WEBVTT

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 Good morning everyone. We're going to read the Bible together now. Ephesians 4 verses 1 to 16.

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 So it's Ephesians 4 verses 1 to 16.

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 As a prisoner for the Lord then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

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 Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient, bearing with one another in love.

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 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

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 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called.

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

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 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

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 This is why it says,

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 When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.

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 What does he ascended mean, except that he also descended to the lower earthly regions?

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 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens in order to fill the whole universe.

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 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers to equip his people for works of service,

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 so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God,

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 and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

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 Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching,

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 and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

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 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ.

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 From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

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 So now I'll turn with you to the Word of God, which Martin has really well introduced for me this morning.

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 The idea that recognizing that something's true doesn't necessarily mean that we'll be motivated to change our behavior,

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 so that it aligns with the truth.

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 And this is particularly true, it's true of lots of areas, as Martin highlighted,

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 but it's particularly true of Christians and ministry, I think.

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 Last week, Dave began the series on every person ministry, focusing particularly on verses 7 and 11 and 12,

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 and just that confronting fact that every Christian is a minister in Christ's church, in this local church.

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 Put it in a very proactive way, if you're a Christian here this morning,

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 then you should be saying to yourself on a regular basis, as Martin did with the kids,

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 I am a minister of Christ in this local church family.

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 I am a minister of Christ in this church family.

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 Now, there's no opting out on the basis of inability,

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 because we're told also, verse 7, that Christ has actually called us into this ministry,

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 but actually equipped us for it.

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 He's gifted us specifically for the ministry he's called us to.

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 So there can be no opting out on the basis of inability.

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 He intends you to be a minister of his in this church family.

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 He's equipped you to be a minister of his in this church family.

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 He's gifted you and intends you to nurture and develop those gifts,

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 so that they might be nurtured and developed.

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 So the question then shifts.

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 Not is it a fact that you're a minister, but to the more practical question,

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 are you ministering?

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 Are you ministering or serving?

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 The two words can be used interchangeably.

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 Are you actually ministering or serving in this local church?

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 And what makes the difference?

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 What makes the difference in your mind between knowing something to be true,

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 and perhaps feeling guilty if you're not doing it,

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 and actually doing something because you're glad to do it?

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 Now, it's not rocket science to say that none of us find trouble.

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 None of us have trouble finding time or effort or money

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 to pursue the things that are important to us,

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 the things that we would say are valuable,

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 things that we would say desirable.

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 We do that without even blinking our eyes, don't we?

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 Whether it's work or a sport or doing renovations at home

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 or pursuing a particular hobby or leisure pursuit, holidays,

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 or perhaps it's time to chase a girlfriend or a boyfriend,

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 and the cost of that.

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 Perhaps there's activities with your spouse, your children,

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 catching up with friends, and so the list could go on and on and on.

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 All those things are sort of a regular part of our lives,

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 and we don't even think twice.

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 We just find time, we find money, we find energy to do them.

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 Why?

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 Because they're desirable.

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 They're valuable.

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 They're important to us.

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 So, what of helping one another to grow in Christ?

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 Is this something that you would put right up there

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 with things in your life that are really important,

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 something that's really valuable and desirable?

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 So, friends, the real issue is not one of knowledge,

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 but one of motivation, priority.

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 Motivation to minister or serve in our church family

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 will simply be the overflow of what you think should happen in church

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 or what you want to happen in church

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 or what you demand to happen in church.

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 Again, that which you believe to be important, valuable, and desirable

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 when you think about church and your involvement in it.

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 Now, at that point, you see, I think I have to say,

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 and I have to include myself here,

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 that the sad reality is that all too often

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 our thinking and desires for church is far too small.

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 Worse than that, sometimes our thinking and desires for church

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 are actually contrary to Christ's intentions

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 for his church and his say of people within the church.

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 So, it works a bit like this.

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 So, if you think of church just as a weekly box-taking activity,

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 something that you know in the back of your mind is required for Christians,

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 then you think, well, okay, I need to, as a Christian,

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 I need to meet with other Christians,

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 I need to read, I need to pray, I need to hear a sermon,

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 then you'll actually be motivated to turn up to church,

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 to take the boxes.

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 Well, mostly motivated to turn up to church,

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 because there might be some weeks you see

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 there'll be another box-taking opportunity

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 that's more appealing.

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 And so, you find yourself easily being distracted into that.

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 If you think of church,

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 if you think of church like a club,

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 where you hang out with people you like,

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 a place where you have fun,

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 it's meant to be a place of fun,

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 a place where your children have other nice children to play with,

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 a place where you can just relax,

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 chat about your week, debrief,

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 generally be happy and feel settled.

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 It's my port in a week of stormy weather.

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 A place where you can feel secure.

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 A place where you can feel secure.

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 A place where you can be accepted without any questions asked.

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 No challenges.

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 Then, I suspect,

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 you'll be highly motivated

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 to get involved

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 in a church like ours,

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 a local church family like ours.

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 But I also suspect

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 that your involvement

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 will be very much as a selective consumer.

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 That is,

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 you'll almost,

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 without thinking,

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 invest in those people

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 and serving those people

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 and invest in those programs

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 that you've already worked out

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 will deliver the thing

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 that you think you should get

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 when you come to church.

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 So, you will orientate yourself

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 to those people

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 or those programs

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 on a very selective,

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 consumerist basis.

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 Friends,

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 as lovely as these things are,

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 and all the things I mentioned there

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 are terrific things

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 in relationship.

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 Of course they are.

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 As lovely as these things are,

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 here's the rub.

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 They can actually represent

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 a redefinition

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 of what serving ministry is.

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 a redefinition

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 from what Jesus defines us

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 to something

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 that you're comfortable with

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 or something

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 that you think it should be.

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 You'll know that I'm back from holidays.

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 Eeyore's back.

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 Let me say something

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 even more confronting.

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 These sorts of things

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 can even be the things

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 that keep us from being

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 what Christ wants us to be.

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 Imagine that.

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 the good things

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 that you look forward to

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 in our church family here

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 might be the things

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 that severely damage us

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 as a church family.

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 Now, that's almost

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 counterintuitive

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 to say that we could be damaged

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 by niceness

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 and happiness.

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 We could be kept

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 in a state

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 of continual dysfunction

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 by these sorts of things.

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 A state of ill health,

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 continuing ill health.

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 A continual state

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 of immaturity.

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 It's not beyond

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 the realms of possibility.

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 And all the while

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 thinking,

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 wow, this is a good church.

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 It's exactly what I want.

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 So,

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 the big question then is

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 what does Christ

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 expect to see

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 as a pattern

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 of your engagement

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 in this church?

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 Well, Dave opened

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 the verse up

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 with us last week.

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 Verse 12,

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 equipping the saints

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 for the work of ministry,

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 for building up

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 the body of Christ

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 until we all attend

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 to the unity of the faith

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 and of the knowledge

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 of the Son of God

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 to mature manhood

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 to the measure

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 of the stature

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 of the fullness of Christ.

