and the upheaval that's happening. 58 00:03:51,710 --> 00:03:54,550 Why are you talking about this political stuff? 59 00:03:54,630 --> 00:03:55,250 Why? 60 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:00,144 In fact, I want to talk about it today. 61 00:04:00,232 --> 00:04:08,140 Partly to help you to rest, to help you have anchoring power. 62 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:14,640 I am not talking about this today with political motivation or 63 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:15,696 agenda. 64 00:04:15,888 --> 00:04:20,400 I told Emily I'm making up a definition of politics for us this 65 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:20,736 week. 66 00:04:20,808 --> 00:04:23,744 We had a series called Good Politics back in November, if you 67 00:04:23,752 --> 00:04:24,672 want to go reference that. 68 00:04:24,696 --> 00:04:26,500 It's a deeper dive into politics. 69 00:04:27,130 --> 00:04:35,122 By politics, I mean it's an idea or agenda an individual group 70 00:04:35,146 --> 00:04:40,066 of people have about how to order a society, and it's the means 71 00:04:40,138 --> 00:04:43,350 by which they achieve that agenda or idea. 72 00:04:44,890 --> 00:04:46,354 That is not Merriam Webster. 73 00:04:46,402 --> 00:04:47,138 That's Ross. 74 00:04:47,234 --> 00:04:49,670 You can say that definition stinks. 75 00:04:50,010 --> 00:04:55,590 I'm thinking about, like, how politics actually function our world. 76 00:04:56,130 --> 00:05:00,170 It's sort of the ideal that a group of people or individuals have 77 00:05:00,210 --> 00:05:04,070 about how to govern or order a society, and it's the means by which 78 00:05:04,610 --> 00:05:08,150 they make that agenda or ideal come to life. 79 00:05:09,090 --> 00:05:12,250 I have no political agenda or motivation today. 80 00:05:12,290 --> 00:05:16,442 If you walk out today having heard what I said, and you're like, 81 00:05:16,466 --> 00:05:20,692 gosh, I'm so glad I'm a Republican, or you walk out and you 82 00:05:20,716 --> 00:05:24,276 say, oh, gosh, I'm so glad I voted Democrat then I partly failed 83 00:05:24,308 --> 00:05:24,880 today. 84 00:05:27,900 --> 00:05:29,400 I have one goal. 85 00:05:30,300 --> 00:05:31,040 1. 86 00:05:31,820 --> 00:05:34,440 Our church has ultimately one goal. 87 00:05:35,660 --> 00:05:40,692 We want to be committed, fruitful, flourishing apprentices 88 00:05:40,836 --> 00:05:43,320 of Jesus, who is Lord. 89 00:05:45,110 --> 00:05:46,090 That's it. 90 00:05:48,230 --> 00:05:50,990 So by the end today, I'll probably take some. 91 00:05:51,110 --> 00:05:54,890 Take a couple of shots at folks that tend to lean more right. 92 00:05:56,310 --> 00:06:00,334 And then by the end, I'll also take some shots at some things that 93 00:06:00,342 --> 00:06:01,730 are more left leaning. 94 00:06:02,950 --> 00:06:07,610 If you're hurt today in a very personal way, come talk to me. 95 00:06:09,030 --> 00:06:12,370 People have disagreed with me so many times already in this church. 96 00:06:12,710 --> 00:06:13,730 Awesome. 97 00:06:15,510 --> 00:06:16,046 Sometimes. 98 00:06:16,078 --> 00:06:17,806 I know now, Ross, we need to have coffee. 99 00:06:17,838 --> 00:06:20,622 I know what that means, and I welcome it. 100 00:06:20,646 --> 00:06:22,250 I love you all so much. 101 00:06:23,110 --> 00:06:26,078 And together, we are seeking to be in agreement with Jesus. 102 00:06:26,174 --> 00:06:30,318 Okay, I really believe you're gonna leave today encouraged. 103 00:06:30,494 --> 00:06:31,690 I believe that. 104 00:06:33,350 --> 00:06:37,422 So the main goal actually is to situate this conversation in what 105 00:06:37,446 --> 00:06:40,610 are called the discipleship essentials of Heaven, Earth Church. 106 00:06:41,580 --> 00:06:43,920 Well, how on earth did we come up with those? 107 00:06:45,340 --> 00:06:46,132 I'll tell you this. 108 00:06:46,156 --> 00:06:47,572 We worked really hard. 109 00:06:47,756 --> 00:06:51,252 Months ago, there was a group of people called the Strategy Team 110 00:06:51,436 --> 00:06:56,580 from very different walks of life, different ages, and we kind 111 00:06:56,620 --> 00:06:57,876 of asked a question. 112 00:06:58,028 --> 00:07:00,964 If there was a committed, fruitful, flourishing apprentice 113 00:07:01,012 --> 00:07:05,360 of Jesus in our midst, what would they look like? 114 00:07:07,830 --> 00:07:10,650 What kind of fruit would they be bearing in their life? 115 00:07:11,910 --> 00:07:15,630 And what essentials would they be spending time with practicing 116 00:07:15,710 --> 00:07:17,102 to produce that fruit? 117 00:07:17,246 --> 00:07:18,210 Makes sense. 118 00:07:19,350 --> 00:07:22,050 We had a big, long list, didn't we, Charles? 119 00:07:22,390 --> 00:07:28,414 It was a long list and we whittled it down after lots of prayer 120 00:07:28,462 --> 00:07:30,410 and discernment to five. 121 00:07:30,710 --> 00:07:34,100 And I'm going to flash these five up to you now. 122 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:39,380 There they are. 123 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,416 Now, we don't publish these, like, on our website because they're 124 00:07:43,448 --> 00:07:45,336 kind of nonsensical a little bit. 125 00:07:45,488 --> 00:07:49,336 Our community core values are more things that we put out, like, 126 00:07:49,408 --> 00:07:51,176 because they're more accessible. 127 00:07:51,368 --> 00:07:54,280 Our community core values are ones you've heard about a lot. 128 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,096 Those are ones that, like, you could walk in and champion our core 129 00:07:57,128 --> 00:07:58,648 values day one. 130 00:07:58,704 --> 00:07:59,058 Day. 131 00:07:59,144 --> 00:08:01,650 These are a little deeper, a little tougher. 132 00:08:02,070 --> 00:08:03,330 Take practice. 133 00:08:04,390 --> 00:08:08,718 Shaped from the inside out by continuous companionship with God. 134 00:08:08,894 --> 00:08:11,610 That's something that we're trying to cultivate together. 135 00:08:13,430 --> 00:08:16,302 Number two, we want to be humble, hungry, and willing to seek 136 00:08:16,366 --> 00:08:17,170 Jesus. 137 00:08:18,230 --> 00:08:23,038 We want to seek Jesus way in his worldview above everything else. 138 00:08:23,134 --> 00:08:27,594 We want a curiosity about his worldview and a hunger for his worldview 139 00:08:27,722 --> 00:08:31,786 and a willingness to do what he says and does before it makes 140 00:08:31,858 --> 00:08:32,510 sense. 141 00:08:34,130 --> 00:08:37,866 Number three, Jesus had grace in the great commands at the core 142 00:08:37,898 --> 00:08:38,870 of his life. 143 00:08:40,130 --> 00:08:41,978 We want to cultivate that, too. 144 00:08:42,114 --> 00:08:44,922 I said, the one thing that we're spending time on today is that 145 00:08:44,946 --> 00:08:48,362 Jesus lived the great commands on our behalf and he calls us to 146 00:08:48,386 --> 00:08:49,978 do the same on behalf of others. 