WEBVTT

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 Our reading this morning is from the book of Ephesians, chapter 4, verses 1 to 16.

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 If you have Bibles with you, then please go to Ephesians 4.

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! There are Bibles at the back as well if you need some.

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 The text is also here on the screens and in your bulletin.

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 Ephesians chapter 4, verses 1 to 16.

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 I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called

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 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another in love,

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 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

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 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.

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 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

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 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

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 Therefore, it says,

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 When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.

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 In saying, he ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?

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 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

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 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

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 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

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 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

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 to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

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 so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves

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 and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness and deceitful schemes.

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 Rather, speaking the truth in love,

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 we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head,

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 into Christ, from whom the whole body,

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 joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,

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 when each part is working properly,

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 makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

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 This is the Holy Word of God. Amen.

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 One year ago, we looked at Ephesians 1 to 3,

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 and here we are a year later, the return of Ephesians, Ephesians 4 to 6.

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 We're going to look at from now till the summertime, till July.

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 This is a letter written by the Apostle Paul.

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 It's called a circular letter.

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 The scholars will say that.

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 That means that Paul wrote it to Ephesus in the early 60s,

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 but it was meant to be spread around so the Ephesians would have received it,

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 and they would have made copies,

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 and then they would have sent it to all the churches they knew about.

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 And in some manuscripts even,

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 there's a blank where it says,

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 a letter written from Paul to the Ephesians.

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 In later manuscripts, there sometimes is a blank there,

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 meaning put your church's name in the blank.

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 So because God wrote this letter through Paul by the Spirit,

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 you can read in Ephesians 1.1,

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 a letter written by Paul to the church in Edinburgh, to St. Columbus even.

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 It's to any church.

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 It's from God to us right now.

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 So this letter is for us.

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 It's for today.

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 And what you get in Ephesians,

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 we spent a few months on this last year,

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 you get God's perspective on all that's going on in your life and in the world and in all of history.

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 So it's a God's eye view of everything.

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 So you, for example,

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 you might have become a Christian,

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 and you might ask,

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 what happened to me when I became a Christian?

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 Like, how did it actually happen?

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 And he says,

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 well, Ephesians 2,

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 you were dead,

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 and the Spirit came and made you alive in Christ

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 by giving you the gospel through faith.

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 So he explains what happened to you,

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 or even back up to chapter 1,

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 he says,

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 look, let me take you back to even before history ever began,

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 time ever began,

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 God knew you in Christ

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 and blessed you and redeemed you

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 before the foundation of the world.

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 So it's this God's eye perspective.

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 It's things that you could never know

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 unless God pulls back the curtain

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 and tells you how it all happened,

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 what's happening.

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 And really the heartbeat of it is to say,

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 Jesus Christ makes sense of all of human history.

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 Everything from beginning to end

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 is all focused on what happened with him

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 in the middle of human history.

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 So that's really the heartbeat.

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 But last year,

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 we looked at it from a broader lens.

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 One of the questions that it really focuses on

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 in the first three chapters is,

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 who is the church?

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 What is the church?

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 And in Ephesians,

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 you get, I think,

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 I think the only moment

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 in the whole New Testament

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 where there's an actual definition of the church.

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 So in Ephesians 1 verse 22,

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 it says,

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 the church is the body of Jesus,

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 the body of Christ,

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 the fullness of him who fills all in all.

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 Now that is not an easy sentence to understand.

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 The church is the fullness of him

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 who fills,

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 feels,

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 fills,

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 all in all.

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 What does it mean?

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 I used this illustration last year.

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 This is the best thing I can think of,

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 I think,

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 to make sense of it.

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 Imagine that there is a king

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 and he's ruling the land

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 and he's got a meeting with his council,

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 his advisors,

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 and they're sitting around the table

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 and the king is a great king

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 and he is filling the land

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 through this meeting

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 with wisdom

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 and with love

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 and with justice

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 and with power.

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 He's filling up all things in the kingdom

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 through this meeting

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 and then all of a sudden

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 the doors to the meeting room burst open

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 and his little kids are there

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 and they've completely interrupted it

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 and what does the king do?

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 The king doesn't say,

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 get out of here little kids.

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 You know,

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 we're in a very important meeting.

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 No,

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 he scoops them up in his arms

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 and he gives them a big hug

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 and he says,

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 you know what?

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 You fill me up.

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 And what is he saying?

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 He's saying that his kids

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 in that moment

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 fill him up with joy

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 as he fills the whole kingdom with joy,

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 with love,

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 with justice,

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 with power,

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 with wisdom,

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 right?

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 So,

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 what is the church?

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 Ephesians says,

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 you,

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 Christian,

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 the church

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 are the very joy of Jesus Christ,

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 his body.

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 Somehow,

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 someway,

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 you fill him up

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 as he fills the world,

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 the kingdom of God

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 with wisdom and justice

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 and power and love

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 and that's the definition we get

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 that's a beautiful image.

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 There's a lot of beautiful images

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 in this book.

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 There was a theologian

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 named John Mackay

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 who was born in Inverness

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 in 1889

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 and he moved over

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 to America

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 in the early 20th century

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 and he became

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 the third president

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 of Princeton Theological Seminary

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 in New Jersey.

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 But later in his life,

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 he was invited back

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 to Scotland,

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 to Edinburgh,

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 to give a series of lectures

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 at the university

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 and he talks about Ephesians

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 in those lectures

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 and in them,

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 he tells the story

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 of how he came

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 to follow Jesus,

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 how he came to faith

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 in Christ

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 and he says

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 that he was 14 years old

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 and he was walking

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 through the highlands

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 north of Inverness

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 and he was reading

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 the book,

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 this letter,

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 Ephesians

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 and he says,

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 he says,

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 to this letter

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 I owe my life.

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 In it,

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 I saw a new world.

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 Everything was new.

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 I had a new outlook,

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 new experiences,

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 new attitudes

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 to other people.

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 I loved God.

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 Jesus Christ,

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 when I read this letter,

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 he became to me

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 the center of everything.

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 I have been quickened.

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 I was made alive.

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 I was really alive.

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 Then he writes,

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 this letter

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 is pure music.

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 What we read here

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 is truth

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 that sings

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 doctrine set to music.

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 That's the letter

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 to Ephesians.

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 I hope that

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 as we go back

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 through it again,

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 the back half,

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 you feel like

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 you get that experience too.

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 There's a piece of music

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 in it

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 at the very end

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 of chapter 3.

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 If you have a Bible,

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 you can see this.

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 We didn't read this piece

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 but chapter 3

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 verses 20 and 21

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 is a doxology

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 and he says here,

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 all glory

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 from the church

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 be to God the Father,

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 God the Son,

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 God the Spirit.

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 Then it feels

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 almost like

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 that's the end

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 of the letter.

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 This doxology,

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 letter done.

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 But then chapter 4 starts.

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 The reason that last year

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 we stopped

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 at chapter 3

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 is because there's

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 a very natural break there

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 with the doxology.

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 Praise be to God

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 for all these things.

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 Now,

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 then he says

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 in chapter 4 verse 1,

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 I therefore,

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 Paul,

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 write the next thing

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 to you.

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 The therefore

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 in chapter 4 verse 1

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 is pointing back

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 to everything

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 he's already said

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 in chapters 1 to 3.

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 One of the ways

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 you could think about it,

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 we've got to have

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 a little bit

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 of a longer introduction

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 today to get back

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 into the letter

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 we've left for a year.

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 One way to think

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 about it is

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 scholars will call this

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 the indicative

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 and the imperative split.

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 The credenda

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 and the agenda

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 as it's often put.

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 What does that mean?

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 Indicative statements

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 are statements of fact.

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 So chapter 1 to 3

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 is statements of fact.

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 You were dead,

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 but the Spirit

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 made you alive.

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 You were lost,

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 but now you're found.

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 You were Jews

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 and Gentiles

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 that hated each other,

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 but now you are

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 one church.

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 Facts,

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 declarative statements,

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 indicatives.

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 And then chapter 4 to 6

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 are imperatives.

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 Now,

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 what could you do

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 in the light of that truth?

00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:45.860
 You were called,

00:09:46.319 --> 00:09:46.600
 now,

00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:47.860
 here's commands.

00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:48.579
 Right?

00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:49.199
 And so if you look

00:09:49.199 --> 00:09:50.019
 at the very first thing

00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:50.399
 he does

00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:51.799
 in chapter 4 verse 1,

00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:52.179
 he says,

00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:54.139
 I therefore call you

00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:55.519
 to live in a manner

00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:56.539
 worthy of the calling

00:09:56.539 --> 00:09:57.219
 to which you've been called.

00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:58.079
 So the very first thing

00:09:58.079 --> 00:09:58.919
 you get is a command.

00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:01.819
 So chapters 1 to 3,

00:10:02.959 --> 00:10:04.120
 who's the church?

00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:05.899
 What happened to us?

00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:06.859
 How do we become Christians?

00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:07.859
 What is God doing

00:10:07.859 --> 00:10:08.639
 in all of world history?

00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:10.519
 Chapter 4 to 6,

00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:12.519
 what should we do now

00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:14.179
 in the light of who we are?

00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:15.279
 So chapter 1 to 3,

00:10:15.339 --> 00:10:15.699
 who are we?

