WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.160 Good evening, everyone. 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:09.220 I'm glad that we could be here together. 00:00:09.480 --> 00:00:13.419 For those of you who have not been a part of our church or maybe here for the first 00:00:13.419 --> 00:00:20.120 time, we've been using this time in our worship to look at a letter that was written by the 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:25.660 Apostle Paul a long time ago to an area of the Roman Empire known as Galatia, so we call 00:00:25.660 --> 00:00:26.600 this letter Galatians. 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:32.460 And we've been looking primarily at how the gospel, which is the good news of Jesus Christ, 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:39.000 how that transforms society and how it transforms the way we think about things like race and 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:46.280 social class and gender and how it makes possible an entirely new way of being human. 00:00:46.859 --> 00:00:49.939 It makes possible a new way of being human together. 00:00:50.680 --> 00:00:55.079 And so we've looked at that at a kind of cultural level. 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:58.320 We've looked at that at the level of society at large. 00:00:58.820 --> 00:01:06.200 This evening, we want to look a little more specifically and personally at our relationships, 00:01:06.759 --> 00:01:09.079 the relationships within the church. 00:01:09.679 --> 00:01:14.799 So more specifically, we're going to be looking and thinking about what it means to have spiritual 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:15.560 relationships. 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:21.719 You know, there's a lot in the news right now and a lot of research being done on the 00:01:21.719 --> 00:01:28.560 epidemic of loneliness and on the importance of friendship and having strong social support. 00:01:28.659 --> 00:01:30.620 And so there's a lot out there about this. 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:37.900 And, you know, research shows that you, people who have strong social support networks, they're 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:39.500 less likely to be depressed. 00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:41.020 They're less likely to be suicidal. 00:01:41.019 --> 00:01:43.039 They're better at dealing with stress. 00:01:43.159 --> 00:01:45.719 Apparently, it's also good for your BMI. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:47.840 You live longer. 00:01:48.060 --> 00:01:51.420 All of these studies are showing the importance of friendship. 00:01:51.899 --> 00:01:52.899 And so we know this. 00:01:52.979 --> 00:01:54.119 We know friendships matter. 00:01:54.259 --> 00:01:58.840 But the question we want to ask is, is there anything unique or different about friendships 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:02.920 in the church, about relationships between Christians? 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:09.039 Is there anything that makes this different than, say, college friends or co-workers or 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:11.860 neighbors that we're close to and spend time with on the weekends? 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:16.740 And so we're going to be looking at that theme here in the last few chapters of Galatians. 00:02:17.140 --> 00:02:19.780 It talks about spiritual relationships here. 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:23.719 And in fact, Galatians has a lot to say about the Holy Spirit in general. 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:29.159 A lot of people don't immediately realize that Galatians is really a letter all about the Holy 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:32.819 Spirit and what the Holy Spirit does in the life of God's people. 00:02:33.659 --> 00:02:38.780 And Paul's describing here what a Spirit-filled church looks like, a Spirit-led church. 00:02:38.939 --> 00:02:46.039 And what's interesting is he does not describe a Spirit-filled church as a church where people 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:49.939 are being slain in the Spirit or speaking in tongues or prophecy and all these things. 00:02:50.079 --> 00:02:53.859 Even though those things are a part of the life of the church, absolutely, that's normally 00:02:53.859 --> 00:02:56.840 what we first think of when we think of a Spirit-filled church. 00:02:56.840 --> 00:03:05.800 But Paul says that the clearest sign, the first sign that you have a Spirit-led church is 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:07.120 in the relationships. 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:10.020 It's what the relationships look like. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:16.300 And so we're going to look at these places where we see a description of Spirit-led relationships 00:03:16.300 --> 00:03:17.640 in the church. 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:24.319 In chapter 4, verses 12 to 20, Paul describes his relationship as a pastor to his people. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:28.120 So what we're first going to do is look at what does a Spirit-led relationship between 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:30.639 a pastor and a congregation look like? 00:03:31.079 --> 00:03:34.719 Now, I don't know that we've ever talked about that in the history of our church, specifically 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:36.439 what this relationship should look like. 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:37.280 So we'll see that. 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:43.139 And then we'll look secondly at what the relationship in a Spirit-led church looks like between people 00:03:43.139 --> 00:03:44.139 in the congregation. 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:47.780 So let's pray and then we'll open God's Word together. 00:03:47.780 --> 00:03:50.340 Father, we thank you, Lord, for your Word. 00:03:51.780 --> 00:03:56.599 We thank you, as we do every week, that we have the privilege of coming and sitting under 00:03:56.599 --> 00:03:57.039 your Word. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:05.420 And we pray that you would use your Word to open our hearts to reveal to us our need for 00:04:05.420 --> 00:04:06.819 grace that you see so clearly. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:10.280 And that in that we would meet your living Word, Jesus Christ. 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:13.420 And we pray this in His holy name. 00:04:13.860 --> 00:04:14.180 Amen. 00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:20.900 So we're looking first at the relationship in Spirit-filled churches between pastors 00:04:20.900 --> 00:04:21.519 and people. 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:23.120 What should this look like? 00:04:23.420 --> 00:04:27.900 You know, these days I think there are a lot of expectations about the role of pastors. 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:29.699 Some people say, why do we even have pastors? 00:04:29.819 --> 00:04:34.639 Other people say, well, I know why we have pastors and we have all kinds of reasons why we think 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:35.540 pastors exist. 00:04:36.340 --> 00:04:40.220 Some people operate as though pastors are a lot like CEOs. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:43.259 And a lot of pastors operate that way. 00:04:43.259 --> 00:04:49.740 They assume that their main job is to keep the organization running smoothly, to cast vision, 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:54.620 to make sure that you're growing, and to make sure you're promoting the church as much as you can. 00:04:54.959 --> 00:05:00.699 Other people think of pastors as kind of motivational speakers, you know, sort of spiritual TED 00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:01.779 talk speakers. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:06.920 And the main function of a pastor is, again, an inspirational message to kind of keep us going 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:07.399 through the week. 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:11.000 And other people think of pastors as maybe life coaches. 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:17.160 You know, if you need some tips on making marriage work or tips on how to do a better job at work, 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:20.360 then pastors are your go-to people for that sort of thing. 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:23.699 And so all of these things are reflections of things that pastors do. 00:05:23.779 --> 00:05:26.300 But what's the central purpose of a pastor? 00:05:26.420 --> 00:05:27.639 Why have pastors at all? 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:31.519 And we see that in Galatians 4, specifically in verse 19. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:34.019 This is Paul sharing his heart. 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:40.479 And it's beautiful because you see that Paul is not some distant, stoic, ivory tower theologian. 00:05:40.699 --> 00:05:41.459 He's a pastor. 00:05:42.219 --> 00:05:43.839 And he passionately loves his people. 00:05:44.419 --> 00:05:46.839 And at the end of this passage, he says in verse 19, 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:48.399 My little children. 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:50.319 That's what he calls his people. 00:05:50.419 --> 00:05:54.599 My little children for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:59.100 until Christ is formed in you. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:01.760 What is the purpose of a pastor? 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:08.580 The purpose of a pastor is to form Christ in others. 00:06:09.379 --> 00:06:12.840 It's to see Christ formed in other people. 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:15.840 And you say, well, what does it mean to have Christ formed in you? 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:20.759 Well, it means that all of your beliefs and all of your desires 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:26.459 and the way that you live and your imagination, 00:06:26.739 --> 00:06:32.699 that all of those things are aligned with the person and the character 00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:34.939 and the heart of Jesus Christ. 00:06:35.219 --> 00:06:37.519 So instead of saying, well, I believe this, 00:06:38.099 --> 00:06:40.979 and yet this is what I really love and care about, 00:06:41.299 --> 00:06:44.699 and this is kind of how I live, and this is what I fantasize about, 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:50.060 right, all of those things are aligned with the person of Christ 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:51.579 and the character of Christ. 00:06:51.659 --> 00:06:54.360 That's what it means to have Christ formed in you. 00:06:54.420 --> 00:06:57.120 It's as though your very identity has been supplanted. 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:01.699 Right, so Paul says that's the reason that pastors exist. 00:07:01.899 --> 00:07:05.680 And he compares this work to birthing and raising a child, 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:07.099 which I think is just wonderful. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:13.439 I mean, I don't obviously personally know what it's like to give birth to a child. 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:16.899 I was there with all three of our kids when they were born, with my wife. 00:07:17.379 --> 00:07:22.219 And what I know from her is that as painful as it can be 00:07:22.219 --> 00:07:25.699 and as anxiety-provoking as the entire process can be, 00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:31.639 all of that pales in comparison to the joy of bringing new life into the world. 