147 00:08:50,114 --> 00:08:53,486 Number four, shorter the scent essential. 148 00:08:53,678 --> 00:08:58,238 This basically means that we commit to together unearthing this 149 00:08:58,294 --> 00:09:03,870 concept or this idea that Jesus sends us to people, to specific 150 00:09:03,950 --> 00:09:09,326 people, and we need to listen to, like, to whom is God sending 151 00:09:09,358 --> 00:09:09,742 us? 152 00:09:09,846 --> 00:09:13,570 I heard a guy ask, where is our Nazareth? 153 00:09:15,030 --> 00:09:16,670 Jesus showed up in Nazareth. 154 00:09:16,750 --> 00:09:17,370 Why? 155 00:09:18,330 --> 00:09:20,754 Well, because that's where a lot of people who are considered 156 00:09:20,802 --> 00:09:23,390 low lives lived in Jesus's day and age. 157 00:09:23,770 --> 00:09:25,390 That's where God showed up. 158 00:09:26,730 --> 00:09:30,070 Now, we might not be sent to someone who's a low life, okay? 159 00:09:31,290 --> 00:09:34,386 But we do want to take seriously, hey, who is God sending 160 00:09:34,418 --> 00:09:38,350 me to and how do I show up? 161 00:09:39,930 --> 00:09:42,914 Number five, great collaboration with the big good news. 162 00:09:43,002 --> 00:09:45,184 Today we're focusing on the first three. 163 00:09:45,362 --> 00:09:46,280 Okay? 164 00:09:47,100 --> 00:09:50,420 I want to show you how, when we have an issue like immigration 165 00:09:50,500 --> 00:09:54,756 that's happening in our world, how these essentials can guide us 166 00:09:54,828 --> 00:09:56,240 incredibly well. 167 00:09:56,620 --> 00:09:59,320 I want to demonstrate that with you, okay? 168 00:10:00,780 --> 00:10:04,580 So there will be time for questions, like we do typically, 169 00:10:04,660 --> 00:10:06,100 but it'll be more toward the end. 170 00:10:06,140 --> 00:10:06,880 All right? 171 00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:08,640 Are you with me? 172 00:10:09,020 --> 00:10:10,640 Are you ready to dive in? 173 00:10:14,490 --> 00:10:16,434 Can I ask you one last thing? 174 00:10:16,522 --> 00:10:22,274 If right now you feel resistance in yourself, I invite 175 00:10:22,322 --> 00:10:26,190 you to hand that over to God to be fully present here. 176 00:10:27,130 --> 00:10:29,430 Defensiveness, resistance. 177 00:10:31,210 --> 00:10:33,190 Be open, curious. 178 00:10:34,410 --> 00:10:38,162 Firstly, I want to show you how if we're going to be shaped from 179 00:10:38,186 --> 00:10:41,830 the inside out by continuous companionship with God. 180 00:10:42,210 --> 00:10:46,826 Shaped by God from the inside out through, like, this ongoing friendship 181 00:10:46,938 --> 00:10:50,778 that takes a lifetime to cultivate, just like a friendship 182 00:10:50,954 --> 00:10:53,210 takes a lifetime to cultivate. 183 00:10:53,290 --> 00:10:53,910 Right. 184 00:10:54,290 --> 00:10:56,778 You have different seasons of friendship in your life. 185 00:10:56,834 --> 00:10:57,430 Right. 186 00:10:57,810 --> 00:11:00,570 As you get older, you might even learn what friendship is about 187 00:11:00,610 --> 00:11:01,750 in the first place. 188 00:11:04,690 --> 00:11:07,710 My wife and I have had, like three different marriages. 189 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:14,220 We had marriage, like first starting out when we had nothing. 190 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,856 We lived in Nashville, Tennessee, and we ate Hamburger Helper 191 00:11:20,888 --> 00:11:21,540 a lot. 192 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:23,416 I love Hamburger Helper. 193 00:11:23,448 --> 00:11:25,420 That's not a shot at Hamburger Helper. 194 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:30,840 Then we had, like, our marriage when we started to grow 195 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,798 up a little bit, started adulting a little bit more. 196 00:11:34,984 --> 00:11:36,882 Now we're in our third marriage. 197 00:11:37,026 --> 00:11:39,150 Marriage after you have children. 198 00:11:40,170 --> 00:11:45,186 This is a whole new world, a new fantastic point of view. 199 00:11:45,258 --> 00:11:45,842 I'm with you. 200 00:11:45,866 --> 00:11:46,354 See, Ashley? 201 00:11:46,402 --> 00:11:47,090 We're here for it. 202 00:11:47,130 --> 00:11:47,910 Okay? 203 00:11:52,650 --> 00:11:54,434 There's seasons of that friendship. 204 00:11:54,482 --> 00:11:57,698 If we're going to be shaped by continuous friendship with God, it's 205 00:11:57,714 --> 00:11:59,074 going to be a lifelong pursuit. 206 00:11:59,122 --> 00:12:00,392 And one of the ways we. 207 00:12:00,546 --> 00:12:04,640 We invest in that lifelong pursuit is through the Bible. 208 00:12:05,860 --> 00:12:10,860 Many of us find the Bible to be, like, confusing, complex, scary, 209 00:12:11,020 --> 00:12:11,676 weird. 210 00:12:11,788 --> 00:12:12,460 Yes. 211 00:12:12,620 --> 00:12:14,120 Do all those things. 212 00:12:15,540 --> 00:12:20,460 But what we have to learn is viewing the Bible as a library of 213 00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:25,676 scriptures with all kinds of different books from all different 214 00:12:25,748 --> 00:12:29,808 times and places through which we can discover God's heart. 215 00:12:29,864 --> 00:12:31,216 I'm going to say that again. 216 00:12:31,368 --> 00:12:34,176 The Bible is more like a library of scriptures with different 217 00:12:34,248 --> 00:12:38,592 books written from different times and places through which we 218 00:12:38,616 --> 00:12:40,688 can discover God's heart. 219 00:12:40,824 --> 00:12:44,704 Part of our discipline is learning how do we discover God's 220 00:12:44,752 --> 00:12:51,920 heart through it, rather than treating it like a textbook or a 221 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:52,480 manual. 222 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:55,632 Just like today, I'm going to install a catalytic converter on 223 00:12:55,656 --> 00:12:58,556 my awesome 2010 CRV. 224 00:12:58,748 --> 00:13:00,000 Wish me luck. 225 00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:03,052 Well, I don't need to. 226 00:13:03,156 --> 00:13:07,244 I don't read the Bible like I read the manual and instruction manual 227 00:13:07,372 --> 00:13:09,196 to install that catalytic converter. 228 00:13:09,228 --> 00:13:09,852 Okay? 229 00:13:09,996 --> 00:13:11,708 Some people have read the Bible that way. 230 00:13:11,764 --> 00:13:13,120 That ain't how it works. 231 00:13:14,020 --> 00:13:15,960 It's a living, breathing thing. 232 00:13:17,140 --> 00:13:21,180 All right, I want to show you today we have a rare example with 233 00:13:21,220 --> 00:13:28,160 immigration, how we can get a big picture view from wire to wire 234 00:13:29,140 --> 00:13:31,196 that demonstrates God's heart. 