00:10:15.739 --> 00:10:16.379
 Chapter 4 to 6,

00:10:16.939 --> 00:10:17.779
 now what do we do?

00:10:17.839 --> 00:10:18.500
 How do we live?

00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:19.219
 How do we go forward?

00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:20.959
 How then shall we live?

00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:22.100
 And so we begin

00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:22.879
 with this command,

00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:24.180
 walk in a manner worthy

00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:25.240
 of the calling

00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:26.139
 to which you've been called

00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:27.259
 and that structures

00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:28.500
 the whole of the last

00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:29.120
 three chapters.

00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:32.080
 If you were here

00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:32.740
 in January,

00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:33.440
 I know,

00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:34.980
 I see guests here today,

00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:35.820
 I know some of you weren't,

00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:37.180
 but if you were here

00:10:37.180 --> 00:10:37.660
 in January,

00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:38.379
 one of the things

00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.920
 I said is that

00:10:39.920 --> 00:10:41.680
 if there was a unifying theme

00:10:41.680 --> 00:10:42.800
 to the whole semester,

00:10:43.060 --> 00:10:44.180
 this spring semester,

00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:46.420
 it is spiritual formation,

00:10:46.660 --> 00:10:48.519
 it is how can we grow together?

00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:50.899
 And if there's one sentence

00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:52.519
 that unifies the whole

00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:53.199
 of this semester

00:10:53.199 --> 00:10:54.439
 and all the different series

00:10:54.439 --> 00:10:55.259
 we've looked at,

00:10:55.579 --> 00:10:56.259
 it is this,

00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:57.819
 that true discipleship,

00:10:57.939 --> 00:10:59.340
 true formation,

00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:00.980
 growing by the Holy Spirit

00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:01.519
 as Christians,

00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:03.699
 is just this command,

00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:06.319
 become who you already are.

00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:09.460
 Be who God has already

00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:10.639
 made you in Christ.

00:11:11.419 --> 00:11:11.879
 And here,

00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:13.019
 what he's saying

00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:13.799
 in this argument

00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:14.759
 in chapter 4,

00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:15.379
 1 to 16,

00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:16.039
 is he's saying,

00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:17.120
 let me summarize

00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.599
 all of 1 to 3 for you,

00:11:18.899 --> 00:11:19.860
 you have got the life

00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:20.620
 of God in you.

00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:22.620
 You've got the Spirit,

00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:25.199
 you've got the triune God

00:11:25.199 --> 00:11:26.279
 with you,

00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:27.139
 blessing you,

00:11:27.299 --> 00:11:28.059
 redeeming you,

00:11:28.319 --> 00:11:28.899
 you've got the life

00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:29.459
 of God in you,

00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:31.199
 now be,

00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:33.519
 grow into who you really are

00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:34.319
 in that light.

00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:35.379
 And we've said that,

00:11:35.719 --> 00:11:36.279
 this is probably

00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:37.339
 the 10th sermon

00:11:37.339 --> 00:11:38.419
 that's been the thesis

00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:39.079
 this semester,

00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.759
 but that really is

00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:41.319
 what the New Testament

00:11:41.319 --> 00:11:42.319
 says over and over again,

00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:43.379
 become who you already are

00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:44.000
 in Christ.

00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:44.919
 You've got everything,

00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:45.939
 you've got all the treasures,

00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:47.059
 you've got the life

00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:47.500
 of God,

00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:48.519
 now become that.

00:11:49.059 --> 00:11:50.079
 Two ways today,

00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:50.879
 every week,

00:11:51.579 --> 00:11:52.819
 for the next couple months,

00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:53.659
 we'll ask the question,

00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.740
 what does the church do,

00:11:55.819 --> 00:11:56.459
 what are we to do?

00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:58.059
 The answer today is,

00:11:58.599 --> 00:11:59.159
 seek unity

00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:01.000
 and seek maturity.

00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:02.339
 So Paul,

00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:03.480
 in these 16 verses,

00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:03.980
 says,

00:12:04.699 --> 00:12:05.299
 be one,

00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:06.360
 be unified,

00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:08.719
 and seek spiritual maturity.

00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:09.759
 Let's take him in reverse.

00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:11.019
 He does unity,

00:12:11.099 --> 00:12:11.519
 then maturity,

00:12:11.599 --> 00:12:12.339
 I want to do maturity,

00:12:12.339 --> 00:12:12.819
 then unity.

00:12:12.819 --> 00:12:13.539
 All right,

00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:14.059
 so first,

00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.539
 seek spiritual unity.

00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:16.759
 That's what we're told

00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:17.279
 to do here.

00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:19.899
 If you're a believer today,

00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:21.399
 God has saved you,

00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:22.259
 you were dead in your

00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.360
 trespasses and sins,

00:12:23.959 --> 00:12:24.819
 by faith,

00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:26.179
 in Christ,

00:12:26.319 --> 00:12:26.919
 by grace,

00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:27.879
 God made you alive,

00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:28.639
 you're saved.

00:12:29.059 --> 00:12:29.799
 Here's the church,

00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:30.919
 that's what the church is,

00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:31.480
 here we are,

00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.099
 right here.

00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:33.039
 What are we to do?

00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:34.079
 Verse 13,

00:12:34.819 --> 00:12:35.799
 if you look at it with me,

00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:38.059
 he says that the big goal,

00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:39.199
 he's talking about the goal

00:12:39.199 --> 00:12:40.360
 here of our Christianity,

00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:41.300
 and he says,

00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:43.060
 we strive after unity

00:12:43.060 --> 00:12:44.600
 until we attain

00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:45.820
 the unity of faith,

00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:47.019
 the knowledge of the Son of God,

00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:48.460
 and then here's the clause,

00:12:49.180 --> 00:12:50.860
 unto mature manhood.

00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:51.800
 Now,

00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.940
 he puts that in the masculine,

00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:54.259
 that's just the way people

00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.340
 talked in the first century.

00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:57.399
 You could translate it like,

00:12:57.680 --> 00:12:59.139
 until we grow up,

00:12:59.279 --> 00:12:59.840
 all the way,

00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:00.779
 until we become adults.

00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:02.139
 So,

00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:03.180
 he's talking here about

00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:04.019
 the big goal

00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:04.779
 of the Christian life,

00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:05.879
 and he says it's

00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:07.240
 spiritual adulthood,

00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:09.019
 spiritual maturity,

00:13:09.180 --> 00:13:09.779
 that's the big goal

00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:10.440
 of the Christian life.

00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.460
 When you become a Christian,

00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:16.700
 you start out

00:13:16.700 --> 00:13:17.639
 as a spiritual baby,

00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:19.480
 a spiritual infant,

00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.700
 and Paul says the goal

00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:22.860
 in the Christian life

00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:23.680
 is to grow up

00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:24.840
 and to become

00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.720
 a full-grown adult

00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:27.240
 in the spiritual life.

00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:28.060
 Now,

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:29.279
 we have a baby

00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:30.500
 at my house right now.

00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.220
 It's our baby.

00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:33.680
 The baby we have

00:13:33.680 --> 00:13:34.019
 at our house

00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:35.039
 is our baby.

00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:36.299
 And,

00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:40.279
 she can't do very much.

00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:41.339
 She's very needy.

00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.059
 She's very dependent.

00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:43.799
 Right?

00:13:43.819 --> 00:13:43.919
 So,

00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:44.860
 she cannot talk.

00:13:45.079 --> 00:13:45.959
 She cannot walk.

00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:47.199
 She cannot feed herself.

00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:48.159
 She can grab

00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:49.039
 a little bit and feed.

00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:50.839
 But a couple weeks ago,

00:13:51.219 --> 00:13:52.399
 she did start crawling.

00:13:52.599 --> 00:13:53.039
 She started,

00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:53.679
 you know,

00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:54.740
 the baby scoot

00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:55.839
 across the room.

00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:56.059
 You know,

00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:56.459
 the scoot.

00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:57.360
 And,

00:13:57.439 --> 00:13:59.299
 she probably about

00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.139
 a week and a half ago

00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:00.899
 was the first time

00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:02.139
 she was able to make it

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:03.519
 across the whole room.

00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:04.699
 And,

00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:05.360
 you know what we said

00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:07.360
 to her that day

00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:08.319
 when we saw that?

00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:09.120
 We said,

00:14:10.079 --> 00:14:10.500
 Isabel,

00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:12.460
 little baby,

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:14.679
 you know,

00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:16.779
 scooting across the room

00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:17.600
 is nice,

00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:18.259
 I guess,

00:14:18.439 --> 00:14:19.600
 but all the other kids

00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.120
 can run.

00:14:21.939 --> 00:14:22.539
 You know,

00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.079
 we said,

00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:25.139
 scooting,

00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:26.019
 crawling is okay,

00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:27.039
 but walking

00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:27.939
 is far superior.

00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:28.799
 And,

00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:29.500
 even better than that

00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:29.840
 is running

00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:30.539
 and even better than that

00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:31.059
 is sprinting.

00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:31.179
 And,

00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:31.779
 most of our kids

00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:32.299
 can sprint.

00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:34.740
 No,

00:14:34.979 --> 00:14:35.219
 right?

