WEBVTT

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 Friends, as we were singing that last song, it's one of those moments where you'd like to just sort of frame in history and pause there.

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 I thought it was a wonderful testimony to unity in the gospel.

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 This sermon will not be translated.

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 It will, for those in Chinese who cannot understand a word I'm saying right now, it will actually be projected on the screen.

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 So it will be full text on the screen, except for the changes that I made this morning.

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 So please bear with me on that one.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father God, I pray that your word will come alive to us this morning.

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 We ask, Father, that your spirit will come in a fresh way and that you will revive our souls so that we might say with the Apostle Paul,

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 to live is Christ and to die is gain.

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 Father, unite us in partnership around the gospel of grace, we pray.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Late in the evening of the 24th of June, 1982, British Airways Flight 9, a Boeing 747-200 was flying high, very high, over Indonesia.

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 What the pilots couldn't see on the radar was a cloud of volcanic ash up ahead in their flight path.

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 Earlier, Mount Gowlingung had erupted 150 kilometres north of their flight path.

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 And all of a sudden, smoke started to fill the cabin.

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 And those with a window seat noticed that the engines were, and I quote, unusually bright.

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 Then, without warning, number four engines stopped.

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 One minute later, number two engines stopped, followed quickly by engines one and three.

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 The 747 was now what you call technically a glider.

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 For 16 minutes, this plane fell out of the sky.

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 In the eerie silence, people knew that they were going to die.

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 Can you imagine the sort of things that were going through their minds for 16 minutes

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 as they gradually fell to the ground?

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 People started writing notes to loved ones on napkins.

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 They started to, in fact, talk to the people that they had ignored for the rest of the flight.

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 They prayed.

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 And a strange feeling came across the plane.

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 They accepted that life was over.

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 Because of the lack of oxygen in the cabin, the pilots took the unusual step of making it quicker for everyone

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 and put the plane in a nosedive to get to a lower level so that people could breathe again.

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 That manoeuvre had the added benefit of unclogging the engines of volcanic ash,

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 and the engines were able to be restarted.

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 Can you imagine the excitement as the engines kicked back in,

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 the plane climbed and eventually landed at a nearby airport?

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 The passengers thought they were dead, but they were alive.

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 They had a new lease on life.

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 They ended up actually forming a survivor's club.

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 It is known as the Mount Galangang Gliding Club.

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 They get together annually on the date of that flight,

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 and they celebrate life together.

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 One 81-year-old passenger said that on that night,

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 she learnt to count every day as a blessing.

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 She'd never before had a second chance on life.

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 And that's what you've got if you've met Jesus.

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 If you're a Christian, you've got a second chance on life,

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 a new lease on life, a reason to really live,

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 and it's a life that is enjoyed with other Christians.

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 The Apostle Paul, the one who wrote this letter to the church in Philippi,

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 he got a second chance when he met Jesus.

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 He was a blasphemer, a persecutor of Christians,

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 an opponent of the advancement of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 even to the point of giving his assent to the murder of Christians.

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 But make no mistake, he was religious.

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 He was zealous.

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 He was pious.

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 He was devout.

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 And he was faultless in legalistic righteousness,

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 as we will discover in a few weeks.

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 Then he met Jesus.

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 And his life was radically changed.

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 A complete turnaround.

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 He who was persecutor has become the persecuted.

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 He who trusted in himself, his religious activity,

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 and his heritage,

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 now trusts in Jesus

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 and pursues God's glory no matter what.

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 And he calls the Philippians

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 to have the same perspective on life as him.

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 And he calls us to have the same perspective of life.

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 And it's right there in verse 27.

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 Whatever happens,

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 conduct yourselves in a matter worthy of the gospel of Christ.

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 And this is what this commitment series is all about.

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 We are called to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.

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 This commitment series is about reminding us who we are in Christ

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 and what we are called to be.

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 We are called to live in such a way

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 as to show the worth of the value of the gospel.

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 We are called to reveal to this world

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 that we prize the Lord Jesus

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 more than anything else in this world.

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 We are called to show that our treasure is not in this world.

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 Our hope is not in money and earthly security.

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 Our satisfaction is not in power and prestige.

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 Our contentment is not in the approval of others.

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 And our happiness is not in avoiding criticism and slander.

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 Instead, our treasure and hope and satisfaction

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 and contentment and happiness

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 are in Christ and his promises.

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 Broadly speaking, I believe that what Philippians calls us to be

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 is what he stated in our mission statement.

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 We exist to know Jesus,

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 to treasure Jesus,

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 and represent Jesus for God's glory

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 and the joy of all people.

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 As we go through Philippians in the coming weeks,

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 Paul will spell out for us

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 what it means to live a life worthy of the gospel.

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 And two broad themes keep popping up

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 and are introduced here in chapter 1.

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 Firstly, unity.

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 And secondly, courageous sacrifice and service.

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 In one sense, these two things

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 will always be a challenge for us and for God's people.

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 They will always need to be spoken of

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 and they will always need to be pursued.

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 But having said that,

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 I don't want us to lose the urgency

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 of them for us right now as a church here.

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 I have spent the best part of my 18 months here

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 working towards getting us heading in the same direction.

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 And it's been painful for me and for some of you.

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 There has been pain with the turnover in staff,

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 adjustment to structures,

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 the changing of ministry operations.

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 Ironically, the divisions and difficulties

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 have the goal of unity.

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 One of the main confronting issues

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 has been the siloing of ministry.

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 Many good things happening,

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 but not necessarily heading in the same direction

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 with the same purpose

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 or even in reference to anyone else or anything else.

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 Vision 2020 was launched almost a year ago

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 to give us a common direction and purpose as a church.

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 The second thing that is so pertinent to us right now

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 is the biblical teaching of radical,

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 God-centered, wartime, risk-taking lifestyle

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 for this is what God has called us to be as his people.

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 It has been nearly 12 months since Vision 2020 was launched

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 and we've had time to get used to it

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 and now it is time to start stirring each other up

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 to take some risks in more venturesome acts of love

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 and evangelism and discipleship.

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 We need to break out of deeply ingrained habits

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 of timidity and silence and fear.

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 We need to be set free from long-established anxieties

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 of ruffling feathers and being slandered

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 because too much is at stake for people in Chatswood.

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 My prayer is that as we go through Philippians

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 in this commitment series,

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 we will see our partnership in the gospel

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 and we will courageously sacrifice and serve

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 in order to see the gospel advance among us and beyond us.

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 So firstly, let's look at the issue of unity.

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 I find it astounding that Paul would write these words

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 at the beginning of Philippians, verse 3.

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 I thank my God every time I remember you

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 in all of my prayers for all of you.

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 I always pray with joy because of your partnership

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 in the gospel from the first day until now.

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 Let us not forget that the one who writes these words

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 is the same one who was chosen by God

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 to take the gospel to the nations.

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 He planted church after church.

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 He wrote about one third of the New Testament

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 and suffered more for the gospel than I could ever imagine.

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 Do you feel the impact of what Paul has written there

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 in those verses?

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 The word he chooses to describe his relationship

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 with this church is partnership.

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 Partners.

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 It's a business word that refers to a shared endeavour

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 that holds two parties together.

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 Even separated by prison,

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 Paul uses this word to describe

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 the shared identity and purpose that they have.

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 I find it astounding that he would use this word

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 because if anyone has the right to talk about rights,

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 it would be Paul.

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 If anyone has the credibility to elevate himself

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 over other Christians and demand more,

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 it would have to be Paul.

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 If anyone could say that he is more equal

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 than anyone else, it would have to be Paul.

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 Instead, he calls this church at Philippi

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 a church that he founded his partners

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 from the very first day.

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 Not after you've learned a thing or two.

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 Not after you've been a Christian for a number of years.

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 Not once the church has got its governance

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 and ministry structures firmly established.

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 Not once, Church of Philippi,

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 you send out a few missionaries.

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 From the very first day,

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 you are my partners in the gospel.

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 How can the great apostle Paul say that

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 about this church at Philippi?

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 Verse 7 gives us the answer.

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 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you

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 since I have you in my heart.

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 For whether I'm in chains or defending

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 and confirming the gospel,

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 all of you share in God's grace with me.

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 Their partnership with Paul began

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 from the very first day

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 because it says in verse 7,

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 all of you share in God's grace with me.

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 Paul doesn't demand more rights

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 because of his longevity in the faith,

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 because of his commitment to the church,

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 his commitment to the gospel,

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 or because of his effectiveness

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 as a gospel worker.

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 Grace means it's a level playing field.

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 One of the clearest pictures of this

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 in the New Testament

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 is the parable of the workers of the vineyard

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 in Matthew 20.

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 In the parable,

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 a farmer hires men

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 at different times during the day.

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 We are told that he hires them

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 early in the morning,

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 the third hour,

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 the sixth hour,

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 the ninth hour,

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 right at the end of the day

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 in the eleventh hour.

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 And those who began early in the morning

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 agreed to do a day's work

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 for denarius.

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 That was a good wage

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 for a worker

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 and was considered

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 to be what was needed

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 to provide well

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 for their family.

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 So don't let this point

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 slip you past.

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 They all,

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 including those who started work

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 at the beginning of the day,

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 they all received

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 not what they had earned,

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 but what they needed.

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 They were all paid

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 according to grace,

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 not according to debt.

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 And the twist comes

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 at the end of the day

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 when they all line up

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 to get paid

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 and they all get the same.

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 They all get a denarius.

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 Everyone gets the same pay.

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 No matter how long

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 they had been out there

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 in the paddock,

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 they all get a denarius.

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 Every worker got what they needed,

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 not what they had earned.

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 And, of course,

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 those who'd been working

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 the longest

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 started to grumble.

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 Hang on a bit,

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 we've been out there all day.

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 Shouldn't we get two?

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 And in a sense,

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 the workers are right,

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 it's not fair

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 what the boss is doing.

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 But I think that's the point.

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 Since when is grace

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 ever about being fair?

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 It's about me getting

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 what I don't deserve

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 and being rescued

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 from what I do deserve.

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 The truth about God's grace

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 is not just a truth

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 that applies

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 when you first become a Christian.

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 It's not just a truth

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 that is something to say

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 about salvation.

