WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.020 Let me ask you to take out your copy of God's Word and turn with me to Colossians chapter 1. 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:16.780 Colossians chapter 1 and the text that we're going to begin with this morning in verses 15 through 20. 00:00:17.740 --> 00:00:16.780 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.460 This was precipitated by the present state that we find the church in, in the pandemic in America, 00:00:41.219 --> 00:00:44.100 conversations being had amongst the elders of CSC, 00:00:44.340 --> 00:00:49.519 and the final two verses of the aforementioned text in Ephesians chapter 4. 00:00:49.620 --> 00:00:54.200 So I'm just going to read those two verses, Ephesians chapter 4, verse 15 and 16. 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:59.760 Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:05.780 into Christ, from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, 00:01:06.099 --> 00:01:12.739 when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:19.519 And I told you that we had this sense and saw the reality that we are struggling in this time 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:24.400 because the body feels, and in many ways is, disjointed. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:30.960 We're not joined as we ought to be, but we're disjointed as we're unable to welcome new members 00:01:30.960 --> 00:01:35.360 through the ordinance of baptism, and that we are unable to affirm our members' faith 00:01:35.360 --> 00:01:38.760 and discipline our members through the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. 00:01:39.380 --> 00:01:44.320 I work to prime our consideration today by making a case to you concerning the importance 00:01:44.320 --> 00:01:46.040 of church membership and church discipline. 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:51.160 If you're uncertain about either of these doctrines, I want to encourage you to study them. 00:01:51.320 --> 00:01:54.000 Listen to the recording of last week's teaching. 00:01:54.219 --> 00:01:58.000 There's many other better teachers than I that speak on this very matter. 00:01:58.080 --> 00:01:59.100 You can find those things. 00:01:59.820 --> 00:02:01.880 Read a good book like Church Membership. 00:02:01.940 --> 00:02:03.680 This is a little book by Jonathan Lehman. 00:02:03.740 --> 00:02:07.680 There's a bunch of copies out there in the book note if you'd like to pick up one of those. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:16.120 And, most certainly and most importantly, read the Bible with a mind toward what it has to say on the matter. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:18.960 What does the Scripture say about us? 00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:23.000 We so often read the Bible, right, highly individualistically. 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:25.319 What does the Scripture say to me? 00:02:25.760 --> 00:02:32.260 We forget altogether that most of the Bible was written to people, right, to groups of people. 00:02:32.260 --> 00:02:36.980 So look at the text in that way and begin to understand it, I believe. 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:38.120 Rightly. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:43.240 But this morning we're going to begin with Colossians 1, verse 15 and 20. 00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:47.599 Again, doing the atypical thing where we're going to depart from the text largely. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:48.680 But I want to begin here. 00:02:48.760 --> 00:02:51.379 Colossians 1, beginning in verse 15. 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:57.819 Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 00:02:58.480 --> 00:03:03.020 For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:06.560 whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:10.039 All things were created through him and for him. 00:03:10.539 --> 00:03:13.879 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:16.800 And he is the head of the body, the church. 00:03:17.300 --> 00:03:21.780 He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:25.400 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. 00:03:25.819 --> 00:03:30.780 And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, 00:03:30.780 --> 00:03:33.780 making peace by the blood of his cross. 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:38.120 What a wonderful, what a glorious text this is. 00:03:38.180 --> 00:03:44.759 If you've been around for a while, you know that the vision statement for our church is largely based out of this very text. 00:03:44.840 --> 00:03:51.740 It has been a special text to me, a guiding text to me across many years. 00:03:51.740 --> 00:03:56.879 I went to go pull some notes out of sermons that I've preached on this text, 00:03:57.080 --> 00:04:00.680 and realized that across the years I've preached four sermons on this text, 00:04:00.780 --> 00:04:04.400 which is, again, very atypical for our church. 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:05.900 So it's been a go-to. 00:04:06.580 --> 00:04:12.140 Now it is important to know that verses 15 through 18 of this text are thought to be a cosmic, 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:14.240 Christological hymn. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:20.199 Many scholars believe that Paul is citing a modern hymn or confession in his day, 00:04:20.300 --> 00:04:24.340 something that the church at Colossae would have already been familiar with, 00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:28.079 and then he goes on to make some further points as a result. 00:04:28.699 --> 00:04:33.400 Even more important to know is the focus of this cosmic, Christological hymn, 00:04:33.939 --> 00:04:39.180 the preeminence or the supremacy of Jesus Christ. 00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:45.680 The last part of verse 18 says that in everything he might be preeminent. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:52.240 So be preeminent means to be supreme or first in all things. 00:04:52.980 --> 00:04:57.180 Paul also states this reality in Philippians chapter 2 beginning in verse 9 and following. 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:02.460 God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 00:05:02.840 --> 00:05:07.139 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:13.519 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:18.419 This is the great aim of the gospel of Jesus Christ, right? 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:22.639 This is the great work that's happening in our world right now. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:27.860 Paul tells us in this text that Jesus is the visible expression of God, 00:05:28.039 --> 00:05:32.219 that the world was created by him and through him and for him, 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:34.620 that he is more important than everything, 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:37.040 and that he's holding it all together. 