Well, good morning. I don't know about you, but I'm still feeling kind of excited after last Sunday.
Vision Sunday started with a whole heap of momentum. I went home feeling very challenged, but also very encouraged.
And it was great to chat to a few people who hung around after church and just there was a visible and a tangible energy
that I think people had because I think we're all getting a sense, as Deb was encouraged in South Africa,
that God is on the move and that he wants to use us to make stuff happen in Chatswood and in Sydney and in the world.
And so I'm excited to be in the book of Philippians with you today.
And I believe God's got something significant to teach us.
I just wanted to warn you that I'm not going to be able to deal with everything in the passage that we just read
because it is an incredibly rich passage.
But the good news is you get to do that in your small groups during the week.
So the downside is if you're not in a small group, you should get into one
so that you can get into the stuff that we don't get to today.
So if you're not and you want to be, can I encourage you to come and find Deb or myself or Chris Jones
or maybe somebody in a seat next to you who's in one and find out how you can get into a group
so that you can enjoy that as well.
Or worst case scenario, if you can't, grab a booklet from the back
and have a look through the studies that are there
so that you can be wrestling with all that God wants to teach you from this passage in Philippians.
How about I pray and then we're going to get stuck into it
and have that passage open in front of you because we're going to be looking at it in detail.
Father God, we want to thank you so much that you love us.
We want to thank you so much that you sent Jesus for us.
And we want to thank you so much that you have given us your word that we might know you better,
that we might know what it means to live for you,
that we might know what it is you would have us do in this life.
And Lord, I pray this morning that you would soften our hearts,
that you would help us to see things that need to change
and to have the honesty to acknowledge those things.
And I ask that by your spirit you would make us more like Jesus
so that we are better equipped to do your will.
Amen.
Do you ever feel like you're being set up?
Like you're in a conversation and people are just kind of talking you into a corner
so there's no way out of it?
Kids are particularly good at this.
You know the scenario when the kids come home from school
and maybe they've gotten a really bad report
or maybe they've gotten in trouble
and the conversation starts something like,
Mum, you remember how you said you love me no matter what?
And there's kind of this implicit commitment
that you know is going to come back to bite you
when they tell you what it is that they actually have to tell you.
Well, this is kind of how I feel like Paul opens this second chapter.
He's just finished chapter 1, if you have a look at verse 27,
by saying whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel.
Then he opens this next section with what I think is as close to sarcasm
as we'll find in the Bible.
Have a look at verse 1 with me in Paul's questions.
He says,
Do you kind of feel how pointed that is?
It's kind of like he's slapping you.
It's like you could replace if with because, couldn't you?
I mean, because you have encouragement from being united with Christ.
I mean, every encouragement we have comes from Christ.
It's in him we're forgiven.
It's in him we have hope for the future.
It's in him we have constant support and unconditional love.
And every encouragement comes from Christ.
Every comfort comes from his love.
We have fellowship because of what he did.
We have fellowship by his spirit that he has given us,
that draws us together even though we're completely different
and don't deserve it at all.
And what we get from him is absolutely tenderness, compassion and love.
It's kind of sarcastic.
I mean, the grace that we have from God has transformed us.
It's changed who we are.
It is the absolute foundation of what it means for us to still be people.
And Paul says, if you've got any benefit from being in Christ Jesus,
if there's anything good for you about being a Christian,
he means because of the blessings and benefits you have in Jesus,
then, verse 2, make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love and being one in spirit and purpose.
Paul says, be unified.
Be like-minded.
Share the purpose that he's been talking about through chapter 1.
Share the purpose that God has given us,
and we looked at last week, the purpose of the gospel.
The purpose of partnering in seeing other people come to know Jesus,
in seeing God glorified.
The purpose, back in chapter 1 and verse 7,
of defending and confirming the gospel.
The purpose of proclaiming it with our mouth
and the purpose of living it with our lives.
It's confirming it through the people that we are.
He says, be unified because of what Jesus has already done for you.
I think sometimes we get the idea that what brings unity
is the fact that we sit in the same building on a Sunday morning.