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 What's that saying

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 in summary terms?

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 Jesus expects you,

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 you individually,

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 to do everything

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 you can,

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 humanly speaking,

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 to make this church family

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 look and sound

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 and speak

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 and feel,

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 dare I say smell,

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 I'm going through

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 all the other senses,

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 and smell like Jesus.

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 Now, make no mistake,

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 and we'll cover this

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 in a couple of weeks' time,

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 make no mistake,

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 this sort of ministry

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 will always involve

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 huge cost.

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 It will draw on your time,

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 your money,

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 your energy,

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 your creative investment,

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 and it will always

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 have huge risks

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 attached to it,

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 being hurt,

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 being worn out,

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 being rejected,

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 but it is what

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 Christ himself

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 calls us to.

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 And should I also add,

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 he calls us to

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 has known

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 all of those things

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 in a way

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 that we'll never know them.

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 So this morning,

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 I want to suggest

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 that the best

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 motivation to ministry,

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 as Martin's already

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 opened up before us,

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 the best motivation

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 to ministry

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 is longing to see

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 the beauty of Christ

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 displayed and developed

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 in one another.

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 Longing to see

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 the beauty of Christ

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 displayed and developed

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 in one another.

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 I would suspect,

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 and venture to say

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 to you this morning,

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 anything less than that,

00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.259
 and we will find

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 ministry

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 just too hard.

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 to do consistently.

00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:21.519
 Anything less than that,

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 and we'll find ministry

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 too costly

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 to hang in with.

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 Anything less than that,

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 and the likelihood is

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 that we'll just

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 settle into the church

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 as a consumer.

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 Perhaps a really active

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 consumer,

00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:41.080
 but a selective consumer.

00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:46.500
 sporadic,

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.040
 selective,

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 getting involved

00:14:49.040 --> 00:14:49.940
 in ways,

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 and perhaps only

00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:52.300
 in ways,

00:14:53.060 --> 00:14:54.460
 where we think

00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:54.980
 we will get

00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:56.320
 the personal returns

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.200
 that we want

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 or demand

00:14:57.800 --> 00:14:58.300
 or need.

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 Now,

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 a couple of headings

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 and we'll move

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 through this.

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 And by the way,

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 the introduction

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 is going to be

00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.400
 the longest part today,

00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:07.500
 so don't despair.

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:10.019
 First major heading

00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:10.779
 is ministry

00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.559
 is the primary

00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.159
 expression

00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:12.960
 of your identity

00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:13.559
 in Christ.

00:15:16.299 --> 00:15:17.019
 Dave helpfully

00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:17.620
 separated out

00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.059
 last week

00:15:18.059 --> 00:15:19.019
 identity and calling,

00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:20.500
 and that division

00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.419
 remains very clear.

00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:23.200
 But ministry

00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:23.940
 is a primary

00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:24.720
 expression

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.600
 of identity

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.139
 as well

00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:27.899
 by the same token.

00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:29.799
 And in this,

00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.240
 there's a great

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.000
 motivation there

00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:31.580
 for it to ministry.

00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:33.480
 In other words,

00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:35.460
 the primary

00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.200
 expression

00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:36.980
 of ministry

00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:37.360
 for me

00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.840
 is a deep

00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:39.620
 desire

00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.840
 to show

00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:41.440
 everyone

00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:42.600
 who I now

00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:43.820
 am at heart

00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:45.740
 as one

00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:46.160
 renewed

00:15:46.160 --> 00:15:46.879
 by Christ.

00:15:53.280 --> 00:15:54.040
 I want

00:15:54.040 --> 00:15:54.460
 to be

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.040
 like Christ

00:15:55.040 --> 00:15:55.379
 and I want

00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.300
 others to see

00:15:56.300 --> 00:15:57.020
 me being like

00:15:57.020 --> 00:15:57.300
 Christ

00:15:57.300 --> 00:15:58.040
 and I want

00:15:58.040 --> 00:15:58.879
 others to benefit

00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.620
 from me being

00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.060
 like Christ

00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:01.099
 that they might

00:16:01.099 --> 00:16:01.799
 also become

00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.599
 more like Christ.

00:16:05.339 --> 00:16:05.819
 Again,

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.259
 look at verses

00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:07.019
 12 and 13,

00:16:07.119 --> 00:16:07.739
 those verses.

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:08.839
 We all

00:16:08.839 --> 00:16:09.379
 attend to the

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.019
 unity of

00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:13.099
 the faith

00:16:13.099 --> 00:16:13.559
 and of the

00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:13.839
 knowledge

00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:14.259
 of the Son

00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:14.719
 of God

00:16:14.719 --> 00:16:15.959
 to mature

00:16:15.959 --> 00:16:16.559
 manhood

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.659
 to the measure

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:18.500
 of the stature

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.299
 of the fullness

00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:19.959
 of Christ

00:16:19.959 --> 00:16:21.979
 so that we

00:16:21.979 --> 00:16:22.839
 may no longer

00:16:22.839 --> 00:16:23.399
 be children

00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:25.359
 but mature.

00:16:30.059 --> 00:16:31.139
 put simply

00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:31.459
 again,

00:16:32.439 --> 00:16:33.419
 Jesus expects

00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:34.139
 us to grow

00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:34.459
 up.

00:16:36.459 --> 00:16:37.419
 We start

00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:37.979
 as children

00:16:37.979 --> 00:16:40.179
 but Jesus

00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:41.219
 expects us

00:16:41.219 --> 00:16:42.019
 to grow up

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:42.919
 into mature

00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:43.799
 Christian

00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:44.379
 adults.

00:16:47.079 --> 00:16:47.719
 Becoming

00:16:47.719 --> 00:16:48.459
 ever more

00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:49.179
 like him

00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:49.679
 in the way

00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:50.359
 we speak,

00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:51.779
 in the way

00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:52.439
 we think,

00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:53.859
 in the way

00:16:53.859 --> 00:16:54.439
 we present

00:16:54.439 --> 00:16:55.019
 ourselves,

00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:58.360
 and the way

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.039
 we behave.

00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.000
 When people

00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.600
 look into

00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:04.440
 our church

00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:07.200
 individually

00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:07.779
 and together,

00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.299
 when they look

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:08.579
 at us

00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.079
 individually

00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.500
 and together,

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:09.920
 when they look

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:10.680
 into our church,

00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:11.599
 what should

00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:12.019
 they see?

00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.019
 They should

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.000
 see you

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:15.700
 individually

00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:16.720
 being focused

00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:18.579
 on being

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:19.119
 like Jesus

00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:20.059
 in every way

00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:20.480
 possible.

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:22.860
 and they

00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.380
 should see

00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:23.819
 you

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.819
 totally

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.299
 focused

00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:25.799
 on helping

00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:26.579
 every other

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:27.079
 person in

00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:27.480
 this church

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:27.819
 family

00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:28.480
 to do

00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:28.900
 the same.