00:05:37.740 --> 00:05:41.459 And that he crowns all of these declarations with the truth. 00:05:41.899 --> 00:05:45.819 And he is the head of the body, the church. 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:50.759 He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:56.699 that or so that in everything he might be preeminent. 00:05:56.699 --> 00:06:00.479 So Jesus is the head of the body. 00:06:00.479 --> 00:06:03.199 This has been my most constant meditation, right? 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:09.459 This phrase in this verse over the past 12 years that our church has existed, right? 00:06:09.719 --> 00:06:13.379 Jesus is the head of the body, right? 00:06:13.419 --> 00:06:17.579 There is so very much that could be said about this. 00:06:17.659 --> 00:06:22.120 There's basically a single thing that I want to say about it this morning. 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:27.160 There's just oodles that could be unpacked from such a phrase. 00:06:27.899 --> 00:06:29.040 He is the head of the body. 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:32.920 There are many metaphors in the New Testament used to describe the church. 00:06:33.540 --> 00:06:41.319 It's called a family, a kingdom, a vineyard, a flock, a building, a bride, and many others. 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:51.779 But none is more helpful in our understanding of its form and function than that of a body made of many parts with Jesus Christ as the head. 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:57.579 This metaphor helps us to see the church as a living organism, right? 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:03.039 Inseparably tied together with life and mission by the living Christ. 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:05.659 He controls every part of it. 00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:11.220 He coordinates together the diversity of gifting and ministry for the sake of his name. 00:07:12.260 --> 00:07:19.920 Jesus does not merely save the church, but he is the head of the church also, giving it life and direction. 00:07:20.840 --> 00:07:23.820 And this is true of the church universal, right? 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:31.860 The church that transcends time and space, like all those who have ever and all those who will ever believe in Christ. 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:34.620 Jesus is the head of that church. 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:37.980 This is true for the church invisible, right? 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:43.420 All those in Christ all over the world now, everybody, everywhere. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:48.579 We can't see all of them, but yet Jesus still reigns over them. 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:52.660 And it is true for the church visible. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:56.420 This is what we would call the local church, right? 00:07:56.420 --> 00:08:03.560 When people who claim to be followers of Christ gather together to make particular declarations together. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:11.939 Christ resides over us, and he gives to us our very life, and he gives to us direction. 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:16.460 Jesus is the beginning, you see, in verse 18. 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:19.480 He's the originator of the church, right? 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:26.340 The word there, Greek word for beginning, has a two-fold sense of both source and primacy. 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:29.200 So he is the originator. 00:08:29.340 --> 00:08:32.980 It comes from him, and he is the most important. 00:08:33.180 --> 00:08:36.340 He is over and above the church. 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:44.019 In Ephesians 1.4, Paul states that God chose us in him before the foundation of the world. 00:08:44.899 --> 00:08:48.980 He is the firstborn from the dead. 00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:58.300 Of all those who have ever been raised or will ever be raised from the dead, he is of the highest rank. 00:08:58.500 --> 00:08:59.780 The most important. 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:00.740 The supreme. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:02.680 The preeminent. 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:06.739 So Jesus is the preeminent head of the church. 00:09:06.939 --> 00:09:08.620 The church universal and invisible. 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:13.819 But importantly for our thoughts this morning, he is the preeminent head of the local church. 00:09:14.459 --> 00:09:17.139 As previously stated, he gives to us life and direction. 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:23.879 He has ordered that we should function in particular ways in order to display his glory amongst all peoples. 00:09:24.819 --> 00:09:29.039 This ordering comes from nowhere but the scripture. 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:35.019 We have been given a book by which we are meant to order ourselves. 00:09:35.699 --> 00:09:40.199 The Bible is sufficient to guide the church. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:49.019 It is sufficient to answer the questions we have about the governing of the church even in a time such as this. 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:57.840 Do we believe that our God is so weak that he couldn't see the technology that we would have at our fingertips in a day such as this? 00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:07.079 Could he not have sent Christ in this day and taught us how to most appropriately use the internet to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ? 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:19.120 I'd suggest that he knew exactly what he was doing when the scripture was written in its time and that it is in fact sufficient to guide us in a time such as this. 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:23.160 With that, allow me to give you a definition of the local church. 00:10:23.280 --> 00:10:25.360 I will repeat this for you if you'd like to write it down. 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:31.680 The local church is a community of believers that gathers regularly around the person and work of Jesus Christ. 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:38.460 That rightly preaches the gospel and that rightly administers the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. 00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:43.220 There is, of course, a lot to unpack in this simple definition. 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:47.620 And there is so much more involved in a robust ecclesiology. 00:10:47.800 --> 00:10:51.220 There's lots that can be said about what the church is. 00:10:51.220 --> 00:10:51.660 Right? 