PM Acts 20:17-38 Pay Careful attention

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[23:07] . . . to us. The primacy of preaching is what the Apostle Paul saw the importance of and we should be seeing that as well in our own day. We see that ordinarily the preaching of God's word is seen when you come to church like this and God blesses that in many ways and people come to faith through the preaching of God's word. It also can be done as we saw at our ACM by ordinary people gossiping the gospel and that is what we saw where folk came from Cyprus and from Cyrene and they came to gossip the gospel. It's just basically in conversation speaking about Jesus Christ and people came to faith in Antioch as we see in Acts and as we looked at in Acts chapter 11. Now on the first missionary journey that Paul was on with Barnabas, Paul remember was stoned. Those of you who are familiar with the life of the Apostle Paul, he was stoned in Lystra in Acts chapter 14. But what is interesting is that Paul still returned to the very places where hostility was at its greatest and he did so to strengthen those who came to faith there and to encourage them to remain faithful to the gospel. After being stoned in Lystra he went to Derby and then he preached the gospel there and then we read as you go back and look at Acts chapter 14. If you can turn with me and see there Acts 14 and verses 21 down to 23 where we read that when they had preached the gospel to that city and had many, it made many disciples, they returned to Lystra. This is while they were in Derby. They returned to

[25:08] Lystra where he had been stoned near to death and to Iconium and to Antioch and notice this strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord whom they had believed.

[25:40] So the importance always, and we'll see that in a moment, the importance is that we find the Apostle Paul, yes he plants a church but he just simply doesn't leave them to get on with it. He goes back time and time again to encourage these people in the Lord and to encourage them to remain in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, after spending, then you go into chapter 15, we find that there was an assembly or the Jerusalem council in Jerusalem and Paul and Barnabas were sent there to represent the church in regards to the Gentiles and how the Gentiles were to be dealt with. And then we read, we come there in Antioch now, remember the gospel, Antioch had become the church that sent them out as missionaries into the world. And we find in Acts chapter 15, after being in Antioch for a while, we read in verse 36, this is what Paul says, after some days, Acts 15, after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaim the word of the Lord and see how they are. Now notice, the main emphasis here is not on planting churches. Yes, they planted churches as they went on their way, but the main emphasis of the second missionary journey of Paul was basically the emphasis of visiting churches that were already established by the apostle Paul and by Barnabas. Now, the question is, surely that this should be our main purpose as well. If we are to use the New Testament as our guide, as the model church, surely we are to follow in their footsteps in this way, visiting congregations so that they will be encouraged. Places like yourselves here in Dumfries, you don't at the moment have a minister, so it's always good to be encouraged by others coming to encourage you in the gospel.

[28:07] We think of places in our own presbytery, places like Campbellton, and there's Tarbert, and there's Loch Gilbed, there's Ayr, and two weeks ago I was in Govan Hill in Glasgow. They need to be encouraged.

[28:22] Their minister just lost his wife of 55 years of age to cancer, and they certainly need to be encouraged as well. You see, like yourselves, they are established free church congregations. Now, this is something that I feel that we should be looking at as a church, and asking the question, okay, if Paul was in Scotland, what would Paul do?

[28:54] And I think, as he says in Acts 15, 36, this is what Paul would do. Do you see how important that is, to build each other up? And this is the picture that we have here, but somehow we're missing this point.

[29:24] We're thinking that Paul just went out to plant churches, which he did, but he didn't forget the ones that were planted. And that is important for us, to remember the planted churches.

[29:38] Now, from Acts chapter 15, it was from there that Paul set out on his second missionary journey. And, you know, as I read this, and as you see the beginnings of this, I thought that this would be best called Paul's discipling journey.

[29:59] Because that's exactly what he did. And, you know, the sad thing is that it is in Acts 15 that we have the separation of a Saul and Barnabas. And sadly, we know from church history that these things do happen.

[30:15] And they were to go their separate ways, which was sad. And I believe, maybe later on with Paul, I feel that Paul and his personality is very forthright.