235 00:13:31,348 --> 00:13:33,708 That's what we're searching for. 236 00:13:33,844 --> 00:13:38,396 When we encounter the Scriptures, we pray things like, 237 00:13:38,468 --> 00:13:41,000 God help me to see your heart. 238 00:13:41,940 --> 00:13:44,640 As I spend time with this Bible. 239 00:13:46,180 --> 00:13:48,600 God help me to see your heart. 240 00:13:49,010 --> 00:13:53,338 I read this Bible and over a lifetime we're trying to get a big 241 00:13:53,394 --> 00:13:56,630 picture view of like, what does this library point to? 242 00:13:57,730 --> 00:14:00,554 You're going to see today how we're going to work deeper and deeper 243 00:14:00,602 --> 00:14:04,390 into the core of the Bible's heart, which is God's heart. 244 00:14:05,650 --> 00:14:07,642 So I'm going to show you today how. 245 00:14:07,666 --> 00:14:08,874 This is a rare example. 246 00:14:08,922 --> 00:14:11,226 Like sometimes we got to guess because the Bible doesn't mention 247 00:14:11,258 --> 00:14:11,402 it. 248 00:14:11,426 --> 00:14:15,150 The Bible doesn't say anything about what to do with your smartphone 249 00:14:15,230 --> 00:14:16,130 addiction. 250 00:14:16,550 --> 00:14:18,810 Did you know there's nothing in there about that. 251 00:14:19,990 --> 00:14:20,958 But buddy. 252 00:14:21,054 --> 00:14:21,810 Woo. 253 00:14:22,470 --> 00:14:23,490 Immigration. 254 00:14:23,910 --> 00:14:25,678 Wire to wire. 255 00:14:25,774 --> 00:14:30,622 Can I show you the entire Torah? 256 00:14:30,686 --> 00:14:34,830 First five books of the Bible is basically an immigrant's tale. 257 00:14:34,910 --> 00:14:41,732 Did you know that basically the entire first five books is an 258 00:14:41,756 --> 00:14:43,000 immigrant's tale? 259 00:14:44,700 --> 00:14:48,600 Abraham lived his entire life as an immigrant. 260 00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:51,780 Did you ever think of that? 261 00:14:51,820 --> 00:14:53,732 First you're like, I don't know who Abraham is to begin with, 262 00:14:53,756 --> 00:14:55,200 so it's no difference to me. 263 00:14:55,580 --> 00:14:56,756 He's a main character. 264 00:14:56,788 --> 00:14:57,396 Okay? 265 00:14:57,508 --> 00:14:59,200 Just trust me on that for now. 266 00:15:04,940 --> 00:15:05,668 Abram. 267 00:15:05,764 --> 00:15:06,916 God calls to Abram. 268 00:15:06,948 --> 00:15:07,716 His name was Abram. 269 00:15:07,748 --> 00:15:11,830 Then Abraham, God says, hey, I'm gonna call you to do this big 270 00:15:11,870 --> 00:15:13,990 new thing that I want to do with people in the world. 271 00:15:14,110 --> 00:15:17,510 So I'm going to have you move from the place you are Abram, and 272 00:15:17,550 --> 00:15:19,142 go to this other place. 273 00:15:19,326 --> 00:15:22,410 He spends his whole life as an immigrant. 274 00:15:26,110 --> 00:15:27,766 God promises him this. 275 00:15:27,918 --> 00:15:30,502 Have no doubt that your descendants will live as immigrants 276 00:15:30,566 --> 00:15:34,054 in a land that isn't their own, where they'll be oppressed slaves 277 00:15:34,102 --> 00:15:35,014 for 400 years. 278 00:15:35,102 --> 00:15:35,366 Wow. 279 00:15:35,398 --> 00:15:36,730 Isn't that exciting? 280 00:15:37,540 --> 00:15:40,160 I can't wait to give my life to that God. 281 00:15:40,580 --> 00:15:42,040 But did you see it? 282 00:15:43,460 --> 00:15:49,532 Your descendants will spend much of their entire like existence 283 00:15:49,676 --> 00:15:53,080 as what is it? 284 00:15:54,660 --> 00:15:55,920 And immigrants. 285 00:15:56,900 --> 00:15:59,020 Ross and other translations. 286 00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:00,460 Doesn't it say foreigner? 287 00:16:00,540 --> 00:16:01,680 You betcha. 288 00:16:02,100 --> 00:16:02,434 Immigrants. 289 00:16:02,452 --> 00:16:03,930 That's a harsher reality. 290 00:16:04,430 --> 00:16:07,490 In this world, you are either one of us or you're not. 291 00:16:08,510 --> 00:16:11,010 You're either Egyptian or you're not. 292 00:16:11,470 --> 00:16:13,478 You're either a Moabite or you're not. 293 00:16:13,534 --> 00:16:15,810 You're either an Israelite or you're not. 294 00:16:16,190 --> 00:16:19,450 And if you're not, good luck. 295 00:16:20,270 --> 00:16:23,970 It's a dog eat dog world for everybody, but especially you. 296 00:16:25,710 --> 00:16:28,810 Abraham spends his whole life as an immigrant. 297 00:16:29,750 --> 00:16:33,150 Wire to wire From Genesis to Revelation, this thing has a lot 298 00:16:33,190 --> 00:16:34,010 about it. 299 00:16:35,350 --> 00:16:36,014 Exodus. 300 00:16:36,062 --> 00:16:38,170 We're going to skip forward to the second book. 301 00:16:39,430 --> 00:16:44,478 All of Exodus has provisions about how to include immigrants Israel 302 00:16:44,654 --> 00:16:46,170 in your way of life. 303 00:16:47,270 --> 00:16:48,430 Like, hey, if the. 304 00:16:48,470 --> 00:16:51,550 If people want to practice Sabbath, including the residents 305 00:16:51,630 --> 00:16:53,930 and the immigrants, here's how they do it. 306 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,096 Exodus has instructions like this. 307 00:16:57,168 --> 00:16:59,896 Don't mistreat or impress or Oppress. 308 00:17:00,008 --> 00:17:04,664 And because you were once immigrants in the land of Egypt. 309 00:17:04,712 --> 00:17:08,952 So this is after they had that time of slavery and immigrated to 310 00:17:08,976 --> 00:17:10,020 this other land. 311 00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:15,816 Don't mistreat or oppress immigrants because you were once 312 00:17:15,888 --> 00:17:16,820 one of them. 313 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,406 Going further, we got a lot of Scripture today, folks. 314 00:17:22,438 --> 00:17:24,090 I hope you ate your Wheaties. 315 00:17:24,750 --> 00:17:26,054 Don't oppress. 316 00:17:26,182 --> 00:17:29,890 And you know what it's like to be in. 317 00:17:30,750 --> 00:17:34,810 Because you were in the land of Egypt. 318 00:17:36,430 --> 00:17:39,462 Oh, I'm sick and tired of hearing this already, Ross. 319 00:17:39,526 --> 00:17:40,102 Well, guess what? 320 00:17:40,126 --> 00:17:41,686 The Israelites were too. 321 00:17:41,838 --> 00:17:43,974 And why did God have to keep repeating it? 322 00:17:44,062 --> 00:17:45,610 Because he knew they'd forget. 323 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:50,860 You'll hear a shift now. 324 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,304 These people who had spent much of their existence as immigrants 325 00:17:54,352 --> 00:17:55,540 became residents. 326 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:58,704 They were somebody now. 327 00:17:58,872 --> 00:18:01,760 So God had to keep reminding him, reminding them. 328 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:03,792 Don't forget Leviticus, Genesis, Exodus. 329 00:18:03,856 --> 00:18:04,336 Leviticus. 330 00:18:04,368 --> 00:18:05,584 We're still in book three. 