00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:33.040 It's staggering. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:34.139 Right? 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:35.519 And in the same way, Paul is saying, 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:39.379 as hard as this is and as much anguish as it causes me at times, 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:45.599 that pales in comparison to the beauty and the joy of seeing new spiritual life come into the world. 00:07:46.479 --> 00:07:48.819 And, you know, if you think about when you have kids, 00:07:49.139 --> 00:07:52.560 one of the things that I didn't realize really, truly, 00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:55.560 about having kids is that, you know, we have three now. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:57.039 Our oldest is Riley. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:01.260 And I remember having Riley, and I remember for about a year after having Riley, 00:08:01.460 --> 00:08:04.939 I was constantly in a state of kind of low-grade panic. 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:06.700 Panic. 00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:10.680 Because what I kept realizing is I'm always on duty. 00:08:11.760 --> 00:08:14.600 You know, I had never had a job before where I'm always on. 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:19.040 You know, you don't clock out after 12 hours and somebody else comes in and takes a night shift. 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:21.439 You're just kind of always on. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:25.480 And people can come and family and babysitters and all that and kind of help here and there, 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:29.560 but you're the one always on duty, and you're responsible for that child's well-being. 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:31.439 And so, you know, low-grade panic. 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:32.419 It's about a year. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:33.879 It still kicks in every now and then. 00:08:35.419 --> 00:08:37.919 And Paul's saying it's very much like being a pastor. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:40.000 You know, it's not a day job. 00:08:40.059 --> 00:08:41.539 You don't clock in and clock out. 00:08:41.820 --> 00:08:46.600 And he says, you know, everything I do, all of my life, is oriented toward one goal. 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:48.559 Just like being a parent. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:55.299 Everything you do as a parent is oriented toward that child growing up and becoming a mature, healthy adult. 00:08:56.179 --> 00:09:05.319 And in the same way, Paul says, pastors, everything you do is oriented toward those people becoming mature, healthy disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. 00:09:05.719 --> 00:09:06.619 This is the goal. 00:09:07.299 --> 00:09:09.819 And so he says, here are some of the things that I do. 00:09:09.859 --> 00:09:15.439 And we see in this passage some of the things that Paul does in order to form Christ in his people. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:19.800 Number one, Paul identifies with his people. 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:24.740 First thing he does in order to form Christ in them is he identifies with them. 00:09:24.800 --> 00:09:28.260 It says in verse 12, brothers, I entreat you. 00:09:28.880 --> 00:09:32.760 Become as I am, for I also have become as you are. 00:09:34.420 --> 00:09:39.160 So he's saying, I became like you in order to reach you. 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:40.699 And, you know, he's a Jew. 00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:42.600 He's kind of a Jew's Jew. 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:47.879 He's a Jewish elite, you know, in his former life. 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:50.679 And he says, you know, you're a bunch of Gentiles. 00:09:51.839 --> 00:09:54.399 Not too long ago, I wouldn't have even associated with you. 00:09:54.459 --> 00:09:56.199 I would have crossed the street if I saw you coming. 00:09:56.839 --> 00:09:58.719 But I became in every way like you. 00:09:59.079 --> 00:10:00.539 I've lived with you. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:04.360 I've eaten the same food at the table with you. 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:05.480 We've laughed together. 00:10:05.579 --> 00:10:06.419 We've cried together. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:08.079 We've experienced life together. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:09.680 I know what it's like to be in your shoes. 00:10:09.940 --> 00:10:15.160 I became like you in order to see Christ formed in you. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:21.720 And I think that there is a principle for pastoral ministry here, a kind of model, right? 00:10:22.020 --> 00:10:28.900 I mean, as good as, as wonderful as technology is, as wonderful as, you know, podcasts are 00:10:28.900 --> 00:10:34.500 and video projection and streaming media and all of these technologies 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:39.899 and as amazing as those technologies are for getting the gospel out to the world. 00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:41.279 And I love all that stuff. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:42.659 I listen to tons of podcasts. 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:52.200 There is no substitute for a flesh and blood pastor preaching to people he knows, 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:57.100 preaching into situations that he's personally familiar with. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:59.200 There is no substitute. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:00.120 I became like you. 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:02.060 I know what it's like to be in your shoes. 00:11:02.139 --> 00:11:05.800 Now, pastors can't know every single person in their congregation deeply and intimately. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:10.740 But pastors can know their people, know what it's like to be them, 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:13.159 know what they go through on a day-in-day-out basis. 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:19.080 So Paul says, you know, I identified with you so that I could form Christ in you. 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:23.560 The counterpart to that, number two, Paul set an example with his own life. 00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:29.420 He says, become like me, for I became as you are. 00:11:29.540 --> 00:11:31.759 And that's staggering to me. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:32.900 Become as I am. 00:11:35.820 --> 00:11:37.139 To me, that's staggering. 00:11:38.160 --> 00:11:43.120 You know, and what he means is obviously in Galatians 2.20, a couple of chapters earlier, 00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:47.379 he says, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:48.400 And what's he saying? 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:54.320 He says, I'm doing everything I can so that you will have the kind of relationship with Christ that I have. 00:11:55.560 --> 00:11:58.000 Or I'm so, it's not about my moral excellence. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:59.400 It's not about my resume. 00:12:00.400 --> 00:12:02.700 It's not about all of my impressive accomplishments. 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:06.620 It's about the fact that I'm so in love with Jesus. 00:12:08.040 --> 00:12:13.259 I'm so taken with him that it's almost as though I no longer exist, that he lives in me. 00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:14.620 He fills me up. 00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:16.580 And he says, I want you to have that. 00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:27.420 You know, the great Scottish pastor, Robert Murray McShane, famously said, he's a pastor, 00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:32.300 and he said, the greatest need of my people is my personal holiness. 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:37.419 That hits me like a sledgehammer. 00:12:37.539 --> 00:12:39.059 I don't know how you feel about it. 00:12:40.199 --> 00:12:42.139 But I'm staggered by that. 00:12:42.359 --> 00:12:45.139 You know, I hang out with a lot of pastors. 00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:47.240 It's kind of one of the hazards of the trade. 00:12:47.839 --> 00:12:51.899 And we hang out, and, you know, pastors are always trying to think about how they can grow. 00:12:52.219 --> 00:12:54.099 And, you know, pastors are always working on stuff. 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:57.860 You know, and so a lot of pastors talk about, I want to become a better preacher and a better communicator. 00:12:58.259 --> 00:13:01.940 You know, or other pastors say, I want to become better at fundraising and development. 00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:07.080 And other pastors say, I want to become better at organizational leadership or, you know, vision casting. 00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:10.120 Or, you know, and so pastors are always talking about this stuff. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:18.240 Rarely do you hear pastors say, I want to grow more holy in the way I live. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:20.600 You just don't hear it that often. 00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:27.279 And yet I think what McShane is saying, what Paul would say is, my people's greatest need is my relationship with Christ. 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:30.259 That that's worthy of imitation. 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:37.080 And so I think there's probably no other quote out there that has convicted me more than that quote. 00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:43.240 It's always in the background whenever I'm praying or confessing to God my own weakness. 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.740 So Paul set an example. 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:48.360 He was able to say, become as I am. 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:56.899 Number three, the third thing Paul does to form Christ and his people is, he preached God's word even if it made enemies. 00:13:58.220 --> 00:14:02.659 He preached God's word faithfully even if he made enemies doing it. 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:04.560 So he says, you know, in verse 5, 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:07.759 What has become of your blessedness? 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:13.899 For I testify to you that if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:16.279 Have I then become your enemy? 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:18.740 By telling you the truth? 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:22.500 And you've got to hear the pain. 00:14:22.820 --> 00:14:24.080 You've got to hear the heartbreak. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:28.259 I mean, Paul's been in anguish over this. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:32.899 I mean, he's essentially saying, we were friends. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:35.000 We loved each other. 00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:37.379 We lived life together. 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:40.560 We laughed together and we cried together. 