back to indexBerean Community Church Sunday Worship Service 12/1/24
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♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ 00:00:53.500 |
♪ That songs of gratefulness ever rise, never cease ♪ 00:01:09.440 |
♪ My heart is satisfied in the riches of Christ ♪ 00:01:45.520 |
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ 00:02:32.660 |
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ 00:04:39.260 |
♪ I will offer up my life in spirit and truth ♪ 00:04:44.260 |
♪ Pouring out the oil of love as my worship to you ♪ 00:04:57.600 |
♪ Lord, receive the sacrifice of a broken heart ♪ 00:05:10.660 |
♪ To so faithful a friend, to so loving a king ♪ 00:05:18.940 |
♪ Savior, what can be said, what can be sung ♪ 00:05:23.940 |
♪ As a praise of your name for the things you have done ♪ 00:05:30.700 |
♪ Oh, my words could not tell, not even in part ♪ 00:06:09.160 |
♪ Giving up your life to death, even death on a cross ♪ 00:06:15.160 |
♪ You took all my shame away, there defeated my sin ♪ 00:06:20.160 |
♪ Opened up the gates of heaven and I'm back in the end ♪ 00:06:33.440 |
♪ To so faithful a friend, to so loving a king ♪ 00:06:41.840 |
♪ Savior, what can be said, what can be sung ♪ 00:06:46.840 |
♪ As a praise of your name for the things you have done ♪ 00:06:53.860 |
♪ Oh, my words could not tell, not even in part ♪ 00:07:17.560 |
♪ To so faithful a friend, to so loving a king ♪ 00:07:24.160 |
♪ Savior, what can be said, what can be sung ♪ 00:07:30.760 |
♪ As a praise of your name for the things you have done ♪ 00:07:38.440 |
♪ Oh, my words could not tell, not even in part ♪ 00:08:20.560 |
This is the invitation for our Christmas service 00:08:24.700 |
And again, we wanna take every opportunity that we have 00:08:27.540 |
when you know that your family and friends are coming, 00:08:29.580 |
that we, as we share about the meaning of Christmas 00:08:40.100 |
but also you can take it and then you can just, 00:08:44.100 |
or your neighbors or coworkers or whatever it is, 00:08:48.340 |
So we have some today, and then the rest of it, 00:08:55.620 |
If you need more, you can grab some as you're going out. 00:09:01.660 |
even if they don't come, to be able to break the ice 00:09:06.940 |
and be able to share with them the gospel, okay? 00:09:13.240 |
we have a Lottie Moon Christmas mission offering 00:09:15.460 |
that we take, and this is to support the mission work 00:09:24.660 |
but we are supporting through the Lottie Moon offering, 00:09:31.380 |
there's going to be an area through the subsplash 00:09:38.340 |
our finance department is gonna be able to separate that 00:09:49.820 |
So whatever offering that comes in is designated 00:09:52.180 |
for the Lottie Moon offering, for the mission offering, 00:10:07.340 |
If you have a check, make sure you designate it 00:10:13.000 |
Again, that offering will specifically go for that. 00:10:26.060 |
and various things to just kind of encourage them, 00:10:29.640 |
and then you can drop it off in the cafe area, 00:10:36.740 |
on December 31st, 5 p.m. here in the sanctuary. 00:10:41.540 |
So if you're interested in signing up for that, 00:10:48.380 |
and then we have our annual end of the year service, 00:10:56.780 |
there will be a signup table as you're going outside. 00:10:58.780 |
There'll be a table outside so you can sign up there. 00:11:07.200 |
for the purpose of fellowship within the church. 00:11:20.740 |
and it's gonna be in January 31st to February 2nd 00:11:26.380 |
at Pali Retreat, assuming that there's no natural disasters 00:11:42.260 |
So if you're planning to go, please sign up early. 00:11:44.420 |
Our pastor that's gonna come and speak for us 00:11:46.460 |
is Pastor Ian Kwon on the theme of Run to Win, okay? 00:11:51.660 |
That is also happening outside as you are exiting. 00:11:59.460 |
and then I'll give you a minute to give your offering. 00:12:02.780 |
please drop it off on the box on the way out, all right? 00:12:06.820 |
Gracious Father, we thank you so much for today. 00:12:26.660 |
