WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:23.500 Good morning and happy Thanksgiving. 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:32.039 If you have little ones who are in the service because it's a family Sunday and just make 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:39.719 sure you know that at the back there's a table with some things for them to amuse themselves 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:40.019 with. 00:00:40.060 --> 00:00:41.179 Maybe that's not the right word. 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:45.140 If they would like to find other things to do with their hands while they're listening, 00:00:46.140 --> 00:00:47.960 there are opportunities in the back. 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:52.460 So just wanted to make sure we pointed those out to you. 00:00:53.500 --> 00:01:08.319 I'm a great fan of Kenneth Branagh and his, not all of his movies, mind you, but his 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:09.620 Shakespeare reproductions. 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:14.039 And one of my favorites is Henry V. 00:01:14.039 --> 00:01:19.579 And if you have not seen it, you ought to. 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:24.819 It is not easy because it's Shakespearean English. 00:01:25.420 --> 00:01:27.739 And so sometimes the subtitles are helpful. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:30.079 Sometimes even that only gets you so far. 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:33.200 But it is a great story. 00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:40.239 If you don't know the story of Henry V, Henry V is the story of Henry the Playboy Prince 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:46.400 from Henry IV, if you go back and read the other ones, who has now become at a young age the 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:47.060 king of England. 00:01:47.060 --> 00:01:51.280 And he has been taunted and mocked by the king of France. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:54.760 And his holdings have been threatened. 00:01:55.500 --> 00:02:03.240 And he has roused himself to show that he, though young and though he did not show promise 00:02:03.240 --> 00:02:09.060 in being a great leader, would actually be so for the nation of England. 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:14.699 And so he raises an army and sails across the channel to invade northern France, which at 00:02:14.699 --> 00:02:21.879 that time was, according to law and right, at least in his mind, the property of England. 00:02:22.699 --> 00:02:26.599 And so, and the movie is about this long slog. 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:34.920 Much of it's about this long slog of his army and about the growing leadership of Henry V. 00:02:34.919 --> 00:02:39.979 And finally, they come to the climactic battle at the end. 00:02:40.339 --> 00:02:46.479 It's a famous battle in military history, the Battle of Agincourt, where a small band of, 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:53.079 a small army of English soldiers outnumbered five to one, at least according to Shakespeare, 00:02:53.719 --> 00:03:02.199 defeated a superior and fresh army of the French using new military tactics, which is really cool, 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:05.259 but a whole separate sermon and message and point. 00:03:05.959 --> 00:03:12.219 But as they stand on the edge of this battlefield, counting the numbers and realizing how badly 00:03:12.219 --> 00:03:16.939 they're outnumbered, one of his men wishes that maybe there would be more men from England 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:18.019 who would be with them. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:24.719 And Henry V speaks to his men and he says, do you really wish there were more? 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:28.120 In fact, what we have here is enough. 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:36.259 And he goes on to talk about the glorious opportunity that they have to enter into this battle together. 00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:45.259 And if you'll give me a minute, I want to read part of this speech to you to get us started this morning. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:51.140 He's talking about the men who, having fought at this battle and having gone back home, 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:54.859 will remember the day, the day of St. Crispin. 00:03:54.959 --> 00:03:58.519 It's St. Crispin's day, the feast of St. Crispin. 00:04:00.019 --> 00:04:05.939 And so these men will say, then he will strip his sleeves and show his scars and say, 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:09.159 these wounds I had on Crispin's day. 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:12.399 Old men forget, yet all shall be forgot. 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:17.620 But he'll remember with advantages what feats he did that day. 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:22.180 And then our names, familiar in his mouth as household words. 00:04:22.980 --> 00:04:29.819 Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester. 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:33.579 Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered. 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:38.160 This story shall the good man teach his son. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:44.420 And Crispin shall ne'er go by from this day to the ending of the world. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:46.899 But we in it shall be remembered. 00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:54.000 We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:58.860 For he who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother. 00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:00.840 Be he ne'er so vile. 00:05:01.220 --> 00:05:03.939 This day shall gentle his condition be. 00:05:04.899 --> 00:05:07.959 And gentlemen now in England, now abed, 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:12.540 shall think themselves accursed that they were not here. 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:18.100 If you're not used to Shakespearean English, what was he saying? 00:05:19.200 --> 00:05:26.939 He was saying, I fought that day with those men. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.160 And we had such honor of fighting together. 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:34.520 And he, the king, is saying to his men, 00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:41.479 You are not soldiers under me for me to throw away carelessly. 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:48.099 But you are partners with me in this battle that stands before us. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:55.159 We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. 00:05:55.160 --> 00:06:06.780 And if you know anything about English society and the hierarchy and the lords of Gloucester and Essex and Salisbury and the others that he mentioned, right? 00:06:06.779 --> 00:06:09.779 They fought alongside common men. 00:06:10.739 --> 00:06:13.199 But there was a huge hierarchy of it. 00:06:14.019 --> 00:06:16.679 And Harry that day said, we are in this together. 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:21.659 No matter what background you have, 00:06:22.859 --> 00:06:26.519 if you fight this battle with me today, you are my brother. 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:36.779 I read this because I believe it taps into something that God created us for. 00:06:40.279 --> 00:06:52.099 God created us to be in a community of people together with a mission to build his kingdom on this earth. 00:06:52.100 --> 00:07:03.340 We all have a longing to belong, to feel like we have a tribe and a place, a band of brothers that we are a part of. 00:07:03.460 --> 00:07:07.780 And we all long for a mission that's worth investing ourselves in. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:12.960 And we may fill these desires with many things, some better and some worse. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:24.680 But God's design for humanity is that we would be a people to pursue his kingdom for his glory. 00:07:25.719 --> 00:07:29.719 With a common foundation laid in Jesus Christ. 00:07:29.799 --> 00:07:33.339 And a common mission to make Christ known to the world. 00:07:34.679 --> 00:07:37.500 And that we would do this mission together. 00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:43.019 It is a global mission as the church continues to expand. 00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:48.420 So that God might be worshipped among every tribe and tongue and nation in the world. 00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:56.680 And it is a local mission that we here at Trinity are one expression of. 00:07:57.560 --> 00:08:05.160 One place where God calls us to band together as brothers and sisters in God's purpose. 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:08.160 For us in this world. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:12.680 What does it look like for us to do that? 00:08:13.400 --> 00:08:16.140 Well, we're going to look at the end of Colossians today. 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:19.520 If you want to turn there, it's page 926. 00:08:21.440 --> 00:08:23.879 926 in your new pew Bibles. 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:26.240 If you didn't notice, they're new. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:28.860 They fit, which is really cool. 00:08:28.860 --> 00:08:36.139 So, we're going to look at chapter 4. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:37.340 We're going to look at the end of it. 00:08:37.460 --> 00:08:39.019 Chapter 7 to the end. 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:45.379 And as we look at that, we're going to look at a few characteristics. 00:08:46.300 --> 00:08:51.460 This section is Paul in his final greetings and words to the Colossian church. 00:08:52.060 --> 00:08:56.080 And it might be easy to read this and think, okay, this is nice. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:59.920 It's very easy to skim over these parts of the letters and to think, oh, okay. 00:09:00.460 --> 00:09:00.980 Keep going. 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:07.160 I hope that you will see, however, that God included these sections in his word with a purpose. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:10.320 To encourage us, to strengthen us, to help us see. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:16.060 And here, I think, it's encouraging us by giving us a view of what it looked like for Paul 00:09:16.060 --> 00:09:23.020 and his friends, his fellow workers, those around him to pick up the call 00:09:23.640 --> 00:09:26.000 that God has put on his church. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:31.040 So, let's read this together and then let's pray and then we'll look at it together. 