WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.120 And now I have the joy of introducing again our speaker for the retreat and our speaker preacher this morning, Pastor Andrew Cavalich. 00:00:07.299 --> 00:00:17.800 For those of you who weren't here for the retreat, I joked on Friday night when I introduced him that Pastor Andrew has big biceps, but that he has an even bigger heart. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:22.000 He's one of the most large-hearted people I know, period. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:29.179 Whenever you have a conversation with him, you are stirred up toward Christ to be nearer to him, and you're encouraged. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.020 And he has really encouraged us and built us up as a church this weekend. 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:48.280 And as I was thinking about how you've served us this weekend, Andrew, this passage came to mind in 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 8. 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:57.500 So being affectionately desirous of you, we are ready to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves, 00:00:57.500 --> 00:01:00.280 because you had become very dear to us. 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:05.760 I feel like Andrew, you, and Christina have done that for us this weekend. 00:01:06.260 --> 00:01:13.700 Not just sharing the gospel with us, which is of utmost importance, but also sharing your life impacted by the gospel with us. 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:21.180 And we have been praying in preparation for the retreat that there would be an impartation of the Spirit's power and his gift, 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:29.820 so that we might become a church that is able to rebuke people and make them feel so loved in doing so, 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:31.439 as you have done for countless people. 00:01:32.140 --> 00:01:34.400 And so I pray that that continues. 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:36.740 So please come and serve us, Pastor Andrew. 00:01:36.820 --> 00:01:37.600 Let's welcome him together. 00:01:37.600 --> 00:01:37.700 Thank you. 00:01:37.700 --> 00:01:51.700 All right, we got to get something cleared up right off the bat. 00:01:51.859 --> 00:01:53.400 I have regular-sized biceps. 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:58.700 And in fact, since my hospitalization, my biceps are getting smaller, 00:01:58.700 --> 00:02:02.760 and because of my high blood pressure and all that, I think my heart's getting larger. 00:02:02.760 --> 00:02:05.900 But you know what? 00:02:05.940 --> 00:02:09.060 Our hope is, even though our outer person is wasting away, 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:13.159 our inward person is what needs renewal the most. 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:18.180 If we're going to work out, if we're going to develop ourselves in any aspect of our life, 00:02:18.259 --> 00:02:21.879 may it be our inner person, our true selves. 00:02:21.960 --> 00:02:24.819 And that's where I believe God wants to minister this morning. 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:26.700 But I have a few things we have to do. 00:02:26.740 --> 00:02:27.319 I apologize. 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:29.520 I'm still in retreat mode. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:32.420 And so I've been giving gifts away. 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:36.040 And that just kind of seems weird on like a Sunday service. 00:02:36.040 --> 00:02:37.620 But I'm already committed at this point. 00:02:38.600 --> 00:02:40.040 So I have one last gift. 00:02:40.260 --> 00:02:41.840 I have another Dunkin' card. 00:02:42.660 --> 00:02:45.160 And I know it means less to you now. 00:02:45.380 --> 00:02:48.600 But here's who I'd love to give this away to. 00:02:49.160 --> 00:02:52.219 If you are coming to church this morning, and you're like, 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:53.640 I really want coffee. 00:02:53.900 --> 00:02:55.879 But if we stop, we're going to be late. 00:02:55.879 --> 00:03:00.579 And you decided not to stop and get coffee and be here on time, 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:02.039 I would love to give this to you. 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:03.819 Anybody? 00:03:04.379 --> 00:03:05.139 Never stop. 00:03:05.979 --> 00:03:06.620 Yeah, yeah. 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:11.079 So I'm going to trust you're all just really good planners. 00:03:12.359 --> 00:03:13.960 Okay, so let's just do it this way. 00:03:13.979 --> 00:03:14.979 Who wants a Dunkin' card? 00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:17.139 Okay, yeah. 00:03:17.139 --> 00:03:17.199 Yeah. 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:17.759 Yeah. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:17.939 Yeah. 00:03:17.939 --> 00:03:18.139 Yeah. 00:03:18.139 --> 00:03:18.439 Yeah. 00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:18.639 Yeah. 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:19.139 Yeah. 00:03:19.139 --> 00:03:19.199 Yeah. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:19.759 Yeah. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:20.199 Yeah. 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:20.319 Yeah. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:20.639 Yeah. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:21.199 Yeah. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:21.759 Yeah. 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:22.199 Yeah. 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:22.759 Yeah. 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:23.199 Yeah. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:23.840 Yeah. 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:25.859 Yeah. 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:29.299 All right. 00:03:29.579 --> 00:03:29.960 All right. 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:31.019 A couple more things. 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:34.479 We got to clear the decks a little bit before we get into God's word. 00:03:35.079 --> 00:03:40.799 I got to encourage Sean beforehand when we were doing the retreat part of this. 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:43.939 But I'll elaborate to say this. 00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:49.560 Leadership sets the tempo of the church. 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:56.259 And your best leaders are the ones that want to leave you with Jesus and not themselves. 00:03:57.080 --> 00:04:02.759 But who labor hard, faithfully, and humbly to do that. 00:04:03.479 --> 00:04:08.219 You have such leaders here in Sean and the other emerging leaders. 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:11.139 But it also says something about you guys. 00:04:11.939 --> 00:04:13.539 It says you want the real thing. 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:18.560 You want to build your life together with one another around Jesus. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:21.139 You wouldn't be here if you didn't. 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:27.259 And I also realize from talking to many of you, there are great joys being a part of this church. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:31.480 I mean, even us just being here this weekend, we adore this church. 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:36.040 We're going to try to find ways to be with you guys in the future. 00:04:36.900 --> 00:04:40.980 But we know in a transient community, that can be hard. 00:04:41.640 --> 00:04:46.200 To be the ones who are left and to be the ones who are leaving. 00:04:47.140 --> 00:04:48.460 And I want to share this. 00:04:49.379 --> 00:04:56.000 Part of the joy for my wife and I being here is we were part of a church plant in West Philly before we were in New Jersey. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:05:01.220 And it was a church kind of a similar makeup, kind of a similar area. 00:05:02.300 --> 00:05:07.579 And what was our comfort when we realized all the give and take that we had? 00:05:08.100 --> 00:05:14.759 It's this, that what Christ does in this time when you're together will last. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:18.579 Even when some of you leave and even when some of you stay. 00:05:18.579 --> 00:05:26.680 This discipleship you are experiencing will forever be part of your spiritual DNA. 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:28.439 It goes with you. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:31.979 So I would encourage you, you are in a sweet place. 00:05:32.740 --> 00:05:34.139 Enjoy the sweetness of it. 00:05:34.919 --> 00:05:35.539 Savor it. 00:05:35.779 --> 00:05:36.479 Soak it up. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:39.199 Should the Lord move you on, take it with you. 00:05:39.299 --> 00:05:43.979 Should the Lord keep you here, he'll give you every bit of grace you need to stay faithfully. 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:46.180 Even when it hurts when people leave. 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:47.899 So, I say that. 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:51.079 I also bring greetings from our home church. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:53.899 Pastor Warren and his wife Kim have been with you before. 00:05:54.339 --> 00:05:57.159 And they always love being with you guys. 00:05:57.739 --> 00:06:01.239 I know Philip and Heather, they're friends with the Bournes from the PC. 00:06:01.719 --> 00:06:03.759 And they wish they could have been here. 00:06:04.099 --> 00:06:06.239 But our whole church sends their greeting. 00:06:06.799 --> 00:06:11.479 And even the congregants who released me and my wife to be with you guys here this morning. 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:15.679 That said, let's pray and we're going to jump in this morning. 00:06:17.899 --> 00:06:27.379 Father, as we bring a retreat to a close. 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:33.860 As we come to an end of studying 2nd and 3rd John. 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:37.860 We thank you that your word does not close. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:41.160 And your work does not stop here. 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:51.160 You are continuing your work through your word in and through our lives. 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:55.040 We pray the things that were helpful and of you would stick. 00:06:56.080 --> 00:06:57.620 They would remain with us. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:06.500 We pray that this warm influence of John that really points us to Jesus would, in some way, 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:11.100 help us camp and stake our life upon him in a fresh way. 00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:16.600 And Lord, now for this morning, this time, be with us in this message. 