WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.379
 All right, well this morning we come to our last sermon in the New Testament book of Titus,

00:00:05.459 --> 00:00:07.459
 the letter that Paul wrote to Titus.

00:00:07.700 --> 00:00:11.540
 We're going to hear this morning how the Apostle Paul wraps this letter up

00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:16.719
 and what his final instructions are for Titus there on the island of Crete.

00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:22.719
 And if you've been here for some of these Sundays where we've been working our way through this,

00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:27.240
 you'll know that Paul has already given a whole bunch of instructions to Titus

00:00:27.239 --> 00:00:31.199
 about how he should teach the Christians there on the island to live.

00:00:32.140 --> 00:00:37.739
 And his emphasis has very much been on living good lives and on doing good works

00:00:37.739 --> 00:00:44.259
 and on living with self-control because this is the kind of living that adorns the gospel.

00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:49.259
 It reflects the character of the God who has saved us.

00:00:51.060 --> 00:00:54.780
 And so we as followers of Jesus are to live that way.

00:00:54.780 --> 00:01:01.620
 And it's a way that we bring testimony to our God and to our Lord, Jesus.

00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:06.820
 Well, after proclaiming some wonderful truth about the gospel,

00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:12.520
 about how God has saved us and the work that he has done in us by his spirit,

00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:15.799
 Paul now finishes his letter in this way.

00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:18.500
 We're in Titus chapter 3 verse 8.

00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:18.939
 He says,

00:01:18.939 --> 00:01:21.079
 This is a trustworthy saying,

00:01:21.719 --> 00:01:26.280
 and I want you to stress these things so that those who have trusted in God

00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:30.939
 may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.

00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:36.159
 These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

00:01:37.460 --> 00:01:40.560
 So Titus, this truth of our salvation,

00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:42.960
 this gospel, teach it,

00:01:44.039 --> 00:01:44.760
 proclaim it,

00:01:45.460 --> 00:01:46.200
 declare it,

00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:46.840
 emphasize it,

00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:48.320
 emphasize it in the churches.

00:01:48.960 --> 00:01:51.659
 And not just so that more will hear and be saved,

00:01:51.980 --> 00:01:54.859
 but so that those who have already been saved

00:01:54.859 --> 00:02:00.140
 may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.

00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:04.540
 The gospel leads us to live differently,

00:02:05.100 --> 00:02:08.360
 to devote ourselves to doing what is good,

00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:09.879
 or good works, literally.

00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:11.780
 And if we do this,

00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:13.280
 he says it's going to be beneficial,

00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.219
 it's going to be excellent for everyone.

00:02:18.259 --> 00:02:19.699
 Verse 9,

00:02:20.699 --> 00:02:24.379
 But avoid foolish controversies,

00:02:24.780 --> 00:02:26.579
 and genealogies,

00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:28.379
 and arguments,

00:02:29.060 --> 00:02:30.519
 and quarrels about the law,

00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:34.719
 because these are unprofitable and useless.

00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:37.859
 There's a contrastive link here.

00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:41.560
 I highlighted those words in the verses there.

00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:45.120
 The flow of Paul's thought seems to turn on this word profitable,

00:02:45.620 --> 00:02:48.139
 which in this case doesn't mean financial.

00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:50.500
 It means just beneficial.

00:02:51.620 --> 00:02:53.099
 So what's profitable?

00:02:54.099 --> 00:02:57.960
 If everyone devotes themselves to doing good works,

00:02:58.199 --> 00:02:59.879
 that's profitable.

00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:01.699
 That's beneficial.

00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:04.659
 What's unprofitable?

00:03:05.479 --> 00:03:09.060
 Getting caught up in these foolish controversies,

00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:10.019
 and arguments,

00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:12.240
 and quarrels about the law,

00:03:12.379 --> 00:03:13.280
 and genealogies.

00:03:13.359 --> 00:03:14.840
 This is unprofitable.

00:03:15.579 --> 00:03:17.340
 It brings zero benefit.

00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:20.579
 And so let's consider these four things

00:03:20.579 --> 00:03:22.680
 that we as Christians are to avoid.

00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:26.500
 The instruction given by Jesus through Paul.

00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:29.479
 First, he says,

00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:32.199
 Avoid foolish controversies.

00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:37.740
 There are some things that are worth fighting over.

00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:43.379
 There are some hills that are worth dying on.

00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:46.879
 The apostles made this clear through their lives.

00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:49.340
 The gospel message,

00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:52.420
 the truth about Jesus and his kingdom,

00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:54.620
 is something worth dying for.

00:03:54.620 --> 00:03:57.439
 It's something worth fighting over to defend.

00:03:58.819 --> 00:04:03.659
 Paul himself fought to defend the gospel

00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:06.680
 in his letter which he wrote to the Galatians.

00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:10.439
 He was willing to go to battle over this.

00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:13.840
 That it's not by works that we're saved,

00:04:13.960 --> 00:04:15.060
 but by faith alone.

00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:18.959
 And so there are some things that are worth fighting over.

00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:20.699
 There are some controversies

00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:23.120
 which demand our participation as Christians,

00:04:23.420 --> 00:04:25.120
 but there are many

00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:26.899
 that we are to avoid

00:04:26.899 --> 00:04:28.539
 all together.

00:04:29.539 --> 00:04:32.599
 Avoid foolish controversies,

00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:33.779
 says Paul.

00:04:35.219 --> 00:04:37.439
 And Paul gives us two other things here

00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:38.159
 in the context

00:04:38.159 --> 00:04:40.199
 which kind of serve as examples

00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:42.379
 of what kind of things is he talking about.

00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:43.939
 What's a foolish controversy?

00:04:45.379 --> 00:04:47.620
 There are two listed in this little list here.

00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:49.360
 One of them is genealogies.

00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:52.600
 This on its own is a thing to avoid,

00:04:52.860 --> 00:04:54.379
 but it's also an example

00:04:54.379 --> 00:04:56.939
 of a kind of foolish controversy.

00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:01.939
 Fighting or arguing over ancestry

00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:03.519
 is foolish.

00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:06.879
 And we don't know how much

00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:09.780
 the Gentile Christians in Crete did this,

00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:10.759
 but we do know that

00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:12.759
 some of the Jewish people of this time

00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:13.699
 were more susceptible

00:05:13.699 --> 00:05:15.659
 to this kind of controversy.

00:05:16.599 --> 00:05:17.680
 They would argue about

00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:19.339
 who was descended from who,

00:05:19.459 --> 00:05:20.779
 who was of which tribe.

00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:23.860
 Paul himself even goes so far

00:05:23.860 --> 00:05:25.399
 as to give an example of this,

00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:27.259
 this mentality

00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:29.980
 in his letter to the Philippians

00:05:29.980 --> 00:05:31.579
 where he boasts

00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:33.060
 about his ancestry

00:05:33.060 --> 00:05:34.659
 to the Philippians.

00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:37.419
 There in Philippians 3, verse 4,

00:05:37.500 --> 00:05:37.779
 he says,

00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:38.899
 if someone else thinks

00:05:38.899 --> 00:05:39.800
 they have reasons

00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:41.860
 to put confidence in the flesh,

00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:43.100
 I have more.

00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:45.100
 I was circumcised

00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:46.040
 on the eighth day.

00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:48.280
 I'm of the people of Israel.

00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:50.199
 I'm of the tribe of Benjamin.

00:05:50.819 --> 00:05:52.400
 I'm a Hebrew of Hebrews

00:05:52.400 --> 00:05:55.100
 in regard to the law of Pharisee.

00:05:55.180 --> 00:05:56.340
 And he goes on,

00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:59.259
 and then he ends it this way.

00:05:59.379 --> 00:05:59.600
 He says,

00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:01.759
 but whatever were gains to me,

00:06:01.900 --> 00:06:03.480
 I now consider loss

00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:05.340
 for the sake of Christ.

