WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.400 --> 00:00:02.700 Brothers and sisters, please 2 00:00:02.700 --> 00:00:03.200 pray with me. 3 00:00:05.900 --> 00:00:07.500 Almighty, all-knowing Father. 4 00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:12.200 We confess to you that sometimes we let our knowledge and our 5 00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:13.600 understanding puff us up. 6 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:16.500 And take our focus away from you. 7 00:00:17.900 --> 00:00:18.800 Deflate us. 8 00:00:20.200 --> 00:00:23.300 Bless us with your Holy Spirit that my words would be yours. And that 9 00:00:23.300 --> 00:00:23.900 our hearts, 10 00:00:23.900 --> 00:00:26.900 our minds, our lives would become what you want them to be. 11 00:00:28.200 --> 00:00:30.600 Father together we pray. Amen. 12 00:00:32.700 --> 00:00:36.500 So I'd like to ask you if you have it on you to pull out your cell 13 00:00:36.500 --> 00:00:40.500 phones. If you leave them in your backpack or at home, don't worry 14 00:00:40.500 --> 00:00:41.000 about it, 15 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:43.800 you'll still get the point. But if you have it on you pull out your cell 16 00:00:43.800 --> 00:00:44.100 phone. 17 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:47.500 And I want to ask you to open a messaging app. 18 00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:51.200 It doesn't really matter which one it can be Gmail, 19 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:55.700 Facebook Messenger, iMessages, whatever you have open up that 20 00:00:55.700 --> 00:00:56.400 messaging app. 21 00:00:57.700 --> 00:01:01.500 I want you from there to click on a message thread. 22 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:05.700 It doesn't matter which one just preferably one less interesting than 23 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:08.300 the sermon so I can have your attention back afterward. 24 00:01:09.800 --> 00:01:12.600 And once you're there click the reply button. 25 00:01:15.600 --> 00:01:18.300 Now listen to this next instruction kind of carefully. 26 00:01:19.100 --> 00:01:22.500 I want you to back all the way out to your home screen, but I don't 27 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:26.800 want you to use the button that is built into the messaging app. 28 00:01:26.800 --> 00:01:30.200 I want you to use the button that is built into your phone. 29 00:01:30.200 --> 00:01:31.700 The one that's there. 30 00:01:31.700 --> 00:01:34.800 No matter what apps you have open for most Android sits in the bottom 31 00:01:34.800 --> 00:01:35.200 left. 32 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:39.200 I have absolutely no idea where it is for Apple devices. 33 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:42.500 And once you're back to the home screen, you can go ahead and put your 34 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:42.900 phone away. 35 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:44.700 I'm ready to make my point. 36 00:01:46.800 --> 00:01:49.800 So, how does the phone know? 37 00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:54.100 How does the phone know how to go back using that button? 38 00:01:54.100 --> 00:01:55.900 Cuz no matter what app you have open. 39 00:01:55.900 --> 00:01:59.300 It always knows how to go back just one step. 40 00:02:00.900 --> 00:02:05.200 Well in in application development and software design apps are 41 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:07.500 actually broken up into things called activities. 42 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:11.900 So for a messaging app, like the one you just opened the the inbox 43 00:02:11.900 --> 00:02:16.300 would be one activity at a specific message thread would be another 44 00:02:16.300 --> 00:02:20.100 one in there a reply would be another one. In a gaming app. 45 00:02:20.100 --> 00:02:24.400 You might have like a home screen applicator home screen activity and 46 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:26.900 inventory activity at a loading activity. 47 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:31.100 Now when you navigate between those various screens, your phone 48 00:02:31.100 --> 00:02:33.400 doesn't actually close any of them. 49 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:36.900 It just kind of stacks them on top of each other. 50 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:41.400 Which brings us that back button because when you hit the back button 51 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:46.800 all your phone does is pop the top activity off so you can see what 52 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:47.800 was underneath it. 53 00:02:49.700 --> 00:02:50.500 Pretty cool, right? 54 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:53.600 It's okay. 55 00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:55.900 You can be honest with me. 56 00:02:55.900 --> 00:02:57.900 It's not that cool. 57 00:02:59.600 --> 00:03:03.000 Not particularly useful or interesting its certainly not going to 58 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:06.100 change how you use your phone or your apps. 59 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:09.600 But for a software designer 60 00:03:10.900 --> 00:03:12.000 it comes in real handy. 61 00:03:14.200 --> 00:03:18.800 You see the knowledge is good at times and for certain people. 62 00:03:20.600 --> 00:03:23.600 But for you and I we just need to know how to push the button. 63 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:29.800 And if you're on campus, I think we struggle with this in a little bit 64 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:30.700 of a different way. 65 00:03:31.700 --> 00:03:37.000 When it comes to our theology. When it comes to our discussions about 66 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:40.300 all of our knowledge. When it comes to our discussions about church 67 00:03:40.300 --> 00:03:40.900 tradition. 68 00:03:42.200 --> 00:03:44.000 We think it's useful and interesting. 69 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:47.900 So we're willing to go on and on and on about it, but the reality is 70 00:03:49.800 --> 00:03:52.700 that people sitting there listen to listening to us 71 00:03:52.700 --> 00:03:56.200 they might be bored and waiting for us to get to a point. 