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:19.540 Be with us in these words of 3rd John. 00:07:20.420 --> 00:07:23.220 May they be life to us, in Jesus' name. 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:24.820 So be it. 00:07:26.340 --> 00:07:29.640 All right, just to catch everybody up on where we've been. 00:07:29.780 --> 00:07:33.260 We've been working through the letters of 2nd and 3rd John. 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:37.939 We've already finished 2nd John and we're halfway through 3rd John. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:43.060 3rd John is the shortest by word count letter in the whole New Testament. 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:47.079 But though these letters are both very short, 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:53.060 they teach us so much about love and truth. 00:07:53.639 --> 00:07:57.539 And the life and warmth we're meant to find there. 00:07:57.959 --> 00:08:02.000 So in the beginning of 2nd John, we talked about this craft. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:08.620 How do believers get good at rightly understanding how love and truth work together? 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:09.980 What they are? 00:08:10.180 --> 00:08:14.160 And the critical place that obedience falls into with that. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:22.740 Then we looked at believers have a calling to promote and to protect the perfection of the gospel. 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:29.339 Over against our own thoughts of perfection or over against any kind of edits to the gospel. 00:08:29.339 --> 00:08:31.779 Through subtraction or addition. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:36.279 Last night we considered, what does it mean to love well in the church? 00:08:36.419 --> 00:08:40.620 To love well in the church is to love one another in a holistic way. 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:46.000 As whole people, not missing any avenues or areas of life. 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:53.899 But this morning when we think about love and truth and their life and their warmth, 00:08:53.899 --> 00:09:01.399 we need to think about what loving looks like when it's hard and when it hurts. 00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:08.259 The title of our time this morning is Loving the Church Beyond the Hurt. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:13.539 And if you would, let's go ahead and read all of 3rd John, 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:18.399 but we'll be focusing our time together from verses 9 and 15. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:21.379 The letter of 3rd John. 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:27.240 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 00:09:28.319 --> 00:09:37.299 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health as it goes well with your soul. 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:43.219 For I rejoice greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:46.299 as indeed you are walking in the truth. 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:55.139 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 00:09:55.139 --> 00:10:01.139 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:06.500 strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. 00:10:06.939 --> 00:10:11.500 You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, 00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:14.899 for they have gone out for the sake of the name, 00:10:15.699 --> 00:10:17.639 accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:25.539 Therefore, we ought to support people like these that we may be fellow workers for the truth. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:29.019 Here we come to our portion this morning. 00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:32.159 I have written something to the church, 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:37.620 but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, 00:10:38.319 --> 00:10:41.159 does not acknowledge our authority. 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:45.699 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, 00:10:45.839 --> 00:10:48.079 talking wicked nonsense against us, 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:49.899 and not content with that, 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:52.799 he refuses to welcome the brothers, 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:55.899 and also stops those who wants to, 00:10:56.319 --> 00:10:58.480 and puts them out of the church. 00:10:59.779 --> 00:11:04.159 Beloved, do not imitate evil, 00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:06.779 but imitate good. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:10.179 Whoever does good is from God. 00:11:10.179 --> 00:11:13.819 Whoever does evil has not seen God. 00:11:14.699 --> 00:11:18.659 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:21.339 and from the truth itself. 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:23.899 We also add our testimony, 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:26.419 and you know that our testimony is true. 00:11:27.319 --> 00:11:29.219 I had much to write to you, 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:32.120 but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:34.639 I hope to see you soon, 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:37.399 and we will talk face to face. 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:40.299 Peace be to you. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:43.079 The friends greet you. 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.559 Greet the friends, 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:47.679 each by name. 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:51.519 I not only love you guys, 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:52.599 I love these little letters. 00:11:53.739 --> 00:11:57.479 They are so sweet and rich, 00:11:57.539 --> 00:12:00.319 and I think we're going to find them helpful. 00:12:01.199 --> 00:12:03.839 Because you may not be experiencing it here, 00:12:04.199 --> 00:12:07.079 because of the transient nature of your life, 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.039 and because of the nature of sin, 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:14.199 you will encounter hurt in the church. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:18.500 You will be hurt by people who profess Christ, 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:20.539 and that is a reality. 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:23.599 But what I want us to embrace 00:12:23.599 --> 00:12:27.139 is not only hurt happens in the church, 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:32.039 but hurt and healing both happen in this place. 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:35.659 So although there may be temptations to leave, 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:38.360 the answer is not to leave, 00:12:38.459 --> 00:12:39.480 but it is to learn. 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:42.279 And I believe there is much for us to learn, 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:44.559 and John here takes another turn. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:45.980 He did this in 2 John, 00:12:46.059 --> 00:12:47.620 where he's really warm, 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:49.120 and then he comes with the warning. 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:50.860 And now here again, 00:12:50.939 --> 00:12:52.779 we see this warmth over Gaius, 00:12:52.959 --> 00:12:55.860 but he's definitely concerned about Demetrius, 00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:58.319 and that's where our own text picks up. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:01.640 And we're going to consider this portion of 3 John 00:13:01.640 --> 00:13:03.080 in two points, 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:06.220 and I believe there's much for us to learn here. 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:08.500 The first point is this, 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:12.160 for us to see lessons in self-love. 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:16.100 Not that we grow in being better lovers of ourselves, 00:13:16.260 --> 00:13:19.540 but these are warning lessons against it. 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:23.840 So we come to this person, Demetrius, 00:13:24.520 --> 00:13:26.060 who John is writing about, 00:13:26.059 --> 00:13:29.639 seems like some kind of influential leader 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.779 or person in that church. 00:13:32.359 --> 00:13:36.019 And he's causing really significant problems. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:39.079 But when it comes to a point of, 00:13:39.479 --> 00:13:40.379 what do we do? 00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:42.599 You will all face this, 00:13:42.699 --> 00:13:44.939 whether it's the problems John faced, 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:48.659 or the sin you will encounter in yourself or in others. 00:13:49.119 --> 00:13:51.479 What do you do when you are hurt 00:13:51.479 --> 00:13:54.159 by people who profess Christ? 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:57.399 What do you do when you are hurt in the church? 00:13:58.179 --> 00:14:02.959 Now, Proverbs 24 is actually talking about laziness. 00:14:03.319 --> 00:14:06.019 But there's something very helpful about the wisdom here. 00:14:06.079 --> 00:14:08.219 I want to read it to make this point. 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:09.519 It says this, 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:28.879 What the Proverbs are saying is, 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:46.899 Friends, when we see these things, 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.840 this should be our disposition. 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:52.200 This should be our learning, 00:14:52.420 --> 00:14:53.200 not our leaving. 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:56.519 So when we come and we see Diotrephes here, 00:14:56.680 --> 00:15:00.240 we see some real issues that we can learn about. 00:15:00.680 --> 00:15:03.080 So we see this in the text, 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:07.360 and we need to realize that it's not just this guy. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:11.639 This guy, Diotrephes, is marked by self-love. 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:16.939 Because nothing hurts the church like love of self. 00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:22.120 Nothing hurts the church like self-love. 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:24.220 So what do we find out about him? 