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:45.599 We had all kinds of plans of the ways that we wanted to live our lives together. 00:14:46.719 --> 00:14:48.279 We were brothers and sisters. 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:52.319 And now you don't even talk to me. 00:14:53.119 --> 00:14:54.679 You don't return my calls. 00:14:56.059 --> 00:14:57.219 You act like I don't exist. 00:14:57.439 --> 00:14:59.299 In fact, you act like I'm your enemy. 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:05.379 All because I preached what was revealed to me by Jesus Christ. 00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:07.219 And you didn't want to hear it. 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:09.939 And so now the relationship is off. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.799 And you say, how could that be? 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:16.859 And you know, we've had that kind of thing happen over the years in our church. 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:23.399 And I will tell you, it hurts every single time. 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.399 It hurts. 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:31.759 And there's this temptation, you know, to ameliorate the tension. 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:35.220 There's this temptation to skip over the troublesome parts. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:38.940 And the things that we don't want to talk about are, you know, to kind of mitigate those. 00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:42.000 Or to kind of, you know, explain things away. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:44.180 Or to just kind of soften this. 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:47.459 And there's this temptation to do that because it would make it a heck of a lot easier. 00:15:47.719 --> 00:15:49.179 It would be so much easier. 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:53.799 If there were nothing in Scripture that were in any way challenging. 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:58.979 Or offensive to our modern sensibilities. 00:15:58.979 --> 00:16:03.339 And yet, you know, I think personally of my own ordination vows. 00:16:05.099 --> 00:16:07.639 Questions like this were asked of me. 00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:12.539 Are you determined out of the Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge? 00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:19.219 Will you be ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away from the body of Christ 00:16:19.219 --> 00:16:24.519 all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's Word? 00:16:24.699 --> 00:16:31.740 And you realize that pastors are ordained not to tell people what they want to hear, 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:35.480 but to tell people what they need to hear from God's Word. 00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:39.839 And there are things in God's Word that we all need to hear that none of us want to hear. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:41.180 Including pastors. 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:47.560 So chances are, if you have a pastor who is only telling people what they want to hear, 00:16:47.660 --> 00:16:48.940 it's probably not a pastor. 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.840 It's more of a peddler. 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:53.660 There's probably a book for sale in the lobby somewhere. 00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:59.460 Paul says what is true based on God's Word, 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.480 even if it makes enemies. 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:07.099 And of course, number four is maybe the most important of all. 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:10.860 The last thing that Paul does in order to form Christ and his people is, 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:14.400 he relies on the Holy Spirit to do all of the things that he can't do. 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:20.339 Verses 13 and 14 tell us that Paul was sick when he arrived in Galatia. 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:21.500 He was ill. 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:24.140 We don't know exactly what was going on, a lot of theories about that. 00:17:24.360 --> 00:17:26.799 But we know that it was a significant illness, 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:29.640 and that it was a burden to the Galatian people. 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:30.759 They had to take care of him. 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:35.320 And he was so sick, and the condition was such that it inhibited his ability to communicate 00:17:35.320 --> 00:17:38.280 and do his normal kind of ministry. 00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:41.080 He was kind of bedridden or something. 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.900 But what we realize is that even though he was limited, 00:17:45.020 --> 00:17:46.860 and even though he couldn't communicate the way he wanted, 00:17:47.100 --> 00:17:49.800 the Holy Spirit still did amazing work in Galatia. 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:51.520 There's this thriving church as a result. 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:58.500 And you realize that the Spirit is the one actually doing the work of ministry. 00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:03.579 And there are so many things that in pastoral ministry, day in and day out, 00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:06.779 so many situations that confront you with your own limitations. 00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:13.359 Your highest estimation of yourself is the day you graduate from seminary. 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:17.099 I know everything now. 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:18.899 I've got all the answers, all the techniques. 00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:22.059 And in about a month, you're sort of down here. 00:18:22.699 --> 00:18:28.899 And then, you know, slowly but surely, your self-estimation gets chopped away, you know, 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:31.439 which is a good thing in the kingdom of God. 00:18:32.399 --> 00:18:34.079 But it confronts you with your limitations. 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:36.000 You know, I realize again and again and again, 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.819 I can't fix marriages. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.339 I can't convert people. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:49.079 I can give great arguments, great apologetics, illustrations. 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.619 I can't convert people. 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.819 Only the Spirit can do that. 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:56.119 I can't make people ask other people out on dates. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.079 Okay? 00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:59.220 I just can't do that. 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.660 I can arrange marriages. 00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:07.380 I have a contract, and if you sign that contract, 00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:08.860 I will arrange a marriage for you. 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:10.620 It will go wonderfully for you. 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:13.880 A little awkward for the first couple of years, but you'll work it out. 00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:16.980 I can't make people stop dating people. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:22.759 I can't make people stop doing self-destructive things. 00:19:24.040 --> 00:19:25.600 I can give them all the reasons. 00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:29.640 I can't take away chronic pain. 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:33.040 I can't take away depression. 00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:38.520 There's no magic word that I can tell you that's going to alleviate your anxiety. 00:19:40.800 --> 00:19:44.800 I can't make your life easier if you struggle with chronic mental illness. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:52.440 I can't tell you what your future holds. 00:19:53.080 --> 00:19:55.380 I can't tell you which job you should take. 00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:59.520 I can't even tell you if you're going to be okay. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:04.140 All I can do is pray. 00:20:06.560 --> 00:20:08.480 And I can do what John the Baptist did, 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:14.060 which is to continually point to Jesus Christ and to decrease 00:20:14.060 --> 00:20:17.900 so that He would increase in your life. 00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:18.740 That's all I can do. 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:24.539 And then, as I'm praying and as I'm pointing, 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:27.620 I can sit back and I can watch the Holy Spirit do 00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:29.620 what no human being could do in your life. 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:33.640 And that is one of the great joys and privileges of pastoral ministry, 00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:37.779 is getting to see the Spirit work in people's lives in amazing ways. 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:39.779 Getting to see the Spirit do things 00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:43.279 that I couldn't do in ten years of trying in an instant. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:47.220 You know, compared to moving, you know, 00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:51.299 compared to the work that sometimes needs to be done in the human heart, 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:53.139 moving mountains is easy. 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:56.720 It's way harder, infinitely harder, 00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:59.139 to change a human heart than it is to move a mountain. 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:03.759 You see the Spirit do amazing things in the church. 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:06.039 So we take all this together, 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:08.839 and just a word before we look at the relationships 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:10.359 that exist within the congregation, 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:13.139 you know, over the last few years, 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:15.240 I've been working to try to clarify 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:18.519 my sense of pastoral calling in this church 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.519 and what that should look like 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.979 and what my priorities should be. 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:23.819 And one of my great heroes who passed away last year, 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.079 Eugene Peterson, 00:21:25.679 --> 00:21:29.379 says that there are three jobs of a pastor, 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:33.179 preaching and teaching and leadership, 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.699 administrative leadership, 00:21:34.699 --> 00:21:39.299 and he says those three jobs hinge on three core practices. 