WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.240 Okay, today I'm going to talk about fighting for all together. Fighting for all together. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:11.320 I was reading, Gina stumbled upon a little blog post that she sent to me. 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:20.740 I have no reason to believe this is even written by a Christian, but in this blog post, there was a statement in there that I thought was really interesting. 00:00:20.740 --> 00:00:24.160 He said, community is not chemistry, it's choreography. 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:28.219 Community is not chemistry, it's choreography. 00:00:28.219 --> 00:00:35.280 And I think about it in our context, missional community is not chemistry, it's choreography. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:38.739 And oftentimes that's not the way we think though. 00:00:38.820 --> 00:00:43.659 We think all kinds of, like true community is all about chemistry, right? 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:53.759 Like I got to be with the people that I have the best chemistry with, the best natural inclination towards relationally. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:55.179 That's the way we think, right? 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:57.159 I mean, and that makes sense that we think that way. 00:00:57.159 --> 00:00:59.799 It's not a horrible way to think, but per se. 00:01:00.459 --> 00:01:07.859 But I think he makes a really good point that really, true community, and anyone who's married I think knows this, that it's not always chemistry. 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:08.959 It's choreography. 00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:13.319 Sometimes the chemistry seems to really be there, maybe on the front end especially. 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:15.019 That's what covenant's about, right? 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:22.359 You marry and then you got to stay married, which means that sometimes you got to lean a lot more heavily on the choreography than you do on the chemistry. 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:24.840 And it's the same way with the church, right? 00:01:25.340 --> 00:01:36.939 Maybe even the fact that you're drawn to this church had to do with some sort of chemistry that you felt, maybe with beliefs, maybe with mission, direction, or maybe with the people, right? 00:01:36.939 --> 00:01:51.340 But to keep going, to keep being effective on mission and as a church, we're often brought up, you know, we hit that wall where chemistry ends and that intentional choreography begins. 00:01:51.340 --> 00:02:08.379 The definition of choreography, to give you a little better picture of this, is choreography is intentional creative planning of movements and actions in coordinated execution. 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:15.780 And what better way to pick the church, really, the church that's a body working together. 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:21.519 And so I think for us, this aspect of it I think is really important. 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:38.240 For church to be healthy, and for church to be really healthy even, there has to be a level of intentionality and creative planning of our actions and movement in a coordinated way, executing in a coordinated way. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:46.300 And this is where our missional communities, I think, really come together in the sense that this is a small group of people on mission to specific people and places. 00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:59.400 And I think, especially in a church that's small and new, it's easy for us to bond together more with the whole than to these little kind of platoons of missional communities that we have. 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:13.560 And I think it's actually something that we have to press into a little bit more specifically in regards to really being intentional with our missional communities for the advancement of the gospel and for the kingdom of God to be seen. 00:03:14.040 --> 00:03:15.180 And so we'll get into that in a little bit. 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:16.640 But first I want to look at some scriptures. 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:19.500 As I was thinking about this, I was thinking of the book of Acts. 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:30.479 And I just began reading through the first, I don't know, multiple chapters of Acts and started looking at especially the language of togetherness and of all. 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:34.439 Like where there was this all togetherness in the book of Acts. 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:35.699 And it's really all over the place. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:37.840 And then it's elsewhere in the New Testament. 00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:42.900 So I just want to just take a look at some of these little glimpses of that, especially in the book of Acts. 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:50.260 So I'll be bouncing around in different verses in Acts, mostly starting in Acts chapter 1, verse 14. 00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:55.159 Here we have kind of the beginning of the book of Acts. 00:03:55.180 --> 00:03:57.200 And we have the beginning of really the church. 00:03:57.700 --> 00:03:59.400 This is on the day of Pentecost. 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:03.599 It says, all with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer. 00:04:04.420 --> 00:04:08.439 Okay, all with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:12.099 So you have this sense of this allness, like they're all together. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:12.780 And what are they doing? 00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:13.700 They're praying. 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:14.340 Okay. 00:04:15.260 --> 00:04:17.420 Then in Acts chapter 2, verse 1. 00:04:18.280 --> 00:04:19.939 I'm sorry, that was before Pentecost. 00:04:20.060 --> 00:04:21.780 Acts chapter 2 is Pentecost. 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:25.860 When the day of Pentecost arrived, it says they were all together in one place. 00:04:26.280 --> 00:04:27.879 So here you have that togetherness again. 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:30.199 They're all together in one place. 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:36.139 And then in Acts chapter 2, verse 4, three verses later, it says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:38.379 So they're all together in prayer. 00:04:38.660 --> 00:04:42.879 They're all together in the same building, in the same place, wherever they were at. 00:04:42.899 --> 00:04:44.519 And the upper room. 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:47.279 And then they're all filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:04:47.979 --> 00:04:48.180 Okay? 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:51.280 And I think that language of all is not coincidental. 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:53.160 It's what we're really going after. 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:56.780 We live in an individualistic culture where the individual is center. 00:04:57.319 --> 00:04:59.379 Me, myself, and I is what the focus is. 00:04:59.620 --> 00:05:01.120 And that's totally antithetical. 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:07.360 It's totally opposite of what the church says, or what the Bible says the church is supposed to be. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:13.740 We are to be all together in a corporate way, dependent on one another, mobilized together with one another. 00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:15.519 And you see, this is how the church began. 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:18.220 And I don't think it's coincidental that that's how the church began. 00:05:18.500 --> 00:05:19.879 That's how the church should always be. 00:05:20.459 --> 00:05:23.259 All together, frequently gathered all together in one place. 00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:25.120 Frequently praying together. 00:05:25.719 --> 00:05:28.939 Frequently actually physically being in the same places together. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.120 And then being filled with the Spirit together, all of us. 00:05:32.599 --> 00:05:34.680 And that's a great vision for the church. 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:40.680 Later in Acts chapter 2, 42 through 47, you have this quintessential picture of the early church. 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:47.620 It's the one that the idealist always put in their mission statement or, you know, trumpet. 00:05:48.280 --> 00:05:54.079 Especially the real, like, small idealists who are aiming for the perfect house church. 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:56.019 You know, you ever been a part of one of those? 00:05:56.500 --> 00:05:58.780 Maybe some of you have over the years, right? 00:05:59.180 --> 00:06:03.460 And these are the verses right here, Acts 2, 42 to 47. 00:06:03.460 --> 00:06:04.340 It says, 00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:17.679 Verse 44, 00:06:17.679 --> 00:06:24.779 There's that language again, right? 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:31.579 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:36.879 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes. 00:06:37.419 --> 00:06:39.719 Okay, so the larger gathering and the smaller gathering. 00:06:40.359 --> 00:06:43.359 They received their food with glad and generous hearts. 00:06:43.819 --> 00:06:46.459 Praising God and having favor with all the people. 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:51.219 So this all togetherness resulted in favor with all the people. 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:54.639 And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:57.360 If someone prayed that this morning, that God would add to our number. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:04.759 Well, the context in which God was adding to their number day by day was this all together kind of life that they lived together. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:05.060 Okay? 00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:07.360 And it's important to look at. 