and we ask, Lord God, that as we have come to worship you, 00:12:29.460 |
that it may be an overflow of the gratitude in our hearts, 00:12:37.220 |
May the giving be given as an act of obedience, 00:13:25.860 |
Let us all rise and let's spend a few moments 00:21:29.980 |
is we go forth, as we go forth, our God and Father. 00:22:17.820 |
♪ Now as your church we lift our voice and pray ♪ 00:22:37.780 |
♪ Now as your church we lift our voice and pray ♪ 00:23:06.800 |
If you can turn your Bibles to Luke chapter nine, 00:23:31.840 |
someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 00:23:39.460 |
"but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." 00:23:47.780 |
But he said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead, 00:23:56.700 |
"but first permit me to say goodbye to those at home." 00:24:00.420 |
But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand 00:24:18.020 |
that we would not simply be hearers but to be doers. 00:24:25.520 |
that we may conform to the image of Christ in every way. 00:24:34.080 |
where this very difficult teaching is coming from. 00:24:39.080 |
Up to this point, Jesus has been doing public ministry, 00:24:46.600 |
After he feeds the 5,000, he turns his attention 00:24:48.940 |
to the 12 disciples, preparing them to go to the cross. 00:24:57.000 |
"And upon this confession, I will build my church, 00:24:59.360 |
"and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." 00:25:08.560 |
and he's already warned his disciples where he's going, 00:25:12.220 |
because they think that at the end of this journey, 00:25:16.540 |
and so they're thinking who's gonna benefit the most, 00:25:32.640 |
but can they possibly be part of his disciples 00:25:54.980 |
you may have just kind of skimmed over it and say, 00:26:02.700 |
if this was the criteria for following Jesus? 00:26:12.480 |
and that's not what he expects from us today. 00:26:17.340 |
and we're gonna see that this is exactly the calling 00:26:21.100 |
and the question that we need to ask ourselves is, 00:26:32.660 |
not a Christ that's been made to fit our culture 00:26:36.380 |
not a Christ that's going to challenge our way of life, 00:26:44.360 |
Can you imagine if we had a evangelical crusade, 00:26:49.960 |
and we had all the best speakers of our generation 00:26:54.680 |
and then said, if anybody wishes to come after me, 00:27:01.800 |
but then before you say this sinner's prayer, 00:27:03.760 |
I want you to know exactly what is required of you. 00:27:06.440 |
I need you to come down with your bags packed. 00:27:12.500 |
we're gonna go to the remotest part of the world, 00:27:17.800 |
I can't guarantee that we're gonna be able to eat well, 00:27:20.520 |
I can't guarantee if we're gonna be even comfortable, 00:27:39.240 |
and turns back is not worthy of the kingdom of God. 00:27:47.160 |
get your bags, come down, and we're gonna leave. 00:27:55.280 |
Even the ones who say, I do wanna come, would hesitate. 00:28:16.180 |
Or is this actually something that we are to apply? 00:28:24.580 |
was that just to the disciples, or is that relevant today? 00:28:28.040 |
Isn't that a question that really is important to all of us? 00:28:35.900 |
for every single person, who have made this decision? 00:28:46.160 |
Let me look at three things that he says here, 00:28:52.400 |
but it's gonna get exponentially difficult as he goes down. 00:29:02.840 |
someone said to him, I will follow you wherever you go. 00:29:07.840 |
You notice here, he doesn't say, can I follow you? 00:29:13.860 |
And it's almost kind of like he's doing him a favor. 00:29:19.380 |
Part of the reason why he says this so boldly 00:29:22.600 |
is because the parallel passage in Matthew 8 says, 00:29:25.680 |
it was a scribe who was coming to him and asking him, 00:29:29.560 |
A scribe at that time was kind of a celebrity figure. 00:29:32.920 |
He was already what's considered a religious giant. 00:29:40.160 |
So if you had any questions about your faith, 00:29:46.960 |
So if you ask, who would be one of Jesus' followers, 00:29:51.000 |
if the Messiah comes, he's gonna pick only 12 people, 00:29:55.400 |