00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:39.519
 It's good to be a baby

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.359
 when you're supposed

00:14:40.359 --> 00:14:40.959
 to be a baby.

00:14:43.079 --> 00:14:43.459
 And,

00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.939
 if you are a new believer,

00:14:45.819 --> 00:14:47.620
 if you are an early Christian,

00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:50.139
 it's good to be a spiritual baby.

00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:50.679
 It's not bad.

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.359
 You're supposed to be.

00:14:53.579 --> 00:14:54.679
 You're supposed to

00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:55.539
 become a Christian

00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.279
 and then

00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.740
 learn to crawl

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:59.279
 and then learn to walk

00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:00.359
 and then learn one day

00:15:00.359 --> 00:15:00.839
 to sprint.

00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:02.460
 And so,

00:15:02.540 --> 00:15:03.840
 it's a very good thing

00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.840
 to be exactly

00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.759
 where you are

00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.980
 when you come to faith

00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.460
 in Christ.

00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:08.300
 And,

00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:08.960
 Paul says here,

00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:11.160
 the goal is to grow

00:15:11.160 --> 00:15:12.120
 in spiritual maturity

00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:13.139
 unto full adulthood,

00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.340
 manhood,

00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:14.920
 womanhood,

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:15.860
 as Christians,

00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:16.259
 right?

00:15:16.300 --> 00:15:16.420
 So,

00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:18.580
 it's good to be a spiritual baby

00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:19.720
 if you are a new Christian.

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:19.779
 Christian.

00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:21.840
 And,

00:15:22.040 --> 00:15:22.620
 if,

00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:24.940
 if I came back up here

00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:25.740
 and we looked at this passage

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.600
 again in three years

00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:27.060
 and I said,

00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:29.379
 Isabel is still crawling.

00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:32.440
 She hasn't quite gotten

00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:33.259
 to walking yet.

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:33.980
 You see,

00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:34.860
 it's a beautiful thing

00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:35.660
 for Isabel to be crawling

00:15:35.660 --> 00:15:36.019
 right now,

00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:37.360
 but it would be a terrible thing

00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.700
 if in three years

00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.560
 she can't walk,

00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:40.240
 right?

00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:42.060
 We would be searching out

00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:42.820
 help for that.

00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:43.639
 So,

00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:44.680
 it's very good today

00:15:44.680 --> 00:15:45.820
 if you're a new believer

00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:46.899
 to be a spiritual baby

00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:48.799
 and it's not good

00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:49.519
 to stay that way.

00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:51.699
 We've got to grow,

00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:52.500
 Paul says.

00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:53.299
 So,

00:15:53.319 --> 00:15:53.899
 the Christian life

00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:54.539
 is all about

00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:56.340
 starting out as a spiritual infant

00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:56.819
 but growing.

00:15:56.919 --> 00:15:57.019
 Now,

00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:57.459
 how do you know

00:15:57.459 --> 00:15:58.299
 if you're a spiritual infant?

00:15:58.819 --> 00:15:59.600
 He tells us here

00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:00.879
 in verse 14.

00:16:01.319 --> 00:16:01.620
 He says,

00:16:01.819 --> 00:16:03.259
 grow up from spiritual infancy

00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:03.819
 to adulthood

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.879
 so that you may no longer

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.579
 be tossed to and fro

00:16:06.579 --> 00:16:08.059
 by the waves of deceit

00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:08.559
 and cunning

00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.459
 and doctrine

00:16:09.459 --> 00:16:10.379
 and Bible teaching

00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.379
 from all over the place.

00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:11.539
 So,

00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:11.960
 he says,

00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:13.139
 he says that when,

00:16:13.319 --> 00:16:13.699
 one of the ways

00:16:13.699 --> 00:16:14.179
 you can know

00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:15.240
 am I a spiritual infant

00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.460
 is that you're still

00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:17.120
 struggling

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.940
 to tell the difference

00:16:18.940 --> 00:16:20.480
 between teaching

00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.639
 that comes directly

00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:22.300
 from the Bible

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:23.120
 and false teaching.

00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:23.860
 So,

00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:25.379
 you still are in a place

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.040
 where you can be

00:16:26.040 --> 00:16:26.960
 tossed to and fro

00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.100
 by false teachers,

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:28.720
 by cunning,

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.560
 by deceit,

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.960
 by schemes of people.

00:16:31.280 --> 00:16:32.200
 You might turn on the TV

00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.120
 and you watch TV preaching

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:34.900
 which is usually

00:16:34.900 --> 00:16:35.800
 false preaching

00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:37.200
 and you're sort of

00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:38.440
 mesmerized by it

00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:38.780
 and he says

00:16:38.780 --> 00:16:40.019
 that's when you sort of know

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:41.379
 that you're not yet,

00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:42.379
 you haven't yet grown

00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:43.460
 into spiritual maturity.

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.139
 You can't yet

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:45.480
 tell the difference

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.259
 between good teaching

00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:46.840
 and false teaching,

00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:48.000
 biblical theology

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.320
 and false theology.

00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:50.320
 You know,

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:50.800
 Isabel,

00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:53.519
 Isabel tries to eat Legos

00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:56.680
 so we could put food

00:16:56.680 --> 00:16:57.120
 in front of her

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.879
 and we could put Legos

00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.440
 in front of her

00:16:58.440 --> 00:16:59.580
 and she just,

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:00.659
 both,

00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:01.620
 they're equally good

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.060
 to her,

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:02.639
 right?

00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:03.879
 That's an issue

00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.559
 of discernment.

00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.420
 That's being a,

00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:06.860
 you know,

00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.559
 a spiritual baby

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.559
 cannot discern

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.880
 good and bad

00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:10.559
 all the time.

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:11.860
 What are the details

00:17:11.860 --> 00:17:12.400
 underneath that?

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:12.960
 It'd be something

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.480
 like saying

00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.620
 you might,

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.980
 you're not expected to.

00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:17.019
 When you just become

00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.460
 a Christian,

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.880
 you shouldn't yet

00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:19.700
 be able

00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:21.660
 to discern exactly

00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:22.819
 because you haven't yet

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.720
 put all the pieces

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.740
 of the Bible together.

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:25.940
 And I don't mean

00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:27.120
 just knowing

00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:28.259
 the Bible stories,

00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:30.259
 I mean being able

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.299
 to put the theology

00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:32.460
 of the Bible together

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.120
 in your head,

00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:33.559
 in your mind,

00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:34.059
 in your heart

00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:35.360
 and being able to know

00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:36.279
 who is God,

00:17:36.600 --> 00:17:37.740
 what is a human being,

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.539
 what is wrong

00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:39.120
 with the world,

00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:40.160
 all the different pieces

00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:41.080
 of theology together,

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:41.600
 right?

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.279
 That's an issue

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.019
 of discernment

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.640
 and time.

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.380
 It takes time.

00:17:44.820 --> 00:17:45.400
 Nobody should be

00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.019
 at the finish line

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.380
 on that.

00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:48.440
 If you're a new Christian,

00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:49.120
 you shouldn't know

00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:49.920
 very much about it.

00:17:50.860 --> 00:17:51.700
 But he's saying here,

00:17:51.800 --> 00:17:52.800
 but it is time to grow.

00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:53.320
 It's time to take

00:17:53.320 --> 00:17:53.820
 the next step.

00:17:54.800 --> 00:17:55.840
 Another aspect would be

00:17:55.840 --> 00:17:56.880
 that you're just now

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.800
 learning to walk

00:17:57.800 --> 00:17:58.340
 in a manner

00:17:58.340 --> 00:17:59.580
 worthy of the calling

00:17:59.580 --> 00:18:00.380
 to which you've been called.

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:00.920
 So you don't,

00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:01.900
 you might not even know

00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:02.960
 what's happened to you yet.

00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:04.759
 There are a couple

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.300
 new believers

00:18:05.300 --> 00:18:05.980
 in our congregation

00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:06.460
 right now

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.640
 and talking to them,

00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.300
 I know that they say,

00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.660
 I don't quite know

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.820
 what has happened to me,

00:18:11.080 --> 00:18:11.920
 but I know that

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.800
 I was lost

00:18:12.800 --> 00:18:13.759
 and now I'm found.

00:18:15.320 --> 00:18:16.480
 And then Paul says,

00:18:16.560 --> 00:18:17.320
 well, read Ephesians

00:18:17.320 --> 00:18:19.060
 and it can explain

00:18:19.060 --> 00:18:19.980
 to you a bit more

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.860
 about what the Spirit

00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.580
 did in your life

00:18:21.580 --> 00:18:22.240
 and exactly what happened,

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:22.940
 but you shouldn't

00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:23.820
 necessarily know

00:18:23.820 --> 00:18:24.580
 the full of that

00:18:24.580 --> 00:18:25.420
 on day one,

00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:25.880
 not at all.

00:18:26.040 --> 00:18:26.940
 You're a spiritual baby.

00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:27.540
 That's okay.

00:18:28.540 --> 00:18:29.560
 But you may find,

00:18:30.320 --> 00:18:31.160
 what does he say

00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:31.540
 right after?

00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:32.200
 Walk in a manner

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.000
 worthy of the calling

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.800
 to which you've been called

00:18:33.800 --> 00:18:35.360
 by putting on humility,

00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:36.400
 gentleness,

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.240
 patience,

00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.340
 forbearance,

00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:39.859
 bearing with one another

00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:40.659
 sins,

00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:41.279
 love,

00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:42.079
 he says.