We think that unity is about being in the same area as one another,
having the same logo, the St. Paul's logo on our bags.
We think that brings unity.
Now, that might help a little bit, and I like the new logo,
but unity doesn't come just from sitting in a pew kind of near someone.
Unity comes, according to Paul, from being like-minded,
having the same purpose, having the same goal,
having the same thing that drives us,
being able to say like Paul did in chapter 1,
for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
When we share that value, that's what brings us together.
When everything about us is moving in the same direction,
it all of a sudden doesn't matter so much
if I'm sitting in a pew next to you.
It doesn't matter so much if I like different music to you.
It doesn't matter so much if I like to wear different clothes to church
than you would like me to wear.
What matters is we share the same purpose,
the same goal, and we're working in the same direction.
But it's not always an easy thing,
being unified at church, is it?
I knew a guy in a church that I was previously involved in,
and he was one of those people that just irritated me.
I don't think it was his fault.
Maybe, I don't know.
But he's one of those guys who every week at church,
he would kind of come up,
and you'd be in conversation with someone,
and out of nowhere, you'd get this massive slap on the back
just to let you know that they were there and to say hello.
Or you'd be having a conversation with someone,
and he'd come running down and jump onto your back,
and I'd be like...
And then afterwards, he'd kind of just stand next to you
and not say anything,
and just kind of wait for you to have a conversation.
And I used to get very frustrated.
You know, I'd kind of be walking into church,
and somewhere in the back of my head,
I'd be praying that,
please don't notice me so that I can sit by myself over there.
And, you know, people can be frustrating.
People can annoy us.
People can have habits that get on our nerves.
People can have, you know,
desires that maybe clash a little bit with ours.
People can disagree with us.
And in a group this big,
I'm fairly confident that there's some people in this room
that probably irritate you a little bit.
You might have found ways of managing it.
Maybe you can just kind of avoid them.
The group's big enough,
so you can just talk to the people that you like.
But maybe sometimes you wish...
Or church would be easier or better
if that person wasn't here.
I don't want them to not be a Christian.
Just maybe if they could be a Christian somewhere else
where I didn't have to kind of interact with them.
Now, you might not be as sinful as me,
but I wonder...
If sometimes you just think,
wouldn't it be easier
if church was just full of the people that I liked?
Or people who liked my sort of music
or my style of service
or my style of building
or whatever else?
See, in my eyes,
this guy at my church
was kind of getting in the way
of the gospel purpose.
When he was around,
I was less loving.
I was less encouraging.
I was less compassionate.
And so I kind of thought,
you know what?
If we're going to be about this purpose of,
you know, the gospel,
maybe he shouldn't be here.
We'd be better at it if he wasn't here
because he's kind of annoying.
And maybe church would be better
if it was just full of people that I liked.
But that's not the gospel.
It's not what Christ is about.
I mean, I had a well-intentioned idea
of fulfilling the purpose God had given us,
but a misguided idea.
And maybe you are wrestling with people
here at St. Paul's.
Maybe you're wrestling with decisions
that are made
and you wish
it could just be done
a little bit more
the way that you want it done.
We'd never say that out loud,
but maybe there's things that annoy you
and deep down,
you know,
the reason they annoy you
is because it's not the way
you want it done.
It's not the way
you would have us do church.
It's not the way
you would have us preach.
It's not the logo
you would have chosen.
Well, like me,
I think you need to hear
Paul's words to you today.
It's not about you.
It's not about you
even a little bit.
Have a look at verse 3.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition
or vain conceit,
but in humility
consider others
better than yourselves.
Each of you should look
not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others.
See, this is a community
made up of forgiven sinners,
made up of not the people
you choose,
but the people God chooses.
You know,
it doesn't actually matter
how long you've been
a part of this community.
It actually doesn't matter
how long you've been a Christian.
You have no claim
on this church.
You have no right
to demand anything
from anyone else
in this church
because you are here
by the same grace
that I am here.
You are only here
because of what Jesus did first.
Even if you were born
into Christian parents
in this church,
you are still here
because of what Jesus did
and you have no claim
on what we should
or shouldn't do.