[30:27] And if you didn't do things the way he was wanting to do, he just simply moved on to someone else. But I think later on, as we read from scripture, we find that he come round to believe that John Mark actually was a good man.

[30:43] And that Barnabas was right after all. He didn't say it outright. But in his roundabout way, he said that John Mark was useful to him, himself.

[30:57] So anyway, they fell out. They went their separate ways. But what does God do with their misdemeanor? And this is the amazing thing, you see. We might make a mess of things, but it is God that's in control of the church.

[31:14] I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. So let us read together Acts 15 verses 39 to 41.

[31:26] Now let's stop there for a minute.

[31:42] Barnabas took John Mark with him to Cyprus. Remember, people left the church in Cyprus to go and minister in Antioch. So just like yourselves and especially smaller congregations, when you do lose people, you feel deflated.

[32:00] And you feel that you need to be encouraged. People had left to go with the gospel somewhere else. What does God do in the providence, in his providence?

[32:10] He takes Barnabas who comes from Cyprus and takes him back to Cyprus. But not only that, he's got John Mark with him. And we see that they return to Cyprus.

[32:22] They sail to Cyprus. To do what? To encourage the church and to see how you are. How are you doing? But more than that, look at verse 40.

[32:35] But Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia.

[32:48] Now, Syria is the area around about Antioch. And there were obviously other churches where the church in Antioch were planting. But he also goes to Cilicia, where Cilicia, that's where Tarshish is.

[33:02] And remember, before he came to Antioch, he spent about 10 years there. Quite sure that he was planting churches. So what does he do here? He goes back to these places.

[33:15] So as to encourage the people. And notice what it says. And he went through Syria and Cilicia. Strengthening the churches. How do you strengthen the church?

[33:28] You strengthen the church by encouraging the church. Well done. Keep on going. You're doing a great job. But it is more.

[33:38] It is more than that. You see, to strengthen them, you do so by discipling them. And teaching them from God's word. Where to find encouragement in God's word in the day of small things.

[33:52] So that you are uplifted. And that you are fed and nourished. Because your own souls are important to feed on God's word. And also by applying that word.

[34:05] And you're not alone. You have the help of the Holy Spirit guiding you in your ministry. You're not alone. Christ through his spirit is with you as he builds his church.

[34:20] And what else would they have done with them? They would have prayed together. Just as we saw he prayed with the elders from Ephesus. You know, I was thinking recently.

[34:30] We have started doing a course. An eldership course with Professor Janangus MacLeod. Whom you know yourselves. And I've given the invite to elders here.

[34:43] And elders in two other congregations. And some of our own. And you know what? I couldn't believe it. Some guys never turned up. And I thought they missed out on God's blessing.

[34:56] Now just as we read tonight from Ephesus. Can you imagine? Just like one person said to me. Oh, I've already done an elders course. And I'm not going to do another one.

[35:08] Can you imagine back in Acts chapter 20. When Paul sent word from Miletus to see the Ephesus elders. And they were going to send word back to Paul. It's alright Paul.

[35:19] We heard it all before. We simply don't want to come. Because we're sorted. How sad is that? And I'm thinking about here.

[35:32] Church leaders. And they don't feel like fellowshipping with others. Okay, even if we heard it before. I'm telling you that one young man came to me and said.

[35:45] That was one of the best evenings I've had in years. And it was listening to elders from different places. Giving their views. And as Janangus drew it out of people.

[35:58] What we thought. And what it does. That it sharpens your mind. To the point that we are wanting more of that. You see.

[36:10] That is what fellowship does. And I'm quite sure. That Barnabas and John Mark. And Paul and Silas. They lived the talk. When they were with these people.

[36:22] They spoke what they said. And this was the truth of scripture. You could see it in their very walk in life. This is what Paul later said.

[36:33] In his letter to Colossians chapter 1. Let's turn to it if you can. In Colossians chapter 1. And verses 27 to 29. And this is what Paul says there.

