WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.600
 How many memberships do you have?

00:00:03.300 --> 00:00:06.719
 I think I've got something like half a dozen memberships at the moment.

00:00:07.100 --> 00:00:08.919
 I'm a member at Crunch Gym.

00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:14.580
 I have a subscription to Netflix and Disney Plus at the moment.

00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:18.480
 I've been a supporter of sporting teams.

00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:22.140
 I need to become a member of the Chatswood RSL

00:00:22.140 --> 00:00:24.580
 because there's a really great Chinese restaurant up the top there.

00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:27.920
 I'm part of a wine club.

00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:29.940
 I've been part of a coffee club.

00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:32.979
 And I dip in and out of these.

00:00:33.380 --> 00:00:36.079
 I'll get rid of Disney Plus for a while.

00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:37.780
 I'll bring it back.

00:00:38.299 --> 00:00:39.719
 I'll do something else.

00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:41.399
 I'll give them my dollars.

00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:43.159
 I'll be one of their members.

00:00:43.460 --> 00:00:46.740
 I'll go on their books to boost up their numbers.

00:00:46.939 --> 00:00:50.519
 And I'll choose when I go of what I'm part of,

00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:53.500
 of what I give my time to, my attention to.

00:00:53.500 --> 00:00:57.359
 And if I don't like it, I'll vote by cancelling my membership,

00:00:57.519 --> 00:00:59.140
 not attending, those kinds of things.

00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.299
 I wonder if it's possible for us that we think of being a church member

00:01:05.299 --> 00:01:08.719
 as just one of any other membership.

00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:12.579
 You know, I've been signed up to St. Paul's for a couple of years,

00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:15.780
 maybe since I was baptized or maybe I was born into the church.

00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:17.280
 And I attend.

00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:18.420
 I give my dollars.

00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:21.359
 I'm on their books as a member of the church.

00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:22.959
 And I dip in and out.

00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:26.719
 I'll pause my membership as other things come up and life gets busy.

00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:31.219
 Maybe I'm still on a trial membership and I'm not really ready to commit yet.

00:01:32.420 --> 00:01:37.120
 But is it possible that we have our view of what it means to be a part of a church,

00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:43.019
 a member of church, shaped not by God, but by the world around us?

00:01:43.019 --> 00:01:46.560
 We are in our vision series.

00:01:47.119 --> 00:01:50.519
 A time to cast the vision of the church, not just for this year,

00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:56.019
 but for the next five years of who we want to be as we follow Jesus together.

00:01:56.379 --> 00:02:00.060
 And we want to be a church who is going deeper into relationship with God

00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:05.340
 and deeper into relationship with each other as we follow this Jesus.

00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:11.060
 At the start of the series, Steve told us that as we follow this Jesus,

00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:16.340
 God has given us three wonderful gifts to help us do that.

00:02:16.920 --> 00:02:20.060
 The first was the Bible and prayer.

00:02:20.420 --> 00:02:22.640
 That because we want to have a relationship with God,

00:02:22.759 --> 00:02:25.140
 God has given us relationship with Him.

00:02:25.319 --> 00:02:26.560
 We can actually talk to Him.

00:02:26.920 --> 00:02:28.140
 We can pray to Him.

00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:29.980
 We can be in relationship with Him.

00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:32.120
 The second gift is the Holy Spirit,

00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:36.099
 who opens our eyes to see who Jesus is,

00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:37.340
 to understand who God is,

00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:38.780
 who prompts us,

00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:40.960
 who calls us to be more like Him,

00:02:41.020 --> 00:02:43.159
 who is changing us from the inside.

00:02:43.900 --> 00:02:49.560
 And the third gift that God has given us to help us as we follow Jesus is the church.

00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:54.159
 People to help us as we walk towards Jesus.

00:02:54.659 --> 00:02:56.540
 Colleagues, brothers, sisters.

00:02:58.480 --> 00:03:01.840
 But to understand today, as we look at what it means to be the church,

00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:02.840
 we're going to see two things.

00:03:03.200 --> 00:03:05.960
 First of all, we're going to question, what is the church?

00:03:06.659 --> 00:03:08.219
 And second, what is the point?

00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:10.199
 What is the purpose of church?

00:03:11.259 --> 00:03:16.400
 And the challenge for us today will be to have God define who the church is

00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:18.460
 and who we are to be.

00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:22.159
 And not just to have a superficial membership of the church

00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:25.620
 defined by all of those other memberships that we have in the world,

00:03:26.060 --> 00:03:29.879
 but to take hold of God's gift of the church with both hands.

00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:34.340
 So let me pray for us as we have a look at what God has to say to us.

00:03:34.379 --> 00:03:34.780
 Let me pray.

00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:37.819
 Heavenly Father, we thank you so much, first of all,

00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:39.979
 that we get to know you,

00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:44.579
 that we get to be people who are yours,

00:03:44.900 --> 00:03:46.000
 and that you love us.

00:03:46.340 --> 00:03:49.780
 And we thank you that you have gathered us this morning.

00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:52.340
 Be with us as we look at your word.

00:03:52.460 --> 00:03:56.859
 Help us to be ready to have our hearts shaped to be like you

00:03:56.860 --> 00:03:59.840
 and to understand who we are to be as your church.

00:04:00.540 --> 00:04:00.940
 Amen.

00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:03.360
 What even is a church?

00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:07.380
 The building is often called church.

00:04:07.540 --> 00:04:09.180
 You know, we're going to church.

00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:11.660
 But the church is so much more than that.

00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:13.960
 The word means gathering.

00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:15.880
 And so in the original language,

00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:19.879
 anything was that any gathering of people was referred to as a church.

00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:25.500
 So you could have the church who meets at the side of the soccer pitch

00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:30.339
 who is made up of shouty parents on a Saturday morning.

00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:35.079
 You could have a church of oolong tea fanatics.

00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:37.959
 Whatever gathering you have,

00:04:38.779 --> 00:04:40.579
 that's where the word church comes from.

00:04:41.060 --> 00:04:41.939
 But over time,

00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:46.659
 this word has come to be associated with religious activities

00:04:46.660 --> 00:04:49.880
 and also with the building that we are in.

00:04:51.020 --> 00:04:54.360
 But how does God describe his gathering?

00:04:54.520 --> 00:04:54.980
 Have a look.

00:04:55.460 --> 00:04:57.520
 We're going to be jumping around a couple of passages

00:04:57.520 --> 00:05:01.220
 before we spend a little bit more time in that Hebrews 10 passage.

00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:04.780
 So please have your Bibles open, phones.

00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:08.660
 There is our church app, which has the outline.

00:05:09.220 --> 00:05:10.320
 Or you can grab a Bible.

00:05:10.400 --> 00:05:11.400
 If you do not have a Bible,

00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:12.900
 get a Bible from the sides,

00:05:12.980 --> 00:05:13.900
 one of the brown Bibles.

00:05:14.280 --> 00:05:16.360
 We've written in them that they are for you.

00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:18.060
 And you've just got to write your name in there.

00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:19.819
 Please take one of those and have those.

00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:23.120
 We're going to be in 1 Peter 2, verse 10.