331 00:18:05,672 --> 00:18:07,180 We got a long way to go. 332 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,104 Also, do not pick your vineyard clean or gather up all the 333 00:18:11,112 --> 00:18:12,504 grapes that have fallen there. 334 00:18:12,632 --> 00:18:15,144 Leave these items for the poor and the immigrant. 335 00:18:15,192 --> 00:18:16,780 I am the Lord your God. 336 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,760 Leviticus 19:33 and 34. 337 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,384 When immigrants live in your land with you, you must not cheat 338 00:18:25,432 --> 00:18:26,020 them. 339 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,672 Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were 340 00:18:29,696 --> 00:18:31,340 one of your citizens. 341 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,312 You must love them as yourself. 342 00:18:34,376 --> 00:18:35,384 There's the great command. 343 00:18:35,432 --> 00:18:36,260 Did you see? 344 00:18:38,810 --> 00:18:40,270 We'll come back to it. 345 00:18:40,730 --> 00:18:42,162 You must love them as yourself. 346 00:18:42,226 --> 00:18:42,830 Why? 347 00:18:43,370 --> 00:18:47,426 Remember, you were one of them once because you were immigrants 348 00:18:47,458 --> 00:18:48,870 in the land of Egypt. 349 00:18:50,810 --> 00:18:53,474 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. 350 00:18:53,522 --> 00:18:56,082 Numbers has a bunch of provisions about what to do with 351 00:18:56,106 --> 00:18:56,514 immigrants. 352 00:18:56,562 --> 00:18:57,954 We're going to skip a book of the Bible. 353 00:18:58,002 --> 00:19:00,670 Aren't you glad that we're not going to go through all 66. 354 00:19:02,810 --> 00:19:08,392 He who God enacts justice for orphans and widows, and he loves 355 00:19:08,456 --> 00:19:11,100 immigrants, giving them food and clothing. 356 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:16,232 That means you must also love immigrants because you are immigrants. 357 00:19:16,296 --> 00:19:20,220 In Egypt, later, in Deuteronomy. 358 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:22,424 Don't detest Edomites. 359 00:19:22,472 --> 00:19:23,080 Remember what I said. 360 00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:24,900 You're either one of us or you're not. 361 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,660 You're either an Israelite or you're not. 362 00:19:29,770 --> 00:19:32,130 The Israelites hated the Edomites. 363 00:19:32,210 --> 00:19:34,962 Don't detest them because they are your relatives. 364 00:19:35,106 --> 00:19:38,194 Don't detest Egyptians because you were immigrants in their land. 365 00:19:38,282 --> 00:19:41,790 But God, they enslaved us for all that time and mistreated us, 366 00:19:44,970 --> 00:19:46,350 is what it is. 367 00:19:51,690 --> 00:19:52,530 We'll keep going. 368 00:19:52,570 --> 00:19:53,350 Okay. 369 00:19:54,570 --> 00:19:56,180 Oh, it gets stronger. 370 00:19:56,260 --> 00:19:56,920 Shoot. 371 00:19:57,820 --> 00:19:59,428 Deuteronomy, chapter 27. 372 00:19:59,484 --> 00:20:01,700 Cursed is anyone who obstructs. 373 00:20:01,780 --> 00:20:07,400 Obstructs the legal rights of immigrants, orphans or widows. 374 00:20:09,900 --> 00:20:10,260 What? 375 00:20:10,300 --> 00:20:11,332 They had legal rights. 376 00:20:11,436 --> 00:20:13,600 They did sure did. 377 00:20:14,860 --> 00:20:16,628 They had something called we. 378 00:20:16,684 --> 00:20:17,280 We. 379 00:20:19,980 --> 00:20:21,860 Oh, let me back up just a little bit more. 380 00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:22,212 Did I. 381 00:20:22,236 --> 00:20:23,360 Did I skip one? 382 00:20:23,860 --> 00:20:26,844 Don't take advantage of poor, needy workers, whether they are fellow 383 00:20:26,892 --> 00:20:29,920 Israelites or immigrants who live in your land, your cities. 384 00:20:32,340 --> 00:20:34,924 Don't obstruct the legal rights of an immigrant or orphan. 385 00:20:34,972 --> 00:20:37,520 Don't take a widow's coat as pledge for your loan. 386 00:20:41,140 --> 00:20:42,124 What did the prophets. 387 00:20:42,172 --> 00:20:46,556 Why did Jesus, when he was asked, hey, what's the greatest instruction 388 00:20:46,588 --> 00:20:47,116 in the law? 389 00:20:47,188 --> 00:20:50,252 The first five books, he says, love the Lord your God with all your 390 00:20:50,276 --> 00:20:51,404 heart, mind, soul and strength. 391 00:20:51,452 --> 00:20:54,608 And the second one is, like it, love your neighbor as yourself. 392 00:20:54,784 --> 00:20:57,824 All the law, the first five books and the prophets. 393 00:20:57,872 --> 00:20:59,152 Hang on those two things. 394 00:20:59,256 --> 00:21:00,432 Why did he say that? 395 00:21:00,536 --> 00:21:04,192 Because Jesus's people were ignoring the prophets. 396 00:21:04,336 --> 00:21:07,936 The prophets who said, look, you guys are awesome at worship. 397 00:21:08,048 --> 00:21:11,152 You honor all these provisions in the first five books about how 398 00:21:11,176 --> 00:21:15,360 to do worship, but you miss the main thing, which is God's heart 399 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,264 for the vulnerable person among you. 400 00:21:17,352 --> 00:21:20,340 You're not caring for the widow, the orphan and the stranger. 401 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:23,952 Ezekiel has to remind him of that. 402 00:21:23,976 --> 00:21:26,180 Hey, do you remember what it said in the Torah? 403 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,720 These people, they treat father and mother with contempt. 404 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,580 They oppress immigrants and deny the rights of orphans and widows. 405 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:41,936 The prophets said things like this over and again about, like getting 406 00:21:42,008 --> 00:21:44,500 right about what God said in the Torah. 407 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,016 The important people of all the land have practiced extortion 408 00:21:48,048 --> 00:21:49,136 and have committed robbery. 409 00:21:49,168 --> 00:21:51,542 They've oppressed the poor and mistreated the immigrant. 410 00:21:51,656 --> 00:21:53,950 They've oppressed and denied justice. 411 00:21:55,650 --> 00:21:57,470 Another one from Ezekiel. 412 00:21:59,410 --> 00:21:59,866 What? 413 00:21:59,938 --> 00:22:04,186 You will assign the immigrants inheritance with the tribe with whom 414 00:22:04,218 --> 00:22:05,230 they reside. 415 00:22:05,970 --> 00:22:07,550 This is nuts. 416 00:22:10,370 --> 00:22:12,310 Do you see what this is saying? 417 00:22:13,330 --> 00:22:19,510 These foreigners in your midst will have an inheritance just like 418 00:22:19,550 --> 00:22:20,490 the residents. 