00:06:06.100 --> 00:06:06.900
 What's more,

00:06:07.020 --> 00:06:09.020
 I consider everything a loss

00:06:09.020 --> 00:06:11.340
 because of the surpassing worth

00:06:11.339 --> 00:06:13.459
 of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord

00:06:13.459 --> 00:06:15.019
 for whose sake

00:06:15.019 --> 00:06:17.060
 I have lost all things.

00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:19.019
 I consider them garbage

00:06:19.019 --> 00:06:22.060
 that I may gain Christ.

00:06:24.979 --> 00:06:26.279
 Ancestry or heritage

00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:27.879
 is not entirely unimportant.

00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:28.439
 Of course,

00:06:29.339 --> 00:06:31.899
 we hear a little bit about this

00:06:31.899 --> 00:06:32.519
 in Paul's letter

00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:33.599
 to the church at Rome.

00:06:34.019 --> 00:06:34.579
 But now,

00:06:34.979 --> 00:06:36.019
 the gospel message

00:06:36.019 --> 00:06:37.500
 is that salvation

00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:38.839
 is for all people.

00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:41.119
 regardless of heritage,

00:06:41.359 --> 00:06:42.519
 regardless of ancestry,

00:06:42.859 --> 00:06:44.019
 as Paul says

00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:44.459
 in his letter

00:06:44.459 --> 00:06:45.239
 to the Galatians,

00:06:45.339 --> 00:06:46.219
 there's neither Jew

00:06:46.219 --> 00:06:47.199
 nor Gentile

00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:48.579
 in Christ Jesus.

00:06:51.060 --> 00:06:52.500
 And as we just heard,

00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:53.579
 Paul said that

00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:55.519
 his particular ancestry,

00:06:55.779 --> 00:06:56.579
 he now counted

00:06:56.579 --> 00:06:57.739
 as rubbish

00:06:57.739 --> 00:06:59.719
 compared to the surpassing

00:06:59.719 --> 00:07:00.059
 greatness

00:07:00.059 --> 00:07:01.139
 of knowing Jesus,

00:07:01.479 --> 00:07:02.319
 his Lord.

00:07:04.179 --> 00:07:04.739
 Ancestry,

00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:05.799
 whether you're Jew

00:07:05.799 --> 00:07:06.620
 or Gentile,

00:07:06.779 --> 00:07:07.719
 who you're related to,

00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:08.680
 that doesn't limit

00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:09.960
 your access to Jesus

00:07:09.960 --> 00:07:11.640
 and it doesn't give you

00:07:11.640 --> 00:07:12.580
 special privilege

00:07:12.580 --> 00:07:14.740
 or access to Jesus.

00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:16.460
 And so going back

00:07:16.460 --> 00:07:18.160
 and tracing out genealogies

00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:19.960
 to bolster your status,

00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:20.680
 it's foolish.

00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:22.300
 It's pointless.

00:07:23.620 --> 00:07:25.100
 We all have the same standing

00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:26.900
 before Christ

00:07:26.900 --> 00:07:28.560
 and in Christ.

00:07:29.260 --> 00:07:30.400
 So this is just one

00:07:30.400 --> 00:07:31.840
 of the foolish controversies

00:07:31.840 --> 00:07:32.880
 that he names

00:07:32.880 --> 00:07:34.080
 that's going on

00:07:34.080 --> 00:07:35.160
 on the island of Crete.

00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:37.360
 A second example,

00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:38.140
 he says,

00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:39.620
 avoid quarrels

00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:40.820
 about the law.

00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:42.580
 Avoid quarrels

00:07:42.580 --> 00:07:43.780
 about the law.

00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:44.760
 And this is almost

00:07:44.760 --> 00:07:45.680
 certainly a reference

00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:46.900
 to the Mosaic law,

00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:48.440
 like the Old Testament law.

00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:50.320
 And again,

00:07:50.440 --> 00:07:51.840
 another distinctly Jewish

00:07:51.840 --> 00:07:53.020
 point of controversy.

00:07:54.200 --> 00:07:55.020
 Scribes would get

00:07:55.020 --> 00:07:55.760
 into battles

00:07:55.760 --> 00:07:57.040
 with each other

00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.200
 over what

00:07:58.200 --> 00:07:59.840
 the Old Testament law

00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:00.760
 meant,

00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:01.920
 how it was to be read,

00:08:02.020 --> 00:08:03.260
 how it should be interpreted

00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:04.339
 and applied.

00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:05.879
 And there were

00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:07.019
 different sects

00:08:07.019 --> 00:08:07.740
 that emerged

00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:08.560
 within Judaism

00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:09.659
 and then that would

00:08:09.659 --> 00:08:10.539
 all filter down

00:08:10.539 --> 00:08:11.199
 to the people

00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:11.719
 and there'd be

00:08:11.719 --> 00:08:12.579
 these factions

00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:14.339
 that were at odds

00:08:14.339 --> 00:08:15.000
 with each other.

00:08:16.699 --> 00:08:17.500
 So this,

00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:18.420
 on its own,

00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:19.899
 quarreling about the law

00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:20.920
 is a thing to avoid,

00:08:21.039 --> 00:08:21.560
 but it's also

00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:22.699
 a specific example

00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:23.420
 of another kind

00:08:23.420 --> 00:08:25.120
 of foolish controversy

00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:26.379
 that people were

00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:27.539
 getting tangled up in

00:08:27.539 --> 00:08:28.500
 back then.

00:08:29.459 --> 00:08:30.399
 And here again,

00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:31.039
 Paul had some

00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:31.879
 pretty clear words

00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:33.800
 about our relationship

00:08:33.800 --> 00:08:35.960
 to the Old Testament law

00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:38.139
 as Christians today.

00:08:38.560 --> 00:08:38.940
 He said,

00:08:39.060 --> 00:08:40.659
 we've died to the law

00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:41.920
 through Jesus.

00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:42.879
 He said,

00:08:42.940 --> 00:08:43.539
 we're no longer

00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:44.460
 under law,

00:08:44.659 --> 00:08:45.920
 but grace.

00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:48.320
 The author of Hebrews

00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:49.120
 describes how

00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:49.940
 the Old Covenant

00:08:49.940 --> 00:08:51.279
 has been made obsolete

00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:53.100
 by this new covenant

00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:53.840
 which Jesus

00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:54.879
 has inaugurated

00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:56.940
 with his death.

00:08:58.200 --> 00:08:59.539
 And so the Old Testament law,

00:08:59.539 --> 00:09:00.459
 it doesn't apply

00:09:00.459 --> 00:09:01.279
 to us today

00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:02.279
 in the same way

00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:02.839
 that it applied

00:09:02.839 --> 00:09:03.939
 to the people of Israel

00:09:03.939 --> 00:09:05.620
 before Christ came.

00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:07.759
 And so it's foolish

00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.939
 to get caught up

00:09:08.939 --> 00:09:10.279
 in disputes

00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:11.519
 about Old Testament

00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:12.740
 law observance

00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:14.319
 like some of the Jewish

00:09:14.319 --> 00:09:15.279
 false teachers

00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:16.079
 were promoting.

00:09:17.339 --> 00:09:18.419
 So these are just

00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:19.159
 two examples

00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:21.059
 of foolish controversies

00:09:21.059 --> 00:09:23.019
 given by Paul himself

00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:24.759
 to avoid.

00:09:25.819 --> 00:09:27.139
 But we also see

00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:28.199
 that this is broader

00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:31.000
 than just those two examples.

00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:33.540
 In between those two examples,

00:09:33.740 --> 00:09:34.080
 he says,

00:09:34.200 --> 00:09:35.379
 avoid arguments.

00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:37.340
 It's pretty general.

00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:39.259
 There seems to be

00:09:39.259 --> 00:09:40.720
 a larger principle here.

00:09:40.820 --> 00:09:41.560
 It's not just about

00:09:41.560 --> 00:09:43.280
 ancient Jewish controversies.