00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:43.500
 So you may be in a place

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.159
 where you're looking back

00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:44.519
 and thinking,

00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:46.679
 I have yet to kill

00:18:46.679 --> 00:18:47.679
 the sins

00:18:47.679 --> 00:18:48.699
 that I really,

00:18:48.899 --> 00:18:49.619
 really struggled with

00:18:49.619 --> 00:18:51.199
 before I became a Christian.

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.259
 And that's okay.

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:53.119
 That's the process

00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:53.859
 of sanctification.

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.699
 So you might say,

00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.359
 you might look up

00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:56.579
 and say,

00:18:56.679 --> 00:18:57.939
 I have yet to put to death

00:18:57.939 --> 00:18:59.679
 the impatience

00:18:59.679 --> 00:19:00.899
 that I really had

00:19:00.899 --> 00:19:02.139
 before I was a Christian.

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.819
 And that's because

00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:04.480
 you're a spiritual baby.

00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:04.839
 It's okay.

00:19:04.919 --> 00:19:05.639
 It's a process.

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.740
 Sanctification is a long road.

00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:10.240
 Or you may look up,

00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.960
 and I think this is one

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:13.460
 that's subtle in the text,

00:19:13.620 --> 00:19:14.460
 but a little bit hidden,

00:19:14.800 --> 00:19:15.320
 but there

00:19:15.320 --> 00:19:16.160
 and really important.

00:19:17.520 --> 00:19:18.420
 How do you assess

00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.700
 your own spiritual immaturity?

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.040
 Are you a person

00:19:22.040 --> 00:19:22.940
 who is tossed

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:24.200
 to and fro

00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:26.640
 week in and week out

00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:29.259
 by experiences

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.360
 and feeling

00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:31.400
 more than anything else?

00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:31.920
 In other words,

00:19:32.280 --> 00:19:33.440
 is your spiritual life

00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:33.860
 and the health

00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:34.640
 of your spiritual life

00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:35.700
 conditioned on whether

00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.960
 or not today,

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.620
 this Sunday worship service

00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:40.040
 was good for you or not?

00:19:41.040 --> 00:19:41.940
 So do you walk away

00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:42.300
 thinking,

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:42.620
 you know,

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:44.100
 I enjoyed that today.

00:19:44.300 --> 00:19:45.440
 I got something

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.520
 from that today.

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.720
 My feelings

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:49.140
 were struck today.

00:19:49.340 --> 00:19:50.400
 I liked the music.

00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:51.860
 I liked the sermon.

00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:52.580
 Or I didn't.

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.620
 And if that's

00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:56.120
 sort of the primary way

00:19:56.120 --> 00:19:56.780
 you're assessing

00:19:56.780 --> 00:19:57.700
 your Christian health,

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.720
 you're a spiritual baby.

00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:01.160
 You're still in infancy,

00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:01.820
 right?

00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:02.960
 Because you've yet

00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:05.140
 to learn the ordinariness

00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:06.200
 of the Christian life,

00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:07.960
 which is to come

00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:09.460
 week in and week out

00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.519
 with God's people,

00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.680
 worshiping under

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.860
 the command of God

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.220
 that says,

00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.519
 come and be with God's people.

00:20:14.600 --> 00:20:15.400
 Take up the duty

00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.880
 until it becomes a delight.

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:18.200
 And you know,

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.640
 sometimes it won't be a delight.

00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:20.420
 Of course,

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:21.400
 sometimes the preaching

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:21.980
 is not good.

00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:23.640
 Sometimes the music,

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:23.940
 well,

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.420
 that's rare,

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.500
 but every once in a while,

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:25.720
 right?

00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:26.980
 Of course,

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:28.360
 but if your Christian life

00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:29.120
 and your spiritual health

00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:30.019
 is judged based on

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:31.299
 experience of feeling,

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:32.180
 so in other words,

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.759
 if you don't have

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.839
 a mountaintop moment,

00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:36.119
 if you feel a little bit

00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:36.579
 in the valley,

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.619
 you don't know what to think

00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.799
 about your Christianity anymore,

00:20:38.919 --> 00:20:40.399
 you're at spiritual infancy,

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.319
 right?

00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.599
 So you've yet to learn

00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:43.500
 that Christianity

00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:45.720
 is actually a long obedience

00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.779
 in the same direction,

00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:47.899
 slow,

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.639
 a marathon,

00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:50.619
 right?

00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:53.000
 Not a series of mountaintops,

00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:55.000
 but more like a series of valleys

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.220
 that you're working through.

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.680
 And so one of the things

00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.480
 I think that I've seen

00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:00.240
 is when people in our community

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.039
 become Christians,

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:03.299
 sometimes one of the experiences

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:05.620
 that they have

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:07.240
 is six months in,

00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:08.640
 maybe there'll be a season

00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.640
 of I don't know,

00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.339
 I don't even know

00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:11.259
 if I'm a Christian anymore

00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.420
 because I'm struggling

00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.259
 to read my Bible,

00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.380
 I'm struggling to pray,

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:16.299
 and what you're just doing

00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:17.360
 is entering into

00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:18.420
 that first valley

00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:20.700
 after the mountain peak

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.980
 of coming to faith in Christ,

00:21:22.620 --> 00:21:22.860
 right?

00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.759
 A long obedience

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.380
 in the same direction.

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:24.819
 Lastly,

00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:27.099
 verses 15 and 16,

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.500
 he says,

00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.439
 what is the goal

00:21:28.439 --> 00:21:29.659
 to grow up together

00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:30.459
 in maturity,

00:21:30.959 --> 00:21:32.079
 in deep community,

00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:33.019
 the kind of community

00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.559
 that says,

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.000
 I can speak the truth

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:36.399
 and love to my Christian neighbor

00:21:36.399 --> 00:21:37.419
 and we're okay,

00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.459
 we're walking together

00:21:38.459 --> 00:21:39.259
 in the same direction.

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.699
 And so another sign

00:21:40.699 --> 00:21:41.579
 of spiritual infancy

00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:43.899
 is just sort of

00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:46.039
 a lone wolf mentality,

00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:48.199
 an individualism,

00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.799
 where maybe you've yet

00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:50.679
 to come to see

00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:52.319
 the real vibrancy,

00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.639
 the depth,

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.399
 the reasons

00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:55.259
 that you need

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.200
 the spiritual community,

00:21:56.379 --> 00:21:57.180
 you need the community

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:57.900
 of faith deeply,

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.079
 you can't walk alone.

00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.099
 There has to hit

00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:01.119
 some point along the way

00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:02.000
 in your Christian life

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.099
 where you realize,

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:03.619
 boy,

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.220
 the church has been

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:07.099
 sort of peripheral to me,

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.680
 I go,

00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:10.640
 but I'm not deeply embedded

00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.779
 in the community of faith

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.940
 until that moment

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.619
 where you find out

00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.579
 how much you need it.

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.759
 And then you grow,

00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:17.599
 you come up

00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.480
 out of spiritual infancy

00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:18.960
 into maturity.

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.200
 Now,

00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:23.460
 will you ask this week

00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:24.220
 the question

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:25.400
 I'm asking me,

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.799
 I hope right now

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.259
 you're willing

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.059
 to ask yourself,

00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:30.200
 am I a spiritual infant?

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.819
 And when you look

00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:33.279
 at that list,

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.380
 the answer is,

00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.100
 of course.

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:35.640
 You know,

00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.180
 in some sense,

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:36.480
 yes.

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.519
 In some sense,

00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:38.640
 every single one

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.420
 of us in here

00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:41.380
 have not grown

00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:43.019
 into full adulthood

00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:44.519
 in some of the ways

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.279
 I've just talked about.

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:47.319
 And we've yet to grow

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.740
 into the mature manhood

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.339
 and womanhood

00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:50.920
 of the Christian experience

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:52.680
 in a way that we could have,

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.319
 of course, right?

00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:53.920
 So let me,

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.639
 I've culled together

00:22:55.639 --> 00:22:57.619
 a list of questions for you.

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.359
 And I've taken these

00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:00.460
 from three different authors

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.599
 on spiritual health.

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:03.000
 And I just want to ask them to you,

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:04.559
 it'll take one minute,

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.879
 ask yourself these questions.

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.700
 I'm asking myself these questions.

00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.379
 Number one,

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:13.720
 do I have more theological

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.059
 and biblical understanding

00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:17.240
 today than one year ago?

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.460
 Number two,

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.519
 have I overcome

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:23.319
 any patterns of sin

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.879
 as of today

00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:26.460
 that were very present

00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.399
 in my life

00:23:27.399 --> 00:23:28.220
 one year ago?

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:31.039
 Number three,

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.220
 am I more patient,

00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:33.740
 long-suffering,

00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:34.960
 and gentle

00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.059
 with people

00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:37.099
 that I struggle with

00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.659
 regularly

00:23:37.659 --> 00:23:39.220
 than a year ago?

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.980
 Number four,

00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:43.960
 am I more of a refreshment,

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.399
 I think this is

00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.060
 the most important one,

00:23:45.540 --> 00:23:48.320
 am I more of a refreshment

00:23:48.320 --> 00:23:49.820
 to the body of Christ

00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:51.340
 than I was a year ago?