[36:48] Colossians 1 verse 27 to the end of the chapter. And he says there. To them God chose to make known. How great among the Gentiles are the riches of his glory.

[37:03] Of this mystery which is Christ in you. The hope of glory. That's the people who have been saved by the gospel. Notice what he goes on to say.

[37:14] Him we proclaim warning everyone. And teaching everyone with all wisdom. That we may present everyone mature in Christ.

[37:27] Now what he is wanting is that he is wanting you to grow in grace. And in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what is important for all of us.

[37:40] And then he goes on to say. For this I toil struggling with all his mercy. That he powerfully works within me.

[37:51] Now I want us to stop here for a moment or two. You see the truth is this. Is to have a biblical authentic discipleship ministry.

[38:03] It means hard work. Now you would think a Thursday evening at half past seven. To go on to your computer.

[38:13] Which is wherever in your house. And click on to zoom. And go on to it. You wouldn't think that's hard work. It is for some of our elders. Not here. You were all there.

[38:26] Not your elders in Dumpfys. And good for you. But for others. It is too much. Notice what Paul says here. Paul said for this I toil.

[38:39] This means I labor. Labor that leaves me weary. To the point of exhaustion. That is what it meant to the Apostle Paul.

[38:51] The Greek word used is the word agony. To preach the gospel. It was used of athletics. In athletic events.

[39:02] It is the striving. To preach the word. I toil to do this. In the gospel. He said elsewhere. In Thessalonica.

[39:14] In 1st Thessalonians 2.9. You don't need to turn. I'll read it. He said this. For you remember brothers. Our labor and toil. We worked night and day.

[39:26] That we might not be a burden. To any of you. While we proclaim to you. The gospel of God. We toiled.

[39:36] Night and day. So that this would not be a burden to you. Now it is often said. That when all is said and done.

[39:48] There is more said than done. It is often said. That when all is said and done. There is more said than done.

[40:00] I wonder. If that is the church of Jesus Christ. In our day. Well it ought not to be. And you know. I need to ask myself.

[40:12] As I saw that. I looked at it. And I said. Kenny. Is this you? You are all talk. And you don't do anything.

[40:24] Quite a thought. Isn't it? R.C. Sproul. Said this. The ministry of the gospel. Is a glorious thing.

[40:35] But we do not have to be an apostle. Or a reformer. Or a preacher. To do it. It is all our duties.

[40:45] To do it. He has given the commission. To everyone. To do it. Go. And make. Disciples. Disciples. Some years ago.

[40:56] In Africa. I just read this. A couple of weeks ago. And this woman. She became a Christian. And being filled. With gratitude.

[41:08] She decided. That she wanted. To do something. For Jesus. She was blind. She was uneducated. And she was. 70 years.

[41:19] Of age. 70 is the new. 50. They say. And if you're 70. You're still very young. And. She was 70.

[41:30] And she came. To her missionary. With her French Bible. And she asked the missionary. To underline. For her. John 3. 16.

[41:41] In red ink. God so loved the world. That he gave his one and only son. That whoever believes in him. Shall not perish. But have everlasting life.

[41:53] Underline it in red ink. She said. The missionary. Missionary was mystified. And watched her. As she saw this woman. Go across the road.

[42:04] While there was a boy's school. And she sat on the wall. At the gate. When school dismissed. She would call. A boy or two.

[42:15] Over. As she heard them pass. She obviously couldn't see them. And then she would say to the boys. Can you read French? And of course.

[42:25] Any young boy would be proud. To respond. Yes of course. I can read French. And then. She would say to them. Will you read then. For me.

[42:36] This passage. That is underlined. In ink. And they would read to her. John 3. 16. When they did. She would ask them.

[42:47] Do you know what this means? And then. She would tell them. About Jesus Christ. Well. Do you know that. That missionary said. That 24.

[42:59] Young boys. From that school. Came through her witness. To be pastors. In the church. What. Can I do.