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:25.639 We find out this. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:29.159 Number one, you put yourself first. 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:31.199 If you want a lesson in self-love, 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.939 put yourself first. 00:15:33.059 --> 00:15:35.139 That's what Diotrephes is doing. 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:36.000 And the text says, 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:38.699 Who likes to put himself first. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:40.759 That's really, 00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:43.340 John is being so truthful there, isn't he? 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:46.439 And isn't this what our pride does? 00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:48.819 It puts us first. 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.799 Above others, 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:54.159 and then eventually above the truth itself, 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:57.159 as we have it in Jesus Christ. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:59.340 And what's so sad, 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:01.860 is it can happen in the church. 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:04.919 The place that's uniquely designated, 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:07.539 for God's glory and worship, 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:10.539 gets perverted to become a platform 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:13.000 for our own promotion. 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:17.439 Friends, it's actually larger than that. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:20.259 That is a reversal of the whole created order. 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:24.220 We were never meant to be worshipped. 00:16:24.699 --> 00:16:26.720 We were only meant to worship. 00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:29.259 And when that gets reversed, 00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:32.120 it is a serious sickness. 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:34.240 But friends, 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:36.940 God's plan for what he means the church to be, 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:38.700 and his position on pride, 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:39.759 have never changed. 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:43.480 Think about God's intent for us as a people. 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:46.320 He says this through his word in 1 Peter. 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:49.460 But you are a chosen race, 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:51.519 a royal priesthood, 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:54.360 a holy nation, 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:57.279 a people for his own possession, 00:16:57.279 --> 00:17:02.860 that you may proclaim the excellencies of him. 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:05.440 Not ourselves. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:09.700 Him who called you out of darkness 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:13.259 into his marvelous light. 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:18.140 That's what the church was always meant to be and be about. 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.059 And God's position on pride, 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:20.480 guess what? 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:23.740 God hasn't changed his view about pride. 00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:26.660 Proverbs 16.5 says it so well, 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:30.160 Everyone who is arrogant in heart 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:32.620 is an abomination to the Lord. 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.320 Be assured, 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.840 he will not go unpunished. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.279 Friends, 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:40.460 the desire to be first 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:43.060 must die in us. 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:46.360 But I must admit, 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:48.740 it's sneaky in the church. 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:52.940 Because there's ways we can talk about 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:55.099 glorifying Christ 00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:59.000 while wanting to siphon self-glory for ourselves. 00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:01.640 Now, 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:03.440 we'll say our Father is very faithful 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:06.660 in stripping us of these things. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.859 And some of you know, 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:12.220 you joining the retreat might have not heard this. 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.819 I was recently hospitalized 00:18:13.819 --> 00:18:15.779 and I had some bites 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:18.380 and they made my body go haywire. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.519 It affected my heart. 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.500 It affected my body. 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.880 I'm still not 100. 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:24.700 I'm so happy to be here. 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:27.440 But I had all these teams of specialists 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.460 looking at me. 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:30.759 They didn't know what was wrong with me. 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:33.500 That made me more scared and concerned. 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:34.799 And I will tell you, 00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:37.299 when you're lying in a hospital bed for nights, 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:39.299 you have a lot of time to think 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:41.319 and you have a lot of time to pray. 00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:44.799 And do you know what one of my greatest comforts was 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:45.660 in that time? 00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:48.840 That I'm not the main thing. 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:53.380 That was a shelter. 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:56.259 That was a comfort for me. 00:18:57.300 --> 00:18:57.920 I mean, I don't, 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:59.700 I'm a little bit of a hypo-contriac, 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:01.500 so I might have inflated it in my mind, 00:19:01.560 --> 00:19:02.540 but God can use that. 00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:03.680 I'm like, I might die. 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.500 And we all die. 00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:07.320 Like, listen, we're all gonna die. 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:10.100 But I think sometimes God gives you moments 00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:11.819 when you're like, this could be it. 00:19:13.459 --> 00:19:15.299 And you know what made me okay with that? 00:19:16.439 --> 00:19:17.279 That's okay. 00:19:18.159 --> 00:19:19.359 Because I'm not first. 00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:22.959 That's okay because I'm not the main thing. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.000 Jesus is. 00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:28.099 And friends, if I find my life 00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:29.759 in the one who life is about, 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.659 I've lost nothing. 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.659 That's real life. 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:33.279 And if my life ends, 00:19:33.360 --> 00:19:35.800 my life has already been found and kept, 00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:37.900 there is a security in this. 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:42.540 Friends, self-first is never safe for our souls. 00:19:43.040 --> 00:19:46.680 Self-first offers the illusion of security 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:48.580 that if you're best and you're first, 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:50.300 you'll always be secure. 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:52.500 Security is not in self-first. 00:19:53.540 --> 00:19:53.900 No. 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:56.480 Security is in Christ first. 00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:58.840 Always, always, always. 00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:02.099 As John said, he must increase, 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.659 but I must decrease. 00:20:04.199 --> 00:20:07.299 And he doesn't need to use hospital visits to do that. 00:20:07.679 --> 00:20:09.619 He's faithful, but may he increase 00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:12.079 that life-giving work among us. 00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:15.279 Here's another marker in self-love. 00:20:16.139 --> 00:20:17.139 Reject authority. 00:20:17.959 --> 00:20:20.119 People who love themselves and their opinions, 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.339 they hate authority. 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:24.539 I know I'm like in the Boston area 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:26.480 and you guys like to throw stuff over boats 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.240 and other things. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:29.559 And I mean, we as a nation 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:31.640 have pretty much an authority complex 00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:33.720 already built into our DNA. 00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:36.299 But as Christians, 00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:40.059 we have a new disposition towards authority. 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:43.700 We should be people who love authority, 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:45.019 who welcome it, 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:48.759 who see it as care and provision from God. 