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.480
 Number five,

00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:54.660
 I think I've got ten,

00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:57.660
 do I love the saints?

00:23:58.080 --> 00:24:00.160
 Do I love the church

00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:02.740
 more than I did a year ago?

00:24:03.300 --> 00:24:04.540
 Do I love the body of Christ,

00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:05.920
 my local church body?

00:24:06.860 --> 00:24:07.580
 Number six,

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:09.720
 do I have Christian friendships

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:11.379
 that exist

00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:12.720
 to help me grow

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.119
 by being able

00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:15.039
 to speak the truth

00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.659
 and love to me?

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:16.939
 So do I have

00:24:16.939 --> 00:24:18.039
 a real Christian friendship

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:19.980
 where somebody can,

00:24:20.099 --> 00:24:21.099
 verses 15 and 16,

00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:22.519
 speak the truth

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.559
 and love to me

00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.839
 because I want

00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:25.599
 to grow up

00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.679
 in the Christian faith,

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:28.220
 I want to put on humility

00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:28.679
 and gentleness

00:24:28.679 --> 00:24:29.240
 and patience?

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:32.579
 Do I think about God

00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:35.439
 more on a daily basis

00:24:35.439 --> 00:24:36.359
 than I did a year ago?

00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:37.079
 Do I pray

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:38.379
 and do I delight

00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:39.539
 in prayer more today

00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.279
 than I did a year ago?

00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:40.740
 And lastly,

00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.699
 am I more aware

00:24:42.699 --> 00:24:44.859
 of my need of grace today?

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:46.539
 Do I know my neediness,

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:47.959
 as Ryan preached

00:24:47.959 --> 00:24:48.539
 on last Sunday,

00:24:48.939 --> 00:24:50.599
 do I know my neediness

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.599
 today more than I did

00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.039
 a year ago?

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.639
 So as I've grown up

00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.099
 in the faith,

00:24:54.199 --> 00:24:55.199
 I'm more aware

00:24:55.199 --> 00:24:56.979
 of my need of grace.

00:24:58.219 --> 00:24:59.599
 So some questions.

00:24:59.699 --> 00:25:00.339
 Now let me say this

00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:01.379
 before I move to the close,

00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.719
 the second thing.

00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.099
 One writer puts it like this,

00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:07.240
 if you've really done

00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.719
 that assessment,

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:10.879
 probably it breaks you

00:25:10.879 --> 00:25:11.359
 a little bit.

00:25:12.419 --> 00:25:13.519
 And the most important thing

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.079
 that this passage

00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:15.099
 is saying at its core

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:17.019
 is you are not saved

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:18.879
 by your spiritual maturity,

00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:20.799
 but by Jesus Christ.

00:25:22.219 --> 00:25:23.699
 You don't come into the faith

00:25:23.699 --> 00:25:24.539
 because you're strong.

00:25:24.859 --> 00:25:25.819
 You come into the faith

00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:27.139
 because you're weak, right?

00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:27.679
 You're not saved

00:25:27.679 --> 00:25:28.419
 by spiritual maturity,

00:25:28.479 --> 00:25:29.059
 but by Jesus.

00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:31.519
 And so at the very center

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.159
 of this passage

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:32.839
 is the idea

00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:34.099
 that you're not saved

00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:35.039
 because of maturity,

00:25:35.199 --> 00:25:36.939
 but unto it, unto it.

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.439
 And at the heart

00:25:38.439 --> 00:25:38.919
 of the passage,

00:25:38.919 --> 00:25:40.039
 if you look at the center

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.439
 with me,

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.480
 verses 4 to 10,

00:25:41.959 --> 00:25:43.219
 I can just briefly summarize

00:25:43.219 --> 00:25:44.079
 the argument here.

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.639
 At the very middle,

00:25:46.199 --> 00:25:47.740
 he puts the grace

00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.559
 of Jesus Christ

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.500
 in this passage

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.779
 from Psalm 68

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.919
 that Christ ascended

00:25:51.919 --> 00:25:53.919
 and he led captives

00:25:53.919 --> 00:25:55.359
 out of captivity.

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.139
 We just sang it

00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:57.039
 in Psalm 68.

00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.859
 But you look at verse 4

00:25:58.859 --> 00:25:59.219
 and following,

00:25:59.339 --> 00:25:59.599
 he says,

00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:01.240
 you are one church,

00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:01.959
 one people,

00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:03.079
 one faith.

00:26:03.199 --> 00:26:04.779
 Jesus is the one object

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.319
 of your faith,

00:26:05.419 --> 00:26:06.079
 one baptism.

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.659
 So if you've been baptized

00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:08.659
 in the name of Father,

00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.399
 Son, and Holy Spirit,

00:26:09.459 --> 00:26:10.779
 you share in the one baptism

00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.879
 of the church,

00:26:11.919 --> 00:26:12.939
 of Jesus Christ, right?

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:14.099
 No matter where that happened.

00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.719
 You have one faith,

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.079
 one people,

00:26:16.159 --> 00:26:16.699
 one spirit.

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:18.139
 There's only one Holy Spirit.

00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:18.919
 So if you're a Christian,

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.980
 you have the Holy Spirit.

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.199
 So you're united

00:26:21.199 --> 00:26:21.839
 by the Spirit

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:23.019
 with all the other Christians.

00:26:23.179 --> 00:26:24.279
 There's not multiple spirits.

00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:25.619
 So you can be Baptist.

00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:25.759
 You can be Christ.

00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.959
 You can be Presbyterian.

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.799
 You can be Pentecostal.

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.559
 You can be any of it

00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.079
 and there's still

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.899
 only one faith.

00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:33.699
 And he says,

00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.039
 why?

00:26:34.199 --> 00:26:36.559
 Because Jesus condescended.

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.699
 He came incarnation.

00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.159
 He came down

00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:40.299
 and when he ascended,

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.559
 when he went into heaven,

00:26:41.659 --> 00:26:42.919
 he gave all the gifts

00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:43.939
 of grace to the church.

00:26:44.639 --> 00:26:44.979
 Meaning,

00:26:45.179 --> 00:26:46.399
 you're not saved

00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:47.479
 by what denomination

00:26:47.479 --> 00:26:47.919
 you're in.

00:26:47.979 --> 00:26:48.500
 You're not saved

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.259
 by your maturity.

00:26:49.459 --> 00:26:49.899
 You're not saved

00:26:49.899 --> 00:26:50.779
 by any of it.

00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.939
 What is the condition

00:26:51.939 --> 00:26:54.079
 of being one of the captives

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.219
 that the Redeemer

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.920
 is set free?

00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:57.920
 The condition?

00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.519
 Being captive.

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.319
 It's being weak.

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.440
 It's being imprisoned.

00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.819
 It's being in darkness.

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.900
 It's being dead, right?

00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.620
 You're not saved

00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.819
 by your strength.

00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.779
 You didn't get out of captivity

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.600
 because you're strong.

00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:11.480
 You got out of captivity

00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.799
 because of your immaturity,

00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.380
 your weakness,

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.360
 your deadness, right?

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.880
 And now you've been set free

00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:18.259
 to grow into maturity.

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.579
 So today,

00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:20.920
 no,

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:22.100
 I'm not saved

00:27:22.100 --> 00:27:24.059
 because of my maturity

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:26.000
 just like I'm not cast away

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.500
 because of my immaturity.

00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:28.679
 So if you look today

00:27:28.679 --> 00:27:28.899
 and say,

00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:30.039
 I am a spiritual infant,

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.679
 that's a wonderful thing

00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:32.539
 to realize today.

00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.419
 It's so good.

00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:35.000
 You're not cast out

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.940
 by your infancy

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:38.119
 and no more than you're brought in

00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:39.099
 by your maturity.

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.240
 Instead,

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.919
 you are saved

00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:42.480
 unto

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:44.679
 taking up the call

00:27:44.679 --> 00:27:46.240
 to the full stature of Jesus

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.319
 as he puts it in verse 14.

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.200
 Now secondly and finally,

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.799
 that means

00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:51.480
 that we're called then

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.839
 as part of our maturity

00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.860
 to seek unity.

00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:55.480
 That's the second and final thing.

00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:57.299
 All right,

00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:58.140
 now for Paul,

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.279
 maturity and unity

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.360
 are deeply connected.

00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:03.640
 So maturity breeds unity

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:05.259
 and unity breeds maturity.

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:07.779
 They're completely intertwined here

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:09.940
 in this passage.

00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:11.299
 So he's talking here

00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.599
 to Jews and Gentiles

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:14.160
 and they hated each other

00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:15.400
 truly

00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:17.519
 far more than we can understand.

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.720
 And he's saying,

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:20.500
 but now you are one church,

00:28:20.859 --> 00:28:21.599
 one people,

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:22.980
 by one spirit,

00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:23.819
 one baptism,

00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:24.639
 one faith.

00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:26.460
 Jesus is your saver.

00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:28.160
 So you've got to actually pursue that

00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:29.720
 and be eager to maintain

00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:31.400
 the unity Jesus has created

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.859
 in the bonds of peace.

00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.639
 You've got to take that up.

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:35.240
 You've got to actually be one.