00:09:43.640 --> 00:09:45.000
 It's about all kinds

00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:45.940
 of foolish,

00:09:46.520 --> 00:09:47.040
 stupid,

00:09:47.540 --> 00:09:48.060
 senseless,

00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:49.860
 irrelevant controversies

00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:50.600
 or arguments

00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:52.160
 that we could get

00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:53.360
 tangled up in

00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:54.520
 even today.

00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:55.799
 Now,

00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:58.759
 I thought about

00:09:58.759 --> 00:09:59.919
 just giving a whole list

00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:01.179
 of some different ones

00:10:01.179 --> 00:10:01.919
 but then I thought,

00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:02.220
 you know,

00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:04.659
 this is a tricky thing

00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:05.399
 because

00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:07.159
 these are things

00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:07.840
 that we easily

00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:08.779
 take offense over.

00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:10.399
 These are things

00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:11.079
 that we tend to

00:10:11.079 --> 00:10:12.019
 invest ourselves

00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:12.860
 into a lot.

00:10:12.980 --> 00:10:14.519
 We feel very strongly

00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:15.860
 about some of these

00:10:15.860 --> 00:10:16.439
 kinds of things.

00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:17.379
 We put our emotions

00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:18.439
 into these things.

00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:19.899
 We come to see

00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:20.579
 these things

00:10:20.579 --> 00:10:22.340
 as really important.

00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:24.680
 And sometimes

00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:25.820
 in these kinds of issues

00:10:25.820 --> 00:10:26.480
 we tend to see

00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:27.680
 everything as truth

00:10:27.680 --> 00:10:28.820
 versus error

00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:30.160
 or right versus wrong

00:10:30.160 --> 00:10:31.240
 when in many of these

00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:33.320
 issues in our world today

00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:34.700
 they're not as easy

00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:35.540
 to sort out

00:10:35.540 --> 00:10:37.639
 or to get to the bottom of.

00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:40.120
 And

00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:41.920
 we can do the same thing

00:10:41.920 --> 00:10:42.759
 when it comes to matters

00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:43.440
 of our faith.

00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:45.420
 Unfortunately,

00:10:45.420 --> 00:10:46.900
 we can be all too quick

00:10:46.900 --> 00:10:48.639
 to judge

00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:49.180
 a brother

00:10:49.180 --> 00:10:50.120
 or a sister

00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:51.500
 in the church

00:10:51.500 --> 00:10:52.779
 as sinning

00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:54.419
 or as straying

00:10:54.419 --> 00:10:55.539
 from the word of God.

00:10:57.139 --> 00:10:58.299
 We could judge them

00:10:58.299 --> 00:10:59.860
 as being unsubmissive

00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:01.139
 to the word of God

00:11:01.139 --> 00:11:02.320
 just because

00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:02.960
 they might come

00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:04.080
 to a different opinion

00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:05.200
 or understanding

00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:07.320
 of a secondary matter

00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:08.659
 in the Bible.

00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:11.000
 We can be so concerned

00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:12.019
 about that speck

00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:12.620
 in our brother

00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:13.519
 or sister's eye

00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:15.200
 that we fail

00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:16.139
 to see the log

00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:17.440
 in our own eye.

00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:20.760
 So how do we know

00:11:20.760 --> 00:11:21.700
 whether something

00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:22.980
 falls into the category

00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:24.160
 of argument

00:11:24.160 --> 00:11:25.020
 worth having

00:11:25.020 --> 00:11:27.740
 or foolish controversy

00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:28.920
 to be avoided?

00:11:30.780 --> 00:11:32.060
 Well, Paul gives us

00:11:32.060 --> 00:11:33.360
 at least one

00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.460
 very obvious

00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:36.300
 reason or statement,

00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.800
 a way to see

00:11:37.800 --> 00:11:38.700
 a little bit

00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:40.840
 what we're dealing with.

00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:41.900
 He says,

00:11:42.300 --> 00:11:43.760
 avoid foolish controversies

00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.720
 and arguments

00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.319
 because these

00:11:46.319 --> 00:11:47.840
 are unprofitable

00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:49.340
 and useless.

00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:51.960
 Here we've got

00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:52.759
 a pair of words,

00:11:52.939 --> 00:11:54.159
 basically synonyms.

00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:56.179
 They mean the same thing.

00:11:57.679 --> 00:11:59.679
 These foolish controversies

00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:00.340
 and arguments,

00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:01.460
 they're of no benefit.

00:12:03.659 --> 00:12:05.419
 They're fruitless,

00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:06.059
 literally.

00:12:07.179 --> 00:12:07.960
 Nothing good

00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:09.139
 is coming from them.

00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:11.919
 And so that's really,

00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:12.279
 I think,

00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:13.299
 maybe the first way

00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:13.879
 to discern

00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:14.759
 whether an argument

00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:15.779
 is worth having

00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:16.559
 is to,

00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:17.419
 at the outset,

00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:18.899
 before we get into it,

00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:19.899
 before we venture

00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:21.080
 into this discussion

00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:22.379
 or debate

00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:23.000
 or whatever,

00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:24.919
 ask ourselves

00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:25.539
 this question,

00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.340
 what good is there

00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:27.159
 to come of this?

00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:30.080
 What benefit

00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:30.799
 is there

00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.240
 to arguing

00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:32.799
 over this,

00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.899
 to going to battle

00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:35.100
 over this?

00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:37.100
 What's really

00:12:37.100 --> 00:12:37.639
 at stake

00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:39.319
 in this argument?

00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:41.939
 If we think

00:12:41.939 --> 00:12:43.019
 about genealogies,

00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:43.879
 it's pretty obvious

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:44.419
 that arguing

00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:45.840
 about who's descended

00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:46.399
 from who

00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:47.139
 is pointless.

00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:48.759
 There's nothing

00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:49.399
 at stake.

00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:51.519
 If we think

00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:52.500
 about the precise

00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.100
 significance

00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:54.379
 of every little detail

00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:55.819
 of the Old Testament

00:12:55.819 --> 00:12:56.379
 feasts

00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.199
 and how they were

00:12:57.199 --> 00:12:57.899
 commemorated,

00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.419
 it's pretty obvious,

00:12:59.559 --> 00:12:59.919
 I hope,

00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:00.539
 that arguing

00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:01.639
 over those details

00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:02.879
 is fruitless.

00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:05.319
 We're not even

00:13:05.319 --> 00:13:06.080
 required to keep

00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:06.759
 those festivals

00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:07.740
 and feasts today

00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:09.460
 because of our

00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:10.340
 position in Christ.

00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:10.700
 And so,

00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:11.639
 how is arguing

00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:12.539
 over the details

00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:13.419
 going to help us?

00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:15.620
 It isn't.

00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:17.299
 But let's pick

00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:18.159
 a more contemporary

00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:18.860
 issue

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:20.819
 and let's pick

00:13:20.819 --> 00:13:21.480
 one that's not

00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.620
 a biblical issue

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.899
 just as an example.

00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:26.159
 One of the

00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:27.039
 hot-button issues

00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:28.159
 in our world today

00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:29.639
 is climate change.

00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:31.500
 And it's not

00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:32.319
 a simple issue.

00:13:32.939 --> 00:13:33.799
 There are many

00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.059
 different related

00:13:35.059 --> 00:13:36.339
 issues to it.

00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:38.579
 You could talk

00:13:38.579 --> 00:13:39.179
 about emissions.

00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:41.439
 You could talk

00:13:41.439 --> 00:13:42.159
 about global

00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:42.779
 temperatures.

00:13:44.119 --> 00:13:44.979
 You could talk

00:13:44.979 --> 00:13:46.059
 about natural

00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:47.319
 disasters and how

00:13:47.319 --> 00:13:48.339
 they affect

00:13:48.339 --> 00:13:49.219
 or are affected

00:13:49.219 --> 00:13:51.259
 by the climate.