72 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:01.000 They might actually be mad at us for wasting their time. 73 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:06.300 They might feel like we're being a little condescending much like some 74 00:04:06.300 --> 00:04:09.600 of you I'm certain felt when I was explaining the phone. 75 00:04:11.200 --> 00:04:14.000 You see all that knowledge that we accumulate while we're here 76 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:16.700 it's good at certain times and for certain people. 77 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:23.300 But in reality, we we really just need to know what our faith rests 78 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:23.700 on. 79 00:04:25.300 --> 00:04:29.900 And you might want to stick up for that academic theology for that 80 00:04:29.900 --> 00:04:33.600 that background knowledge that that historical minutiae that you say 81 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:36.700 is essential for the understanding of a given passage. 82 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:42.500 But the reality is our faith doesn't rest on any of that. 83 00:04:45.200 --> 00:04:48.600 And with that in mind, I would like to invite you to look around the 84 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:49.100 chapel today. 85 00:04:50.300 --> 00:04:51.600 Look at your friends. 86 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:52.700 Look at your family. 87 00:04:52.700 --> 00:04:54.900 Look at your professors and your classmates. 88 00:04:56.400 --> 00:04:57.300 I want you to think. 89 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:00.200 What are they passionate about? 90 00:05:01.700 --> 00:05:05.800 What excites them about theology either in the classroom or in the 91 00:05:05.800 --> 00:05:06.100 church? 92 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:08.900 What are they more than happy to go on a tangent about? 93 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:13.000 As I look out on you guys today 94 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:16.300 I see some of you who it's church history. 95 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:22.100 It's the church fathers you are happy to talk about them for as 96 00:05:22.100 --> 00:05:23.500 long as people will let you. 97 00:05:25.200 --> 00:05:29.700 For some of you it's the grammatical fineries of Greek and Hebrew. For 98 00:05:29.700 --> 00:05:33.000 some of you at the church tradition and worship. For some of you 99 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:34.500 it's faith and politics. 100 00:05:36.700 --> 00:05:38.300 We all have that thing. 101 00:05:40.400 --> 00:05:44.300 And as I look out I see recognition in some of your eyes as I say 102 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:45.400 these things you're like, oh, yeah. 103 00:05:45.400 --> 00:05:47.900 I know exactly who he's talking about. 104 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:53.100 But I want to take that and I want to turn it inward. 105 00:05:54.700 --> 00:05:56.300 So I'm going to give you a few seconds 106 00:05:56.300 --> 00:06:01.200 and what I want you to do is think reflectively. What is that passion for 107 00:06:01.200 --> 00:06:01.600 you? 108 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:11.500 Now holding that in your mind. 109 00:06:13.700 --> 00:06:14.700 I want to be very clear. 110 00:06:14.700 --> 00:06:19.700 I'm not trying to say that any of those things are inherently bad. 111 00:06:21.700 --> 00:06:22.600 But it's at this point 112 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:26.700 I'd like to direct you to our text for today to to Paul's words for us 113 00:06:26.700 --> 00:06:26.900 today. 114 00:06:26.900 --> 00:06:31.000 He says Brothers when I was among you I resolved to know nothing 115 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:33.100 except Christ and him crucified. 116 00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:39.900 Now does that mean that Paul forgot all of the substantial knowledge 117 00:06:39.900 --> 00:06:44.700 that he gained as a Pharisee or all the wisdom that he accumulated as 118 00:06:44.700 --> 00:06:46.500 he was working in all the churches. 119 00:06:48.400 --> 00:06:49.500 I'm not thinking so. 120 00:06:51.500 --> 00:06:55.700 You see what Paul is saying is he resolved to know nothing except 121 00:06:55.700 --> 00:07:01.500 Christ and him crucified and risen for the Forgiveness of sins for the 122 00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:03.700 faith of the people to rest on. 123 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:09.400 So that's my challenge for us today, for you today. 124 00:07:09.400 --> 00:07:11.300 Is that thing that you're passionate about. 125 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:17.900 Don't let it overshadow Christ crucified and risen because at the end 126 00:07:17.900 --> 00:07:21.500 of the day when you take everything else away your faith isn't going 127 00:07:21.500 --> 00:07:22.500 to rest on your knowledge. 128 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:28.200 Your faith is going to rest on Christ crucified and risen. 129 00:07:30.200 --> 00:07:31.100 And it's at this point. 130 00:07:31.100 --> 00:07:34.400 I want to direct your attention to the worship hand out to the image 131 00:07:34.400 --> 00:07:35.000 printed there. 132 00:07:36.400 --> 00:07:40.200 A lot of you will recognize that especially if you've applied for any 133 00:07:40.200 --> 00:07:43.100 scholarships since you've been here, it's a transcript. 134 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:47.200 A little bit smaller than the one you see on your computer screen, but 135 00:07:47.200 --> 00:07:48.000 it's a transcript. 136 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:52.000 And as you look at that transcript 137 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:57.000 I'm sure it brings up some sort of emotion in your mind. 138 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:02.100 Maybe it's one of confidence and pride because you're proud of your 139 00:08:02.100 --> 00:08:02.700 transcript. 140 00:08:02.700 --> 00:08:05.000 You're proud of what you have accomplished here. 141 00:08:07.400 --> 00:08:10.700 But maybe it's a reminder of your shortcomings. 