the scribe would definitely be part of that group, 00:30:00.680 |
So the scribe comes to him and says, I'll follow you. 00:30:05.500 |
Maybe these other people, they don't know who you are, 00:30:15.200 |
he says, foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests 00:30:18.820 |
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. 00:30:22.640 |
Now, reason why he calls himself the Son of Man, 00:30:25.080 |
he used that title of himself more than any other title. 00:30:32.600 |
about the Messiah that was gonna come in Daniel chapter seven 00:30:38.880 |
when he comes, the Son of Man, when he comes, 00:30:52.440 |
even though the term Son of Man is used for other people, 00:31:02.200 |
is because they thought that if they followed 00:31:05.240 |
the Son of Man, the Messiah, the anointed king, 00:31:07.680 |
he's gonna obviously gonna go sit on his throne. 00:31:11.360 |
If a king comes, obviously he's gonna sit on his throne. 00:31:14.720 |
And so the disciples were thinking, if we follow this king, 00:31:23.600 |
And so probably the scribe was thinking the same thing, 00:31:31.960 |
even though he's already in an elevated position 00:31:34.000 |
religiously, but then clearly following the Messiah 00:31:38.440 |
is going to, there's gonna be some side benefits to this. 00:31:45.280 |
even the animals have a place to raise their head. 00:31:53.200 |
but the king of Israel has nowhere to rest his head. 00:31:57.740 |
In other words, what he's saying is two things here. 00:32:09.480 |
So one, he's left his home for the purpose of this mission. 00:32:14.480 |
And two, that he is engaged in this work tirelessly. 00:32:19.440 |
You know, we live different when we're not home, right? 00:32:24.440 |
We don't seek for the most comfortable place, 00:32:33.240 |
and it's not the best food, we know we're not home. 00:32:36.520 |
And so he is reminding the scribe and his disciples 00:32:44.880 |
The foxes have holes, but the words of the heirs 00:32:48.240 |
have nests, but the king of Israel has nowhere to rest. 00:32:58.840 |
and I'm gonna conquer Rome and I'm gonna sit on my throne. 00:33:06.720 |
In John 10, 16, Jesus says, "I have other sheep 00:33:11.340 |
"I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice 00:33:14.620 |
"and they will become one flock with one shepherd." 00:33:16.960 |
Not only did I come to seek and save the lost in Israel, 00:33:27.560 |
are gonna continue the work that the Son of Man came to do, 00:33:31.400 |
that it's not gonna stop at the cross, it's gonna continue. 00:33:45.480 |
And Apostle Paul lived like he was gonna die tomorrow. 00:34:09.720 |
Every single one of them left everything behind 00:34:17.160 |
Jesus says from the beginning to count the cost, 00:34:27.200 |
because we're trying to attract as many people as possible, 00:34:51.680 |
that's going to be convenient for the most people. 00:34:54.400 |
We don't want people to drive more than 30, 40, 50 minutes, 00:34:58.760 |
So we are trying our best to attract uncommitted people 00:35:06.680 |
we have a church generation filled with people 00:35:14.300 |
And Jesus was telling them right off the bat, 00:35:24.280 |
"until you have calculated that you have enough to finish." 00:35:28.220 |
You would be a fool if you started to build a home, 00:35:32.440 |
and you only have enough to build a foundation, 00:35:44.280 |
"if he sees an army coming with 20,000 soldiers, 00:35:50.820 |
"you're not going to be able to conquer this king, 00:35:54.500 |
Jesus uses that as an illustration about following Christ. 00:36:04.660 |
What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ? 00:36:16.240 |
And you have retained everything of your old life. 00:36:21.540 |
but you've retained everything of your old life. 00:36:25.800 |
when you get poked in the area where you're uncomfortable, 00:36:51.600 |
we can talk about faithfulness to the church, 00:37:12.880 |
I gave one of our covenants is to tithe and to give, 00:37:16.620 |
and to establish Christ as Lord over your life. 00:37:21.600 |