[43:10] For Jesus. What can I do. For Jesus. Well. We need to remember. The apostles. Ministry.

[43:21] Was set. In a different. Circumstances. Different circumstances. To her own. Here in the United Kingdom. Or in Scotland. But yet. We find.

[43:31] That these things. Are still happening. In our world. Especially the persecuted church. There's imprisonment. There's beatings. There are threats. There's. As we read.

[43:42] And if you read. Barnabas. Prayer notes. You see it all the time. There were. Practical things. In regards to. Earthquakes. There were.

[43:54] Shipwrecks. There were. Storms. And there were. Many. Other. Events. That we don't. Experience. In life. This is what life. Life was like. For them.

[44:04] In the Mediterranean world. As they went by sea. And went by land. We can see. In acts. That the power of darkness. Was not idle.

[44:16] He never is. He hates. The cause. Of Christ. Trying to fumble. Even in Christ's life. To try to make sense. Of it.

[44:27] And now. Where he's lost. After Calvary. And lost. After the ascension. Especially when he rose. From the dead. Triumphant. Knowing fine.

[44:38] That he is at God's right hand. Where can I make the most damage? Oh. I can do it. In his people. And in his church.

[44:49] I'll get. To spoil it. There. There. And you know. This didn't stop them. At all. They still toiled.

[45:00] In the gospel. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see. Their commission. From the Lord. Was clear. To go and make disciples. Now. That is what now.

[45:11] Takes us to. Acts chapter 20. Verse 24. It's been a long. Way around. To come. To the passage. We read tonight. But I want you. To go. To that.

[45:21] Acts 20. And look at verse. 24. What the apostle Paul. Says. There. To the believers. To the elders. But I do not.

[45:32] Account my life. Of any value. Nor as precious. To myself. If only. I may finish. My course. And the ministry.

[45:43] That I received. From the Lord Jesus. To testify. To the gospel. Of the grace. Of God. The gospel.

[45:54] Of the grace. Of God. Now. In every church setting. You have participants. Who are the backbone.

[46:05] Of the church. And church. Could not. And will not. Function. With these people. When I came. When I drove here. I was here early.

[46:16] This morning. At quarter past ten. I just parked. Along there. And here we found. That even then. The doors. Of the church. Were open. And your leaders.

[46:27] Were buzzing about. And getting ready. For the service. In the morning. You know. There's some times. When you're invited. To go. And preach. Somewhere.

[46:38] You come. To a dark church. The lights are off. And they open. The doors. At five minutes. Before. The service begins. How sad.

[46:50] But you know. It is the backbone. Of the people. Who work. That makes all the difference. I want you to consider. Just for a moment. The various duties.

[47:02] If you like. That happens. In a church. From week to week. Look how beautifully. And clean. The building is. We had damage.

[47:12] On that stairs. I don't think. I've seen. A stairway. So beautiful. As the one here. In Dumfries. I saw it years ago. When we were here. And being a joiner. To trade.

[47:23] I just love. The symmetry. Of the whole shape. And the stairs. And look at it now. After much grief. And prayer. That was put up.

[47:34] It's paid for. We had dry rot. It's all painted. These things. Just don't happen. On their own. Someone has to go.

[47:44] And deal. With these issues. Someone has to clean. The church. Someone has to open. The building. For services. Someone preaches.

[47:56] The gospel. Someone has to lead. Prayer meetings. There's a drop in. For parent. And children. Toddler group. There's drop in. And there are many.

[48:07] Other things. This morning. When we turned up. At a table. At the side. Someone took time. To cut the bread. And put it in foil.

[48:19] Put wine in a cup. And all we had to simply do. Was to take these things in. It was all prepared. For us.

[48:31] In all of these events. People. Are primary. Because we need people. To run. Events.

[48:42] What people bring. You see. To our church. Is personal care. Personal care. That quite often. I find myself.

