WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.020 Today we start the book of 1 Corinthians, so let us turn to chapter 1, verse 1 to 9. 00:00:06.520 --> 00:00:09.800 You may read up on the screen or follow up on your bulletin. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:15.220 And today we will read about Paul's warm and encouraging letter to the church. 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:18.940 So starting in verse 1, we read, 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:27.600 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus and our brother Sosthenes, 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:33.700 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, 00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:42.240 called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:00:42.939 --> 00:00:44.700 both their Lord and ours. 00:00:45.859 --> 00:00:50.340 Grace to you and peace from our God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:50.340 --> 00:00:58.359 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 00:00:58.660 --> 00:01:04.000 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge, 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:08.520 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, 00:01:09.260 --> 00:01:15.500 so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:20.959 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:28.060 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:29.599 This is the word of God. 00:01:31.879 --> 00:01:33.340 Great, thanks, CK. 00:01:34.180 --> 00:01:35.340 Good morning, can you hear me? 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:37.700 Okay, good morning everybody. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:38.960 Great to see you again. 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:42.760 If you're new, my name is Kevin, and great to have you with us. 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:44.100 I think this is on. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:45.120 I'm on. 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:48.980 I'm sure those guys will work out. 00:01:49.080 --> 00:01:53.160 Okay, I'm going to speak loudly, and we'll make it work. 00:01:53.800 --> 00:01:56.500 Let's pray together, and then we're going to look at the scripture. 00:01:56.740 --> 00:01:58.680 So, Heavenly Father, as we come to your word, 00:01:59.420 --> 00:02:00.860 God, we want you to speak to us. 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:02.160 We want to know your heart. 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:03.900 We want to know you, the living God. 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:08.060 We are not just interested in practical faith, 00:02:08.060 --> 00:02:11.700 although we know that our faith does work itself out in practical ways. 00:02:11.699 --> 00:02:14.879 More than anything, God, we want to know you, the living God. 00:02:14.959 --> 00:02:15.780 We want to know your heart. 00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:18.139 We want to know what you think and what you feel. 00:02:18.819 --> 00:02:20.280 We want to know your will for us. 00:02:20.459 --> 00:02:22.739 God, come and speak to us from your word, I pray, 00:02:23.259 --> 00:02:24.599 in your good and gracious name. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:25.759 Amen. 00:02:26.259 --> 00:02:26.479 Amen. 00:02:27.139 --> 00:02:28.699 Okay, let me start with a question. 00:02:29.239 --> 00:02:30.039 Here's the question. 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:36.560 How many of us have been disappointed by the church? 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:41.659 How many of us have been disappointed by Christians? 00:02:43.099 --> 00:02:47.780 Friends, how many of us have ever thought about the idea of giving up on the church? 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:50.719 Maybe you are new here this morning. 00:02:50.819 --> 00:02:53.900 Maybe you're a guest, and somebody has invited you, 00:02:54.300 --> 00:02:56.020 and you've come along because they invited you, 00:02:56.060 --> 00:02:57.080 and you felt like you had to. 00:02:57.480 --> 00:03:00.800 But maybe you like the idea of Christian community, 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:03.900 but you're a little bit wary, a little bit unsure, 00:03:04.219 --> 00:03:06.300 because you've heard too many scandals, 00:03:06.640 --> 00:03:07.880 you've read too many headlines, 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:10.180 you've watched too much drama, 00:03:10.640 --> 00:03:13.680 and you're a little bit careful and cautious about the church. 00:03:14.300 --> 00:03:18.360 Maybe you're a long-time Christian who's been involved in many churches over the years. 00:03:18.820 --> 00:03:20.080 You've seen some good things, 00:03:20.260 --> 00:03:23.480 but if you're honest, you've also seen some not so good things. 00:03:24.480 --> 00:03:26.960 Friends, how do you feel about the church? 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:28.700 And maybe even more importantly, 00:03:28.980 --> 00:03:33.400 how do you feel when the church is less than its best? 00:03:35.659 --> 00:03:40.719 This morning, we are starting to work our way through the New Testament book of 1 Corinthians. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:42.159 I'm really excited about that. 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:45.580 For much of this year, we've been doing these standalone sermons 00:03:45.580 --> 00:03:48.879 as we've been trying to do the storyline of the Bible, 00:03:49.340 --> 00:03:51.360 and we're going to get back to expositional series. 00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:54.060 And so from now until the end of June, 00:03:54.340 --> 00:03:55.379 Diego, you want me to use that? 00:03:55.379 --> 00:03:59.259 Let's try this. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:03:59.919 Okay, there we go. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:01.680 From now until the end of June, 00:04:01.740 --> 00:04:04.199 we're going to do the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians, 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:05.539 and we'll take a break, 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:08.460 and we'll pick up again in September on chapter 12. 00:04:08.579 --> 00:04:11.680 Okay, so that's the next couple of months where we're going to be going. 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:16.500 And so today, we're going to look at just the first nine verses. 00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:18.399 And so once you grab your Bible, 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:19.459 we're going to look at it together. 00:04:19.860 --> 00:04:21.879 But maybe actually, before we look at the Scripture, 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:26.839 let me explain the background and the context of what's going on in the city of Corinth. 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:29.519 So there's four things I want us to get from today. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:30.000 Okay? 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:31.379 The first one is this. 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:34.779 Corinth is a city that is pretty unhealthy. 00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:37.040 A city that is sick. 00:04:37.420 --> 00:04:37.659 Okay? 00:04:37.660 --> 00:04:43.580 So, the letter of 1 Corinthians is written by the Apostle Paul, 00:04:44.280 --> 00:04:46.439 written around 53 AD, 00:04:47.100 --> 00:04:48.560 to a small church, 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:50.380 maybe 30, 40 people, 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:53.120 that gathers in the ancient city of Corinth. 00:04:53.460 --> 00:04:53.680 Okay? 00:04:54.400 --> 00:04:57.840 Paul started this church about three years before. 00:04:57.960 --> 00:04:59.980 As he traveled through Corinth, preached the gospel, 00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:01.200 people became believers, 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:03.020 and he founds the church. 00:05:03.019 --> 00:05:05.120 And he now writes them three years later. 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:09.579 Now, the city of Corinth was an important city in ancient Greece, 00:05:09.799 --> 00:05:10.799 during the Greek Empire, 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:11.939 500 years before. 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:13.279 Very important city. 00:05:13.599 --> 00:05:17.019 It's a leading city of Greek culture and philosophy. 00:05:17.299 --> 00:05:19.240 It's only 80 kilometers away from Athens. 00:05:19.659 --> 00:05:20.819 So it's a very important city. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:23.240 Then, about 150 AD, 00:05:23.819 --> 00:05:25.419 the Roman Empire kind of, 00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:26.859 there's a big battle. 00:05:27.079 --> 00:05:29.560 One of the Roman governors sacks the city of Corinth, 00:05:29.919 --> 00:05:30.560 destroys it, 00:05:30.799 --> 00:05:31.719 burns it to the ground, 00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:32.880 and essentially, 00:05:33.380 --> 00:05:34.440 the ancient city of Corinth, 00:05:34.760 --> 00:05:36.440 lies dormant for 100 years. 00:05:36.540 --> 00:05:37.700 It's just a pile of ruins. 00:05:39.180 --> 00:05:41.060 But then things turn around. 00:05:41.820 --> 00:05:44.000 And it becomes a thriving city again. 00:05:44.140 --> 00:05:44.360 And so, 00:05:44.900 --> 00:05:47.040 in about 44 BC, 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:48.920 Julius Caesar decides, 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:50.060 Caesar, 00:05:50.320 --> 00:05:51.560 the Roman emperor, 00:05:52.100 --> 00:05:53.680 decides to repopulate, 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:55.140 the ancient city of Corinth. 00:05:55.340 --> 00:05:57.800 And he does this because the city of Rome, 00:05:57.960 --> 00:05:59.600 is becoming overpopulated. 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:02.560 And so he sends a whole lot of former slaves and people 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:05.140 to repopulate the city of Corinth. 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:06.420 And so, 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:07.960 that happens about 44 BC. 00:06:08.220 --> 00:06:09.700 The letter is written in 50 AD. 00:06:09.960 --> 00:06:10.160 And so, 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:11.620 over the next 100 years, 00:06:11.760 --> 00:06:15.180 the city of Corinth becomes this thriving city again. 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:16.960 And for two main reasons. 00:06:17.200 --> 00:06:18.360 One is, 00:06:18.580 --> 00:06:20.420 it becomes an important city in the Roman Empire. 00:06:20.660 --> 00:06:21.980 It's the third leading city, 00:06:22.060 --> 00:06:23.760 after Rome and Alexandria itself. 00:06:24.220 --> 00:06:26.140 So it's an important city in the Roman Empire. 00:06:26.139 --> 00:06:28.319 It's repopulated with people, 00:06:28.740 --> 00:06:29.919 new people are flowing in, 00:06:29.979 --> 00:06:30.659 new immigrants, 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:31.860 new money is flowing there. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:34.120 But the second reason why the city of Corinth 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:35.439 becomes a thriving city, 00:06:35.579 --> 00:06:37.579 is because of its strategic location. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:41.919 Corinth is situated on this tiny strip of land, 00:06:42.039 --> 00:06:43.099 called an isthmus, 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:43.539 okay, 00:06:44.039 --> 00:06:47.000 which joins the main peninsula of Greece, 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:48.159 like where Athens is, 00:06:48.599 --> 00:06:48.779 and this, 00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:49.300 sorry, 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:50.759 the main land of Greece, 00:06:51.060 --> 00:06:52.539 and this big peninsula, 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:53.800 called the Penopolis. 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:54.400 Okay? 00:06:54.840 --> 00:06:57.000 And these two masses of land, 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:59.139 the main land and the peninsula, 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:01.879 are joined by this tiny strip of land, 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:02.920 in the middle, 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:04.199 called this isthmus. 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:05.800 And Corinth is situated, 00:07:05.960 --> 00:07:07.680 right in the middle of that isthmus. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:09.139 Which means, 00:07:09.620 --> 00:07:11.100 Corinth is extremely, 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:13.100 strategically located, 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:14.199 both militarily, 00:07:14.340 --> 00:07:16.920 because they control that whole peninsula below, 00:07:17.340 --> 00:07:18.800 but also commercially, 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:19.980 economically. 