00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:26.800
 So God, first of all, shows us

00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:29.060
 that the church is universal,

00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:32.180
 everywhere, and invisible.

00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:36.400
 And it is also visible and local.

00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.180
 In 1 Peter 2, verse 10, Peter says,

00:05:40.180 --> 00:05:42.340
 Once you were not a people,

00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:45.180
 but now you are the people of God.

00:05:45.180 --> 00:05:47.160
 Once you had not received mercy,

00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:49.240
 but now you have received mercy.

00:05:49.459 --> 00:05:52.759
 What Peter's doing is he's connecting God's saving people,

00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:55.340
 God's showing mercy to people,

00:05:55.800 --> 00:05:56.780
 with people,

00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.240
 with these individuals becoming part of his people.

00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:01.639
 He shows mercy,

00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:05.079
 and these Christians are now part of a greater people.

00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:07.699
 When we are saved,

00:06:08.180 --> 00:06:11.039
 when the Holy Spirit reveals to us who Jesus is

00:06:11.039 --> 00:06:11.740
 and we follow him,

00:06:11.979 --> 00:06:13.680
 we become part of something larger,

00:06:14.539 --> 00:06:16.099
 something bigger than us,

00:06:16.459 --> 00:06:17.719
 something that is universal,

00:06:17.939 --> 00:06:18.979
 something that is invisible,

00:06:19.379 --> 00:06:23.339
 the church that is across all time and space,

00:06:23.339 --> 00:06:24.919
 that goes into the past,

00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:26.319
 and that goes into the future.

00:06:27.039 --> 00:06:30.379
 We are part of something that is much larger than us.

00:06:30.379 --> 00:06:37.079
 Paul talks about this church in Romans 8, verse 15.

00:06:37.899 --> 00:06:38.519
 He says,

00:06:38.920 --> 00:06:41.540
 The spirit you received does not make you slaves

00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:43.480
 so that you live in fear.

00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:45.699
 Rather, the spirit you received

00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:48.219
 brought about your adoption to sonship.

00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:51.500
 And so the church is saved

00:06:51.500 --> 00:06:54.519
 as part of this universal group of people

00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:56.439
 who are sons,

00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:59.579
 who have the full legal standing

00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:01.839
 of a male heir in Roman culture,

00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:04.899
 who have access to everything from the Father.

00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:08.519
 And so we are part of God's family as his children

00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:11.720
 across the globe and across time and space.

00:07:12.939 --> 00:07:15.740
 And Hebrews 12 talks about this in verse 22.

00:07:15.959 --> 00:07:17.879
 You have come to Mount Zion,

00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:20.259
 to the city of the living God,

00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:21.920
 the heavenly Jerusalem.

00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:25.899
 You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels

00:07:25.899 --> 00:07:26.939
 in joyful assembly

00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:28.579
 to the church of the firstborn,

00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:30.839
 whose names are written in heaven.

00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:32.479
 And so in one sense,

00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:34.939
 the church right now is universal and invisible.

00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:38.419
 We cannot see the church at the moment.

00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:40.819
 We can see us here, sitting here.

00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:42.299
 But the church is much larger.

00:07:43.239 --> 00:07:44.939
 The church is those who have been adopted

00:07:44.939 --> 00:07:46.719
 into God's family as his children.

00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:47.760
 And also,

00:07:48.080 --> 00:07:50.320
 the church is also,

00:07:51.260 --> 00:07:53.340
 in a spiritual way,

00:07:54.100 --> 00:07:56.140
 gathering around God in heaven already.

00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:59.640
 There is this spiritual element

00:07:59.640 --> 00:08:02.100
 to the church in heaven.

00:08:02.940 --> 00:08:03.620
 And so the Bible,

00:08:03.780 --> 00:08:05.700
 just having a look at these couple of verses,

00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:08.860
 we can talk more about this if you like later,

00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:11.220
 describes the church as

00:08:11.220 --> 00:08:13.760
 one whole people

00:08:13.760 --> 00:08:15.920
 of brothers and sisters

00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:16.980
 made one family

00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:19.760
 who are already in heaven

00:08:19.760 --> 00:08:21.140
 in a spiritual way.

00:08:22.020 --> 00:08:23.180
 And this is one of the reasons

00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:24.160
 it is so encouraging

00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:26.200
 to meet another Christian.

00:08:26.380 --> 00:08:27.460
 I'm not sure if you've ever met

00:08:27.460 --> 00:08:28.080
 another Christian

00:08:28.080 --> 00:08:29.480
 in a totally random setting.

00:08:29.760 --> 00:08:30.900
 There is just something unique.

00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:32.660
 It's more than just,

00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:33.639
 oh, here's another person

00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:34.860
 who has a similar like to me.

00:08:34.940 --> 00:08:36.399
 You know, they follow a sporting team.

00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:37.639
 But it's this person

00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:40.919
 also knows the same Jesus.

00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:42.240
 They've also been loved

00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:43.199
 by the same Jesus.

00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:44.399
 And they know that

00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:45.699
 there's nothing special about them,

00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:46.720
 but they've been saved

00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:48.000
 by the living God.

00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:49.179
 There is just something

00:08:49.179 --> 00:08:51.000
 about being part of this family

00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:52.240
 which unites us.

00:08:52.959 --> 00:08:55.579
 The youth around Easter

00:08:55.579 --> 00:08:56.759
 are going up to Kik.

00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:58.579
 Kik is a gathering of youth

00:08:58.579 --> 00:09:01.199
 from all over New South Wales.

00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:02.220
 And they go to Katoomba

00:09:02.220 --> 00:09:03.439
 and there's thousands of them there.

00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:04.579
 And it's so encouraging

00:09:04.579 --> 00:09:05.600
 to be part of a youth group

00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:06.840
 of say 30 kids

00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:08.740
 and then to go and see 3,000 kids

00:09:08.740 --> 00:09:09.560
 and go, oh wow,

00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:11.480
 there are all of these other people

00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:13.720
 who follow the same Jesus as me.

00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:15.840
 This is really wonderful.

00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:21.379
 This church that we are part of

00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:22.019
 is huge.

00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:22.659
 It is massive.

00:09:24.580 --> 00:09:26.360
 It is universal.

00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:27.340
 It's invisible.

00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:28.360
 We can't see it.

00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:31.759
 But the wonderful truth of it is

00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:33.519
 it doesn't stay invisible.

00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:35.919
 It shows up in real

00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:37.319
 and physical locations.

00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:39.740
 The universal becomes local.

00:09:40.079 --> 00:09:41.600
 The invisible becomes visible.

00:09:42.299 --> 00:09:43.720
 The church has a street address.

00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:45.360
 This church is on the corner

00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:46.299
 of Fuller's Road

00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:47.139
 and View Street

00:09:47.139 --> 00:09:47.799
 in Chatswood.

00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:49.360
 And there are faces

00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.379
 and names of people.

00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:51.460
 There's tangible people.

00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:52.579
 There's Gary over there.

00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:53.799
 I can see Allie.

00:09:54.079 --> 00:09:55.000
 There's Leslie in front.

00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:57.179
 This church is no longer invisible.