00:09:33.400 --> 00:09:36.360 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. 00:09:37.180 --> 00:09:41.920 He is a beloved brother and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:47.700 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:50.000 and that he may encourage your hearts. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:55.519 And with him, Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. 00:09:56.059 --> 00:09:58.740 They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:04.500 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:06.879 concerning whom you have received instructions. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:09.340 If he comes to you, welcome him. 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:11.960 And Jesus, who is called Justice. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:17.320 These are the only men in the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God. 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.120 They have been a comfort to me. 00:10:21.400 --> 00:10:26.460 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, 00:10:27.180 --> 00:10:29.960 always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, 00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:35.180 that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:41.720 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:46.080 Luke, the beloved physician, greets you as does Demas. 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:53.139 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea and to Nympha and to the church in her house. 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:56.360 And when this letter has been read among you, 00:10:56.360 --> 00:11:01.240 have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:05.259 and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 00:11:05.800 --> 00:11:07.139 And say to Archippus, 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.480 see that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord. 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:16.279 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:18.259 Remember my chains. 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:20.600 Grace be with you. 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:21.899 Let's pray. 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:28.379 Lord, we pray this morning as we look at this word that you will help us. 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:32.419 Lord, bring it to life in our minds and in our imaginations. 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:35.659 Help it pierce to the depths of our hearts. 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:40.919 Lord, we'll, by your spirit, Lord, your word work in us. 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:47.740 Lord, so that we may hear all that you have to say to us. 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:49.539 And Lord, that we may respond. 00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:52.279 Respond in faith. 00:11:52.580 --> 00:11:53.960 Respond in humble obedience. 00:11:55.539 --> 00:11:57.519 Respond in worship and joy. 00:11:58.560 --> 00:12:02.700 Lord, respond in all the ways that you would have us respond this morning to your word. 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:05.879 Lord, I pray for your help this morning. 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:09.740 We pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:10.519 Amen. 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:10.659 Amen. 00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:10.700 Amen. 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:10.720 Amen. 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:31.220 So as we break down this passage, we see a bit of a snapshot of Paul's community and the way that his community has picked up this mission that God has called his church to. 00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.539 And so we're going to look at it. 00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:40.100 Verses 7 through 9 looks at the representatives, those carrying the letters, this letter of Colossians to the Colossian church. 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:49.180 Then verses 10 through 15 is the fellow companions, those who are with Paul, who are sending greetings to the church. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:53.340 And then verses, oh, sorry, that's 10 through 14. 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:58.259 And then 15 through 18 are the final Paul's personal notes to them. 00:12:58.259 --> 00:13:17.159 So we're going to just break it down and look at that and try to pull out something from each of these sections that we think will help us see how it is that Paul thought about what this church mission that he was on and that he was involved in in terms of a community of others. 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:19.240 What does that look like? 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:27.399 So the first thing is when you look at verses 7 through 9, Paul introduces the courier, basically. 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:29.180 This is my friend Tychicus. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:30.139 You've heard of him. 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:35.580 He's often mentioned in the New Testament as a companion of Paul's. 00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:41.500 And so we see that this is an ongoing part of Tychicus' life and ministry. 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:52.279 And that one of the things that he does is he goes from Paul to other places to communicate, hey, this is what's going on in Paul's life and Paul's ministry. 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:56.879 And when Paul says that, it's very easy to think, oh, well, Paul's pretty self-centered, isn't he? 00:13:57.240 --> 00:14:00.080 Hey, I'm going to send my friend to tell you all about the things that I'm doing. 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:01.740 Don't you think I'm great? 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:13.259 But I think instead that when you look carefully at Paul's ministry and the way that he thought about it, instead, that's shorthand for Paul saying, I want you to see what God is doing. 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:17.379 I want you to know how we're doing because we have a real relationship. 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:20.039 And I care about you and I hope you care about me. 00:14:20.180 --> 00:14:22.659 And there is a personal nature to it. 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:34.059 But there is underneath that a much deeper sense that Paul's life has been committed to the advancing of the kingdom of God. 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:44.639 And so when he talks about reporting on what he's up to, underlying that and the content of that is going to be primarily what is God up to? 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:49.079 Through the preaching of God's word, through the planting of churches. 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:59.560 As you see in the book of Acts, the extension of the church from Jerusalem to Asia to the known world at that time. 00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:09.300 Part of what we see as well is how we see Paul views his others in his community, how he sees Tychicus. 00:15:09.420 --> 00:15:10.900 Look at me again in verse 7. 00:15:11.680 --> 00:15:13.360 Three descriptors, right? 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:15.420 He calls him a beloved brother. 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:22.620 For Paul, the church and ministry is not a task to be accomplished simply. 00:15:23.199 --> 00:15:27.000 But it is a family to be engaged with. 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:35.519 Paul looks at this friend, this brother, and he says, you are beloved to me. 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:39.039 And he commends them to the Colossians. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.339 This is a brother with you too. 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:47.000 This is a brother who has been joined to the family of God by Jesus Christ. 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:57.320 But Paul doesn't only see him as a brother, a beloved brother, but he also sees him as a faithful minister. 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:07.420 Tychicus is one who has partnered with Paul seeing clearly we are here to minister to others. 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:19.199 That is to bring the word of God to others, to bring the help of God to others, to bring fundamentally, given the book of Colossians, the message of Jesus Christ to others. 00:16:21.599 --> 00:16:24.959 And not only has Tychicus done it, but he has done it faithfully. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:32.960 Faithfully means he has both shown steadfast perseverance and not falling away or getting distracted. 00:16:33.900 --> 00:16:40.480 But also faithfully in that he has been one who has walked with God and believed that God is at work in this. 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:47.460 He knows that a faithful minister is not one who is trying to build his own kingdom. 00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:53.000 But one who is in faith working as God builds his kingdom. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:59.139 And finally, Tychicus is seen as a fellow servant. 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:02.720 Now this is remarkable in two fronts. 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:09.579 First of all, because he calls Tychicus a fellow, which means he's an equal with me. 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:15.380 Now look, if you were Paul and you had the ability to start the churches the way you did, 00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:19.579 if you had the role that he seemed to have in the early church, 00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:25.199 how easy would it be for you to start thinking about yourself as pretty special? 00:17:26.919 --> 00:17:33.439 As the top of the food chain, the CEO, the commander-in-chief, the however you think of it. 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:39.960 One who is distinct from the others who labor in the church. 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:42.620 But Paul didn't do that, did he? 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:45.480 Paul said, no, he is my fellow servant. 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.579 He is my equal. 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:53.120 We share together in this ministry because we are servants. 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:56.860 That is, this isn't about us, but we are under another authority. 00:17:57.380 --> 00:18:00.319 The head is Jesus Christ and we are all serving him. 