It's going to make a lot of people feel uncomfortable. 00:37:24.800 |
Even the people who've been walking with the Lord 00:37:26.220 |
for many years are going to feel uncomfortable. 00:38:00.120 |
I didn't even prioritize where I'm going to sleep 00:38:07.520 |
In Luke 14, 33, so then none of you can be my disciple 00:38:12.720 |
who does not give up all his own possessions. 00:38:26.240 |
In fact, Jesus says this over and over and over again, 00:38:32.840 |
he knows exactly where our treasure in our life is. 00:38:42.680 |
as long as my house and my investments are doing well, 00:38:46.420 |
as long as you don't challenge me in this area, 00:38:53.240 |
foxes have holes, birds of the air has nests, 00:38:55.080 |
but the Son of Man, you sure you want to follow me? 00:39:11.400 |
and if you pray enough, and if you maybe even 00:39:18.680 |
and everything that, well, you're going to maintain, 00:39:36.680 |
So if that shook you up, this is going to get even worse. 00:39:40.300 |
He says in Luke 9, 59 to 60, and he said to the brother, 00:39:43.760 |
another, follow me, but he said, Lord, permit me first 00:39:46.960 |
to go and bury my father, but he said to him, 00:40:03.760 |
I can't even bury my father, what's going on here? 00:40:10.000 |
it says if you want to live long and prosper, 00:40:13.480 |
In fact, he rebukes the scribes and the Pharisees 00:40:25.940 |
He rebukes them for not honoring their father and mother, 00:40:29.520 |
and you have to remember, this is an Asian culture. 00:40:35.960 |
don't care about parents, but this is highlighted 00:40:44.520 |
I realized growing up that in the Korean context 00:40:51.640 |
until they learn to honor your father and mother. 00:40:59.560 |
but until you recognize the people who sacrificed for you, 00:41:02.920 |
That's not unique to Korea, that's an Asian culture. 00:41:19.920 |
because by Jewish law, he had to go back and bury him. 00:41:41.760 |
So the fact that he's even having a conversation with Jesus 00:41:49.440 |
is a Middle Eastern term that is still even used 00:41:52.000 |
up to this day, and that term, bury my father, 00:42:04.560 |
and I don't have to worry about my family anymore, 00:42:08.080 |
He's addressing the condition of that person's heart, 00:42:14.520 |
"once I've taken care of everything I need to take care of." 00:42:30.220 |
Normally the struggle is between good and what's best. 00:42:40.520 |
it's not because, oh, I wanna experience the world, 00:42:43.200 |
and I wanna sow my roots and do whatever I want, 00:42:56.600 |
Maybe once my children are a little bit older, 00:43:00.240 |
and maybe once the retirement is taken care of, 00:43:02.160 |
once the mortgage is, once my kid's a certain way, 00:43:07.000 |
you say, well, right now I need to fixate on my career, 00:43:13.080 |
then I gotta take care of my wife and my children, 00:43:19.200 |
there's always something that you need to be responsible for 00:43:34.880 |
What he's saying is very difficult to swallow. 00:43:49.400 |
and wife and children and brothers and sisters, 00:43:51.580 |
yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 00:44:01.480 |
Like, I don't want my kids coming to this church. 00:44:12.080 |
In fact, Jesus repeats this over and over again 00:44:27.660 |
the Jesus kind of like take all the sharp edges off, 00:44:30.540 |
Jesus who doesn't judge and love you unconditionally 00:44:58.180 |
he says, complete undivided attention and loyalty to him. 00:45:05.600 |
but first permit me to say goodbye to those at home. 00:45:08.740 |
Jesus said, no one after putting his hand to the plow 00:45:13.420 |
and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. 00:45:17.340 |
All he's asking is to go home and say goodbye, 00:45:30.100 |
and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. 00:45:36.060 |
but he's constantly looking back at what he left behind. 00:45:40.620 |
You need to be completely, completely committed to me. 00:45:48.220 |
You notice here of the three things that he says 00:46:07.980 |
Those of you who've traveled and did missions, 00:46:16.620 |