00:09:57.340 --> 00:09:57.860
 It's local

00:09:57.860 --> 00:09:58.939
 and it's tangible.

00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:01.500
 And so Paul,

00:10:01.760 --> 00:10:03.260
 when he writes letters

00:10:03.260 --> 00:10:04.200
 to the church,

00:10:05.300 --> 00:10:06.440
 they're to specific churches.

00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:07.280
 It's to the letter,

00:10:07.520 --> 00:10:08.660
 to the church of God

00:10:08.660 --> 00:10:09.220
 in Corinth,

00:10:09.940 --> 00:10:11.960
 to the church in Galatia,

00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:14.340
 to the church of the Thessalonians

00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:15.340
 in Thessalonians.

00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:16.020
 In Thessalonians.

00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:17.500
 I can't even say that word.

00:10:17.560 --> 00:10:17.780
 It's okay.

00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:18.380
 I'll just skip it.

00:10:19.340 --> 00:10:20.020
 I'll get it later.

00:10:21.380 --> 00:10:22.600
 The church shows up

00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:24.320
 in a time and in a place.

00:10:24.940 --> 00:10:27.400
 If we're really part of God's body,

00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:28.220
 the church,

00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:30.139
 it doesn't just stay

00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:31.840
 an abstract idea

00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:33.019
 up in the clouds.

00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:34.480
 I'm a part of the church.

00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:36.500
 We don't just

00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:38.360
 get baptized into a church

00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:39.399
 and then never go again

00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:39.759
 and say,

00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:40.100
 oh yeah,

00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:41.000
 I'm a member of that church.

00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:42.399
 I was baptized there.

00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:45.240
 When we are part

00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:46.360
 of the heavenly church,

00:10:46.659 --> 00:10:47.860
 the family of God,

00:10:48.019 --> 00:10:49.679
 it shows up on earth

00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:50.819
 in a time and space

00:10:50.819 --> 00:10:51.819
 at 9 a.m.,

00:10:51.819 --> 00:10:52.679
 at 11 a.m.

00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:53.879
 on a Sunday morning

00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:54.860
 in Chatswood.

00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:56.879
 Being a member

00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.480
 of the universal

00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:00.060
 and invisible church

00:11:00.060 --> 00:11:01.800
 must become visible

00:11:01.800 --> 00:11:04.180
 in regular local gatherings.

00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:06.600
 The church is those

00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:07.820
 that God has called out

00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:08.659
 to be His,

00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:10.180
 to be His family.

00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:11.700
 Brothers and sisters

00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:12.860
 who show up

00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:14.320
 and meet together regularly.

00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:17.100
 I think there's a helpful way

00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:17.919
 to understand this

00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:19.320
 and this is through McDonald's.

00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:21.820
 Does anybody love Maccas?

00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:25.940
 No, the younger people

00:11:25.940 --> 00:11:26.440
 are nodding.

00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:27.860
 Yeah, James,

00:11:27.940 --> 00:11:28.420
 yeah, James.

00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:29.540
 Thank you, dear brother.

00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:30.960
 That's why we need

00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:31.640
 to support you,

00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:32.340
 to help you.

00:11:33.180 --> 00:11:35.420
 Maccas has got a franchise model.

00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:36.879
 It's universal.

00:11:37.040 --> 00:11:37.540
 It's everywhere.

00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:38.840
 It's everywhere on the planet.

00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:39.660
 I'm sure there'll be

00:11:39.660 --> 00:11:40.660
 one on the moon soon.

00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:43.400
 Head office

00:11:43.400 --> 00:11:44.920
 sets the color scheme.

00:11:45.920 --> 00:11:46.600
 They set

00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:49.560
 what the staffing conditions

00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:50.620
 are going to be like.

00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:52.080
 They set the type

00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.600
 what the stores look like.

00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:55.259
 But you don't go

00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:55.960
 to the head office

00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:57.480
 to get a cheeseburger.

00:11:58.179 --> 00:11:59.120
 You've got to go

00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:00.100
 to a local store.

00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:01.360
 You've got to go

00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:01.980
 to the one in the

00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:02.700
 Chatswood Interchange

00:12:02.700 --> 00:12:03.799
 across from the train station

00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:04.740
 if you want to get

00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:05.740
 a cheeseburger.

00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:07.200
 I can't say

00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.139
 that I go to Maccas

00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:09.639
 unless I actually turn up.

00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:10.860
 Unless I actually,

00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:11.340
 you know,

00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.220
 walk in the door

00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:13.259
 and push the buttons

00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:13.879
 because you don't really

00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:14.480
 talk to the people

00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:14.980
 there anymore.

00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:16.919
 The local

00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:17.980
 and universal church

00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:18.980
 is like McDonald's.

00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:19.600
 Hopefully,

00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.720
 we don't make you feel sick

00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:22.000
 in 30 minutes or less.

00:12:22.820 --> 00:12:23.560
 But the church

00:12:23.560 --> 00:12:24.200
 is universal.

00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:26.120
 It's everywhere

00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:27.360
 across all time and space.

00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:29.200
 It's in heaven

00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:30.100
 in a spiritual way.

00:12:30.180 --> 00:12:31.440
 It's on every continent.

00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:33.500
 But I can't say

00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:34.379
 that I'm part of a church

00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:35.340
 unless I show up.

00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:37.800
 Being part of the church

00:12:37.800 --> 00:12:39.060
 means that I show up.

00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:40.960
 And here at St. Paul's,

00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.440
 we get to rub shoulders

00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:43.000
 with people

00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:44.639
 from the universal church.

00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:46.559
 not all of it

00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:47.879
 but an expression of it.

00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:49.480
 And so,

00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.240
 being a member

00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:50.860
 of this church

00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:51.419
 means

00:12:51.419 --> 00:12:52.699
 you're also part

00:12:52.699 --> 00:12:53.199
 of the church

00:12:53.199 --> 00:12:53.620
 everywhere.

00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:55.299
 And so,

00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:56.059
 what is a church?

00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.580
 A church is

00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:58.439
 universal.

00:12:59.000 --> 00:12:59.659
 It's invisible

00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:01.120
 but it doesn't

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:01.860
 stay that way.

00:13:02.199 --> 00:13:03.519
 It becomes visible

00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:04.699
 and it becomes local

00:13:04.699 --> 00:13:05.779
 when we turn up.

00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.199
 It's a gathering

00:13:07.199 --> 00:13:08.340
 of God's people

00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:09.740
 in a time and space.

00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:10.019
 Now,

00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:12.500
 I know what I'm supposed

00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.779
 to do when I go to McDonald's.

00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:15.080
 When I go there,

00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:16.139
 I'm usually there to eat

00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:17.560
 or if I'm on a long car trip,

00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:18.639
 I'm there to use the bathroom.

00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:19.480
 And there,

00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:21.320
 that's what McDonald's is for.

00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.759
 But what is the church

00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.519
 supposed to do?

00:13:23.560 --> 00:13:24.600
 What's the purpose of it?

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.840
 We're all here together

00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.519
 in one room.

00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:27.899
 What is the point?

00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.259
 That's our second point

00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:30.600
 for today.

00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:31.419
 What is the purpose

00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:32.279
 of the church?