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:09.699 There was a devotion to these things. 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:17.500 There was a, you know, sometimes people balk at the commitment level we ask for in a missional community. 00:07:17.500 --> 00:07:20.699 And how often maybe we gather or meet together. 00:07:20.699 --> 00:07:28.759 And it's interesting when you read the scriptures, it says, day by day, they attended the temple together and breaking bread in their home. 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:40.060 And oftentimes when we balk at the level of commitment that we ask of people, I think we would, there would be a lot more balking if we lived back here in this time. 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:42.120 I mean, they were gathering often. 00:07:42.780 --> 00:07:45.000 And there was quite a cost to their gathering. 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:49.800 I mean, they were giving up everything they had and selling stuff and giving to, they were sharing everything. 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:50.560 Okay? 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:52.699 We live in a different culture in a different time now. 00:07:53.579 --> 00:07:55.459 There's so, so much plenty. 00:07:55.459 --> 00:07:58.000 Something like this isn't required. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:02.979 But nevertheless, this togetherness should be there. 00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:06.099 And when that togetherness was there, there was favor with all the people. 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:11.079 When there was favor with all the people, the Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved. 00:08:11.719 --> 00:08:17.639 Later on in Acts chapter 4, you have them gathered together again and they're praying together. 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:28.000 And they pray this prayer, Acts 4 29, now Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:33.819 While you stretch out your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed in the name of your holy servant, Jesus. 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:38.120 You get this sense of allness when you read the book of Acts. 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:39.460 They're all together. 00:08:39.699 --> 00:08:40.679 They're all in. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:41.159 Right? 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:43.439 And they speak with all boldness. 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:45.279 There's favor with all the people. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:51.799 It's this, it's a very, there's a totality there that really spits in the face of our individualistic culture. 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:58.980 And our kind of up and down Christianity, really, that's constantly changing. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:00.439 They spoke with all boldness. 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:05.019 Well, he said, they're asking to speak with all boldness while you stretch out your hand to heal. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:08.159 And signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant, Jesus. 00:09:08.579 --> 00:09:14.839 When they had frayed, the place in which they were together, gathered together, was shaken. 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:19.740 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 00:09:20.439 --> 00:09:22.919 Now, the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul. 00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:25.939 And no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own. 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:27.519 But they had everything in common. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:32.519 And with great power, the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:35.899 And great grace was upon them all. 00:09:36.539 --> 00:09:39.419 Again, great grace was upon them all. 00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:41.120 They're all filled with the Spirit. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:42.299 They're all together. 00:09:42.560 --> 00:09:48.740 You see this, again, all together, all boldness, all filled with the Spirit. 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:51.000 Great grace was upon all of them. 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:55.360 There's this constant picture of togetherness. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:10:01.240 Next chapter, Acts chapter 5, verse 12, it says they were all together in Solomon's portico. 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:02.060 Okay? 00:10:02.139 --> 00:10:03.120 And this is a regular thing. 00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:05.539 They would gather in Solomon's portico all together. 00:10:05.539 --> 00:10:16.259 In Acts chapter 11, verse 23, you have Barnabas exhorting them to all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:24.399 And such a great encouragement that Barnabas gives that as we're all together, that we would remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. 00:10:24.599 --> 00:10:26.699 So it's one thing to try to be together. 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:31.799 It's another thing to be together and to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:41.219 And sometimes I think it's easy to just aim at the togetherness and lack some of the faithfulness to the steadfast purpose of the Lord. 00:10:41.599 --> 00:10:43.799 And there's good things that come out of it. 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:49.599 And maybe that's what can actually lull us to sleep is that our togetherness will bear good fruit. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:51.840 But it won't bear the best fruit. 00:10:52.100 --> 00:11:02.000 It won't bear the ultimate fruit until our togetherness also is combined with faithfulness to the Lord with steadfast purpose. 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:03.480 With steadfast purpose. 00:11:03.940 --> 00:11:08.560 And that's something I think that we could maybe do a little bit better job of in our missional communities. 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:14.899 That I love the level of relationship and fellowship and love that we have for another. 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:25.679 But being more faithful to challenge one another, to encourage one another, to take responsibility with one another for steadfast purpose in our missional communities. 00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:29.439 Of how our life together is to aim towards the lost. 00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:34.199 To radically reorient ourselves around God's mission to lost people. 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:35.900 And to do that together. 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:40.820 Not just in the bigger context of the whole church, although that's good and there's going to be things like that. 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:47.420 But in the context of our missional communities saying, hey, God has given these little platoons of people specifically to us. 00:11:47.680 --> 00:11:49.440 To seek and save those who are lost. 00:11:49.580 --> 00:11:52.620 And to be faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose in them. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:56.879 Romans 15.30 continues this similar language. 00:11:57.060 --> 00:11:57.300 He says, 00:11:57.299 --> 00:12:08.059 Here they are again, striving together in prayer. 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:11.979 1 Corinthians 12.26, a verse that you're probably familiar with. 00:12:12.339 --> 00:12:14.259 Talking in the context of body life. 00:12:14.699 --> 00:12:17.199 Says that if one person suffers, we all suffer together. 00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:20.240 If one member is honored, we all rejoice together. 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:24.659 Again, this is, we share not only our wins, but we share our losses. 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:27.360 When one person suffers, we all suffer. 00:12:27.699 --> 00:12:29.279 When one person wins, we all win. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:30.240 We all rejoice. 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:36.219 And there's a level of togetherness there that, you know, everybody wants to rejoice in when people win. 00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:42.079 But to actually bear with one another and to suffer with someone as if we're suffering as well. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:43.839 There's a new level of togetherness. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:46.319 2 Corinthians chapter 7. 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:49.779 When Paul is laying out how we live open-hearted to one another. 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:51.279 He actually says to them, 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:53.019 Make room in your hearts for us. 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:53.740 And he says, 00:12:53.939 --> 00:12:56.980 You're in our hearts to die together and to live together. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:58.919 So he's saying this is life together. 00:12:59.220 --> 00:13:02.419 This is death and life together in the realm of the heart. 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:04.340 In the realm of the heart. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:07.159 Where you're in our hearts. 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.779 I'm in your heart. 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:11.079 And we're, we're die together and live together. 00:13:11.179 --> 00:13:13.079 This is high stakes life together. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:13.860 Okay. 00:13:14.579 --> 00:13:17.759 Ephesians 2.19-22 paints a similar picture. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.679 It says, 00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:25.819 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens to our fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:31.480 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:37.659 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:43.319 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:46.300 So there you have two kind of together verses. 