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:44.659 Prayer, Bible study, and spiritual direction. 00:21:45.439 --> 00:21:46.879 And you know, what's interesting about those 00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:48.519 is they all have to do with attention. 00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:51.479 Prayer is attending to God. 00:21:53.159 --> 00:21:55.679 Bible study is attending to God's Word 00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:58.039 and the great story of salvation history, 00:21:58.919 --> 00:22:00.759 all that God has done in the lives of His people. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:04.899 And then spiritual direction is attending to the work 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:06.859 of the Holy Spirit here and now, 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:09.199 in your lives and lives of our congregation. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:11.840 And in our community in general. 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:14.539 Where is God calling us to go? 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:17.240 What is God doing right now in our midst? 00:22:18.080 --> 00:22:20.860 And you know, all of these things concern attention. 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.779 And to be totally honest, 00:22:21.860 --> 00:22:23.160 I don't have a lot of attention. 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:26.559 I have about that much. 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:29.360 My attention span is very, very, very small. 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.100 Right? 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.620 Medication gets me to about here. 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:32.519 You know? 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:34.400 Monster gets me to about here. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.700 You know, that's about, 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.740 and that's about my, 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:39.220 I'm maxed out, highly medicated. 00:22:39.320 --> 00:22:40.240 I'm about right there. 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:40.720 Right? 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:42.160 And it's not that much. 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.259 And so I have to be very choosy 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:47.100 about where I invest that tiny little bit of attention 00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:47.960 that I have to give. 00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:51.480 And so this is why I went off all social media. 00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:55.140 And this is why I've mostly gone away from email. 00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:58.720 is because those things were robbing my attention. 00:23:01.800 --> 00:23:03.160 Another thing I've done is, 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.360 you know, as we've grown, 00:23:04.620 --> 00:23:07.820 I've tried to focus more and more of my attention 00:23:07.820 --> 00:23:09.580 on equipping our staff, 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:11.600 on equipping our other pastors, 00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:13.480 on equipping leaders. 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:17.300 Because even though in this parish 00:23:17.300 --> 00:23:19.440 it feels like we're a church of, 00:23:19.520 --> 00:23:20.640 you know, a couple of hundred people, 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:23.160 the reality is we're a church of like 400 people. 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:25.080 And in a church that size, 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.580 even with three pastors, 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:29.000 it's impossible to know intimately 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:30.440 and care for everybody 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:32.160 in ways that people need to be cared for. 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.960 And so that kind of brings us 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.900 to the second piece of this, 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.120 which is what does the relationship 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:40.340 at a Spirit-filled church look like 00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:41.560 between people? 00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:44.440 And for this we look at Galatians 5 and 6. 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:46.019 Galatians 5, 25, 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.840 if we live by the Spirit, 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:50.620 let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.560 Let us not become conceited, 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.659 provoking one another, 00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:54.839 envying one another. 00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:57.379 Brothers, if anyone is caught 00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.579 in any transgression, 00:23:59.379 --> 00:24:00.419 you who are spiritual 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:01.440 should restore him 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.460 in a spirit of gentleness. 00:24:03.179 --> 00:24:04.519 Keep watch on yourself, 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.700 lest you too be tempted. 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:07.240 Bear one another's burdens 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:09.740 and so fulfill the law of Christ. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.720 What I want you to see here 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:15.980 is that the work of forming Christ in people 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:18.339 is not only pastoral work. 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:21.519 The work of forming Christ in people 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:23.639 is the work of every single Christian. 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.439 Right? 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.419 When you were baptized, 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:29.899 that was kind of like your ordination 00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:33.079 and you became a full-time minister. 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:37.799 And part of the ministry of the saints 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:42.799 is to see that Christ is formed in one another. 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:44.039 So when Paul talks about 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.680 bearing one another's burdens, 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.539 he's talking about 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:49.220 sharing that sense of responsibility 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:53.159 for seeing that Christ is formed in all of us, 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.559 that we're all growing and maturing. 00:24:54.659 --> 00:24:56.319 It's the burden of discipleship. 00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.919 It's the yoke of discipleship. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.460 And he says, 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:00.859 no one is called to go it alone. 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:02.940 There's no such thing as a lone gun Christian. 00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:05.119 By design, 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.819 the formation of Christ in us 00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:08.099 is a communal effort 00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:10.539 and everybody has a part to play in that. 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:13.480 So he's saying, 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:16.399 our church relationships 00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:18.940 are categorically different 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.899 than your friendships, 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.920 your college friends, 00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:22.799 your co-workers, 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.240 neighbors that you hang out with, 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.279 even your family. 00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:28.839 The church relationships 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:30.899 are categorically different 00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:34.339 because we're all called to pastor one another. 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.920 And so just like Paul, 00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:38.500 everything we do, 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:40.180 all the ways that we interact 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:43.900 are meant to orient toward that end. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:44.839 And so we ask, 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.259 well, okay, 00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:46.779 what does that actually look like? 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:48.720 And I'll just give you a couple of examples 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:51.579 of what that might look like. 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.859 The first example 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:54.819 of how we form Christ in each other 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.519 is simply this. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:58.759 We attend to the work of the Holy Spirit 00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:00.900 in one another's lives. 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:03.339 You just pay attention 00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:04.980 to what God is already doing 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:06.640 in the lives of the people around you. 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:07.580 You notice it. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.320 So in verse 25, 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:10.740 he says, 00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:12.240 if we live by the Spirit, 00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:13.780 let us also keep in step 00:26:13.780 --> 00:26:15.160 with the Spirit. 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:17.640 Keep in step with the Spirit. 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:19.900 Track with what the Spirit is doing. 00:26:20.020 --> 00:26:20.980 Pay attention to that 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.800 and then align your efforts with it. 00:26:22.820 --> 00:26:23.940 That's what he's talking about here. 00:26:24.620 --> 00:26:26.500 So just imagine your relationships, 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:28.680 your Christian relationships for a second, 00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:30.820 and imagine how different they would be 00:26:30.820 --> 00:26:32.580 if you were attending to the work 00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:33.420 of the Holy Spirit. 