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:50.759 But it says in the text 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:54.720 that Diotrephes does not acknowledge our authority. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:56.000 And I just, we gotta pause 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:57.799 and just think about the audacity of this. 00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:00.900 John is the last living apostle. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:03.140 And the more I read John, 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.819 the more I wanna be like him. 00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:08.539 I mean, he really is like the Obi-Wan of Star Wars. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.440 No, I'm serious. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:12.259 When I was a kid, I liked Luke. 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.480 You know, everybody likes Luke. 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:15.600 But as I grow up, I'm like, 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:17.059 man, Luke is a whiner. 00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:22.659 And I'm like, Obi-Wan really grows on me. 00:21:23.139 --> 00:21:25.379 The apostle of love, the apostle of John 00:21:25.379 --> 00:21:27.259 really grows on me. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:29.339 If he's this loving in his letters, 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:31.139 could you imagine what fellowship 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:33.220 would have been like with this apostle? 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:36.679 So seasoned, so shaped by Jesus. 00:21:36.899 --> 00:21:38.559 But not only that, check out his resume. 00:21:38.899 --> 00:21:39.940 He walked with Jesus. 00:21:40.379 --> 00:21:41.379 He's one of the 12. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.899 He was one of the witnesses 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:44.480 of the transfiguration. 00:21:45.040 --> 00:21:47.019 He was at the crucifixion 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:49.380 and he outraced Peter to the tomb 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:52.460 and saw the empty tomb. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.180 I'm like, bro, I'm in. 00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:56.900 John, what do you got? 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.900 I'm with you. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:02.000 The audacity to come against 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.460 an authority like this. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:06.960 Wow, that is crazy. 00:22:07.080 --> 00:22:09.340 But friends, our pride is crazy. 00:22:10.040 --> 00:22:11.340 It's deceptive. 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:13.759 Obadiah 3 says this, 00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:16.519 the pride of your heart has deceived you. 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:19.459 We can become so self-inflated 00:22:19.459 --> 00:22:22.139 that we don't submit ourselves 00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:24.220 to anyone or anything. 00:22:24.439 --> 00:22:26.740 Now, I'll admit there's a tension here. 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:31.000 Obviously, Diotrephes is a bad leader 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:33.220 or a bad person in influence. 00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:36.480 And I'm not saying every leader's good. 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:39.399 That wouldn't be a true statement. 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:42.480 There are some people who are maligning 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.540 the name of Jesus Christ 00:22:44.540 --> 00:22:46.060 in what they call service. 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.440 That's sick. 00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:50.519 And I make no quarters for that. 00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:53.519 But when someone is faithful, 00:22:53.800 --> 00:22:55.600 we should be responding to that. 00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:57.000 So I think of Hebrews. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.019 I think of Peter. 00:22:58.800 --> 00:23:01.040 Obey your leaders and submit to them. 00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:02.060 Why? 00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:05.600 For they're keeping watch over your souls 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:07.959 as those who will have to give an account. 00:23:09.639 --> 00:23:10.699 Good leaders, 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:16.500 yeah, they should have our warm, loving, 00:23:16.899 --> 00:23:17.759 humble submission. 00:23:18.439 --> 00:23:19.539 But listen, leaders, 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:22.299 they need to not be domineering 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:24.059 according to 1 Peter. 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:27.379 But they need to be examples to the flock. 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.779 I'll just move to the next one. 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.980 I could say more, 00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:36.759 but we got a couple more categories 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.700 under this first point. 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.379 The next is slander. 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:41.240 Look at verse 10 with me. 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.899 The first part of verse 10. 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:43.940 It says this, 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.140 So if I come, 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:47.180 I will bring up what he is doing. 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:50.860 Talking wicked nonsense against us. 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.960 It's just kind of cool to hear John say 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.059 he's talking wicked nonsense. 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:54.480 I mean, 00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:55.000 almost, 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:57.740 that kind of feels kind of Bostonian. 00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:00.600 So, 00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:03.019 I picked this up from John. 00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.860 But what, 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:06.080 what does it mean, 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:08.000 wicked nonsense here? 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:11.160 The Greek means babbling incoherently. 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:14.279 So it's not just the idea of talking trash, 00:24:14.540 --> 00:24:16.200 but talking crazy. 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:21.380 Diotrephes is saying outlandish things about John. 00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:22.740 Outlandish. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.420 So if they're that outlandish, 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.300 guess what they are? 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.040 They're unfounded. 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:29.560 And going back to what we've looked at 00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:31.300 in 2 and 3 John already, 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:34.400 truth is so part and parcel to our fellowship. 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:36.400 But if your pride, 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:37.700 if your self-love 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:40.019 distorts you or me so much 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:41.660 that we start 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:43.579 thinking and speaking 00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:44.599 of other people 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:45.900 outside of reality, 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.539 we have chosen 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:49.259 our pride over truth. 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:51.379 Because Diotrephes 00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:53.480 isn't speaking true things about John. 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.660 He's speaking false things. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.440 And that's how that works. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:59.339 Here's the other one we need to see. 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:01.879 Look at the second part of verse 10. 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.859 It says this. 00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:05.099 And not content with that. 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:05.480 So I guess 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:07.400 his babbling wicked nonsense 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.259 wasn't enough for him. 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:10.059 Not content with that. 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:12.759 He refuses to welcome the brothers 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:15.879 and also stops those who want to 00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:18.359 and puts them out of the church. 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:22.460 We don't know precisely what's happening here, 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:24.740 but it most likely has something to do 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:26.339 with John's instruction 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:28.640 about not receiving people 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:30.059 that don't bring the real message 00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:32.099 and warmly welcoming 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:33.420 and being fellow workers 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.980 with the missionaries who are. 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:36.900 And it seems like Diotrephes 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:39.480 is stiff-arming the good missionaries. 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:41.240 He's not letting them in. 00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.900 And then the believers are like, 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.819 come on, Diotrephes, 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.460 they're with us. 