See, humility
is the foundation
of unity.
Humility
is the absolute
cornerstone
of partnership
in the gospel.
Humility
that recognises
what God
has done for us
is what releases us
to serve like Jesus
in this context.
A couple of years ago,
Sal and I
had just started college
and we thought
we'd love to go
to a new church
and kind of see
what ministry was like
in a different place
and a friend of mine
rang me up
and he'd just finished
his study at Bible College
and he was starting
a new church
and it was exciting
and it was energetic
and there was this buzz
of we're going to
change the world
and things are going
to be fantastic
and we were looking around
for where do we go
and do this?
Where's the right place?
And the hardest part
about starting a church
is what brings
a building
do you have it in?
You know,
churches have buildings
and new churches
don't have buildings
so how do we deal
with that?
And the result was
we found a church
in Cogger,
Cogger Presbyterian Church
that was once
a powerhouse
of gospel ministry.
There was a time
when their Sunday school
had 400, 500 kids
in it every Sunday.
It was the place
to be south of the harbour.
Everyone was there
and they were faithfully
proclaiming the gospel.
But when we arrived there
there was 10
faithful older people
no minister
and a dying church.
These older people
approached my friend
who was looking
to plant a church
and said
we love Jesus.
They said
we love
our traditional service.
We love our organ.
We love our church building.
We love the way
that we do things.
But we love Jesus more.
And so we want you
to come.
We want you to do
church your way
as long as it's
about the gospel.
We want you to bring
young people in
and we want to see
people get to know Jesus.
And over 12 months
we basically pulled
the rug out
from under them.
By the time we left
we only got to spend
one year with them.
By the time we left
they had knocked down
the old church building.
We were meeting
in a rented hall
kind of down the road.
This was about
as dressed up
as anyone got for church
other than those
ten older people
who were faithfully
there in suit and tie
every week.
We didn't do hymns
very often
if ever.
There'd been
an intentional shift
in the way we were
doing church
to try and make it
accessible to other people.
And I remember
that I thought
that that would be
a really awkward thing.
I thought these people
some of them
had been in the church
for 80 years
and I thought
they'll be heartbroken.
And I remember
sitting down
at morning tea
with one of the
head elders there
a guy called
John Burgess
and I said
how are you finding
church at the moment?
And I was just
humbled by his response.
He had this huge
smile on his face
and he said
I'm so excited
to see young people
in church again.
I'm so excited
that people
are becoming Christians
through this ministry
again.
I said
you know
do you miss
the old church building?
He said
oh it was great
but this is better.
I said
do you miss
the organ?
He said
yeah I do like
the organ
but I don't care
as long as we get
to sing about Jesus.
What mattered
for them
was the actual
purpose of the church.
What mattered
to them
was Jesus.
What mattered
to them
was the gospel.
What mattered
to them
was God's
kingdom
growing.
What matters
for the Philippians
is the gospel
of Jesus
and for us
it must
be
the gospel
of Jesus.
The mission
statement
for us
as a church
says that
we exist
to know
Jesus
treasure
Jesus
and represent
Jesus
for God's
glory
and the joy
of all people.
That is
the only thing
worth fighting
over.
that is
the grid
that we need
to put
decisions
through now.