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:33.900 In other words, 00:26:34.580 --> 00:26:35.580 what would it be like 00:26:35.580 --> 00:26:37.340 if you saw all of your relationships 00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:38.019 in the church, 00:26:38.800 --> 00:26:39.779 every single person, 00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:41.580 as a work in progress 00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:42.340 of the Holy Spirit? 00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:43.720 You know, 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.860 like when you're driving down the street 00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.940 and you see some row house 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.960 and it's being renovated 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:48.980 and they've got all the scaffolding 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.759 built out front 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.580 and all the machinery 00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.240 and the tools 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.700 and the hard hats 00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:54.500 and serious work is going on. 00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:56.420 What would it be like 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.259 if you just assumed 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.440 that everybody in the church 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.100 was like that? 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.420 They were under renovation. 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:03.860 Open house coming soon. 00:27:04.840 --> 00:27:05.000 You know, 00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:06.220 so imagine if you had 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.580 a disagreement with somebody. 00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:09.600 You have a major falling out 00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.240 with somebody, 00:27:10.580 --> 00:27:11.259 angry, 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:11.880 argument, 00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:13.140 the whole nine yards. 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:14.960 You know, 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.660 I think maybe 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:17.600 that might be happening right now. 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.080 I don't know. 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:19.100 There may be somebody here, 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.340 a few of you here, 00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:21.620 who are in a major disagreement 00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.259 right now 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.759 and you're hurt 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.300 and you're angry 00:27:23.300 --> 00:27:24.720 and you feel attacked, 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.500 you feel let down. 00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:28.220 Imagine if instead of 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:29.200 however you're thinking 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:30.539 about that situation right now. 00:27:30.600 --> 00:27:31.180 Instead of that, 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.680 you assumed 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:35.640 that you are a work 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.380 of the Holy Spirit 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:38.380 and this other person 00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:39.299 is an ongoing work 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.000 of the Holy Spirit 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.360 and that this argument 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.740 is actually one of the ways 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.640 that the Holy Spirit 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.940 is renovating you. 00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.500 You know, 00:27:46.580 --> 00:27:48.120 there's like an old bathroom 00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:48.519 or kitchen 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.180 that just needs to be 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:50.240 completely torn out. 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.460 There's something, 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.519 there's a part 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:54.059 that just needs to be gutted 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:55.160 and that's what's happening 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.759 right now. 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:57.180 The Spirit is working on you. 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.299 How would you respond 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.399 differently to that conflict? 00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.619 Have you assumed 00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:01.220 this is how God 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.119 is working in my life 00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:03.059 and their life? 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:06.619 Think about dating people 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:09.059 and think about 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.819 our typical approach 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.279 to dating, 00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:11.000 relationships, 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:11.879 or not dating, 00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:13.480 hanging out with intentionality 00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:15.220 or however it plays out. 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:18.500 And imagine 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:20.339 that you treat 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.539 the people that you date 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:23.659 like renovation projects 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.319 of the Holy Spirit. 00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:26.059 The main thing 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.500 that's happening 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.379 in this person's life 00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:28.220 is that God 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:29.560 is working in them, 00:28:29.800 --> 00:28:31.280 forming Christ in them. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:32.140 You know, 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.000 if you saw a house 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.560 being renovated 00:28:33.560 --> 00:28:33.980 on the street, 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.100 you wouldn't go in there 00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:35.780 and trash it. 00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:39.160 So why would we do things 00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:39.920 that might trash 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.560 other people? 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:42.820 Right? 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:43.460 You would be 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.320 very respectful. 00:28:45.320 --> 00:28:46.160 You'd be very aware 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:46.700 of and attentive 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:48.460 to what's happening there 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:48.940 and you'd try 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.840 to appreciate it 00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:51.400 even if ultimately 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:52.380 you go your separate ways. 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:54.500 Those of us 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.080 who are married, 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.840 same thing. 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.240 You know, 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.019 we have conflict 00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:57.720 all the time. 00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:58.559 Marriage is hard. 00:28:59.699 --> 00:29:00.599 And imagine 00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:01.959 if we saw 00:29:01.959 --> 00:29:02.619 the conflict 00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:03.220 in our marriage 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.339 not as a sign 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:04.939 that we married 00:29:04.939 --> 00:29:05.699 the wrong person 00:29:05.699 --> 00:29:06.759 or that we made a mistake 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.319 or that we've just 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.139 grown apart 00:29:08.139 --> 00:29:09.220 or that marriage 00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.019 is too hard. 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.339 Right? 00:29:10.699 --> 00:29:11.439 Imagine instead 00:29:11.439 --> 00:29:12.179 we saw that as 00:29:12.179 --> 00:29:13.099 that's exactly 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:13.599 what's supposed 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.519 to happen in marriage 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:16.000 because the point 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.480 of this marriage 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.240 is not necessarily 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:17.919 my happiness 00:29:17.919 --> 00:29:18.480 and fulfillment 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.019 all the time. 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:20.099 It's my holiness. 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:20.919 It's that Christ 00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:21.839 would be formed in me. 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.740 And guess what? 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:24.460 If God's doing 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.460 a renovation project 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.859 and you're the house 00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:27.779 guess who the chief 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.740 contractor is? 00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:30.599 It's your spouse. 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:32.740 God's like 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:34.759 this is a gut job 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.640 we're going to have 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.660 to redo the whole thing 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.980 we need a major 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.259 you know 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:40.039 some highly competent 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:40.799 contractor 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.240 to come in 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:41.900 who can just manage 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.539 the whole project. 