00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:34.579
 Paul

00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.099
 himself,

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.240
 Paul describes

00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:36.660
 himself

00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:39.680
 as a

00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:39.980
 prisoner

00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.519
 for the

00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:40.759
 Lord.

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:41.539
 I do

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:41.920
 apologize

00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.360
 for this

00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:42.620
 cough

00:17:42.620 --> 00:17:42.960
 which has

00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.200
 already

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:43.720
 been outed.

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:44.839
 I'm not

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.079
 sure whether

00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:45.519
 that was a

00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:45.960
 good way

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.240
 of doing

00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:46.400
 it or

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:46.660
 not,

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.339
 but I'm

00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:47.620
 just going

00:17:47.620 --> 00:17:48.019
 to return

00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:48.480
 evil.

00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:49.360
 No,

00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:49.759
 hang on

00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:49.900
 take,

00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.119
 I got

00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:50.259
 that

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:50.500
 wrong.

00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.480
 Darn,

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:51.839
 I've been

00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.200
 working on

00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:52.599
 that line

00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:53.079
 all through.

00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:53.799
 I was going

00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:54.160
 to return

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:54.680
 evil for

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:54.940
 good and

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.099
 I got

00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:55.400
 it back

00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:55.519
 to

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:55.759
 front.

00:17:56.879 --> 00:17:57.119
 No,

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:57.440
 I still

00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:57.700
 got it

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.000
 back to

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.019
 front.

00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:58.240
 Oh,

00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:58.700
 shut up

00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:58.980
 and move

00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.200
 on.

00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:10.960
 Paul

00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:11.539
 describes

00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:11.960
 himself

00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.779
 as a

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.160
 prisoner

00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:13.980
 or slave

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:14.559
 of Christ.

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.319
 He's

00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:17.619
 already

00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:18.319
 used this

00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.079
 picture of

00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:19.599
 a prisoner

00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.119
 in chapter

00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:20.519
 3,

00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:21.059
 verses 1

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.439
 to 7.

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.559
 So that

00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.000
 tells us

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.279
 I think

00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.359
 it's a

00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:24.579
 really

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.000
 important

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.359
 picture

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:25.619
 for

00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:25.879
 Paul.

00:18:29.439 --> 00:18:29.960
 Now,

00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.619
 when he

00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:31.220
 writes this

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:31.539
 letter,

00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.399
 he actually

00:18:32.399 --> 00:18:33.000
 literally

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.639
 is a

00:18:33.639 --> 00:18:34.000
 prisoner

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.699
 of the

00:18:34.699 --> 00:18:34.919
 Roman

00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:35.460
 Empire

00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:37.659
 because of

00:18:37.659 --> 00:18:38.059
 his witness

00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.519
 to Christ.

00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:39.059
 But I

00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:39.579
 don't think

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:39.919
 that's what

00:18:39.919 --> 00:18:40.359
 he's referring

00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:40.899
 to here.

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:41.679
 He's referring

00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:43.019
 to a form

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.519
 of being a

00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.079
 prisoner that's

00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:44.480
 much,

00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:44.939
 much more

00:18:44.939 --> 00:18:45.720
 significant to

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.099
 him than

00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.279
 that.

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:46.699
 That's just

00:18:46.699 --> 00:18:47.339
 a circumstance.

00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:49.339
 So when

00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:49.559
 he says

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:49.859
 I'm a

00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:50.399
 prisoner of

00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:50.599
 Christ,

00:18:50.959 --> 00:18:51.480
 I've actually

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:51.819
 got one,

00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:52.159
 thank you,

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:52.659
 thank you very

00:18:52.659 --> 00:18:52.919
 much.

00:18:53.939 --> 00:18:54.319
 I just

00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.240
 tried to

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:55.459
 avoid,

00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:56.480
 thanks Alex.

00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.500
 Sorry for

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.059
 drawing attention

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.480
 to myself

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:58.819
 guys.

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:03.599
 It's

00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:03.879
 working,

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:04.179
 it's

00:19:04.179 --> 00:19:04.439
 working.

00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.319
 Paul's

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:07.599
 speaking of

00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:08.339
 something far

00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:09.279
 more significant

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:09.599
 for him.

00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:11.439
 He's speaking

00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:11.939
 of being

00:19:11.939 --> 00:19:12.559
 Christ's

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.099
 prisoner by

00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:13.619
 right of

00:19:13.619 --> 00:19:14.279
 purchase.

00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:15.439
 He's

00:19:15.439 --> 00:19:15.939
 speaking of

00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:16.400
 a deep

00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:16.940
 sense of

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.840
 indebtedness

00:19:17.840 --> 00:19:19.420
 for everything

00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:19.720
 that he

00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.259
 now is.

00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:21.320
 He's been

00:19:21.320 --> 00:19:21.820
 renewed.

00:19:22.840 --> 00:19:23.400
 He's been

00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:23.900
 forgiven.

00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:24.360
 He's been

00:19:24.360 --> 00:19:25.259
 freed from

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:25.620
 his sin.

00:19:26.080 --> 00:19:26.779
 He's had

00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.299
 the spirit

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:27.860
 put within

00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:28.000
 him.

00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.600
 He's been

00:19:28.600 --> 00:19:29.500
 rebuilt from

00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:29.980
 the inside

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.420
 out.

00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:35.720
 And he

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.180
 knows

00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:37.039
 therefore his

00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:38.019
 life, his

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:39.140
 freedom, his

00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:39.980
 future are

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:40.759
 all at

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.279
 Christ's

00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:41.720
 disposal.

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:43.620
 That's what

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:44.000
 he has in

00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:44.320
 mind with

00:19:44.320 --> 00:19:44.840
 this sense of

00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:45.140
 being a

00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:45.380
 prisoner,

00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:45.820
 being a

00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:46.080
 captive,

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:46.540
 being a

00:19:46.540 --> 00:19:46.980
 slave.

00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.920
 He knows,

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.460
 go back to

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:53.860
 chapter one,

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.640
 he knows his

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.520
 indebtedness to

00:19:55.520 --> 00:19:55.940
 Christ for

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:57.640
 every spiritual

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.380
 and physical

00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:58.820
 blessing.

00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:00.340
 Each one

00:20:00.340 --> 00:20:02.760
 an evidence

00:20:02.760 --> 00:20:03.600
 of God's

00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:04.120
 goodness to

00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:04.280
 him.

00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:06.720
 And so

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.060
 Paul's

00:20:07.060 --> 00:20:07.200
 saying,

00:20:07.300 --> 00:20:07.940
 look, I

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.580
 am now

00:20:08.580 --> 00:20:09.920
 happily,

00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:12.780
 completely

00:20:12.780 --> 00:20:14.380
 defined and

00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:16.460
 shaped by my

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.180
 relationship to

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:17.480
 the Lord

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.260
 Jesus Christ.