00:07:20.580 --> 00:07:21.480 Because now, 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:23.420 if anyone wants to trade with Athens, 00:07:23.939 --> 00:07:26.500 rather than sailing the whole way around, 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:29.080 which is a very dangerous shipping route, 00:07:29.660 --> 00:07:30.120 now, 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:31.860 you just sail to Corinth, 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:32.680 and either, 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:34.920 they would haul these ships over the land, 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:36.160 put them on big wooden blocks, 00:07:36.280 --> 00:07:38.700 and slaves would pull the ships over the land, 00:07:39.020 --> 00:07:40.819 or they could unload the cargo, 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:41.920 carry it on, 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:42.520 you know, 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:43.540 ox carts, 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:44.139 or horseback, 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:46.040 across the little strip of land, 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:47.379 load it onto new ships, 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:48.759 and send it onto Athens. 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:50.700 And that would cut your shipping time, 00:07:50.700 --> 00:07:51.860 by maybe a month, 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:52.319 or so. 00:07:53.139 --> 00:07:53.420 And so, 00:07:53.540 --> 00:07:56.100 Corinth is strategically located, 00:07:56.100 --> 00:07:56.920 in this area, 00:07:57.199 --> 00:07:58.060 and they control, 00:07:58.180 --> 00:07:58.879 all the military, 00:07:59.180 --> 00:07:59.759 all the shipping, 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:00.500 all the trade, 00:08:00.580 --> 00:08:02.139 that goes through that area. 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:03.879 And so, 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:05.400 it's a very, 00:08:05.540 --> 00:08:06.379 very important city. 00:08:06.939 --> 00:08:07.180 And so, 00:08:07.280 --> 00:08:08.280 these two factors, 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:09.139 the new city, 00:08:09.300 --> 00:08:09.699 rebuilt, 00:08:09.860 --> 00:08:11.160 repopulated by the Roman Empire, 00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:12.460 along with its location, 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:14.379 meant that prosperity, 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:15.300 returned, 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:16.480 to the city of Corinth, 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:17.439 almost overnight. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:19.980 It became super prosperous, 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:20.660 and abundant, 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:21.800 almost immediately. 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:23.079 New money, 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:24.160 attracts new people, 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:25.379 the city grew quickly, 00:08:25.980 --> 00:08:26.980 new cultures, 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:27.660 new ideas, 00:08:27.779 --> 00:08:28.240 new people, 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:29.500 new populations, 00:08:29.660 --> 00:08:30.980 flooded into the city. 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:31.600 So, 00:08:31.660 --> 00:08:32.639 it was a thriving city. 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:34.480 But at the same time, 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:35.299 there's also, 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:36.000 new people, 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:36.600 and new money, 00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:38.320 creates new problems. 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:40.840 Like any city, 00:08:40.940 --> 00:08:41.620 that suddenly, 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:42.899 booms overnight, 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:43.940 it also attracts, 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:45.200 the wrong kind of people. 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:46.360 And it attracts, 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:47.900 all sorts of vices. 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:48.540 Okay? 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:49.460 And so, 00:08:49.520 --> 00:08:50.259 being a new city, 00:08:50.300 --> 00:08:51.040 with new money, 00:08:51.259 --> 00:08:52.160 meant there was no, 00:08:52.160 --> 00:08:53.440 landed kind of, 00:08:53.680 --> 00:08:54.460 aristocracy. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:55.420 I think that's the right way, 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:55.840 of saying it. 00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:57.160 There's no traditions, 00:08:57.379 --> 00:08:58.020 and cultures, 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:00.220 that's part of the city, 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:01.900 customs that everybody, 00:09:01.900 --> 00:09:02.960 has to adhere to, 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:03.520 or obey. 00:09:03.920 --> 00:09:04.300 It's kind of, 00:09:04.379 --> 00:09:05.320 everybody's arrived, 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:06.259 from different places, 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:07.100 with their own customs, 00:09:07.220 --> 00:09:07.780 their own traditions, 00:09:07.900 --> 00:09:08.580 their own values. 00:09:08.920 --> 00:09:09.759 Every man's in it, 00:09:09.780 --> 00:09:10.379 for themselves. 00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:12.000 And so, 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:12.740 ancient Corinth, 00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:14.440 was known as the sexual, 00:09:14.640 --> 00:09:15.080 capital, 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:16.420 of the world. 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:17.840 There was an ancient philosopher, 00:09:18.300 --> 00:09:18.780 who said, 00:09:19.040 --> 00:09:20.040 to be Corinthian, 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:21.879 was like a derogatory term. 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:23.320 If you want to insult somebody, 00:09:23.400 --> 00:09:24.560 you just call them a Corinthian. 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:25.360 And essentially, 00:09:25.460 --> 00:09:26.180 what that meant was, 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:27.700 they were very sexually loose. 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:28.160 Okay? 00:09:28.900 --> 00:09:29.180 And, 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:30.540 and so, 00:09:30.780 --> 00:09:31.660 this new city, 00:09:32.040 --> 00:09:33.500 with all these new people, 00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:34.180 and new money, 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:35.379 influx of new cultures, 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:36.520 it was an extremely, 00:09:36.520 --> 00:09:37.240 seedy, 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:39.420 and sleazy city. 00:09:39.780 --> 00:09:40.020 Okay? 00:09:40.520 --> 00:09:41.400 So just think of like, 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:42.340 even in modern times, 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:43.340 when there's a gold rush, 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:45.420 suddenly all these people flood to, 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:45.879 let's say, 00:09:45.940 --> 00:09:46.500 California, 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:47.360 or whatever it is. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:48.720 What also floods there? 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:49.620 Boons, 00:09:49.920 --> 00:09:50.920 bars, 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:51.639 saloons, 00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:53.040 prostitution. 00:09:53.420 --> 00:09:54.639 That's what made up the city. 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:55.600 And so, 00:09:55.680 --> 00:09:56.340 one scholar, 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:57.980 likens Corinthians, 00:09:58.259 --> 00:09:59.259 like the modern day, 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:00.019 Las Vegas, 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:00.440 right? 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:02.800 It is the sin city capital, 00:10:02.800 --> 00:10:03.620 of the world. 00:10:04.420 --> 00:10:04.680 And so, 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:05.639 like any modern city, 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:06.680 Hong Kong included, 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:08.419 the city of Corinth, 00:10:08.479 --> 00:10:10.000 was a city of both opportunity, 00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:11.259 entrepreneurship, 00:10:11.939 --> 00:10:12.519 ideas, 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:13.339 prosperity, 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:14.279 new people, 00:10:14.859 --> 00:10:16.259 but it was also a city of pain. 00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:17.959 It was a city of heartache. 00:10:18.620 --> 00:10:19.879 It was a city of brokenness. 00:10:20.579 --> 00:10:22.919 It was a city where people were commoditized, 00:10:23.059 --> 00:10:23.839 and exploited, 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:26.279 and where people used one another, 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:27.839 for their own advancement. 00:10:29.099 --> 00:10:29.219 Okay? 00:10:29.459 --> 00:10:30.419 So that's the city. 00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:31.479 Now, 00:10:31.599 --> 00:10:32.299 the question is, 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:34.079 so here's this new church, 00:10:34.099 --> 00:10:35.240 that is founded in the city. 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:36.960 What is the church like? 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:38.000 Well, 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:39.779 as you read the book of 1 Corinthians, 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:41.560 you don't need to read very far, 00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:42.639 to find out, 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:44.060 that the church, 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:45.960 is not too dissimilar, 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:47.139 to the city. 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:49.399 The church actually looks, 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:51.180 very similar to the city. 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:52.259 Now, 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:52.960 on one hand, 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:53.940 it's not a bad thing, 00:10:54.019 --> 00:10:55.620 for a church to look like the city, 00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:57.200 and the culture in which it finds itself. 00:10:57.680 --> 00:10:58.580 You don't want to, 00:10:58.700 --> 00:10:59.860 walk into a church, 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.000 and it feels like you're walking, 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:01.879 into a time warp. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:02.200 Okay? 00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:03.419 You walk into a church, 00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:04.360 and suddenly feels like, 00:11:04.580 --> 00:11:05.220 I'm back in 1910, 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:05.639 1940. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:06.919 It's a good thing, 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:08.080 for a church to somewhat, 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:09.320 look like the city, 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:10.639 and the culture in which it lives. 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:11.180 Okay? 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:11.940 So we, 00:11:12.060 --> 00:11:12.500 for instance, 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:13.500 we're in Hong Kong, 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:15.060 we don't want Watermark, 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:16.060 to look like, 00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:17.680 a church in New York, 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:18.259 or Texas, 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:19.460 or Australia, 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:20.820 or somewhere else. 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:21.879 We want to, 00:11:22.060 --> 00:11:22.899 hopefully feel, 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:23.740 and look a little bit, 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:24.899 like we're in Hong Kong. 00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:27.100 But at the same time, 00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:28.240 you don't want a church, 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.940 to be so like the city, 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:31.560 that the values, 00:11:31.779 --> 00:11:32.519 and the culture, 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:33.320 and the priorities, 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:34.000 of the city, 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:35.200 are the values, 00:11:35.300 --> 00:11:35.780 and the culture, 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:36.360 and the priorities, 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:37.080 of the church. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:38.660 The church is men, 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:39.700 who look different. 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:41.040 It's meant to be distinctive. 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:43.060 It's meant to be a light on the hill. 00:11:43.160 --> 00:11:44.540 It's meant to be a prophetic voice. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:45.700 The church is, 00:11:45.780 --> 00:11:46.320 in some ways, 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:47.340 meant to stand out, 00:11:47.420 --> 00:11:47.820 differently, 00:11:48.100 --> 00:11:49.360 from the culture, 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:49.920 of the city. 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.440 But what's happening, 00:11:51.520 --> 00:11:52.360 in the city of Corinth, 00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:53.340 and the church of Corinth, 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:54.520 is that the church, 00:11:54.780 --> 00:11:56.140 is exactly like, 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:57.000 the city. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:58.120 And so, 00:11:58.679 --> 00:11:59.399 the values, 00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:00.039 and the priorities, 00:12:00.179 --> 00:12:00.620 of the cities, 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:01.980 using and abusing people, 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:02.759 division, 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.480 socioeconomic division, 00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:05.799 the rich over there, 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:06.759 the poor over there, 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:07.840 the rich look down, 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:08.299 on the poor, 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:10.019 using and abusing people, 00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:10.700 exploitation, 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:12.200 the sexual ethic, 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:12.740 of the city, 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:14.379 is exactly the same, 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:15.720 as what's in the church. 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:16.879 And so, 00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:17.659 as we read, 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:19.279 the letter of 1 Corinthians, 00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:20.379 that's what we're going to see. 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:22.019 It's fraught with division, 00:12:22.220 --> 00:12:22.799 and discord, 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:23.440 and fighting, 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:24.299 and there's this group, 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:25.200 against this group, 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:26.680 the sexual culture, 00:12:26.680 --> 00:12:27.460 of the city, 00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:28.540 is mirrored in the church. 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:29.700 One guy is going to be, 00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:30.900 sleeping with his step mom, 00:12:31.040 --> 00:12:31.720 and nobody thinks, 00:12:31.920 --> 00:12:32.960 there's anything wrong with that. 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:34.040 Half the church, 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:34.960 go and visit the temple, 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:35.680 prostitutes, 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:36.620 just before CG, 00:12:36.800 --> 00:12:37.720 and then come to CG, 00:12:37.900 --> 00:12:38.520 and everyone thinks, 00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:39.100 that's cool. 00:12:39.540 --> 00:12:39.700 Okay. 00:12:40.540 --> 00:12:41.360 There are people, 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:42.440 that are suing one another, 00:12:42.580 --> 00:12:43.740 taking each other to court. 00:12:44.420 --> 00:12:44.980 There are, 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:46.640 there's conflict over food. 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:48.080 This group is looking down, 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:48.640 on this group, 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:49.480 because they eat meat, 00:12:49.540 --> 00:12:50.300 and this group thinks, 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.180 these guys are idiots, 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.140 because they don't eat meat, 00:12:52.140 --> 00:12:53.240 and they're fighting about it. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:54.780 They're fighting about communion, 00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:55.779 and the Lord's Supper. 00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:57.120 There's one group, 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:57.559 that thinks, 00:12:57.839 --> 00:12:58.419 the resurrection, 00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.759 who cares whether it's real, 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:00.939 maybe it's just a metaphor, 00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:02.819 for how Jesus rises in our hearts. 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:03.959 There's another group, 00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:04.299 that says, 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.199 no the resurrection, 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:06.059 has already happened, 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:06.879 and all you losers, 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:07.759 got left behind. 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:08.919 So there's conflict, 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.779 about the resurrection, 00:13:09.959 --> 00:13:10.519 and the gospel, 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:11.079 and Jesus. 00:13:11.839 --> 00:13:12.620 There's competition, 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:13.699 over spiritual gifts. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:14.959 These guys, 00:13:15.299 --> 00:13:15.659 overlook, 00:13:15.959 --> 00:13:17.259 look down on these guys, 00:13:17.439 --> 00:13:18.079 because they don't have, 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:19.139 the same spiritual gifts, 00:13:19.339 --> 00:13:20.319 and they all think, 00:13:20.319 --> 00:13:21.139 this spiritual gift, 00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:22.000 is a status, 00:13:22.100 --> 00:13:22.980 about who's better, 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:23.720 and more godly, 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.419 and more spiritual, 00:13:24.939 --> 00:13:26.419 and then when they come to church, 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:27.519 there's a competition, 00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:28.639 about who can use, 00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:29.939 their spiritual gifts the most. 00:13:30.599 --> 00:13:31.539 And so the church is, 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.599 it's pretty, 00:13:32.819 --> 00:13:34.360 it's pretty messy. 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:36.599 It's pretty unhealthy. 00:13:37.599 --> 00:13:38.639 It's pretty sick. 00:13:39.439 --> 00:13:40.319 Just like, 00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:41.279 the city. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:42.979 And so, 00:13:43.479 --> 00:13:45.059 this is the kind of church, 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:47.019 that you probably wouldn't recommend, 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:47.579 to somebody. 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:48.480 You know, 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:49.799 when people leave Hong Kong, 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:50.939 and move to another city, 00:13:51.800 --> 00:13:52.800 they often come to, 00:13:52.880 --> 00:13:53.580 maybe one of the leaders, 00:13:53.660 --> 00:13:53.860 and say, 00:13:53.920 --> 00:13:54.020 hey, 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:55.000 I'm moving to, 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:55.960 to New York, 00:13:56.020 --> 00:13:56.640 or to Sydney, 00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:58.620 or to Tokyo, 00:13:58.860 --> 00:14:00.160 can you recommend a church? 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.860 And this is one of those churches, 00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:02.280 that we say, 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:03.040 don't, 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:04.020 don't go near there. 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:04.340 Okay, 00:14:04.400 --> 00:14:05.360 stay away, 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.520 from Corinth, 00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.400 from the Corinthian church. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:10.300 So that's what we've got so far. 00:14:10.380 --> 00:14:10.500 Okay, 00:14:10.540 --> 00:14:11.500 a city that is sick, 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.180 and unhealthy, 00:14:12.820 --> 00:14:13.520 a church, 00:14:13.880 --> 00:14:15.440 which is much the same. 00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:16.640 Now, 00:14:16.680 --> 00:14:17.940 here's my question for us, 00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:18.080 okay? 00:14:18.800 --> 00:14:19.380 Let's say, 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:20.900 you found the church, 00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:21.440 in Corinth. 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:23.440 You're one of the founding leaders. 00:14:24.180 --> 00:14:25.480 And three years later, 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:27.560 you've got a letter from them, 00:14:27.900 --> 00:14:29.460 and the letter's not that encouraging. 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:31.800 And you've heard some reports, 00:14:31.800 --> 00:14:33.100 from other people in the church. 00:14:33.380 --> 00:14:34.100 And now, 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:35.100 you're going to sit down, 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.260 and write an email, 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.360 to the church. 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:38.740 And you want to try, 00:14:38.800 --> 00:14:39.500 and encourage them, 00:14:39.540 --> 00:14:40.180 and correct them. 00:14:40.280 --> 00:14:41.340 What are you going to say, 00:14:41.420 --> 00:14:41.900 in the email? 00:14:43.180 --> 00:14:43.580 Okay, 00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:44.660 here's my email to them. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.080 From Kevin, 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:48.280 founding pastor of the church, 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:49.480 and great apostle, 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:50.200 listen up, 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.820 to the Corinthian church, 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:52.660 peace. 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:55.120 I hear some pretty shocking things. 00:14:55.540 --> 00:14:56.780 I can't believe what I'm hearing. 00:14:57.020 --> 00:14:58.660 What the heck happened to you guys? 00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:00.200 Have you lost your minds? 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:01.640 Stop it, 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:02.920 right now. 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:05.140 Next time I come, 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.840 we're going to have a serious talk. 00:15:07.760 --> 00:15:08.360 Kind regards, 00:15:08.880 --> 00:15:09.120 Kevin. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.520 That's my email, 00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:12.540 to the Corinthian church, 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:12.720 okay? 00:15:13.280 --> 00:15:14.080 Stop it, 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.420 sort it out. 00:15:16.400 --> 00:15:18.220 This is not what I taught you guys. 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.900 But what does Paul write? 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.460 This morning, 00:15:24.520 --> 00:15:25.180 we're going to look, 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.340 just very briefly, 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.520 at Paul's introduction, 00:15:28.880 --> 00:15:29.540 to the church, 00:15:29.640 --> 00:15:30.220 in Corinth. 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:33.040 This church that he's had conflict with, 00:15:33.140 --> 00:15:34.060 that they don't like him, 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:34.740 they don't want him, 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.420 to be their leader. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.140 And what is Paul, 00:15:37.300 --> 00:15:38.020 going to write to them? 00:15:39.420 --> 00:15:40.500 The astounding thing is, 00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:42.360 Paul starts off his letter, 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:44.259 to this very unhealthy church, 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:46.039 with an astonishing, 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.220 astounding, 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:49.159 word of encouragement, 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.679 and grace. 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:53.639 And what Paul does, 00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:54.460 as we're going to see, 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.779 is he sees, 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.179 he looks very intently, 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.600 as small as it is, 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.379 he looks for evidence, 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.860 where God is at work, 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:02.919 in this twisted, 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.460 knotted, 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:05.440 unhealthy church. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.780 And he zeroes in, 00:16:06.780 --> 00:16:07.820 on that work. 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.640 And then he begins this letter, 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.420 reminding them, 00:16:10.540 --> 00:16:11.920 that as unhealthy as they are, 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.800 God is at work in them. 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:15.700 He knows there's some difficult things, 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.340 they need to say, 00:16:16.380 --> 00:16:17.120 and we're going to get to that, 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:17.620 next week. 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:19.340 But the first thing he does, 00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:20.540 is he reminds them, 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:22.580 God is at work in your midst. 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.880 And God has not given up on you. 00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:26.300 And there's two things, 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.400 in particular that he says. 00:16:27.640 --> 00:16:28.460 The first thing is, 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:29.140 he reminds them, 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:30.600 how God has been at work, 00:16:30.660 --> 00:16:31.060 historically. 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:32.540 And then secondly, 00:16:32.540 --> 00:16:33.060 he says, 00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:35.159 God is still at work in you, 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.199 and he's the one, 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:37.259 who's going to carry you, 00:16:37.479 --> 00:16:38.019 all the way home. 00:16:39.239 --> 00:16:40.959 It's an amazing letter of grace. 00:16:41.719 --> 00:16:42.119 So, 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.619 open your Bibles, 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.879 and let's look at it together. 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:45.179 Now, 00:16:45.359 --> 00:16:46.239 just by the way, 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.599 I don't have the scripture, 00:16:47.599 --> 00:16:48.399 up on the screen. 00:16:48.479 --> 00:16:49.279 That's very intentional, 00:16:49.459 --> 00:16:49.739 because, 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.379 I really want to encourage us, 00:16:51.459 --> 00:16:52.799 to grab a Bible, 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:53.779 or grab a bulletin. 00:16:54.239 --> 00:16:55.339 Bring your Bibles to church, 00:16:55.359 --> 00:16:56.199 of the coming weeks. 00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:58.299 And I want you to follow along with me. 00:16:58.419 --> 00:16:59.099 Look at it, 00:16:59.099 --> 00:17:00.039 down on your lap, 00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:02.039 as we read this together. 00:17:02.479 --> 00:17:02.599 Okay? 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:03.579 So, 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.460 verse 1, 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.440 Paul essentially says, 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:06.179 I'm Paul, 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.859 and Sosthenes, 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.679 we write this together. 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:08.659 Verse 2, 00:17:09.159 --> 00:17:10.359 to the church of God, 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.159 that is in Corinth, 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:13.339 to those sanctified, 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.859 in Christ Jesus, 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.519 called to be saints, 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:20.460 together with all those, 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:22.240 who in every place, 00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:23.679 call upon the name, 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.819 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:25.639 Okay? 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:26.579 So, 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:28.179 to be called by God, 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:28.859 what does that mean? 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.279 It means that God, 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.139 is the one who came, 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.039 and chose you. 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.319 He elected you. 00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:34.460 He chose you. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.680 He's called you, 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.599 what Claire said earlier, 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.779 about Hannah and Jeremy. 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:40.139 He has called these Christians, 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:40.899 in Corinth, 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:42.639 to be followers of Jesus. 00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:44.460 And to be sanctified, 00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:44.899 means, 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.119 not necessarily, 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:47.279 to be morally perfect. 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:49.579 It means to be set apart, 00:17:49.639 --> 00:17:50.500 for God. 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:52.259 To be his special, 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:54.200 and treasured possession. 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.500 So, 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.580 here Paul says, 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.580 when you guys, 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.259 were lost, 00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:59.019 and ignorant, 00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.900 without God, 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.720 without hope, 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:01.840 bumbling along, 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:03.299 doing what Corinthians do, 00:18:04.080 --> 00:18:05.559 God chose you, 00:18:06.080 --> 00:18:07.380 he came towards you, 00:18:07.580 --> 00:18:08.100 and then, 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.420 he set you apart, 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.600 by his grace, 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.180 to be his treasured possession. 00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:15.200 And then, 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:15.660 he says, 00:18:16.100 --> 00:18:16.420 that, 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:17.940 these Corinthians, 00:18:18.120 --> 00:18:18.779 their identity, 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:20.060 and status before God, 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.080 their identity, 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.240 that they are in Christ, 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.720 is the same, 00:18:23.840 --> 00:18:24.420 or equal, 00:18:24.600 --> 00:18:25.360 to what all, 00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.080 other Christians, 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:26.640 have in the, 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.680 in the ancient world. 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.299 So, 00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:28.580 he says, 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:29.860 what is true of you, 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:31.920 is also true of all Christians, 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:33.340 in every other place. 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.159 So, 00:18:34.199 --> 00:18:34.740 these Corinthians, 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:36.419 they've probably got a bad reputation, 00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:37.579 and they might think, 00:18:37.899 --> 00:18:38.119 oh, 00:18:38.199 --> 00:18:39.259 we're the Corinthian church, 00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.659 no one really likes us. 00:18:40.939 --> 00:18:41.679 But the Romans, 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.639 they're great, 00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:43.639 or the Philippians, 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.539 what a great church, 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.819 or the Thessalonians, 00:18:45.939 --> 00:18:47.379 those guys really love God. 00:18:47.699 --> 00:18:48.339 And Paul says, 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:50.819 you are as sanctified, 00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:52.019 as chosen, 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.299 as called by God, 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:54.240 and loved by God, 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:55.959 as every other Christian, 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.359 in every other place. 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.959 Chosen by him. 00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:01.220 And then he says, 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:01.919 look at verse four. 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:02.759 He says, 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:04.460 I thank my God always. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:04.779 That means, 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:06.180 I always pray for you, 00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:08.460 because of the grace of God, 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:09.420 that was given you, 00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:10.180 in Christ. 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:10.960 Now, 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.599 just remember, 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:12.879 this church, 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:14.279 is in deep conflict, 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:15.019 with Paul. 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.859 They're writing letters to Paul, 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.200 saying, 00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:17.839 Paul, 00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:18.859 who do you think you are? 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.039 We're not so sure, 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:21.539 we want to associate with you anymore. 00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:23.140 You're so unimpressive. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:23.920 You're so simple. 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.619 We want another apostle. 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.200 And Paul writes back, 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:27.700 and he says, 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.799 every time I think of you, 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:31.420 I thank my God for you. 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:32.640 Man, 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:33.500 that's amazing grace, 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:33.779 right? 00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:35.100 That's not what I would say. 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:37.120 And look, 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.259 he gets even more specific. 