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.299 Guess who that is? 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:43.980 It's the person 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.599 that you married. 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:45.740 They're going to be 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:46.559 the main one 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.200 that God uses 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.259 to renovate you 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.140 from the inside out 00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:50.420 to form Christ in you. 00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:51.600 And what if you responded 00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:52.360 to your disagreements 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:52.880 and differences 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:54.220 recognizing this is 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.160 how God is at work? 00:29:55.820 --> 00:29:57.340 What in me needs to go? 00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:58.980 I'll just give you 00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.779 one more example 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.180 you know 00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:01.400 as Paul says 00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:02.640 instead of becoming 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.500 conceited 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.820 or provoking 00:30:04.820 --> 00:30:06.460 or envying one another 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:08.900 what if we paid attention 00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:09.940 to the ways 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.740 that God may be 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.860 producing fruit 00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:13.259 in other people's lives? 00:30:13.340 --> 00:30:13.820 So he's saying 00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:15.420 stop comparing yourself 00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.779 stop resenting 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.480 the success 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.500 that other people have 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:20.400 stop envying people 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.280 for being smarter 00:30:21.280 --> 00:30:22.140 or more successful 00:30:22.140 --> 00:30:22.900 or better looking 00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.259 than you 00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.320 stop doing that 00:30:24.320 --> 00:30:25.120 whole thing 00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:26.640 instead notice 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:28.500 and affirm 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:30.680 where God is at work 00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.500 in people's lives. 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.759 If you see fruit 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:34.880 affirm that. 00:30:36.320 --> 00:30:37.019 You know sometimes 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:37.840 the best way 00:30:37.840 --> 00:30:38.240 we can know 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:38.780 God is at work 00:30:38.780 --> 00:30:39.140 in us 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:39.820 is when other people 00:30:39.820 --> 00:30:40.480 give us feedback. 00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:41.980 Wow I've just noticed 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:43.200 you're a lot more patient 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.740 than you used to be. 00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.100 You have this kind of 00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:46.720 gentleness 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:48.080 that you didn't 00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:48.720 used to have. 00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:49.559 I've noticed 00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:50.120 that you seem 00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:51.240 less preoccupied 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:51.980 you seem more 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.500 tuned in 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:53.500 to what's going on 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.319 and the needs 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:54.880 around you. 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:56.440 That's God at work 00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:57.000 in your life. 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:58.440 Imagine if we did that 00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.160 instead of resenting 00:30:59.160 --> 00:30:59.660 and comparing 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.279 all the time. 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.480 We attend to the work 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.100 of the Holy Spirit. 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:03.620 Number two 00:31:03.620 --> 00:31:04.819 last point. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:07.180 What do these 00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:08.120 relationships look like 00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:09.180 in a spirit led church? 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:09.980 It means that we 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.720 take seriously 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.259 the work 00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.380 of restoring 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:13.299 those who sin. 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:15.180 Restoring 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:16.019 those who sin. 00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:18.940 the ancient view 00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:19.539 of friendship 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.680 assumed that the 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.839 point of the relationship 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:23.079 was to cultivate 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:24.099 virtue 00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:25.519 in one another. 00:31:27.379 --> 00:31:28.440 Now I think 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.700 that the view 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.539 that we have today 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.059 of friendship 00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:32.079 is quite different. 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.639 Most people think 00:31:33.639 --> 00:31:34.500 of friends today. 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:35.559 Who are your true friends? 00:31:35.639 --> 00:31:36.420 Well your true friends 00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:37.099 are the people 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:38.259 who always affirm you. 00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:39.980 They never question 00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:40.579 your decisions. 00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:42.119 They never push back 00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:42.579 on what you're doing. 00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.200 They're the people 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.000 that have your back 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:45.019 no matter what. 00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:45.700 Right? 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.619 That's a true friend. 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.380 And I just think 00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:48.200 that's an anemic 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:49.900 counterfeit view 00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:50.279 of friendship. 00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:53.720 If you look at 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.359 what Paul says 00:31:54.359 --> 00:31:55.299 about these relationships 00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:57.079 he says 00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:58.200 in a spiritual relationship 00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:59.819 we are quick 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:01.039 to restore 00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:02.480 those who sin. 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:03.720 We're ready 00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.400 to push back 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.079 if necessary. 00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:06.640 And there are 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.299 a couple of ways 00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:08.000 that we can think 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:08.440 about this. 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:08.680 You know 00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.460 you're sitting 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:09.940 you're talking 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.539 with your friends 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.319 you're hearing 00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:12.019 about their life 00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:12.339 you're hearing 00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:12.740 about things 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.319 that are going on 00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:13.920 or decisions 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.740 that need to be made 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.680 and just a couple 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.420 of things to think about. 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:16.680 One 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.579 if you're serious 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.519 about forming Christ 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.160 in other people 00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:20.319 then do not hide 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.359 behind neutrality. 00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.240 You know 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:25.200 don't take the approach 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.680 of saying 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.400 well you know 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.059 I don't know 00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.859 there's no real 00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.880 right answer here 00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:29.640 and you know 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.220 I just 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:31.120 whatever you want to do 00:32:31.120 --> 00:32:31.700 I just want you 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.200 to be happy. 