00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.460
 And that

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.800
 is to be

00:20:21.800 --> 00:20:22.580
 the defining

00:20:22.580 --> 00:20:24.460
 shape of

00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.060
 my life

00:20:25.060 --> 00:20:25.720
 going forward,

00:20:25.800 --> 00:20:26.200
 says Paul.

00:20:28.600 --> 00:20:29.540
 Even more

00:20:29.540 --> 00:20:30.020
 than that,

00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:31.060
 he knows he

00:20:31.060 --> 00:20:31.660
 is a prisoner

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.640
 or slave

00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.540
 given as a

00:20:33.540 --> 00:20:34.780
 gift by

00:20:34.780 --> 00:20:35.600
 Christ to

00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.220
 his church.

00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:38.600
 Paul

00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:39.440
 understands

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.320
 the

00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:43.100
 outcomes of

00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:44.519
 Christ's

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.259
 investment in

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:45.400
 him.

00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.039
 That this

00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:48.900
 new self,

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:49.980
 that his

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.700
 new service

00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.100
 gifts,

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.500
 that his

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.180
 sense of

00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:54.019
 indebtedness to

00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.580
 God's grace,

00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.660
 all of that

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:56.259
 was pushing

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:57.279
 Paul to

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:57.900
 the time

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.340
 and the

00:20:58.340 --> 00:20:59.360
 place and

00:20:59.360 --> 00:20:59.980
 the context

00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.420
 in which he

00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:01.080
 would express

00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:01.900
 all of that

00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:04.220
 in the

00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:05.240
 community of

00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:05.800
 the church.

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.560
 And knowing

00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:11.280
 all of that,

00:21:11.800 --> 00:21:12.400
 Paul threw

00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.280
 himself into

00:21:13.280 --> 00:21:14.220
 serving others.

00:21:14.820 --> 00:21:15.259
 And it

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:15.860
 cost him

00:21:15.860 --> 00:21:16.400
 dearly.

00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:21.060
 The idea of

00:21:21.060 --> 00:21:21.700
 being God's

00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.380
 gift to the

00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:23.640
 church was

00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:24.740
 anything but a

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:26.080
 burden to

00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:26.380
 Paul.

00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:27.700
 Indeed, it was a

00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.180
 delight.

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:31.200
 because with

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.700
 the sense of

00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.480
 indebtedness

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.500
 came the

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:33.980
 sense of

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.820
 privilege.

00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:36.860
 That

00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:37.980
 me, the

00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:38.440
 worst of

00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.039
 sinners, says

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:39.880
 Paul, should

00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:40.539
 be used in

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.000
 such a

00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.860
 formative way

00:21:41.860 --> 00:21:42.220
 to build

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.700
 the church.

00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.340
 Whoa, how

00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:45.860
 does that get

00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:46.200
 to be?

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:51.820
 Well, my

00:21:51.820 --> 00:21:52.160
 friends, it's

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:52.840
 exactly the

00:21:52.840 --> 00:21:53.320
 same for you

00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:53.720
 and me in

00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.160
 this church

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:54.480
 family.

00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:57.600
 You have

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.199
 been taken

00:21:58.199 --> 00:21:59.179
 captive by

00:21:59.179 --> 00:21:59.539
 Jesus.

00:22:00.719 --> 00:22:01.199
 You have

00:22:01.199 --> 00:22:01.679
 been given

00:22:01.679 --> 00:22:03.119
 every blessing

00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:04.339
 of salvation

00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:05.959
 and family

00:22:05.959 --> 00:22:06.399
 membership.

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.219
 You have

00:22:08.219 --> 00:22:08.679
 been given

00:22:08.679 --> 00:22:10.139
 service gift

00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:10.799
 ministries,

00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:11.740
 service ministry

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.019
 gifts.

00:22:12.719 --> 00:22:13.439
 And you've

00:22:13.439 --> 00:22:14.000
 been gifted

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.759
 back into

00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.379
 this local

00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:16.119
 church family

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:16.419
 where you

00:22:16.419 --> 00:22:16.899
 are now.

00:22:17.719 --> 00:22:18.119
 Why?

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:20.079
 That you

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:21.219
 might expend

00:22:21.219 --> 00:22:22.179
 your time,

00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.539
 your money,

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.719
 your energy,

00:22:25.379 --> 00:22:25.959
 your creativity,

00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.700
 creativity,

00:22:27.360 --> 00:22:28.740
 expressing that

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.220
 sense of

00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.860
 indebtedness

00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.420
 and that

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:30.860
 sense of

00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:31.440
 privilege,

00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:34.120
 helping us

00:22:34.120 --> 00:22:34.960
 all become

00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.440
 more like

00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:36.779
 Jesus.

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.240
 Now, by

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.980
 definition, a

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.680
 gift, once

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.120
 it's given,

00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:45.180
 belongs to

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.559
 the one it's

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.019
 given to.

00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.400
 So, here's

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.140
 perhaps a

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.840
 challenge for

00:22:50.840 --> 00:22:51.340
 you in the

00:22:51.340 --> 00:22:52.079
 way you think

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.799
 about yourself

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.399
 in this

00:22:53.399 --> 00:22:54.079
 church family.

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.740
 You are a

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:59.159
 gift given

00:22:59.159 --> 00:23:00.059
 to this

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:00.700
 local church

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.079
 by the

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.460
 Lord Jesus

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.039
 Christ, which

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:03.240
 means, in a

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.079
 very real sense,

00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.839
 that you belong

00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.539
 to this church

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:06.919
 family.

00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.399
 And that

00:23:12.399 --> 00:23:12.819
 should be

00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:14.539
 reflected in

00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.119
 the way you

00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:15.579
 serve.

00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.779
 Not concerned

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.480
 for your own

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.539
 identity,

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:22.599
 not consumed

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.159
 by building

00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:23.539
 your own

00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.099
 reputation,

00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:26.200
 not content

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:26.920
 just to have

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.500
 a nice,

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.139
 comfortable

00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:29.599
 club people

00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.119
 want to

00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:31.279
 join that's

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.980
 popular in

00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.399
 the community,

00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:34.399
 not engaging

00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:35.319
 only when you

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:36.159
 see opportunity

00:23:36.159 --> 00:23:36.899
 for personal

00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:37.680
 reward or

00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:38.099
 return,

00:23:39.159 --> 00:23:40.500
 not just

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.159
 serving when

00:23:41.159 --> 00:23:41.500
 there are no

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:43.159
 other alternative

00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:43.960
 demands on your

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.619
 time and energy.

00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:44.659
 ministry.

00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:49.719
 What a

00:23:49.719 --> 00:23:50.359
 wonderful

00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:51.799
 motivation to

00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.159
 ministry.

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.419
 I don't know

00:23:54.419 --> 00:23:54.839
 about you, but

00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.519
 it's always nice

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.259
 to receive a

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:56.419
 gift.