419 00:22:22,350 --> 00:22:23,450 My God. 420 00:22:27,070 --> 00:22:28,170 My God. 421 00:22:31,150 --> 00:22:33,862 So I wanted to show you. 422 00:22:33,886 --> 00:22:36,450 This is in line with essential one. 423 00:22:37,470 --> 00:22:39,290 If you want to be shaped. 424 00:22:39,630 --> 00:22:45,492 If we want to be committed, fruitful, flourishing disciples of 425 00:22:45,516 --> 00:22:53,636 Jesus, our hearts have to be shaped from the inside out by God's 426 00:22:53,668 --> 00:22:54,240 heart. 427 00:22:55,180 --> 00:22:56,400 Are you with me? 428 00:22:57,340 --> 00:23:01,028 And if we're going to know God's heart, we got to travel around 429 00:23:01,084 --> 00:23:05,332 in the library of scriptures and want to know the big themes that 430 00:23:05,356 --> 00:23:07,600 are represented from beginning to end. 431 00:23:10,150 --> 00:23:12,094 We don't just cherry pick scriptures. 432 00:23:12,142 --> 00:23:12,970 We like. 433 00:23:13,750 --> 00:23:17,534 We got a hard question in our question series about homosexuality. 434 00:23:17,582 --> 00:23:18,430 What did I do? 435 00:23:18,550 --> 00:23:24,730 I went through every reference in the thing about it, did I not? 436 00:23:25,350 --> 00:23:26,574 You're like, I don't know, Ross. 437 00:23:26,622 --> 00:23:27,438 I don't remember that. 438 00:23:27,494 --> 00:23:28,766 Well, anyways, go back. 439 00:23:28,838 --> 00:23:29,326 I did. 440 00:23:29,398 --> 00:23:36,776 Okay, so we're not going to Come to a good place. 441 00:23:36,958 --> 00:23:43,252 If I'll bring this up. 442 00:23:43,276 --> 00:23:44,596 I actually put this in a slide. 443 00:23:44,628 --> 00:23:45,920 I'm pretty sure I did. 444 00:23:46,460 --> 00:23:49,428 We're not going to come to a good place in terms of what the right 445 00:23:49,484 --> 00:23:52,756 thing to do is if our motives and thoughts come from the outside 446 00:23:52,828 --> 00:23:53,440 in. 447 00:23:54,220 --> 00:23:58,452 Mostly, if you want to be shaped by friendship with God from 448 00:23:58,476 --> 00:24:00,852 the inside out, that is that program. 449 00:24:00,956 --> 00:24:02,228 I did that slide, right? 450 00:24:02,284 --> 00:24:03,520 I checked it today. 451 00:24:04,500 --> 00:24:05,340 I did. 452 00:24:05,460 --> 00:24:06,960 I checked it twice. 453 00:24:08,180 --> 00:24:09,560 Daggone it. 454 00:24:11,700 --> 00:24:14,572 If we're gonna have, like, come to a good place in terms of 455 00:24:14,596 --> 00:24:18,684 what the right thing to do is, we have to be shaped from the inside 456 00:24:18,732 --> 00:24:19,084 out. 457 00:24:19,172 --> 00:24:23,084 We have to beware of the propaganda swamp in which we currently 458 00:24:23,172 --> 00:24:24,000 travel. 459 00:24:24,900 --> 00:24:31,052 We get propaganda regularly from people who have a fierce Democratic 460 00:24:31,116 --> 00:24:31,836 Party agenda. 461 00:24:31,868 --> 00:24:35,552 We get propaganda regularly from folks who are deeply committ 462 00:24:35,716 --> 00:24:37,580 to the Republican agenda. 463 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:41,912 If we want to be fruitful, flourishing disciples of Jesus, we 464 00:24:41,936 --> 00:24:44,580 have to be shaped from the inside out by his heart. 465 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,020 That's how we'll find the right thing to do. 466 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:53,992 And you might be saying, ross, well, but what does Jesus have to 467 00:24:54,016 --> 00:24:54,600 say about it? 468 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:58,180 Well, wouldn't you know that I prepared for that? 469 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,740 And in fact, it speaks to. 470 00:25:04,060 --> 00:25:04,820 I told you. 471 00:25:04,860 --> 00:25:07,540 We're going to root this in the discipleship essentials of our 472 00:25:07,580 --> 00:25:08,228 church. 473 00:25:08,404 --> 00:25:12,420 Number two, we want to be humble and hungry and willing to 474 00:25:12,460 --> 00:25:13,560 seek Jesus. 475 00:25:14,940 --> 00:25:16,372 What does Jesus say? 476 00:25:16,476 --> 00:25:17,840 What does he do? 477 00:25:18,460 --> 00:25:19,764 That's our concern. 478 00:25:19,932 --> 00:25:23,760 Our whole life at Heaven Earth Church is concerned with that question. 479 00:25:24,060 --> 00:25:25,428 We have one goal. 480 00:25:25,524 --> 00:25:26,852 What does Jesus say? 481 00:25:26,956 --> 00:25:28,004 What does he do? 482 00:25:28,092 --> 00:25:30,600 How do we say things and do things likewise? 483 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:32,384 It's that simple. 484 00:25:32,432 --> 00:25:33,580 And it's that hard. 485 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:37,664 Well, I don't have all the scriptures. 486 00:25:37,712 --> 00:25:38,704 I just have stories. 487 00:25:38,752 --> 00:25:40,192 I'll just tell you a few. 488 00:25:40,376 --> 00:25:44,656 Okay, first of all, there's a story where Jesus travels a long 489 00:25:44,728 --> 00:25:49,620 way to talk with just one Canaanite woman on the coast. 490 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:53,780 Canaanites were viewed as cockroaches that wouldn't die. 491 00:25:54,120 --> 00:25:54,864 Why? 492 00:25:55,032 --> 00:25:58,096 Because when Israel came to this land where they existed, guess 493 00:25:58,128 --> 00:25:59,260 who was living there? 494 00:25:59,710 --> 00:26:00,998 The Canaanites. 495 00:26:01,094 --> 00:26:03,862 And what did the Israelites devise that they should do with all 496 00:26:03,886 --> 00:26:04,550 these people? 497 00:26:04,670 --> 00:26:05,810 Root them out. 498 00:26:06,510 --> 00:26:07,142 Kill them. 499 00:26:07,166 --> 00:26:07,830 Get rid of them. 500 00:26:07,870 --> 00:26:10,330 Well, there's some cockroaches that just wouldn't die. 501 00:26:10,830 --> 00:26:12,582 And Jesus said, hey, guys, come with me. 502 00:26:12,606 --> 00:26:13,686 I got to show you somebody. 503 00:26:13,718 --> 00:26:15,062 He meets a Canaanite woman. 504 00:26:15,166 --> 00:26:17,862 He mistreats her as Israelites often did. 505 00:26:17,966 --> 00:26:21,190 And then she steps up and advocates for herself and says something 506 00:26:21,310 --> 00:26:21,894 to Jesus. 507 00:26:21,942 --> 00:26:24,930 And Jesus does something like, look at this faith in her. 508 00:26:26,470 --> 00:26:28,090 Look at what she Does. 509 00:26:28,950 --> 00:26:31,422 He uses a Canaanite woman as an example. 510 00:26:31,486 --> 00:26:32,090 Why? 511 00:26:32,550 --> 00:26:34,526 Because he's living out the great commands. 512 00:26:34,558 --> 00:26:36,462 He's living out the Torah and the prophets. 513 00:26:36,526 --> 00:26:38,570 He's like the Bible in a human body. 514 00:26:40,150 --> 00:26:43,214 One time he's traveling to Jerusalem. 515 00:26:43,262 --> 00:26:46,750 We talked about it, and his buddies are like, hey, let's not 516 00:26:46,790 --> 00:26:48,014 go through Samaria, okay? 517 00:26:48,062 --> 00:26:48,590 Jesus? 