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:49.720 You're being joined together and you're being built together. 00:13:50.300 --> 00:13:50.480 Okay. 00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:53.340 So you're being joined together and you're being built together. 00:13:53.920 --> 00:13:58.520 And God joins us together, but we have to co-labor with him to be built together. 00:13:59.120 --> 00:13:59.500 All right. 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:07.340 We have to work to be co-laborers with Christ, to build those relationships, to build strategic partnership, 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:10.379 to be a dwelling place for God by his Spirit. 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:14.820 And that involves a certain level of choreography. 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:22.779 It involves a certain level of planning and intentionality and purpose for the execution of God's will together. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:25.799 Philippians 4.3, Paul says it this way. 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:26.279 Okay. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:35.899 I ask you also, true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers. 00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:41.319 Those who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together. 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:42.199 Okay. 00:14:42.599 --> 00:14:50.439 So there he paints that picture of laboring side by side in the gospel together. 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:57.720 And that's where I think as missional communities, we can be a little bit more intentional for fighting for that all togetherness in that. 00:14:58.060 --> 00:15:02.700 So it's the difference between all church together versus missional community together. 00:15:03.020 --> 00:15:07.060 I think we have an all church together experience here on multiple levels. 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:07.900 Okay. 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:13.079 I think we also have an all missional community together experience as well. 00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:19.220 But I think our all together missional community experiences could be more homed in, so to speak. 00:15:19.459 --> 00:15:23.759 More channeled into specific mission to specific people. 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:29.179 Really kind of flowing together, finding, okay, where's the strengths? 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:29.980 Where's the weaknesses? 00:15:30.439 --> 00:15:31.500 How can we partner together? 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:38.840 How can we get to know one another in a way where we are, like Paul said, laboring side by side in the gospel together? 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:44.159 I know that there's gospel efforts happening in this church, and I'm really encouraged by them. 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:45.159 I'm excited about them. 00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.179 I pray into them. 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:49.179 I try to participate in them as much as I can. 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:49.840 Okay. 00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:55.039 But especially as a new church plant, that has to be where our efforts are at. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:16:01.719 And just each missional community really focused on being on mission together in the context of a missional community. 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:09.459 Not just with an all church together, those who it's easiest with. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:15.759 I think sometimes what happens is the overlap of our missional communities and doing stuff together 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:26.700 sometimes happens so often that it takes away the uniqueness and the benefit of the small platoon-like nature of our individual missional communities. 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:28.419 Do you understand what I'm saying with that? 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:37.019 I think that there needs to be a strategic partnership and effort to do that in the missional communities, 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:43.980 and then that will spill over into sometimes doing that together naturally with the greater church, 00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:45.179 especially as it's small. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:49.460 As it gets bigger, that will be less and less practical, right? 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:52.240 Right now it's very practical because it's a small group of people. 00:16:52.679 --> 00:17:00.480 But I think that we have to really direct our attention in each of those missional communities in such a way 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:03.299 where we're saying, okay, how can we do this at the micro level? 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:06.379 How can we do that with the people that we call a missional community? 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:12.000 Because I think what can end up happening is really the whole church can become our missional community, 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:17.440 and then the MCs really just become our community or like a community gathering 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:22.080 where those are the places where we do meals together and we hang out and do something. 00:17:22.080 --> 00:17:30.160 But the mission is really just kind of with the people that I enjoy doing that with in the broader context of Christ Church 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:34.080 and not really homing in together with those people in our missional community to say, 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:37.679 hey, how can we specifically get on mission together? 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:44.279 And some of that too just really revolves around the difference between helping versus ownership. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:49.500 But you've probably heard me say this before, but I'm going to use the same picture to help us think about it again. 00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:53.960 It's like when you think of someone moving from one house to another, 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:58.599 or if you think of someone has a project that they're doing on their house, right? 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:04.099 Typically what happens is the person who owns the house says, hey, we're doing a move this day. 00:18:04.859 --> 00:18:09.459 Got to move next week or a couple weeks here for Jennings coming up, right? 00:18:09.679 --> 00:18:10.699 And you got something like that. 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:13.240 It's like Jennings might say, hey, we got to move this day, right? 00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:15.139 And then people say, okay, can be there. 00:18:15.459 --> 00:18:17.439 And then once that happens, you go to the move. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:23.100 And as the move goes on, depending on how many people you got there, 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:27.340 what ends up happening is some people start to just start to dip, right? 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:29.080 Some people have to leave early and that's fine, right? 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:33.519 And then what you're left with is less and less people. 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:37.259 And what could happen, this doesn't happen that much in our context, 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:39.360 but it does very often for other people. 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:41.220 And you've probably experienced this at some point in life. 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:45.299 What ends up happening is as people leave, it's not all finished. 00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.559 And who's left? 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:48.819 The owners, right? 00:18:49.159 --> 00:18:50.379 Because they can't go anywhere. 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:53.720 It's like, you're kind of like, okay, I'd like to leave now too. 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:55.500 Wait, this is my house. 00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:57.299 I have to finish this. 00:18:57.740 --> 00:19:01.399 I wish I had something else I could do right now, but I have to do this. 00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:03.399 It's the same thing with a work project, right? 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:05.740 It's like, all right, guys, everybody come for this work project. 00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:07.220 And then you work on it. 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:09.799 And then slowly throughout the night or throughout the Saturday, 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:12.559 people start leaving throughout the day. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:15.519 And so the only ones left is the owner. 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:20.779 And if it's not done yet, you still are there because you have to finish it 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.759 because you're the owner. 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:25.179 Now, we can all relate to that in one sense, 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:27.339 but hopefully some of you, if not all of you, 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:30.299 can relate to the other sense in that everybody else, 00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:33.319 have you ever done a move or a work project 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:36.859 where all the people helping you or a bunch of people 00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:40.359 or some of the people end up acting like owners? 