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:09.960 And so as Paul recommends Tychicus, he says, look, receive this man for all that he is. 00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:12.740 For together we are in this. 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:18.419 And I send him to you with this purpose that he may encourage you. 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:22.740 I want you to look back really quickly with me. 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:26.399 Colossians chapter 2, verses 1 through 3. 00:18:26.939 --> 00:18:29.159 Just so you can hear Paul's hearts again. 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:37.420 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face. 00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:42.060 That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:47.120 to reach all the riches of the full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:54.180 which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:58.519 So when Paul says, I want him to encourage you, 00:18:58.820 --> 00:19:04.560 I want to fill that in with all that Paul has said in chapter 2 about what being encouraged in their hearts would mean. 00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:09.799 Their encouragement isn't just, hang in there, good job, it'll get better. 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:14.100 It gets dark, you know, it's darkest before the dawn and the sun will come up and it'll, 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:16.980 it's not just helpful platitudes. 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:28.699 But encouragement that Christ is fully sufficient for everything that they need for their spiritual lives 00:19:28.699 --> 00:19:32.319 and that they would grow in knowing him more and more. 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:37.319 So what do you take away from Tychicus? 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:45.339 Paul, in this we see Paul engaging with Tychicus in a growing ministry of the gospel. 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:47.379 It is expanding geographically. 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:50.879 It is also multiplying in terms of the people involved. 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:55.919 The church is not meant to be centered on one human being ever, 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:59.100 but it's meant to be an ever-growing organism, 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:01.560 an ever-growing community of people 00:20:01.560 --> 00:20:05.000 where one person reaches out to another person, 00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:06.779 reaches out to another person. 00:20:07.820 --> 00:20:10.180 And there isn't a node in the center. 00:20:10.320 --> 00:20:12.840 The only center is Jesus Christ. 00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:19.380 And as we gather here locally, 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:22.220 God has brought us together 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:27.200 to be not just a bounded community, 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:30.520 but a growing community of people who are reaching out 00:20:30.520 --> 00:20:34.880 with the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:38.440 This is the cause that he's called us to. 00:20:39.040 --> 00:20:42.360 This is the hope that he has called us to. 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:44.240 And we have this incredible privilege, 00:20:45.300 --> 00:20:48.860 incredible privilege of together thinking about 00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:52.259 how we might trumpet the cause of Christ. 00:20:52.979 --> 00:20:54.519 Not just the cause of Christ, 00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:56.599 but even more so, the person of Christ. 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:01.219 Friends, I want you to see that this vision 00:21:01.219 --> 00:21:04.559 of how Paul related to Tychicus 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:07.519 and how he saw this impacting the Colossian community 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:11.419 is the very opposite of what I think we can fall into today, 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:14.139 which is a very selfish spirituality, 00:21:15.479 --> 00:21:18.519 a very selfish church attendance. 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:21.179 We come thinking, 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.319 well, this is for me. 00:21:22.459 --> 00:21:23.939 What am I getting out of this? 00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:28.659 Why, how is everyone else serving me? 00:21:31.479 --> 00:21:34.500 Friends, I want to tell you that in the New Testament, 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:36.199 the vision of the church 00:21:36.199 --> 00:21:37.959 is something much greater than that. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:41.379 God has called you to be a part of a bigger thing. 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.059 Now look, here's the thing. 00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:44.959 We come to the church needy. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.819 We all do. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:49.480 Because we're all sinners in need of God's grace. 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:52.600 And we're all weak and need the encouragement 00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:53.840 and support of one another. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:56.960 So it's not our neediness that disqualifies us. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:01.539 It's our selfishness that causes us to make this about us. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:05.440 Rather than coming and finding that as God catches up 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:07.319 in this greater purpose, 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:10.779 this greater mission of making Christ known, 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:13.399 and that as we do that together as a community, 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:16.480 we also support and encourage one another 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.119 as we do that. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:23.599 And that's what God has called us to. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:28.019 So I want to leave you with a question. 00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:30.339 How have you lost sight of the greater vision 00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:32.639 of your participation in church? 00:22:35.639 --> 00:22:38.799 Are you just checking the box, making time? 00:22:41.939 --> 00:22:44.679 Are you a player or a spectator 00:22:44.679 --> 00:22:47.399 in what God has called his church to do? 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:54.160 Maybe you're here this morning 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:56.780 and you don't know where you stand with Christ 00:22:56.780 --> 00:22:59.360 or you're figuring out what Christianity is. 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:01.840 Maybe God's drawn you here 00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:03.680 because you've sensed a hunger 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.920 that we talked about at the beginning, 00:23:05.060 --> 00:23:07.320 a hunger to be a part of something bigger 00:23:07.320 --> 00:23:08.800 and something greater. 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:12.420 I hope you'll keep coming back 00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:14.580 and finding out who Christ is 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:16.799 and seeing that in him, 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.960 you will find the greatest mission 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.339 and the greatest community. 00:23:21.659 --> 00:23:23.019 Not a perfect community. 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:24.179 I want to warn you, 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:25.659 we're not perfect around here. 00:23:26.439 --> 00:23:28.399 But a great community of people 00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:30.379 who, led by Christ, 00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:36.119 actually, in that you will actually find 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:38.359 the thing that your heart is most longing for. 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:42.740 This passage goes on. 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:44.680 There's more to the shape of gospel ministry 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:47.180 than this. 00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:49.740 As we look at verses 10 through 14, 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:51.259 look with me again. 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.480 There are a number of things 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.920 I want to point out in this section 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:56.620 and then I'm going to focus quickly 00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:57.759 on Epiphras for a minute. 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.400 But quickly, 00:23:58.700 --> 00:24:00.299 one of the things we see in this community 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.500 is that there's a diversity. 00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:03.599 One of the things that isn't obvious 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.299 from the surface 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:06.140 is that three of the men that he mentioned 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:07.460 are Jewish 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:09.559 and three of them are Gentile. 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:13.460 He does say explicitly in verse 11 00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.779 that these are the only men 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.659 of the circumcision, 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.379 which I think means 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:19.339 these are the men who come from 00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:22.299 Jewish racial and religious background 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.639 who are converts to Christ. 00:24:24.619 --> 00:24:25.879 And therefore, 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.720 Paul is living out 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:31.079 what he preached back in chapter 3, 00:24:31.159 --> 00:24:32.200 verses 10 and 11. 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.599 Do you remember what he said there? 