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 It is an amazing truth

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 and reality

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 that is the very foundation

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 of how Jesus deals

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 with us day by day

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 and how we are to deal

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 with each other

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 day by day.

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 None of us needs

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 anything less

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 than God's grace

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 and none of us needs

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 anything more

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 than God's grace.

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 We all need a denarius,

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 so to speak.

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 We are all beggars

00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:43.220
 at the foot of the cross.

00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:45.680
 We were when we started

00:15:45.680 --> 00:15:46.440
 as a Christian

00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:48.779
 and we are to still be there

00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:52.600
 50, 60, 70, 80,

00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:53.940
 however many years

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.639
 God allows you

00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.660
 in this world.

00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:58.300
 Nothing ever changes.

00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:01.820
 The thing that unites us

00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.820
 is not our culture,

00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.720
 not our tradition,

00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.340
 not our history,

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:07.960
 not our preferences,

00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:09.620
 not our language.

00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:11.860
 It is our desperate,

00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:13.919
 desperate need

00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:15.320
 for the grace

00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:17.259
 of the Lord Jesus Christ

00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:20.879
 from the very first day

00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:23.060
 until the last.

00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:27.539
 It is this grace

00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:28.700
 that unites Paul,

00:16:28.820 --> 00:16:29.700
 the great apostle,

00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:31.139
 with the Philippian church

00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:31.960
 that he founded.

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:34.560
 It would seem

00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:35.200
 that in the church

00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:35.860
 at Philippi

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:36.960
 there were a few people

00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:37.480
 struggling

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.840
 to get on

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.519
 with each other.

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.039
 There was a bit

00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:41.899
 of wrong teaching

00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:42.779
 kicking around.

00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.340
 There were some difficulties

00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:45.200
 with persecution

00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:46.980
 and it was getting them down.

00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:50.039
 The joy of Christian discipleship

00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:51.159
 wasn't so evident

00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:52.240
 in this church,

00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.300
 although Paul

00:16:54.300 --> 00:16:56.860
 significantly rejoices

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.879
 with this church.

00:16:58.920 --> 00:17:00.180
 And so it's not surprising,

00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:00.639
 therefore,

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.340
 that Philippians

00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:01.980
 is a book

00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:03.519
 that talks about

00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:04.640
 the gospel

00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.740
 more than any other

00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:07.019
 New Testament book.

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:10.620
 Paul wants us

00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:11.180
 to discover

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.140
 how much

00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:13.299
 of a difference

00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.360
 a relationship

00:17:14.360 --> 00:17:15.120
 with Jesus

00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:16.579
 makes to our lives.

00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:17.960
 Paul wants

00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.920
 to encourage them

00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.980
 by putting them

00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:20.900
 back to Jesus

00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:22.339
 to help them

00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.360
 to keep on going,

00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.500
 to stand firm

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.559
 and to put all

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.400
 the issues

00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:27.339
 and difficulties

00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:28.640
 in the light

00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:29.599
 of the really

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:31.140
 important news

00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:32.319
 of the gospel

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.380
 of the grace

00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:35.220
 of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:35.360
 Christ.

00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:39.120
 The differences

00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:39.819
 that cause

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.380
 divisions

00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.819
 are always,

00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:42.420
 always,

00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:44.759
 always,

00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.920
 always

00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:49.160
 less

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:51.079
 than which unites

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.319
 us,

00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:51.960
 the grace

00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.120
 of the Lord

00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:54.140
 Jesus Christ.

00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:56.460
 The grace

00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:56.940
 of the Lord

00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:57.380
 Jesus

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:59.200
 has completely

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.860
 transformed Paul.

00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:01.719
 It changes

00:18:01.719 --> 00:18:02.119
 the way

00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:02.919
 Paul sees

00:18:02.919 --> 00:18:03.779
 other Christians.

00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:05.979
 It wasn't

00:18:05.979 --> 00:18:06.519
 long ago

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.059
 that Paul

00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:08.039
 was persecuting

00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:08.779
 Christians,

00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.219
 putting them

00:18:10.219 --> 00:18:10.740
 into jail,

00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:11.379
 but now,

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.159
 verse 4,

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.319
 because of your

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:14.059
 partnership

00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:15.000
 in the gospel

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.240
 from the first

00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.659
 day until now,

00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:19.039
 they are my

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.779
 partners,

00:18:19.959 --> 00:18:20.659
 Paul says.

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.879
 They are not

00:18:22.879 --> 00:18:23.639
 my competitors.

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:25.920
 they are not

00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:27.000
 my subjects.

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.540
 They are my

00:18:29.540 --> 00:18:30.100
 partners.

00:18:34.580 --> 00:18:35.500
 Is this how

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.040
 you see

00:18:36.040 --> 00:18:36.880
 your relationship

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.340
 with your

00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:37.880
 brothers and

00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.440
 sisters here

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:38.740
 at St.

00:18:38.780 --> 00:18:39.160
 Paul's?

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.759
 Just have a

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.220
 look around.

00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.700
 Is this how

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.460
 you view

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.759
 your relationship

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.220
 with your

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:51.759
 brothers and

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.400
 sisters here

00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:52.700
 at St.

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.200
 Paul's?

00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.600
 Do you

00:18:55.600 --> 00:18:56.200
 see them

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:57.240
 as your

00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:57.900
 partners

00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:59.520
 at the foot

00:18:59.520 --> 00:19:00.220
 of the cross

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.140
 in the gospel

00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:01.660
 of the Lord

00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:02.620
 Jesus Christ,

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.820
 dependent upon

00:19:04.820 --> 00:19:05.640
 his grace

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:07.220
 as much as

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:07.540
 they,

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:08.900
 as much as

00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:09.120
 you?

00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:11.360
 Note, too,

00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:12.020
 that when Paul

00:19:12.020 --> 00:19:12.680
 talks about

00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:13.340
 partnership,

00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.800
 he's not

00:19:14.800 --> 00:19:16.080
 merely tolerating

00:19:16.080 --> 00:19:16.759
 the Christian

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.420
 church here

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.120
 at Philippi.

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:21.040
 He is also

00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:21.720
 not giving

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.160
 a mere

00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:22.780
 intellectual

00:19:22.780 --> 00:19:23.380
 assent

00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:23.920
 to the

00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.420
 theological

00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.260
 correctness

00:19:25.260 --> 00:19:25.400
 of

00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:25.920
 partnership.

00:19:27.780 --> 00:19:28.660
 Verse 4,

00:19:28.760 --> 00:19:29.360
 in all my

00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:29.960
 prayers for

00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:30.620
 all of you,

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.480
 I always

00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.240
 pray with

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:32.700
 joy.

00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:34.480
 Verse 7,

00:19:34.600 --> 00:19:35.200
 it is right

00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:35.600
 for me to

00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:35.980
 feel this

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.500
 way about

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.140
 all of you

00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:37.580
 since I

00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:37.900
 have you

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.220
 in my

00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:38.740
 heart.

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.220
 Verse 8,

00:19:41.020 --> 00:19:41.640
 God can

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.520
 testify how

00:19:42.520 --> 00:19:43.140
 I long

00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:43.660
 for you

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.040
 with the

00:19:44.040 --> 00:19:44.960
 affection of

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.280
 Jesus

00:19:45.280 --> 00:19:45.900
 Christ.

00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:48.840
 God for

00:19:48.840 --> 00:19:49.180
 all the

00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:49.700
 church,

00:19:50.280 --> 00:19:51.440
 he prays

00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:51.740
 for them

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.380
 all with

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:52.840
 joy,

00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:53.900
 he has

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.200
 them in

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:54.980
 his heart

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.960
 and he

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.640
 longs for

00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:56.980
 them in

00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.480
 affection.

00:19:58.640 --> 00:19:59.360
 I suspect

00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.080
 the answer

00:20:00.080 --> 00:20:00.500
 to the

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.180
 question

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:05.740
 would want

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.140
 to use

00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:06.860
 those verses

00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:07.360
 as a test

00:20:07.360 --> 00:20:07.920
 case as to

00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.320
 whether or not

00:20:08.320 --> 00:20:08.720
 you view

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.019
 them as

00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:09.540
 your partners,

00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:09.980
 your brothers

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:10.360
 and sisters

00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:10.640
 here.

00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:13.500
 I suspect

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.440
 those verses

00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.120
 are a true

00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:16.320
 test case as

00:20:16.320 --> 00:20:16.940
 to whether we

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.680
 see each

00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.120
 other as

00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:18.620
 partners.

00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.900
 So what is

00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:23.160
 it that

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:23.740
 threatens our

00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:24.440
 unity and

00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:24.940
 partnership?

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.520
 Broadly

00:20:26.520 --> 00:20:26.940
 speaking,

00:20:27.060 --> 00:20:27.560
 it is always

00:20:27.560 --> 00:20:27.940
 the three

00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.420
 enemies of

00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:28.880
 the Christian,

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:29.759
 the world,

00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:30.320
 the flesh and

00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:30.720
 the devil.

00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:31.900
 More

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:32.540
 specifically,

00:20:32.820 --> 00:20:33.200
 there are a

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.920
 few things,

00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:35.480
 but in one

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:35.940
 way or another,

00:20:36.060 --> 00:20:36.740
 I believe

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.120
 they're sort

00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:37.600
 of attached

00:20:37.600 --> 00:20:38.620
 to a common

00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:39.160
 underlying

00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:39.840
 issue.

00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.640
 Longevity

00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:41.920
 and

00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:42.480
 effectiveness

00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.120
 equals

00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:43.640
 rights.

00:20:46.320 --> 00:20:46.780
 In other

00:20:46.780 --> 00:20:47.180
 words,

00:20:47.800 --> 00:20:48.340
 those who

00:20:48.340 --> 00:20:48.600
 have a

00:20:48.600 --> 00:20:49.320
 history are

00:20:49.320 --> 00:20:49.880
 more equal

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.620
 than others.

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.240
 It can

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:52.920
 express itself

00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:53.280
 in many

00:20:53.280 --> 00:20:53.800
 ways.

00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.000
 Those born

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.280
 in this

00:20:55.280 --> 00:20:55.840
 country have

00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.380
 more rights

00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:56.800
 than those

00:20:56.800 --> 00:20:57.200
 who moved

00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.620
 here two

00:20:57.620 --> 00:20:58.220
 years ago.