00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:35.000
 As we saw in 1 Peter,

00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:37.340
 our God is showing

00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:38.600
 mercy to people,

00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:40.519
 calling a people

00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.300
 to himself.

00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.580
 The church is

00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:44.180
 a restoration

00:13:44.180 --> 00:13:46.759
 of the vertical relationship,

00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:48.259
 of God restoring

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:48.800
 the relationship

00:13:48.800 --> 00:13:49.800
 with us,

00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:50.639
 his people.

00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:51.620
 It's a restoration

00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.379
 of the vertical.

00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:54.300
 Humanity and God

00:13:54.300 --> 00:13:55.460
 are reconciled.

00:13:56.180 --> 00:13:56.860
 But there's also

00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:58.279
 a horizontal reconciliation

00:13:58.279 --> 00:13:59.100
 that happens

00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:00.139
 as the church.

00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:02.320
 The purpose of the church

00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.279
 is to bring unity,

00:14:03.660 --> 00:14:05.460
 unity to a scattered,

00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:06.720
 diverse,

00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:08.560
 very different collection

00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:09.859
 of warring people.

00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:12.059
 Church is the reconciliation

00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:13.379
 between God and people,

00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:15.619
 but also the reconciliation

00:14:15.619 --> 00:14:16.979
 of people and people,

00:14:17.099 --> 00:14:18.259
 bringing people

00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:19.679
 back to unity.

00:14:20.739 --> 00:14:22.399
 And so in Ephesians chapter 2,

00:14:22.479 --> 00:14:23.699
 I've got a couple of passages

00:14:23.699 --> 00:14:24.439
 from Ephesians 2,

00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:25.619
 so go to Ephesians 2,

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.519
 verse 11.

00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:28.899
 Paul says,

00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:28.939
 Paul says,

00:14:28.939 --> 00:14:29.899
 therefore,

00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:36.519
 remember that formerly

00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:37.980
 you who are Gentiles

00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:38.620
 by birth

00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:40.819
 and called uncircumcised

00:14:40.819 --> 00:14:42.319
 by those who call themselves

00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:43.019
 the circumcision,

00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:44.299
 which is done in the body

00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:45.100
 by human hands,

00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:46.879
 remember that at that time

00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:48.419
 you were separate from Christ,

00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:50.519
 excluded from citizenship

00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:51.220
 in Israel,

00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:52.299
 and foreigners

00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:53.139
 to the covenant

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.480
 of the promise,

00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.620
 without hope

00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:56.879
 and without God

00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.559
 in the world.

00:14:57.819 --> 00:14:58.500
 So all people

00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.100
 were scattered

00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:00.220
 and divided

00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:00.919
 from each other.

00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:03.039
 There was real painful

00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:04.840
 division between people groups,

00:15:04.939 --> 00:15:05.539
 between the Jews

00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:06.360
 and the Gentiles,

00:15:06.679 --> 00:15:07.519
 between the Gentiles

00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:08.019
 and the Gentiles,

00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:09.000
 between countries

00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:09.860
 and ethnicities.

00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:12.460
 But,

00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:13.620
 verse 13,

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:15.340
 but now in Christ Jesus,

00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:16.820
 you who were once

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:17.740
 far away

00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:19.240
 have been brought near

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:20.519
 by the blood of Christ.

00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.679
 For he himself

00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:23.539
 is our peace

00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:24.279
 who has made

00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.200
 the two groups one.

00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:27.360
 He's destroyed the barrier,

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.639
 the dividing wall

00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.240
 of hostility,

00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:30.659
 by setting aside

00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.379
 in his flesh

00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:32.019
 the law

00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:33.100
 with its commands

00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:33.720
 and regulations.

00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.440
 His purpose

00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.220
 was to create

00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:36.740
 in himself

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:38.620
 one new humanity

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:40.399
 out of the two,

00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:41.740
 thus making peace.

00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:43.039
 And in one body

00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:44.419
 to reconcile both of them

00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:45.519
 to God through the cross

00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:47.279
 by which he put to death

00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:47.980
 their hostility.

00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:49.319
 And so Jesus

00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.599
 gathers to himself

00:15:50.599 --> 00:15:52.539
 people who now

00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.360
 have peace.

00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.459
 The dividing walls

00:15:55.459 --> 00:15:56.539
 that people have put up

00:15:56.539 --> 00:15:57.399
 between each other,

00:15:57.939 --> 00:15:59.019
 between nations,

00:15:59.199 --> 00:16:00.439
 between ethnicities,

00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:03.399
 between next door neighbours,

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.139
 big fences,

00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:06.899
 these get torn down

00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.659
 in Jesus.

00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:10.079
 God's great plan

00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:11.439
 is to gather people

00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:12.000
 to himself

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.839
 to restore that

00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:14.060
 vertical relationship,

00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:15.259
 but also

00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:17.100
 to restore people

00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:18.139
 to each other.

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.040
 And so this,

00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:21.340
 so that people would know

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.800
 how great God is.

00:16:24.040 --> 00:16:25.340
 God puts warring

00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:26.100
 people together,

00:16:26.660 --> 00:16:27.500
 the lion

00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.660
 and the lamb,

00:16:29.420 --> 00:16:30.259
 and they don't tear

00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.139
 each other apart,

00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:32.540
 there is actually peace.

00:16:34.920 --> 00:16:35.840
 In Jesus,

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.440
 wars have been ended,

00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:39.139
 people who have been

00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:39.759
 divided

00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:40.700
 have been brought

00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:41.440
 back together.

00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:41.480
 together.

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.680
 And so before the church

00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:44.940
 is about us,

00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:47.540
 the church is about

00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:49.100
 seeing what God

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:50.100
 has already done

00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:51.160
 and giving him

00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:51.600
 the glory.

00:16:53.520 --> 00:16:53.860
 We are,

00:16:54.020 --> 00:16:54.800
 you only have to

00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:55.780
 look around

00:16:55.780 --> 00:16:57.000
 at the different

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:58.560
 ethnicities in the church

00:16:58.560 --> 00:16:59.560
 and go back

00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:00.600
 a hundred years

00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:01.280
 and think about

00:17:01.280 --> 00:17:02.340
 the wars that were

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.240
 fought based on

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.700
 countries and nations

00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.519
 to realise that

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.680
 our God does

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.539
 wonderful things.

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:10.319
 if the US

00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:10.819
 president,

00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:11.720
 Joe Biden,

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:13.139
 is able to

00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:14.700
 unite his

00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:15.539
 divided country

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.819
 even in a small way,

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:17.920
 it'll be amazing.

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.579
 The US at the moment

00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.379
 is divided on

00:17:20.379 --> 00:17:21.200
 social issues,

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:21.960
 healthcare,

00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:23.299
 Democrats versus

00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:23.839
 Republicans,

00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:26.159
 on so many issues.

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:27.619
 But if the US

00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:28.379
 president is able

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:29.659
 to bring a sense

00:17:29.659 --> 00:17:30.639
 of unity back

00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:31.680
 to the United States,

00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.659
 they'll be carving

00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:34.320
 his face

00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:35.440
 on Mount Rushmore.