If we're
having
disagreements
or we're
having
fights
the question
has got
to be
not
do I
like it
not
is this
my favourite
style
not
do I
like
that
person
not
do I
get on
with them
but does
this help
us
all of
us
know
Jesus
treasure
Jesus
and represent
Jesus
because that's
all that
matters
that is
the purpose
God has
given his
church
that is
the purpose
we are
called to
share
that is
the purpose
that will
bring us
together
and unify
us
that is
the gospel
we received
that is
the grace
we received
that is
the forgiveness
we received
that is
the forgiveness
we share
and that is
the forgiveness
we're called
to proclaim
the gospel
of a humble
selfless
servant
saviour
king
have a look
with me
at verse
five
your attitude
should be
the same
as that
of Christ
Jesus
who being
in very
nature
God
did not
consider
equality
with God
something
to be
grasped
but made
himself
nothing
taking
the very
nature
of a
servant
being made
in human
likeness
and being
found
in appearance
as a man
he humbled
himself
and became
obedient
to death
even death
on a cross
I think
that is
one of the
most powerful
passages
in all of
scripture
that Jesus
who is
rightfully
God
who is
in his
very essence
and being
God
in all his
glory
and splendor
and majesty
who is
there
before
the
creation
of the
world
chose
to
humble
himself
for
us
chose
to
become
what
he
had
created
chose
to
submit
to
disobedient
humans
the
creator
of life
allowed
himself
to be
beaten
by
death
that
is the
savior
that we
follow
it's
his name
that we
bear
the
sovereign
king
who made
himself
nothing
and for
our
sake
do you
ever
realize
or think
about
that
he
didn't
have
to
do
any
of
that
he
sat
in
heaven
in
the
glory
of
God
he
could
have
put
his
feet
up
and
kicked
back
and
God
still
would
have
been
glorious
and
majestic
in
every
way
he
could
have
come
down
and
at
any
point
said
you
know
what
this
is
too
painful
this
is
too
hard
I
mean
he
is
all
powerful
and
control
of
everything
it's
by
his
will
that
we're
still
alive
and
yet
he
stood
there
and
let
measly
pathetic
disobedient
humans
crucify
him
and
at
no
point
did
he
go
you
know
what
this
is
too
hard
it
would
be
easier
for
me
if
I
just
went
back
to
heaven
because
he
could
have
at
any
point
he
could
have
but
he
didn't
because
of
you
and
because
of
me
that
is
when
Jesus
takes
his
rights
as
king
and
as
ruler
and
denies
himself
those
rights
for the
sake
of
other
people
it's
his
name
we
bear
a
community
like
this
that
follows
Jesus
should
be the
most
humble
community
that
there
is
I
mean
we
should
have
trouble
making
decisions
because
we're
all
so
insistent
that
the
other
person's
needs
come
first
I
remember
when I
was
in
high
school
we
had
an
English
teacher
that
really
wanted
to see
better
manners
from
us
year
eight
boys
so
she
introduced
a
policy
of
doorway
decorum
it
was
catchy
basically
the way
it
worked
is
when
you
came
to
a
doorway
you
were
supposed
to
wait
so
that
the
person
coming
the
other
direction
could
come
through
the
result
for
year
eight
boys
was
we
never
went
through
any
doors
when
we
came
near
a
door
we
would
just
stand
there
for
20
minutes
insisting
that
the
other
person
go
through
first
and
explain
that
the
reason
we
were
late
to
class
was
because
we
were
trying
to
be
polite
that's
kind
of
where
I
feel
like
we
should
be
we
should
be
so
gripped
by
the
humility
of
Jesus
to
lower
himself
that
we
should
be
tripping
over
each
other
to
try
and
put
others
first
we
should
be
so
consumed
by
the
needs
of
other
people
that
people
come
in
here
and
are
just
blown
away
by
the
service
they
see
by
the
humility
that
they
see
by
the
love
and
care
that
they
see
I
remember
when I
became
a
Christian
I
was
about
14
years
old
and
I
was
on
a
camp
with
150
teenagers