00:20:59.180 --> 00:20:59.800
 The oldest

00:20:59.800 --> 00:21:00.460
 members have

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:00.980
 more rights

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.220
 than the

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:01.520
 younger.

00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:02.600
 The oldest

00:21:02.600 --> 00:21:03.280
 congregation

00:21:03.280 --> 00:21:04.020
 more rights

00:21:04.020 --> 00:21:04.320
 than the

00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:04.580
 newest

00:21:04.580 --> 00:21:05.340
 congregation.

00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:06.580
 The

00:21:06.580 --> 00:21:08.220
 bigger

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.900
 congregation

00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:09.520
 more rights

00:21:09.520 --> 00:21:09.759
 than the

00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.040
 smaller

00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:10.759
 congregation.

00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:11.639
 Those

00:21:11.639 --> 00:21:11.899
 more

00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:12.299
 effective

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.559
 in

00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:12.980
 ministry

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.319
 more

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:13.680
 rights

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:13.839
 than

00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.099
 those

00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:14.319
 just

00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:14.720
 starting

00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.079
 out.

00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.220
 Those

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.220
 attending

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:17.619
 here the

00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:17.920
 longest

00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:18.599
 more rights

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.000
 than those

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.200
 who have

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.819
 just joined.

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:20.740
 Those

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.000
 being

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.399
 Christian

00:21:21.399 --> 00:21:21.980
 for 70

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.319
 years

00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:22.879
 more equal

00:21:22.879 --> 00:21:23.420
 than those

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:23.639
 who have

00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:24.059
 just come

00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.680
 to Christ.

00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:26.579
 It is so

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.119
 easy to

00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:27.720
 start

00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:30.879
 in the

00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.279
 vineyard

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.339
 acknowledging

00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:32.980
 that I'm

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.500
 a one

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:33.960
 hour

00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.659
 worker at

00:21:34.659 --> 00:21:35.039
 the end

00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:35.240
 of the

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.779
 day in

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:35.940
 the

00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.359
 vineyard

00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:37.179
 and

00:21:37.179 --> 00:21:37.359
 then

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:38.039
 eventually

00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:38.959
 over

00:21:38.959 --> 00:21:39.500
 time

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.179
 start

00:21:40.179 --> 00:21:40.819
 operating

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.359
 as if

00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:41.619
 I've

00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:41.939
 done a

00:21:41.939 --> 00:21:42.199
 full

00:21:42.199 --> 00:21:42.679
 day's

00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:43.079
 work

00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:43.379
 and

00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:43.919
 deserve

00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:44.379
 a full

00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:44.839
 day's

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.119
 pay.

00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:47.959
 It is

00:21:47.959 --> 00:21:48.299
 subtle

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.639
 and it

00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:49.939
 happens

00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:50.419
 slowly

00:21:50.419 --> 00:21:51.679
 but we

00:21:51.679 --> 00:21:52.159
 can stop

00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:52.859
 relating to

00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.339
 each other

00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:53.699
 on the

00:21:53.699 --> 00:21:54.019
 basis

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:55.019
 of grace.

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.779
 It is

00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.139
 therefore

00:21:57.139 --> 00:21:57.699
 crucial

00:21:57.699 --> 00:21:58.799
 that we

00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.459
 never lose

00:21:59.459 --> 00:22:00.039
 sight of

00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:00.479
 the gospel

00:22:00.479 --> 00:22:00.979
 of grace

00:22:00.979 --> 00:22:01.339
 as a

00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:01.699
 church.

00:22:02.699 --> 00:22:02.959
 Grace

00:22:02.959 --> 00:22:03.759
 reminds me

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.299
 that I

00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:04.879
 am a

00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:05.259
 beggar

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:05.619
 at the

00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:05.900
 foot of

00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.480
 the cross

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.220
 and I

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:07.379
 am

00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:07.680
 therefore

00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.640
 consistently

00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.220
 dependent

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.980
 upon God

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.660
 and I

00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:10.940
 am no

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.339
 different

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:11.839
 than you.

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:12.940
 Grace

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.759
 reminds me

00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.059
 that I

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.579
 have no

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.420
 more rights

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:15.940
 than you,

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:16.859
 no more

00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:17.400
 privileges,

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.059
 I am

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.740
 not more

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.299
 equal.

00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:20.259
 Grace

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.259
 reminds me

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.819
 that I

00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.160
 need to

00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:22.980
 consistently

00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.920
 go downward

00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.700
 in humility

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.519
 as I

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.160
 interact

00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:26.559
 with you

00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.119
 day by

00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:27.480
 day.

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:28.759
 Grace

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.119
 ought to

00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:29.660
 lead me

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.359
 to rejoice

00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:31.299
 as more

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.039
 people come

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.440
 into the

00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:32.779
 fellowship

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.960
 believers

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.779
 and get

00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.299
 involved

00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:35.819
 and open

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.220
 up new

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:36.899
 opportunities

00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:37.759
 for us

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.420
 in ministry.

00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:39.240
 I ought to

00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.680
 rejoice

00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:41.019
 because that

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.079
 is partnership

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.399
 and it is

00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:43.779
 the one

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.339
 thing that

00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:45.119
 God uses

00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.000
 to advance

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.740
 the gospel

00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.759
 amongst us

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.619
 and beyond

00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:49.099
 us.

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.059
 And so

00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:50.539
 friends,

00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:51.420
 Hope Anglican

00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.059
 Church no

00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:53.359
 longer exists.

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.480
 At the

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:57.960
 beginning of

00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.779
 January this

00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.200
 year,

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.000
 we were

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.539
 all St.

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:02.900
 Paul's

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.480
 Chatswood.

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.660
 St.

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.039
 Paul's

00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.480
 Chatswood

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.400
 changed on

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.000
 that day,

00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:09.539
 the 1st

00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.380
 of January

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:12.000
 2010,

00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:13.339
 it changed

00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:15.259
 as we

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:15.839
 entered into

00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:16.220
 a new

00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:16.799
 partnership

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.299
 with new

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:17.900
 brothers and

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.940
 sisters who

00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:19.579
 were not

00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.559
 less than

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.119
 us.

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.720
 Things were

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.180
 different from

00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:25.740
 that moment

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.240
 and what

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:26.839
 family does

00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:27.299
 not work

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:27.819
 like that?

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:30.460
 when Phoebe

00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.099
 entered our

00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:32.000
 family just

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.799
 over a year

00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.220
 ago,

00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:34.279
 Isabel was

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:34.819
 not more

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.379
 equal than

00:23:35.379 --> 00:23:35.779
 Phoebe

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:37.139
 just because

00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:37.579
 she was

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.460
 there first.

00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:43.059
 To treat

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.539
 her,

00:23:43.939 --> 00:23:44.419
 Phoebe that

00:23:44.419 --> 00:23:44.740
 is,

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.399
 as number

00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:46.439
 two and

00:23:46.439 --> 00:23:47.220
 not equally

00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:48.019
 loved and

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.799
 adored would

00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:50.019
 create enormous

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.079
 tensions and

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.339
 difficulties as

00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:52.939
 our family

00:23:52.939 --> 00:23:53.299
 grew.

00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:58.139
 and a

00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:58.399
 lot of

00:23:58.399 --> 00:23:58.819
 expensive

00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.639
 counsellors in

00:23:59.639 --> 00:23:59.980
 years to

00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.240
 come.

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.460
 And so

00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:07.019
 the danger

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.359
 in the

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.000
 amalgamation

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.519
 is to

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.019
 strongly

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.799
 affirm that

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.419
 hope no

00:24:10.419 --> 00:24:11.460
 longer exists

00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:13.339
 but then to

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.059
 expect nothing

00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:14.899
 to change in

00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:15.200
 the St.

00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:15.480
 Paul's

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:15.899
 family.

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.599
 That is to

00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.339
 expect those

00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:20.639
 who have

00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:21.619
 come to

00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:22.480
 partner with

00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:24.079
 us to

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.860
 just fit

00:24:24.860 --> 00:24:25.440
 into our

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:25.920
 ongoing

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.720
 ministry and

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.319
 agenda and

00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:27.940
 program.

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.079
 Woohoo!

00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:29.839
 You've

00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.420
 bolstered our

00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:30.940
 numbers and

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.420
 given us a

00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:31.839
 few more

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.339
 dollars but

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:32.799
 just stay

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.279
 over there

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:33.620
 and you'll

00:24:33.620 --> 00:24:33.980
 learn the

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.480
 ropes soon

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:34.819
 enough.

00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:38.980
 Because the

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:39.620
 name and

00:24:39.620 --> 00:24:40.319
 the facilities

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:40.720
 of St.

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.279
 Paul's was

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.559
 retained in

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.120
 the merger

00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:44.440
 doesn't mean

00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.000
 that everything

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.799
 else was.

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.360
 And so on

00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:50.140
 another note

00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:53.320
 our Chinese

00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:54.380
 ministries are

00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:55.180
 no longer the

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:55.720
 little brothers

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.540
 amongst us.

00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:00.620
 There is

00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:01.000
 some very

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.540
 significant

00:25:01.540 --> 00:25:02.020
 ministry

00:25:02.020 --> 00:25:02.420
 happening

00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.000
 amongst our

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.400
 Chinese

00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.360
 congregations.

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.240
 And in

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:06.759
 case you are

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.940
 unaware our

00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.580
 country is

00:25:08.580 --> 00:25:09.240
 becoming more

00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:09.520
 and more

00:25:09.520 --> 00:25:09.900
 ethnic.

00:25:12.060 --> 00:25:13.840
 By 2050

00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:16.860
 only 35%

00:25:16.860 --> 00:25:17.240
 of our

00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:18.700
 country will

00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:19.259
 come from

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.720
 an Anglo

00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.319
 background.

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.200
 And I

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:22.840
 suspect the

00:25:22.840 --> 00:25:23.480
 ratio in

00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:23.980
 chats would

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.720
 be significantly

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:26.440
 higher than

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:28.019
 say Narrabri.