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.219 You know what I'm saying? 00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:44.779 Where they say, because the owner says, 00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:46.740 I'm going to be at this move until it's done. 00:19:47.219 --> 00:19:48.719 Kind of have to, right? 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:53.119 Or the person whose house is for the work project, 00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:56.159 they say, I'm going to be on this work project for how long? 00:19:56.439 --> 00:19:57.299 Until it's done. 00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:59.259 Where someone else can be like, I got to go at three. 00:19:59.419 --> 00:20:00.179 Got to go at 11. 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:00.879 Whatever, you know? 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:03.839 The owner says, I'm here till the end. 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:09.119 And that's the difference between a helper and an owner, right? 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.319 We all love helpers. 00:20:10.639 --> 00:20:11.299 Helpers are great. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:14.039 If you don't have helpers, you're probably not getting moved 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:16.759 and you're probably not going to finish that project. 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.500 But you know what's even better than helpers? 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.359 Owners. 00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:21.059 People who act like owners. 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:23.919 How awesome is it when you do a move and someone's like, 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.659 you know, when you got to go? 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.359 When it's done. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:30.019 Well, that's my job as the owner. 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:32.079 No, that's my job too because I'm your friend. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.119 Nice. 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:33.619 Because I'm your brother. 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.159 I'm your sister. 00:20:35.659 --> 00:20:36.799 It's like, but it's late. 00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:38.279 I know, but you don't have the bed. 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:39.659 The beds haven't been made yet. 00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:41.720 We're going to stay and get these beds made. 00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:43.359 Well, don't you have to go? 00:20:43.939 --> 00:20:45.799 No, we have to get this done. 00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:47.659 You got to go to sleep tonight. 00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:50.399 So I'm going to stay till those beds are made. 00:20:50.919 --> 00:20:53.639 How much does that mean to you when you have those kind of people saying that? 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.699 Have you ever had that before? 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:56.220 You're dead tired. 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.279 You've moved. 00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:58.899 Everybody hates moving. 00:20:58.899 --> 00:21:00.299 And then you get to the end of it. 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:03.359 And someone's like, I'm not leaving until this is done. 00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:06.579 And it's just like, oh, I love you. 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.619 I really love you today. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.899 You know, this is awesome. 00:21:11.159 --> 00:21:12.559 It's the same thing with a work project. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.419 You've been on that work project. 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:17.000 I've certainly been on those work projects where I'm just like, 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:20.159 this took longer than I thought. 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.259 I never saw it coming. 00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:22.599 My wife never saw it coming. 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:25.099 She never sees these projects taking longer than that. 00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:26.099 I think they're going to. 00:21:26.419 --> 00:21:26.939 It's amazing. 00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:28.219 She has no foresight in this. 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.279 She never tells me. 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:30.719 It's like, it's incredible. 00:21:32.459 --> 00:21:33.159 That's not true. 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:35.679 She always tells me it's going to take longer, but I never believe her. 00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:37.279 And then it takes really long. 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:39.679 And then you're just like, oh my gosh, I'm so tired. 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:42.679 And, but it's not done yet. 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:46.580 And then you got that friend, you got that worker who stays with you and says, 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:48.380 hey, let's finish this. 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:49.380 I'm here to the end. 00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:50.480 Yeah. 00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:52.660 It took, this is taking a lot longer than we thought it was going to. 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.340 It's a lot later. 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:56.580 You know, I got to get up early in the morning a while, but we're going to finish this. 00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:58.640 I'm going to, I'm not going to let you do it alone. 00:21:59.420 --> 00:21:59.779 Right? 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:03.080 Those are that people who act like owners. 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.560 That's what we call partners. 00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.240 That is a partner. 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:07.799 Partner is a part owner. 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:10.039 That's where that word even comes from. 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:14.099 When we talk about partnership with the church, we're talking about the kind of people who say, 00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:18.220 I don't just attend your missional community gathering. 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.700 I want to be a part owner. 00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:21.379 Like I'm going to stay to the end. 00:22:21.399 --> 00:22:22.759 I'm going to make sure everything's cleaned up. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:27.240 I'm not just going to wait for you to tell us how we're going to be on mission together 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.180 in our missional community. 00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:29.399 I'm a part owner. 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:31.740 So I'm not just going to let you figure that out. 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.859 I'm going to figure that out too. 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:35.379 I'm going to take responsibility too. 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:39.299 I'm not just waiting for you to, for that mission to just come trickling down the, 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:41.139 the, the pike for me here. 00:22:41.139 --> 00:22:46.000 It's like, no, I'm, I'm, I'm actively involved with the ownership of this missional community 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.460 as well. 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:50.879 I'm not going to just sit and give all my complaints about what I want better. 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:54.119 I'm going to be an owner and say, well, it's my missional community too. 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.519 So I'm on it. 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:56.159 I'm with you. 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:58.180 Like let's take responsibility for this together. 00:22:58.180 --> 00:23:04.840 I'm not going to be someone who, uh, only shows up with when it's convenient while all 00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:08.320 the rest of the people in the missional community show up when it's inconvenient. 00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:09.940 That's not ownership. 00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:10.980 That's not partnership. 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:17.340 A partner says, no, I'm going to, um, I'm doing this to the end. 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:19.560 I'm doing it with the same level of buy-in as you. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:24.360 An owner has the same level of buy-in and we have to do that in our missional communities. 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:26.659 And when that's not there, what does it create? 00:23:27.179 --> 00:23:28.119 Creates distance. 00:23:29.379 --> 00:23:32.659 Creates lack of, uh, connectiveness. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:35.379 Creates a lack of affection even. 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:37.659 You know how the opposite creates affection? 00:23:38.179 --> 00:23:42.439 Like when someone stays to the end, you just like want to be affectionate towards them. 00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:44.139 Maybe you've never been affectionate for them. 00:23:44.179 --> 00:23:47.399 Maybe you hugged them for the first time because they stayed with you to the end. 00:23:47.679 --> 00:23:48.879 It's like, why are you so affectionate? 00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:52.879 Because this is so meaningful to me that you would stay to the end. 