are the
least
humble
and
caring
people
in
the
world
I
can
say
that
with
absolute
confidence
and
yet
on
this
camp
I
don't
remember
exactly
what
the
sermon
was
about
the
night
I
became
a
Christian
I
remember
it
was
about
Jesus
but
beyond
that
I
couldn't
tell
you
the
passage
but
you
know
what
I
do
remember
I
remember
the
community
that
week
I
started
the
week
knowing
about
three
other
kids
and
I
was
a
pretty
annoying
teenager
in
fact
I
remember
on one
of the
visits
to the
beach
I
spent
the
entire
return
bus
trip
all
35
minutes
of it
sitting
on the
back
seat
singing
this is
the
song
that
doesn't
end
as
loud
as
I
possibly
can
now
there
were
kids
that
probably
wanted
me
to
shut
up
there
was
a
few
that
politely
asked
me
to be
a bit
quieter
but
even
in
spite
of
my
being
annoying
I
remember
that
by
the
end
of
the
week
I
felt
like
I
had
150
people
who
just
wanted
to
make
sure
that
I
was
having
a
good
day
who
were
willing
to
put
themselves
out
for
my
sake
I
was
a
annoying
little
14
year
old
and
there
was
kids
who
were
18
in
year
12
who
had
taken
the
time
to
chat
to
me
and
say
how
are
you
finding
the
week
new
to
me
and
I
hope
and
pray
that
we
as
a
community
can
share
that
kind
of
love
I
hope
and
pray
that
when
anyone
walks
in
here
who
doesn't
know
Jesus
the
first
thing
they
spot
is
humble
service
the
first
thing
they
notice
is
that
we're
not
here
for
ourselves
it's
not
about
us
but
it's
about
others
it's
about
humility
because
that's
what
Jesus
did
for
us
that's
the
model
he
gave
us
that's
the
way
we
came
to
know
him
and
it's
his
name
that
we
bear
I
mean
it's
a little
bit
embarrassing
when you
really
think
about
the
kind
of
stuff
that
we're
precious
with
when
you
think
about
the
kind
of
sins
that
we've
been
forgiven
from
when
you
think
about
who
Jesus
was
and
what
he
became
and
how
he
lowered
himself
even
to
death
and
then
you
sit
there
and
you
realise
that
you
know
I'm
kind
of
precious
about
how
loud
the
music
is
in
church
I
get
upset
if
somebody
else
has
taken
all
the
clean
cups
from
morning
tea
I've
been
forgiven
willful
and
disgusting
rejection
of
God
but
when
somebody
hurts
me
I
remember
that
sort
of
stuff
I
think
it's
because
we
feel
like
we
have
rights
like
we
have
the
right
to
be
treated
with
a
level
of
dignity
and
respect
and
there's
a
truth
in
that
God
has
made
you
in
his
image
and
you
are
valuable
and
so
is
every
other
person
here
but
the
one
that
we
follow
willingly
gave
up
his
rights
the
one
we
follow
stepped
down
from
heaven
for
our
sake
the
one
we
follow
calls
us
to
forgive
the failings
of the
people
around us
and love
them
anyway
the one
we follow
calls us
to imitate
his humility
to deny
our rights
and actively
pursue
what other
people need
first
what Jesus
did for us
was something
we could
never deserve
and we're
called
to be
like him
to be
him
to the
people
around
us
humility
is about
denying
your rights
for the
sake of
others
and for
the sake
of the
purpose
we share
of the
gospel
people
I want
to embarrass
someone
right now
that I
actually
don't
know
I'm
going
to do
this
but
as I
was
preparing
this
week
this
was
summed
up
by
something
that I
saw
here
at
St.
Paul's
earlier
this
year
I've
only
been
here
for
12
months
and so
there
is
probably
other
examples
and I
want
to
encourage
you
if
you
have
been
working
hard
at
putting
the
needs
of
others
first
but I
remember
one
Sunday
rocking
up to
church
sitting
down
probably
somewhere
roughly
where
me
and
Sal
are
sitting
today
and
noticing
Judy
Green
standing
up the
front
with a
two day
old
baby
leading
us
in
worship
no one
would have
begrudged
her if
she stayed
home that
day
just to
recover
she had
a baby
two days
earlier
it's
well
within
her
rights
to
relax
and
take
it
easy
but
she