00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.220
 And

00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:33.519
 therefore

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.120
 brothers and

00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:35.259
 sisters if

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.720
 that is the

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.180
 direction of

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:36.860
 our country

00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:38.120
 we need to

00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:39.039
 be repositioned

00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:39.480
 and aligning

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.120
 and resourcing

00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:40.759
 our ministries

00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.319
 accordingly.

00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.000
 In

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.740
 preparation what

00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.319
 God might do

00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:45.940
 amongst us in

00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.640
 40 years.

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:48.220
 And so

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:49.020
 today as

00:25:49.020 --> 00:25:49.460
 Brian has

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:49.820
 said we

00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:50.259
 launch a

00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:50.740
 new logo

00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.220
 for St

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:51.780
 Paul's.

00:25:52.280 --> 00:25:52.640
 At the

00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:52.940
 centre of

00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.420
 this logo

00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:53.900
 is the

00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:55.280
 cross and

00:25:55.280 --> 00:25:55.720
 it is the

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.200
 cross that

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:56.620
 is drawing

00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.160
 us together

00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:57.800
 in fellowship.

00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.140
 Lots of

00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.560
 people,

00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:01.040
 different people

00:26:01.040 --> 00:26:02.060
 from different

00:26:02.060 --> 00:26:03.220
 backgrounds and

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.020
 different places

00:26:04.020 --> 00:26:04.860
 coming together

00:26:04.860 --> 00:26:05.580
 in partnership

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:06.280
 and unity

00:26:06.280 --> 00:26:07.580
 because of

00:26:07.580 --> 00:26:08.060
 the gospel

00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:08.780
 of grace

00:26:08.780 --> 00:26:09.680
 of our

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.180
 Lord Jesus

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:10.740
 Christ.

00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:11.759
 The closer

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.440
 we get to

00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.040
 the gospel

00:26:13.040 --> 00:26:13.660
 of grace,

00:26:13.660 --> 00:26:14.200
 the closer

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:15.600
 we get to

00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:16.279
 the cross

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.300
 the greater

00:26:17.300 --> 00:26:18.140
 the intensity

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:18.980
 of partnership.

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.420
 To live

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.200
 that life,

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.640
 a life worthy

00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:24.360
 of the gospel

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:25.200
 in partnership

00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.620
 takes fearless

00:26:26.620 --> 00:26:27.400
 courage and

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:27.980
 sacrifice.

00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:30.060
 It means

00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:30.360
 that I

00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:31.160
 consistently

00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:32.779
 lay aside

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.600
 myself as

00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:34.259
 an individual

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:35.400
 for the

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:35.960
 sake of the

00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:36.740
 advancement of

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.340
 the gospel

00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:38.580
 and the

00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:39.040
 glory of

00:26:39.040 --> 00:26:39.380
 God.

00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:40.020
 God

00:26:40.020 --> 00:26:42.200
 and so

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.000
 let us

00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.780
 allow the

00:26:43.780 --> 00:26:44.420
 apostle Paul

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.180
 to realign

00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:45.780
 us again

00:26:45.780 --> 00:26:46.460
 and challenge

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:46.740
 us.

00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:47.600
 Verse 14

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:49.140
 Because of

00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.880
 my chains

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:50.480
 most of the

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.020
 brothers in

00:26:51.020 --> 00:26:51.480
 the Lord

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:51.880
 have been

00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:52.620
 encouraged to

00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:53.040
 speak the

00:26:53.040 --> 00:26:53.360
 word of

00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:53.860
 God more

00:26:53.860 --> 00:26:54.580
 courageously

00:26:54.580 --> 00:26:55.740
 and fearlessly.

00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.140
 It is true

00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:57.560
 that some

00:26:57.560 --> 00:26:58.260
 preach Christ

00:26:58.260 --> 00:26:58.920
 out of envy

00:26:58.920 --> 00:27:00.040
 and rivalry

00:27:00.040 --> 00:27:00.760
 but others

00:27:00.760 --> 00:27:01.460
 out of good

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:01.800
 will.

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:02.660
 And again

00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.820
 in verse 17

00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:04.460
 talking about

00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:04.940
 those with

00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.600
 wrong motives

00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:06.180
 he says

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:07.360
 they preach

00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:08.500
 Christ out of

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.559
 selfish ambition

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:11.240
 not sincerely

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.460
 supposing they

00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.140
 can stir up

00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:13.660
 trouble for

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.720
 me while I

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.039
 am in

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.599
 chains.

00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:17.079
 So here's

00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:18.099
 Paul in

00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:19.440
 prison and

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.799
 some say we

00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.640
 can make life

00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:22.660
 even worse for

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.359
 Paul if we

00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:24.259
 preach this

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.880
 message.

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.720
 We can get

00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.440
 him even into

00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:27.380
 more trouble if

00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:28.000
 we preach the

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.380
 gospel.

00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:31.000
 How do you

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.519
 think you'd

00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:31.799
 feel?

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:33.940
 You're knocked

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.440
 down,

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.240
 circumstances are

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.059
 against you

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:38.019
 and someone

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.480
 thinks he's

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:38.819
 here's a

00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.660
 great opportunity

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.019
 to stick

00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:40.500
 the boot

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:40.759
 in.

00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.339
 In fact

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.799
 we may

00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.180
 even end

00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:42.440
 up with

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:42.779
 his head

00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:43.039
 on a

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.339
 platter.

00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:46.180
 Don't you

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.559
 think you'd

00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.339
 want revenge?

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:48.860
 Don't you

00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.279
 think you'd

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.259
 be calling

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:50.839
 on God?

00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.519
 Fix this

00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.279
 problem God.

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.700
 Don't you

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.200
 think you'd

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.799
 want God

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.500
 to judge

00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.140
 these people

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.539
 with their

00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:56.940
 motives?

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.120
 Don't you?

00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.360
 Not Paul

00:28:03.360 --> 00:28:04.259
 verse 18

00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.960
 God

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.539
 but what

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.700
 does it

00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.299
 matter?

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:08.960
 The

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.500
 important

00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.119
 thing that

00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:10.500
 is in

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.259
 every way

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.799
 whether from

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.220
 false

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.879
 motives or

00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:13.339
 true,

00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:15.140
 Christ is

00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:15.940
 preached

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:17.500
 and therefore

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.980
 I rejoice.

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:22.119
 He doesn't

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:22.700
 complain,

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.619
 he's not

00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:24.359
 angry with

00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.039
 God about

00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.220
 it,

00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:25.920
 he doesn't

00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.680
 curse those

00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:26.859
 who are

00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:27.460
 against him,

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.240
 he doesn't

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:29.160
 even tolerate

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.480
 it,

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.099
 he in fact

00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:31.379
 rejoices that

00:28:31.379 --> 00:28:32.019
 Christ is

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:33.319
 preached as

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:33.740
 he is

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.879
 rotting in

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.439
 a prison

00:28:35.439 --> 00:28:35.859
 cell.

00:28:36.159 --> 00:28:36.779
 What is

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.639
 wrong with

00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:38.419
 this guy?

00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:43.019
 He isn't

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.719
 worried about

00:28:43.719 --> 00:28:44.559
 his pride,

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:45.699
 he isn't

00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:46.339
 worried about

00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:47.299
 his reputation,

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.259
 he isn't

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.000
 worried about

00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:49.719
 his position

00:28:49.719 --> 00:28:50.139
 as an

00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:50.519
 apostle,

00:28:51.379 --> 00:28:51.819
 he isn't

00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.699
 concerned for

00:28:52.699 --> 00:28:53.480
 his comfort,

00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:54.679
 he isn't

00:28:54.679 --> 00:28:55.659
 concerned for

00:28:55.659 --> 00:28:56.279
 his own

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:56.939
 advancement,

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.099
 he doesn't

00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.959
 logically think

00:28:58.959 --> 00:28:59.399
 God,

00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.059
 I'm an

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.899
 apostle to

00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:01.279
 take the

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.819
 gospel to

00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.500
 the nations,

00:29:02.899 --> 00:29:03.740
 surely this

00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.079
 is not

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:04.480
 part of

00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.039
 your plan.

00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.419
 He is

00:29:09.419 --> 00:29:10.159
 concerned only

00:29:10.159 --> 00:29:10.799
 for Jesus,

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.299
 he is

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:12.859
 concerned with

00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:13.559
 the reputation

00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.079
 of the Lord

00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.379
 Jesus,

00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:14.700
 he is

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.279
 concerned that

00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:15.859
 other people

00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:16.720
 hear about

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.039
 Jesus,

00:29:17.179 --> 00:29:17.399
 he is

00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:17.919
 concerned that

00:29:17.919 --> 00:29:18.440
 the gospel

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.519
 of Christ

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:21.039
 is advanced.

00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.480
 Paul has

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.119
 been so

00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:25.679
 gripped by

00:29:25.679 --> 00:29:26.519
 God's grace

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.019
 to him

00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.759
 through Jesus,

00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:29.119
 so impacted

00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:29.579
 by this

00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:30.240
 new lease

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.759
 on life

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.000
 through

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.419
 Jesus,

00:29:31.419 --> 00:29:32.199
 that he

00:29:32.199 --> 00:29:32.819
 is prepared

00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:33.859
 to sacrifice

00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:34.720
 his own

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.339
 desires,

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:35.980
 his will,

00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:36.699
 his pride,

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.619
 his reputation,

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.679
 even his

00:29:38.679 --> 00:29:39.559
 own life,

00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.439
 he lays it

00:29:40.439 --> 00:29:41.279
 all on the

00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:41.919
 line for

00:29:41.919 --> 00:29:42.599
 the glory

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:42.859
 of the

00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.439
 Lord Jesus.

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.059
 Everything

00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:45.659
 in life

00:29:45.659 --> 00:29:46.379
 now revolves

00:29:46.379 --> 00:29:47.159
 around Jesus,

00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:47.980
 not Paul.

00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:49.079
 It is all

00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:49.819
 about Jesus

00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.720
 and not

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.159
 Paul.

00:29:52.419 --> 00:29:52.960
 His life

00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.359
 has been

00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.319
 reorientated

00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:54.639
 to be

00:29:54.639 --> 00:29:55.119
 thoroughly

00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:55.960
 gospel-centered.