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:37.860
 He will have

00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:38.940
 done a great job.

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.800
 But what God

00:17:40.800 --> 00:17:41.840
 has done in Jesus

00:17:41.840 --> 00:17:42.640
 is far,

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.779
 far greater.

00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:45.580
 He has united

00:17:45.580 --> 00:17:46.560
 people across

00:17:46.560 --> 00:17:48.200
 time and space,

00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:49.200
 different languages,

00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:50.380
 ethnicities,

00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:51.440
 personal preferences,

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.759
 and he has brought

00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:53.440
 us together

00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.720
 in one family.

00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:56.259
 Not a family

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.160
 at war with itself,

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.480
 one with peace.

00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.480
 That is who we are

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:00.900
 to be.

00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:02.780
 One showing

00:18:02.780 --> 00:18:04.000
 God's awesomeness

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.920
 in bringing peace.

00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:06.340
 A multi-ethnic,

00:18:06.820 --> 00:18:08.880
 multi-generational,

00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:10.519
 socio-economically

00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.400
 diverse gathering

00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.340
 of people declaring

00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:13.740
 that Jesus is Lord

00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:15.060
 for God's glory.

00:18:15.820 --> 00:18:16.640
 That is who we are

00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:16.960
 to be.

00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:18.100
 And that's why

00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:18.960
 I was thrilled

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.680
 to have the kids

00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.340
 back in church

00:18:20.340 --> 00:18:21.080
 with us this morning

00:18:21.080 --> 00:18:22.220
 because they are part

00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:23.259
 of who we are

00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:23.720
 as a church.

00:18:23.820 --> 00:18:24.360
 They are not something

00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:25.740
 we push over to one side

00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.540
 because they're noisy

00:18:26.540 --> 00:18:27.080
 and distracting.

00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.340
 They are part of

00:18:28.340 --> 00:18:28.960
 who we are

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.840
 as the church.

00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:32.920
 That is the big picture

00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:34.180
 purpose of church,

00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:36.300
 of what being a part

00:18:36.300 --> 00:18:37.160
 of following Jesus

00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:39.200
 means here at St. Paul's.

00:18:40.580 --> 00:18:41.660
 The author of the letter

00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.320
 to the Hebrews

00:18:42.320 --> 00:18:44.200
 gets more specific for us,

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.120
 more practical

00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:46.600
 about the purpose

00:18:46.600 --> 00:18:47.380
 of the church

00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:47.960
 for each other.

00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.480
 So please turn to

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.540
 Hebrews chapter 10,

00:18:51.780 --> 00:18:53.460
 starting in verse 19.

00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:56.100
 It should also be

00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:56.600
 on the screen.

00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.720
 Verse 19,

00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.400
 Therefore,

00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.480
 brothers and sisters,

00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:02.380
 since we have confidence

00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:03.839
 to enter the most holy place

00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:04.819
 by the blood of Jesus,

00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:06.740
 by a new and living way

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.600
 open for us

00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:08.460
 through the curtain

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.680
 that is his body,

00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.940
 since all that Jesus

00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:11.500
 has done,

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:14.100
 since all that he has done

00:19:14.100 --> 00:19:15.400
 in his death

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.200
 and resurrection,

00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.539
 his blood,

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.160
 the author to the Hebrews

00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:20.839
 has a series

00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:22.740
 of let us statements.

00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:24.900
 Let us together

00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:25.640
 as a group

00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.279
 do these things.

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:26.940
 Verse 22,

00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:30.399
 Let us draw near to God

00:19:30.399 --> 00:19:32.240
 with a sincere heart

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.660
 and with a full assurance

00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.500
 that faith brings.

00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:36.500
 Let us draw near to God.

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.500
 We follow the Lord

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.160
 with faith

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:40.599
 only because of the work

00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.339
 of the Holy Spirit

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.039
 in our hearts

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:44.019
 and we can understand

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.980
 who this God is

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:45.579
 by the inspiration

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.200
 of the Holy Spirit

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:48.440
 as we read his word.

00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:50.420
 And so whenever we gather,

00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:51.740
 we gather as a church

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:53.019
 around this Jesus

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.759
 and him revealed

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.279
 in the Bible.

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.539
 That is why,

00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:57.940
 without a doubt,

00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.700
 week in, week out,

00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:01.039
 we read the Bible.

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:04.400
 When Steve or I preach

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.619
 or when anybody else

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.220
 is on the pulpit,

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.599
 we point to the Bible.

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.879
 I'm calling you

00:20:08.879 --> 00:20:10.160
 to be reading the Bible

00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:10.859
 as we read.

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.519
 These are just not

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.680
 my thoughts in isolation,

00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:15.500
 but I want you to see

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.279
 what God's word

00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:17.299
 has for us today.

00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:19.079
 And so we draw close

00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:20.759
 to God as the church,

00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.160
 growing in faith

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:24.240
 around his word.

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.080
 Verse 22 continues,

00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:28.320
 having our hearts

00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:30.920
 sprinkled to cleanse us

00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:32.060
 from a guilty conscience

00:20:32.060 --> 00:20:33.700
 and having our bodies

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.960
 washed with pure water.

00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:36.860
 This understanding

00:20:36.860 --> 00:20:37.840
 that we as people

00:20:37.840 --> 00:20:38.720
 have been made pure

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.300
 by Jesus,

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.820
 this is why often

00:20:40.820 --> 00:20:41.360
 we will say

00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:42.480
 a confession together,

00:20:42.820 --> 00:20:43.420
 acknowledging that

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.779
 we are sinful people,

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:45.960
 but we have a great God

00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.840
 who has dealt

00:20:46.840 --> 00:20:47.540
 with our sin.

00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:48.700
 And so we remind

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.500
 each other of that.

00:20:50.300 --> 00:20:50.940
 Verse 23,

00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:53.660
 let us hold unswervingly

00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:55.480
 to the hope we profess

00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:57.320
 for he who promised

00:20:57.320 --> 00:20:58.019
 is faithful.

00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.720
 We remind each other

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:02.360
 about who our hope

00:21:02.360 --> 00:21:03.140
 is in

00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:04.740
 so that we can hold

00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.279
 to this hope.

00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:05.960
 So at the start

00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.620
 of our service,

00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:09.480
 Debbie led us in

00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.480
 in a creed

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.740
 from Colossians

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.180
 to say this is who

00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:14.360
 our Jesus is

00:21:14.360 --> 00:21:15.100
 that we follow

00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:16.539
 so that we can

00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:17.680
 hold fast to him.

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:21.720
 verse 24 continues,

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:24.200
 and let us consider

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:25.539
 how we may spur

00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.519
 one another on

00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.180
 toward love

00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:28.100
 and good deeds.

00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.660
 Let us be continuing

00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.799
 to encourage each other.

00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:32.100
 How can you be loving people?

00:21:32.340 --> 00:21:33.140
 How can we be doing

00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:33.680
 good deeds?

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.580
 How can we be made

00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:35.299
 more like Jesus

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:36.420
 today and every day?

00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:39.220
 These are both more

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.660
 than what happens

00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.720
 in our church services,

00:21:41.840 --> 00:21:42.400
 but not less.