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:56.820 We've been doing Sunday evening school for a while and I taught a course, a six evening course. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:59.340 It's about six hours of me talking. 00:10:59.660 --> 00:10:59.800 Right? 00:10:59.820 --> 00:11:01.519 There's lots and lots of content. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:07.220 And I felt like still we only touched on all that could be said of the church. 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:12.460 But for our purpose this morning, this definition, I believe, will serve us well. 00:11:12.540 --> 00:11:14.040 So let me repeat it for you again. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:21.139 The local church is a community of believers that gathers regularly around the person and work of Jesus Christ. 00:11:21.220 --> 00:11:28.600 That rightly preaches the gospel and that rightly administers the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:36.840 Now from this little blue book that I held up to you a moment ago, Jonathan Lehman's book on church membership, he said this. 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:39.620 The local church is not a club. 00:11:40.060 --> 00:11:44.320 It's where we Christians go public to declare our highest allegiance. 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:51.320 It's the outpost or embassy giving a public face to our future nation. 00:11:52.400 --> 00:11:58.240 So how is it that Christians are declared citizens of our future nation? 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:06.680 If we give this some application in our present day, you don't get to just walk across a border and declare that you're a citizen of a country. 00:12:06.680 --> 00:12:07.100 Right? 00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:16.279 If I were to travel to Europe, I can't land in London, walk out of Heathrow, I think Heathrow, and go, I'm a British citizen. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:18.600 This would be laughable. 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:27.879 There's a way that we become a citizen of a particular locale and don't, are excluded from being able to do such a thing. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:32.960 So how is it that Christians are declared citizens of our future nation? 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:40.360 I would argue, I would suggest to you, and the Bible teaches that through the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. 00:12:40.540 --> 00:12:43.740 This is the way that this takes place. 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:49.000 Baptism is the sign that accompanies a professing Christian's entrance into the kingdom. 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:58.860 And the Lord's Supper is the sign that we remain citizens of the kingdom or, in some tragic cases, are declared outside the kingdom. 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:05.840 Baptism is the initiating sign and the Lord's Supper is the renewing sign. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:15.040 Now, it's very easy, it's quick to start to run this kind of thing through your mind from your experience with baptism and the Lord's Supper. 00:13:15.560 --> 00:13:22.040 And much of the way baptism and the Lord's Supper is done in the American church today is not proper, not well administered. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:26.820 And so I would suggest to you that you try to set the experience aside in each and every case. 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:33.620 But this morning, certainly, to think about what is it that the Bible teaches about these two ordinances. 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:39.519 Both of them are meant to be done within the life of a local church. 00:13:40.060 --> 00:13:43.639 The church baptizes and the church administers the Lord's Supper. 00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:51.000 And it does so in order to declare who is inside the church and who is outside the church. 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:56.299 This is a massively important thing that the church does. 00:13:56.299 --> 00:14:00.899 In 1 Corinthians 5, verse 12 and 13, Paul wrote, 00:14:01.459 --> 00:14:04.159 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:08.659 Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 00:14:09.219 --> 00:14:11.799 God judges those outside. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:18.879 So Paul called upon the Corinthian church to judge those who were inside the church, not those who were outside. 00:14:19.179 --> 00:14:19.339 Right? 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:21.479 They had to make a distinction there. 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:25.600 Who is inside and meant to be disciplined for holiness. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:29.920 Who is outside and is under God's judgment. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:30.460 Right? 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:37.659 They were responsible for the testimony of those who belonged to the church, not those who didn't. 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:48.080 This passage makes no sense if the Corinthian church didn't have some public formal means by which the church identified themselves with individuals. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:54.840 And some public formal means by which the church disassociated itself from individuals. 00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:57.780 The church needed to be doing this work. 00:14:58.100 --> 00:15:03.480 Some way, somehow, they have to identify or disassociate. 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:03.680 Right? 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:06.780 Declare inside or declare outside. 00:15:08.420 --> 00:15:11.000 Are we just left to figure that out on our own? 00:15:11.060 --> 00:15:13.200 Or does the Bible say something to us about this? 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:15.980 Does it give us some direction for this? 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:18.279 Of course, I would argue, yes. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.039 Yes. 00:15:19.220 --> 00:15:20.700 Of course, it does. 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:23.300 Because it's sufficient for the task. 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:26.019 Last week, I read these two passages. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:28.759 But they're still so pertinent today that I want to read them again. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:33.500 Matthew chapter 16, beginning in verse 13 and following. 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:38.240 Now, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:40.980 Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:46.100 And they said, Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:49.480 He said to them, But who do you say that I am? 