of bringing somebody to Christ is their family. 00:46:19.260 |
They will come and say, you know, it makes sense to me 00:46:22.940 |
and I want to follow Jesus, but if I follow Jesus, 00:46:25.100 |
it would mean that my parents are gonna disown me, 00:46:33.020 |
my parents are gonna think, but we're abandoning them. 00:46:38.180 |
Where people were interested and they're taught, 00:46:42.660 |
like a nail that sticks out gets hammered first 00:46:56.820 |
why people are unwilling to make that decision. 00:47:02.980 |
but to make that final decision to follow Christ, 00:47:21.980 |
They'll hear the gospel and from the pressure from family, 00:47:38.180 |
His father kicked him out with three small children. 00:47:49.700 |
and people will say, you're betraying not only your family, 00:47:56.420 |
will come right to the door and never fully commit. 00:48:08.380 |
not because the call is any different for us, 00:48:19.840 |
I've given portions, bits and pieces, but not all. 00:48:27.220 |
I know you guys are probably already uncomfortable, right? 00:48:41.720 |
But the question is, who would follow this Jesus? 00:48:58.840 |
how many people heard this before they came to Christ? 00:49:06.720 |
Not only do people make commitments like this, 00:49:18.240 |
Some of you in this, even here in the congregation, 00:49:32.920 |
And so even if I didn't officiate your wedding, 00:49:35.480 |
maybe one of the other pastors officiated the wedding, 00:49:47.760 |
I so and so, right, this is the guys portion, 00:50:10.800 |
Maybe you didn't understand what you were saying, right? 00:50:21.840 |
Some 30, some five, six, 700 people in front of them, 00:50:27.160 |
you said, I'm today going to die for my wife. 00:50:39.040 |
to the best of my ability from this day forward 00:50:41.080 |
for better or for worse, whether she deserves it or not, 00:50:44.440 |
for richer or for poorer, whether I have money or not, 00:50:47.160 |
in sickness and in health till death do us part, 00:50:50.640 |
until I can't anymore because I'm no longer living. 00:51:00.380 |
You didn't make this vow and then go home and mourn. 00:51:22.340 |
I promise to honor and submit to his leadership 00:51:42.340 |
I'm gonna submit to him as the church submits to him? 00:51:49.180 |
you invited hundreds of your family and friends 00:51:56.620 |
that you get an opportunity to do this with somebody. 00:52:07.980 |
what God has put together, let no man separate 00:52:14.180 |
and he will cling to his new wife and husband. 00:52:39.620 |
You have anniversary pictures hanging on the wall 00:52:42.380 |
to remind you of this covenant death that you took. 00:52:47.220 |
That you're gonna give your life to submission to this man 00:52:50.780 |
and you celebrate every year you get together 00:53:05.260 |
this covenant relationship with another human being, 00:53:36.340 |
between husband and wife, you know how that ends. 00:53:47.780 |
Every wedding ceremony is not ultimately about you. 00:53:54.500 |
that the real wedding ceremony is gonna happen, 00:53:56.660 |
real banquet is gonna happen when Christ comes 00:54:14.440 |
and the husband says, I will love you when it is convenient? 00:54:37.440 |
would be there to celebrate with you for that covenant? 00:54:41.280 |
What wife should enter into a covenant saying, 00:54:54.000 |
Even though we may struggle with the covenant, 00:54:58.560 |
every single one of us recognize it's a good covenant. 00:55:03.400 |
It's what causes us to persevere through tough times, 00:55:08.600 |
it's what causes us to prioritize our wife and husband, 00:55:11.640 |
it's what causes us and reminds us of preciousness 00:55:38.040 |
Jesus is calling us to a covenant relationship with him. 00:55:53.600 |
which he does, because of the work that he has committed to. 00:56:00.320 |
and somebody says, you know, my future husband says 00:56:03.720 |
but I'm not sure if that's what I want to do. 00:56:07.840 |
He's been praying about this since he was a child 00:56:13.120 |
but I'm not sure if that's what I want to be. 00:56:48.840 |