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.160
 Imagine,

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:39.900
 imagine a family,

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.379
 put it like this,

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.200
 imagine a family.

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.980
 Maybe you get invited over

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:45.200
 to somebody's family home

00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:47.380
 and you don't know them very well

00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:48.420
 but you go

00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.519
 and you visit the home

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.740
 and you observe

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:52.299
 how the family functions

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.220
 and you go to dinner

00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:53.900
 and you're kind of there

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.539
 for a few hours.

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:57.220
 And one of the things you notice

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:58.380
 is how tight

00:28:58.380 --> 00:29:00.019
 everybody is in the family.

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:02.180
 Parents and kids

00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:03.720
 and there's a lot of respect

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.680
 and love

00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:06.500
 and it's just a really warm environment.

00:29:06.860 --> 00:29:07.460
 You kind of feel like,

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.740
 have I stepped into a hobbit hole?

00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:10.259
 It just feels so wonderful.

00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:11.080
 You're like,

00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:11.860
 this is exactly where

00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.720
 I want to be right now.

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.559
 The food is great.

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.840
 The company is great.

00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.360
 You've maybe had

00:29:16.360 --> 00:29:17.700
 those hospitality experiences

00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:19.000
 with people like that

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:21.200
 and you've noticed

00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.920
 with the kids,

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.880
 you think the kids

00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:24.440
 are so mature for their age.

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.200
 What does that look like?

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.660
 It looks like humility.

00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.779
 There's not a lot of pride.

00:29:28.340 --> 00:29:28.819
 Gentleness.

00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.740
 Even one kid

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.920
 tries to start a fight.

00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:32.200
 You know,

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.100
 they say something

00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:34.019
 and you think,

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:34.240
 boy,

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.700
 that could be fighting words.

00:29:36.080 --> 00:29:37.319
 But the other child

00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:40.000
 is forbear's patience

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.440
 and just swallows it

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:43.019
 and lets it go.

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.680
 Why?

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.779
 Because they're mature enough

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.139
 to think,

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:45.980
 I'm not going to start

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:47.079
 a squabble right now

00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:48.440
 and they let it go.

00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:51.980
 And you have this experience

00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.339
 and you say,

00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:53.160
 what is it that made them

00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:53.720
 so mature?

00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:55.119
 What is it that made them

00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:55.879
 like this?

00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:56.619
 And you realize

00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.420
 it's their unity.

00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.299
 Their love for one another

00:29:59.299 --> 00:30:00.859
 is based on a deep bond

00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:01.319
 and unity

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:03.019
 and that unity breeds maturity

00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:04.460
 and that maturity breeds unity.

00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:06.460
 And he's saying here

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.539
 that unity and maturity

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.680
 are so hand in hand

00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:10.039
 that the church,

00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:11.139
 this St. Columbus,

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.720
 we ought to look,

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.099
 ought to be like that.

00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:15.599
 This family

00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.319
 where people come

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:16.839
 and say,

00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:17.680
 boy,

00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:19.339
 they're so for one another

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:19.940
 that they're also

00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:20.779
 spiritually mature

00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.980
 and they're so spiritually mature

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.440
 that they are for one another.

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.819
 They really love each other

00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.519
 desperately.

00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:26.940
 You see how those things

00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:28.379
 fit together for Paul?

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.399
 In other words,

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:29.839
 he's saying,

00:30:30.639 --> 00:30:31.119
 a church

00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:32.779
 that is truly unified

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:34.039
 is desperately serious

00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:35.980
 about discipleship.

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:37.660
 And a church

00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:38.740
 that is desperately serious

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.620
 about discipleship

00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:41.759
 exhibits in unity

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:43.500
 in avoiding faction

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.460
 and really being

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.220
 for one another

00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:46.819
 and that's all born

00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:48.160
 out of a killing pride,

00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.039
 being humble,

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:49.799
 meek.

00:30:50.620 --> 00:30:51.299
 The word here,

00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:51.759
 gentleness,

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.440
 in this passage

00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:54.660
 is the Greek word

00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:55.319
 for meekness.

00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:55.920
 It can be translated

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.440
 either way.

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.420
 And meekness

00:30:58.420 --> 00:31:00.380
 is not weakness.

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.480
 Meekness instead,

00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:02.420
 this Greek idea

00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:04.259
 that Paul attaches here

00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:06.059
 is the strength

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:06.660
 of a lion

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:09.819
 but self-controlled.

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.259
 The strength

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:11.859
 of a lion

00:31:11.859 --> 00:31:12.660
 that's a person

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.799
 that's so strong

00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.680
 they're gentle.

00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:16.079
 Right?

00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:16.599
 A person that

00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:17.660
 underneath their gentleness

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:19.660
 has unyielding strength

00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:21.099
 knowing when to exercise

00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:22.039
 strength in the right time.

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:22.440
 Right?

00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:23.720
 And that's the word

00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.279
 he uses here,

00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:24.859
 not weakness

00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.660
 but meekness.

00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:26.200
 Right?

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.500
 And he says

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.079
 that the church

00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:28.680
 should look like a family

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:30.359
 that has those virtues,

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.500
 has those things.

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.900
 Now there's an interpretive

00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.579
 tension here

00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:36.639
 and it's in verse 4-6

00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:38.879
 and related to verse 3.

00:31:39.399 --> 00:31:40.259
 In verse 4-6

00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:40.819
 he says

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:43.159
 you are one.

00:31:43.939 --> 00:31:44.879
 Radical unity,

00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.079
 Baptist,

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:47.059
 Pentecostal,

00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.299
 Presbyterian,

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.879
 all these different

00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:50.519
 denominations

00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.059
 and factions

00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:51.539
 of the church

00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.460
 we see all throughout

00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:52.960
 our city

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.419
 and the world.

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.039
 He says

00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:55.679
 but there is only one faith,

00:31:56.419 --> 00:31:57.439
 only one baptism,

00:31:58.179 --> 00:31:59.079
 only one people.

00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:00.559
 And he says

00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.339
 but in verse 3

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:02.959
 be eager to maintain

00:32:02.959 --> 00:32:05.399
 the unity of love

00:32:05.399 --> 00:32:06.019
 and the bonds of peace.

00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:06.559
 Now what does he say?

00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:07.859
 Which is it Paul?

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:11.579
 Are we one people

00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.579
 that can never be divided

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:14.259
 or is it that we have to fight

00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:15.379
 to maintain the unity

00:32:15.379 --> 00:32:16.679
 of the spirit

00:32:16.679 --> 00:32:17.359
 and the bonds of peace?

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.279
 And the answer of course

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.879
 is yes.

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:19.980
 Right?

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.240
 What is he saying?

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:21.799
 He's saying that

00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.799
 our calling here

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:24.359
 is to maintain

00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:25.259
 visibly

00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:27.299
 what can never be broken

00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.019
 invisibly.

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:29.700
 So in other words

00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.839
 the invisible church

00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:32.079
 is the one church

00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:32.660
 of Jesus

00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:34.059
 saved by the gospel

00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:35.619
 no matter where people

00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:36.279
 go to church.

00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.720
 There are true Christians

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.619
 all over the world

00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:40.579
 in all sorts of churches

00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:41.579
 of course.

00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.559
 And he's saying

00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:44.139
 that invisible unity

00:32:44.139 --> 00:32:45.279
 can never be broken.

00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.160
 That's called

00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:47.359
 the church organic

00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.519
 the organic church

00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.700
 the living body

00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:50.339
 the organism.

00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.299
 It's invisible

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.500
 to our eyes right now

00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.639
 because right now

00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.160
 we're here

00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.019
 and Charlotte Chapel

00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:55.519
 is over there

00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.639
 and Chalmers is over there

00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.720
 and Becloos over there

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:59.600
 and Corubbers is down the street

00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:00.900
 and so we can't see

00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.920
 the unity of the church

00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:03.080
 visibly today

00:33:03.080 --> 00:33:03.920
 right here

00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:04.460
 but he's saying

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:06.040
 in your local church

00:33:06.040 --> 00:33:06.800
 and in your mind

00:33:06.800 --> 00:33:07.320
 and your heart

00:33:07.320 --> 00:33:08.180
 you've got to fight

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:08.880
 to maintain

00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:10.620
 the invisible unity

00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.580
 in a visible way

00:33:11.580 --> 00:33:12.240
 as much as possible

00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:14.400
 until you see it all

00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.060
 come together

00:33:15.060 --> 00:33:16.180
 visibly one day

00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:17.800
 when the king comes

00:33:17.800 --> 00:33:18.960
 to establish the kingdom.

00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:19.759
 Right?

00:33:20.560 --> 00:33:21.440
 So he's saying

00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.480
 you've got to have

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.440
 the spirit in your heart

00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:25.200
 but then to the local church

00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:25.780
 to us today

00:33:25.780 --> 00:33:26.320
 as we close

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:27.119
 you've got to

00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:28.419
 fight

00:33:28.419 --> 00:33:29.619
 be eager

00:33:29.619 --> 00:33:30.379
 to maintain

00:33:30.379 --> 00:33:31.519
 the unity of the church

00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.339
 and the bonds of peace

00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:33.220
 right here

00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:34.980
 in our little

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:36.119
 visible community

00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:37.000
 of unity

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.679
 one faith

00:33:37.679 --> 00:33:38.319
 one baptism

00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:39.359
 one people

00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:40.599
 right here united together

00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:41.539
 on this Sunday.