00:19:38.580 --> 00:19:39.759 Look what he says in verse five. 00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:40.400 He says, 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:41.759 I always thank my God for you. 00:19:41.800 --> 00:19:42.360 Verse five, 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:42.640 why? 00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:44.700 Because in every way, 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:46.279 you were enriched, 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.220 enriched in him, 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.480 in all speech, 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.220 in all knowledge, 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:51.359 even as the testimony about Christ, 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.799 was confirmed amongst you. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.200 Okay, 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.460 so, 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.420 what's he saying? 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:55.519 He's saying, 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.019 hey, 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.779 when you guys became followers of Jesus, 00:19:58.660 --> 00:19:59.119 God, 00:19:59.259 --> 00:20:00.160 by his spirit, 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.500 gave you, 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:03.059 gifts of grace. 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:03.680 That's what he means, 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.059 when he says, 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:05.460 you were enriched in God. 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.899 God gave you, 00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.859 gifts of grace. 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:08.500 So, 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:08.940 let's say, 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:10.200 let's say, 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.240 I give you a gift. 00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:11.480 Okay, 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:11.799 I say, 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:12.440 here, 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:14.440 Chris is a check. 00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:15.360 He has $100,000. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:15.860 Okay, 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:17.779 I give you a gift of grace. 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:19.420 You are now enriched. 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.299 Or, 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.339 I say to someone, 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:22.079 hey, 00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:24.039 here's a scholarship to go study, 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:26.180 do an MBA at Harvard or something. 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:26.400 Okay, 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.759 I give you a gift of grace. 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:28.960 You are now enriched. 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:29.759 So, 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:30.000 he says, 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:31.940 you have been enriched by Christ. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.460 God gave you, 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.900 gifts of grace. 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:35.779 And, 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.579 in this case, 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.000 he's saying, 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:39.200 gifts that pertain to speech or knowledge. 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:39.500 So, 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.460 he's probably referring to spiritual, 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:43.759 gifts of prophecy or words of knowledge. 00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:44.480 Okay, 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.000 so, 00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:46.039 when you became Christians, 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:48.420 God gave you these miraculous spiritual gifts. 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:49.380 Now, 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:51.880 that's not only true of miraculous gifts, 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:53.660 of all gifts that God gives. 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.579 Gifts of leadership, 00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:57.480 gifts of hospitality, 00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.620 gifts of generosity, 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:02.240 the spiritual fruit that God the Holy Spirit does in our heart. 00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.440 These are gifts of grace. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.220 And, 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:04.960 Paul's point here, 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.339 as he says, 00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:07.220 when you became Christians, 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:07.839 God, 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.740 by his Spirit, 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.740 worked amongst you 00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:12.079 and gave you gifts of grace. 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:12.900 He enriched you. 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.039 And, 00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:14.640 then he says, 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.640 and his point is this, 00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:18.480 these didn't come from yourself. 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.640 Before you became Christians, 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.680 you didn't have these gifts. 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:23.700 Before you believed Jesus, 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:25.400 you were just ordinary Corinthians. 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.759 but now, 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:29.320 since God the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:32.340 he is strengthening you, 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.220 encouraging you, 00:21:33.280 --> 00:21:34.580 and giving you these gifts of grace. 00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:36.880 They only began when you believed in him, 00:21:37.100 --> 00:21:38.680 so they can't have come from you. 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.519 They come from God, 00:21:39.620 --> 00:21:40.320 which means, 00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:44.200 God is at work in your church. 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:47.840 Now, 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:50.699 in the later chapters, 00:21:50.919 --> 00:21:52.480 Paul is going to correct them 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:54.839 on the way that they use their spiritual gifts, 00:21:55.459 --> 00:21:57.000 because they're using them pretty badly. 00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:58.079 Right? 00:21:58.119 --> 00:21:58.899 One guy says, 00:21:59.339 --> 00:21:59.559 oh, 00:22:00.159 --> 00:22:00.879 I prophesy. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.699 And the other guy says, 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:02.839 oh, 00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:03.500 you only prophesy, 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.339 I speak in tongues. 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.299 And someone else says, 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:05.439 oh, 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.139 you only speak in tongues. 00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:06.339 Well, 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:07.359 I have a word of knowledge. 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.299 And they're all competing, 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.359 and there's a status, 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:11.179 and it's really bad. 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.279 They're using them badly. 00:22:13.459 --> 00:22:16.039 But Paul's laying the foundation here to correct them, 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:17.200 and his point is this. 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:19.559 These gifts don't come from you. 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:22.079 They come from God's grace, 00:22:22.639 --> 00:22:25.319 which means God is at work in this church. 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.139 As messy, 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:30.539 and as much as it's in the process of sanctification, 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.079 God is at work. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.319 And look at what God is doing amongst you. 00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:35.980 Look at the testimonies that God is doing. 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:37.700 Look at how God is changing people. 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.299 God is at work amongst you. 00:22:41.899 --> 00:22:42.339 Friends, 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:45.099 I hope you see how counterintuitive this is. 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.819 These guys are in deep conflict, 00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:47.939 not only with one another, 00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:48.799 but with Paul. 00:22:49.399 --> 00:22:50.639 They're questioning his authority. 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.480 They're questioning his gospel. 00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:54.519 They're in open rebellion against him. 00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.359 They're kind of saying, 00:22:55.699 --> 00:22:58.199 maybe this Jesus guy isn't so impressive after all. 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:01.959 And Paul comes with a completely different spirit, 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:03.000 an opposite spirit. 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.559 And he says, 00:23:03.939 --> 00:23:05.099 I see God's at work in you, 00:23:05.699 --> 00:23:06.759 and I thank God for that. 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:07.980 Now, 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:10.539 this is not the main point of this passage, 00:23:10.699 --> 00:23:11.039 but I want, 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:13.000 here's a very important lesson for us, 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.199 okay? 00:23:13.459 --> 00:23:14.099 Sidebar here. 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:16.419 What is, 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.839 what Paul does here, 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:19.939 is one of the very best ways, 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:21.219 to handle conflict, 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:23.019 when we encounter conflict. 00:23:23.419 --> 00:23:24.519 Which is to come, 00:23:24.679 --> 00:23:26.079 with the opposite spirit. 00:23:26.659 --> 00:23:26.939 Right? 00:23:27.419 --> 00:23:28.219 So somebody, 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.740 doesn't like you at work, 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.019 and they want to take your head off, 00:23:31.199 --> 00:23:32.659 and every time they interact with you, 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:33.819 they're challenging you, 00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.740 and they're accusing you. 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:35.799 What do you do? 00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:37.859 You come towards them with grace, 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:39.059 and humility, 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:40.299 and gentleness. 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.859 And someone comes, 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.759 and they accuse you, 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.720 and they want to show you, 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.859 everything you've done wrong, 00:23:44.919 --> 00:23:45.720 and how bad you are, 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.599 and how guilty you are, 00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:48.680 and what a terrible employee you are. 00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:50.659 And you come to the conversation, 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.419 willing to own that stuff, 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.000 and admit it, 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.279 and say, 00:23:53.399 --> 00:23:53.519 yeah, 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:53.919 you're right, 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.220 I'm not the best. 00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:57.160 In other words, 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.620 one of the very best ways, 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.519 to handle conflict, 00:23:59.820 --> 00:24:01.320 the natural human heart, 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.420 is to want to get defensive, 00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:03.080 and proud, 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:04.160 and combative, 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:06.320 and to throw it right back at them. 