No, the right counsel would be you can't marry him then. 00:57:14.040 |
Hebrews 12, two to three, fix your eyes on Jesus, 00:57:21.640 |
who for the joy set before him endured the cross. 00:57:30.960 |
because this covenant is going to make you happy. 00:57:33.680 |
Nobody forced you, you volunteered and you rejoiced, 00:57:52.360 |
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 00:57:55.160 |
When you see what he says from that perspective, 00:58:23.160 |
And so he's not simply asking to follow him, admire him. 00:58:30.360 |
He's asking us to join him, go where he goes, 00:58:35.360 |
do what he does, sacrifice what he sacrifices. 00:58:41.360 |
That as a son of man did not come to be served 00:58:44.640 |
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many 00:58:49.800 |
to come into a covenant relationship with Christ 00:59:00.160 |
brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, children, 00:59:09.440 |
Many who are first will be last and the last will be first. 00:59:45.880 |
and just be in quiet and prayer and contemplation before God. 00:59:49.720 |
Those of you who are ready to come to celebrate this union, 00:59:57.080 |
the covenant relationship with God in a while. 01:00:01.400 |
And it's an opportunity for us before you come, 01:00:12.600 |
You've supposedly entered into a covenant relationship 01:00:18.600 |
To use this opportunity to rekindle your love for Christ. 01:00:32.560 |
When you are ready, we ask that you would come one by one 01:00:51.680 |
"he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you. 01:00:56.220 |
In the same way, he took the cup also after supper, 01:00:59.460 |
saying, "This cup is a new covenant in my blood. 01:01:01.660 |
"Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. 01:01:05.520 |
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, 01:01:07.700 |
"you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." 01:01:10.980 |
After I pray, we're gonna sing our communion song. 01:01:15.460 |
And then when you are ready, we ask you would come. 01:01:22.260 |
'cause they have that set up for you on that side. 01:01:39.340 |
so that we don't create a traffic jam up here. 01:01:43.140 |
and then we're gonna take some time to prepare us 01:02:07.860 |
We know, Father God, that we come to celebrate 01:02:32.260 |
to be sanctified, and the church to be united 01:03:24.380 |
♪ Take a long look inside and tell me what you see ♪ 01:04:04.280 |
♪ This is the love of Christ poured out anew ♪ 01:04:21.980 |
♪ Take a long look inside and tell me what you see ♪ 01:04:51.440 |
♪ Take a long look inside and tell me what you see ♪ 01:05:15.520 |
We invite you as you are ready to come one by one. 01:11:34.360 |
so if you haven't come up, we ask you to come. 01:12:28.200 |
and worship you for who you are in our lives. 01:12:31.200 |
Lord, as you know that we are prone to wander 01:12:34.200 |
and to be entangled with things in this world, 01:12:37.200 |
help us, Lord God, that each time we come together 01:12:39.700 |
as a church, especially as we celebrate communion, 01:12:47.700 |
May Christ be exalted and that what we remember today 01:13:32.200 |
♪ He is my joy, my righteousness and freedom ♪ 01:13:38.700 |
♪ My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace ♪ 01:14:49.200 |
♪ To this I hold my shepherd will defend me ♪ 01:15:04.200 |
♪ Oh, then I must move on and I shall overcome ♪ 01:15:33.700 |
♪ The future's sure, the price it has been paid ♪ 01:15:38.700 |
♪ For Jesus' blood has suffered for my heart ♪ 01:15:52.200 |
♪ To this I hold my sinners will defeat him ♪ 01:16:36.280 |
♪ For he has said that he will bring me home ♪ 01:16:52.780 |
♪ To this I hold my hope is hope that Jesus ♪ 01:17:15.780 |
♪ To this I hold my hope is hope that Jesus ♪ 01:17:27.780 |
♪ To this I hold my hope is hope that Jesus ♪ 01:17:46.780 |
♪ This is complete still my life shall repeat ♪ 01:18:18.780 |
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling 01:18:22.280 |
and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, 01:18:26.780 |
to the only God our savior through Jesus Christ our Lord,