00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:52.799
 We could talk

00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:53.479
 about related

00:13:53.479 --> 00:13:54.559
 technologies and

00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:55.259
 their effectiveness

00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.579
 or ineffectiveness

00:13:56.579 --> 00:13:58.299
 at curbing emissions.

00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.359
 We could talk

00:14:00.359 --> 00:14:00.979
 about carbon

00:14:00.979 --> 00:14:01.639
 taxation

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:03.659
 or power

00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:04.319
 generation

00:14:04.319 --> 00:14:04.980
 and power

00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:05.559
 demand.

00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:07.600
 Is climate

00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:08.159
 change

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:09.439
 an important

00:14:09.439 --> 00:14:09.899
 issue?

00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:13.460
 Yes.

00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:15.080
 The policies

00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:15.720
 being made

00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.299
 around this

00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:17.100
 issue do

00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:18.159
 affect us.

00:14:19.199 --> 00:14:20.159
 But when it's

00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:20.960
 all said and

00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:21.240
 done,

00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:22.580
 does what a

00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:23.319
 person believes

00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:24.019
 about climate

00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:25.139
 change and

00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:25.899
 each related

00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:26.500
 sub-issue

00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:27.319
 really matter

00:14:27.319 --> 00:14:28.120
 for the

00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:28.600
 kingdom of

00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:28.879
 God?

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:31.600
 I hope

00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:32.039
 your answer

00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:32.539
 is no.

00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.360
 I doubt

00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:34.580
 it.

00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:36.580
 What benefit,

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:37.600
 what good fruit

00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:38.399
 can come

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.559
 from really

00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:40.379
 arguing with

00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:41.299
 people over

00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:41.679
 this?

00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:47.139
 We might

00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:47.639
 think that

00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:48.059
 we're bringing

00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:48.620
 the benefit

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.559
 of enlightening

00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:50.480
 the person

00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:50.820
 that we're

00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:51.519
 talking to,

00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:52.799
 helping them

00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:53.379
 see the truth

00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:53.899
 of the issue,

00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:54.799
 but do we

00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:56.179
 fully understand

00:14:56.179 --> 00:14:56.740
 the truth

00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.360
 of the issue?

00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:59.200
 and all

00:14:59.200 --> 00:14:59.740
 the related

00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:00.519
 sub-issues?

00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:01.639
 Do we know

00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.919
 which scientific

00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:03.800
 studies are good

00:15:03.800 --> 00:15:04.320
 and which are

00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:04.700
 bad?

00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:05.460
 Do we know

00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:05.800
 all the

00:15:05.800 --> 00:15:06.659
 motivations and

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.320
 agendas that

00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:08.000
 are being carried

00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:08.480
 by all the

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.879
 players around

00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:10.460
 this issue?

00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:11.700
 We might

00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:12.300
 think that we

00:15:12.300 --> 00:15:14.580
 do, but

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:14.759
 you know,

00:15:14.800 --> 00:15:15.139
 that's kind

00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:15.560
 of a common

00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:16.100
 factor in

00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:17.159
 every useless

00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:17.620
 argument.

00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:20.340
 We think

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:21.060
 we see things

00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:21.460
 clearly.

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.360
 We think

00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:22.860
 that we have

00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.399
 it all figured

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:23.700
 out.

00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:24.759
 We think

00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.740
 that everyone

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.500
 would be best

00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.159
 served by

00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:27.740
 forsaking

00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.539
 their opinion

00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:29.740
 and adopting

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.259
 mine.

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:31.919
 But as it

00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:32.440
 often goes,

00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:32.860
 do people

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.240
 tend to

00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:33.700
 change their

00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:34.139
 views on

00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:34.740
 these issues?

00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.299
 Or do they

00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:37.879
 tend to just

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.279
 get more

00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:38.779
 entrenched?

00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:42.100
 We could

00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:42.759
 probably take

00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.340
 a lot just

00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:43.679
 from the

00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:44.899
 word foolish.

00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:46.600
 Foolish

00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:47.440
 controversies.

00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:48.200
 What are

00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:48.919
 fools known

00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:49.240
 for?

00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:50.820
 Well, in the

00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:52.039
 Bible, one

00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:52.500
 of the things

00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:52.779
 that they're

00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:54.840
 known for is

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.320
 doing the

00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:55.960
 same thing

00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:56.620
 over and

00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.080
 over and

00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:57.760
 over again

00:15:57.760 --> 00:15:58.760
 without learning

00:15:58.760 --> 00:15:59.560
 from the

00:15:59.560 --> 00:16:00.460
 consequences of

00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.120
 their actions.

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.240
 There's a

00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:04.280
 senselessness to

00:16:04.280 --> 00:16:04.480
 it.

00:16:05.280 --> 00:16:05.900
 A lot of

00:16:05.900 --> 00:16:06.660
 efforts put

00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:07.100
 into an

00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:08.200
 endeavor or

00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:09.000
 behavior that

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:10.080
 yields, at

00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:10.480
 the end of

00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:11.620
 things, no

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.060
 benefit.

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.680
 That's why it's

00:16:14.680 --> 00:16:15.240
 foolish.

00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:16.080
 It's like just

00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:17.020
 wasted effort,

00:16:17.540 --> 00:16:18.280
 wasted words,

00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:19.200
 wasted time.

00:16:19.920 --> 00:16:20.480
 The overall

00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.140
 aim of the

00:16:21.140 --> 00:16:22.040
 actions taken

00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:22.680
 or the words

00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:23.640
 spoken is of

00:16:23.640 --> 00:16:24.320
 little value.

00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:26.540
 What do we

00:16:26.540 --> 00:16:27.160
 really hope to

00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:28.600
 accomplish if

00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:29.379
 after an hour

00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.520
 of going at

00:16:30.520 --> 00:16:31.140
 it back and

00:16:31.140 --> 00:16:32.080
 forth about

00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:32.840
 climate change

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.780
 we still haven't

00:16:33.780 --> 00:16:34.260
 changed the

00:16:34.260 --> 00:16:34.960
 other person's

00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:36.120
 mind and

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:36.560
 they still

00:16:36.560 --> 00:16:37.180
 haven't changed

00:16:37.180 --> 00:16:37.620
 ours?

00:16:38.760 --> 00:16:39.620
 Should we go

00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:40.240
 another hour

00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:42.060
 just for the

00:16:42.060 --> 00:16:42.520
 fun of it?

00:16:44.140 --> 00:16:44.920
 Or maybe

00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:45.420
 there's something

00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:45.879
 that we could

00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:46.620
 talk about that

00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:47.440
 really will build

00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.200
 each other up,

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.400
 something that

00:16:50.400 --> 00:16:50.780
 will really

00:16:50.780 --> 00:16:51.580
 encourage the

00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.140
 other person

00:16:52.140 --> 00:16:52.680
 or meet a

00:16:52.680 --> 00:16:54.400
 need or open

00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:54.959
 the discussion

00:16:54.959 --> 00:16:55.360
 up to

00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:55.720
 spiritual

00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.259
 things?

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.299
 So this is a

00:16:59.299 --> 00:16:59.799
 question the

00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.360
 Lord wants us

00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:00.879
 to consider

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.459
 when it comes

00:17:01.459 --> 00:17:02.059
 to a matter.

00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:03.639
 Is this really

00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.839
 of benefit

00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:06.220
 or value?

00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:07.879
 Is this worth

00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:08.559
 fighting over?

00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:10.000
 Is there

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.220
 something lasting

00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.079
 and worthwhile

00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.019
 at stake here?

00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:15.160
 Does this have

00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:15.599
 to do with

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.460
 kingdom things?

00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:18.099
 The things

00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.379
 above?

00:17:19.379 --> 00:17:20.160
 Or is this

00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:20.940
 just pointless

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:22.220
 quibbling over

00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:23.099
 stuff that doesn't

00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:23.740
 really matter

00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:25.559
 for no real

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:25.980
 benefit?