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.440 We want to support them. 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.460 We've heard from John. 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:48.000 He's shutting them out. 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:48.599 And finally, 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.779 the people that don't agree, 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.339 guess what? 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.700 They get the boot. 00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.599 They get kicked out. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:55.680 He puts them out of the church. 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.180 Do you know what that's referring to? 00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.900 Church discipline. 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:01.080 Well, the final step, 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:02.300 well, hopefully the final step 00:26:02.300 --> 00:26:03.940 is being redeemed, 00:26:04.060 --> 00:26:06.600 but that step of having to exercise 00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:07.560 that authority, 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:10.220 friends, church discipline 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:14.180 is meant to protect the purity of the church, 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.800 not pollute it. 00:26:16.540 --> 00:26:19.440 And this is the essence of spiritual abuse, 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:22.380 taking something good 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:25.780 and using it for something bad 00:26:25.780 --> 00:26:27.580 because of selfish motivation. 00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:29.560 And friends, 00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:32.100 we can all be tempted to do that 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:33.560 in different ways. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:37.880 That's exactly what's happening here. 00:26:39.060 --> 00:26:39.580 Friends, 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:42.840 Diotrephes is not dead. 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:46.860 We still face these same struggles. 00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:48.480 But John, 00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:50.660 John is not going to leave us 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.420 with Diotrephes. 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:54.160 John is going to lead us back 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:56.420 to the love and truth 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.480 that are in Christ 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:59.580 and that are still in the church 00:26:59.580 --> 00:27:02.440 because not only can our hurt be here, 00:27:03.060 --> 00:27:05.380 our healing is here as well. 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:08.200 And I believe there is a better way 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:10.080 to learn that John wants to show us. 00:27:10.100 --> 00:27:10.880 And this is our second 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:12.420 and final point for the morning. 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.660 It's this, 00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:16.220 learning a better way. 00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:18.880 Learning a better way. 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:20.100 And here again, 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:21.480 there are sub points 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.800 for us to learn from 00:27:22.800 --> 00:27:23.760 under this heading. 00:27:24.260 --> 00:27:25.340 The first is 00:27:25.340 --> 00:27:27.660 to imitate rightly. 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:29.120 Look again with me 00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:30.500 at verse 11. 00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.060 This, 00:27:31.560 --> 00:27:33.120 this is one of the most 00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:34.840 punchy, 00:27:35.340 --> 00:27:36.540 helpful, 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:38.860 little verse 00:27:38.860 --> 00:27:41.000 in this letter. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:42.000 beloved, 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.579 beloved, 00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:45.359 do not imitate evil, 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:47.059 but imitate good. 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:50.059 When you see people 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.960 acting inconsistent 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.960 with their faith, 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:55.579 sometimes in horrendous ways, 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:58.140 what do you do? 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:02.000 Do not imitate evil, 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:04.440 imitate good. 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.200 Friends, 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.200 there'll always be 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.759 some shady saints among us. 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:10.519 It's just the truth. 00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:11.819 If I told you anything different, 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.200 I mean, 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:13.339 I haven't met any here, 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:15.200 but you know, 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.420 maybe this is some anomaly, 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.799 but I've been around enough 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.579 to know the wheat 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:20.440 always grows with the tares. 00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:22.019 That we don't always know 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:22.559 the full story. 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.619 And I don't mean to like 00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:25.140 sow suspicion like that. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:27.759 I mean to sow expectation. 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:30.619 You will encounter these things. 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:32.359 And you hear so many people 00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:33.539 leaving the church. 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.879 There's terms for this. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.019 It's kind of like 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.839 gaining ground. 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.599 And I'm just like, 00:28:37.679 --> 00:28:37.939 listen, 00:28:38.339 --> 00:28:39.659 I hear all these people say, 00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:41.459 I met some of the worst people 00:28:41.459 --> 00:28:42.839 I've ever met in the church. 00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:43.720 And I'm like, 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:43.859 yeah, 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.919 I could probably concede 00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:45.659 some of that. 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.779 But you know what? 00:28:46.939 --> 00:28:48.799 The very best people 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.859 I have ever met 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:51.199 have been in the church. 00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:52.579 And it's not because 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.599 of who they were. 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.240 It's because of how shaped 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.699 they've been 00:28:55.699 --> 00:28:57.159 by the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:59.339 Jesus had so redeemed 00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.119 their life 00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:01.599 and renewed in them 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:03.259 that family resemblance 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.000 that I'm like, 00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:05.079 oh my goodness. 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:06.179 I want to tell you 00:29:06.179 --> 00:29:07.039 about some of these people 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:07.939 from my church. 00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:10.359 My number one favorite follower 00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:11.159 of Jesus Christ 00:29:11.159 --> 00:29:11.939 is my wife. 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:14.740 She is the most sincere 00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:16.319 and authentic person 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.679 I have ever known. 00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:20.419 She has such a deep humility 00:29:20.419 --> 00:29:22.379 and a sharp wisdom. 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.460 You're my favorite saint. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.279 And the fact that I get 00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:27.919 to do all this with you 00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:29.199 is the best. 00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:29.839 I mean, 00:29:29.899 --> 00:29:31.919 I absolutely love it. 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.059 I'll tell you about 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:34.059 another family or in church. 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.519 You're like, oh man, 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:35.559 he's just loving on his wife. 00:29:35.619 --> 00:29:36.339 This guy's tired 00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:37.319 and ready to go home. 00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:39.539 Sean, don't bring this guy back. 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.519 What's going on? 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.559 I'll tell you about 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.539 the Diaz family. 