00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:56.799
 It's even

00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:58.000
 nicer when

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.439
 you get a

00:23:58.439 --> 00:23:58.859
 gift that's

00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.179
 useful.

00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:00.979
 Isn't that

00:24:00.979 --> 00:24:01.159
 right?

00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.279
 So here's a

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:03.739
 question for

00:24:03.739 --> 00:24:03.899
 you.

00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:05.239
 Have a

00:24:05.239 --> 00:24:05.559
 think.

00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.139
 Do you

00:24:07.139 --> 00:24:07.479
 reckon

00:24:07.479 --> 00:24:08.839
 others in

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.539
 this local

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.179
 church family

00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:10.719
 would look at

00:24:10.719 --> 00:24:11.159
 you and think,

00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:12.119
 yeah, man,

00:24:12.179 --> 00:24:12.439
 they're a

00:24:12.439 --> 00:24:13.059
 useful gift.

00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:15.119
 I'm so glad

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:15.460
 the Lord

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:15.919
 Jesus has

00:24:15.919 --> 00:24:16.299
 given them

00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:16.679
 to us.

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.200
 Now, let me

00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:25.819
 apply this in

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.279
 one really

00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:27.000
 specific way.

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:27.720
 And there's

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.139
 the danger

00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:29.139
 now of

00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:29.720
 sort of

00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:30.559
 moving into

00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.079
 something you'll

00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:31.460
 take as

00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:31.700
 guilt.

00:24:31.899 --> 00:24:33.279
 I can't

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:33.659
 stop you

00:24:33.659 --> 00:24:34.099
 doing that,

00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:34.819
 but it's

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.240
 certainly not

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.539
 intended.

00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:37.839
 Since

00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:38.179
 resuming

00:24:38.179 --> 00:24:38.659
 physical

00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:39.240
 churching,

00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:40.559
 just one

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.359
 application,

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.240
 but it

00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:42.559
 sort of

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.480
 speaks across

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.079
 everything we

00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:44.379
 do as a

00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:44.799
 church family.

00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.059
 Since

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.359
 resuming

00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:45.779
 physical

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.200
 churching,

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.319
 we've had

00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:47.899
 real

00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.619
 difficulties

00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.099
 with the

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.399
 serving

00:24:49.399 --> 00:24:49.879
 teams

00:24:49.879 --> 00:24:51.359
 rostered

00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:51.480
 for

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:51.720
 cleaning.

00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:53.799
 On

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.259
 quite a few

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:54.679
 weeks,

00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:55.740
 out of

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.279
 teams of

00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:56.759
 nine and

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.099
 ten that

00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:57.259
 have been

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.799
 rostered,

00:24:58.159 --> 00:24:58.419
 sometimes

00:24:58.419 --> 00:24:58.919
 only one

00:24:58.919 --> 00:24:59.200
 or two

00:24:59.200 --> 00:24:59.779
 turn up.

00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.019
 Now,

00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:06.619
 why is

00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:06.819
 that,

00:25:06.899 --> 00:25:07.019
 do you

00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.240
 think?

00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:08.240
 Why is

00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.359
 that,

00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:12.240
 do you

00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.240
 thinking?

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:13.620
 What

00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:14.140
 thinking

00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.000
 allows us

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.460
 to say

00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.400
 so easily?

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:17.700
 Well,

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:19.539
 yeah,

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.839
 somebody else

00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.120
 can do

00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:22.339
 that,

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.519
 that famous

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.380
 person who's

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:25.019
 overworked in

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.740
 every congregation,

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.900
 somebody else.

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.019
 Because to

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.359
 say that

00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:33.440
 assumes that

00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.880
 their time is

00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.660
 less important

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.059
 than your

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.440
 time,

00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:36.500
 time.

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.320
 And that

00:25:38.320 --> 00:25:38.799
 somehow or

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:38.920
 other,

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.779
 others have

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.820
 this quantity

00:25:40.820 --> 00:25:42.740
 of non-allocated

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.480
 time that

00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:43.860
 they can

00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.380
 then take

00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:44.880
 for cleaning.

00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:51.160
 Or perhaps

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:51.799
 it means that

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.539
 you have a

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:52.880
 sense of

00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.779
 yourself being

00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.400
 gifted in a

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:54.700
 way that

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.500
 your gifts

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.160
 are far too

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.740
 significant to

00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.940
 be involved in

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.799
 cleaning toilets

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.640
 or vacuuming

00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.039
 a floor.

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:03.420
 or perhaps

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:04.159
 you just don't

00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:04.700
 see cleaning

00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.960
 as part of

00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.899
 what's important

00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:08.180
 in making

00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:08.799
 this church

00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:10.480
 family a

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.579
 good place,

00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:12.200
 a comfortable

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.339
 place where

00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:14.000
 we can learn

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.599
 together on a

00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:15.000
 Sunday morning

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.500
 because we

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.099
 come in here

00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:16.539
 and the

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:16.960
 building's

00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.680
 nicely set out,

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.139
 the toilets

00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:18.819
 don't stink,

00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:19.980
 and the

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.460
 whole thing

00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:21.980
 combines to

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.680
 the best

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.779
 context for

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.180
 us to hear

00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:24.579
 the word of

00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:24.960
 God and

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.299
 fellowship

00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:25.740
 together.

00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.399
 See,

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:28.859
 there's

00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.819
 something missing

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.500
 in the way

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.039
 we think

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.639
 about our

00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:32.859
 opportunity

00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:34.000
 and privilege

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.980
 and responsibility

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.740
 in serving.

00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:36.639
 Now that one

00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:37.179
 illustration,

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.919
 it's only one

00:26:38.919 --> 00:26:40.119
 of umpteen

00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.039
 ministries in

00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:41.559
 the congregation,

00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.200
 and I have to

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.119
 qualify that by

00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:44.159
 saying we as

00:26:44.159 --> 00:26:45.079
 elders are so

00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:45.819
 thankful that

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.939
 so many people

00:26:46.939 --> 00:26:48.579
 minister in so

00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:49.460
 many ways on

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.359
 any given week.

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.220
 We understand

00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:51.799
 that and we're

00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:52.859
 deeply appreciative

00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:53.319
 of that.

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.159
 But here's an

00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:57.619
 issue, and

00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:58.079
 perhaps it

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:59.139
 reflects something

00:26:59.139 --> 00:26:59.480
 of our

00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:01.319
 thinking generally

00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:03.019
 about how we

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.640
 engage in

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.079
 ministry in

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:04.500
 the church.

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.720
 Let me move

00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:05.940
 on.

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.680
 So ministry

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.720
 is a primary

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.420
 expression of

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:10.839
 our identity,

00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:11.620
 and it's

00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:12.480
 totally focused

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.180
 on forming

00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:13.559
 the mind

00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.160
 of Christ

00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.160
 in his

00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:15.480
 people.