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:54.960 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:55.159 Right? 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.679 This is massive. 00:15:56.679 --> 00:16:00.679 This is such a significant moment in the life of Jesus' ministry. 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:01.739 Right? 00:16:01.819 --> 00:16:03.319 They're finally getting it. 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:03.639 Right? 00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:08.279 The apostles are finally beginning to understand who it is that he is. 00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:15.039 And, of course, we know just after that they completely misunderstand that Peter rebukes him for saying he's going to be crucified. 00:16:15.579 --> 00:16:18.159 But they're starting to have the lights turned on. 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:26.779 And Jesus says, beginning in verse 17, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:35.399 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:35.679 Right? 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:41.779 He says on this truth, right, the fact that he is the Christ, the church will be built on that. 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:41.939 Right? 00:16:41.959 --> 00:16:45.459 He is the cornerstone on which the church is built. 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.460 Right? 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:48.600 This is a massively significant thing that he says. 00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:53.040 And right after this he says, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:55.940 And whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:59.740 And whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:03.900 So Jesus says, right, the church has a work to do. 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:04.100 Right? 00:17:04.120 --> 00:17:06.079 It's going to go forth into the world. 00:17:06.360 --> 00:17:09.460 There's kind of a military conquest language taking place here. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:14.819 So the church militant goes forth to take captives for the kingdom. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:15.140 Right? 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:16.860 Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:20.280 Lovingly leading people to relationship with him. 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:25.680 And he says, the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. 00:17:26.020 --> 00:17:31.440 And then he tells Peter, he will give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 00:17:32.300 --> 00:17:32.680 What? 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:37.900 As the church goes forth, declaring the gospel. 00:17:38.840 --> 00:17:39.360 Keys? 00:17:39.540 --> 00:17:41.340 What are we doing with keys? 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:44.060 Are we unlocking the gate? 00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:45.740 What's happening here? 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:50.720 We begin to understand it as we read on in Matthew chapter 18. 00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:55.039 You see this process of church discipline. 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:55.399 Right? 00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:57.940 This laid out four step process. 00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:59.440 It begins in verse 15. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:02.080 It goes down through verse 17. 00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:06.140 I'll spare you a reading of it once again as we looked at it last week. 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:08.180 But then in verse 18 he says, 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:13.799 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:18.220 And whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:26.120 So to have the keys of the kingdom, to use these keys is to bind and to loose. 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:26.440 Right? 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:30.380 To declare in and to declare out. 00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:38.740 And this is an authority under Christ's authority, under the scriptures authority, that's been given to the church. 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:47.480 This is an extremely important work that the church must do if we're going to find the church faithful. 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:54.140 Baptism is where faith is publicly declared. 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:58.320 Acts chapter 2, verse 38 through 41. 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.400 It's the day of Pentecost. 00:19:00.560 --> 00:19:01.300 Peter said to them, 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:06.860 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:12.620 And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promises for you and for your children, for all who are far off. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:15.680 Everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:19.640 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them saying, 00:19:19.840 --> 00:19:23.000 Save yourselves from this crooked generation. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:26.920 So those who received his word were baptized. 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:30.920 And they were added that day about 3,000 souls. 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:31.240 Right? 00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:34.039 So they hear this proclamation of the good news. 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:36.700 They believe it and they are baptized. 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:43.000 When people are converted, they ought to be baptized and welcomed into the fellowship of a local church. 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:47.799 Whether to the Jerusalem megachurch found on the day of Pentecost. 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:49.660 We see this in Acts 2. 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:53.160 Or to a small church in rural North Georgia. 00:19:53.779 --> 00:20:01.840 If we are going to live as a Great Commission people, we're going to be a baptizing people. 00:20:02.340 --> 00:20:07.500 The apostles do this on day one as the church is founded. 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:07.779 Right? 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:14.279 People make a public declaration that they belong to God and therefore together. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:18.619 Saved as a people for the glory of God. 