518 00:26:48,670 --> 00:26:52,100 He's like, yeah, good idea, but we're going to do it. 519 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:55,256 Jesus, we hate the Samaritans. 520 00:26:55,288 --> 00:26:56,540 They're like mutts. 521 00:26:58,640 --> 00:26:59,992 Yeah, I know you think that way. 522 00:27:00,016 --> 00:27:01,300 That's why we got to go. 523 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:06,024 So he tells a story about 10 lepers who come to him and ask to 524 00:27:06,032 --> 00:27:06,936 be healed. 525 00:27:07,128 --> 00:27:08,680 Jesus says, hey, go on your way. 526 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,432 Go back to the priests and get your certification. 527 00:27:11,496 --> 00:27:14,200 That allows you to integrate back into religious and social life. 528 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:16,126 And on the way, they're healed and. 529 00:27:16,168 --> 00:27:19,190 And only one comes back to say thank you to Jesus. 530 00:27:19,530 --> 00:27:20,802 What country was that? 531 00:27:20,826 --> 00:27:23,910 One guy from Samaria. 532 00:27:25,050 --> 00:27:30,834 Jesus, in the Gospel of John, fourth chapter, sits at high noon 533 00:27:30,882 --> 00:27:33,310 at a well next to one woman. 534 00:27:34,330 --> 00:27:35,390 What's she? 535 00:27:36,170 --> 00:27:37,590 A Samaritan. 536 00:27:38,010 --> 00:27:40,990 Who's the first missionary in the Gospel of John? 537 00:27:41,290 --> 00:27:42,550 A Samaritan. 538 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:47,860 Jesus loves enemies just like he asks us to do. 539 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,940 I did put one scripture from Jesus in here, though. 540 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:58,152 We'll look at that now. 541 00:27:58,176 --> 00:27:58,940 Okay. 542 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,336 Now, when the human one comes in, his majesty and all his angels 543 00:28:05,368 --> 00:28:07,980 are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. 544 00:28:08,330 --> 00:28:10,370 All the nations will be gathered in front of him. 545 00:28:10,410 --> 00:28:14,114 He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates 546 00:28:14,162 --> 00:28:15,346 the sheep from the goats. 547 00:28:15,458 --> 00:28:18,002 He will put the sheet on his right side, but the goats he'll put 548 00:28:18,026 --> 00:28:18,530 on his left. 549 00:28:18,570 --> 00:28:20,498 If you're like, I don't know what that means, it's okay. 550 00:28:20,594 --> 00:28:22,210 We're just going to keep going for today. 551 00:28:22,330 --> 00:28:24,434 Then the king will say to those on his right, come. 552 00:28:24,522 --> 00:28:26,482 You will receive good things from my father. 553 00:28:26,546 --> 00:28:29,090 Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world 554 00:28:29,130 --> 00:28:29,830 began. 555 00:28:30,810 --> 00:28:33,090 I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. 556 00:28:33,170 --> 00:28:34,962 I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. 557 00:28:35,026 --> 00:28:37,470 I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 558 00:28:38,630 --> 00:28:40,558 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. 559 00:28:40,574 --> 00:28:42,094 I was sick and you took care of me. 560 00:28:42,182 --> 00:28:45,342 I was in prison and you visited me then. 561 00:28:45,366 --> 00:28:47,742 Those who are righteous will reply to them, Lord, when did we 562 00:28:47,766 --> 00:28:50,610 see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you a drink? 563 00:28:51,750 --> 00:28:54,846 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you or naked 564 00:28:54,878 --> 00:28:56,450 and give you clothes to wear? 565 00:28:56,950 --> 00:29:00,010 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? 566 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,608 I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least 567 00:29:05,664 --> 00:29:09,780 of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me. 568 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:25,580 So if we want to be fruitful, flourishing apprentices of Jesus, 569 00:29:29,610 --> 00:29:31,110 that's his worldview. 570 00:29:31,530 --> 00:29:32,710 What's yours? 571 00:29:35,450 --> 00:29:36,418 I didn't say it. 572 00:29:36,474 --> 00:29:37,230 He did. 573 00:29:40,330 --> 00:29:41,042 I told you. 574 00:29:41,066 --> 00:29:42,550 You're gonna have time for feedback. 575 00:29:43,130 --> 00:29:44,690 We're getting there, I promise. 576 00:29:44,850 --> 00:29:46,866 But we gotta get to the last essential. 577 00:29:46,978 --> 00:29:47,830 Okay? 578 00:29:49,050 --> 00:29:50,674 We're working deeper into the core. 579 00:29:50,722 --> 00:29:53,672 See, Ross, I don't know what to do about this issue. 580 00:29:53,826 --> 00:29:56,332 Well, try to find God's heart through the library of scriptures. 581 00:29:56,396 --> 00:29:57,660 I tried and I couldn't do it. 582 00:29:57,700 --> 00:30:00,732 Okay, next key, go to Jesus. 583 00:30:00,876 --> 00:30:02,012 What does he say and do? 584 00:30:02,036 --> 00:30:04,924 If you don't know what else to do, look at what he says and does. 585 00:30:05,012 --> 00:30:06,332 I tried and I couldn't find it. 586 00:30:06,356 --> 00:30:07,020 Well, then What? 587 00:30:07,060 --> 00:30:09,148 Next essential 3. 588 00:30:09,204 --> 00:30:11,036 Put grace in the great commands at the core. 589 00:30:11,068 --> 00:30:14,636 If you know nothing else to do, ask yourself what the great commands 590 00:30:14,668 --> 00:30:14,956 are. 591 00:30:15,028 --> 00:30:15,580 What are they? 592 00:30:15,620 --> 00:30:18,268 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. 593 00:30:18,364 --> 00:30:19,980 And I forgot to mention this part. 594 00:30:20,020 --> 00:30:24,182 He says before he mentions the second one. 595 00:30:24,206 --> 00:30:24,742 What does he say? 596 00:30:24,766 --> 00:30:27,078 He says, love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul 597 00:30:27,094 --> 00:30:27,526 and strength. 598 00:30:27,558 --> 00:30:28,326 And love your neighbor. 599 00:30:28,358 --> 00:30:29,462 Oh, no. 600 00:30:29,486 --> 00:30:30,950 He says something in between those two things. 601 00:30:30,990 --> 00:30:31,970 What's he say? 602 00:30:33,150 --> 00:30:34,090 Anyone? 603 00:30:36,670 --> 00:30:40,210 He says, the second is like it. 604 00:30:40,990 --> 00:30:44,610 The second command is like the first one. 605 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:50,700 Let's get into the politics of it. 606 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:52,160 Let's get into the real issue. 607 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:55,824 Okay, Ross. 608 00:30:55,872 --> 00:31:00,460 But at the end of the day, my wife put up a post on Facebook. 