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.799
 Last week

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.220
 Dave Bott

00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:19.500
 took us

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:19.759
 through the

00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.360
 early chapters

00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:21.000
 of Ephesians

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.980
 which underpinned

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.680
 Paul's argument

00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:23.440
 in this whole

00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:23.819
 regard.

00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:25.099
 Paul's,

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.539
 sorry,

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.240
 God's purpose

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.880
 was never

00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:29.039
 simply to save

00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:30.240
 us in isolation

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.819
 or as

00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:31.279
 individuals.

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.759
 His intention

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.759
 was always to

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.480
 save us into

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.299
 a community,

00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:38.039
 a serving,

00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:39.099
 other person

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:40.220
 centered community.

00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:43.759
 Now here's where

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:43.980
 we've got to

00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.599
 qualify that

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.519
 and spell it

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:45.680
 out.

00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.819
 Never happy

00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:49.559
 just to be in

00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.180
 a community

00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:51.159
 of nice

00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:51.619
 people,

00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:56.000
 but always

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.219
 aiming to

00:27:57.219 --> 00:27:57.899
 be a community

00:27:57.899 --> 00:27:58.579
 of holy

00:27:58.579 --> 00:27:58.979
 people

00:27:58.979 --> 00:28:01.039
 in which

00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:02.659
 family likeness

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:03.259
 is everywhere.

00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:05.279
 I had

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.319
 Christian Dooley

00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:06.859
 and his

00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.219
 sister

00:28:07.219 --> 00:28:08.359
 hanging out

00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:08.639
 the other

00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.259
 morning at our

00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:09.619
 place and I

00:28:09.619 --> 00:28:09.899
 was just

00:28:09.899 --> 00:28:10.339
 looking for

00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:10.459
 them.

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:10.939
 One's a boy,

00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.379
 one's a girl

00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:11.699
 obviously,

00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.739
 and I was

00:28:12.739 --> 00:28:13.059
 just looking

00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:13.399
 back and

00:28:13.399 --> 00:28:13.639
 forth and

00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:13.779
 thinking,

00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:14.119
 these are

00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:14.739
 two peas

00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.220
 in a pod.

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:16.579
 Well,

00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.880
 mind you,

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.400
 people say

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:18.579
 that,

00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.359
 me and my

00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:19.759
 brother as

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:19.880
 well.

00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.640
 But you

00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:21.759
 see,

00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.460
 there's

00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:22.660
 something

00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.200
 really nice

00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:23.559
 about that.

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.359
 People should

00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:24.980
 look at our

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.480
 church and

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:25.680
 say,

00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.059
 whoa,

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:26.599
 everywhere I

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:26.740
 look,

00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.099
 I'm seeing

00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:28.160
 family likeness.

00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.240
 I'm seeing

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.000
 the likeness

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.440
 of Jesus.

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.059
 I'm hearing

00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:32.099
 the likeness

00:28:32.099 --> 00:28:32.680
 of Jesus.

00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.339
 And it's

00:28:38.339 --> 00:28:38.880
 expressed in

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.319
 two very

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:39.700
 practical

00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.380
 characteristics,

00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:41.680
 unity

00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:44.039
 and maturity.

00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:46.519
 how will

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:47.259
 we most

00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:48.240
 demonstrate

00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:49.400
 the changing

00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:50.339
 power of

00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:50.839
 the gospel?

00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.779
 How will

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.359
 we most

00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:56.000
 demonstrate

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.579
 the changing

00:28:56.579 --> 00:28:57.019
 power of

00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:57.359
 the gospel?

00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:58.339
 Answer,

00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.000
 very simple,

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.259
 the first few

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.740
 verses of

00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.279
 chapter four.

00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:02.680
 When our

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:04.140
 practical unity

00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:06.559
 aligns with

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.559
 the spiritual

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.200
 unity we

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:08.859
 already enjoy

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.319
 in Christ.

00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:12.680
 When those

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.480
 two overlay

00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.880
 are

00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:15.519
 the changing

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:15.920
 power of

00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:16.279
 the gospel

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:18.120
 in a big

00:29:18.120 --> 00:29:18.440
 way.

00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.240
 That can

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:22.759
 only happen,

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.420
 as we see in

00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:23.799
 those early

00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.140
 verses,

00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:25.240
 when we've

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.000
 got Christ's

00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.640
 attitudes to

00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:27.039
 each other.

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.700
 When we're as

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.339
 generous and

00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.140
 excusing of

00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:31.319
 others as we

00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:31.779
 are of

00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.180
 ourselves.

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:34.059
 When we're

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.680
 determined to

00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.500
 expend all our

00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.259
 resources for

00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:36.819
 others in the

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.339
 church family.

00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.059
 When we're

00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.539
 quick to

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.799
 identify relational

00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:41.420
 difficulties and

00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.880
 equally quick to

00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:43.680
 move to mend

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.620
 fences that are

00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:46.120
 broken relationally.

00:29:49.320 --> 00:29:50.060
 And proper

00:29:50.060 --> 00:29:50.820
 unity is

00:29:50.820 --> 00:29:51.640
 actually

00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:53.100
 inseparable from

00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:53.620
 maturity,

00:29:54.340 --> 00:29:55.560
 which is the

00:29:55.560 --> 00:29:56.040
 other practical

00:29:56.040 --> 00:29:56.780
 expression of the

00:29:56.780 --> 00:29:57.740
 changing power of

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.120
 the gospel.

00:29:58.540 --> 00:29:58.900
 If you look at

00:29:58.900 --> 00:29:59.580
 verses 14 and

00:29:59.580 --> 00:29:59.960
 15,

00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:01.240
 so that we may

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.300
 no longer be

00:30:02.300 --> 00:30:02.740
 children,

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.500
 and goes on to

00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.140
 describe a few

00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:04.660
 more things.

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:04.720
 things.

00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:09.060
 There's no room

00:30:09.060 --> 00:30:10.560
 in Christ's

00:30:10.560 --> 00:30:13.040
 church for

00:30:13.040 --> 00:30:16.180
 ongoing

00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:16.720
 childish

00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.360
 behavior,

00:30:19.620 --> 00:30:20.000
 childish

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.860
 tantrums,

00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:21.340
 selfish

00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:22.120
 indulgence.

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:24.680
 Yet, my

00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.300
 friends, it's so

00:30:25.300 --> 00:30:26.240
 common to see

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.180
 just these

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:27.740
 sorts of

00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:28.080
 childish

00:30:28.080 --> 00:30:30.600
 reactions in

00:30:30.600 --> 00:30:31.560
 relationships and

00:30:31.560 --> 00:30:32.080
 to the failures

00:30:32.080 --> 00:30:32.560
 of others.

00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:35.299
 it's common

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:36.200
 to see what's

00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:37.019
 known as a

00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:37.980
 syndrome of

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.559
 perpetual

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.419
 adolescence.