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.740 And Paul shows us, 00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:08.700 there's another way. 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.960 Because the way of the gospel, 00:24:11.100 --> 00:24:12.580 is the way it comes with humility, 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.120 and gentleness, 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.480 and kindness, 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:16.860 and grace, 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:18.560 in the midst of opposition. 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.660 And Paul shows us, 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:22.200 that when you do that, 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:23.880 and when you even see good, 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:25.000 in your opponents, 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:27.759 you may not only win the argument, 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:29.660 but you may actually win the person. 00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:31.500 And that's really what Christians, 00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:32.100 are interested in, 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.340 right? 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.600 Not just the argument, 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.340 but the person. 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:35.740 And so look at, 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.059 again, 00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.860 what Paul says here, 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.440 verse four. 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:38.519 He says, 00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:40.240 I give thanks to my God, 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:40.980 always for you. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.120 I pray for you often, 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:44.140 because of the grace of God, 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.240 that has been given to you, 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.259 in Christ Jesus. 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.100 Isn't that amazing? 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.000 That is amazing. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.160 Now, 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.299 look what else Paul does here. 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.680 He doesn't only show them, 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:54.240 where God has been at work in them, 00:24:54.659 --> 00:24:55.559 he also tells them, 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:56.220 of his confidence, 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:58.099 that God will still be at work in them, 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.279 all the way to the end. 00:24:59.339 --> 00:24:59.639 Look at, 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:01.460 verse seven to nine. 00:25:01.919 --> 00:25:02.299 He says, 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.099 indeed, 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.960 you are not lacking in any gift, 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:07.700 as you wait for the revealing, 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:09.079 of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:11.599 who will sustain you to the end, 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:13.000 guiltless in the day, 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.019 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.099 God is faithful, 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:17.639 by whom you are called, 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.359 into the fellowship of his son. 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:20.839 So now Paul says, 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:23.219 not only has God given you gifts, 00:25:23.219 --> 00:25:24.179 when you believed in him, 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:27.159 he's continuing to give your church gifts, 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.979 to enrich you, 00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.899 and strengthen you, 00:25:29.159 --> 00:25:31.319 and he will sustain you, 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:32.539 all the way to the end. 00:25:33.199 --> 00:25:34.299 So what's Paul's confidence, 00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:35.619 that this church is going to survive? 00:25:36.139 --> 00:25:37.879 It's not how brilliant they are, 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.419 it's the fact that God, 00:25:39.479 --> 00:25:40.839 is giving them gifts of grace, 00:25:40.899 --> 00:25:41.839 that's going to carry them. 00:25:42.459 --> 00:25:43.119 And in verse eight, 00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:43.559 he says, 00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:45.659 God will sustain you to the end, 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.619 look at what he says here, 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:49.099 presenting you guiltless, 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:50.799 on the day of Christ. 00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:52.419 What does that mean? 00:25:52.959 --> 00:25:53.839 It means one day, 00:25:53.979 --> 00:25:54.199 friends, 00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:55.519 every one of us, 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.959 is going to stand, 00:25:57.199 --> 00:25:58.859 before God the Father, 00:25:59.339 --> 00:26:00.199 the righteous judge. 00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:01.639 Every human being, 00:26:01.699 --> 00:26:02.779 is going to stand before God. 00:26:03.459 --> 00:26:05.399 And for those who are in Christ, 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.500 those who are Christians, 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.559 God will look at us, 00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:09.179 and say, 00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:10.459 not guilty, 00:26:11.739 --> 00:26:12.379 blameless, 00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:14.120 righteous. 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:16.520 He will present us, 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.500 guiltless, 00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.420 before God, 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.400 on the day of Christ. 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.600 Now why would, 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.620 why would God do that? 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:21.880 I mean, 00:26:22.260 --> 00:26:24.300 let's just look at ourselves, 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:24.560 right? 00:26:24.600 --> 00:26:25.400 That's not us. 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.040 Well the reason is, 00:26:27.040 --> 00:26:28.240 because Jesus, 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.220 on the cross, 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.780 took our guilt, 00:26:31.060 --> 00:26:31.960 and our sin, 00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:33.140 and our shame, 00:26:33.260 --> 00:26:34.520 for those who trust in him, 00:26:34.800 --> 00:26:35.940 and in his place, 00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:37.680 he gave us his righteousness, 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.640 as an exchange. 00:26:38.760 --> 00:26:38.900 So, 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.260 Jesus takes our guilt, 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:43.019 and he gives us his perfect track record, 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.000 of righteousness, 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.200 in his place. 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:46.119 And so now, 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.220 if you are in Christ, 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:49.379 one day you stand before God the Father, 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.879 and the Father looks at you, 00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.319 and says, 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.420 not guilty, 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.059 blameless, 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.259 righteous, 00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:56.700 because Jesus' righteousness, 00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:58.700 is credited to us. 00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:02.879 Paul writes to this messy church, 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.240 whose sins, 00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:05.339 though they are many, 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.339 and he reminds them, 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:08.720 God's mercy, 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:09.819 is more. 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.200 Thank you Chris, 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:11.940 for reminding us, 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:13.000 of that this morning. 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.879 Listen to how Andrew Wilson, 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:16.039 puts it. 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:16.599 He says, 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:19.259 the basis for Paul's confidence, 00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:20.420 in the Corinthian church, 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.359 is not how moral, 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:24.599 not the moral performance, 00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:25.599 of the church on earth, 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.819 but the absolute faithfulness, 00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.680 of God in heaven. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.279 God's commitment, 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.059 to his people, 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:32.299 is the guarantee, 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.140 that the Corinthians, 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.559 will make it home, 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:36.200 in spite of all the sin, 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.279 that characterizes them, 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.900 at the moment, 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:39.220 and all the warnings, 00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:40.040 Paul will issue, 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.340 later on. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.180 Friends, 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:42.780 isn't that amazing? 00:27:43.580 --> 00:27:44.040 Paul writes, 00:27:44.080 --> 00:27:44.440 and he says, 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.700 this church, 00:27:45.840 --> 00:27:47.880 I have absolute confidence in it, 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.420 not because you are great, 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.420 but because there's one in heaven, 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.240 and he is great, 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.840 and he is going to sustain you, 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:53.500 and carry you, 00:27:53.560 --> 00:27:54.200 all the way home. 00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:55.240 And on that day, 00:27:55.300 --> 00:27:56.300 you'll stand before him, 00:27:56.300 --> 00:27:57.580 as imperfect as you are, 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.940 and God will say, 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.180 blameless, 00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.980 amazing grace. 