609 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:03,920 I already said I wholeheartedly endorse it. 610 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:05,580 So it's no secret there. 611 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:07,104 Let's be honest. 612 00:31:07,152 --> 00:31:09,696 My wife could put up a lot of things, and I better just wholeheartedly 613 00:31:09,728 --> 00:31:10,192 endorse it. 614 00:31:10,216 --> 00:31:10,900 Okay? 615 00:31:12,130 --> 00:31:13,990 I want to stay married to her. 616 00:31:14,850 --> 00:31:17,626 She could put like, I wholeheartedly think that aliens 617 00:31:17,658 --> 00:31:19,162 are circling the earth right now. 618 00:31:19,186 --> 00:31:21,274 And be like, I wholeheartedly endorse this, honey. 619 00:31:21,322 --> 00:31:22,030 Yep. 620 00:31:22,610 --> 00:31:24,570 But I actually endorse this. 621 00:31:24,690 --> 00:31:29,050 What she said on there, you might say some of the pushback she 622 00:31:29,090 --> 00:31:30,458 got, I've gotten is. 623 00:31:30,594 --> 00:31:32,990 But, Ross, ultimately, they're here illegally. 624 00:31:35,010 --> 00:31:36,950 At the end of the day, they broke the law. 625 00:31:39,180 --> 00:31:41,440 Okay, I hear that. 626 00:31:44,540 --> 00:31:46,320 The second is like it. 627 00:31:46,780 --> 00:31:50,116 Love your neighbor as yourself. 628 00:31:50,308 --> 00:31:51,476 Really simply. 629 00:31:51,588 --> 00:31:54,040 This is such a way of life for us, folks. 630 00:31:55,340 --> 00:32:00,320 Jesus is saying, place yourself in the shoes of the person 631 00:32:02,060 --> 00:32:04,240 and ask yourself this question. 632 00:32:11,630 --> 00:32:18,022 What consideration and love would I hope to receive if I were 633 00:32:18,046 --> 00:32:19,130 in their shoes? 634 00:32:20,350 --> 00:32:23,450 What consideration and love would I hope to receive? 635 00:32:24,190 --> 00:32:25,654 Ross, they're here illegally. 636 00:32:25,702 --> 00:32:26,726 That's just the way it is. 637 00:32:26,798 --> 00:32:28,390 If I were in Their shoes. 638 00:32:28,550 --> 00:32:31,890 I would hope that people would not judge me in that way. 639 00:32:32,550 --> 00:32:36,970 I would hope that they wouldn't assume that they know why 640 00:32:37,270 --> 00:32:39,770 I chose to come here the way I did. 641 00:32:41,350 --> 00:32:45,246 I would hope if I were in their shoes, someone would be curious 642 00:32:45,358 --> 00:32:50,170 instead of judgmental, which sounds like this. 643 00:32:50,710 --> 00:32:55,250 I wonder what would make a person flee where they were living 644 00:32:56,150 --> 00:32:58,520 so desperately to come here. 645 00:33:00,180 --> 00:33:01,720 Not through legal means. 646 00:33:04,100 --> 00:33:05,964 Curiosity rather than judgment. 647 00:33:06,012 --> 00:33:09,340 I hope that if I were in their shoes, someone would give me that 648 00:33:09,380 --> 00:33:15,080 consideration and love, I hope. 649 00:33:16,900 --> 00:33:23,372 And then, of course, now that they're here and some things that 650 00:33:23,396 --> 00:33:26,600 might be going on right now are going on right now, man, I hope. 651 00:33:28,410 --> 00:33:32,430 What if I were in that neighborhood, living there? 652 00:33:33,130 --> 00:33:35,470 What if it were my children at the school? 653 00:33:40,330 --> 00:33:43,350 What consideration and love would I hope to receive? 654 00:33:45,770 --> 00:33:49,350 And honestly, folks, that helps us on both sides of the border. 655 00:33:50,810 --> 00:33:52,850 It works for the person in Texas, too. 656 00:33:52,890 --> 00:33:55,426 Like, you're, like, what policy should I support or be about? 657 00:33:55,498 --> 00:33:56,670 That's a great question. 658 00:33:58,090 --> 00:34:01,362 Put yourself in the shoes of the people who are fleeing where 659 00:34:01,386 --> 00:34:04,114 they're living and also the people on this side of the border. 660 00:34:04,162 --> 00:34:04,950 It works. 661 00:34:05,370 --> 00:34:07,750 I don't think Jesus would have told us if it doesn't. 662 00:34:08,330 --> 00:34:09,350 It works. 663 00:34:11,450 --> 00:34:12,466 I'm almost finished. 664 00:34:12,498 --> 00:34:14,470 And then you get a talk, okay? 665 00:34:15,050 --> 00:34:16,674 I promise it'll happen. 666 00:34:16,842 --> 00:34:21,714 I know you doubt it because I go so long all the time at the end 667 00:34:21,722 --> 00:34:22,002 of the day. 668 00:34:22,026 --> 00:34:24,524 I told you, this is what we're anchoring into today. 669 00:34:24,722 --> 00:34:25,940 This right here. 670 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:29,100 Jesus lived the great commands on our behalf. 671 00:34:32,720 --> 00:34:40,952 So God looked upon us, his beloved people, who are now acting 672 00:34:41,016 --> 00:34:42,024 like they're strangers. 673 00:34:42,072 --> 00:34:44,660 They're acting like people who don't belong to him. 674 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:49,000 They make themselves enemies of God in their thought, word and 675 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:49,480 action. 676 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:52,040 God looks upon them like running their lives, doing their 677 00:34:52,080 --> 00:34:54,820 thing, having a prodigal son and daughter kind of party. 678 00:34:55,679 --> 00:34:57,219 And what does God do? 679 00:34:59,919 --> 00:35:01,819 He treats us as neighbors. 680 00:35:03,999 --> 00:35:07,991 He comes to confront the spiritual forces of wickedness and 681 00:35:08,015 --> 00:35:09,739 death and sin on our behalf. 682 00:35:12,959 --> 00:35:14,699 He comes into our shoes. 683 00:35:15,679 --> 00:35:20,119 He walks our path and he goes ahead of us to fight darkness and 684 00:35:20,159 --> 00:35:20,567 evil. 685 00:35:20,663 --> 00:35:20,967 Why? 686 00:35:21,023 --> 00:35:25,416 So we can be liberated, freed and forgiven now and forever. 687 00:35:25,528 --> 00:35:26,568 And he teaches us. 688 00:35:26,624 --> 00:35:27,992 Look what Ephesians has to say. 689 00:35:28,016 --> 00:35:28,980 About what? 690 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:31,160 Why did he do that? 691 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:34,040 Because he was living the great commands on our behalf. 692 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:35,140 Look at this. 693 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:44,616 Therefore, imitate God like dearly loved children. 694 00:35:44,688 --> 00:35:46,152 Well, how would I do that? 695 00:35:46,336 --> 00:35:48,312 Jesus says, love others as I have loved you. 696 00:35:48,336 --> 00:35:49,540 How do you do that? 697 00:35:51,300 --> 00:35:53,080 Live your life with. 698 00:35:55,700 --> 00:35:57,340 Have I put you to sleep? 