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:46.240 Diazes are a delightful family 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.079 in our church. 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:49.159 They're well into their 60s 00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:49.899 at this point. 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:51.500 Ken left a career 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.619 to pursue ministry. 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:54.619 Ministry didn't work out, 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.700 but he wanted to stay 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.619 in the church. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:58.019 I will tell you, 00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:00.740 they live in a very modest home 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:02.579 in the town we live in. 00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:04.880 It's one of the richest places 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:05.700 you'll ever visit. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:09.599 That place is so warm with love. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.819 The letters they write, 00:30:12.420 --> 00:30:13.940 the way they're other-centered, 00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:15.859 I see Jesus so much 00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:16.720 in Ken and Myra. 00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.579 And there's many saints 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:19.799 like that in our church 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.620 that I'm just like, 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:22.839 all these people, 00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:24.339 like these ex-evangelicals, 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:24.500 I'm like, 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:25.420 what are you talking about? 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:28.400 Jesus has got Jesus people 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.180 in every church. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.080 Did you miss it? 00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:31.640 Did you miss it? 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:33.720 Did you miss John's instruction 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:35.300 when you see the mess? 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:37.360 Don't leave, but learn. 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:39.120 When you see the mess 00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:40.519 and you look at this, 00:30:41.360 --> 00:30:43.039 don't imitate evil, 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.580 but imitate good, 00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:46.560 meaning that there's both 00:30:46.560 --> 00:30:47.600 in the church. 00:30:47.840 --> 00:30:48.840 There's things that can 00:30:48.840 --> 00:30:49.800 really bother us 00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:50.660 and things that can 00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:51.720 really bless us. 00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:54.700 What are you setting? 00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:56.720 Not just your attention on, 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:57.900 but what you're going to 00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:59.220 wrap your life around. 00:30:59.340 --> 00:31:01.259 That's what imitation means. 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:04.039 I want to conform to something. 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:06.840 Instead, people are being deformed 00:31:06.840 --> 00:31:08.279 by all the negative things 00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:08.799 we're seeing, 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.140 not transformed 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:12.420 by all the gracious life 00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:14.380 that's happening in the church. 00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:17.120 We're not called to do that, 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:18.039 brothers and sisters. 00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:19.640 And let me just say this. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:22.160 This is my personal ambition, 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:24.059 and I would encourage you 00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:25.119 in your own words 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:26.159 to make it your own. 00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:27.500 I'm not going to be 00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:29.039 the best Christian in the world. 00:31:29.139 --> 00:31:30.240 I've given up on that. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.559 And being perfect 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.839 or the best at anything, 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:35.339 that's an illusion. 00:31:36.159 --> 00:31:37.359 But I can't be faithful. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.720 I want to be honest. 00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:41.819 I want to be a healthy Christian. 00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:43.899 I want to be a mature Christian. 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:45.839 If I can be that, 00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:46.839 that's enough. 00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:49.519 I love what A.W. Tozer once said. 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:49.980 He goes, 00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:52.160 my flame may not be big, 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:53.940 but it is real. 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:57.539 Are you content to be a real flame 00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:59.180 within the local church 00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:01.059 and where you live and work? 00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.740 Because brothers and sisters, 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:04.940 I don't think there's a higher calling 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.920 than that. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:08.160 It doesn't give a lot of love, 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:09.259 so I want to give it love here. 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:11.680 Another thing under this second point, 00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:13.920 we reckon with the truth. 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:15.440 This is significant. 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:17.420 It may take a little explaining, 00:32:17.580 --> 00:32:18.779 but let's first see 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:20.340 where I'm getting it from the text. 00:32:20.820 --> 00:32:22.799 Look at the second half of verse 11. 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.240 It says, 00:32:23.820 --> 00:32:25.980 whoever does good is from God. 00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:28.100 Whoever does evil 00:32:28.100 --> 00:32:30.900 has not seen God. 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:33.680 Again, John loves his metaphors 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:35.620 and he's working these in again. 00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:39.200 When John says they haven't seen God, 00:32:39.320 --> 00:32:40.160 what is he saying? 00:32:41.620 --> 00:32:43.799 They're not actually Christian. 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:46.240 They're not among us. 00:32:46.339 --> 00:32:47.579 They've missed it. 00:32:48.180 --> 00:32:49.279 They've been in our midst, 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:51.079 but they've missed it. 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:53.579 That's what John is saying. 00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:56.000 And I think what's important here 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:58.779 is sometimes you're just going to struggle 00:32:58.779 --> 00:33:00.619 with Christians sinning against you. 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:01.480 And that's okay. 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.059 By the way, 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:04.539 that peacemaking thing you did, 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:06.579 that's what we talked to our friends about. 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:06.839 We're like, 00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:07.119 okay, 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.339 you got to talk to us 00:33:08.339 --> 00:33:09.759 about this peace five minute thing. 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.000 Like, 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.879 have you done that? 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:13.079 Because we've never heard of it. 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.399 And we're like, 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.740 do you really reconcile 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:16.279 in like three and a half minutes? 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.759 And then, 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.699 and then what, 00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:19.119 what if like is not done? 00:33:19.199 --> 00:33:20.619 What do you do with that? 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.859 But listen, 00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:22.980 that, 00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.679 that's regular Christianity. 00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:26.019 That is sinners. 00:33:26.019 --> 00:33:27.480 We're going to sin against each other. 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.899 We got to work that out. 00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:30.000 But there's going to be 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.339 some really crazy, 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:32.519 grievous stuff. 00:33:32.939 --> 00:33:34.659 And what John's saying is, 00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:34.960 yeah, 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:36.419 they might say it's Christian. 00:33:36.419 --> 00:33:37.939 It's actually not Christian. 00:33:38.139 --> 00:33:39.819 They've never seen God. 00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:41.200 A few summers ago, 00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:43.759 we were back in my home state of Wisconsin 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.399 and I, 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:47.039 I saw something that would never fly in New Jersey. 