00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.159
 His primary

00:29:57.159 --> 00:29:57.939
 concern is

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.700
 the advancement

00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.080
 of the

00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.480
 gospel.

00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:00.779
 The advancement

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.259
 of the

00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:01.920
 gospel means

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.640
 laying aside

00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.440
 my personal

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:03.880
 glory,

00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:05.019
 my comfort,

00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:05.700
 so that

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.580
 God might

00:30:06.580 --> 00:30:07.039
 become

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:07.740
 great.

00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:13.820
 But that's

00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:14.279
 not all.

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.759
 There's

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.059
 more.

00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:16.779
 Verse 20,

00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:30.319
 Paul says

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:30.700
 that whatever

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.460
 happens,

00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:32.500
 may the

00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.180
 Lord Jesus

00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:34.139
 Christ be

00:30:34.139 --> 00:30:34.720
 exalted,

00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:36.920
 whether that

00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:37.619
 be in my

00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:39.059
 life or

00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.559
 whether it

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.259
 be in my

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.559
 death.

00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:40.839
 You see

00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:41.119
 what he's

00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:41.639
 saying there?

00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:44.400
 If it

00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:44.840
 means I

00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:45.340
 live or

00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:45.720
 it means

00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.180
 I die,

00:30:46.280 --> 00:30:46.700
 whatever it

00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.020
 takes,

00:30:47.080 --> 00:30:47.300
 that the

00:30:47.300 --> 00:30:47.860
 gospel might

00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.440
 be advanced

00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:48.960
 and glory

00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:49.380
 might be

00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:49.780
 made to

00:30:49.780 --> 00:30:50.259
 Jesus.

00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:55.800
 What Paul

00:30:55.800 --> 00:30:56.259
 is saying

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:56.759
 here is

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.360
 that it's

00:30:57.360 --> 00:30:58.160
 all about

00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:58.660
 life and

00:30:58.660 --> 00:30:59.000
 death.

00:30:59.200 --> 00:30:59.560
 This is

00:30:59.560 --> 00:30:59.980
 not a

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.240
 trivial

00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:00.540
 matter,

00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:01.020
 friends.

00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:02.759
 Verse 22

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.380
 gives us a

00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:03.740
 glimpse of

00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.120
 how Paul

00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:04.640
 is thinking.

00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:05.420
 If I'm

00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:05.780
 to go on

00:31:05.780 --> 00:31:06.140
 living in

00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.500
 the body,

00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:06.880
 this will

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.480
 mean fruitful

00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:08.020
 labour for

00:31:08.020 --> 00:31:08.940
 me, yet

00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.340
 what shall

00:31:09.340 --> 00:31:10.080
 I choose?

00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:10.800
 I do not

00:31:10.800 --> 00:31:11.100
 know.

00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:12.040
 I am

00:31:12.040 --> 00:31:12.700
 torn between

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:13.060
 the two.

00:31:13.140 --> 00:31:13.600
 I desire

00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:14.140
 to depart

00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:14.380
 to be

00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:14.900
 with Christ,

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.300
 which is

00:31:15.300 --> 00:31:15.920
 better by

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:16.920
 far, but

00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:17.380
 it is more

00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:18.060
 necessary for

00:31:18.060 --> 00:31:18.500
 you that I

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:18.960
 remain in

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.340
 the body.

00:31:20.320 --> 00:31:20.840
 Convinced of

00:31:20.840 --> 00:31:21.200
 this, I

00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:21.680
 know that I

00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.259
 will remain

00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:22.580
 and I

00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:23.080
 will continue

00:31:23.080 --> 00:31:23.500
 with all

00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:23.960
 of you for

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.700
 your progress

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.720
 and joy

00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.180
 in the

00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:26.540
 faith.

00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.420
 And so

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:27.820
 what Paul

00:31:27.820 --> 00:31:28.240
 is doing

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:28.820
 is he sits

00:31:28.820 --> 00:31:29.220
 there and

00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:29.620
 rots in

00:31:29.620 --> 00:31:30.259
 this prison,

00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.160
 he looks

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:31.440
 at his

00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:31.880
 life and

00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:32.300
 he thinks,

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.000
 if I

00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.680
 live,

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.259
 then it

00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.920
 means more

00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:35.720
 opportunities

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.960
 to do

00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:37.320
 what I

00:31:37.320 --> 00:31:37.820
 can for

00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:38.380
 the gospel

00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:39.200
 to advance,

00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.140
 more

00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:41.040
 opportunities to

00:31:41.040 --> 00:31:41.620
 make God

00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.359
 look great,

00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:43.219
 but if I

00:31:43.219 --> 00:31:44.000
 die, I

00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:44.919
 will be in

00:31:44.919 --> 00:31:45.319
 heaven.

00:31:45.719 --> 00:31:46.239
 No more

00:31:46.239 --> 00:31:47.219
 prison, no

00:31:47.219 --> 00:31:47.919
 more chains,

00:31:48.099 --> 00:31:48.539
 no more

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.379
 ridiculed, no

00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:50.299
 more persecution.

00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.339
 I will be

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.339
 with Jesus and

00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:53.279
 that is clearly

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.579
 better by far.

00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:54.659
 God.

00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.500
 He knows in

00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:58.879
 the end that

00:31:58.879 --> 00:31:59.439
 it's all in

00:31:59.439 --> 00:32:00.119
 God's hands,

00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.480
 but he

00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.759
 says, if I'm

00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.059
 going to

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:04.179
 choose, what

00:32:04.179 --> 00:32:04.559
 will I

00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.159
 choose?

00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:09.319
 He says, I

00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:09.720
 would choose

00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.179
 more of the

00:32:10.179 --> 00:32:10.439
 same.

00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:12.960
 Paul says,

00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.619
 it is more

00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:14.379
 important for

00:32:14.379 --> 00:32:15.419
 you that I

00:32:15.419 --> 00:32:16.079
 remain.

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:17.720
 Even as he

00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.379
 rots in

00:32:18.379 --> 00:32:19.399
 prison and

00:32:19.399 --> 00:32:20.059
 he faces

00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:21.279
 death, he's

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.139
 not concerned

00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:22.900
 with himself.

00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:24.680
 He sees

00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:25.220
 that for him

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:25.759
 to go on

00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.380
 living is

00:32:26.380 --> 00:32:26.800
 all about

00:32:26.800 --> 00:32:27.780
 partnership in

00:32:27.780 --> 00:32:28.380
 the advancement

00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:28.800
 of the

00:32:28.800 --> 00:32:29.160
 gospel.

00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.040
 And if it

00:32:30.040 --> 00:32:30.660
 means that he

00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:31.160
 rots in

00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:31.960
 prison so the

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:32.640
 gospel would be

00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:33.780
 advanced, then

00:32:33.780 --> 00:32:34.640
 so be it.

00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:39.400
 if I have

00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:39.980
 the choice

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.800
 right now, he

00:32:40.800 --> 00:32:41.900
 says, in

00:32:41.900 --> 00:32:42.440
 that moment

00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:43.400
 between eternal

00:32:43.400 --> 00:32:45.140
 glory and

00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:46.040
 more suffering

00:32:46.040 --> 00:32:46.660
 and partnership

00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:46.940
 for the

00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:47.460
 advancement of

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:47.860
 the gospel,

00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.500
 then right

00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:49.340
 now, for

00:32:49.340 --> 00:32:50.040
 your sakes,

00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.500
 church at

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.200
 Philippi, you

00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:51.840
 need me to

00:32:51.840 --> 00:32:52.360
 suffer more.

00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:54.140
 And so

00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:54.620
 therefore I

00:32:54.620 --> 00:32:54.800
 will.

00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.940
 Because it's

00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:00.400
 not about

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:00.720
 him.

00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:05.559
 verse 21

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:07.220
 is Paul's

00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:08.880
 grace-driven

00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:09.519
 outlook on

00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.160
 life in a

00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:10.480
 nutshell.

00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.180
 For to me,

00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.640
 to live is

00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:15.160
 Christ and

00:33:15.160 --> 00:33:15.900
 to die is

00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:16.200
 gain.

00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:18.799
 When I

00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:19.339
 first became

00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:19.860
 a Christian,

00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:21.180
 I bought

00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:21.740
 this Bible.

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.500
 And I'm

00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:24.860
 not sure what

00:33:24.860 --> 00:33:25.100
 you, I

00:33:25.100 --> 00:33:25.279
 think you

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.620
 just go and

00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:25.960
 get a big

00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.299
 Bible.

00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:27.100
 I think when

00:33:27.100 --> 00:33:27.380
 you first

00:33:27.380 --> 00:33:27.759
 become a

00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:27.980
 Christian,

00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:28.420
 show your

00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:28.860
 keenness.

00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:32.240
 And I

00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:32.899
 wrote at

00:33:32.899 --> 00:33:33.719
 the beginning

00:33:33.719 --> 00:33:34.699
 my very

00:33:34.699 --> 00:33:35.319
 first memory

00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:35.740
 verse.

00:33:36.679 --> 00:33:37.159
 For to me,

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.859
 to live is

00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:39.159
 Christ and

00:33:39.159 --> 00:33:39.859
 to die is

00:33:39.859 --> 00:33:40.179
 gain.

00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.500
 I wanted a

00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:43.259
 verse that

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:43.699
 was going to

00:33:43.699 --> 00:33:44.459
 summarise my

00:33:44.459 --> 00:33:44.879
 life.

00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.439
 Something that

00:33:46.439 --> 00:33:46.699
 I would

00:33:46.699 --> 00:33:47.699
 proudly put on

00:33:47.699 --> 00:33:48.439
 a tombstone

00:33:48.439 --> 00:33:49.519
 or someone

00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:49.819
 else would

00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.139
 put on a

00:33:50.139 --> 00:33:50.339
 tombstone

00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:50.799
 for me.

00:33:52.939 --> 00:33:53.619
 That would

00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:53.879
 be a

00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:54.139
 miracle.

00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.339
 To live

00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:57.219
 is Christ,

00:33:57.479 --> 00:33:58.039
 to die is

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.399
 gain,

00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.100
 and under

00:33:59.100 --> 00:33:59.680
 that I

00:33:59.680 --> 00:33:59.980
 have written

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.700
 these words,

00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:02.820
 engage the

00:34:02.820 --> 00:34:03.220
 pain,

00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:04.820
 don't run.