699 00:35:57,500 --> 00:36:03,356 Live your life with one more time. 700 00:36:03,508 --> 00:36:09,948 Live your life with grace and the great Commands at the core, following 701 00:36:10,004 --> 00:36:12,120 the example of Christ who. 702 00:36:13,620 --> 00:36:18,770 Who and gave himself for us. 703 00:36:19,630 --> 00:36:20,230 Watch this. 704 00:36:20,270 --> 00:36:21,766 The second is like it. 705 00:36:21,918 --> 00:36:26,230 He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God when he 706 00:36:26,270 --> 00:36:27,850 stepped into our shoes. 707 00:36:28,830 --> 00:36:33,878 Even we, when we were acting like morons who didn't care about 708 00:36:33,934 --> 00:36:41,296 God, he stepped into our shoes, lived life in our shoes, walked 709 00:36:41,328 --> 00:36:46,208 with us, suffered with us, and confronted the worst of human sin 710 00:36:46,304 --> 00:36:50,768 and evil and dealt it a knockout blow so we could be freed 711 00:36:50,784 --> 00:36:52,640 and forgiven now and forever. 712 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:55,312 And when he did that, you know what Ephesians said? 713 00:36:55,336 --> 00:36:59,312 When he did that, it rose up like this sweet smell as an act of 714 00:36:59,336 --> 00:37:00,500 worship to God. 715 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:05,680 When you step into the shoes of your neighbor and you ask, what 716 00:37:05,720 --> 00:37:08,256 hope and what consideration and love would I hope to receive 717 00:37:08,288 --> 00:37:10,472 if I were in their shoes, and you follow through on that. 718 00:37:10,496 --> 00:37:13,464 When you do that, it's like the greatest act of worship you could 719 00:37:13,552 --> 00:37:14,700 offer to God. 720 00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:20,140 When you love your neighbor, you are worshiping God gloriously. 721 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:28,136 When you love your neighbor, well, you are offering the greatest 722 00:37:28,168 --> 00:37:30,340 riches back to God who made you. 723 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:35,580 All right, my last thought, I promise. 724 00:37:37,010 --> 00:37:40,474 I said in our Good Politics series that navigating citizenship 725 00:37:40,522 --> 00:37:42,150 in two kingdoms is hard. 726 00:37:43,650 --> 00:37:46,430 We live in one that has borders and laws. 727 00:37:48,050 --> 00:37:51,270 I'm a citizen of America, and I'm a grateful one. 728 00:37:51,890 --> 00:37:56,442 Grateful in all caps, bold, italicized and underlined in whatever 729 00:37:56,506 --> 00:37:58,710 cool font thing you could do to emphasize it. 730 00:37:59,330 --> 00:38:01,550 I'm a grateful citizen of America. 731 00:38:03,180 --> 00:38:04,644 It's something I ask myself. 732 00:38:04,692 --> 00:38:08,400 How do I steward that blessing, not hoard it? 733 00:38:10,460 --> 00:38:14,692 And there's something that we must do now. 734 00:38:14,716 --> 00:38:18,036 I'll take my shot at the left. 735 00:38:18,188 --> 00:38:19,680 I told you it was coming. 736 00:38:20,620 --> 00:38:23,440 Immigration was a crisis long before now. 737 00:38:25,420 --> 00:38:27,120 Where was the outcry then? 738 00:38:28,260 --> 00:38:31,516 During the Obama administration and the Biden administration? 739 00:38:31,628 --> 00:38:32,960 Where was the outcry? 740 00:38:36,900 --> 00:38:38,280 Where was it then? 741 00:38:40,020 --> 00:38:41,720 Why is it happening now? 742 00:38:42,980 --> 00:38:44,920 Something was wrong back then. 743 00:38:46,420 --> 00:38:50,156 Are we only doing something when it fits our political agenda, 744 00:38:50,348 --> 00:38:53,320 or are we doing it because Jesus calls us to it? 745 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:56,096 Something? 746 00:38:56,248 --> 00:38:58,896 They did something wrong, those administrations. 747 00:38:58,928 --> 00:39:01,952 But man, we heard this phrase when we were back like an elementary 748 00:39:02,016 --> 00:39:02,480 school. 749 00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:08,528 Two wrongs don't make a hey, they did something wrong doesn't 750 00:39:08,544 --> 00:39:10,352 mean we should keep doing something wrong. 751 00:39:10,496 --> 00:39:13,872 If two wrongs don't make a right, certainly one wrong and one 752 00:39:13,896 --> 00:39:15,340 evil don't make a right. 753 00:39:19,090 --> 00:39:22,634 If two wrongs don't make a right, a wrong and an evil definitely 754 00:39:22,682 --> 00:39:27,350 don't make a right, do you know what makes a right a right? 755 00:39:28,610 --> 00:39:31,590 That's why they pay me the big bucks for saying something like that. 756 00:39:33,490 --> 00:39:40,506 What makes a right is a conviction that's shaped by friendship 757 00:39:40,538 --> 00:39:42,470 with God from the inside out. 758 00:39:43,250 --> 00:39:50,130 What makes a right makes is action that's informed by Jesus worldview, 759 00:39:50,210 --> 00:39:51,950 first, last and only. 760 00:39:52,730 --> 00:39:58,914 What makes a right is a life lived with grace and great commands 761 00:39:58,962 --> 00:40:00,002 at the core. 762 00:40:00,146 --> 00:40:02,270 That is what makes it right. 763 00:40:04,570 --> 00:40:05,950 How do you want to live? 764 00:40:11,620 --> 00:40:16,172 Thank you for participating in the conversation happening at Heaven 765 00:40:16,236 --> 00:40:17,548 Earth Church. 766 00:40:17,724 --> 00:40:23,320 Your next opportunity to do so live is this Sunday morning, 9:30am 767 00:40:24,100 --> 00:40:28,636 Eastern Time, either at the main campus at 309 East Main in Whiteland, 768 00:40:28,668 --> 00:40:32,876 Indiana or online at YouTube Live. 769 00:40:33,028 --> 00:40:40,248 That's@YouTube.com Heaven Earth Church the audio podcast is 770 00:40:40,304 --> 00:40:45,768 always available at Apple Podcast and on Spotify. 771 00:40:45,944 --> 00:40:50,472 You can help others find out about the Heaven Earth Church podcast 772 00:40:50,616 --> 00:40:55,416 by going to Apple Podcasts and or Spotify and leaving a five star 773 00:40:55,488 --> 00:40:57,300 rating and your review. 774 00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:01,980 Instructions on how to do just that and links are in the show notes. 775 00:41:02,930 --> 00:41:08,830 You can always find out more by going to the church website heavenearthchurch.org 776 00:41:09,970 --> 00:41:10,282 we. 777 00:41:10,306 --> 00:41:12,602 Want to thank you for spending time with us today. 778 00:41:12,706 --> 00:41:16,218 My name is Ross Stackhouse, the pastor to Heaven Earth Church, 779 00:41:16,394 --> 00:41:19,658 and you may think out there that your story is over, but in fact 780 00:41:19,714 --> 00:41:22,954 your faith story may just be beginning. 781 00:41:23,082 --> 00:41:25,898 If you want more information about our church or you're interested 782 00:41:25,914 --> 00:41:29,930 in the next step, you can go to heavenearthchurch.org otherwise. 783 00:41:30,010 --> 00:41:33,114 We look forward to being with you next time at the Heaven Earth 784 00:41:33,162 --> 00:41:33,850 Church Podcast.