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:28.180 And so as we go out into the world to do that very same thing, we're going to be on this Great Commission work that God has launched the church on. 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:31.720 We're going to also be a baptizing people. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.620 Classic text. 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:35.039 Matthew chapter 28. 00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:36.120 Beginning in verse 18. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.420 And Jesus came and said to them, 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:40.080 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:43.820 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:48.339 Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:50.480 And I just find it so interesting that verse 19, 00:20:50.939 --> 00:20:54.980 Go therefore and make disciples, has so much work in it. 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:59.119 There's so many things that could be said about what that means. 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:02.659 And the second half of the verse gets as much attention, right? 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:06.519 Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:09.660 Spirit teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you. 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:13.319 And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:20.400 I think that Jesus here is tying the work of mission to the world, to the life of the local church. 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:27.339 What does Paul say that Jesus is the head of in Colossians chapter 1 and verse 18, right? 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:29.059 In Matthew chapter 28, Jesus says, 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:31.579 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:33.939 And then he says in verse 20, right? 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:36.939 I am with you always to the end of the age, right? 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:39.960 Because I rule, I rule with you. 00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:42.480 I will empower your mission. 00:21:43.179 --> 00:21:46.460 What does Paul say that Jesus is the head of in Colossians 1 and verse 18? 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:48.939 The mission sending organization? 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.839 The campus ministry? 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.539 Can he use those things? 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.199 Absolutely. 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:55.339 Is he the head of those things? 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:58.480 In a sense, yes, because he's the ruler of the universe. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:03.559 But specifically, he is the head of the church. 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:08.220 He intends to use it in a very particular way. 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:18.000 His authority accompanies us as we evangelize the wasp world and welcome people into the kingdom of God through baptism and church membership. 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:24.220 This is a key that he has given to us to use for this very good work. 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:26.420 So baptism does this. 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.519 It declares this. 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:30.339 And when we baptize as a church, right? 00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:31.620 We're giving that affirmation. 00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:37.880 Yes, we believe your profession of faith is credible and we welcome you in to the kingdom. 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:43.779 The Lord's Supper is where faith is repeatedly declared. 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:47.819 Luke chapter 22, verse 14 through 20. 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:49.860 You may enjoy turning with me to this text. 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:52.059 Beginning at verse 14. 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:57.200 And when the hour came, Jesus reclined at the table and the apostles with him. 00:22:57.899 --> 00:23:03.839 And he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:11.819 This is the moment Jesus is taking the Passover with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion. 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:19.319 And the Passover meal, traditionally, as it was instituted in Exodus chapter 12. 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:22.779 You remember the Israelites are huddled in their homes, right? 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:24.619 They have killed the spotless lamb. 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:34.079 They have spread the blood on the doorpost so that the angel of death would not take their firstborn, but would take the firstborn of the Egyptian people. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:36.960 This is the way this meal was celebrated. 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:38.019 It was a family meal. 00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:38.879 It was a quiet meal. 00:23:38.919 --> 00:23:41.359 It was a meal of celebration for God's deliverance. 00:23:42.159 --> 00:23:48.899 But it was done in this way, remembering that night before they were sent out of Egypt. 00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:51.539 It was a family meal. 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:55.759 And Jesus says something so significant in verse 15. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:24:03.240 I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:07.220 This ministry was three, three and a half years, right? 00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:12.539 We don't see any breaks in the narrative where he goes back home and spends time with his family. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:17.680 But it would seem that he had not yet had the Passover meal with these disciples, right? 00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:19.559 He's longed to do it, right? 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:21.779 And here he does it with them. 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:28.019 And I suggest to you that he is reorienting, as he does in other texts, the idea of family. 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:34.559 Who are those that we come together and celebrate deliverance with? 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:37.319 He goes on, verse 16. 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:41.339 For I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:45.539 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, take this and divide it among yourselves. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:50.779 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:56.099 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, this is my body which is given for you. 00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:58.599 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:05.899 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:14.280 So when we take the Lord's Supper, we remember and we declare what Jesus has done, right? 00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:21.060 That perfect life, that sacrificial death, that resurrection, his ascension, his soon coming, right? 00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:28.420 All of those things are wrapped up in what we're remembering together as we remember his body broken and his blood spilt. 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:36.380 We remember what he's doing now as he's saving a people, as he's called us together as a church for that work. 00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:39.080 And what he's promised to do, right? 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:46.620 That one day, verse 16, he will eat with us again in the kingdom of God. 00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:50.000 So this work is meant to be done together. 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:52.220 We're supposed to be a church, right? 00:25:52.220 --> 00:26:07.240 Whoever those people are that we've constituted together should come together to do this affirming work or, in those very sad cases, that dismissing work of excluding somebody from the meal because they're showing themselves not to be in Christ. 00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:12.680 That's why Paul writes in 1 Corinthians chapter 11, beginning in verse 17. 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:41.200 This is scathing. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:43.160 Why was it not the Lord's Supper that they ate? 00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:45.360 Surely there was bread and wine, right? 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:47.819 They were calling it the Lord's Supper. 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.620 Why was it not the Lord's Supper? 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:58.000 If you read on into chapter 11, it's because some of them were showing up and they were going ahead and they were eating without others, right? 00:26:58.039 --> 00:27:01.180 Those who couldn't join because they were coming later on. 00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:03.660 So it wasn't the whole church, right? 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.940 It was a church meeting. 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:08.819 It was a gathering of the church, but it was excluding some. 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:14.079 Not because they decided not to come, but because they simply couldn't come. 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:16.200 Similar in our time. 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:20.500 Not that we're taking the Lord's Supper, but this is why we're not taking the Lord's Supper. 00:27:21.419 --> 00:27:24.399 Prior to that in 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote chapter 10, verse 17. 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:31.800 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:40.859 This is why non-church gatherings of believers should not take the Lord's Supper. 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:44.440 This is why the campus ministry shouldn't take the Lord's Supper, right? 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:46.299 This is why I used to. 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:50.899 This is why I no longer support doing it at a wedding where the couple, it's sweet, but it's not the Lord's Supper. 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:54.059 That's not what it is that's happening up front. 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:59.579 Or inviting others to participate in that kind of thing because we're not a constituted church. 00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:02.419 We haven't said, this is an affirming work. 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:06.639 I believe that you're in Christ and you believe that I'm in Christ. 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:11.179 And we're taking this together to remember what he has done on our behalf. 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:20.799 So in this strange time, if our church cannot gather to weekly declare by baptism a professing Christian's entrance into the kingdom 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:25.180 and administer the Lord's Supper as the sign that we remain citizens of the kingdom 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:33.600 or in some cases declare someone outside the kingdom, what are we to do? 00:28:34.340 --> 00:28:35.500 What are we to do? 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:40.680 I said to you last week, I think I was, I like to call myself a realist, 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:42.920 but many of you might have framed me as a pessimist. 00:28:43.360 --> 00:28:48.960 When the pandemic started, I thought mid-July, 1st of August. 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:52.140 We're not going to be able to meet as a whole church together until then. 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:54.440 This thing is going to drag out. 00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:56.200 Now, I'll tell you honestly, I was guessing. 00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:56.980 That was my gut. 00:28:58.700 --> 00:29:04.840 And here we are, mid-July, and it's still dragging out. 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:08.720 Now, if you're on one end of the spectrum, we know there's a spectrum, right? 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:14.319 Probably all of you who are here in person are more on one end of the spectrum than those who may be joining us on Zoom, right? 00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:17.420 But there's a spectrum of what is understood about this. 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:20.680 And I'll just say, frankly, we are all kind of guessing, right? 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:23.180 Some of us are going to be right in the end. 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:23.779 I don't know. 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.980 I really don't know. 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:31.220 If you're on a far end of that spectrum, and this is all just conspiracy theory, then this thing lasts until at least November, right? 00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:37.720 If you're on the other end of the spectrum, and this is a genuine health crisis, right? 