142 00:08:12.900 --> 00:08:15.700 Even if your grades are fine, maybe it's a reminder of that 143 00:08:15.700 --> 00:08:19.800 historical class where you weren't able to engage with the discussion 144 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:20.800 about the early church. 145 00:08:22.200 --> 00:08:26.000 Maybe it's a reminder of that exegetical class where the professor 146 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:28.600 brought up ancient syntax and you were just totally lost. 147 00:08:30.700 --> 00:08:34.400 Maybe it's a reminder of the systems class where you ran out of breath 148 00:08:34.400 --> 00:08:37.600 trying to pronounce all the Latin terminology. 149 00:08:39.500 --> 00:08:43.299 Or maybe it's a reminder of that practical class where you were just 150 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:45.200 completely out of your comfort zone. 151 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:52.000 Now whatever emotion that transcript brings up as you look at it as 152 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:54.100 you think about your own transcript. 153 00:08:56.200 --> 00:08:58.200 I want to bring you to Jesus. 154 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:05.200 I want to bring you to the man who sat with people not highly trained 155 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:09.000 academics not theological deeply religious people. 156 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:14.500 He just sat with people in their homes around tables under trees in 157 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:18.700 the field on shores and taught them in Parables. 158 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:22.900 He spoke to them in the language of their lives. 159 00:09:25.300 --> 00:09:30.200 He brought children before them not genius children not feel logical 160 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:30.800 savants. 161 00:09:30.800 --> 00:09:34.200 Just brought children, and he said be like these guys. 162 00:09:37.700 --> 00:09:38.500 You see Jesus 163 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:41.400 he didn't always wow people with complex arguments. 164 00:09:41.400 --> 00:09:43.600 He didn't convince people with dissertations. 165 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:46.200 Did he have the knowledge to do that? 166 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:47.700 Absolutely, obviously. 167 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:49.800 But instead 168 00:09:51.400 --> 00:09:53.800 he spoke to them in the language of their lives. 169 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:58.500 And that's what I'm calling us back to today. 170 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:02.000 So whether that transcript in front of you brings up, maybe some 171 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.900 prideful confidence. 172 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:06.800 Or a reminder of your shortcomings. 173 00:10:06.800 --> 00:10:10.800 I want to bring you back to Jesus and the simplicity 174 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:18.700 of Christ crucified and Christ risen. You see because that is what Paul is getting at today. 175 00:10:20.800 --> 00:10:25.800 He's he's deciding to rest his faith on that. 176 00:10:25.800 --> 00:10:29.700 He's deciding in the midst of his brothers to say I'm resting my faith 177 00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:31.400 on Christ crucified and risen. 178 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:35.100 And again, that is my challenge for you today. 179 00:10:36.700 --> 00:10:39.300 So with that in mind let's cling to that. 180 00:10:39.300 --> 00:10:43.100 I want you to direct your attention to the bottom of that graphic. 181 00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:46.800 There are two rectangles one says hold on and one says let go. 182 00:10:47.900 --> 00:10:53.000 So the next time you get the chance, maybe when you walk to class or 183 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.800 maybe once you get there, I guess writing while walking can be 184 00:10:55.800 --> 00:10:57.700 dangerous. In that let goes square 185 00:10:57.700 --> 00:11:02.700 I want you to write something that you're passionate about. Or 186 00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:05.700 something that you struggle with maybe to the point that it 187 00:11:05.700 --> 00:11:09.800 overshadows the Gospel of Christ crucified and risen. 188 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:12.200 I want you to write it down 189 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:13.600 I want you to tear that box out and 190 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:14.800 I want you to toss it in the recycling. 191 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:18.600 Because your faith doesn't rest on knowledge. 192 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:20.800 If you're feeling really dramatic 193 00:11:20.800 --> 00:11:21.800 you can throw it in a bonfire. 194 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.700 And then the other square the one that says hold on I want you to 195 00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:30.400 write Christ crucified and risen is enough. 196 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:34.800 I want you to tear that square out I want you to put it in your wallet 197 00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:38.200 or in your backpack or on your dashboard somewhere where you're going 198 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:41.700 to see it again and again and every time you see it, I want you to 199 00:11:41.700 --> 00:11:41.900 remember. 200 00:11:43.300 --> 00:11:45.000 That's what your faith rests on. 201 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:50.500 Christ crucified and risen is enough for you. 202 00:11:51.900 --> 00:11:52.600 Amen. 203 00:11:54.100 --> 00:11:57.900 And may that simple understanding and knowledge of Christ crucified and 204 00:11:57.900 --> 00:12:01.600 risen keep your hearts your mind and your lives in him to life 205 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:01.800 Everlasting. 206 00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:03.300 Amen. 207 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:05.800 Please rise for our next hymn.