00:17:27.139 --> 00:17:27.939
 Now let's be

00:17:27.939 --> 00:17:28.480
 clear here.

00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:30.500
 Is it okay to

00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.099
 have an opinion

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:31.799
 on these kinds

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.199
 of things?

00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.539
 Yes.

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.679
 He doesn't say

00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:37.579
 avoid thinking

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.619
 about controversial

00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:39.299
 things.

00:17:40.159 --> 00:17:41.099
 Is it fine to

00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.799
 have a discussion

00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.419
 with a friend

00:17:42.419 --> 00:17:43.079
 about a

00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:44.079
 controversial topic?

00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:46.119
 I think so.

00:17:47.379 --> 00:17:48.019
 What's the

00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:48.619
 thing that we're

00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:50.019
 really to avoid

00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:50.359
 here?

00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:53.740
 It seems

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.240
 by the way

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:54.559
 that it's

00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.079
 worded that

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.519
 it's really

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.159
 the fighting

00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:56.679
 part,

00:17:56.959 --> 00:17:57.679
 the arguing,

00:17:58.679 --> 00:17:59.399
 the quarreling

00:17:59.399 --> 00:18:00.399
 part,

00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.619
 the senselessly

00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:03.500
 going at it

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.439
 with each other.

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.159
 That's the thing

00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:05.799
 that we're to

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.359
 avoid.

00:18:07.219 --> 00:18:07.679
 I mean if you

00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:08.179
 want to yak

00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:08.719
 with a friend

00:18:08.719 --> 00:18:09.399
 about Elon

00:18:09.399 --> 00:18:10.339
 Musk's

00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:11.079
 latest

00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:12.679
 speech on

00:18:12.679 --> 00:18:13.659
 interplanetary

00:18:13.659 --> 00:18:14.459
 space travel,

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.799
 go for it.

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:17.720
 God is

00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:19.599
 not against

00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.079
 the use

00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:20.899
 of imagination

00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:22.359
 or reason

00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:23.440
 or evaluation

00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.440
 but it's

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:24.740
 when we

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.859
 fight over

00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:26.460
 these kinds

00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:27.000
 of issues

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.159
 and in so

00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:29.039
 doing allow

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.599
 these issues

00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:30.079
 to cause

00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:30.599
 rifts

00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:32.079
 and hurt

00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:33.759
 and division

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.779
 among us

00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:36.460
 that it

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:36.899
 becomes a

00:18:36.899 --> 00:18:37.279
 problem.

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.619
 It's when it

00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:39.159
 becomes your

00:18:39.159 --> 00:18:39.859
 mission to

00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:40.659
 win the

00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:41.279
 argument or

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:41.779
 to spread

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.220
 the good

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:42.779
 news of

00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:43.839
 your opinion

00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:44.839
 to everybody

00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:45.319
 else and

00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:45.939
 convert them

00:18:45.939 --> 00:18:46.480
 all over

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:48.179
 that damage

00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:48.679
 is done

00:18:48.679 --> 00:18:50.779
 and factions

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.819
 are formed.

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:53.779
 Avoid that

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.220
 kind of

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:54.699
 behavior

00:18:54.699 --> 00:18:56.099
 says Jesus.

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.199
 It's

00:18:58.199 --> 00:18:59.079
 unprofitable.

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.679
 It's useless.

00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:01.240
 There's no

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.119
 benefit to it.

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.879
 And here's

00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:05.339
 what to do

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:05.879
 when a person

00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:06.980
 becomes divisive

00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:07.579
 like this

00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:08.319
 as a sort

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:08.819
 of pattern

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.259
 or as a

00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:10.000
 sort of habit.

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.500
 He says

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.119
 in verse 10

00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:13.439
 warn a

00:19:13.439 --> 00:19:14.359
 divisive person

00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:16.259
 once and

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.719
 then warn

00:19:16.719 --> 00:19:17.059
 them a

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:17.759
 second time.

00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:19.699
 After that

00:19:19.699 --> 00:19:20.719
 have nothing

00:19:20.719 --> 00:19:21.259
 to do with

00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:21.439
 them.

00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:22.759
 So this

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.439
 is serious.

00:19:24.959 --> 00:19:25.599
 Paul gives

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.439
 instructions to

00:19:26.439 --> 00:19:27.059
 Titus about

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.759
 how to deal

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.419
 with divisive

00:19:28.419 --> 00:19:28.959
 people in

00:19:28.959 --> 00:19:29.439
 the church.

00:19:30.959 --> 00:19:31.859
 He's first

00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:33.179
 to warn

00:19:33.179 --> 00:19:33.419
 them.

00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:34.979
 And the

00:19:34.979 --> 00:19:35.459
 word that's

00:19:35.459 --> 00:19:35.899
 used here

00:19:35.899 --> 00:19:36.459
 for warning

00:19:36.459 --> 00:19:37.359
 it has a

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.139
 very nuanced

00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:39.219
 specific meaning.

00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:40.039
 It specifically

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:41.619
 means to

00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:42.299
 counsel them

00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:43.079
 about avoiding

00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.199
 or stopping

00:19:44.199 --> 00:19:45.039
 an improper

00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:45.720
 behavior

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:47.099
 with a goal

00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:47.460
 that they

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:48.279
 actually would.

00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.480
 So it's not

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:50.980
 just kind of

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.119
 like lambasting

00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:52.579
 them or

00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.099
 intimidating

00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:53.500
 them.

00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:54.480
 Just stop

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:54.699
 it.

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.740
 It's more

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.179
 than that.

00:19:57.439 --> 00:19:58.099
 The goal

00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:58.659
 of this kind

00:19:58.659 --> 00:19:59.019
 of warning

00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.579
 is to help

00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.039
 the person

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.119
 see how

00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:01.919
 what they're

00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:02.879
 doing is

00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:03.339
 improper.

00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.220
 The goal

00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:05.619
 is to

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.720
 counsel them,

00:20:06.899 --> 00:20:07.299
 to warn

00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:07.519
 them,

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.599
 to admonish

00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.259
 them so as

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.059
 to change,

00:20:10.159 --> 00:20:10.619
 to see them

00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:11.719
 change from

00:20:11.719 --> 00:20:12.379
 doing that

00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:14.059
 to behaving

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.439
 as they

00:20:14.439 --> 00:20:14.759
 should.

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:16.939
 And so this

00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:17.539
 kind of warning

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.119
 should really

00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:19.279
 address the

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:21.119
 heart and

00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:21.659
 the mind

00:20:21.659 --> 00:20:24.759
 as well as

00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.319
 the behavior.

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.599
 So first

00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.279
 warn them

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.019
 like this,

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.419
 says Jesus,

00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:31.859
 and then if

00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.619
 they continue

00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:33.959
 to be

00:20:33.959 --> 00:20:34.579
 divisive,

00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:36.539
 warn them

00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:36.899
 a second

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:37.359
 time.

00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:39.819
 and then

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.139
 if they

00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:40.659
 still

00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:41.500
 continue

00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:41.919
 to be

00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:42.539
 divisive,

00:20:44.179 --> 00:20:44.459
 he says

00:20:44.459 --> 00:20:45.039
 have nothing

00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:45.379
 to do

00:20:45.379 --> 00:20:45.740
 with them,

00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:46.079
 a more

00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.419
 accurate

00:20:46.419 --> 00:20:47.000
 translation,

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:47.659
 reject,

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.259
 reject them.

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.000
 Some

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.659
 commentators

00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:55.199
 see this

00:20:55.199 --> 00:20:55.479
 as more

00:20:55.479 --> 00:20:55.699
 of a

00:20:55.699 --> 00:20:56.019
 passive

00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:56.339
 thing,

00:20:56.419 --> 00:20:56.759
 like just

00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.299
 shun that

00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:57.699
 person,

00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:58.619
 don't talk

00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.000
 to them,

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.500
 treat them

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:00.799
 like an

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.379
 unbeliever.