[48:54] Taking for granted. What people bring. Is personal care. We cannot be helped. Helped. By something. We have to be helped.

[49:05] By someone. Something. Is not good enough. I read the other evening. Of two neighbors. Who. Both of them.

[49:16] Installed. A new lawn. In their front gardens. They lived in a semi-detached. Similar. Identical homes. Same size of garden. And. They were laid.

[49:26] By the same company. The two lawns. And they were beautifully laid. The company. In fact. Asked. If they could take a photo. Of the lawn. So that they could use it.

[49:38] As a. A promotional picture. For their company. There was only one difference. In the lawns. One household.

[49:49] Installed. An underground. Sprinkling. System. While the other neighbors. Invested. In a garden hose. Now.

[50:00] One lawn. One lawn. Was looked after. By the flick. Of a switch. And the other. Was cared for. With personal care. After a few years.

[50:13] The lawn. With a sprinkler. Returned. To the original. State. Of bare earth. And it was covered. In weeds. While the other lawn.

[50:24] Which had personal care. Was still green. And beautiful. With a mechanical system. There is no way.

[50:35] To give. Individual care. And attention. Now. If the grass. In our lawns. Need personal care. How much more.

[50:47] Does the church. Of Jesus Christ. Need. Personal. Care. And attention. You see. We all have.

[50:58] Specific needs. Don't we. And these needs. Can only be met. By getting to know. The person. By someone. Who cares.

[51:10] And someone. Who understands. To understand people. You need to get to know. People. What. Is their need.

[51:21] And for a church. To function. Most effectively. We need to adapt. To meet. The needs. Of.

[51:31] For example. Our children. What about. Non-Christians. Who come along. Lukewarm. Christians. And.

[51:43] Committed. Christians. How does a church. Minister. To people. Like that. When it is so diverse. In all.

[51:53] Our ways. Oh yes. Of course. We minister. To committed. Christians. Don't forget them. Because they are the most important.

[52:05] Of all. Because without them. There would be no church. And the idea. Is this. Is that we need. To motivate.

[52:17] All. The different. Groups. Not just one group. But all. The groups. First of all. To encourage. Our children.

[52:28] Give to our children. Something. That they understand. And grow up with. Because to be honest. It's not. If we are struggling. Sometimes.

[52:39] Even today. The child. That was here today. Was so young. The children. Address. Simply went. Over the top. We need to understand.

[52:50] And cater. For children. What about. To encourage. Non-Christians. Well. That is what. We love doing. In pointing them.

[53:01] To Christ. Pointing them. To Jesus. What about. What about. Motivating. New Christians. As if new Christians.

[53:11] Needed to be motivated. They're usually on fire. For Christ. Oh. But. They need to be taught. The scriptures. So as to make sure.

[53:22] That they are grounded. On the word of God. We motivate them. In the word. Of God. What about. The lukewarm.

[53:33] Christians. You're not going to get to know them. Unless you get to know them. And to know where they are. Spiritually. Quite often.

[53:45] The lukewarm. Christians. They start to ease off. From church services. They ease off. From prayer meetings. But you know. Where that begins.

[53:57] The easing off begins. It begins. In the closet. At home. In the secret of home. I've got no time. To pray. Anymore.

[54:10] The lukewarm. Christian. What do we do? We encourage them. Back. Into the fold. It's just like. Remember in the days. Don't even mention.

[54:20] Coal. In our days. But. The fact. When there would be. A roaring fire. Going on. And a coal. Would fall out. Onto the hearth. Yes. When it fell.

[54:31] It was glowing. But in a minute or two. It will turn black. And it will remain black. Unless you go. With the tongs.

[54:41] And lift it back. Into the fire. And there. It will start to glow again. That is what we're like. If we're not. Among the fellowship. Of the church.

[54:52] We will become cold. So it's important. To tell the lukewarm Christian. And to welcome them back. Into the fellowship. What about.

[55:04] The committed Christian. Well. They're the busy ones. And you see. The danger. Of the busy Christian. Is that we are so busy. For the Lord.