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.099 You know what I'm saying? 00:23:54.699 --> 00:23:58.740 And so that kind of thing needs to happen in our missional community. 00:23:59.159 --> 00:24:01.479 And I know it does to a certain degree, and that's the strength. 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:07.219 But any place where it's not, or any place where we've subtly said, well, I'm just going to be a helper. 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:10.259 And this is the temptation throughout all church life. 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:15.939 Anybody who's been a Christian for a long time knows that this is the in and out dance of church life. 00:24:16.479 --> 00:24:18.240 There's owners and there's helpers. 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:23.359 And sometimes we bounce back and forth between the two, right? 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:29.439 Sometimes we're not as much part owners as we should be, even though we have the name of partner. 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:32.320 And we start to just become helpers. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:40.779 And what that does is all the people who are owners start to feel overwhelmed and burdened and feel, and maybe even a little resentful at the people who aren't. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:44.620 Because they're thinking, why am I carrying so much weight and you're not carrying your weight? 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:48.099 Why am I invested and you get to just check out? 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:52.259 Why do I have to come up with everything and be intentional with everything and you don't? 00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:54.339 Why do I always have to be on time but you can be late? 00:24:54.719 --> 00:24:57.779 Why do I always have to, you know, go down the list? 00:24:58.159 --> 00:24:59.019 Do you understand what I'm saying? 00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:04.219 So really it comes down to never turning off mission and intentionality. 00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:06.119 Never turning it off. 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:08.959 A helper turns that off when it's convenient. 00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:12.339 An owner says, no, we are a missional community. 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:18.579 So the level of mission and intentionality with each other and with the mission always has to be there. 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:21.319 And I'm going to do my part to make sure that it's there. 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.740 To make sure it stays there. 00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:26.959 And if you're wondering, what are we talking about with partnership? 00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:28.639 This is what we're talking about with partnership. 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:32.379 A partner is someone who's never turning off mission and intentionality. 00:25:32.959 --> 00:25:35.379 They're keeping that switch on. 00:25:36.179 --> 00:25:37.639 And that's the difference. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.919 A helper, they turn it off sometimes. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:43.200 Just saying, yeah, you know, I don't really feel like it. 00:25:43.820 --> 00:25:46.980 An owner says, I don't feel like it, but I'm the owner, so I have to. 00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:51.019 You know, that's the difference between home ownership and renting, right? 00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:51.800 I don't feel like it. 00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:52.500 I'll call the landlord. 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:54.200 The owner's like, I don't feel like it. 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.480 I am the landlord. 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:57.259 You know, like I'm the lord of this land. 00:25:57.300 --> 00:25:58.360 I got to do something here. 00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.740 That's the difference. 00:25:59.820 --> 00:26:01.000 It's the same thing with the church. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:05.759 But sometimes we think we can turn it off instead of saying, no, this is my church. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.180 This is my church. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:10.759 And I need to do my part with responsibility before the Lord and faithfulness before the 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:12.079 Lord to see it happen. 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:17.119 Which means, in real practicality, that we need to limit our options. 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.380 Okay? 00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:19.700 We have to limit our options. 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:22.259 Keeping your options open is not partnership. 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:25.680 Keeping your options open is not partnership. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:32.640 And we live in an age right now where the norm of life is keeping your options open. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:40.299 Like, never fully committing, always leaving open this kind of thing where I can maybe get 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:44.360 out of it or I could do something better or maybe I won't feel as good or into it then 00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:45.400 and I can get out of it. 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:51.539 And the phrase, sorry, I have a prior commitment, is like a foreign concept. 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.600 Like, we need a translator. 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:54.060 Wait, is that English you're speaking? 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.899 Sorry, I have a prior commitment? 00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:57.279 I don't even know what that means. 00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:58.679 A prior commitment? 00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:00.059 You got to keep your options open. 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.379 You can't do that. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.319 Right? 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:07.419 But that should be something we should say often to people and not be embarrassed about 00:27:07.419 --> 00:27:10.059 or not even, or feel bad about. 00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:15.480 Let me ask you, do you have a hard time saying sometimes when someone asks you to do something 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:18.940 and you have a prior commitment or you have a prior church commitment? 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:23.299 Are you able to say confidently, sorry, I have a prior commitment? 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.879 I can't do that. 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.859 I can't plan that event. 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:28.139 I can't go to that thing. 00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:34.519 I can't go on this particular trip at that point in time because I have this prior commitment 00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:39.339 or I can't do this that night because I have a prior commitment or whatever it means. 00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:43.759 Like, to say, I can't do that because I have a prior commitment. 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:46.299 People don't want to say that nowadays. 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:48.720 People don't want to limit their options. 00:27:49.639 --> 00:27:54.959 Actually, the Latin word that we get the word decide from literally means to cut off. 00:27:55.939 --> 00:27:57.439 Literally means to cut off. 00:27:57.440 --> 00:28:03.720 So a decision is killing off other options to firmly establish a single course of action. 00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:05.480 That's what decision means. 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:12.880 If you make a decision to be a partner in this church, that means you have cut off certain 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.620 other options. 00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:18.140 If you've made a decision to be a part of a missional community, that means you've made 00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:21.299 a decision to cut off other options. 00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:26.759 It means you're limited in how much you can give yourself to other relationships, maybe 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:30.720 even other relationships in this church, maybe other relationships outside of this church. 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:34.879 To decide to do something is to decide not to do something else. 00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:37.419 It's to cut off certain other options. 00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:40.480 A decision used to mean that. 00:28:40.919 --> 00:28:45.799 Nowadays, we make decisions flippantly and the Bible says not to do this. 00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:48.579 But the Bible says to keep our word even when it hurts. 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:52.599 This is the one in Psalm 15 who ascends the hill of the Lord, who keeps their word even 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:53.199 when it hurts. 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:57.559 It's someone who decides and cuts things off and says, my decision to be in a mission 00:28:57.559 --> 00:29:01.599 of the community with these people is my decision to hunker down with these group of people and 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:04.359 to figure out how to be a community and how to be on mission. 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:08.319 It's figured out how to do family, how to be on mission, and to do it together. 