wanted
to
serve
us
it's
perfectly
reasonable
for her
to take
that Sunday
off and
relax
there's
nothing
bad
about
it
is
there
it's
fair
enough
but
she
chose
to
forego
that
right
and
serve
us
that
is
what
humility
is
about
denying
what
you
deserve
what
you
feel
you
are
entitled
to
for
the
sake
of
the
gospel
and
for
the
sake
of
your
partners
in
the
gospel
see
Jesus
humbling
himself
is
the
path
that
he
took
to
glory
instead
of
sitting
in
heaven
feet
up
and
just
kind
of
waiting
till
the
earth
destroyed
itself
he
came
to
heaven
and
suffered
instead
of
arriving
with
angels
and an
army
and
destroying
all his
enemies
he
came
and allowed
himself
to be
arrested
and put
on the
cross
he
submitted
to
punishment
but
then
verse
9
therefore
because
of his
humility
God
exalted
him
to the
highest
place
and gave
him
the
name
that
is
above
every
name
that
at
the name
of
Jesus
every
knee
should
bow
in
heaven
and
on
earth
and
under
the
earth
and
every
tongue
confess
that
Jesus
Christ
is
Lord
to
the
glory
of
God
the
Father
for
Jesus
humility
was a
choice
and it
was a
choice
he
could
make
confidently
because
he
trusted
God
having
lowered
himself
God
raised
him
up
having
sought
the
good
of
others
God
provided
for
him
having
suffered
God
restored
him
to
the name
above
every
name
to
a
position
of
ultimate
authority
on the
throne
in
heaven
see
the
path
for
Jesus
to
the
ultimate
glory
started
in
heaven
with
God
but
he
chose
to
humble
himself
to
not
fight
for
what
was
rightfully
his
but
instead
to
trust
God
to
raise
him
up
at
the
right
time
and
the
path
is
the
same
for
us
if we
follow
Jesus
we
look
forward
to
heaven
we
pray
for
the
day
when
Jesus
comes
back
and
we
have
painless
perfection
we
have
unhindered
fellowship
with
God
but
first
he calls
us
to
humble
service
the
heart
of
selfish
ambition
is
born
out
of
fear
the
thing
that
drives
us
to
worry
about
me
first
is
the
fear
that
if
I
don't
no
one
will
it's
being
scared
that
if
I
look
after
other
people
I
might
have
to
go
without
but
when
we
trust
in
a
God
who
has
proved
himself
faithful
when
we
trust
in
him
to
provide
for
us
when
we
trust
in
him
to
look
after
us
then
we're
released
because
all we
need to
worry
about
now
is
other
people
we
don't
have
to
look
after
ourselves
anymore
because
God
has
promised
he
would
do
it
in
the
same
way
he
looked
after
Jesus
and
so
we
are
released
to
pour
our
energy
into
the
needs
of
other
people
to
put
them
first
because
of
what
Jesus
has
done
because
of
the
example
he
has
shown
us
and
because
God
has
exalted
him
therefore
look at
verse 12
trusting God
doesn't
mean
being
lazy
I
think
there's
two
dangers
for
us
in
the
Christian
life
one
is
that
we
thank
God
for
what
he
did
for
us
and
we
thank
him
for
Jesus
and
then
we
think
so
I'm
not
going
to
do
anything
it's
like
cheap
grace
the
other
danger
is
that
we
think
grace
is
not
enough
so
we
thank
God
for
what
he
did
and
then
we
feel
this
incredible
burden
to
serve
everyone
else
because
if
we
don't
serve
God
won't
love
us
anymore
but
this
verse
tells
us
that
neither
of
those
is
true
it
tells
us
first
of
all
that
we
are
to
work
out
our
salvation
with
fear
and
trembling
it
says
don't
be
lazy
about
humility
it
says
don't
be
lazy
about
gospel
ministry
it
says
don't
be
lazy
about
loving
one
another
it
says
don't
be
lazy
about
loving
and
following
Jesus
but
then
it
also
says
in
verse
13
it
is
God
who
works
in
you
to
will
and
to
act
according
to
his
purpose
it's
not
God
or
me
but
it's
totally
God
and
because
of
God
I
get
it's
completely
God
so
as
we
pursue
humility
together
as
we
seek
to
serve
one
another
we
need
to
do
it
in
the
strength
he
provides
and
not
presuming
we
can
do
it
ourselves
when
I
got
married
a couple
of
years
ago
I
remember