00:34:06.340 --> 00:34:06.980
 Communicate

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.480
 the gospel,

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.599
 protect the

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:09.980
 gospel,

00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:11.700
 adorn the

00:34:11.700 --> 00:34:12.079
 gospel,

00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:13.780
 suffer for

00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:14.220
 the gospel.

00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:18.039
 The

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.579
 gospel of

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.500
 grace has

00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.160
 so turned

00:34:20.160 --> 00:34:21.139
 around Paul's

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:22.180
 life that

00:34:22.180 --> 00:34:22.579
 he is now

00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:23.420
 partnering with

00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:23.880
 those he

00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:24.559
 persecuted.

00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:25.820
 It has

00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:26.539
 so turned

00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.139
 his life

00:34:27.139 --> 00:34:27.760
 around that

00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:28.140
 his whole

00:34:28.140 --> 00:34:28.640
 perspective

00:34:28.640 --> 00:34:29.300
 on life

00:34:29.300 --> 00:34:29.940
 and death

00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:30.760
 is all

00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:31.060
 about

00:34:31.060 --> 00:34:31.500
 Jesus.

00:34:32.220 --> 00:34:32.640
 For to

00:34:32.640 --> 00:34:33.040
 me,

00:34:33.580 --> 00:34:34.140
 to live

00:34:34.140 --> 00:34:35.160
 life is

00:34:35.160 --> 00:34:36.080
 all about

00:34:36.080 --> 00:34:36.520
 Jesus,

00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:38.000
 and to

00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:38.900
 die is

00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:39.460
 just to

00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.160
 get more

00:34:40.160 --> 00:34:41.020
 of Jesus.

00:34:45.020 --> 00:34:45.740
 Is it

00:34:45.740 --> 00:34:46.240
 any wonder

00:34:46.240 --> 00:34:46.600
 that he

00:34:46.600 --> 00:34:47.940
 calls this

00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:48.480
 church at

00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.160
 Philippi,

00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:49.840
 and he

00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:50.780
 calls us

00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:51.380
 and every

00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:51.940
 generation

00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.820
 since then

00:34:52.820 --> 00:34:53.600
 to live

00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:54.559
 in such

00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.099
 a way

00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:56.279
 that Jesus

00:34:56.279 --> 00:34:56.900
 looks

00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.739
 spectacular?

00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.380
 Could you

00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:01.980
 say that?

00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:03.839
 Could you

00:35:03.839 --> 00:35:04.619
 read those

00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:05.420
 words and

00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:05.980
 for them to

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:06.900
 ring true for

00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:07.360
 the way that

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:08.039
 you view your

00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:09.219
 life and

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:09.940
 your death?

00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.980
 Maybe your

00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:13.819
 wording is

00:35:13.819 --> 00:35:15.039
 more like

00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:16.279
 to me to

00:35:16.279 --> 00:35:17.500
 live and

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.279
 to die would

00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:19.799
 be really

00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:20.420
 inconvenient

00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:21.080
 right now.

00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:23.960
 Maybe you've

00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.760
 got plans,

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:25.519
 you've got

00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:25.940
 things you

00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:26.400
 want to do

00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:26.820
 with your

00:35:26.820 --> 00:35:27.140
 life,

00:35:27.240 --> 00:35:27.580
 lots of

00:35:27.580 --> 00:35:27.960
 things to

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.519
 achieve,

00:35:29.220 --> 00:35:30.380
 things to

00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:31.039
 achieve and

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.600
 to advance

00:35:31.600 --> 00:35:31.960
 for your

00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.500
 own gain.

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.260
 Maybe Jesus

00:35:35.260 --> 00:35:36.039
 doesn't fit in

00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:36.460
 with some of

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.160
 those plans and

00:35:37.160 --> 00:35:37.640
 maybe you want

00:35:37.640 --> 00:35:38.060
 to do some

00:35:38.060 --> 00:35:38.940
 things first and

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:39.760
 then maybe

00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:40.360
 hand over to

00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:40.820
 Jesus a little

00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:41.539
 bit later once

00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:42.580
 you've advanced

00:35:42.580 --> 00:35:43.620
 yourself.

00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:45.099
 and if that

00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:45.619
 is you,

00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:47.400
 then death

00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:47.839
 is the

00:35:47.839 --> 00:35:48.539
 ultimate thing

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.119
 for you to

00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:50.279
 avoid because

00:35:50.279 --> 00:35:51.039
 this is the

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:51.719
 thing that gets

00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:52.339
 in the way of

00:35:52.339 --> 00:35:52.779
 you getting

00:35:52.779 --> 00:35:53.420
 what you want

00:35:53.420 --> 00:35:54.159
 in your life.

00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:57.500
 And therefore

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.519
 courage and

00:35:58.519 --> 00:36:00.039
 fearlessness is

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:00.719
 not high on the

00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:02.019
 agenda in

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.639
 advancement of

00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:03.019
 the gospel.

00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:06.579
 This isn't how

00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:07.359
 Paul viewed his

00:36:07.359 --> 00:36:09.400
 life, all

00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:10.039
 because of the

00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:10.759
 gospel of grace.

00:36:10.859 --> 00:36:11.339
 It isn't how

00:36:11.339 --> 00:36:12.719
 any Christian

00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:13.139
 should view

00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:13.659
 their life.

00:36:13.759 --> 00:36:14.059
 We are meant

00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:14.539
 to have a

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.219
 commitment to

00:36:15.219 --> 00:36:16.359
 Jesus that

00:36:16.359 --> 00:36:18.719
 is sort of

00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:19.239
 until death

00:36:19.239 --> 00:36:19.879
 do us part,

00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:20.279
 if you know

00:36:20.279 --> 00:36:20.699
 what I mean.

00:36:23.719 --> 00:36:24.500
 Paul calls

00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:25.019
 us to stop

00:36:25.019 --> 00:36:25.739
 dating Jesus

00:36:25.739 --> 00:36:26.159
 and get

00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:26.519
 committed.

00:36:27.900 --> 00:36:29.119
 To live is

00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.579
 to live for

00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:30.179
 Jesus, to

00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:30.960
 die is to

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.420
 get even

00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:31.960
 more of

00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:32.239
 Jesus.

00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:34.759
 Such a

00:36:34.759 --> 00:36:35.400
 call to the

00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:35.879
 commitment of

00:36:35.879 --> 00:36:36.279
 the advancement

00:36:36.279 --> 00:36:37.019
 of the gospel

00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:37.639
 and the glory

00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:38.799
 of Christ has

00:36:38.799 --> 00:36:39.679
 led many people

00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:40.000
 to do

00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:40.699
 extraordinary

00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:41.859
 things over

00:36:41.859 --> 00:36:42.539
 the centuries,

00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:43.619
 to live

00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:44.559
 lives worthy

00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:45.259
 of the gospel.

00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:46.960
 There is a

00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:48.139
 great cloud of

00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:48.940
 witnesses before

00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:49.739
 us, friends,

00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:51.840
 and at this

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.500
 point in history

00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:53.519
 we stand on the

00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.059
 shoulders of

00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:54.940
 significant people

00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:55.619
 who have gone

00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:56.860
 before us in so

00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:58.539
 many ways, and

00:36:58.539 --> 00:36:59.000
 they are a

00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:00.059
 motivation and an

00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:01.059
 encouragement and a

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:02.019
 challenge to us.

00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:03.279
 For instance, in

00:37:03.279 --> 00:37:04.940
 1800, a young

00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:06.179
 19-year-old man

00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:06.920
 named Henry

00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:07.960
 Martin became a

00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:08.860
 Christian while

00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:09.460
 studying at

00:37:09.460 --> 00:37:10.460
 Cambridge University

00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:10.679
 University in

00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:10.920
 England.

00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:11.940
 He was

00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:12.720
 brilliant in

00:37:12.720 --> 00:37:13.539
 a variety of

00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:14.400
 areas including

00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:15.000
 mathematics,

00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:15.920
 philosophy, and

00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:16.400
 theology.

00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:19.440
 By just five

00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:21.240
 years later, after

00:37:21.240 --> 00:37:21.780
 becoming a

00:37:21.780 --> 00:37:23.380
 Christian, in

00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:25.119
 1805, and at

00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:25.920
 the age of

00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:28.480
 24, he left

00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:30.659
 everything, including

00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:31.460
 the love of his

00:37:31.460 --> 00:37:32.199
 life, Lydia

00:37:32.199 --> 00:37:32.880
 Grenfell.

00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:34.000
 He went

00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.760
 firstly to

00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:35.720
 India as a

00:37:35.720 --> 00:37:36.840
 missionary and

00:37:36.840 --> 00:37:37.500
 then on to

00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:38.500
 other countries.

00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:40.039
 The boat took

00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:41.280
 ten months to

00:37:41.280 --> 00:37:42.239
 get to India

00:37:42.239 --> 00:37:42.880
 and in the

00:37:42.880 --> 00:37:43.980
 process, he

00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:45.039
 became extremely

00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:46.300
 ill and almost

00:37:46.300 --> 00:37:46.860
 died.

00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:48.820
 He went on to

00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:49.360
 take the good

00:37:49.360 --> 00:37:50.280
 news about Jesus

00:37:50.280 --> 00:37:51.119
 to three other

00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:52.679
 countries and

00:37:52.679 --> 00:37:53.699
 translated the

00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:54.360
 Bible into

00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:54.820
 Arabic.

00:37:56.199 --> 00:37:57.199
 When he arrived

00:37:57.199 --> 00:37:58.179
 in India after

00:37:58.179 --> 00:37:58.900
 the ten-month

00:37:58.900 --> 00:38:00.079
 trip and nearly

00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:01.280
 dying, he said

00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:01.719
 this,

00:38:01.719 --> 00:38:14.359
 He did die

00:38:14.359 --> 00:38:16.179
 on the 16th

00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:16.659
 of October

00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:17.939
 1812, 12

00:38:17.939 --> 00:38:18.599
 years after

00:38:18.599 --> 00:38:19.159
 becoming a

00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:21.119
 Christian, at

00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:21.619
 the age of

00:38:21.619 --> 00:38:22.579
 31, sharing

00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:23.459
 Jesus with

00:38:23.459 --> 00:38:24.019
 Muslims in

00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:24.339
 Iran.