00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:33.819 Don't hide behind neutrality. 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:34.940 Listen 00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:36.319 we're not neutral. 00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:39.259 Christians are not neutral. 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:40.039 Okay? 00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:41.799 We're not neutral. 00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.839 We're not agnostic. 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.879 Paul has literally 00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:47.839 spent several chapters 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:49.579 saying that we are born 00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:51.099 slaves to sin 00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:52.819 and that only 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.559 through the greatest 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:55.099 sacrifice imaginable 00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:56.299 has God set us free 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:56.919 and yet we are 00:32:56.919 --> 00:32:58.079 perilously close 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.319 dangling 00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:01.359 over enslavement 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:01.700 again. 00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.359 It could happen 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.159 and we have to 00:33:03.159 --> 00:33:04.220 and he's saying 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.200 that every single day 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:06.039 we have to fight 00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:06.899 to hold on 00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:07.559 to our freedom. 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:09.960 That's not neutral. 00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:13.100 Nobody's neutral. 00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.759 Everybody's biased. 00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:19.279 Don't hide behind 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:19.960 neutrality. 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.819 Don't hide behind 00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:22.279 the well 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.039 whatever you think 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.519 is right. 00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:25.940 That's not true 00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.340 friendship. 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.340 So don't do that. 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.220 We have to fight 00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:30.700 for our freedom 00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.579 all of the time. 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:33.140 Number two 00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:33.779 I would say 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:34.980 that in most cases 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:37.079 avoid giving advice. 00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:39.539 Just in fact 00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:40.679 just don't give advice. 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.359 Just don't do it. 00:33:43.439 --> 00:33:43.639 You know 00:33:43.639 --> 00:33:47.139 statistically speaking 00:33:47.139 --> 00:33:48.899 most of the time 00:33:48.899 --> 00:33:49.379 when you give 00:33:49.379 --> 00:33:50.220 people advice 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:51.240 they're much less 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:51.960 likely to do it 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.599 if you told them 00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:53.039 to do it. 00:33:53.679 --> 00:33:54.179 Did you know that? 00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:55.659 So like research 00:33:55.659 --> 00:33:56.859 shows that if somebody 00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:57.519 has a problem 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.199 decision they're trying 00:33:58.199 --> 00:33:58.519 to make 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:59.500 and you tell them 00:33:59.500 --> 00:33:59.839 what to do 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.460 you give them advice 00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:01.079 statistically 00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:02.139 they're very unlikely 00:34:02.139 --> 00:34:02.819 to actually do 00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:04.039 anything that you suggest. 00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:06.720 By contrast 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:08.000 if people are able 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:08.639 to come up 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.460 with a solution 00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:10.719 on their own 00:34:10.719 --> 00:34:12.300 they're much more likely 00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:14.039 to actually act on it. 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.159 And guess what? 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:17.039 Here's the kind of 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:18.320 you know 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:20.480 here's the other side 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:20.699 of it 00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:21.059 is that 00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:22.920 regardless of whether 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.539 they follow through 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.179 a lot of people 00:34:24.179 --> 00:34:25.759 will secretly resent 00:34:25.759 --> 00:34:26.800 having to ask you 00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.340 for advice 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:28.679 because they don't 00:34:28.679 --> 00:34:29.059 like to be 00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:29.779 nobody likes to be 00:34:29.779 --> 00:34:30.300 in the position 00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:31.659 of not knowing. 00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.279 Right? 00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.539 And so I would just 00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.679 avoid advice 00:34:34.679 --> 00:34:35.159 altogether 00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:35.980 and you know what 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:37.019 I can get advice 00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:38.300 from my college friends 00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.239 I can get advice 00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:40.059 from my co-workers 00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:41.059 I can get advice 00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:42.559 from those people 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.599 I can go to my neighbor 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.079 and say what do you 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:44.679 think I should do? 00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:46.619 I don't need that 00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:47.519 from my Christian friends 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.840 what I need 00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:49.579 from my Christian friends 00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:50.239 is I need them 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:51.179 to pray with me 00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:52.340 and for me 00:34:52.340 --> 00:34:53.579 and when they say 00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:53.960 they're going to pray 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.759 for me they mean it 00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:56.159 and I need them 00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:56.920 to sit down 00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:57.900 and help me understand 00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.619 how God's word 00:34:58.619 --> 00:34:59.860 might speak to my situation 00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:02.179 and when we do that 00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:03.019 when we come alongside 00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:03.559 somebody 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.159 we don't tell them 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.559 what to do 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.539 or prescribe a solution 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:06.359 or problem solve 00:35:06.359 --> 00:35:07.419 or advice give 00:35:07.419 --> 00:35:09.059 and instead we do what? 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:10.379 Attend to the work 00:35:10.379 --> 00:35:11.139 of the Spirit 00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:12.359 in this renovation project 00:35:12.359 --> 00:35:13.159 guess what happens? 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:15.079 You don't rob that person 00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:15.940 of the opportunity 00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.879 to grow in Christ 00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:19.099 you don't rob them 00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:19.739 of the opportunity 00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:20.960 to take their issue 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.579 to the Lord 00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:24.059 you don't try to supplant 00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:25.239 the Lord in their life 00:35:25.239 --> 00:35:26.219 instead you say 00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:26.899 let's go to the Lord 00:35:26.899 --> 00:35:27.259 together 00:35:27.259 --> 00:35:28.299 and see what God's 00:35:28.299 --> 00:35:29.000 going to do with this 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:31.159 so avoid 00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:31.760 avoid 00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:32.340 a voice 00:35:32.340 --> 00:35:33.280 giving advice 00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:34.300 last thing I'll say 00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:35.900 do confront sin 00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:37.380 whenever you see it 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:38.980 do confront sin 00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:39.980 but do it with gentleness 00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.559 and humility 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:42.960 I love that Paul 00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.679 uses the word 00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:44.980 restore here 00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:46.639 you ever seen 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:49.139 an old car 00:35:49.139 --> 00:35:49.800 or an old piece 00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:50.380 of furniture 00:35:50.380 --> 00:35:52.159 that somebody restores 