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:39.759 Then flu season's coming. 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.779 It's on its way. 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:42.180 Things are going to get cold again. 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:44.420 There's not a... 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:49.220 I mean, the earliest proposed vaccine I've heard is by the end of the year, which just seems crazy to me. 00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:56.360 So possibly longer than that, like wherever you're at in understanding of what's happening here, right? 00:29:56.360 --> 00:30:03.779 Apart from some miraculous work of God, whether in perception or reality, this thing's sticking around for a while. 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.360 So what do we do? 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:13.960 Certainly God would not be pleased with us placing the work of the church on hold for a long duration, right? 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:18.559 He declares the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, but coronavirus will? 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.340 I don't think so. 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:22.779 I think he'd be pleased in that way. 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:28.360 And your elders are believing that we have reached the long duration point. 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:36.059 And we're asking the question, if we just keep kind of crippling along here, we just kind of keep stumbling our way week to week to week to week, 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:44.639 are we going to get to December and look back across nine, ten months and think, what would we have wanted to do different? 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:47.440 Would we have rethought the process? 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.859 And that's where we find ourselves. 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:58.700 That's what I was working to prime you up for last week and hopefully continue to feed healthy biblical thinking into this week. 00:30:58.700 --> 00:31:02.080 What are we to do? 00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:12.360 So with a lot of meeting, a lot of prayer, your elders have arrived at what we're going to do, at least for the time being. 00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:15.480 We believe that we should still obey. 00:31:15.580 --> 00:31:22.819 We're still in the category of obeying civil authority, provided that does not command us to do something expressly forbidden in the scripture 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:27.900 or forbid us from doing something expressly commanded in the scripture, right? 00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:32.500 See Romans 13, verses 1 through 5, right? 00:31:32.820 --> 00:31:38.120 We still think we're in that place where we ought to be listening to the requests of our governor. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:45.540 If you have any desire to read it, I have the 41-page executive order that expires on August 1st, right? 00:31:45.540 --> 00:31:46.980 It's constantly expiring on us. 00:31:47.060 --> 00:31:50.660 But this is the current status of what they're asking of us. 00:31:51.300 --> 00:31:54.480 And I think I've kind of pitched it around as a request. 00:31:54.780 --> 00:31:56.100 It's not really a request. 00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:57.460 It's law, right? 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:59.460 It would be a misdemeanor to... 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:04.259 I'm also breaking it because I'm a diabetic and they say that diabetics shouldn't be with people. 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:15.620 So, but we're going to work at obeying the spirit of it, at the very least, right, to try to be obedient to Romans chapter 13, verses 1 through 5. 00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:24.660 With that said, CFC's elders believe that we should not neglect meeting as a church for the preeminence of Christ among all people. 00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:29.160 So, Hebrews 10, verse 25 is an operation there, right? 00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:40.060 And we think that we're now can get very easily, at least to a point, where we're neglecting to gather as the church because of the strangeness of the time. 00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:42.560 And this makes us uncomfortable. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:51.099 Your elders believe that we need to be able to gather together the entire church for the sake of baptism and the Lord's Supper. 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:56.419 But that this is impractical if we are to obey the governor's order, right? 00:32:57.299 --> 00:33:02.799 Are you feeling the tension that we feel, right? 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:06.599 So, what are we to do? 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.700 I'm going to tell you what we're going to do. 00:33:09.639 --> 00:33:11.159 I'm not just going to leave it hanging for you. 00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:13.200 I'm going to tell you what we're going to do, right? 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:20.039 We're going to, starting next Sunday, we're going to consolidate the members of our church into four groups. 00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:20.419 Hear that? 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.379 Clearly not churches. 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:23.740 Four groups, right? 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:28.359 Each of these groups will be given leadership by at least one elder. 00:33:28.359 --> 00:33:40.559 These groups, right, provided that people are able and willing, will gather weekly for scripture reading, prayer, singing, and a teaching slash discussion of God's word, right? 00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:47.759 We're hoping that these groups will be more accommodating to some of those who feel less comfortable gathering together at this point, right? 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:55.599 So, we may be able to find some ways to include some people that may not feel that they can be included at the moment, but we would certainly like for them to be included. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:59.639 As an example, Clay Naylor is planning on being a part of one of these groups. 00:33:59.719 --> 00:34:05.740 Maybe not immediately, but with some time and sorting out some details with those people, he'd like to join them. 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:13.119 He's joked about sitting behind, if you've been to Doug Hitchcock's house, but behind the glass door to Doug's office while everyone else is out on the porch. 