00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:02.959
 Others

00:21:02.959 --> 00:21:03.439
 see this

00:21:03.439 --> 00:21:03.919
 as more

00:21:03.919 --> 00:21:04.500
 actively

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.419
 dismissing

00:21:05.419 --> 00:21:05.659
 them

00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.940
 from the

00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:07.220
 church,

00:21:07.300 --> 00:21:08.460
 or excommunicating

00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:09.180
 would maybe

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:10.019
 be a word.

00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:10.340
 I mean,

00:21:10.360 --> 00:21:10.920
 we don't use

00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:11.320
 that word

00:21:11.320 --> 00:21:11.940
 often because

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.480
 it kind of

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.240
 brings up

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:13.940
 connotations,

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:14.560
 especially in

00:21:14.560 --> 00:21:14.980
 the Catholic

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.400
 church.

00:21:16.340 --> 00:21:16.960
 But I think

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.480
 I tend to

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.019
 agree more

00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:18.500
 with this

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.680
 idea of

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.040
 kind of

00:21:20.040 --> 00:21:20.620
 sending them

00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:20.900
 out.

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:22.800
 Why?

00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:23.680
 Look at the

00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.279
 next verse.

00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:26.460
 For you

00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:26.980
 know that

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.779
 such a person

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:29.040
 has gone

00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:29.880
 astray

00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:31.240
 and is

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.740
 sinning.

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.180
 He is

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.040
 self-condemned.

00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:35.819
 So they're

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.700
 persistently

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.940
 deviating

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.359
 from what

00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.039
 is good

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:39.519
 and right.

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.119
 They're

00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:40.799
 stirring up

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.180
 trouble

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:42.159
 and conflict.

00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.619
 They're

00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:43.960
 promoting

00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:44.420
 foolish

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:45.359
 and fruitless

00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:45.920
 arguments

00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:47.039
 and controversies

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.779
 over things

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.940
 that are

00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.460
 bringing no

00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.119
 benefit to

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.579
 anybody.

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:51.740
 And the

00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.359
 present tense

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:52.819
 here is

00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:53.480
 notable.

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:56.859
 Such a

00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.899
 person is

00:21:57.899 --> 00:21:58.579
 sinning.

00:21:59.139 --> 00:21:59.899
 Is sinning.

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.440
 Like right

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.119
 now, in

00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:01.700
 doing this,

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.059
 they are

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:02.440
 sinning.

00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.819
 They are

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.639
 self-condemned.

00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.059
 So if

00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:07.240
 they're

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:07.960
 unresponsive

00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:08.259
 to this

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:08.700
 kind of

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.639
 restorative

00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:10.259
 warning that

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.539
 Titus gives

00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.079
 to them

00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.619
 twice,

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.599
 then they're

00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:13.899
 kind of

00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:14.240
 proving

00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:14.899
 their own

00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:15.440
 actions,

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:15.899
 that they're

00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:16.639
 just unwilling

00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:17.299
 to be

00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:17.960
 obedient to

00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.299
 the Lord

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.680
 Jesus and

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:19.940
 to the

00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.519
 correction that

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:20.920
 he's bringing

00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.379
 into their

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:22.159
 life through

00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:23.279
 the leaders

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.599
 in the

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:23.940
 church.

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.319
 Now we

00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:29.700
 might want

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.019
 to think

00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:30.680
 for a moment

00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.200
 about the

00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:31.960
 effect on

00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:32.200
 that

00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:32.819
 individual.

00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:34.379
 It might

00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:34.639
 seem

00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:35.119
 harsh,

00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.859
 but the

00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:37.299
 truth is

00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:37.559
 that the

00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.019
 Lord Jesus

00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:38.779
 is concerned

00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:40.039
 about his

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.440
 people.

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:41.799
 He doesn't

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.259
 want to see

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.680
 us all

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.960
 divided and

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.579
 in factions.

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:45.819
 He wants

00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:46.339
 to see us

00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:46.859
 united,

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.000
 together,

00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:48.579
 like a

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.000
 family.

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:50.759
 And these

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.399
 kinds of

00:22:51.399 --> 00:22:52.220
 behaviors,

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.339
 when done

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.159
 persistently,

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.940
 fight against

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.440
 that and they

00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.319
 destroy that.

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.700
 But there

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.319
 is also a

00:22:59.319 --> 00:22:59.819
 purpose for

00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.319
 the person

00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:01.639
 who is being

00:23:01.639 --> 00:23:02.259
 sent out.

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:02.700
 if they

00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.700
 don't yield

00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:04.140
 to the

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:05.039
 warnings that

00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:05.460
 are given,

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:08.299
 it's not

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.119
 all judgment

00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:10.059
 or condemnation

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.619
 and God

00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:11.140
 may use

00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:12.519
 that to

00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.579
 help them

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.140
 really come

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.599
 to grips

00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:15.500
 with where

00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:15.859
 they're at

00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:16.359
 spiritually.

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.240
 And the

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.720
 hope or the

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.119
 goal would

00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:18.500
 be that

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.460
 they would

00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:19.900
 repent,

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.099
 that they

00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.839
 would confess

00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:22.579
 the wrong

00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:22.900
 that they're

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:23.900
 doing and

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.500
 be restored

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.299
 to fellowship

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:25.680
 in the

00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.000
 church.

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:26.940
 We could

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.299
 look at some

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:27.940
 other passages

00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.579
 about that,

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.299
 but we won't

00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:30.819
 go into that

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.339
 this Sunday.

00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.920
 it's probably

00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.579
 worth mentioning

00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.240
 that it fell

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.000
 to Titus

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.759
 to do this

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.920
 in the

00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.339
 churches,

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:40.559
 to do the

00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:42.660
 warning and

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.400
 also the

00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.259
 rejecting part.

00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:45.799
 But then

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.559
 when Titus

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.000
 leaves,

00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:48.599
 naturally this

00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:49.140
 would then fall

00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:49.839
 to the elders

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.160
 that he

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.559
 appointed,

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.099
 the leaders

00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:51.460
 in the

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:51.779
 church.

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.160
 We think

00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:55.640
 back to the

00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.220
 metaphor of

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.700
 shepherds,

00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.379
 elders are to

00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.119
 be shepherds,

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.140
 and at times

00:23:59.140 --> 00:23:59.720
 that's going to

00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.539
 require them to

00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:02.240
 ward off the

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:02.740
 wolves,

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.180
 those who

00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:03.620
 would try to

00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.559
 creep in and

00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.859
 do damage or

00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:06.200
 hurt.

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.359
 So this is the

00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:10.460
 first part of

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.620
 our passage this

00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:12.200
 morning, and it's

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:13.120
 really focused on a

00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:13.599
 thing that we're

00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:15.779
 to avoid, because

00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:17.900
 this doesn't do

00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:19.079
 anything good for

00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.420
 us.

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.819
 Avoid arguments and

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:23.059
 foolish controversies.

00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.279
 But then as we

00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:25.940
 shift into the

00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.620
 last little bit of

00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.259
 the letter here,

00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.940
 we're going to see

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.839
 an emphasis the

00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.680
 other way on what

00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.320
 we're to do,

00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:31.799
 what we're to

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.519
 focus on.

00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:35.240
 And let me just

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.000
 read it for us

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.940
 here in verse 12

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.519
 to 15.

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.740
 Paul says,

00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.420
 As soon as I

00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.720
 send Artemis or

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.860
 Tychicus to you,

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.460
 do your best to

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.080
 come to me at

00:24:44.080 --> 00:24:45.860
 Nicopolis, because

00:24:45.860 --> 00:24:46.660
 I've decided to

00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.180
 winter there.