[55:15] That we have no time. For the Lord. For our own. Private worship. You see. God wants us. First. For himself.

[55:28] And then the work. He wants that moment. He wants that closet times. He wants the Bible times. He wants the meditation.

[55:39] Of the word times. Because it is there. You see. That we will grow. In grace. And in knowledge. God is jealous. Of you. So the question is then.

[55:52] Is. What motivates. The motivators. What motivates. The motivators. Well. It is the leaders.

[56:03] Of the church. They are the ones. That should motivate. The motivators. Listen to what Paul says. To the elders.

[56:13] In Acts 20. And there. In verse. 28. Pay careful attention. To yourselves. And to all. The flock.

[56:24] Of which the Holy Spirit. Has made you. Overseers. To care for. The church of God. Which he. Obtained.

[56:36] With his own blood. Now. They have been obtained. With Christ's blood. So they are precious. To Christ. Christ. So what does he want.

[56:47] To us. To do. This is the responsibility. Of the leaders. Now. We are thinking of men. As elders. Leaders. We are thinking of older women.

[56:57] Looking after younger women. We are thinking of a congregation. You had a baptism here recently. I am sure. I am sure. That the minister. Would have asked you. All to stand up.

[57:08] And the reason he does that. Is that we are also. Vowing. Silently. In the fact that. We will. Remember these children. In prayer. And we will.

[57:19] Teach them. The scriptures. In our church. It is our responsibility. To pay careful attention. Who to first.

[57:31] To yourselves. Remember. Was it Robert Murray McChain. Was it not him. That said. My people's greatest need. Is my personal holiness.

[57:45] That is my people's greatest need. Pay careful attention. To yourselves. And to the church. As he said.

[57:56] Pay careful attention. To yourselves. And to all. The flock. How can we do it. If we are not right. With God. First of all.

[58:07] Ourselves. We have got. Nothing to offer. If we are not right. With God. But it is when we are right. With God. We then have something.

[58:18] To share. With others. How is life. With you. You see. The active Christian. Is not just dependent.

[58:30] On Sunday services. For their own spiritual. Nourishment. No. They feed themselves. Daily. On God's word. And it is.

[58:41] On this basis. That you are growing. You can't wait. Till next Sunday. I remember when. I remember using the illustration. When I first came to faith. We worked in Aberdeen.

[58:53] And I used to. When I used to come home. To Monesa. The weekends. I used to fellowship. With older people. Couldn't wait. For Friday night. But someone asked me. What's it like working. Because there was no Christians. Working.

[59:03] When I was in. On the building site. In Aberdeen. And I remember. I see myself. It says. I was watching my life. And it was like watching. A petrol gauge. Or a fuel gauge.

[59:13] In a car. And as the week went on. The gauge was getting. Going down. And down. And see. By the time Friday came. The warning light. Was flashing.

[59:25] I am needing. Fellowship. With the Lord's people. And do you know what. An evening with them. I was going home. In a full tank. Going home.

[59:38] Full. Because I fellowshiped. With the Lord's people. You see. We need to be active. To feed ourselves. Daily. And also from God's word.

[59:50] And you see. We have to care. For the flock. Of God. This is to be asked of us. Did you tell them. About my son.

[60:04] Did you tell them. About Jesus. How many missed opportunities. We have had. In regards. To telling them.

[60:15] I remember. Working with a lad. And I always thought. I am going to have plenty of time. And he used to say. Kenny. One day. I would like to come. I was training. For the.

[60:25] Going to train. For the ministry. But I was still on the tools. And I thought. I will have plenty of time. To invite him. To come to church. I went home. One morning. And Maggie said.

[60:36] My mate had been on the phone. And he said. That Robbie. Was killed. In a motorbike accident. Last night. Missed opportunity. How can we let them.

[60:49] Go into eternity. Without telling them. About Jesus. Really telling them. Well. You know.