00:38:26.139 --> 00:38:26.839
 He had a

00:38:26.839 --> 00:38:27.279
 vision for

00:38:27.279 --> 00:38:27.879
 life and for

00:38:27.879 --> 00:38:28.199
 death.

00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:31.439
 If I die, I

00:38:31.439 --> 00:38:31.919
 die to be

00:38:31.919 --> 00:38:32.579
 happy, but if

00:38:32.579 --> 00:38:33.359
 I live, I

00:38:33.359 --> 00:38:34.039
 shall live to

00:38:34.039 --> 00:38:34.799
 the glory of

00:38:34.799 --> 00:38:35.739
 God alone.

00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:37.079
 It sounds

00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:37.939
 very familiar

00:38:37.939 --> 00:38:38.500
 to the

00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:39.359
 Apostle Paul's

00:38:39.359 --> 00:38:39.919
 words, whatever

00:38:39.919 --> 00:38:41.539
 happens, conduct

00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:42.619
 yourselves in a

00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:43.539
 manner worthy of

00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:44.239
 the gospel of

00:38:44.239 --> 00:38:45.279
 Christ for me to

00:38:45.279 --> 00:38:47.039
 live is Christ

00:38:47.039 --> 00:38:48.299
 and to die

00:38:48.299 --> 00:38:49.619
 is gain.

00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.559
 The conviction

00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:53.719
 that has gripped

00:38:53.719 --> 00:38:55.619
 me over recent

00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:57.179
 years is that

00:38:57.179 --> 00:38:58.739
 courage is at

00:38:58.739 --> 00:38:59.859
 the centre of

00:38:59.859 --> 00:39:00.639
 what it means

00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:01.739
 to live a

00:39:01.739 --> 00:39:03.039
 life worthy

00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:03.919
 of the gospel

00:39:03.919 --> 00:39:04.659
 of Christ.

00:39:06.419 --> 00:39:07.339
 Boldness in

00:39:07.339 --> 00:39:07.980
 the fear of

00:39:07.980 --> 00:39:08.980
 opposition is

00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:09.799
 at the heart

00:39:09.799 --> 00:39:10.419
 of being a

00:39:10.419 --> 00:39:10.779
 Christian.

00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:12.399
 It is not

00:39:12.399 --> 00:39:12.980
 an upper

00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:14.079
 level spirituality

00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:14.980
 for super

00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:15.559
 saints.

00:39:16.039 --> 00:39:16.699
 It is the

00:39:16.699 --> 00:39:17.960
 everyday requirement

00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:18.759
 of Christian

00:39:18.759 --> 00:39:19.159
 living.

00:39:20.799 --> 00:39:21.119
 And so

00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:24.159
 friends, it

00:39:24.159 --> 00:39:24.759
 is almost

00:39:24.759 --> 00:39:25.899
 one year since

00:39:25.899 --> 00:39:26.759
 I stood here

00:39:26.760 --> 00:39:27.220
 and launched

00:39:27.220 --> 00:39:28.140
 Vision 2020.

00:39:29.520 --> 00:39:30.340
 And at its

00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:31.780
 heart, it's a

00:39:31.780 --> 00:39:32.300
 vision that

00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:33.500
 desires to see

00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:34.260
 members of

00:39:34.260 --> 00:39:34.980
 St. Paul's

00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:37.040
 individually and

00:39:37.040 --> 00:39:37.920
 together living

00:39:37.920 --> 00:39:39.260
 lives worthy of

00:39:39.260 --> 00:39:40.120
 the gospel of

00:39:40.120 --> 00:39:40.620
 Christ.

00:39:41.320 --> 00:39:42.500
 It is a vision to

00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:44.400
 see Jesus made

00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:45.580
 great in this

00:39:45.580 --> 00:39:46.040
 area.

00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:47.400
 It's a vision that

00:39:47.400 --> 00:39:48.740
 is intended to

00:39:48.740 --> 00:39:50.180
 unite us for a

00:39:50.180 --> 00:39:50.980
 common purpose,

00:39:51.300 --> 00:39:51.860
 heading in a

00:39:51.860 --> 00:39:52.640
 common direction

00:39:52.640 --> 00:39:53.380
 with a common

00:39:53.380 --> 00:39:54.700
 goal, and that

00:39:54.699 --> 00:39:55.480
 is to make

00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:56.939
 Jesus look

00:39:56.939 --> 00:40:00.179
 great, for

00:40:00.179 --> 00:40:00.960
 him to be our

00:40:00.960 --> 00:40:01.839
 greatest treasure,

00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:05.079
 and for all

00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:05.599
 the world to

00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:06.079
 know it.

00:40:08.339 --> 00:40:09.859
 I believe it

00:40:09.859 --> 00:40:10.559
 says very

00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:11.659
 clearly who we

00:40:11.659 --> 00:40:12.419
 are meant to

00:40:12.419 --> 00:40:13.399
 be and what we

00:40:13.399 --> 00:40:14.159
 are on about.

00:40:15.139 --> 00:40:15.799
 And so I want

00:40:15.799 --> 00:40:16.899
 to ask you, how

00:40:16.899 --> 00:40:17.960
 has Vision 2020

00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:18.939
 shaped you in the

00:40:18.940 --> 00:40:19.860
 last 12 months?

00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:26.079
 How has life

00:40:26.079 --> 00:40:27.019
 changed for you?

00:40:29.500 --> 00:40:30.280
 What have you

00:40:30.280 --> 00:40:30.760
 sacrificed?

00:40:33.360 --> 00:40:34.480
 The great danger

00:40:34.480 --> 00:40:35.579
 for us as a

00:40:35.579 --> 00:40:36.420
 church is to hear

00:40:36.420 --> 00:40:37.139
 the language of

00:40:37.139 --> 00:40:39.000
 Vision 2020, even

00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:40.079
 use the language of

00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:41.159
 Vision 2020, and

00:40:41.159 --> 00:40:42.639
 just keep on as

00:40:42.639 --> 00:40:44.240
 individuals doing

00:40:44.240 --> 00:40:45.280
 what we've always

00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:46.260
 done and nothing

00:40:46.260 --> 00:40:46.780
 changes.

00:40:46.780 --> 00:40:48.200
 and we put it

00:40:48.200 --> 00:40:48.940
 all in the

00:40:48.940 --> 00:40:49.880
 veneer of a

00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:50.600
 Vision 2020

00:40:50.600 --> 00:40:51.280
 language.

00:40:56.060 --> 00:40:56.880
 That's not what's

00:40:56.880 --> 00:40:57.480
 been happening for

00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:58.340
 me in the last 12

00:40:58.340 --> 00:40:58.680
 months.

00:41:00.560 --> 00:41:01.560
 I asked the

00:41:01.560 --> 00:41:02.400
 senior staff a

00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:03.060
 couple of weeks

00:41:03.060 --> 00:41:05.040
 ago to give me

00:41:05.040 --> 00:41:07.840
 a commitment, as

00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:08.620
 far as they were

00:41:08.620 --> 00:41:09.560
 able to, under

00:41:09.560 --> 00:41:10.940
 God, to commit

00:41:10.940 --> 00:41:11.820
 their lives to

00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:12.660
 Vision 2020

00:41:12.660 --> 00:41:13.440
 until Vision,

00:41:13.740 --> 00:41:15.080
 until 2020.

00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:18.120
 I want their

00:41:18.120 --> 00:41:18.940
 partnership in the

00:41:18.940 --> 00:41:19.260
 gospel.

00:41:20.340 --> 00:41:21.340
 I need their

00:41:21.340 --> 00:41:22.080
 partnership in the

00:41:22.080 --> 00:41:22.380
 gospel.

00:41:23.780 --> 00:41:25.080
 But in asking for

00:41:25.080 --> 00:41:29.200
 that, I also, in

00:41:29.200 --> 00:41:30.640
 the process, said

00:41:30.640 --> 00:41:32.640
 that I need their

00:41:32.640 --> 00:41:34.480
 sacrifice in order

00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:35.180
 that the gospel

00:41:35.180 --> 00:41:36.019
 would be advanced,

00:41:36.120 --> 00:41:36.700
 that this vision

00:41:36.700 --> 00:41:37.420
 would be advanced

00:41:37.420 --> 00:41:38.320
 and realised under

00:41:38.320 --> 00:41:38.660
 God.

00:41:39.500 --> 00:41:40.460
 Whatever it takes,

00:41:40.500 --> 00:41:41.400
 I said, whatever it

00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:42.080
 takes for the next

00:41:42.080 --> 00:41:42.920
 10 years, will you

00:41:42.920 --> 00:41:43.260
 do it?

00:41:43.260 --> 00:41:46.120
 Whatever new role

00:41:46.120 --> 00:41:48.600
 you have to take

00:41:48.600 --> 00:41:49.840
 on or to give up,

00:41:50.560 --> 00:41:52.420
 an old one, we

00:41:52.420 --> 00:41:53.500
 will do it together

00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:54.880
 in order to not

00:41:54.880 --> 00:41:56.340
 stand in the way

00:41:56.340 --> 00:41:57.920
 of God growing his

00:41:57.920 --> 00:41:58.680
 church and the

00:41:58.680 --> 00:42:00.040
 gospel advancing in

00:42:00.040 --> 00:42:00.640
 this place.

00:42:02.280 --> 00:42:03.380
 I said to them at

00:42:03.380 --> 00:42:04.200
 some point, you may

00:42:04.200 --> 00:42:05.100
 come to me and say,

00:42:05.240 --> 00:42:07.140
 Steve, it's time to

00:42:07.140 --> 00:42:07.420
 go.

00:42:07.420 --> 00:42:11.360
 Steve, it's time to

00:42:11.360 --> 00:42:12.180
 change your role.

00:42:12.280 --> 00:42:13.039
 It's time to step

00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:13.800
 down and someone

00:42:13.800 --> 00:42:14.599
 else step up.