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.140
 Do everything you

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:50.320
 can to help

00:24:50.320 --> 00:24:51.200
 Zenos, the

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.360
 lawyer, and

00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:53.779
 Apollos on their

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:55.360
 way, and see that

00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:56.100
 they have everything

00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:56.680
 they need.

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:59.600
 Our people must

00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.720
 learn to devote

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.900
 themselves to

00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:02.580
 doing what is

00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:04.500
 good in order to

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.420
 provide for urgent

00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:07.380
 needs and not live

00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:08.600
 unproductive lives.

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.019
 Everyone with me

00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:12.340
 sends you greetings.

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.580
 Greet those who

00:25:14.580 --> 00:25:15.600
 love us in the

00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:15.920
 faith.

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:18.480
 Grace be with you

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.720
 all.

00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.560
 So Paul goes on

00:25:21.560 --> 00:25:22.299
 to give some very

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.460
 specific instructions

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.279
 here about how

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.539
 Titus is to come

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:27.799
 to Nicopolis once

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.839
 his replacement

00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:30.599
 arrives, and he's

00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.579
 also to ensure that

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.399
 Zenos, the lawyer,

00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.159
 and this guy named

00:25:33.159 --> 00:25:34.399
 Apollos are sent on

00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:35.379
 their way with

00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:36.279
 everything that they

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:36.659
 need.

00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:40.619
 Paul then passes

00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.639
 along greetings of

00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:42.339
 those who are with

00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:44.339
 him, and he tells

00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:45.720
 Titus to greet those

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.920
 who love him in the

00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.220
 faith.

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:48.039
 What should we make

00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.859
 of these instructions?

00:25:51.379 --> 00:25:52.039
 What should we make

00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.899
 of these greetings?

00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:53.080
 things?

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:56.080
 Well, sometimes when

00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:56.720
 we read through our

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.460
 Bibles, these might

00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:58.200
 be the parts that we

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.880
 just kind of skip

00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.220
 over.

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.460
 Is it even relevant

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.460
 to our lives today?

00:26:03.540 --> 00:26:04.360
 But you know, as I

00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.080
 was thinking through

00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:06.000
 some of these words,

00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:08.460
 there's actually a lot

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.200
 here for us.

00:26:09.540 --> 00:26:10.200
 There's something that

00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.960
 we can take from

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.140
 them.

00:26:12.540 --> 00:26:13.740
 We get the sense from

00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:15.740
 these words that there

00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:17.100
 is so much more going

00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:19.220
 on than just the

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.759
 happenings of one

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:23.279
 local church, or the

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.099
 happenings of one

00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:24.759
 little island.

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:28.119
 We see Paul kind of

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:30.079
 quarterbacking efforts

00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.700
 to see the gospel go

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.799
 forward here and there,

00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.960
 and he's trying to get

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:35.119
 people to go this way

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:36.579
 and see that people can

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.319
 go that way.

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:41.259
 And even these people

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.200
 on Crete and their

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.039
 churches, even though

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:44.180
 they're isolated from

00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:45.039
 others because of

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.940
 living on this island,

00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:48.160
 they too have a role to

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.859
 play in the greater

00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:51.679
 cause of the gospel.

00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:53.259
 And so, help Zenos,

00:26:53.399 --> 00:26:55.019
 the lawyer, and

00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:56.759
 Apollos on their way.

00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:57.479
 Be diligent.

00:26:57.679 --> 00:26:58.259
 Make sure that they

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:59.119
 have everything that

00:26:59.119 --> 00:26:59.879
 they need as they're

00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.779
 coming and as they're

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.159
 going.

00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:03.059
 Whatever assignment the

00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:04.139
 Lord Jesus has for

00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:05.759
 them, Paul probably

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.559
 knew where they were

00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.299
 going or what they

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:07.740
 were doing.

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.839
 Each local church,

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:13.299
 even on the island in

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.959
 the middle of the

00:27:13.959 --> 00:27:15.359
 Mediterranean, has

00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:15.939
 something to

00:27:15.939 --> 00:27:17.539
 contribute to the

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.439
 cause of the gospel,

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.559
 gospel, to the

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.320
 mission of Jesus

00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:21.900
 Christ in our world,

00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:23.620
 to our brothers and

00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:24.920
 sisters who are beyond

00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:26.660
 our community.

00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:30.299
 And in some ways, as I

00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.019
 was thinking about

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.680
 Crete, here this island

00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.420
 in the middle of the

00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.460
 Mediterranean, it kind

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.700
 of wasn't, you know,

00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.840
 it's not really a

00:27:36.840 --> 00:27:37.539
 destination.

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.580
 It's not a place people

00:27:39.580 --> 00:27:40.480
 wanted to get to.

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.960
 It was a place that was

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:43.860
 on the way, usually

00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:46.259
 traveling by ship, a

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.039
 place that people would

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.720
 stop over.

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:51.000
 And so, here in this

00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:52.240
 stopover place, they

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.359
 had this unique

00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.819
 opportunity to assist

00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:56.980
 these brothers in

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.779
 Christ on their way.

00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.339
 And I got thinking

00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:01.220
 about this, you know,

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.839
 Davidson is also a

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:05.039
 place that's on the

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.299
 way.

00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:08.159
 A place between the

00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:09.000
 big cities.

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:12.079
 The coffee pot says it

00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.299
 well.

00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:16.000
 people often stop to

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.379
 grab a Timmy's, to

00:28:17.379 --> 00:28:19.180
 take a rest break, to

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.859
 get gas.

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.899
 It's just a long way

00:28:21.899 --> 00:28:23.279
 to go between Regina and

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.500
 Saskatoon for most.

00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.259
 We're also a meeting

00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.240
 place where those are

00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:28.460
 who are looking to

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:30.899
 meet halfway for sports

00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.839
 or business or other

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:33.480
 things can meet.

00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:36.000
 I wonder what

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.059
 opportunities the Lord

00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:38.740
 might bring to us in

00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.819
 the future to meet the

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:41.480
 needs of our brothers

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:43.659
 and sisters in this

00:28:43.659 --> 00:28:45.980
 province as that place

00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.879
 on the way.

00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.619
 Finally, there's the

00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.279
 greetings here.

00:28:52.919 --> 00:28:54.059
 I love this part.

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:56.259
 You get the sense that

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.480
 wherever Paul is at this

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.980
 moment, the believers

00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:01.539
 with him, they're there.

00:29:01.659 --> 00:29:02.519
 They're thinking about

00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:03.619
 their spiritual family

00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:04.019
 members.

00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.019
 They're on the island of

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.279
 Crete.

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:07.440
 I don't know if you

00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:09.599
 guys do this same thing

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.720
 that we do in my family

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.299
 when it comes to

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.819
 FaceTime.

00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.700
 Sometimes you get on

00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:14.200
 FaceTime with family or

00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:15.759
 friends who are far away.

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.299
 You ever have that

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.539
 moment where either at

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.480
 the beginning when it's

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.460
 hello or at the end

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:20.980
 when it's goodbye,

00:29:21.139 --> 00:29:22.000
 everybody comes and

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.619
 gathers around the

00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.299
 screen and at least

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:24.079
 gives a little wave

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:27.079
 and says, hi, goodbye.

00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:31.019
 Well, back then they

00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:32.000
 didn't have FaceTime.

00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:32.859
 They didn't even have

00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:33.779
 telephone.

00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:35.819
 So the picture we get

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.740
 here is of them all

00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.619
 crowding around the

00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:38.440
 letter that Paul is

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.279
 penning.

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.119
 Oh, you're writing to

00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:41.460
 the churches on Crete,

00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:42.220
 to our brothers and

00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:42.799
 sisters on Crete.

00:29:42.899 --> 00:29:43.639
 Well, tell them I say

00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:44.139
 hi to.

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.559
 And eventually there

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.579
 was just too many names

00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.059
 probably.

00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.000
 So he just says,

00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:51.599
 everyone with me sends

00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.099
 you greetings.