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:04.740 Friends, 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.680 Paul sees this church, 00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:06.099 which is, 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:07.360 which most of us, 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:08.519 wouldn't go anywhere near, 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:10.400 and what he sees, 00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:11.079 is a church, 00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:12.460 which is a work in progress, 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:14.240 and generally speaking, 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:14.720 he can, 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.160 and not just generally, 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.019 but specifically, 00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:18.660 he looks at people in church, 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.120 and he says, 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.319 I can see evidence, 00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:21.000 of God in you, 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.240 I can see God in you, 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.339 I can see God's grace in you, 00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:24.660 I can see how God is changing you, 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:26.259 I can see that spiritual gift, 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.140 that God has given you, 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.120 be encouraged, 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.980 God the Holy Spirit, 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:30.120 is at work in you. 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.200 My friends, 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.660 what's the application for us? 00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:34.340 What do we do with this? 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.000 Friends, 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:37.080 when you look at the church, 00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:38.160 let me just put this up here, 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.100 as imperfect, 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.120 as frail, 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.759 as prone to wonder, 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.720 as we are, 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.539 maybe full of disagreements, 00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.840 maybe relational tension, 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.660 maybe even difficult, 00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:49.940 and immature people in the church, 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.880 what do you see? 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.240 What do you see? 00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:55.819 Friends, 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:57.160 do you see a bunch of hypocrites, 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.819 that really should get their act together? 00:28:58.819 --> 00:29:02.439 Do you see a bunch of misfits, 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.279 who really need to get a life? 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:06.759 Friends, 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:08.019 do we see a bunch of losers, 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.700 that need somebody, 00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:09.939 to slap them into place, 00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:11.159 and sort themselves out? 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.679 Well friends, 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:15.220 do we see the grace of God, 00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.779 despite the imperfections, 00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:18.159 and the problems? 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:19.759 Friends, 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:21.079 do we see evidence, 00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:22.399 small as it may be, 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:24.039 that God is at work, 00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:24.740 in these people? 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:26.480 And friends, 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:27.579 do we thank God, 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:29.859 for the miraculous signs of grace, 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:32.900 even in this imperfect body of people, 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:34.039 called the church? 00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.680 Do we thank God, 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:38.079 that by his grace alone, 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:39.259 God is using people, 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.700 even in ways, 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:42.099 that we're uncomfortable with? 00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:43.380 Hey, 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:44.259 can I be honest with you? 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.079 One of the things, 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:47.279 that Corinthians challenges me, 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:48.640 I know this is going to upset some of you, 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.240 but it's okay. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.500 Corinthians talks a lot, 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.440 about spiritual gifts. 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:54.460 I'm a charismatic, 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.759 I believe in spiritual gifts, 00:29:56.320 --> 00:29:58.180 but I get very uncomfortable, 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.860 with a lot of what I see in the church, 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:00.640 around spiritual gifts. 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:02.039 It just makes me uncomfortable. 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:03.080 Maybe it's my personality, 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.259 maybe it's my theology, 00:30:04.580 --> 00:30:05.700 maybe it's my immaturity. 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.360 Sometimes the stuff I see, 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:10.100 I'm uncomfortable with it. 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:14.200 When I see churches like that, 00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:15.700 do I get on my high horse, 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.340 and judge them? 00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:16.920 Well you guys, 00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:18.900 you shouldn't do that. 00:30:20.320 --> 00:30:21.680 Or can I like Paul, 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.880 see the grace of God, 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:26.340 in people that even I'm not so sure, 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.000 I agree with. 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.940 And see God is at work there. 00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:30.920 And I wouldn't do it like that, 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.700 but God the Holy Spirit is, 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.940 and he's choosing to do it, 00:30:34.340 --> 00:30:35.299 and who am I to criticize? 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:36.840 Friends, 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:38.340 do I shake my head in disdain, 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.960 or do I thank God for his church? 00:30:40.820 --> 00:30:41.700 That's the question. 00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.759 And Paul shows us here, 00:30:43.860 --> 00:30:45.100 how to view the church, 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.539 even when it's messy, 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:47.140 and immature, 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:47.940 and difficult, 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:49.340 and full of difficult people. 00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:51.839 And here's why, 00:30:51.899 --> 00:30:52.679 because the fourth thing, 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.679 and the final thing is this, 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:55.539 because here is a church, 00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:56.639 which is secure, 00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.799 and which is deeply loved. 00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:01.480 I want you to see, 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.359 if you've got a bulletin, 00:31:02.439 --> 00:31:03.480 or actually I'll put it on the screen, 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.199 I want you to see, 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.279 how many times, 00:31:05.399 --> 00:31:06.079 the name, 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.220 Jesus Christ, 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.379 the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:31:08.659 --> 00:31:09.699 is in this passage. 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.459 Okay, 00:31:11.459 --> 00:31:12.019 I'll give the answer, 00:31:12.139 --> 00:31:13.099 it's nine times, 00:31:13.159 --> 00:31:14.299 it mentions Jesus Christ, 00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:15.539 ten if you count the word him, 00:31:15.659 --> 00:31:16.359 in verse five. 00:31:17.219 --> 00:31:17.939 Look at what he says, 00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:19.759 everything about this church, 00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:21.319 is saturated with Jesus. 00:31:21.719 --> 00:31:22.419 Their identity, 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.059 and calling, 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.359 is not self-generated, 00:31:24.679 --> 00:31:25.919 it's from Christ Jesus. 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.339 They are sanctified, 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:28.859 in Christ Jesus. 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.559 They're given a new identity, 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.419 and security, 00:31:31.939 --> 00:31:33.039 being God's saints, 00:31:33.179 --> 00:31:34.919 not because they are saintly people, 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.779 in and of themselves, 00:31:35.919 --> 00:31:36.479 they're not, 00:31:36.899 --> 00:31:39.159 but because of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:31:39.719 --> 00:31:40.399 God's peace, 00:31:40.399 --> 00:31:41.099 and mercy, 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.679 come not from mindfulness, 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.619 or yoga, 00:31:43.979 --> 00:31:44.779 or spiritual, 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:46.740 mental health seminars, 00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:47.799 but from, 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:49.720 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:31:50.399 --> 00:31:51.539 Grace is not earned, 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:52.200 or achieved, 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.799 where does their grace come from? 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.579 The Lord Jesus Christ. 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.619 These guys, 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.879 they possess gifts, 00:31:58.359 --> 00:31:59.420 gifts of grace, 00:31:59.559 --> 00:32:00.160 how do these gifts, 00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:00.740 come to them? 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.200 Because of the grace, 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:03.619 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:05.180 What is the subject, 00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:06.139 of Paul's message? 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.299 Christ, 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:08.399 and Christ crucified. 00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:10.160 Jesus is the reason, 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:11.399 for their hope in this world, 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:12.220 not their gifts, 00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:12.779 or abilities. 00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:14.539 Jesus will sustain them, 00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.079 to the end. 00:32:15.399 --> 00:32:16.220 It's Jesus, 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.500 who will present them, 00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:18.000 blameless, 00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.000 guiltless, 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.779 before the Father, 00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:20.359 one day. 00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:21.899 And it's Jesus, 00:32:22.379 --> 00:32:23.899 who presently invites them, 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:25.339 into amazing fellowship. 00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:26.599 Friends, 00:32:26.660 --> 00:32:27.660 what's Paul's point here? 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:29.139 The point is that, 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:31.599 Jesus has this Corinthian church. 