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:37.240 He says that Christians are those 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.379 who have put on the new self 00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:39.299 which is being renewed 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.299 in the knowledge 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:42.379 after the image of its creator. 00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:45.059 Here there is no Greek and Jew, 00:24:45.719 --> 00:24:47.419 circumcised and uncircumcised, 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:49.139 barbarian, Scythian, slave-free, 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.740 but Christ is all and in all. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.399 Paul didn't just say that 00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:55.039 as a nice ideal. 00:24:55.679 --> 00:24:56.519 He lived it 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:58.619 with a community of people 00:24:58.619 --> 00:25:02.359 where people who had no business together 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:04.559 came together for the cause of Christ 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.719 because of Christ. 00:25:06.479 --> 00:25:09.219 Not only was this diversity there, 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:12.000 we see it also with Onesimus. 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.679 I skipped over him 00:25:13.679 --> 00:25:14.740 in the verses 7 through 10, 00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:17.079 but Onesimus was a runaway slave, 00:25:17.199 --> 00:25:17.639 it seems, 00:25:18.159 --> 00:25:20.299 who then came to faith in Jesus Christ 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:22.219 and was going back to his hometown. 00:25:22.459 --> 00:25:23.740 You've got to read the book of Philemon. 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.939 That's another sermon 00:25:24.939 --> 00:25:27.079 to figure out his whole story. 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:31.740 But Paul commends him 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:33.099 as a fellow brother 00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:34.139 and a beloved one. 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:39.000 He also is clear 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.139 to point out 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:42.259 in verse 15, 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:44.379 he spends a special greeting 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:45.019 to Nympha. 00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:48.399 We might think, 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:51.179 well, he's only talking to men here 00:25:51.179 --> 00:25:52.399 because all of his companions 00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:53.919 seem to be men. 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:55.599 Well, no, it's not true. 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:57.219 Here we see 00:25:57.219 --> 00:25:58.119 that the diversity 00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:59.139 of the community 00:25:59.139 --> 00:26:00.639 being formed 00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:02.000 and called by God 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.659 in Christ 00:26:02.659 --> 00:26:05.199 involves everyone. 00:26:07.419 --> 00:26:09.019 And this woman, Nympha, 00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:10.679 was not only just 00:26:10.679 --> 00:26:12.799 someone to greet, 00:26:12.959 --> 00:26:15.079 but she was a major player. 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.859 She was hosting a house church. 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:18.319 She was involved 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.619 in the ministry with them. 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.799 Paul saw himself 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:23.099 in this ministry together 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:24.959 of this diverse band of people. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:27.879 slaves and free, 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.959 Jew and Gentile, 00:26:29.139 --> 00:26:30.740 men and women together, 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.579 equally serving 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.799 because of Christ. 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.699 And some of them 00:26:38.699 --> 00:26:39.480 may have been great 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:42.659 in the history of the church. 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.279 It's possible 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.359 that Luke and Mark 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:45.519 were actually 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.679 the writers of the gospel 00:26:46.679 --> 00:26:48.079 of Mark and Luke. 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.899 It was likely. 00:26:50.939 --> 00:26:51.639 It's hard to say, 00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:52.659 you know, 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:55.420 but it's highly possible. 00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:57.279 And interestingly, too, 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:59.340 to see that his community 00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:01.000 is not one of perfection, 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:01.900 but that some 00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:03.320 had a checkered past. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.640 If this is the Mark 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:05.440 we think it is, 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.380 it is John Mark, 00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:08.100 who at one point 00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:09.880 Paul had a whole conflict with 00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:10.840 because he 00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:13.259 flaked out on ministry 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:15.040 at just the wrong time 00:27:15.040 --> 00:27:16.080 and disappointed Paul. 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:16.900 And Paul didn't want to have 00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.640 anything to do with him 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.060 for a while. 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.740 But Barnabas came along, 00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:20.700 took him under his wing, 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.740 and seemed to encourage him, 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.559 and now he's a partner 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.799 back together with him. 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.180 If we put the, 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.079 if we reconstruct 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:27.160 the timeline right. 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:31.099 So Mark is a restored brother 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:32.519 with a checkered past. 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:34.000 And then he also mentions 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.779 a Demas. 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.440 And if you go to 1 Timothy, 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:38.680 you hear about Demas later, 00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:40.120 and it seems that Demas 00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:42.339 will depart from the faith. 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:43.819 Again, if it's the same Demas. 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.779 For he departed from Paul 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.740 because he loved 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:50.700 the things of the world. 00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:54.299 So Paul has a, 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:57.400 this very rich view 00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:58.279 of his community. 00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:58.859 And as he's, 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.140 he's simply recounting, 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:01.059 hey, all these people 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:02.120 want to say hi to you. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:02.859 They love you. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.779 They care about you. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:05.279 They want to say hi to you. 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.759 But in doing so, 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.839 he gives a snapshot 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.559 and a picture 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.680 of what kind of community 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.720 Paul was involved in 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.839 and what kind of community 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:13.140 the church is called to be. 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.900 Two other people 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:15.660 want to point out? 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.000 Verse 10, 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.960 Aristarchus. 00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:21.559 Aristarchus is a fellow prisoner. 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:27.620 I want that to sink in 00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:29.200 because not only 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.960 does he mention it 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.839 for Aristarchus, 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:31.660 who was probably 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:33.000 literally imprisoned 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.980 with Paul 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:35.880 in chains, 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.299 but to recognize 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.660 that all of these other people 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.539 who are with him 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.620 are connected 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:42.420 with this convicted prisoner, 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:44.380 this man who has been 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:46.079 arrested and condemned 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:47.220 by the authorities. 