00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:53.860 maybe some of you 00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:54.860 do that on the side 00:35:54.860 --> 00:35:56.159 you restore furniture 00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:57.539 restore cars 00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:59.119 or a house renovation 00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:00.860 and that work 00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.940 is done 00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:03.400 first thing you have to do 00:36:03.400 --> 00:36:04.759 is you have to look 00:36:04.759 --> 00:36:05.579 at that old piece 00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:06.019 of furniture 00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:07.279 and you have to envision 00:36:07.279 --> 00:36:08.199 what it could look like 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:08.639 restored 00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:11.400 the finished work 00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:12.960 and you know 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.639 for Christians 00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:16.279 what does the finished work 00:36:16.279 --> 00:36:16.880 look like 00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:17.360 when the renovation 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:17.960 is done 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:19.219 it looks just like 00:36:19.219 --> 00:36:19.860 Jesus Christ 00:36:19.860 --> 00:36:22.539 and so you have to 00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.759 envision the end result 00:36:23.759 --> 00:36:24.539 and then what do you do 00:36:24.539 --> 00:36:26.559 well you begin 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:27.219 to restore 00:36:27.219 --> 00:36:29.239 that piece of furniture 00:36:29.239 --> 00:36:30.320 or that car 00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:31.679 very gently 00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:33.519 very lovingly 00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.900 very delicately 00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:36.360 with great attention 00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:37.000 to detail 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:38.360 recognizing that 00:36:38.360 --> 00:36:39.019 it's probably going to 00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:40.420 take a long time 00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:40.820 it's going to be 00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:41.739 a long obedience 00:36:41.739 --> 00:36:42.719 in the same direction 00:36:42.719 --> 00:36:43.759 so to speak 00:36:43.759 --> 00:36:44.800 and that's I think 00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:45.699 exactly how we should 00:36:45.699 --> 00:36:46.579 think about restoring 00:36:46.579 --> 00:36:47.840 brothers and sisters 00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:49.340 who are sinning 00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:51.139 who have fallen away 00:36:51.139 --> 00:36:51.920 from Christ 00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:54.059 it's a gentle 00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:54.900 gradual 00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:55.880 work 00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:56.820 of love 00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:58.079 and attention 00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:59.460 and care 00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:00.940 and it takes time 00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:01.760 and it takes an enormous 00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:02.500 amount of humility 00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:06.240 so if you have friends 00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:07.180 and none of those friends 00:37:07.180 --> 00:37:08.460 have ever pushed back 00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:08.780 on you 00:37:08.780 --> 00:37:09.940 they've never questioned 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:11.420 anything about your life 00:37:11.420 --> 00:37:12.599 who you're with 00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:13.340 or how many hours 00:37:13.340 --> 00:37:13.780 you're working 00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:14.440 or this or that 00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:15.559 they've never pushed back 00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:17.240 then maybe you don't 00:37:17.240 --> 00:37:18.300 have friends 00:37:18.300 --> 00:37:19.260 maybe you have 00:37:19.260 --> 00:37:19.980 yes men 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:21.940 Paul's calling us 00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:24.199 to be spiritual friends 00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:26.059 to seek to form Christ 00:37:26.059 --> 00:37:26.719 in one another 00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:28.820 so as we bring 00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:29.800 these things together 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:30.619 the relationship 00:37:30.619 --> 00:37:31.659 of a pastor 00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:32.400 to the people 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.019 and the relationship 00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:33.719 between people 00:37:33.719 --> 00:37:34.699 and one another 00:37:34.699 --> 00:37:35.760 this is what spirit 00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:36.659 led relationships 00:37:36.659 --> 00:37:37.719 look like 00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:38.840 in the church 00:37:38.840 --> 00:37:40.159 and I think 00:37:40.159 --> 00:37:41.400 one of the reasons 00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:42.800 we go wrong here 00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:44.039 is because we actually 00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:44.800 misunderstand 00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:46.240 what the church 00:37:46.240 --> 00:37:47.320 is all about 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:48.300 in general 00:37:48.300 --> 00:37:49.119 a lot of people 00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:49.920 think that the church 00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:50.680 is just another 00:37:50.680 --> 00:37:51.760 non-profit 00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:52.740 doing work 00:37:52.740 --> 00:37:53.159 in the city 00:37:53.159 --> 00:37:53.920 like anyone else 00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:54.400 other people 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:55.240 think that the church 00:37:55.240 --> 00:37:56.159 is more of a 00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:57.039 social club 00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:58.619 to meet potential spouses 00:37:58.619 --> 00:37:59.820 or make friends 00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:00.500 and other people 00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:01.200 think of the church 00:38:01.200 --> 00:38:01.820 as a kind of 00:38:01.820 --> 00:38:03.440 therapy support group 00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:04.260 where we can come 00:38:04.260 --> 00:38:05.780 and learn coping strategies 00:38:05.780 --> 00:38:06.740 to deal with life 00:38:06.740 --> 00:38:07.820 and none of these 00:38:07.820 --> 00:38:08.619 even come close 00:38:08.619 --> 00:38:09.280 to the truth 00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:11.039 because the church 00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.940 is unlike any other 00:38:11.940 --> 00:38:12.599 institution 00:38:12.599 --> 00:38:13.760 on the planet 00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:14.280 the church 00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:14.920 is the place 00:38:14.920 --> 00:38:15.960 where the eternal 00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.860 has broken 00:38:16.860 --> 00:38:17.599 into the temporal 00:38:17.599 --> 00:38:19.579 the church 00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:20.119 is the place 00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:21.559 where the infinite 00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:22.860 has come to dwell 00:38:22.860 --> 00:38:23.659 in the finite 00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:25.000 and the church 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:25.460 is the place 00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:26.139 where the future 00:38:26.139 --> 00:38:26.940 has broken 00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:28.420 into the present 00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:29.599 and you're not 00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:30.139 going to see that 00:38:30.139 --> 00:38:30.900 anywhere else 00:38:30.900 --> 00:38:32.259 so the church 00:38:32.259 --> 00:38:32.719 is a place 00:38:32.719 --> 00:38:33.819 of transcendent 00:38:33.819 --> 00:38:34.559 worship 00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:35.219 where God 00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:36.199 is actually present 00:38:36.199 --> 00:38:38.219 and the church 00:38:38.219 --> 00:38:38.819 is a place 00:38:38.819 --> 00:38:40.000 of political 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:40.860 subversion 00:38:40.860 --> 00:38:43.039 because every week 00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:43.940 we proclaim 00:38:43.940 --> 00:38:44.840 our allegiance 00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:45.420 to the king 00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:46.119 of kings 00:38:46.119 --> 00:38:47.700 and implicit 00:38:47.700 --> 00:38:48.119 in that 00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:48.800 is the idea 00:38:48.800 --> 00:38:49.300 that this 00:38:49.300 --> 00:38:50.619 and all administrations 00:38:50.619 --> 00:38:51.340 will come crumbling 00:38:51.340 --> 00:38:51.860 down 00:38:51.860 --> 00:38:53.460 the church 00:38:53.460 --> 00:38:54.059 is the place 00:38:54.059 --> 00:38:55.260 of spiritual 00:38:55.260 --> 00:38:55.960 rehabilitation 00:38:55.960 --> 00:38:56.920 where we are 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.619 relearning 00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.880 how to be human 00:38:58.880 --> 00:38:59.639 together 00:38:59.639 --> 00:39:02.179 and all of this 00:39:02.179 --> 00:39:02.900 is because we know 00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:03.519 that one day 00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:04.220 Jesus is going 00:39:04.220 --> 00:39:04.820 to return 00:39:04.820 --> 00:39:05.559 and is going 00:39:05.559 --> 00:39:06.700 to renew 00:39:06.700 --> 00:39:07.880 and restore 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:09.300 this world 00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:11.900 and so we need 00:39:11.900 --> 00:39:12.559 to make sure 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:13.539 that we are fit 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.579 to live 00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:16.059 in that new world 00:39:16.059 --> 00:39:19.440 and the only way 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:19.940 to be fit 00:39:19.940 --> 00:39:20.739 for new creation 00:39:20.739 --> 00:39:22.799 is to have Christ 00:39:22.799 --> 00:39:24.599 formed in us 00:39:24.599 --> 00:39:26.179 and that is 00:39:26.179 --> 00:39:27.159 our common calling 00:39:27.159 --> 00:39:28.460 let's pray