00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.140
 Up here,

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.060
 from the pulpit,

00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:46.519
 we get to encourage

00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.720
 each other

00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:48.679
 to worship God,

00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:52.419
 to be in the word,

00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.299
 be praying,

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:55.059
 but also after the service

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:55.859
 as the church.

00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:59.539
 As we gather outside,

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.379
 as we continue

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:00.960
 to gather here,

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.940
 as we go off for coffee,

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:04.279
 as we stand outside

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.539
 and watch our kids play,

00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:06.779
 we get to encourage

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.179
 each other,

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:08.220
 to spur each other

00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.740
 on to love

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.399
 and good deeds,

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:11.119
 to remind each other

00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:11.559
 of the hope

00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:12.200
 that we have.

00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:15.620
 The last in this list

00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.640
 of let us's

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:18.319
 is in verse 25.

00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:20.059
 Let us

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:22.059
 not give up

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.720
 meeting together,

00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:24.360
 as some are

00:22:24.360 --> 00:22:25.220
 in the habit of doing,

00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.799
 but encouraging

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.400
 one another

00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:28.480
 and all the more

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.160
 as you see

00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:30.500
 the day approaching.

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.559
 The author of the Hebrews

00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.380
 is speaking about

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.259
 the tension between

00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.200
 the local

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:37.019
 and the universal church.

00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:38.880
 It's the thought

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.380
 that says,

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.100
 I'm a Christian,

00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:42.579
 I can just stay

00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.519
 at St. Pillow

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.039
 this morning,

00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:45.279
 comfortable in my bed.

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.679
 I can just read my Bible

00:22:47.679 --> 00:22:48.679
 and pray at home,

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:50.159
 God can still talk to me.

00:22:50.719 --> 00:22:51.480
 I'm a Christian,

00:22:51.659 --> 00:22:53.279
 I'm part of the church,

00:22:53.399 --> 00:22:54.379
 the universal church,

00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:55.399
 and this is true.

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.719
 But it isn't true

00:22:57.719 --> 00:22:59.579
 in isolation

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.559
 from being part

00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.439
 of the local church.

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:04.119
 In previous years,

00:23:04.199 --> 00:23:06.000
 I may have encouraged you

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.179
 to be more regular

00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:07.819
 at church,

00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:09.119
 so that you can be

00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:10.220
 encouraged to love

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:11.159
 and good deeds

00:23:11.159 --> 00:23:11.960
 and you can encourage

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.519
 others to love

00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:12.980
 and good deeds.

00:23:13.179 --> 00:23:14.059
 In previous years,

00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:15.000
 I may have done that.

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:17.339
 But the problem for us

00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.259
 in the last year

00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:19.639
 is that we've been able

00:23:19.639 --> 00:23:20.480
 to meet,

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.579
 we've been unable

00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:22.779
 to do what the author

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.200
 of the Hebrews

00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:24.059
 commands us to do.

00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:25.519
 The church building

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.119
 was closed.

00:23:27.399 --> 00:23:28.299
 We couldn't do

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:28.980
 what this says.

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.899
 We had to stop

00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:31.639
 meeting together.

00:23:33.179 --> 00:23:34.799
 And we adapted

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.419
 really well.

00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:37.440
 We moved online.

00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:39.100
 We started streaming

00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:39.680
 our services

00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.940
 on YouTube.

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.500
 We had community groups

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.300
 over Zoom.

00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.060
 And now we continue

00:23:45.060 --> 00:23:45.820
 to live stream

00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:46.519
 our services.

00:23:47.300 --> 00:23:48.340
 And it's really wonderful

00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:50.740
 for those who are unable

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:52.420
 to come and join

00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.180
 in person,

00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:55.200
 for those who are looking

00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:57.480
 to see what church is like.

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:58.980
 Our dear brother,

00:23:59.060 --> 00:23:59.519
 Nick Freestone,

00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:00.100
 two weeks ago,

00:24:00.120 --> 00:24:00.620
 had surgery

00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:01.840
 and he couldn't be with us.

00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:03.259
 But as he said,

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.759
 I loved that I could

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.839
 still see what was happening.

00:24:05.939 --> 00:24:06.220
 I could still,

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.159
 in a sense,

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.139
 be part of church

00:24:08.139 --> 00:24:10.079
 by watching at home.

00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:12.379
 But since our return

00:24:12.379 --> 00:24:13.039
 from COVID,

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.639
 there is a different

00:24:14.639 --> 00:24:16.119
 challenge before us.

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.939
 We can face

00:24:17.939 --> 00:24:18.419
 the temptation

00:24:18.419 --> 00:24:19.240
 of thinking that

00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:20.439
 being part of a church

00:24:20.439 --> 00:24:22.299
 equals watching

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.079
 a service.

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:24.599
 Thinking that

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.399
 watching a video

00:24:25.399 --> 00:24:26.139
 of church

00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:27.139
 is the same

00:24:27.139 --> 00:24:27.980
 as being part

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.799
 of a church.

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:30.099
 Now,

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.099
 we actually want

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:31.639
 to increase

00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:32.099
 the amount

00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:33.039
 of people watching.

00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.319
 It's one of our goals

00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:34.859
 that we want.

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:36.220
 We want so many people

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.899
 watching the YouTube

00:24:37.899 --> 00:24:38.559
 live stream

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.319
 that people are getting

00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.059
 to know who we are

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.460
 as a church

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:42.019
 and can get to know Jesus.

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.559
 But the live stream,

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.819
 the YouTube videos,

00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.779
 have a purpose.

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:48.299
 If you have a friend

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:49.579
 who is interested

00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.599
 in finding out

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.619
 about what church

00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:52.399
 looks like,

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.119
 what goes on

00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:53.639
 in a service,

00:24:53.899 --> 00:24:54.599
 you can direct them

00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.559
 to youtube.com

00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:57.000
 slash St. Paul's Chatswood

00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.279
 and they can check it out.

00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.539
 But watching a service

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:02.419
 is not being part

00:25:02.419 --> 00:25:03.000
 of a church.

00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:04.980
 I think for us,

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:06.839
 our view of church

00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.680
 can be impacted

00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:09.079
 by TV habits.

00:25:09.659 --> 00:25:10.720
 I can watch and binge

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.659
 whatever I like.

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.240
 And I think

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:15.639
 watching church

00:25:15.639 --> 00:25:16.220
 can be like

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:17.899
 watching a sport.

00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.559
 So I could go

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.579
 to an AFL game.

00:25:20.879 --> 00:25:21.500
 Let's say I'm going

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:21.960
 to go and watch

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.579
 the Swans play.

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:22.859
 I think,

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.980
 correct me if I'm wrong,

00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:24.419
 Rach,

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.299
 the AFL season

00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:26.279
 is starting back soon.

00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:27.119
 Yes,

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.079
 thank you dear sister.

00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:29.240
 I could go

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:29.919
 to the game

00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:31.240
 and watch it play

00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.859
 in the rain

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.859
 and in the cold

00:25:33.859 --> 00:25:34.240
 in the middle

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:34.759
 of the winter.

00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:36.519
 Or I could watch it

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.159
 at home

00:25:37.159 --> 00:25:37.939
 in the comfort

00:25:37.939 --> 00:25:38.740
 of my lounge.