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:17.440 It was a joke, but we all got a good kick out of it. 00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:22.799 So, this is what these will do weekly as they gather together. 00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:32.180 The people in these groups will work to love one another and meet one another's needs and to share the gospel with their neighbors, classmates, coworkers, family, etc. 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:32.600 Right? 00:34:32.660 --> 00:34:34.680 We'll go and be on mission together. 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:37.820 And I know that you guys have not stopped doing this, right? 00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:41.660 But we're going to continue to press that together, right? 00:34:41.680 --> 00:34:43.220 We're going to invite people to come. 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:44.200 Like, come. 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:44.680 Yes. 00:34:45.160 --> 00:34:46.460 Make professions of faith in Christ. 00:34:46.600 --> 00:34:50.880 Come and join a group of people who are trying to be obedient to the scripture. 00:34:50.880 --> 00:35:03.280 And then, once per month, we will call all the church together to have a members meeting where we will do the work of baptism and the Lord's Supper, possibly some administrative stuff. 00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:10.119 Welcoming new members, affirming current members, and, Lord forbid, seeing members out. 00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:10.420 Right? 00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:16.200 We will have to do this in a way that is consistent with the current, whatever the current executive order is. 00:35:16.260 --> 00:35:17.639 So, it'll be outside. 00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:18.840 It'll be odd. 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:19.820 Again, joking. 00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:21.240 But maybe not. 00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:24.740 I may be standing in the back of a pickup truck with a bullhorn. 00:35:24.740 --> 00:35:27.960 I don't know how exactly we're going to pull this off. 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:32.400 But we're going to find a way to pull it off because we think it's too important not to. 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:33.059 Right? 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:43.980 So, we're going to be working at that together, inviting each and every member of our church to come in a way that each and every member should be able to come so that we can do this very important thing. 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:49.299 I intend to send out a plan this week on Slack outlining the specifics of this plan. 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:49.759 Right? 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:52.099 Some of those specifics still need to be determined. 00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:52.539 Right? 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:59.579 So, I know even as you have questions in the moment, we're still trying to sort some of the details out about how exactly we'll pull all this off. 00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:07.940 So, I just want to say to you, pay attention to Slack and be in prayer for your elders as we work those details out. 00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:12.059 So, this is the way we're going to work at pressing on together. 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:17.079 In a moment, I'm going to pray for us and then we will be led in a number of songs. 00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:19.159 Reese is going to come and lead us. 00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:27.759 Upon your dismissal, I would like for you to take some time to discuss last week's teaching and this week's and the plan that I've just stated. 00:36:27.759 --> 00:36:28.000 Right? 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:29.780 In its very basic form. 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:32.820 And I'd like you to field questions. 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:37.900 And if you have questions arising through your discussion that you just don't feel like you can answer, that's reasonable. 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:38.940 I'm sure there's a lot of questions. 00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:39.880 You'll go, hmm. 00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:43.340 Like, what could possibly be the solution there? 00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:47.300 I really, really want you to send those questions to me. 00:36:48.039 --> 00:36:52.619 Clay, I think, really wisely suggested that we put together a, like, frequently asked questions document. 00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:58.579 Just anything that we can anticipate that you guys might have thoughts, concerns for. 00:36:58.779 --> 00:37:00.920 And I could guess at all of those. 00:37:01.019 --> 00:37:03.759 But I think it would be better if I'm seeing consistent questions. 00:37:03.839 --> 00:37:03.980 Right? 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:05.139 Just help me to say, yes. 00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:06.139 I understand. 00:37:06.279 --> 00:37:06.819 That's a concern. 00:37:06.820 --> 00:37:10.980 I want to very carefully help address that question. 00:37:11.100 --> 00:37:13.240 So send those questions directly to me. 00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:16.920 We'll address them in due time, likely this week. 00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:22.280 And we'll look forward to next Sunday doing this all a little bit different. 00:37:22.600 --> 00:37:22.760 Right? 00:37:22.760 --> 00:37:24.260 This matters. 00:37:24.540 --> 00:37:25.420 It is important. 00:37:25.580 --> 00:37:25.680 Right? 00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:28.360 Jesus Christ died for the church. 00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:32.380 He has a people to redeem that he fully intends to redeem. 00:37:32.520 --> 00:37:32.680 Right? 00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:35.180 The coronavirus has not slowed this down. 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:37.480 But we as a church want to be involved. 00:37:37.600 --> 00:37:37.680 Right? 00:37:37.700 --> 00:37:40.880 We want to be caught up in his purpose in the world. 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:42.380 And so we want to think carefully. 00:37:42.560 --> 00:37:42.680 Right? 00:37:42.680 --> 00:37:47.960 We want to act biblically to do this, even in this very strange time. 00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:49.160 So join me in prayer.