[60:59] When you look at this passage. Notice. We will finish it together. This is him. And imagine. If you had been an elder.

[61:09] In Ephesus. And you hadn't gone. You know. Like some of our. Guys I invited. Imagine if you hadn't gone. And look at verse 36.

[61:20] And when he had said. These things. He knelt down. And prayed with him all. This was. The last prayer. They heard.

[61:31] From the apostle Paul. Wouldn't you have loved. To have been there. To hear that. And there was much weeping. On the part of all.

[61:43] Our Paul. Was crying too. Wasn't just the Ephesian elders. No. Paul. Was weeping too. Because. He wasn't going to see them.

[61:54] Again. Again. And they embraced Paul. And kissed him. Being sorrowful. Most of all. Because of the word. That he has spoken.

[62:06] The word. You see. The word. That is spoken. Is the gospel. Of Jesus Christ. And they would not. That he would not.

[62:17] See his face. Again. And they accompanied him. To the ship. You know. I often think. That they didn't leave the pier. As they watched that boat.

[62:30] Leave the harbor. Harbor. And as it sailed away. I remember. In our own. In our own. Upbringing. It was. Kind of. Before my time.

[62:40] We didn't have a car. Ferry. To our island. Scalpe. It was my granddad. Who had a fishing boat. And it was the ferry. That ran from Tarbert. To Scalpe.

[62:51] Just about. Five miles. By road now. And when people. Used to come. For communion. They used to stay. The whole weekend. And honestly.

[63:03] It was my memory. Of blessed fellowship. The days. Of these people. Coming and staying. In our home. And it was. Wall to wall.

[63:13] Fellowship. For a whole weekend. And you know. On the Monday morning. When they used to. Leave after the morning service. The people in Scalpe. Bay would go down.

[63:24] To the boat. As the boat. Was leaving. And they would both. Start. Singing. A psalm. And as the boat. Drifted away.

[63:35] The people on the boat. Were singing the psalm. As they left. The people on the shore. Singing. The psalm. And it was like. Drifting away. In the distance.

[63:46] As if separating. And I often. Think of that. With this picture. We have here. Division elders. Are you going? No. I want to wait. Till I see it.

[63:57] Going out of sight. Because on it. Was the beloved apostle. Who brought them. The gospel of Jesus Christ. Do you know.

[64:09] The gospel is so amazing. Isn't it? It is so amazing. And I was just saying that. This afternoon. To Norman. If only. They came.

[64:19] To listen. To it. You feel. That they couldn't. But be moved. By it. You feel. If only. We can get them. Through the door.

[64:29] When I was here earlier. I counted. The seats. Round about. And. Just what I. I saw. I was thinking. We could get over. 80 people. In here. Wouldn't it be amazing.

[64:43] 80. Dumpfriesers. Or whatever you call. Your people. To get them. To come in here. And let God. Then. Do the rest. We'll keep on.

[64:55] Praying. For Dumfries. We'll pray in Glasgow. As I know. You're praying here. And we'll keep on. Praying. For Dumfries.

[65:07] May God bless you. In the work. Of the gospel. Which I know. You're busy in. And God sees all. Amen.

[65:18] Our closing item. Of praise. Is Psalm 4. And the same. Psalms version. And.

[65:29] The last few verses. Of Psalm 4. And we read. Oh who can show us any good. I hear so many say. Oh Lord.

[65:39] Shine on us. With your light. Show us your face. I pray. You filled my heart. With greater joy. Than others may have found. As they rejoiced.

[65:50] At harvest time. When grain. And wine. Abound. And listen to this. How lovely this is. For the Lord's people. I will lie down. And sleep in peace.

[66:01] My heart. Will rest secure. For you. Oh Lord. You alone. Oh gracious Lord. Will keep me. Safe. And sure.

[66:12] This is our closing psalm. For the evening. To God's praise. Thank you.

[66:45] Thank you.

[67:15] Thank you.

[67:45] Thank you.