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:42.519
 So look

00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.220
 what does that look like

00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.639
 practically?

00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:44.679
 Let me be practical

00:33:44.679 --> 00:33:45.419
 don't

00:33:45.419 --> 00:33:47.500
 don't let the sun

00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:48.079
 go down

00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:49.240
 on your anger today

00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:50.079
 towards somebody else

00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:50.500
 in the room.

00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:52.619
 Don't

00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:53.859
 don't let anger

00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:54.979
 and little tiffs

00:33:54.979 --> 00:33:55.799
 separate

00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.639
 and schism

00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:57.179
 the church

00:33:57.179 --> 00:33:57.859
 at all.

00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:59.119
 What else does it look like?

00:33:59.419 --> 00:34:00.639
 Don't let factions

00:34:00.639 --> 00:34:01.419
 in here

00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:02.679
 of friend groups

00:34:02.679 --> 00:34:03.619
 get in the way

00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:05.179
 of including

00:34:05.179 --> 00:34:06.259
 people who are new.

00:34:07.459 --> 00:34:07.859
 Don't

00:34:07.859 --> 00:34:08.460
 don't create

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.139
 an inner ring

00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:11.059
 where nobody else

00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:11.619
 can get into

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:12.339
 your friend bubble

00:34:12.339 --> 00:34:13.279
 within the local church.

00:34:13.759 --> 00:34:14.900
 What else does it look like?

00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:15.480
 It looks like

00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:17.259
 being a person

00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:18.739
 who speaks

00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:19.179
 the truth

00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:19.619
 and love

00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.339
 in other words

00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:21.300
 we've got to fight

00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:22.620
 to avoid flattery

00:34:22.620 --> 00:34:23.280
 with one another

00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:25.140
 meaning we're just a place

00:34:25.140 --> 00:34:26.140
 where everybody's nice

00:34:26.140 --> 00:34:26.720
 to each other.

00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:27.620
 Really

00:34:27.620 --> 00:34:28.140
 what does

00:34:28.140 --> 00:34:29.000
 what does Christianity

00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:29.559
 do for you?

00:34:29.620 --> 00:34:30.539
 Well it made me really nice.

00:34:30.700 --> 00:34:30.960
 No

00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.680
 it made you into a person

00:34:32.680 --> 00:34:33.720
 who's meek

00:34:33.720 --> 00:34:34.860
 meaning

00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:36.160
 strong as a lion

00:34:36.160 --> 00:34:37.140
 but knowing

00:34:37.140 --> 00:34:38.500
 when to use that strength.

00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.440
 In other words

00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.480
 you're able to speak

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.480
 the truth in love.

00:34:41.600 --> 00:34:41.960
 You're not

00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:43.220
 merely words of niceness

00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:43.840
 and flattery.

00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:44.840
 You're able to have

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:46.220
 such real Christian friendships

00:34:46.220 --> 00:34:47.740
 that you can tell

00:34:47.740 --> 00:34:48.800
 your neighbor

00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:49.720
 the truth

00:34:49.720 --> 00:34:51.300
 about their struggle

00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:53.100
 because you love them so much.

00:34:54.060 --> 00:34:54.440
 Or

00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:56.140
 avoiding

00:34:56.140 --> 00:34:57.880
 mere bluntness.

00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:59.200
 Words of truth

00:34:59.200 --> 00:35:00.300
 some of us

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:00.740
 you see

00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.260
 some of us

00:35:01.260 --> 00:35:02.000
 flatter

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:02.760
 and we're too nice

00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:03.620
 others of us

00:35:03.620 --> 00:35:04.360
 we

00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:05.880
 tell the truth too much.

00:35:06.700 --> 00:35:07.820
 Words of bluntness

00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:08.140
 without

00:35:08.140 --> 00:35:09.680
 the real reason

00:35:09.680 --> 00:35:10.660
 for that love

00:35:10.660 --> 00:35:11.019
 right?

00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:12.560
 And he's saying

00:35:12.560 --> 00:35:13.420
 that's what

00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.100
 maintaining

00:35:14.100 --> 00:35:15.140
 the unity of the church

00:35:15.140 --> 00:35:15.960
 and the bonds of peace

00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:17.039
 actually looks like

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.200
 at a local level

00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:19.379
 in the day to day

00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:20.819
 true unity

00:35:20.819 --> 00:35:22.239
 seek the bonds of peace.

00:35:22.359 --> 00:35:23.219
 The word bond

00:35:23.219 --> 00:35:23.619
 there

00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.899
 is the word

00:35:24.899 --> 00:35:25.859
 sinew

00:35:25.859 --> 00:35:27.259
 or muscle tissue.

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.599
 So he's saying

00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:29.439
 maintain

00:35:29.439 --> 00:35:31.480
 to be connected

00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:32.939
 as muscle tissue

00:35:32.939 --> 00:35:33.779
 to the ligaments

00:35:33.779 --> 00:35:34.279
 and joints

00:35:34.279 --> 00:35:35.759
 as much as you possibly can.

00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:36.679
 Be eager

00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:37.599
 fight for it

00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:38.859
 don't separate

00:35:38.859 --> 00:35:39.839
 the only condition

00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:40.759
 of separation

00:35:40.759 --> 00:35:42.259
 is false teaching.

00:35:42.659 --> 00:35:43.460
 That's it he says.

00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:44.639
 Other than that

00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.199
 fight

00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:45.839
 to maintain

00:35:45.839 --> 00:35:46.819
 the unity of the spirit

00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:47.960
 and the bonds of peace.

00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:50.780
 I look up

00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:51.900
 at St. Columbus

00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:52.460
 and I think

00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:53.519
 we've got pretty good unity

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.080
 around here

00:35:54.080 --> 00:35:55.420
 by my perspective

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:57.240
 and I'm very thankful

00:35:57.240 --> 00:35:57.680
 for that.

00:35:57.860 --> 00:35:58.280
 I recognize

00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:59.080
 it's not something

00:35:59.080 --> 00:36:00.580
 that I created

00:36:00.580 --> 00:36:01.559
 but I stepped into

00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.320
 and received

00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:03.780
 from many of you

00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:05.780
 and from our predecessors.

00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:08.360
 Paul is telling us here

00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:10.059
 the most dangerous position

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:11.180
 that we could be in

00:36:11.180 --> 00:36:12.559
 is to be complacent

00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:13.080
 about that.

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:15.819
 that either

00:36:15.819 --> 00:36:17.019
 we are growing up

00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:18.000
 in spiritual maturity

00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:19.079
 or the weeds

00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:19.579
 are growing

00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:20.360
 and we're moving

00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:20.980
 towards schism.

00:36:21.779 --> 00:36:22.480
 One of the two.

00:36:23.079 --> 00:36:24.219
 Either we're growing up

00:36:24.219 --> 00:36:25.019
 together and saying

00:36:25.019 --> 00:36:25.860
 I'm a spiritual infant

00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:26.840
 I need growth

00:36:26.840 --> 00:36:27.699
 in my life right now

00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:28.659
 or the weeds

00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:29.360
 are growing up

00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:30.159
 and we're preparing

00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:31.500
 for the next separation.

00:36:32.199 --> 00:36:33.019
 One of the two.

00:36:33.579 --> 00:36:34.039
 And he's saying

00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.639
 be eager

00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:35.519
 fight to maintain

00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.460
 the connective tissue.

00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.940
 Make visible

00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:40.000
 what is true and visible.

00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:40.599
 One faith.

00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:41.519
 One body.

00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:42.420
 One baptism.

00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:43.320
 One people.

00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:44.860
 Now next week.

00:36:44.980 --> 00:36:45.679
 Come back next week.

00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:48.280
 Because I didn't talk

00:36:48.280 --> 00:36:49.259
 at all about spiritual gifts

00:36:49.259 --> 00:36:49.960
 which are at the center

00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:50.420
 of this passage.

00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:50.840
 We're going to do

00:36:50.840 --> 00:36:51.619
 a whole week next week

00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:53.199
 on the spiritual gifts

00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:54.139
 that God gives us

00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:55.280
 to maintain this.

00:36:56.199 --> 00:36:57.019
 But I'll finish with this.

00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:57.800
 Paul says

00:36:57.800 --> 00:36:59.980
 in chapter 4 verse 1

00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:02.079
 I Paul

00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:02.920
 am a prisoner

00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:03.719
 of the Lord

00:37:03.719 --> 00:37:04.559
 for your sake.

00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:05.960
 Now that is

00:37:05.960 --> 00:37:07.059
 the third time

00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:07.559
 Paul

00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:09.000
 in this short letter

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:10.199
 has mentioned already

00:37:10.199 --> 00:37:11.980
 prisoner for the Lord.

00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.739
 He really, really, really

00:37:13.739 --> 00:37:14.659
 wants you to know

00:37:14.659 --> 00:37:15.460
 he's in prison

00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:16.339
 when he writes this letter

00:37:16.339 --> 00:37:16.779
 and he is.

00:37:16.839 --> 00:37:17.739
 He's in prison in Rome

00:37:17.739 --> 00:37:18.899
 when he writes this letter.