00:42:16.460 --> 00:42:17.480
 Because right now,

00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:18.019
 you're not the

00:42:18.019 --> 00:42:18.960
 person to take us

00:42:18.960 --> 00:42:20.420
 from 1,000 to 2,000.

00:42:21.340 --> 00:42:22.559
 And for the sake of

00:42:22.559 --> 00:42:23.280
 the advancement of

00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:24.139
 the gospel, you need

00:42:24.139 --> 00:42:25.760
 to lay yourself

00:42:25.760 --> 00:42:26.220
 aside.

00:42:28.720 --> 00:42:29.920
 Or maybe to say to

00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:31.720
 some that you can

00:42:31.720 --> 00:42:32.680
 no longer preach,

00:42:32.760 --> 00:42:33.579
 even though it is

00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:34.119
 your gifting.

00:42:34.820 --> 00:42:36.099
 But right now, as a

00:42:36.099 --> 00:42:36.960
 church, we need you

00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:37.500
 over there.

00:42:39.199 --> 00:42:40.300
 Will you sacrifice?

00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:43.019
 Will you give up?

00:42:45.500 --> 00:42:46.559
 Or to move another

00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:47.400
 person from their

00:42:47.400 --> 00:42:49.639
 passion in one area

00:42:49.639 --> 00:42:50.740
 of ministry to another

00:42:50.740 --> 00:42:51.480
 area of ministry,

00:42:51.480 --> 00:42:52.360
 because that is what

00:42:52.360 --> 00:42:53.480
 is beneficial for the

00:42:53.480 --> 00:42:54.099
 advancement of the

00:42:54.099 --> 00:42:55.480
 gospel in that

00:42:55.480 --> 00:42:55.840
 moment.

00:42:56.980 --> 00:42:58.099
 And the call is

00:42:58.099 --> 00:42:58.599
 this.

00:42:59.179 --> 00:43:00.400
 Will you give up?

00:43:00.800 --> 00:43:01.900
 Will you serve?

00:43:02.159 --> 00:43:03.179
 Will you sacrifice?

00:43:03.519 --> 00:43:04.300
 Will you surrender

00:43:04.300 --> 00:43:05.179
 your comfort,

00:43:06.079 --> 00:43:06.480
 sacrifice,

00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:07.920
 prestige and

00:43:07.920 --> 00:43:08.840
 position and

00:43:08.840 --> 00:43:09.900
 significance and

00:43:09.900 --> 00:43:11.539
 recognition and

00:43:11.539 --> 00:43:13.760
 preferences for the

00:43:13.760 --> 00:43:15.179
 sake of partnership

00:43:15.179 --> 00:43:17.320
 and the advancement of

00:43:17.320 --> 00:43:18.280
 the gospel of the

00:43:18.280 --> 00:43:19.480
 Lord Jesus Christ?

00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:19.579
 Christ?

00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:24.539
 We need the perspective of

00:43:24.539 --> 00:43:27.420
 Paul that if it is best

00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:29.760
 for me to be in chains

00:43:29.760 --> 00:43:33.440
 and rot, then I will do

00:43:33.440 --> 00:43:34.639
 so if that means it's the

00:43:34.639 --> 00:43:35.780
 advancement of the gospel.

00:43:35.780 --> 00:43:35.880
 gospel.

00:43:41.560 --> 00:43:44.460
 That is for all of us, that if

00:43:44.460 --> 00:43:47.260
 it is best for me to be in

00:43:47.260 --> 00:43:49.420
 chains and rot for the gospel

00:43:49.420 --> 00:43:51.320
 to advance, then so be it,

00:43:51.720 --> 00:43:53.440
 because this is the vision that

00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:54.500
 God has called us to.

00:43:55.800 --> 00:43:57.420
 We need a gospel-driven

00:43:57.420 --> 00:43:59.660
 perspective on life and death if

00:43:59.660 --> 00:44:01.340
 we are to see Vision 2020

00:44:01.340 --> 00:44:03.360
 realized amongst us under God.

00:44:03.360 --> 00:44:05.500
 There are many confronting

00:44:05.500 --> 00:44:06.940
 issues and there are many

00:44:06.940 --> 00:44:07.920
 things that we will be

00:44:07.920 --> 00:44:09.720
 dealing with in the coming

00:44:09.720 --> 00:44:10.280
 years.

00:44:10.660 --> 00:44:12.039
 I hope you realize that,

00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:14.440
 that for Vision 2020 to be

00:44:14.440 --> 00:44:16.200
 realized, this place will be

00:44:16.200 --> 00:44:17.880
 vastly different in the future.

00:44:18.920 --> 00:44:20.900
 Praise God, so that more

00:44:20.900 --> 00:44:22.519
 people might come under the

00:44:22.519 --> 00:44:24.559
 Lordship of Christ means that

00:44:24.559 --> 00:44:25.660
 we need to sacrifice.

00:44:26.860 --> 00:44:28.240
 There are already means that

00:44:28.240 --> 00:44:29.980
 parish council has been

00:44:29.980 --> 00:44:32.139
 stepping out of operations to

00:44:32.139 --> 00:44:34.880
 focus explicitly on governance

00:44:34.880 --> 00:44:37.320
 and resourcing the vision,

00:44:37.740 --> 00:44:39.480
 because no other group in this

00:44:39.480 --> 00:44:42.179
 church is going to work on a

00:44:42.179 --> 00:44:44.519
 10-year plan on how to resource

00:44:44.519 --> 00:44:46.400
 and develop this place in order

00:44:46.400 --> 00:44:48.400
 for Vision 2020 to be realized.

00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:50.440
 That is part of the painful

00:44:50.440 --> 00:44:52.840
 experience of sacrificing so that

00:44:52.840 --> 00:44:54.960
 the gospel might advance a group

00:44:54.960 --> 00:44:57.320
 of people who have got their

00:44:57.320 --> 00:44:59.460
 hands in and are actively

00:44:59.460 --> 00:45:01.660
 involved in day-by-day operations

00:45:01.660 --> 00:45:02.900
 are actually deliberately

00:45:02.900 --> 00:45:04.860
 stepping back to look at the

00:45:04.860 --> 00:45:06.539
 longer-term vision of the place.

00:45:06.720 --> 00:45:07.900
 That is sacrifice.

00:45:09.960 --> 00:45:13.080
 It may mean for us redeploying

00:45:13.080 --> 00:45:15.000
 financial or personal resources

00:45:15.000 --> 00:45:17.940
 so that one dearly loved area of

00:45:17.940 --> 00:45:20.019
 ministry and transferring it to

00:45:20.019 --> 00:45:21.780
 another area of ministry which may

00:45:21.780 --> 00:45:24.019
 be virtually unknown to us, but an

00:45:24.019 --> 00:45:25.760
 area where we believe God is

00:45:25.760 --> 00:45:27.840
 leading us to. It may mean

00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:30.000
 investigating other church sites.

00:45:30.360 --> 00:45:32.680
 It may mean a turnover of staff to

00:45:32.680 --> 00:45:34.500
 get the right people in the right

00:45:34.500 --> 00:45:36.780
 roles. It may mean even the

00:45:36.780 --> 00:45:38.840
 removal of pews for more

00:45:38.840 --> 00:45:40.460
 functional seating so that this

00:45:40.460 --> 00:45:42.540
 resource that we sit in can in

00:45:42.540 --> 00:45:44.380
 fact be used more effectively and

00:45:44.380 --> 00:45:46.740
 efficiently. It may mean a large

00:45:46.740 --> 00:45:48.480
 redevelopment of this site. It may

00:45:48.480 --> 00:45:50.540
 mean a radical shake-up of our

00:45:50.540 --> 00:45:52.240
 congregational meeting times and

00:45:52.240 --> 00:45:55.360
 places. Whatever it may mean, it

00:45:55.360 --> 00:45:57.800
 will definitely need to be graced,

00:45:58.240 --> 00:46:00.820
 drenched partnership in the gospel

00:46:00.820 --> 00:46:02.700
 of the Lord Jesus Christ and

00:46:02.700 --> 00:46:05.059
 fearless courage in sacrifice and

00:46:05.059 --> 00:46:07.280
 service for the advancement of the

00:46:07.280 --> 00:46:10.280
 gospel because people's lives are at

00:46:10.280 --> 00:46:10.800
 stake.

00:46:14.900 --> 00:46:17.059
 The leadership needs the freedom and

00:46:17.059 --> 00:46:18.840
 the encouragement and the

00:46:18.840 --> 00:46:21.019
 partnership and the prayers to leave

00:46:21.019 --> 00:46:23.900
 no stone unturned as we seek to

00:46:23.900 --> 00:46:26.599
 utilize our resources for maximum

00:46:26.599 --> 00:46:28.480
 impact to the advancement of the

00:46:28.480 --> 00:46:31.139
 gospel and the glory of God in this

00:46:31.139 --> 00:46:31.599
 place.

00:46:34.780 --> 00:46:37.059
 And so friends, are you prepared to say

00:46:37.059 --> 00:46:40.719
 with Paul, what does it matter?

00:46:40.719 --> 00:46:48.719
 So long as Christ is preached, is your

00:46:48.719 --> 00:46:52.319
 vision bigger than your own preferences

00:46:52.319 --> 00:46:56.159
 and your own contentment and your own

00:46:56.159 --> 00:46:59.299
 comfort? In fact, I want to ask you, is

00:46:59.299 --> 00:47:01.399
 your vision even bigger than Vision 2020?

00:47:02.779 --> 00:47:05.480
 Is your vision to live a life worthy of

00:47:05.480 --> 00:47:07.240
 the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?

00:47:09.639 --> 00:47:15.840
 So now, now is the time to start stirring

00:47:15.840 --> 00:47:18.880
 each other up in partnership, to take

00:47:18.880 --> 00:47:21.460
 some risks in more venturesome acts of

00:47:21.460 --> 00:47:25.960
 love and evangelism and discipleship, to

00:47:25.960 --> 00:47:28.219
 pray earnestly for the Spirit of God to

00:47:28.219 --> 00:47:32.940
 move through us so that whatever happens in

00:47:32.940 --> 00:47:36.039
 the future here at St Paul's, we will

00:47:36.039 --> 00:47:39.340
 conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of

00:47:39.340 --> 00:47:42.000
 the gospel of Christ. Amen.