00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.679
 The only problem

00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:41.539
 is that being

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:43.039
 at church

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.679
 might feel like

00:25:43.679 --> 00:25:44.359
 we're just sitting.

00:25:44.679 --> 00:25:45.720
 We're just watching

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.659
 what's going on

00:25:46.659 --> 00:25:47.259
 up here.

00:25:47.899 --> 00:25:48.539
 But church

00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:49.559
 is actually

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.399
 more like

00:25:50.399 --> 00:25:51.019
 we're on the field

00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:51.460
 together.

00:25:52.679 --> 00:25:53.480
 We're actually

00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:55.079
 doing something

00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:55.460
 together.

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.259
 The author

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:56.720
 of the Hebrews

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.759
 has continuously

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.840
 encouraged us,

00:25:59.160 --> 00:25:59.819
 let us

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.940
 do these things

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.340
 together.

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.360
 Let us

00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:03.519
 hold each other

00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:03.799
 accountable.

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.200
 Let us

00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:05.559
 love each other,

00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:06.100
 call each other

00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:07.400
 to love and good deeds.

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:09.059
 And we can't do that

00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:09.840
 if we're at home.

00:26:11.340 --> 00:26:11.900
 We actually

00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:12.860
 have to turn up

00:26:12.860 --> 00:26:13.720
 in a time

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.340
 and space

00:26:14.340 --> 00:26:15.420
 as the local church.

00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.620
 We are together

00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:19.740
 for the church's benefit

00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:21.380
 and for the individuals

00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:22.019
 as well

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.980
 as part of the whole.

00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:25.559
 And we can't do that

00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.819
 if we stay at home.

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.440
 We're actually

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.759
 a man down

00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.180
 if we,

00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:32.099
 a person down

00:26:32.099 --> 00:26:33.019
 if we stay at home.

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.700
 Together

00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.500
 as a church

00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.660
 we draw near to God

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:38.140
 reminding each other

00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:38.940
 of what the blood

00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:40.220
 of Jesus has done.

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:41.720
 And so let us

00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.460
 hold to that hope.

00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:43.360
 Let us spur

00:26:43.360 --> 00:26:43.759
 one another

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.740
 onto love and good deeds

00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.759
 all the more

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:47.140
 as the day approaches

00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:47.980
 when Jesus is going

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.420
 to return.

00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:49.660
 And we need to do this

00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.740
 because times are hard.

00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.400
 Times are hard now.

00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.080
 Times are going

00:26:53.080 --> 00:26:53.820
 to be hard tomorrow.

00:26:54.120 --> 00:26:54.720
 More and more

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.540
 as Christians move

00:26:55.540 --> 00:26:56.280
 to the periphery

00:26:56.280 --> 00:26:56.860
 of society

00:26:56.860 --> 00:26:58.160
 as society moves away

00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.460
 from its Christian foundations.

00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.580
 And we need each other.

00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:02.900
 It's why

00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.960
 this church

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.720
 has the value

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.500
 of treasuring

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.680
 Jesus together.

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.560
 It is so important.

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.160
 Let me read

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.759
 this value.

00:27:10.800 --> 00:27:11.740
 Every member

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.660
 of St. Paul's

00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.600
 has been led

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.220
 individually

00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:15.259
 by the Spirit of God

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:17.180
 to receive Jesus Christ

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.860
 as the Lord,

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:18.900
 Saviour

00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:19.660
 and Supreme

00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.620
 Treasure of our lives.

00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:22.119
 The Holy Spirit

00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:23.099
 gathers us

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.859
 from all variety

00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:25.079
 of individual backgrounds

00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:27.000
 and unites us together

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.239
 as one body of Christ.

00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:30.199
 We believe

00:27:30.199 --> 00:27:30.659
 the people

00:27:30.659 --> 00:27:31.259
 whom Jesus

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.939
 has called

00:27:31.939 --> 00:27:32.719
 into relationship

00:27:32.719 --> 00:27:33.239
 with himself

00:27:33.239 --> 00:27:34.399
 from every tribe,

00:27:34.739 --> 00:27:35.019
 language,

00:27:35.219 --> 00:27:36.119
 nation and generation

00:27:36.119 --> 00:27:37.199
 are his church

00:27:37.199 --> 00:27:38.519
 and not an institution

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:38.979
 or building.

00:27:40.239 --> 00:27:40.979
 In an age

00:27:40.979 --> 00:27:42.019
 of individualism,

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.099
 we value

00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:43.839
 vigilance

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.839
 and accountability

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:46.039
 in treasuring

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.899
 Jesus together

00:27:46.899 --> 00:27:48.139
 as his diverse people.

00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:50.500
 this is who

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.240
 we want to be

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.920
 as a church.

00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:54.040
 Going deeper

00:27:54.040 --> 00:27:55.180
 in discipleship

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.840
 and in relationship

00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.420
 with God

00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.460
 and deeper

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.160
 in relationship

00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:58.600
 together.

00:27:59.600 --> 00:28:00.340
 It's about

00:28:00.340 --> 00:28:01.360
 our togetherness

00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:02.560
 as a dynamic

00:28:02.560 --> 00:28:03.700
 spiritual community

00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:04.780
 hand in hand

00:28:04.780 --> 00:28:05.320
 following

00:28:05.320 --> 00:28:06.500
 and treasuring

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.400
 Jesus together.

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.340
 For those

00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:10.640
 who are unable

00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.060
 to gather

00:28:11.060 --> 00:28:11.800
 who are watching

00:28:11.800 --> 00:28:12.520
 this right now,

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.940
 I don't mean

00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:14.820
 to make you feel guilty.

00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:16.859
 I just want

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.319
 to point out

00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:17.819
 that you are

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:19.139
 missing something

00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:20.619
 about being here

00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:21.960
 as part of this church.

00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.700
 You are missing out

00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.399
 on how God

00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.179
 has designed

00:28:25.179 --> 00:28:25.980
 us as people

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.919
 and how God

00:28:26.919 --> 00:28:27.480
 has designed

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:27.899
 the church

00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:28.700
 to be together.

00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:30.000
 Because there is

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.899
 something unique

00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.960
 about this

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:33.000
 universal church

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:34.299
 which becomes local.

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.839
 Let me encourage you,

00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:38.439
 don't stop

00:28:38.439 --> 00:28:39.639
 gathering together.

00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.859
 This vision series

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:43.759
 is not meant

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.660
 to be a hammer blow

00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.900
 to make you feel

00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.579
 guilty about

00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.059
 how much you

00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.879
 don't read the Bible

00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:50.019
 or how much you pray

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:52.000
 or how close you feel.

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.400
 But four weeks ago

00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:54.259
 Steve set out

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:54.680
 the vision

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.879
 that we want

00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:56.319
 to be people

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:56.940
 who are following

00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.460
 Jesus.

00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:00.240
 Reading the Bible

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.839
 and speaking to God

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.559
 because they are

00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.599
 wonderful things

00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.140
 that God

00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:04.859
 has gifted us with

00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:05.680
 by the power

00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.460
 of the Holy Spirit

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.519
 and we get to do

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.339
 this together

00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:09.680
 as the church.