00:32:32.119 --> 00:32:33.079 He has their past, 00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:34.139 he has their present, 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.379 he has their future, 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:37.139 and as wayward as they are, 00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:38.259 and as much as they're, 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.059 in the middle of their, 00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:40.279 sanctification process, 00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:42.399 this church is ultimately, 00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:44.099 Jesus' church. 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.960 And so Paul can write, 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:47.059 from a distance and say, 00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.379 I thank God, 00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:49.740 and I have confidence, 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.440 that God, 00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:51.619 what he has begun in you, 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:52.899 he will bring to completion, 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:54.480 because Jesus, 00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.779 is doing it. 00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:57.099 Friends, 00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:58.180 in this passage, 00:32:58.339 --> 00:33:00.059 what do the Corinthians do? 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.000 They do nothing. 00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.899 What does Jesus do? 00:33:04.619 --> 00:33:05.539 He does everything. 00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:07.740 Everything good, 00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:08.940 every sign of life, 00:33:09.099 --> 00:33:10.299 every source of hope, 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:12.059 it's all Jesus. 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:14.259 Jesus loves this church, 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:16.159 just like he loves every church, 00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:18.019 even when we're unlovable. 00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:20.319 He hasn't given up on her. 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:22.019 He doesn't keep his distance. 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:23.619 You know, 00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:24.319 20 years ago, 00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:25.079 or thereabout, 00:33:26.159 --> 00:33:26.500 I was, 00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:27.079 I think I was a, 00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:28.259 fresh graduate, 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.740 or university, 00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:30.480 somewhere around there, 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.500 and I was, 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:33.019 driving in the car, 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:34.559 with my best friend at the time, 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:36.859 he was driving, 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:39.240 and I was in the passenger seat, 00:33:39.319 --> 00:33:40.220 I can still remember, 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.740 exactly where I was, 00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:43.339 on what street in Cape Town, 00:33:44.119 --> 00:33:45.720 and I say to my buddy Ian, 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.379 I say, 00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:47.460 hey bro, 00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:49.899 I really love Jesus, 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.599 I'm not so sure, 00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:52.419 about the church anymore. 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:53.759 I mean, 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.440 I love Jesus, 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:56.440 but the church is hard work, 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.059 people are pretty frustrating, 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:59.799 it's not that exciting, 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:01.779 it just feels like a slog, 00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.980 to go to church these days. 00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:05.400 And Ian is quiet, 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.180 for a few moments, 00:34:06.539 --> 00:34:07.420 and then he says, 00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:09.099 no bro, 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:09.800 that's impossible, 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.440 I don't believe you. 00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:12.780 He says, 00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:13.460 it's not possible, 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.300 to love Jesus, 00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:16.219 and not love what Jesus loves. 00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.659 And then there's quiet, 00:34:20.240 --> 00:34:21.380 and then he changes the subject. 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:23.920 And I was absolutely stunned. 00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:26.539 I didn't know what to say. 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.940 And so I went on, 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.740 with the new subject. 00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:30.179 But that conversation, 00:34:30.179 --> 00:34:31.559 has never left me. 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:33.480 Friends, 00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.679 can we love Jesus, 00:34:34.779 --> 00:34:36.460 and not love Jesus' church? 00:34:37.759 --> 00:34:39.199 I think Paul is going to say, 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.480 some strong things to this church, 00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:41.500 and he's going to challenge them, 00:34:41.579 --> 00:34:42.400 but at his heart, 00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.539 he loves the church, 00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:44.840 because he knows, 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.920 this is Jesus' church. 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.139 Jesus is the one, 00:34:48.179 --> 00:34:48.779 who saved her. 00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:50.400 Jesus is the one, 00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.259 who sanctified her. 00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:52.779 Jesus is the one, 00:34:52.820 --> 00:34:53.519 who's called her. 00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:55.119 Jesus is the one, 00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:56.239 who's still at work in her. 00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.880 Jesus is the one, 00:34:57.920 --> 00:34:58.880 who's purifying her, 00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.699 and sustaining her, 00:34:59.699 --> 00:35:00.599 and working in her. 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.579 And ultimately, 00:35:01.759 --> 00:35:02.299 Jesus is the one, 00:35:02.319 --> 00:35:03.059 who's committed to her. 00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:05.199 And despite all the trouble, 00:35:05.359 --> 00:35:06.000 Jesus has not, 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:07.379 washed his hands of them, 00:35:07.439 --> 00:35:08.379 or walked away from them. 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:09.839 He's still there. 00:35:10.839 --> 00:35:11.939 And so how do we respond? 00:35:12.859 --> 00:35:13.219 Well friends, 00:35:13.279 --> 00:35:14.759 let's follow Jesus' example. 00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:15.819 Sorry, 00:35:15.879 --> 00:35:17.480 let's follow Paul's example. 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:19.319 Let's love the church, 00:35:19.419 --> 00:35:20.879 even when it's difficult to love. 00:35:21.719 --> 00:35:22.480 Even when it's not, 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:23.159 what you'd naturally, 00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:23.939 choose to love. 00:35:24.799 --> 00:35:25.079 And friends, 00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:26.579 let's love the real church, 00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:28.019 the real flesh and blood church, 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:29.400 the real people in the church. 00:35:29.699 --> 00:35:31.420 Not an imaginary church, 00:35:31.460 --> 00:35:32.480 or the church of our dreams, 00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:33.500 or the church that's online, 00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:36.239 or the perfect Instagram choreographed church. 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:37.139 Friends, 00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:38.960 let's love the real flesh and blood church, 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:40.599 the people that we rub shoulders with, 00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:41.400 and interact with. 00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:42.739 And above all, 00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:43.619 let's be hopeful, 00:35:44.259 --> 00:35:45.119 and full of grace, 00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:47.599 because Christ is at work in this church. 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:49.460 As imperfect as it is, 00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.739 as much as it's in the process, 00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:53.219 Christ is at work in this church. 00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:54.759 And so let's be hopeful, 00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:56.019 and love her too. 00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.480 Let's pray together. 00:35:59.019 --> 00:35:59.880 Lord Jesus, 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:02.440 we have much to confess in this regard, 00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:04.099 and God, 00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:05.519 I stand at the front of the queue, 00:36:05.739 --> 00:36:06.619 which much is confession. 00:36:07.699 --> 00:36:08.219 God, 00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:10.900 I confess that I get frustrated, 00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:12.920 I get impatient, 00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.639 I often, 00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.019 God, 00:36:16.280 --> 00:36:18.559 see things 00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:21.800 that are not the way that I would choose, 00:36:21.840 --> 00:36:23.079 and I find it easy to criticize. 00:36:24.259 --> 00:36:24.960 But God, 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:27.059 I don't often see the grace of God, 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:28.019 the gifts of grace, 00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:29.460 that you have enriched, 00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:31.179 not only this church, 00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:31.980 but every church. 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.360 God, 00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:35.340 I find it easy to look at the church down the road, 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:36.259 and criticize them, 00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:38.599 to point out all their faults and failures. 00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:40.179 But Jesus, 00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:41.960 you are at work in your church. 00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:42.880 And so I pray, 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:43.480 help us, 00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:43.639 God, 00:36:43.719 --> 00:36:44.559 by your spirit. 00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:45.619 God, 00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:49.420 won't you give us the gift of grace that loves your church. 00:36:50.799 --> 00:36:51.299 Help us, 00:36:51.400 --> 00:36:51.460 God, 00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.380 to love what you love. 00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:54.599 And help us, 00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:54.820 God, 00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:55.219 to be, 00:36:55.799 --> 00:36:56.079 won't you, 00:36:56.139 --> 00:36:56.239 God, 00:36:56.299 --> 00:36:57.940 sustain us all the way to the end, 00:36:58.299 --> 00:36:59.400 to take us home, 00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:02.779 to present us blameless and pure before God the Father, 00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:04.460 by your grace alone. 00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:08.059 We pray this in your wonderful and your gracious name. 00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.139 Amen. 00:37:09.139 --> 00:37:09.300 Amen.