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:49.179 It was a Toyota Camry 00:33:49.179 --> 00:33:51.139 with no doors on it, 00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:52.579 spray painted, 00:33:53.339 --> 00:33:54.059 jacked up, 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:57.240 and had Jeep labeling written all over it. 00:33:58.059 --> 00:34:00.899 So what I surmise is some poor person 00:34:00.899 --> 00:34:01.339 really, 00:34:01.460 --> 00:34:02.439 really wanted a Jeep, 00:34:03.159 --> 00:34:04.480 couldn't afford a Jeep, 00:34:05.159 --> 00:34:07.799 tried to Jeep out their Toyota Camry. 00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:10.079 And you know what I was left with? 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.400 It's still a Camry. 00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:15.000 And we laugh about that, 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:17.759 but we need that kind of bold discernment 00:34:17.759 --> 00:34:19.860 that the apostle of love is sharing, 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:22.639 that not everybody who says they're a Christian 00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:23.940 actually is. 00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:26.460 And so a lot of the crazy nonsense 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.679 that we get labeled with, 00:34:27.759 --> 00:34:28.059 I'm like, 00:34:28.139 --> 00:34:28.360 yeah, 00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:30.400 they've never seen God. 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:33.400 It's just a Camry wanting to be more 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.460 than it actually is, 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:36.360 but it doesn't have a new nature. 00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:40.099 And I am not ascribing that to Jesus or his church. 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:41.480 I'm just saying, 00:34:41.640 --> 00:34:42.539 and John's just saying. 00:34:43.140 --> 00:34:43.480 All right. 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.420 We're kind of, 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.340 we got a couple more 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:46.559 and we're bringing it to a close. 00:34:46.660 --> 00:34:47.640 You guys have been patient. 00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:48.780 Next one. 00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:51.519 Esteem trusted examples. 00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:54.820 We need this exhortation, 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:57.260 but we also need real life examples 00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:59.160 to imitate in this way. 00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:01.180 We've already talked about, 00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:01.440 John, 00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.599 I hope all of you love 00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:04.260 the apostle of love a lot more. 00:35:04.260 --> 00:35:06.920 And I really hope that you want to study 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:08.700 all of his works together. 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:10.920 That you want to study John's gospel, 00:35:11.260 --> 00:35:11.440 first, 00:35:11.580 --> 00:35:11.760 second, 00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:12.260 and third, 00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:13.140 and the revelation. 00:35:13.140 --> 00:35:15.860 Because there's so much to be gained 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:17.680 from going through those 00:35:17.680 --> 00:35:20.060 in kind of a conscious aware way. 00:35:20.540 --> 00:35:21.800 But we also have Gaius. 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.320 We don't want to forget 00:35:23.320 --> 00:35:24.600 who he wrote this letter to. 00:35:25.140 --> 00:35:27.940 This brother has offered faithful support. 00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:29.900 He is a faithful brother. 00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:31.139 And now, 00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:33.059 we have someone else mentioned 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:35.000 towards the end in verse 12. 00:35:35.180 --> 00:35:35.960 It says this, 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:39.619 Demetrius has received a good testimony 00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:40.800 from everyone 00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:43.300 and from the truth itself. 00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:45.680 We also add our testimony 00:35:45.680 --> 00:35:48.039 and you know that our testimony is true. 00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.280 Granted, 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:50.360 this gets confusing. 00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:53.180 My phone number is 856-685. 00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:55.119 You know how many people struggle with that? 00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:59.000 Demetrius and Deatrophes. 00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.920 Oh wow, 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:00.760 that's a... 00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:02.760 Couldn't we give them nicknames, John? 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:04.159 That's a little confusing. 00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:06.000 I think I actually even messed up 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:08.179 when I first tried to talk about Deatrophes. 00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:09.780 I said Demetrius. 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:10.280 So listen, 00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:11.679 I'm even getting stumped 00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:12.619 and I studied this. 00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:14.079 So, but let's hang here. 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:15.619 So there's a shady guy, 00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:16.519 Deatrophes. 00:36:17.179 --> 00:36:17.500 Okay, 00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:18.860 but we have someone else 00:36:18.860 --> 00:36:20.000 that's got a pretty similar name, 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:20.760 Demetrius. 00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:23.739 And what I love about Demetrius 00:36:23.739 --> 00:36:25.300 is what John is saying again 00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:26.280 about the truth. 00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:27.599 The truth. 00:36:28.420 --> 00:36:28.719 Yeah. 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.779 This other guy 00:36:29.779 --> 00:36:31.579 really never seen God. 00:36:32.399 --> 00:36:33.579 The truth itself 00:36:33.579 --> 00:36:35.399 bears witness to Demetrius. 00:36:35.839 --> 00:36:37.259 All the people in the church 00:36:37.259 --> 00:36:37.859 bear witness. 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:38.699 And you know what? 00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:39.859 I, as the apostle, 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:40.679 and those with me, 00:36:40.819 --> 00:36:41.899 we bear witness. 00:36:42.419 --> 00:36:43.899 Oh my goodness. 00:36:44.299 --> 00:36:45.159 To be one 00:36:45.159 --> 00:36:46.379 where it is born witness 00:36:46.379 --> 00:36:47.500 of the truth itself 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:49.199 that we are truly God's children. 00:36:49.539 --> 00:36:50.879 Is there any other 00:36:50.879 --> 00:36:52.059 greater standing 00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:53.500 we can have? 00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:54.239 It is just 00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:55.500 so good. 00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:56.639 And here's, 00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:58.360 here's what I want to close with 00:36:58.360 --> 00:36:59.659 with this morning. 00:37:00.139 --> 00:37:01.539 I said the other night 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:03.280 one of the most fascinating things 00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:04.760 about the letter of 3rd John. 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:06.840 It's the only document 00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:08.260 in the entire New Testament 00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:10.519 where Jesus is not mentioned 00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:11.219 by name. 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:13.820 But John being very kind of like 00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.639 into metaphor 00:37:14.639 --> 00:37:16.420 and the way he weaves things, 00:37:16.739 --> 00:37:17.960 he definitely 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:19.719 wants to show us Jesus. 00:37:19.719 --> 00:37:21.039 So last night 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:21.619 we considered 00:37:21.619 --> 00:37:23.139 for the sake of the name. 00:37:23.639 --> 00:37:24.500 And I said name 00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:25.139 is going to have 00:37:25.139 --> 00:37:26.939 a reoccurring place 00:37:26.939 --> 00:37:27.759 in this letter. 00:37:28.279 --> 00:37:29.639 But so is the term 00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.500 friends. 00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:32.759 So when John uses 00:37:32.759 --> 00:37:33.679 these words 00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:34.419 in the close, 00:37:34.639 --> 00:37:35.539 we have to read them 00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:36.459 very carefully 00:37:36.459 --> 00:37:38.519 because he is giving us 00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:39.839 intentional echoes 00:37:39.839 --> 00:37:40.619 of Jesus 00:37:40.619 --> 00:37:42.459 in the use of the word 00:37:42.459 --> 00:37:43.119 friends 00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:44.719 and name. 00:37:44.939 --> 00:37:46.419 I want you to see this. 00:37:46.799 --> 00:37:47.579 John says, 00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:49.659 the friends greet you. 00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.619 Greet the friends 00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:52.739 each by name. 00:37:53.059 --> 00:37:54.039 We could easily 00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:55.099 pass that off 00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:55.719 as just 00:37:55.719 --> 00:37:57.159 something he's doing 00:37:57.159 --> 00:37:58.000 to sign off. 00:37:58.519 --> 00:37:59.539 He's not trying 00:37:59.539 --> 00:38:00.539 to sign off. 00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:02.319 He's trying to leave us 00:38:02.319 --> 00:38:02.960 with Jesus 00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:04.599 like any good leader 00:38:04.599 --> 00:38:05.279 would do. 00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:06.900 I want you to see this. 00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:08.599 This use of the word 00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:09.119 friends 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:10.900 to describe believers 00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:12.719 is a callback 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:14.460 to John's gospel. 