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:51.519 all of them have identified 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.620 in a way 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:54.640 publicly 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:57.420 by their participation 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.480 in the church 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.480 and in the ministry 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:01.759 that Paul is involved in. 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:06.259 It is sometimes 00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:08.279 embarrassing 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:11.299 to connect with other believers, 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:11.860 isn't it? 00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:16.419 it is sometimes 00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:18.299 something you wish 00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:19.319 people didn't know 00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:19.939 about you. 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.539 Where do you go to church? 00:29:22.959 --> 00:29:23.359 I go to 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:24.659 Trinity Baptist Church. 00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:27.019 Oh, what's that? 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.740 Trinity Baptist Church. 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.740 Trinity Baptist Church. 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.740 Trinity Baptist Church. 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:38.779 There's a lot to be said there 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.900 about the wisdom 00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:41.440 of how we present ourselves. 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.720 Paul became all things 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.319 to all men 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:44.539 so that he might win some. 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.620 There is wisdom 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:46.680 in not having to tell 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.620 everything all the time. 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:48.799 But at core, 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.440 part of what I want you to see 00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:50.799 is that 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:52.000 for Paul 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:53.279 and for his companions, 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.099 they were willing 00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:54.519 to say, 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.039 yes, 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:56.460 my identification 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:57.740 with this community 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.599 and my commitment 00:29:58.599 --> 00:29:59.399 to this cause 00:29:59.399 --> 00:30:00.159 is so great 00:30:00.159 --> 00:30:01.440 that if I go to jail 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:01.839 for it, 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.500 so be it. 00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:05.139 I will identify 00:30:05.139 --> 00:30:05.799 with those 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:07.059 and I will count the cost 00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:09.059 and find Christ 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.740 worth it 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:11.180 and find the church 00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:12.460 worth my identification 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.480 with it 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:15.420 even though 00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.460 it might cost me 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.460 a lot. 00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:23.740 Finally, 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:25.099 Epaphras, 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:25.920 look at me, 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:26.940 look with me 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.819 in verse 12 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:29.039 for a second. 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.799 Epaphras was mentioned 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.759 earlier in the letter 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.559 if you remember 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.960 in chapter 1 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:35.480 we see that 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:37.059 as Paul 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:38.200 is giving thanks 00:30:38.200 --> 00:30:39.539 for the Colossian church 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.640 and how the gospel 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:41.480 came to them 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:43.259 and was growing in them 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.579 and bearing fruit in them, 00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:46.319 it says in verse 7, 00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:47.799 just as you learned it 00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.720 from Epaphras, 00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.740 our fellow, 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.720 our beloved fellow servant, 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:53.579 he is a faithful minister 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.159 of Christ 00:30:54.159 --> 00:30:55.500 on your behalf 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.419 and is made known 00:30:56.419 --> 00:30:56.980 to us 00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.699 your love 00:30:57.699 --> 00:30:59.240 in the spirit. 00:31:00.399 --> 00:31:01.179 It is almost 00:31:01.179 --> 00:31:04.139 certain 00:31:04.139 --> 00:31:04.859 that Epaphras 00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.480 was the one 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.599 who first planted 00:31:06.599 --> 00:31:07.159 the church 00:31:07.159 --> 00:31:08.019 in Colossae. 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.259 He was the one 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.319 who brought the gospel there. 00:31:10.419 --> 00:31:11.099 He was the one 00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:12.439 who proclaimed it 00:31:12.439 --> 00:31:13.079 and started 00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:14.039 the church there 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:14.939 and here we have 00:31:14.939 --> 00:31:16.139 a greeting from them 00:31:16.139 --> 00:31:17.960 and Paul expands 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.899 on his heart 00:31:18.899 --> 00:31:19.379 for them 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:21.600 and his mission. 00:31:21.600 --> 00:31:22.860 He says, 00:31:23.020 --> 00:31:23.980 if you look again, 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:25.500 struggling on your behalf 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:26.380 that you may stand 00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:26.940 mature 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:28.260 and fully assured 00:31:28.260 --> 00:31:29.300 in all the will 00:31:29.300 --> 00:31:29.900 of God. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.580 And again, 00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.380 part of what I want 00:31:33.380 --> 00:31:34.700 to remind you here 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.060 is that 00:31:35.060 --> 00:31:36.200 this is not only 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:37.220 Epaphras' heart 00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.380 but this is exactly 00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:39.860 what Paul has been saying. 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.060 As we've read 00:31:41.060 --> 00:31:42.100 the book of Colossians 00:31:42.100 --> 00:31:43.020 chapters 2, 00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:43.920 6 and 7 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:45.220 are the core 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:47.240 of this book. 00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:48.420 Therefore, 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.740 as you have received 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.500 Christ Jesus, 00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.320 the Lord, 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.759 so walk in him, 00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:54.019 rooted and built up 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.480 in him 00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.480 and established 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.259 in the faith 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.380 just as you were taught 00:31:57.380 --> 00:31:58.820 abounding in thanksgiving. 00:32:02.120 --> 00:32:03.140 That you may 00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:04.519 reach the end, 00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:06.100 the goal 00:32:06.100 --> 00:32:07.019 for which God 00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.840 has saved you. 00:32:09.560 --> 00:32:10.940 That you may find 00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.660 the fullness 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.600 of all 00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:13.919 that his salvation 00:32:13.919 --> 00:32:15.079 brings to you. 00:32:19.919 --> 00:32:20.799 Epaphras is one 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.359 who loves 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.339 the Colossian church 00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.359 and he works hard. 00:32:23.939 --> 00:32:24.740 And one of the ways 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.599 that he works hard 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:26.379 is in prayer. 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:30.719 He prays for them. 