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.059
 Now, that's a

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.579
 syndrome in

00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.119
 itself, but it

00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:41.859
 applies well in

00:30:41.859 --> 00:30:42.279
 the church.

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.419
 A syndrome of

00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:44.019
 perpetual

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:45.279
 adolescence among

00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:46.559
 Christians, and

00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.240
 especially young

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.419
 Christians, not

00:30:48.419 --> 00:30:49.200
 exclusively young

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.299
 Christians, but it's

00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.720
 especially true

00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.220
 among young

00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:52.579
 Christians.

00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.519
 What is

00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:55.940
 perpetual

00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.519
 adolescence?

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:57.440
 Well, essentially,

00:30:57.919 --> 00:30:58.839
 it's a refusal to

00:30:58.839 --> 00:30:59.319
 grow up.

00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:02.639
 It's a refusal to

00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.960
 see church, as we're

00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:04.519
 applying it here

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.480
 now, as something

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.200
 that's more than

00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:06.539
 fun.

00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.559
 It's a refusal to

00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.299
 step up and take

00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:10.240
 responsibility and

00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:11.319
 say, look, I'm not

00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.259
 just here to have a

00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.179
 good old time and

00:31:13.179 --> 00:31:13.500
 cruise.

00:31:14.179 --> 00:31:15.879
 I need to work with

00:31:15.879 --> 00:31:16.759
 these people and for

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.539
 these people to become

00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.480
 mature, to become more

00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.079
 like Christ.

00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:21.799
 Now, perpetual

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:22.740
 adolescence is bad

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:23.379
 enough when you see it

00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:23.859
 in young people.

00:31:23.939 --> 00:31:24.439
 When you see it in

00:31:24.439 --> 00:31:25.259
 people in their 40s and

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:26.720
 50s and 60s, then

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:28.240
 you think, man, this is a

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.000
 chronic condition.

00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:40.019
 Refusing to nurture

00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:41.259
 gifts, refusing to

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.740
 grow up, refusing to

00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:44.480
 step up into

00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.220
 serving roles.

00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.220
 Maturity will only

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.259
 come when we dig into

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.819
 God's word and have

00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.900
 it change us from the

00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:50.420
 inside out.

00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:52.059
 We know the truth of

00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:52.359
 God's word.

00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.180
 That's all in those

00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:54.240
 verses 13 and 14.

00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:56.579
 We know the truth of

00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.380
 God's word and are

00:31:57.380 --> 00:31:58.760
 prepared to speak the

00:31:58.760 --> 00:32:01.180
 truth in love into the

00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:02.440
 lives of those around

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:02.740
 us.

00:32:03.300 --> 00:32:04.220
 I'll be saying more

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.740
 about that in a couple

00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.160
 of weeks' time.

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:06.060
 That's a big one, to

00:32:06.060 --> 00:32:07.360
 speak the truth in love.

00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:11.760
 To have the hard

00:32:11.760 --> 00:32:13.220
 conversations because we

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:14.560
 want to grow up in

00:32:14.560 --> 00:32:15.960
 Christ and want that for

00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:17.120
 everyone around us.

00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:23.619
 friends, the point's very

00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:24.019
 obvious.

00:32:24.659 --> 00:32:26.179
 If we're not doing that,

00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.059
 if we're not

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.879
 demonstrating the

00:32:27.879 --> 00:32:28.779
 changing power of the

00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:30.099
 gospel, then I would

00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:31.259
 suggest to you today that

00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:32.000
 we're actually making the

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.659
 gospel a bit of a joke.

00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.439
 I mean, what is the

00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:36.419
 point of the gospel if

00:32:36.419 --> 00:32:37.719
 there's no changing power

00:32:37.719 --> 00:32:38.439
 attached to it?

00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:43.019
 So once again, let me

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:44.320
 apply it in a very raw

00:32:44.320 --> 00:32:44.680
 way.

00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.519
 What difference do you

00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.820
 think being motivated to

00:32:47.820 --> 00:32:49.340
 form the mind of Christ in

00:32:49.340 --> 00:32:51.120
 yourself and the lives of

00:32:51.120 --> 00:32:51.840
 others in this church

00:32:51.840 --> 00:32:53.460
 family, what difference do

00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:54.820
 you think that might make

00:32:54.820 --> 00:32:55.220
 today?

00:32:55.320 --> 00:32:56.500
 If that was your primary

00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.620
 concern, if that was your

00:32:57.620 --> 00:32:59.779
 passionate concern, if that's

00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:00.840
 what you saw as valuable

00:33:00.840 --> 00:33:03.380
 above all else today, how

00:33:03.380 --> 00:33:07.580
 might that change who you

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.679
 might seek out and speak

00:33:08.679 --> 00:33:09.179
 to today?

00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:12.720
 And why you might seek

00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:13.579
 them out and speak to

00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:13.740
 them?

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:16.179
 And how you might seek

00:33:16.179 --> 00:33:17.699
 them out and speak to

00:33:17.699 --> 00:33:17.859
 them?

00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:23.240
 What might that say about

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.240
 your commitment to small

00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:26.179
 groups or growth groups as

00:33:26.179 --> 00:33:28.679
 we call them, both

00:33:28.679 --> 00:33:30.899
 attending regularly so that

00:33:30.899 --> 00:33:31.839
 you're a support to the

00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:33.439
 rest of the crew rather than

00:33:33.439 --> 00:33:34.639
 send yourself, well, look,

00:33:34.679 --> 00:33:35.539
 there's a half a dozen

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:35.759
 there.

00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.460
 They won't miss me.

00:33:37.579 --> 00:33:40.659
 Or engaging thoroughly.

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:42.319
 You can be there and warm

00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:43.960
 a seat, but not much more.

00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:46.419
 Or praying for others in

00:33:46.419 --> 00:33:47.079
 the group when you're not

00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:47.359
 there.

00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:49.779
 Engaging with others at their

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.859
 points of need and

00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:51.319
 difficulty.

00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.619
 How might that make a

00:33:56.619 --> 00:33:58.619
 difference when, to your

00:33:58.619 --> 00:33:59.699
 priority, when you know a

00:33:59.699 --> 00:34:00.679
 relationship with someone

00:34:00.679 --> 00:34:01.659
 else in the church is under

00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:02.799
 pressure or seriously

00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:03.220
 broken?

00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:06.920
 Is it a childish, well, it's

00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:07.360
 their fault.

00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:08.199
 They've hurt me.

00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:11.639
 And they'll have to come and

00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:12.480
 speak to me.

00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:16.699
 Or a mature adult Christian

00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:19.619
 response of, hey, we can't

00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.420
 allow this to happen.

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.820
 We need to get this sorted.

00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.619
 We need to talk.

00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.480
 We need to get this fixed.

00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:29.820
 And that ultimately displays

00:34:29.820 --> 00:34:31.340
 God's manifold wisdom.