00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:10.480 Come hell or high water, I'm going to do it. 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.919 I made a decision. 00:29:12.439 --> 00:29:13.439 That's what Christians do. 00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:15.359 That means I'm cutting off these other options. 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:21.179 That means I'm radically reorientating my life around God and his mission. 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:23.539 And I'm going to do it with these particular people. 00:29:23.919 --> 00:29:25.579 That means that's going to involve sacrifice. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:28.559 If you're trying to do that without sacrifice, think again. 00:29:29.179 --> 00:29:30.199 It ain't going to happen. 00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.639 There's no way. 00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:33.379 You're going to do that without discomfort? 00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:34.359 Think again. 00:29:34.419 --> 00:29:35.740 There's no way that's going to happen. 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:39.500 You will be pressed on your decisions. 00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:42.740 And decisions means cutting things off. 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:46.779 There's going to be times that things that you cut off, you're going to be reaching back again. 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:48.359 You're going to be trying to glue back together. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:50.420 It's like, I want that back. 00:29:50.620 --> 00:29:52.279 I want that back in my life. 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:53.900 It's like, no, you made a decision. 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.539 You limited your options. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.480 That's a good thing. 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:58.339 That's what God requires. 00:29:58.839 --> 00:30:00.420 That's what healthy church requires. 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:02.920 That's what healthy mission requires. 00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:05.799 That's what healthy mission requires. 00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:07.480 And that's what we need to do. 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:18.220 So lastly, I think a good three-fold test for choreographed partnership in missional communities is the mission of our church. 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:22.099 It's seeking first the kingdom of God and all of life together. 00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:31.380 Let's look at these three things kind of practically as a three-fold test for how we're choreographing together in partnership in our MCs. 00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:34.019 So the first one is, think about the people in your MC. 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:41.160 Think about those people that you're committed to and say, number one, are we seeking first the kingdom of God together? 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.599 Do we have that shared mission together? 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:48.559 Jesus taught that we should seek the kingdom first and that our hearts follow what we treasure. 00:30:49.139 --> 00:30:54.740 When we treasure and seek first the kingdom, our hearts end up in the same place and we share the same priorities. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:31:02.379 If you're trying to really go to the same direction with a group of people and either there's not a value for the kingdom of God, 00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:10.080 meaning there's secret sin, there's not a fear of the Lord, there's not an obedience to Jesus in the big things and the little things, 00:31:10.300 --> 00:31:12.360 there's no way that's going to happen. 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:14.400 You say, man, I'm having a hard time relating to these first people. 00:31:14.780 --> 00:31:15.980 Ask this question first. 00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:21.860 Are the people you're having a hard time relating with or getting on mission with, are they seeking first the kingdom of God? 00:31:22.260 --> 00:31:24.260 And again, seeking the kingdom is not enough. 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:26.319 It has to be sought first. 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:32.220 You got some people you're trying to seek the kingdom with and then other people trying to seek the kingdom and some are seeking first. 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:35.480 Some are seeking the kingdom, maybe second, third, fourth. 00:31:36.619 --> 00:31:38.079 There's no fellowship here. 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.940 That is a house divided. 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:41.619 You might say, oh, I can't relate to them. 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:43.319 It just feels like our relationship isn't showing. 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:46.279 Yeah, if this isn't here, it's dead on arrival. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:47.500 It's never going to happen. 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:51.299 That's why Matthew 6, 33 says, seek first the kingdom of God. 00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:52.579 You can't seek it second. 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.480 You can't seek it third. 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.380 You can't seek it fourth. 00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:57.299 You have to seek it together first. 00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.480 Together first. 00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:03.740 And if that's not there, if it's not being sought at all, there's secret sin and not a fear of the Lord. 00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:07.799 But then if it's not sought first, this is broken, the fellowship. 00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:10.299 It's just, it's not the way it's supposed to be. 00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:12.859 The togetherness, the all togetherness is there. 00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:20.500 If you're going to fight for all togetherness in a missional community, in the church, we have to seek the kingdom first. 00:32:20.939 --> 00:32:23.479 And if you think we're going to do that without that, there's just no way. 00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.679 You've got to hit that. 00:32:27.179 --> 00:32:29.319 So that means sometimes we have to have some conversations. 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:32.399 Just like, hey, are you walking in repentance in this particular area? 00:32:33.379 --> 00:32:37.959 Or maybe there's that one thing, which is often what happened when Jesus would approach people, 00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:42.900 that one thing that's keeping people from seeking first a kingdom that people don't want to let go of. 00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:44.920 Those are the conversations that need to be had. 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:47.360 You're not letting go of this. 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:50.740 And sometimes maybe you need a couple people to rally around and say, 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:55.340 hey, we're seeing that this is not being sought first in your life. 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.620 We're calling to you repentance. 00:32:56.980 --> 00:33:02.680 And when repentance happens, boom, there's that gelling of the seeking first of the kingdom we've got together. 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:04.279 That's that first test. 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:09.660 If that's not happening, we're not going to have that kingdom mobilization together. 00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:13.660 Secondly, it's got to be in all of life. 00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:16.839 The Bible says to always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:18.859 1 Corinthians 15, 58. 00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:22.399 Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:26.960 When we share a vision for kingdom priorities being fleshed out in all of life, 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:29.279 rather than just parts of life, 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:36.339 it multiplies our opportunities for ministry by removing the limitations of when and where we can do the Lord's work 00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:42.119 and takes the pressure off the meetings being our main source of life and church experience. 00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:44.819 And this is often the case in a missional community. 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:49.519 People feel like the only sense of connectiveness we have is on a Wednesday night. 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:52.980 If that's the case, good luck. 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:59.099 You think you're going to gel with a group of people on mission and in a sense of spiritual family together 00:33:59.099 --> 00:34:01.480 if your only connection is one night a week? 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.900 Ain't going to happen. 00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:05.019 Didn't happen in the New Testament. 00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:06.500 It ain't happening now. 00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:07.220 It won't. 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.880 It won't happen. 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.639 It doesn't work that way. 00:34:11.800 --> 00:34:15.059 There has to be an always of giving ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. 00:34:15.139 --> 00:34:16.579 There has to be an openness. 