00:29:54.119 --> 00:29:55.160
 We are a spiritual

00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:56.420
 family as a church,

00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:58.460
 knit together by

00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:58.940
 Christ.

00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:01.000
 But we are just one

00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:02.779
 local expression of

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:04.579
 of the larger family.

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.680
 We have brothers and

00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:08.259
 sisters all over the

00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:09.899
 world and in the

00:30:09.899 --> 00:30:10.920
 neighboring communities

00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:13.379
 and cities in our

00:30:13.379 --> 00:30:13.839
 province.

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.680
 This is why I'm really

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.920
 excited for us as we

00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:18.379
 explore this opportunity

00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:20.220
 to join the Baptist

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:21.379
 General Conference to

00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:22.119
 which we've applied

00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:23.799
 because it's another

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:25.160
 opportunity for us to

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.259
 open ourselves up to

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.619
 just some of our

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.680
 brothers and sisters in

00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.779
 Christ who are in other

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:31.519
 churches in our

00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:31.980
 province.

00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:34.420
 There's an opportunity

00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:35.279
 here for us to

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.400
 participate in the

00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.440
 cause of the gospel

00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:39.839
 beyond just Davidson

00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:41.660
 and Craig and the

00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:42.559
 surrounding areas.

00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:44.460
 There's an opportunity

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.740
 here for us to take an

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:47.700
 interest in the blood

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.180
 bought brothers and

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:51.240
 sisters in Saskatoon

00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:54.299
 and Regina and

00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:56.099
 Wadena and

00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:58.379
 Mydale and Birch Hills

00:30:58.380 --> 00:31:00.340
 and Turtleford.

00:31:02.260 --> 00:31:03.320
 Right now many of

00:31:03.320 --> 00:31:04.600
 those brothers and

00:31:04.600 --> 00:31:05.320
 sisters are probably

00:31:05.320 --> 00:31:06.100
 doing the same thing

00:31:06.100 --> 00:31:06.980
 we're doing right now.

00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.840
 Maybe they have some

00:31:09.840 --> 00:31:10.960
 needs in their community

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:12.000
 or in their church that

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.920
 we can help meet.

00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:15.380
 Even if it's just to

00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:15.940
 pray for them.

00:31:17.620 --> 00:31:18.640
 Maybe we have some

00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:20.280
 needs that God has

00:31:20.280 --> 00:31:21.400
 uniquely equipped them

00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:21.980
 to meet.

00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:23.940
 And they could be

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.820
 praying for us about

00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.419
 some things.

00:31:30.679 --> 00:31:32.179
 Our people must

00:31:32.179 --> 00:31:33.399
 learn to devote

00:31:33.399 --> 00:31:34.319
 themselves to doing

00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:35.819
 what is good in

00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.839
 order to provide for

00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:38.439
 urgent needs and

00:31:38.439 --> 00:31:39.480
 not live unproductive

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:39.939
 lives.

00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:43.399
 The temptation is for

00:31:43.399 --> 00:31:44.539
 us to just focus our

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.700
 attention on ourselves.

00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.980
 Only on our

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.700
 comforts.

00:31:49.639 --> 00:31:50.480
 Only on living a

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.899
 life of ease and

00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:52.939
 entertainment and

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:54.100
 recreation for me.

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.820
 But no.

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.720
 Paul shows us a

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.380
 better way here.

00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:58.340
 He says the cause of

00:31:58.340 --> 00:31:59.460
 the gospel is greater.

00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.720
 It's greater than the

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.460
 local community.

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.559
 It's greater than the

00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:04.279
 local church.

00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:05.920
 There are urgent

00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:06.940
 needs in the cause of

00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:08.059
 the gospel all over

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:08.620
 the place.

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:10.059
 And our people need

00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:11.220
 to be actively

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.320
 participating in

00:32:12.320 --> 00:32:13.360
 meeting those needs.

00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.600
 Devoting themselves to

00:32:15.600 --> 00:32:17.279
 doing good works that

00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:18.580
 meet real needs.

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.559
 Urgent needs.

00:32:20.320 --> 00:32:21.380
 And to live otherwise

00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:22.799
 he says is to live an

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.960
 unproductive life.

00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.759
 There it is again

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.339
 that word.

00:32:28.399 --> 00:32:28.919
 Unprofitable.

00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:29.740
 Unproductive.

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.319
 A fruitless life.

00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.519
 A wasted life.

00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:37.339
 As we bring this to a

00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.220
 close we could kind of

00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:39.359
 sum this whole passage

00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:39.680
 up.

00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.759
 We're given something

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.440
 to avoid.

00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:45.119
 And we're given

00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:46.099
 something to devote

00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:46.879
 ourselves to.

00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:49.079
 We're to avoid being

00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:49.740
 divisive.

00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:51.759
 And we're instead

00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:53.559
 to learn to be

00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:55.299
 devoted to doing

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:55.940
 what is good.

00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:58.019
 To meeting needs.

00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:00.480
 In the first half of

00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.519
 this passage we heard

00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.519
 about the thing that is

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.460
 unprofitable.

00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:04.180
 The thing that is

00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:05.980
 fruitless and unproductive.

00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:06.859
 And it's getting into

00:33:06.859 --> 00:33:08.579
 foolish controversies and

00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.779
 arguments and fights.

00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:14.099
 And in the second half

00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:15.119
 of this passage we hear

00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:16.319
 about the thing that is

00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:17.000
 profitable.

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.819
 The thing that is

00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:19.779
 beneficial and fruitful.

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.960
 It's us being

00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:23.660
 devoting to doing

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.700
 what is good.

00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:26.899
 To the meeting of

00:33:26.899 --> 00:33:27.200
 needs.

00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:28.259
 This is the profitable.

00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.299
 This is the fruitful

00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:31.359
 life that Christ longs

00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:32.160
 for his people to

00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:32.619
 embrace.

00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:35.059
 Don't be a divisive

00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:36.359
 disturber of the peace.

00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:38.259
 Be a devoted doer of

00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.980
 good works.

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:41.240
 A meter of needs.

00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.700
 Paul is saying.

00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:45.599
 And so I want to just

00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:46.200
 leave you with this

00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.559
 question.

00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:48.579
 Are you attuned to

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:50.079
 the needs of others?

00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:53.319
 Are you looking for

00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:53.519
 them?

00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:56.500
 Are you responding to

00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.279
 them as you can?

00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.259
 Paul ends with a

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:00.879
 simple blessing.

00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:03.640
 He says grace be with

00:34:03.640 --> 00:34:04.059
 you all.

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.000
 May God's generous

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.539
 kindness.

00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:07.720
 His favor.

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.559
 Be with all of you

00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.800
 there on the island

00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:11.300
 of Crete.

00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:13.840
 Let's pray.

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:19.840
 Father in heaven we

00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:20.539
 thank you for the

00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.420
 words of this letter.

00:34:22.260 --> 00:34:23.340
 And we ask that you

00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:26.099
 would do in us what

00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:27.320
 you long to see happen

00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:29.480
 in them all those

00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:30.019
 years ago.

00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.780
 In those churches.

00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:33.820
 In any way where we

00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:34.559
 are the same.

00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.320
 Where we need the

00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:35.920
 same word of

00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:36.400
 correction.

00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:38.880
 Speak that to our

00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.259
 hearts.

00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:41.759
 Lead us away from the

00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:42.239
 things that are

00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:43.039
 unprofitable.

00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:43.799
 The things that are

00:34:43.799 --> 00:34:45.579
 that have no value.

00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:47.179
 And lead us to the

00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:48.239
 things that will bless

00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:50.320
 others and benefit

00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:50.840
 others.

00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:53.000
 And ultimately

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:54.340
 will bring glory to

00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:54.599
 you.

00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:56.559
 Our Savior.

00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:57.579
 And our King.

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.299
 We pray this in

00:34:59.299 --> 00:34:59.920
 Jesus name.

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:01.320
 Amen.