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:33.439 His desire for them 00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:34.799 is that they may grow 00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:36.019 in Christ 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:37.219 more and more 00:32:37.219 --> 00:32:38.779 towards what God 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.619 has called them to. 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:46.480 So what's our 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:47.539 takeaway from this? 00:32:49.459 --> 00:32:49.959 Well, 00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.719 first of all, 00:32:51.959 --> 00:32:53.500 we praise God 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:55.500 regularly 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.679 for the diversity 00:32:56.679 --> 00:32:57.799 of this church. 00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.740 We are not as diverse 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:00.459 as we could be 00:33:00.459 --> 00:33:00.959 in the world, 00:33:01.399 --> 00:33:02.179 but thankfully 00:33:02.179 --> 00:33:03.019 God has brought 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:04.359 a number of 00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:05.099 different people, 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.919 ones of you 00:33:07.919 --> 00:33:09.159 from different backgrounds, 00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.059 from literally 00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:11.079 all over the world, 00:33:11.079 --> 00:33:11.859 from literally 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:13.000 all over the city, 00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:14.759 from the region. 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:16.460 And you gather here 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.379 and we are thankful 00:33:17.379 --> 00:33:17.939 for that. 00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.539 And it's something 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:19.299 that we count 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:19.980 as a treasure 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:20.859 and a stewardship, 00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:22.379 as a privilege 00:33:22.379 --> 00:33:23.439 to be that kind 00:33:23.439 --> 00:33:23.899 of church. 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:24.519 It is something 00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:25.299 that we want 00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:25.960 to continue 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:27.119 to do. 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.579 And we know 00:33:28.579 --> 00:33:29.720 it's hard sometimes. 00:33:29.939 --> 00:33:30.699 We know it's hard 00:33:30.699 --> 00:33:31.799 to connect with people 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:33.119 that you have less 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:33.759 human, 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:35.480 normal connections with, 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.559 that you don't share 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.419 hobbies with, 00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:39.279 or even communities with. 00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:41.680 But we are thankful 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.599 for the witness 00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:44.920 that we gather together 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.859 because of Christ. 00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:48.279 We pray that we will 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:49.379 do more. 00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:51.700 We will continue 00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:52.700 to value this 00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.660 and to seek out 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:55.440 connecting with one another 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:56.740 in this space 00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:57.980 and in other spaces 00:33:57.980 --> 00:34:00.940 in the name of Christ. 00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:04.639 Second thing here 00:34:04.639 --> 00:34:06.240 is that for Paul, 00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:07.160 the whole goal 00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:08.159 of the church 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:10.599 is to reach 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.539 this maturity, 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:13.059 this end, 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.720 this place 00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:16.000 of being 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:18.139 full of Christ 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:20.139 in all that he has 00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:20.780 for us. 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.659 What I want to ask you 00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:25.700 is just a few questions 00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.780 about that this morning. 00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:28.340 How much does this 00:34:28.340 --> 00:34:29.200 shape your approach 00:34:29.200 --> 00:34:29.840 to others? 00:34:31.180 --> 00:34:32.480 Do you ask God 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:33.619 how he might want 00:34:33.619 --> 00:34:34.659 to use you 00:34:34.659 --> 00:34:36.920 to encourage others 00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:37.859 towards Christ? 00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:40.519 Do you believe 00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:41.719 you need others 00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:43.440 in your pursuit 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:44.079 of Christ? 00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:49.019 Do you think 00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:49.859 that there might be 00:34:49.859 --> 00:34:50.679 among here 00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:53.359 someone like Luke 00:34:53.359 --> 00:34:53.859 or Mark 00:34:53.859 --> 00:34:54.799 who might shape 00:34:54.799 --> 00:34:55.380 the church 00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:56.539 in the coming generation? 00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:01.239 Not to build them up, 00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:02.359 but to love them 00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:03.240 and encourage them. 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.340 Do you think 00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:06.900 there's someone 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:07.920 who like Demas 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:09.340 might be in danger 00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:10.360 of falling away 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:11.380 because they love 00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:12.500 the world so much? 00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:16.840 Do you recognize 00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.700 that they need you 00:35:17.700 --> 00:35:18.140 today 00:35:18.140 --> 00:35:20.599 to encourage them? 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:23.320 Friends, 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:23.920 do you pray 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.680 for one another? 00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:27.519 CCB creates 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:28.260 an opportunity, 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.599 our online community 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.579 creates an opportunity 00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:31.679 for you to know 00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:33.779 what kind of church 00:35:33.779 --> 00:35:34.779 community you're a part 00:35:34.779 --> 00:35:35.079 of. 00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:36.599 Michelle, 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:37.659 on a semi-regular 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.119 basis, 00:35:38.279 --> 00:35:38.860 prints out 00:35:38.860 --> 00:35:40.900 a photo directory, 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.819 which not all of you 00:35:42.819 --> 00:35:43.159 are in 00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:43.639 because you don't 00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.960 all submit photos, 00:35:45.259 --> 00:35:47.380 but if you were, 00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:49.119 it's an opportunity 00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:49.819 for you 00:35:49.819 --> 00:35:52.679 to have a list 00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:53.099 of people 00:35:53.099 --> 00:35:53.900 to pray for. 00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:55.779 There are lots 00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:56.219 of ways 00:35:56.219 --> 00:35:56.920 for you to pray 00:35:56.920 --> 00:35:57.559 for one another. 00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.460 Pray for one another 00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:59.240 in a small group. 00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:00.559 Pray for the people 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:01.300 that you meet 00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:04.420 because the reality 00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:05.099 is that 00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:06.699 we need 00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:07.559 one another 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:08.139 and we need 00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:08.720 our help. 00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:10.360 God has called 00:36:10.360 --> 00:36:11.599 us to be a band 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:12.199 of sisters 00:36:12.199 --> 00:36:12.960 and brothers 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:14.639 in this city 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:15.599 and in this world. 00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:21.039 The final 00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:22.380 observation, 00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:23.940 verses 15 through 18, 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:25.320 we'll do this briefly. 