00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:20.779
 One of the first times

00:37:20.779 --> 00:37:21.179
 he says it

00:37:21.179 --> 00:37:21.460
 he said

00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:22.139
 I'm a prisoner

00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:23.079
 to the Lord

00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:23.619
 and this time

00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:23.939
 he says

00:37:23.939 --> 00:37:24.659
 for the Lord.

00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:26.000
 In other words

00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:26.500
 he's saying

00:37:26.500 --> 00:37:27.919
 I am in chains

00:37:27.919 --> 00:37:29.059
 as I write this letter

00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:31.659
 because the Lord Jesus

00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:32.639
 is my master.

00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:34.239
 I am in chains

00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:35.159
 as I write this letter

00:37:35.159 --> 00:37:36.859
 because I'm willing

00:37:36.859 --> 00:37:37.699
 to serve

00:37:37.699 --> 00:37:38.119
 all the way

00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:38.480
 to the point

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.059
 of imprisonment

00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:39.559
 and death

00:37:39.559 --> 00:37:40.659
 for the sake

00:37:40.659 --> 00:37:41.639
 of my master Jesus.

00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.519
 Now let me translate

00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:44.880
 that to as practical terms

00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:45.719
 as I can say it.

00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:47.279
 I think Paul

00:37:47.279 --> 00:37:48.400
 because he said this

00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:49.319
 three times

00:37:49.319 --> 00:37:50.679
 is trying to get us

00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:51.259
 to see this

00:37:51.259 --> 00:37:53.139
 our greatest need

00:37:53.139 --> 00:37:53.819
 at St. Columbus

00:37:53.819 --> 00:37:54.779
 as a church family

00:37:54.779 --> 00:37:57.480
 is not wonderful circumstances

00:37:57.480 --> 00:38:00.699
 but Christ-like character

00:38:00.699 --> 00:38:03.359
 humility, gentleness,

00:38:03.799 --> 00:38:04.619
 patience,

00:38:04.819 --> 00:38:05.239
 forbearance,

00:38:05.279 --> 00:38:05.719
 and love.

00:38:05.719 --> 00:38:07.519
 our greatest need

00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:09.799
 is not great,

00:38:09.939 --> 00:38:10.259
 beautiful,

00:38:10.399 --> 00:38:11.139
 wonderful circumstances.

00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.199
 When Paul says

00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:13.219
 how do you maintain unity?

00:38:14.219 --> 00:38:14.859
 How do you grow

00:38:14.859 --> 00:38:15.719
 in spiritual maturity?

00:38:15.919 --> 00:38:16.579
 There's nothing here

00:38:16.579 --> 00:38:17.399
 about our budget.

00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:19.759
 There's nothing here

00:38:19.759 --> 00:38:22.159
 about a great building.

00:38:22.439 --> 00:38:23.359
 There's nothing here

00:38:23.359 --> 00:38:24.959
 about how many people

00:38:24.959 --> 00:38:26.019
 are coming today

00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:27.259
 relative to a year ago.

00:38:27.859 --> 00:38:28.339
 Nothing.

00:38:29.419 --> 00:38:29.659
 He says

00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:30.079
 you don't need

00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:30.839
 great circumstances.

00:38:31.079 --> 00:38:31.699
 You need

00:38:31.699 --> 00:38:33.359
 the character

00:38:33.359 --> 00:38:34.139
 of Jesus Christ

00:38:34.139 --> 00:38:34.719
 in your life.

00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:36.279
 And how do you get that?

00:38:37.379 --> 00:38:37.940
 How do you get

00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:38.440
 his humility?

00:38:38.579 --> 00:38:39.099
 The word

00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:40.259
 Paul uses

00:38:40.259 --> 00:38:41.039
 for humility

00:38:41.039 --> 00:38:42.480
 in this chapter

00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:43.599
 is a unique word

00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:44.119
 for humility

00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:45.139
 and it's used

00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:46.099
 of Jesus

00:38:46.099 --> 00:38:47.019
 in other parts

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:47.699
 of the New Testament

00:38:47.699 --> 00:38:48.940
 for the fact

00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:50.239
 that he did not

00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:51.039
 consider equality

00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:51.539
 with God

00:38:51.539 --> 00:38:52.579
 something to be held on to

00:38:52.579 --> 00:38:53.799
 but made himself nothing.

00:38:54.279 --> 00:38:55.000
 That's the word.

00:38:56.219 --> 00:38:56.940
 How do you grow?

00:38:57.379 --> 00:38:57.799
 How do you kill

00:38:57.799 --> 00:38:58.519
 spiritual pride

00:38:58.519 --> 00:38:59.819
 that could divide a church?

00:38:59.820 --> 00:38:59.880
 church

00:38:59.880 --> 00:39:02.140
 you just gotta

00:39:02.140 --> 00:39:03.960
 go and look at him

00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:06.019
 and you've gotta

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.980
 be with him

00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:08.460
 and you gotta

00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:09.559
 sit with Jesus

00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:10.980
 in order to

00:39:10.980 --> 00:39:11.740
 become like him.

00:39:12.620 --> 00:39:13.640
 So it's as simple

00:39:13.640 --> 00:39:14.120
 as that.

00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:14.860
 What's the

00:39:14.860 --> 00:39:16.400
 real secret

00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:17.640
 of true unity?

00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:19.920
 Be with Jesus.

00:39:21.220 --> 00:39:22.260
 What's the real secret

00:39:22.260 --> 00:39:23.260
 of spiritual maturity?

00:39:23.380 --> 00:39:24.100
 Be with Jesus.

00:39:25.480 --> 00:39:26.320
 If you're not

00:39:26.320 --> 00:39:27.059
 with him

00:39:27.059 --> 00:39:27.900
 relationally

00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:29.360
 sitting down with him

00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:31.160
 you're not going

00:39:31.160 --> 00:39:32.180
 to become like him.

00:39:33.320 --> 00:39:34.360
 Be with Jesus

00:39:34.360 --> 00:39:35.740
 and you'll become

00:39:35.740 --> 00:39:36.180
 like him.

00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.740
 Let us pray.

00:39:38.139 --> 00:39:39.240
 Father we ask

00:39:39.240 --> 00:39:42.400
 for renewed

00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:43.200
 spirit

00:39:43.200 --> 00:39:44.820
 of a desire

00:39:44.820 --> 00:39:45.460
 to seek

00:39:45.460 --> 00:39:46.220
 maturity

00:39:46.220 --> 00:39:46.920
 in the faith

00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:47.980
 maturity in Christ

00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:49.320
 and we pray today

00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:50.639
 that the big thing

00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:51.200
 that would happen

00:39:51.200 --> 00:39:52.139
 is that we become

00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:53.460
 more like you Jesus

00:39:53.460 --> 00:39:54.599
 because we've got

00:39:54.599 --> 00:39:55.180
 your grace

00:39:55.180 --> 00:39:55.619
 and so

00:39:55.619 --> 00:39:56.840
 we want

00:39:56.840 --> 00:39:57.700
 your humility

00:39:57.699 --> 00:39:58.879
 your patience

00:39:58.879 --> 00:39:59.779
 your forbearance

00:39:59.779 --> 00:40:00.539
 your love

00:40:00.539 --> 00:40:01.719
 your gentleness

00:40:01.719 --> 00:40:02.539
 your meekness

00:40:02.539 --> 00:40:05.159
 and we want unity

00:40:05.159 --> 00:40:06.659
 together in the light

00:40:06.659 --> 00:40:06.960
 of that.

00:40:07.139 --> 00:40:07.719
 So Lord

00:40:07.719 --> 00:40:08.919
 convict us

00:40:08.919 --> 00:40:11.639
 in exactly the places

00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:12.579
 we need to be convicted

00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:13.879
 of a lack of maturity

00:40:13.879 --> 00:40:14.500
 in Christ

00:40:14.500 --> 00:40:16.079
 and then

00:40:16.079 --> 00:40:17.059
 encourage us

00:40:17.059 --> 00:40:17.599
 with the words

00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:18.159
 of the gospel

00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:19.339
 and then send us on

00:40:19.339 --> 00:40:20.019
 to grow.

00:40:21.279 --> 00:40:21.460
 Lord

00:40:21.460 --> 00:40:22.539
 so I pray

00:40:22.539 --> 00:40:23.559
 that each one of us

00:40:23.559 --> 00:40:24.159
 in this room today

00:40:24.159 --> 00:40:25.259
 would want to want

00:40:25.260 --> 00:40:25.860
 to spend time

00:40:25.860 --> 00:40:26.260
 with you

00:40:26.260 --> 00:40:27.480
 would want

00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.980
 to want

00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:28.440
 to become

00:40:28.440 --> 00:40:29.180
 more like you.

00:40:29.400 --> 00:40:29.860
 That's my prayer

00:40:29.860 --> 00:40:30.240
 for me

00:40:30.240 --> 00:40:31.140
 it's my prayer

00:40:31.140 --> 00:40:32.420
 for all of us

00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:32.820
 in this room

00:40:32.820 --> 00:40:33.100
 Lord

00:40:33.100 --> 00:40:34.240
 we pray it

00:40:34.240 --> 00:40:34.920
 in Jesus name

00:40:34.920 --> 00:40:35.360
 Amen.