00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:34.139
 And brings him honor.

00:34:34.659 --> 00:34:35.679
 Chapter 3, verse 10.

00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:39.880
 So, today I'm offering you two

00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:41.699
 sort of major motivations.

00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:42.900
 One's more immediate.

00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:45.840
 The more immediate motivation

00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:48.380
 to selfless serving ministry is

00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:50.440
 to see the changing power of the

00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:50.840
 gospel.

00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:53.840
 as the mind and heart of Christ

00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:55.100
 is formed in each of us

00:34:55.100 --> 00:34:57.240
 individually and in us

00:34:57.240 --> 00:34:57.780
 collectively.

00:34:59.780 --> 00:35:00.940
 As that's the immediate

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.480
 motivation.

00:35:01.680 --> 00:35:02.980
 So, the ultimate motivation

00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:05.900
 then is that God's wisdom in

00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:07.579
 salvation will be seen by all.

00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:11.539
 And God will be honored as he

00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:11.980
 should be.

00:35:12.200 --> 00:35:13.360
 Dave took us through chapter 3,

00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.280
 verse 10 last week.

00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:15.880
 You can refer back to it.

00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:20.380
 So, I want you to imagine this.

00:35:20.840 --> 00:35:22.980
 Remember back in Romans chapter 1

00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:24.960
 Paul launches into the argument

00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:26.940
 of how when we look at the

00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:27.900
 physical creation

00:35:27.900 --> 00:35:30.220
 we're overwhelmed.

00:35:31.160 --> 00:35:32.860
 Because we see in the physical

00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:34.860
 creation a display of the

00:35:34.860 --> 00:35:37.539
 character and power of God.

00:35:40.200 --> 00:35:42.200
 What Paul wants us to see here

00:35:42.200 --> 00:35:45.420
 is that the glory that ought to

00:35:45.420 --> 00:35:46.780
 come to the Lord

00:35:46.780 --> 00:35:49.860
 through this local church,

00:35:49.860 --> 00:35:51.460
 community of renewed

00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.120
 sinners

00:35:52.120 --> 00:35:56.260
 is something that ought to

00:35:56.260 --> 00:35:57.860
 dwarf anything

00:35:57.860 --> 00:35:59.360
 that we see in creation.

00:36:00.720 --> 00:36:02.800
 And it will show the wisdom of

00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:03.880
 God, chapter 3, verse 10,

00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:05.320
 the wisdom of God in salvation

00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:09.579
 and cause people to fall down in

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:10.780
 amazement and wonder before.

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:17.460
 There can be no better motivation

00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:18.800
 to throw yourself into ministry

00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:22.040
 than a desire for God's glory.

00:36:24.040 --> 00:36:25.740
 Again, make it just very simple

00:36:25.740 --> 00:36:26.180
 and practical.

00:36:26.640 --> 00:36:29.640
 If you want to see God's name

00:36:29.640 --> 00:36:32.560
 glorified in Newcastle and beyond,

00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:36.619
 it starts with selfless,

00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:37.639
 committed,

00:36:38.360 --> 00:36:39.099
 serving ministry

00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:40.239
 in this local church.

00:36:43.759 --> 00:36:45.799
 Nothing else will motivate you

00:36:45.799 --> 00:36:46.539
 to happily

00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:48.539
 and totally expend yourself

00:36:48.539 --> 00:36:49.139
 and your resources.

00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:50.619
 Nothing else will motivate you

00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.779
 to set good priorities

00:36:51.779 --> 00:36:52.420
 for you

00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:53.639
 and your family

00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:54.880
 in terms of engaging

00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:56.219
 in this local church family.

00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:57.920
 Nothing else will motivate you

00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:59.320
 to give the best of your time,

00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:01.180
 your money and your energy

00:37:01.180 --> 00:37:02.800
 to serving this church family

00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:04.400
 over sport or work

00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:05.660
 or a dozen other things

00:37:05.660 --> 00:37:06.740
 that claim your attention

00:37:06.740 --> 00:37:07.720
 and your time and your money.

00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:09.620
 Nothing else will motivate you

00:37:09.620 --> 00:37:11.640
 to steady, persevering ministry

00:37:11.640 --> 00:37:12.920
 when you hit the wall

00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:13.760
 of tiredness,

00:37:14.080 --> 00:37:14.559
 disappointment

00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.700
 or hurt

00:37:15.700 --> 00:37:16.960
 or injustice

00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:18.240
 or so many other challenges

00:37:18.240 --> 00:37:19.180
 that come with ministry.

00:37:20.240 --> 00:37:21.220
 Risks and costs,

00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:22.820
 all of them associated with ministry.

00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:24.220
 As I say,

00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:25.200
 we'll address those things

00:37:25.200 --> 00:37:26.019
 in two weeks' time.

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:30.880
 ministry will always be costly.

00:37:33.239 --> 00:37:34.340
 There's no alternative.

00:37:36.840 --> 00:37:38.000
 Not ministering

00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:39.199
 to your brothers and sisters

00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:41.340
 will be far more costly

00:37:41.340 --> 00:37:44.480
 in terms of

00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:47.739
 leaving the gospel

00:37:47.739 --> 00:37:48.679
 without any claim

00:37:48.679 --> 00:37:49.759
 to changing power

00:37:49.759 --> 00:37:52.300
 and robbing God of his glory.

00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:55.420
 Pray with me, please.

00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:58.200
 Lord, we thank you

00:37:58.200 --> 00:37:58.700
 for your word.

00:37:58.800 --> 00:37:59.559
 We thank you for

00:37:59.559 --> 00:38:00.860
 the fact that your word

00:38:00.860 --> 00:38:01.980
 never just allows us

00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:03.960
 to slide over it easily.

00:38:05.200 --> 00:38:06.639
 Lord, it calls us out.

00:38:06.720 --> 00:38:07.559
 It exposes us.

00:38:07.639 --> 00:38:08.539
 It challenges us.

00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:11.440
 But Lord, it also renews us

00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:12.720
 and equips us

00:38:12.720 --> 00:38:13.519
 and gives us

00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:14.380
 great confidence

00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:15.019
 and comfort

00:38:15.019 --> 00:38:16.599
 to move forward

00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:18.380
 into new

00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:20.740
 displays

00:38:20.740 --> 00:38:21.980
 of your character

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:23.780
 as we grow

00:38:23.780 --> 00:38:24.280
 and mature.

00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:25.079
 Help us, Lord,

00:38:25.079 --> 00:38:25.599
 to do that

00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:26.719
 individually and together.

00:38:27.239 --> 00:38:28.019
 In Jesus' name.

00:38:28.219 --> 00:38:28.420
 Amen.

00:38:30.340 --> 00:38:31.299
 Thank you very much.

00:38:31.299 --> 00:38:31.360
 Thank you very much.

00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:38.140
 Thank you.

00:38:38.139 --> 00:38:49.579
 so