00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:28.900 As Paul greets 00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:29.500 the church 00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:30.620 himself personally, 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:32.100 you see in verse 18, 00:36:32.220 --> 00:36:32.580 he says, 00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:33.740 I write this greeting. 00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:34.500 It's probably just 00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:35.180 verse 18. 00:36:35.720 --> 00:36:36.080 Typically, 00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:37.300 Paul would dictate this. 00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:37.840 Someone else 00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:38.640 would be writing it 00:36:38.640 --> 00:36:39.600 and here in verse 18, 00:36:39.660 --> 00:36:40.680 he picks up his own hand, 00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:42.039 his own pen 00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:42.519 and he says, 00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:43.620 I write this greeting 00:36:43.620 --> 00:36:44.720 to you with my own hand. 00:36:44.820 --> 00:36:45.720 Remember my chains. 00:36:47.400 --> 00:36:48.519 Grace be with you. 00:36:49.600 --> 00:36:51.200 So this is a personal set 00:36:51.200 --> 00:36:52.460 but what you see 00:36:52.460 --> 00:36:53.659 back in 15 00:36:53.659 --> 00:36:54.800 is as he's writing 00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:55.480 these letters, 00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:57.940 Paul is very self-conscious 00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:59.139 of what he is doing. 00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:00.780 He is writing 00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.420 these letters 00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:02.240 to encourage 00:37:02.240 --> 00:37:02.760 the church 00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:04.000 in Colossae. 00:37:04.240 --> 00:37:05.320 He's not just writing 00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:06.000 it for them though, 00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.360 is he? 00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:07.220 Because you see 00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:07.820 it's very clear 00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:08.539 that his purpose 00:37:08.539 --> 00:37:09.320 is that this letter 00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:10.639 wouldn't only be read there 00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:11.559 but then it would be 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.280 passed along 00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:13.079 and that there's 00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:14.179 another letter out there 00:37:14.179 --> 00:37:15.740 that had gone to Laodicea 00:37:15.740 --> 00:37:16.720 or that was going 00:37:16.720 --> 00:37:17.500 to Laodicea 00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.579 that ought to be 00:37:18.579 --> 00:37:19.679 then passed along, 00:37:19.820 --> 00:37:20.500 maybe copied 00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:22.559 or maybe just physically transmitted 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:24.380 passed along 00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:25.579 to the church 00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:26.300 in Colossae. 00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:28.539 There's lots of ink 00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:29.639 spilled in the commentaries 00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.519 about what the letter 00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:32.159 to the Laodiceans is. 00:37:32.840 --> 00:37:33.679 Some people 00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:35.460 think that it might be 00:37:35.460 --> 00:37:36.619 the letter of the Ephesians 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:37.400 because the letter 00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:38.000 of Ephesians 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.820 was known 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:40.000 to be a circular letter 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:41.320 written to multiple churches. 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:43.059 It's a possibility. 00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:44.199 I'm not going to die 00:37:44.199 --> 00:37:44.699 in that hill 00:37:44.699 --> 00:37:46.800 and the fact is 00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:47.599 we just don't know. 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:51.279 We just don't know 00:37:51.279 --> 00:37:52.199 what that letter is 00:37:52.199 --> 00:37:53.159 but what we do know 00:37:53.159 --> 00:37:54.219 is that Paul's intent 00:37:54.219 --> 00:37:54.799 and purpose 00:37:54.799 --> 00:37:55.900 in writing these letters 00:37:55.900 --> 00:37:57.719 was both personal 00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.579 and occasional 00:37:58.579 --> 00:38:00.759 but also more than that. 00:38:01.639 --> 00:38:02.940 By that I mean personal. 00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:03.779 He's engaging 00:38:03.779 --> 00:38:05.059 with a community of people 00:38:05.059 --> 00:38:06.139 in its context. 00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:06.839 Occasional 00:38:06.839 --> 00:38:08.119 in its context. 00:38:08.339 --> 00:38:09.119 He's addressing 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:09.699 the issues 00:38:09.699 --> 00:38:10.360 that he knows 00:38:10.360 --> 00:38:10.940 are appropriate 00:38:10.940 --> 00:38:12.039 for this particular 00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:13.199 group of people 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:14.380 and yet 00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:15.699 he's also teaching 00:38:15.699 --> 00:38:17.399 in those contexts 00:38:17.399 --> 00:38:18.439 timeless truths. 00:38:18.919 --> 00:38:19.799 He's teaching them 00:38:19.799 --> 00:38:21.879 about Jesus Christ 00:38:21.879 --> 00:38:23.399 and about the kingdom of God 00:38:23.399 --> 00:38:24.799 and about what it means 00:38:24.799 --> 00:38:25.699 to know him 00:38:25.699 --> 00:38:26.879 and he's writing it 00:38:26.879 --> 00:38:27.679 in ways that are 00:38:27.679 --> 00:38:29.139 applicable along the way 00:38:29.139 --> 00:38:30.339 and so we too 00:38:30.339 --> 00:38:31.000 here today 00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:32.859 are actually fulfilling this 00:38:32.859 --> 00:38:34.460 by reading this letter 00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:37.019 as we seek to encourage 00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.519 one another. 00:38:37.699 --> 00:38:39.379 We are reading his letter now 00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:43.440 as an extension 00:38:43.440 --> 00:38:44.619 of what Paul's intent 00:38:44.619 --> 00:38:45.980 was for these letters 00:38:45.980 --> 00:38:47.300 as he wrote them. 00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.539 He wrote them 00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:56.079 with a sense of authority 00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:57.700 because he felt 00:38:57.700 --> 00:38:59.019 that God had called him. 00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:00.019 Do you remember 00:39:00.019 --> 00:39:03.119 chapter 1 00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:04.160 verse 27? 00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:07.460 God had given him 00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:08.639 a stewardship of ministry 00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.899 to the Gentiles 00:39:09.899 --> 00:39:10.559 to them 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:11.379 God chose 00:39:11.379 --> 00:39:12.099 to make known 00:39:12.099 --> 00:39:12.719 how great 00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:14.199 among the Gentiles 00:39:14.199 --> 00:39:14.779 are the riches 00:39:14.779 --> 00:39:15.579 of the glory 00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:16.399 of this mystery 00:39:16.399 --> 00:39:17.179 which is 00:39:17.179 --> 00:39:18.460 Christ in you 00:39:18.460 --> 00:39:19.639 the hope of glory 00:39:19.639 --> 00:39:21.059 him we proclaim 00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:22.339 warning everyone 00:39:22.339 --> 00:39:23.619 and teaching everyone 00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:24.599 with all wisdom 00:39:24.599 --> 00:39:26.159 that we may present 00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:26.779 everyone 00:39:26.779 --> 00:39:28.219 mature in Christ. 00:39:29.259 --> 00:39:30.579 This is the centerpiece 00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.119 of Christ 00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:32.420 of Paul's letters. 00:39:32.899 --> 00:39:33.719 This is the point 00:39:33.719 --> 00:39:35.359 of everything 00:39:35.359 --> 00:39:36.079 that he does 00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:36.939 in his ministry. 00:39:39.980 --> 00:39:40.459 Friends, 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.259 this is why 00:39:41.259 --> 00:39:42.799 scripture is read 00:39:42.799 --> 00:39:43.359 at the beginning 00:39:43.359 --> 00:39:44.059 of the service 00:39:44.059 --> 00:39:45.379 and between the songs 00:39:45.379 --> 00:39:46.459 and at the time 00:39:46.459 --> 00:39:47.480 of the assurance 00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:48.019 of pardon 00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:49.239 and why we spend 00:39:49.239 --> 00:39:49.879 as much time 00:39:49.879 --> 00:39:50.359 as we do 00:39:50.359 --> 00:39:51.039 in our sermons 00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:51.939 because we think 00:39:51.939 --> 00:39:52.939 that God's word 00:39:52.939 --> 00:39:54.739 is God's means 00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:55.839 to instruct us 00:39:55.839 --> 00:39:56.699 and teach us 00:39:56.699 --> 00:39:58.719 and it is the baseline 00:39:58.719 --> 00:39:59.579 the foundation 00:39:59.579 --> 00:40:00.739 from which then 00:40:00.739 --> 00:40:01.339 we are able 00:40:01.339 --> 00:40:02.119 to encourage 00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:02.759 one another 00:40:02.760 --> 00:40:03.920 and live out 00:40:03.920 --> 00:40:04.720 this ministry. 