00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:11.980
 With colleagues,

00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:13.099
 with close friends,

00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:13.699
 dear brothers

00:29:13.699 --> 00:29:14.359
 and sisters

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:16.519
 to walk with you

00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:17.240
 towards Jesus

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.259
 in all of life.

00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.779
 In December 2020,

00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.539
 Kenyan runner

00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:24.000
 Abel Mutai

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.219
 was the first

00:29:25.219 --> 00:29:26.359
 to cross the finish line

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.980
 in a cross-country race

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.639
 in Spain.

00:29:29.459 --> 00:29:30.119
 At least,

00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:31.500
 he thought he was

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.039
 the first

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:33.439
 to cross the line.

00:29:34.659 --> 00:29:36.399
 Ivan Fernandez Anaya,

00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.139
 who is the man

00:29:37.139 --> 00:29:38.039
 you can see behind him,

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:39.199
 a Spanish competitor,

00:29:39.439 --> 00:29:40.899
 was right behind Mutai

00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.920
 and he knew better.

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.759
 He knew

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:44.660
 that the Kenyan runner

00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.759
 Abel hadn't actually

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.640
 finished the race.

00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.180
 He thought he'd finished

00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:49.120
 but he hadn't gotten

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:49.880
 across the line

00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:51.720
 and Ivan,

00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:52.560
 the Spanish man,

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.700
 had a chance.

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.740
 He thought,

00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:56.660
 I could have taken over.

00:29:57.340 --> 00:29:58.380
 I could have won

00:29:58.380 --> 00:30:00.860
 but instead of taking

00:30:00.860 --> 00:30:02.180
 advantage of the situation,

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:04.040
 he plowed into him,

00:30:04.340 --> 00:30:05.040
 ran into him

00:30:05.040 --> 00:30:05.860
 and he gestured.

00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:07.579
 He urged him forward

00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:09.439
 to finish the race.

00:30:10.939 --> 00:30:11.939
 He could have stolen it

00:30:11.939 --> 00:30:13.719
 but he encouraged him on.

00:30:15.139 --> 00:30:16.299
 We are not quite

00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.459
 like those two runners.

00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.240
 We are more like

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.819
 the runners in this photo.

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:23.579
 We are part of a pack,

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:25.079
 a big group of people,

00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.539
 different ages,

00:30:26.879 --> 00:30:27.740
 ethnicities,

00:30:28.199 --> 00:30:28.939
 genders.

00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:29.899
 We are more like

00:30:29.899 --> 00:30:30.759
 the people running

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.539
 in this photo,

00:30:32.439 --> 00:30:33.619
 running together

00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:34.439
 to Jesus,

00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:36.699
 urging one another on.

00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.079
 Come on,

00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:38.779
 you've fallen over.

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.479
 Get up.

00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:40.699
 Let me help you get up.

00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:42.000
 I'm not going to leave you.

00:30:42.219 --> 00:30:43.139
 The finish line is here.

00:30:43.239 --> 00:30:44.059
 Jesus is here.

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.159
 Let's go together.

00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:48.699
 Are you part

00:30:48.699 --> 00:30:49.599
 of this church?

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.379
 Are you part

00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:52.819
 of this church

00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:54.119
 maybe with a trial membership?

00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:59.459
 Are you deeply connected

00:30:59.459 --> 00:31:01.139
 to people in this church?

00:31:01.140 --> 00:31:03.840
 Have you opened

00:31:03.840 --> 00:31:04.620
 your life

00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.580
 to actually allow

00:31:05.580 --> 00:31:06.360
 other people

00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:07.100
 to come in

00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:08.740
 so that they can

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.860
 urge you on

00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:12.100
 when you fall down

00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:13.000
 so that you can

00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:14.100
 urge others on?

00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:16.100
 First of all,

00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:16.660
 get connected

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.660
 into a community group.

00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:18.880
 Come and see me.

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.460
 Join a team.

00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.120
 Join a team

00:31:22.120 --> 00:31:22.820
 to serve

00:31:22.820 --> 00:31:23.740
 with other people

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:25.340
 as we follow Jesus.

00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:27.480
 Go and drink coffee.

00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:28.800
 Invite somebody out.

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.780
 The person sitting

00:31:29.780 --> 00:31:30.200
 next to you,

00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:31.200
 if you don't know them,

00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.660
 get to know them.

00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:35.299
 We can try

00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:36.460
 to run this race

00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.580
 following Jesus

00:31:37.580 --> 00:31:38.400
 on our own,

00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:39.740
 but our God

00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.620
 hasn't designed us

00:31:40.620 --> 00:31:41.039
 that way.

00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:42.480
 He has given

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.519
 to each of us

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.140
 each other.

00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.180
 The church,

00:31:45.740 --> 00:31:46.340
 one body,

00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:47.519
 local

00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.740
 and universal,

00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:50.700
 showing the world

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.860
 how good this God

00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:53.059
 is in uniting us

00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:54.960
 as we charge

00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:55.740
 towards him.

00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:57.200
 Let me pray.

00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.299
 Amen.

00:31:57.299 --> 00:32:00.960
 Heavenly Father,

00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.379
 we ask that we

00:32:03.379 --> 00:32:04.240
 would be that type

00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:04.759
 of church.

00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:07.220
 That we would not

00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:09.159
 try to go it

00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:09.859
 on our own

00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:10.500
 in faith,

00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.700
 thinking that we

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.599
 are an island,

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.180
 but Lord,

00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:15.379
 you have given us

00:32:15.379 --> 00:32:15.940
 each other.

00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.339
 Lord,

00:32:18.399 --> 00:32:19.159
 we ask that you

00:32:19.159 --> 00:32:19.740
 would help us

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.579
 to walk together,

00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:21.799
 run together,

00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:24.680
 to be people

00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:26.240
 who are aware

00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:27.220
 of the needs

00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.099
 of the community

00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:29.139
 of believers

00:32:29.139 --> 00:32:30.259
 around us

00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:32.259
 so that we can

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:34.240
 spur each other on.

00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:35.339
 Father,

00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.059
 give us much

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:37.579
 patience and compassion

00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:39.139
 to love each other.

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:40.559
 Lord,

00:32:40.639 --> 00:32:41.419
 help us to get

00:32:41.419 --> 00:32:42.419
 to know each other

00:32:42.419 --> 00:32:42.879
 deeply.

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.299
 Lord,

00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:45.419
 help us to be

00:32:45.419 --> 00:32:46.579
 a community

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:47.220
 that welcomes

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.879
 people in,

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:48.639
 but also

00:32:48.639 --> 00:32:49.859
 wants to know

00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.359
 each other,

00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:51.939
 to walk together

00:32:51.939 --> 00:32:53.740
 so that we

00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:55.939
 can follow you

00:32:55.939 --> 00:32:57.099
 with all of our lives

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:57.899
 and all of our hearts,

00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:58.179
 Lord.

00:32:58.659 --> 00:32:59.559
 We ask this

00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.319
 in your son's name

00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:00.899
 and for your glory.

00:33:01.479 --> 00:33:01.799
 Amen.