00:38:14.779 --> 00:38:15.420 How about that? 00:38:15.699 --> 00:38:16.880 John's connecting things. 00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:18.500 John 15. 00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:21.599 Greater love 00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:23.840 has no one 00:38:23.840 --> 00:38:24.500 than this. 00:38:25.340 --> 00:38:26.039 That someone 00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:26.820 laid down 00:38:26.820 --> 00:38:27.760 his life 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:29.640 for his friends. 00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:32.599 You are 00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:34.079 my friends. 00:38:35.019 --> 00:38:35.619 If you do 00:38:35.619 --> 00:38:36.720 what I command you. 00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:37.619 No longer 00:38:37.619 --> 00:38:38.480 do I call you 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.079 servants 00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:40.500 for the servant 00:38:40.500 --> 00:38:41.559 does not know 00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:42.480 what his master 00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:43.200 is doing 00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:44.519 but I 00:38:44.519 --> 00:38:45.500 have called 00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:46.039 you 00:38:46.039 --> 00:38:47.259 friends. 00:38:47.919 --> 00:38:48.699 For all 00:38:48.699 --> 00:38:49.119 that I have 00:38:49.119 --> 00:38:49.739 heard from my 00:38:49.739 --> 00:38:50.119 father 00:38:50.119 --> 00:38:51.059 I have made 00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:52.019 known 00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:52.899 to you. 00:38:53.399 --> 00:38:53.879 Like okay 00:38:53.879 --> 00:38:54.519 I hear that's 00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:54.980 beautiful. 00:38:55.199 --> 00:38:55.879 I'm not sure 00:38:55.879 --> 00:38:56.779 John meant to do that. 00:38:56.859 --> 00:38:57.059 Okay. 00:38:57.219 --> 00:38:57.619 All right. 00:38:57.919 --> 00:38:58.539 Hang with me. 00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:00.879 The believers 00:39:00.879 --> 00:39:02.199 are to be greeted 00:39:02.199 --> 00:39:03.659 by name. 00:39:04.599 --> 00:39:05.480 By name. 00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:07.460 The only other 00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:08.340 place in the 00:39:08.340 --> 00:39:08.960 New Testament 00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:10.579 where that phrase 00:39:10.579 --> 00:39:11.360 by name 00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:12.240 is used 00:39:12.240 --> 00:39:13.559 is again 00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:15.300 in John's gospel. 00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:18.619 The sheep 00:39:18.619 --> 00:39:20.519 hear his voice 00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:22.759 and he calls 00:39:22.759 --> 00:39:23.559 his own 00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:24.139 sheep 00:39:24.139 --> 00:39:25.820 by name. 00:39:26.860 --> 00:39:27.980 By name 00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:29.820 and leads 00:39:29.820 --> 00:39:30.259 them out. 00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:32.159 What is he 00:39:32.159 --> 00:39:32.519 saying? 00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:34.719 In all 00:39:34.719 --> 00:39:35.119 this 00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:35.940 if we're 00:39:35.940 --> 00:39:36.800 going to love 00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:38.079 well in the 00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:38.559 church 00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:39.619 beyond the 00:39:39.619 --> 00:39:40.000 hurt 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:41.780 we have 00:39:41.780 --> 00:39:42.400 to refuse 00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:43.079 to imitate 00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:43.679 evil. 00:39:45.759 --> 00:39:46.599 We need 00:39:46.599 --> 00:39:46.980 to learn 00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:47.460 to imitate 00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:47.980 good 00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:49.219 but most 00:39:49.219 --> 00:39:49.619 of all 00:39:49.619 --> 00:39:50.400 we need 00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:51.200 led back 00:39:51.200 --> 00:39:51.599 week 00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:52.800 after week 00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:53.519 to Jesus 00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:54.320 Christ. 00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:55.519 It is out 00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:55.920 of his 00:39:55.920 --> 00:39:56.500 love 00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:57.180 and his 00:39:57.180 --> 00:39:57.780 sacrifice 00:39:57.780 --> 00:39:58.619 that he 00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:59.139 calls 00:39:59.139 --> 00:39:59.579 his 00:39:59.579 --> 00:40:00.059 friends. 00:40:00.460 --> 00:40:00.960 So out 00:40:00.960 --> 00:40:01.440 of that 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:02.519 make sure 00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:02.920 you are 00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:03.440 communing 00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:04.079 your 00:40:04.079 --> 00:40:04.700 friendship 00:40:04.700 --> 00:40:05.559 and familial 00:40:05.559 --> 00:40:05.940 love 00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:06.599 for one 00:40:06.599 --> 00:40:06.960 another. 00:40:07.420 --> 00:40:07.740 Don't 00:40:07.740 --> 00:40:08.320 leave a 00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:08.700 believer 00:40:08.700 --> 00:40:09.579 unnamed 00:40:09.579 --> 00:40:10.300 in your 00:40:10.300 --> 00:40:10.960 congregation. 00:40:11.400 --> 00:40:11.639 Greet 00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:12.260 each by 00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:12.720 name. 00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:13.099 Why? 00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:13.920 Because we 00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:14.420 are known 00:40:14.420 --> 00:40:14.800 by the 00:40:14.800 --> 00:40:15.139 great 00:40:15.139 --> 00:40:15.639 shepherd 00:40:15.639 --> 00:40:16.539 by name. 00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:16.960 He 00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.500 knows 00:40:17.500 --> 00:40:17.840 us 00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:18.680 and cares 00:40:18.680 --> 00:40:19.320 for us. 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:20.220 So when 00:40:20.220 --> 00:40:20.980 we consider 00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:21.680 these letters 00:40:21.680 --> 00:40:22.140 and we 00:40:22.140 --> 00:40:22.780 think oh 00:40:22.780 --> 00:40:23.780 Lord how 00:40:23.780 --> 00:40:24.400 do you 00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:24.980 intend 00:40:24.980 --> 00:40:25.880 your love 00:40:25.880 --> 00:40:26.480 and your 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:27.360 truth to 00:40:27.360 --> 00:40:27.940 be our 00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:28.760 life and 00:40:28.760 --> 00:40:29.400 warmth? 00:40:29.400 --> 00:40:30.140 It is 00:40:30.140 --> 00:40:31.460 fully in 00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:32.180 the person 00:40:32.180 --> 00:40:32.980 of Jesus 00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:33.539 Christ. 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:34.360 And I 00:40:34.360 --> 00:40:34.780 am so 00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:35.480 thankful that 00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:36.019 you are at a 00:40:36.019 --> 00:40:36.559 church that 00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:37.620 week after 00:40:37.620 --> 00:40:38.620 week that 00:40:38.620 --> 00:40:39.420 is where you 00:40:39.420 --> 00:40:40.460 are left and 00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:41.519 there is no 00:40:41.519 --> 00:40:42.440 greater ground 00:40:42.440 --> 00:40:43.620 for us truly 00:40:43.620 --> 00:40:44.300 to live and 00:40:44.300 --> 00:40:45.080 go forth in 00:40:45.080 --> 00:40:45.820 Jesus name. 00:40:45.820 --> 00:40:49.180 such a joy 00:40:49.180 --> 00:40:49.740 to be with 00:40:49.740 --> 00:40:49.880 you. 00:40:50.019 --> 00:40:50.519 Thank you 00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:51.160 for this 00:40:51.160 --> 00:40:51.500 weekend. 00:40:52.080 --> 00:40:53.200 We have a 00:40:53.200 --> 00:40:53.840 little Thanksgiving 00:40:53.840 --> 00:40:54.920 calendar where 00:40:54.920 --> 00:40:56.160 we put things 00:40:56.160 --> 00:40:56.860 we were thankful 00:40:56.860 --> 00:40:57.480 for over the 00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:57.800 year. 00:40:58.420 --> 00:40:59.039 This weekend 00:40:59.039 --> 00:40:59.640 with you will 00:40:59.640 --> 00:41:00.260 be a highlight 00:41:00.260 --> 00:41:01.539 for us. 00:41:01.800 --> 00:41:02.720 And may the 00:41:02.720 --> 00:41:03.500 Lord bring us 00:41:03.500 --> 00:41:04.240 to one another 00:41:04.240 --> 00:41:06.539 again and I 00:41:06.539 --> 00:41:07.280 commit you not 00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:07.900 only to your 00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:09.380 faithful leaders 00:41:09.380 --> 00:41:10.640 and to your 00:41:10.640 --> 00:41:11.260 love for one 00:41:11.260 --> 00:41:12.780 another but to 00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:13.140 our great 00:41:13.140 --> 00:41:13.440 shepherd. 00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:15.420 God bless you. 00:41:15.820 --> 00:41:16.820 Thank you.