00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:19.119 If you're saying, well, someone has their heart open, 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:20.539 someone has their home open, 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:22.119 someone has their schedule open, 00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:24.319 but then someone else you're trying to partner with, 00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:26.759 their schedule isn't really that open. 00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:30.099 Their heart is kind of open, but not really. 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.259 Like you don't really get, 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:34.380 it's like I've been with this person for a while now and I just never get to know them. 00:34:34.679 --> 00:34:34.880 Why? 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:36.599 Are they voluntarily opening up their heart? 00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:39.619 Are you seeking to unlock their heart? 00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:40.759 And it's a two-way street. 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.119 That's why Paul said, 00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:43.319 I've opened wide my heart to you, 00:34:43.339 --> 00:34:44.779 but you've restricted yours from me. 00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:47.719 Open wide your heart also as a fair exchange. 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.699 So if that isn't happening, 00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:51.079 if you have someone in your missional community, 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:53.639 you're just like, this open hearted thing isn't happening, 00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:55.039 it has to be confronted. 00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:59.299 And if you're someone who doesn't voluntarily open your heart, 00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:00.239 you're part of the problem. 00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:02.159 You've got to open up your heart, 00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:03.759 not just when people ask you. 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:05.119 You've got to let people in. 00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:06.599 If you don't let people in, 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:07.539 then people won't know you. 00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.820 If people don't know you, 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:11.460 then there's no fellowship. 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:15.239 And this grates against some of us, 00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:17.579 especially some of us who are older sometimes, 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:19.800 because that wasn't the way things were, 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:21.800 but it's the way that things need to be, 00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:23.039 because it's biblical. 00:35:23.779 --> 00:35:25.619 And it's 1 Corinthians 6 and 7, 00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:26.340 if you don't believe me, 00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:27.099 look it up yourself. 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:29.019 This is what Paul's appealing for. 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:30.539 But if we're trying to do that, 00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:31.039 it's like, well, 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.519 so-and-so's schedule's not open. 00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:32.779 It's like, 00:35:32.780 --> 00:35:33.900 we can't even get time together 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:34.920 other than a Wednesday night. 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.200 Well, yeah. 00:35:36.560 --> 00:35:38.760 And that puts a lot of undue pressure 00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:39.820 on Wednesday nights 00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:41.480 to be something that they can never be. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:43.780 And that is life together. 00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:46.560 A Wednesday night is not life together. 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:48.840 It's a necessary component of it. 00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:51.240 It's like a regular gathering is really helpful. 00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:53.700 But if that's your sole source of life together, 00:35:54.180 --> 00:35:55.560 it ain't never going to happen. 00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:57.019 Not possible. 00:35:57.460 --> 00:35:59.400 And if your schedule is so taken 00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:01.640 with other people outside of your mission community 00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:02.799 that you have no time 00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:04.259 for the people in the missional community, 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.779 guess what else isn't going to happen? 00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:07.239 You're not going to get that life together 00:36:07.239 --> 00:36:07.859 with those people. 00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:10.659 And you're going to have to say no to things. 00:36:10.759 --> 00:36:11.980 Sometimes you're going to have to say no 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:12.920 to things you want to do. 00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:14.059 Sometimes you're going to have to say no 00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:16.559 even to things that are good things, 00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:18.139 like family stuff, 00:36:18.819 --> 00:36:21.019 like work stuff, 00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:22.639 like fun stuff. 00:36:22.759 --> 00:36:24.199 We might have to do that sometimes. 00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:27.139 That's a test. 00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:28.239 And if that test, 00:36:28.299 --> 00:36:29.019 if we fail that test, 00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:30.480 we got to be intentional about that. 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:32.300 If we're not seeking the kingdom first, 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:32.780 and we're not, 00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:34.000 it's not an all-life thing. 00:36:35.260 --> 00:36:36.260 Even when people's hearts, 00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:36.679 you might say, 00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:36.840 well, 00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:39.280 certain people's homes are open, 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.840 but other people's homes are not open. 00:36:41.940 --> 00:36:42.480 It's just like, 00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:43.599 you start to feel like, 00:36:43.719 --> 00:36:43.900 hey, 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.820 are we in this together? 00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:47.159 Like I've been in so-and-so's home. 00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:48.559 I've never been in so-and-so's home. 00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:50.099 Or when I get there, 00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:50.980 it's kind of cold, 00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.760 or it feels like it's an inconvenience. 00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:54.000 When there's a warmth, 00:36:54.199 --> 00:36:55.099 hospitable environment 00:36:55.099 --> 00:36:56.079 in each other's homes, 00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:56.900 again, 00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:57.460 boom, 00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:58.380 gelling, 00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:59.380 open homes, 00:36:59.780 --> 00:37:00.559 open hearts, 00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:01.820 open schedules, 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:03.500 seeking the kingdom first, 00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:05.059 this stuff's coming together. 00:37:06.260 --> 00:37:06.500 Right? 00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:09.199 And if you pass those two tests, 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:10.699 then there's the third test, 00:37:11.240 --> 00:37:12.720 the test of togetherness 00:37:12.720 --> 00:37:13.800 and shared responsibility. 00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:15.539 As we just looked 00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.720 at the New Testament, 00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:18.420 you see it's littered 00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:19.720 with the language of togetherness. 00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:21.179 And when we take ownership 00:37:21.179 --> 00:37:22.159 and responsibility 00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:23.380 for kingdom priorities 00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:24.840 being fleshed out 00:37:24.840 --> 00:37:25.579 in all of life, 00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:26.599 but specifically 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:28.619 in a way that insists 00:37:28.619 --> 00:37:30.240 on doing things together 00:37:30.240 --> 00:37:31.960 rather than on our own, 00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:33.760 specific at the missional 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:34.599 community level, 00:37:34.940 --> 00:37:36.220 not just as a whole church, 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:39.019 in a very intentional manner, 00:37:39.220 --> 00:37:41.340 it maximizes our impact, 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:43.119 it increases our joy, 00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:45.000 and lightens our load 00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:46.480 because we're carrying it together. 