thinking
through
the
marriage
passages
in
the
Bible
trying
to
figure
out
what
does
the
Bible
tell
me
to
do
what
the
Bible
tell
Sal
to
do
nothing
apparently
that was
how I
started
reading
those
passages
and
I
remember
reading
Ephesians
about
the
husband
must
love
the
wife
and
the
wife
must
submit
and
so
when
I
read
those
passages
I
kept
thinking
okay
so
my
job
is
to
make
sure
Sal
keeps
submitting
it's
not
by the
way
but
I
remember
reading
it
thinking
that
and
then
a
very
wise
godly
older
man
sat
me
down
and
said
no
your
job
is
to
love
your
wife
when
you
love
your
wife
she'll
want
to
submit
and
her
job
is
to
submit
to
you
not
to
make
you
love
her
when
she
submits
you're
just
going to
love
her
even
more
and
I
think
it's
kind
of
the
same
with
serving
one
another
here
at
church
it's
really
easy
to
get
worried
about
my
needs
and
the
things
that
are
important
to
me
don't
worry
about
what
you
might
be
sitting
here
thinking
of
people
in
this
community
that
would
do
well
to
start
humbly
serving
don't
worry
about
that
humbly
serve
and
that
will
encourage
them
to
humbly
serve
service
in
church
is
not
about
asking
what
I
want
or
even
what
I
want
to
do
to
help
gospel
ministry
go
forward
it's
about
asking
what
do
you
need
so
that
together
we
can
make
the
gospel
go
forward
it's
not
about
what
I
want
it's
not
even
about
what
I
want
to
do
but
it's
about
what
do
you
need
so
that
not
criticism
but
humility
without
complaining
and
arguing
that's
a really
quick
way
to
distract
each
other
from
the
purpose
God
has
given
us
by
just
sitting
there
criticising
and
letting
each
other
know
what's
wrong
and
what's
not
done
your
way
but
humility
and
unity
stand
out
in
this
world
I'm
sure
you've
got
a lot
of
nice
friends
who
aren't
Christians
who
don't
go
to
church
but
the
reality
is
deep
down
outside
a
church
it's
pretty
hard
to
find
people
who
genuinely
seek
the
good
of
others
first
we're
in a
world
that's
selfish
that
encourages
selfishness
that
encourages
you to
seek
your own
good
encourages
you to
look
after
yourself
but
as
we
seek
to
know
and
treasure
and
represent
Jesus
together
in
partnership
the
lives
we
live
and
the
relationships
that
we
have
with
one
another
can
either
adorn
the
gospel
or
veil
it
whether
or not
we
imitate
Jesus
will
either
make
the
gospel
easier
to
hear
or
kind
of
muffled
if
people
walk
into
church
here
if
people
see
us
in
our
spending
time
together
on
other
days
during
the
week
visit
bible
studies
get
invited
over
for
dinner
and
see
us
as
a
community
of
people
who
are
selfless
who
are
humble
who
are
about
one
purpose
then
they
see
Jesus
even
before
we
open
our
mouths
they
hear
the
gospel
God
has
placed
you
here
in
this
community
at
this
time
for
his
purpose
he
has
placed
you
here
to
know
treasure
and
represent
Jesus
with
this
group
of
people
in
partnership
for
his
glory
and
for
the
joy
of
all
people
so
ask
yourself
and
don't
just
ask
yourself
for
the
next
30
seconds
and
forget
about
it
but
keep
asking
yourself
what
ambition
what
desire
what
insecurity
in
me
do
I
need
to
let
go
of
so
that
I
can
serve
like
Jesus
did
as a
partner
in
this
mission
in
chapter 1
verse 27
Paul calls
them to
live a life
worthy of
the gospel
a life
worthy of
the gospel
is
single
single-mindedly
committed
to gospel
ministry
it's about
humble service
like Jesus
it's about
trusting God
to provide
for you
so that
you can
serve
other
people
it's about
working hard
in the
strength
he provides
so that
we
shine
like stars
in a world
that doesn't
know God
and doesn't
know love
and doesn't
know
forgiveness
so I
ask you
again
what
ambition
what
desire
what
need
what
insecurity
do you
need to
let go
of
so that
you can
serve like
Jesus
did
as a
partner
in the
mission of
this church