00:37:47.160 --> 00:37:48.340 There has to be a commitment 00:37:48.340 --> 00:37:48.720 to say, 00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:48.900 hey, 00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:49.860 we're going to do this together. 00:37:50.420 --> 00:37:51.400 And that includes mission. 00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:51.840 Okay? 00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:54.760 If our missional communities 00:37:54.760 --> 00:37:57.960 aren't sharing mission together, 00:37:58.240 --> 00:37:58.800 well, 00:37:58.840 --> 00:38:00.220 we're missing something pretty big. 00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:01.480 Right? 00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:02.860 We're missing something pretty big. 00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:04.660 We've got to mobilize together. 00:38:04.720 --> 00:38:05.480 We've got to figure it out. 00:38:05.559 --> 00:38:05.860 You might say, 00:38:05.900 --> 00:38:06.700 I don't know what to do. 00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:07.420 All right. 00:38:07.680 --> 00:38:08.260 Figure it out. 00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:10.880 I'm just not convinced 00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:11.639 that God doesn't want 00:38:11.639 --> 00:38:12.740 to give you something to do, 00:38:12.940 --> 00:38:14.760 even if it's some cold call evangelism 00:38:14.760 --> 00:38:15.559 together somewhere. 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:16.880 Like, 00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:17.700 do it somewhere. 00:38:19.139 --> 00:38:19.519 Like, 00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:20.320 this is what we do. 00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:21.320 This is what Christians do. 00:38:21.400 --> 00:38:21.639 You say, 00:38:21.720 --> 00:38:23.320 I don't want to do cold call evangelism. 00:38:23.619 --> 00:38:23.940 Well, 00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.860 do you want to be a Christian? 00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:26.180 Like, 00:38:26.220 --> 00:38:27.539 you got to do that sometimes. 00:38:28.260 --> 00:38:28.579 Or, 00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:29.720 I don't want to do evangelism. 00:38:29.820 --> 00:38:30.240 I don't want to, 00:38:30.680 --> 00:38:30.840 like, 00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:32.539 Christians evangelize. 00:38:33.260 --> 00:38:34.500 This is what we have to do. 00:38:35.160 --> 00:38:36.340 We got to do that together. 00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:37.019 That's what we do. 00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:38.019 And so, 00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:39.500 if there's not this togetherness 00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:40.480 of just like, 00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:40.840 okay, 00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:42.220 this group of people, 00:38:42.320 --> 00:38:43.200 this missional community, 00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:44.420 I'm going to do mission together. 00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:45.420 I'm going to do family together. 00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:46.360 We're going to do discipleship, 00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:46.900 serving together. 00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:47.760 We're going to do it together. 00:38:47.760 --> 00:38:49.380 There's going to be intentionality. 00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:52.060 And where there's not this natural gelling together 00:38:52.060 --> 00:38:53.700 and this cohesion, 00:38:54.420 --> 00:38:56.380 we're going to intentionally choreograph it together 00:38:56.380 --> 00:38:57.540 by working through stuff. 00:38:58.520 --> 00:38:59.680 And we're going to make it happen. 00:38:59.780 --> 00:39:00.780 We're going to do what it takes. 00:39:01.220 --> 00:39:02.800 And I'm going to say no to other things 00:39:02.800 --> 00:39:03.820 so I can make it happen. 00:39:03.820 --> 00:39:06.019 And if that's not there, 00:39:06.120 --> 00:39:07.840 you might have to have a conversation like, 00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:08.019 hey, 00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:08.300 listen, 00:39:08.539 --> 00:39:10.200 I don't feel together with you 00:39:10.200 --> 00:39:11.300 on this aspect of it. 00:39:11.720 --> 00:39:13.000 We're not doing mission together. 00:39:13.700 --> 00:39:13.800 Like, 00:39:14.220 --> 00:39:15.940 is there something that I could do better? 00:39:16.620 --> 00:39:17.920 Is there some reason that 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:19.680 you're feeling not together with me 00:39:19.680 --> 00:39:20.740 because I'm limiting it? 00:39:21.260 --> 00:39:21.380 Like, 00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:22.580 put the responsibility on yourself. 00:39:22.680 --> 00:39:22.820 Say, 00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:24.559 how can I help with this? 00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:25.960 What am I doing? 00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:28.059 But it's got to happen 00:39:28.059 --> 00:39:29.080 in all three of those areas. 00:39:29.140 --> 00:39:31.059 If we pass that threefold test, 00:39:31.120 --> 00:39:32.320 if we're seeking first the kingdom, 00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:33.800 we're doing it in all life 00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:34.760 and we're doing it together, 00:39:35.120 --> 00:39:38.700 there's going to be a depth there. 00:39:39.080 --> 00:39:40.240 There's going to be a closest there. 00:39:40.300 --> 00:39:41.320 And there's going to be fruit 00:39:41.320 --> 00:39:43.180 that comes out of that for sure. 00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:44.380 I guarantee it. 00:39:44.680 --> 00:39:45.580 I guarantee it. 00:39:46.300 --> 00:39:46.480 Okay? 00:39:46.740 --> 00:39:48.500 If any of these three break down 00:39:48.500 --> 00:39:50.580 or if we fail the test 00:39:50.580 --> 00:39:51.860 in any of these three areas, 00:39:52.019 --> 00:39:53.980 then we're left by default 00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:56.480 with whatever natural chemistry 00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:58.240 we do or don't have with one another. 00:39:59.680 --> 00:40:00.120 Right? 00:40:00.119 --> 00:40:01.679 And in some cases, 00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:02.400 that's fine 00:40:02.400 --> 00:40:04.960 because there's natural chemistry there. 00:40:05.299 --> 00:40:06.460 But in most cases, 00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:07.000 it's not 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:09.219 because it takes work. 00:40:09.639 --> 00:40:10.739 We need to fight for 00:40:10.739 --> 00:40:13.159 the all together in our MCs. 00:40:13.819 --> 00:40:14.559 If missional community 00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:16.079 is truly not just chemistry, 00:40:16.239 --> 00:40:17.079 but in reality, 00:40:17.519 --> 00:40:18.079 choreography, 00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:19.599 then we must fight 00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:20.559 to be intentional, 00:40:21.420 --> 00:40:22.779 creatively planning movement 00:40:22.779 --> 00:40:23.579 and action 00:40:23.579 --> 00:40:25.599 in coordinated execution. 00:40:26.059 --> 00:40:26.900 You see what I'm saying? 00:40:26.900 --> 00:40:26.980 Again, 00:40:27.500 --> 00:40:29.880 that's important. 00:40:30.559 --> 00:40:31.639 So let's do that. 00:40:32.220 --> 00:40:32.660 Let's be, 00:40:33.019 --> 00:40:34.119 let's ask those questions. 00:40:34.240 --> 00:40:34.780 I would challenge you 00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:35.700 to ask those questions 00:40:35.700 --> 00:40:36.900 in your missional community. 00:40:37.200 --> 00:40:38.059 Start with yourself. 00:40:38.720 --> 00:40:39.680 Start with yourself 00:40:39.680 --> 00:40:41.099 and then ask the questions 00:40:41.099 --> 00:40:41.920 of our missional community. 00:40:42.019 --> 00:40:42.180 Say, 00:40:42.300 --> 00:40:42.440 hey, 00:40:42.920 --> 00:40:43.300 are these, 00:40:43.480 --> 00:40:44.880 are we passing these three tests 00:40:44.880 --> 00:40:46.420 so that we can really fight 00:40:46.420 --> 00:40:47.440 for the all togetherness? 00:40:47.619 --> 00:40:49.039 And when that's happening, 00:40:49.740 --> 00:40:51.180 when we're all together, 00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:52.840 we'll see favor 00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:53.940 with all people 00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:54.559 and the Lord 00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:55.360 will add to our number. 00:40:55.360 --> 00:40:56.240 I really believe it. 00:40:56.820 --> 00:40:57.500 This is what you saw 00:40:57.500 --> 00:40:58.340 in the book of Acts. 00:40:58.700 --> 00:40:59.320 I've seen this 00:40:59.320 --> 00:40:59.980 in other churches. 00:41:00.620 --> 00:41:01.500 It happens. 00:41:01.700 --> 00:41:02.300 It's effective. 00:41:02.599 --> 00:41:03.240 It's powerful. 00:41:03.880 --> 00:41:05.120 People begin to look at us 00:41:05.120 --> 00:41:05.640 and they say, 00:41:05.780 --> 00:41:06.940 what is the deal with you? 00:41:07.019 --> 00:41:07.220 You're, 00:41:07.340 --> 00:41:08.019 there's something, 00:41:08.720 --> 00:41:10.460 you're an enigma. 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:12.059 You don't make sense. 00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:14.160 The way you do life together, 00:41:14.260 --> 00:41:15.599 the way you do family together, 00:41:15.700 --> 00:41:17.099 the way you suffer together, 00:41:17.220 --> 00:41:18.380 the way you rejoice together, 00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:20.200 what is about you? 00:41:20.280 --> 00:41:20.940 What is the reason 00:41:20.940 --> 00:41:22.059 for the hope that you have? 00:41:22.340 --> 00:41:22.500 Oh, 00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:23.480 I'm glad that you asked. 00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:25.340 Glad that you asked. 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:26.059 Let me tell you. 00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:27.900 And then you tell them. 00:41:28.019 --> 00:41:28.219 Amen? 00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:30.199 Let's stand.