00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:07.380 What great joy 00:40:07.380 --> 00:40:07.880 it is that we 00:40:07.880 --> 00:40:08.380 don't have to 00:40:08.380 --> 00:40:09.120 figure out 00:40:09.120 --> 00:40:09.840 or make up 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:10.360 what it is 00:40:10.360 --> 00:40:10.800 that we have 00:40:10.800 --> 00:40:11.860 to say about God 00:40:11.860 --> 00:40:12.740 but that God 00:40:12.740 --> 00:40:13.700 has revealed himself 00:40:13.700 --> 00:40:14.340 to us 00:40:14.340 --> 00:40:15.240 and given us 00:40:15.240 --> 00:40:15.900 these letters 00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:16.760 so that we might 00:40:16.760 --> 00:40:17.820 know him. 00:40:17.820 --> 00:40:25.620 and Paul was aware 00:40:25.620 --> 00:40:26.559 I don't know 00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:27.260 if Paul was aware 00:40:27.260 --> 00:40:28.100 that he was writing 00:40:28.100 --> 00:40:30.480 eternally inspired scripture 00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:31.680 that's a whole other 00:40:31.680 --> 00:40:33.039 that's a whole other 00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:33.620 conversation 00:40:33.620 --> 00:40:34.360 that I'm not going 00:40:34.360 --> 00:40:35.340 to address 00:40:35.340 --> 00:40:36.019 this morning 00:40:36.019 --> 00:40:36.660 if Paul was 00:40:36.660 --> 00:40:37.720 but he wrote 00:40:37.720 --> 00:40:38.400 with authority 00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:39.660 about the reality 00:40:39.660 --> 00:40:40.380 of Christ 00:40:40.380 --> 00:40:44.900 what he had received 00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:46.100 he was passing on 00:40:46.099 --> 00:40:49.319 and friends 00:40:49.319 --> 00:40:50.279 we as a church 00:40:50.279 --> 00:40:51.539 pick up that stewardship 00:40:51.539 --> 00:40:52.940 and we're called 00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:54.420 to do the same thing 00:40:54.420 --> 00:40:57.480 to pass on 00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:58.019 the message 00:40:58.019 --> 00:40:58.639 of the riches 00:40:58.639 --> 00:40:59.339 of Christ 00:40:59.339 --> 00:41:00.679 for this is what 00:41:00.679 --> 00:41:01.519 the book of Colossians 00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:02.440 has been all about 00:41:02.440 --> 00:41:02.920 hasn't it 00:41:02.920 --> 00:41:04.460 Christ is enough 00:41:04.460 --> 00:41:05.199 for you 00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:06.380 Christ who is 00:41:06.380 --> 00:41:07.500 the sovereign one 00:41:07.500 --> 00:41:08.819 over all creation 00:41:08.819 --> 00:41:10.339 by whom all things 00:41:10.339 --> 00:41:10.719 were made 00:41:10.719 --> 00:41:11.860 by whom all things 00:41:11.860 --> 00:41:13.059 are sustained 00:41:13.059 --> 00:41:13.759 and for whom 00:41:13.759 --> 00:41:14.980 all things were created 00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:17.559 Christ is enough 00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:19.119 in that his work 00:41:19.119 --> 00:41:19.780 of his life 00:41:19.780 --> 00:41:20.219 and death 00:41:20.219 --> 00:41:21.240 and resurrection 00:41:21.240 --> 00:41:22.900 for us 00:41:22.900 --> 00:41:24.119 and for our salvation 00:41:24.119 --> 00:41:25.420 has completely 00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:26.219 and sufficiently 00:41:26.219 --> 00:41:27.179 dealt with 00:41:27.179 --> 00:41:28.219 the problem of sin 00:41:28.219 --> 00:41:29.119 in our lives 00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:29.719 so that all 00:41:29.719 --> 00:41:30.519 who are joined 00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:31.159 by him 00:41:31.159 --> 00:41:32.280 in faith 00:41:32.280 --> 00:41:34.300 die to sin 00:41:34.300 --> 00:41:35.159 and are made new 00:41:35.159 --> 00:41:35.880 in Christ 00:41:35.880 --> 00:41:37.360 Christ is enough 00:41:37.360 --> 00:41:37.980 for us 00:41:37.980 --> 00:41:38.960 to pursue 00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:40.280 a life of godliness 00:41:40.280 --> 00:41:40.960 in him 00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:42.539 a transformed life 00:41:42.539 --> 00:41:43.440 whereby the life 00:41:43.440 --> 00:41:43.940 of Christ 00:41:43.940 --> 00:41:44.880 is increasingly 00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:45.980 manifested 00:41:45.980 --> 00:41:47.500 and takes hold 00:41:47.500 --> 00:41:47.960 of us 00:41:47.960 --> 00:41:48.740 and makes us 00:41:48.740 --> 00:41:49.700 like Christ 00:41:49.700 --> 00:41:50.720 in the individual 00:41:50.720 --> 00:41:51.860 ways that all of us 00:41:51.860 --> 00:41:52.780 will express it 00:41:52.780 --> 00:41:54.300 but all of us 00:41:54.300 --> 00:41:55.539 living out this life 00:41:55.539 --> 00:41:56.679 that God has called us 00:41:56.679 --> 00:41:56.960 to 00:41:56.960 --> 00:41:58.039 and not just 00:41:58.039 --> 00:41:58.800 for us then 00:41:58.800 --> 00:41:59.440 but that it might 00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:00.039 overflow 00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:01.159 to the world 00:42:01.159 --> 00:42:02.059 that we would 00:42:02.059 --> 00:42:03.000 take this mission 00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:03.880 and this calling 00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:05.200 of proclaiming 00:42:05.200 --> 00:42:06.139 and making known 00:42:06.139 --> 00:42:06.740 the good news 00:42:06.740 --> 00:42:07.639 of Jesus Christ 00:42:07.639 --> 00:42:09.559 this is Paul's heart 00:42:09.559 --> 00:42:10.300 and his message 00:42:10.300 --> 00:42:11.480 this is what he's 00:42:11.480 --> 00:42:12.460 called us to be 00:42:12.460 --> 00:42:13.280 as a church 00:42:13.280 --> 00:42:18.400 Trinity 00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:20.059 will you 00:42:20.059 --> 00:42:22.519 will you join 00:42:22.519 --> 00:42:23.019 with us 00:42:23.019 --> 00:42:23.559 in this 00:42:23.559 --> 00:42:25.440 will you be 00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:26.139 a part of it 00:42:26.139 --> 00:42:28.220 I hope you don't 00:42:28.220 --> 00:42:28.820 come here 00:42:28.820 --> 00:42:29.380 and think 00:42:29.380 --> 00:42:30.400 gosh I'm glad 00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:31.539 those guys up front 00:42:31.539 --> 00:42:32.920 I'm glad they're 00:42:32.920 --> 00:42:33.519 doing what they're 00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:34.320 doing so I don't 00:42:34.320 --> 00:42:35.199 have to do that 00:42:35.199 --> 00:42:37.659 that's not how 00:42:37.659 --> 00:42:38.340 we think about 00:42:38.340 --> 00:42:39.220 church around here 00:42:39.219 --> 00:42:41.799 I have a role 00:42:41.799 --> 00:42:42.379 to preach 00:42:42.379 --> 00:42:43.659 on Sunday mornings 00:42:43.659 --> 00:42:44.739 every third week 00:42:44.739 --> 00:42:47.199 but we have a 00:42:47.199 --> 00:42:48.099 calling to make 00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:48.939 Christ known 00:42:48.939 --> 00:42:49.980 and to make him 00:42:49.980 --> 00:42:50.359 great 00:42:50.359 --> 00:42:52.919 we have a calling 00:42:52.919 --> 00:42:54.019 to encourage one 00:42:54.019 --> 00:42:54.419 another 00:42:54.419 --> 00:42:55.699 to strengthen one 00:42:55.699 --> 00:42:56.099 another 00:42:56.099 --> 00:42:57.980 God has called 00:42:57.980 --> 00:42:59.359 us as a community 00:42:59.359 --> 00:43:01.039 to pick up the 00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:02.019 cause of making 00:43:02.019 --> 00:43:02.739 Christ known 00:43:02.739 --> 00:43:06.359 my prayer is that 00:43:06.359 --> 00:43:08.000 you will pick 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:08.419 it up 00:43:08.419 --> 00:43:10.119 many of you know 00:43:10.119 --> 00:43:11.000 we're embarking 00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:11.659 on this building 00:43:11.659 --> 00:43:12.219 campaign 00:43:12.219 --> 00:43:13.639 it's going to be 00:43:13.639 --> 00:43:14.819 very easy for us 00:43:14.819 --> 00:43:15.679 to be distracted 00:43:15.679 --> 00:43:16.739 by brick and mortar 00:43:16.739 --> 00:43:17.599 in the next two 00:43:17.599 --> 00:43:17.979 years 00:43:17.979 --> 00:43:21.399 but that's just 00:43:21.399 --> 00:43:22.119 a tool 00:43:22.119 --> 00:43:23.919 it's just a 00:43:23.919 --> 00:43:24.659 context 00:43:24.659 --> 00:43:25.619 whereby we 00:43:25.619 --> 00:43:26.199 might do 00:43:26.199 --> 00:43:26.699 more 00:43:26.699 --> 00:43:27.799 of what we're 00:43:27.799 --> 00:43:28.719 already doing 00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:29.779 which is this 00:43:29.780 --> 00:43:32.260 being this kind 00:43:32.260 --> 00:43:32.920 of community 00:43:32.920 --> 00:43:34.440 and reaching out 00:43:34.440 --> 00:43:35.340 to our community 00:43:35.340 --> 00:43:36.920 with this message 00:43:36.920 --> 00:43:37.600 of the good news 00:43:37.600 --> 00:43:38.620 of Jesus Christ 00:43:38.620 --> 00:43:43.680 I pray 00:43:43.680 --> 00:43:44.280 and hope 00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:45.420 that we will 00:43:45.420 --> 00:43:46.100 make that 00:43:46.100 --> 00:43:46.980 our primary 00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:47.460 focus 00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:48.800 that we will 00:43:48.800 --> 00:43:49.920 hear the call 00:43:49.920 --> 00:43:51.680 we few 00:43:51.680 --> 00:43:53.060 we happy few 00:43:53.060 --> 00:43:54.800 we band 00:43:54.800 --> 00:43:55.540 of sisters 00:43:55.540 --> 00:43:56.519 and brothers 00:43:56.519 --> 00:43:57.700 together 00:43:57.700 --> 00:43:58.420 called 00:43:58.420 --> 00:43:59.579 to what God 00:43:59.579 --> 00:44:00.500 has for this 00:44:00.500 --> 00:44:00.920 church 00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:01.740 at this 00:44:01.740 --> 00:44:02.220 time 00:44:02.220 --> 00:44:02.840 in this 00:44:02.840 --> 00:44:03.400 place 00:44:03.400 --> 00:44:04.920 knowing that 00:44:04.920 --> 00:44:05.659 whatever it 00:44:05.659 --> 00:44:06.340 looks like 00:44:06.340 --> 00:44:07.440 at its 00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:07.820 center 00:44:07.820 --> 00:44:09.180 it will be 00:44:09.180 --> 00:44:09.880 exalting 00:44:09.880 --> 00:44:10.659 and lifting 00:44:10.659 --> 00:44:11.079 up 00:44:11.079 --> 00:44:12.659 and proclaiming 00:44:12.659 --> 00:44:13.539 Jesus Christ 00:44:13.539 --> 00:44:16.200 let's pray 00:44:16.200 --> 00:44:24.500 Lord thank you 00:44:24.500 --> 00:44:25.200 for this word 00:44:25.200 --> 00:44:26.940 Lord thank you 00:44:26.940 --> 00:44:27.599 even more so 00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:28.319 for the call 00:44:28.319 --> 00:44:29.139 that you have 00:44:29.139 --> 00:44:29.679 put on our 00:44:29.679 --> 00:44:30.159 church 00:44:30.159 --> 00:44:31.039 and the call 00:44:31.039 --> 00:44:31.539 that you have 00:44:31.539 --> 00:44:33.659 put on 00:44:33.659 --> 00:44:34.420 the church 00:44:34.420 --> 00:44:35.139 worldwide 00:44:35.139 --> 00:44:36.900 Lord we pray 00:44:36.900 --> 00:44:37.880 that you might 00:44:37.880 --> 00:44:39.059 strengthen us 00:44:39.059 --> 00:44:42.420 enable us 00:44:42.420 --> 00:44:45.699 Lord that you 00:44:45.699 --> 00:44:46.360 would help us 00:44:46.360 --> 00:44:47.659 to see the 00:44:47.659 --> 00:44:48.360 great calling 00:44:48.360 --> 00:44:49.039 to which 00:44:49.039 --> 00:44:49.739 we've been 00:44:49.739 --> 00:44:50.099 called 00:44:50.099 --> 00:44:50.599 and that we 00:44:50.599 --> 00:44:51.579 would take 00:44:51.579 --> 00:44:52.039 it up 00:44:52.039 --> 00:44:54.460 Lord that we 00:44:54.460 --> 00:44:54.799 would 00:44:54.800 --> 00:44:58.620 Lord pray 00:44:58.620 --> 00:44:59.740 and work 00:44:59.740 --> 00:45:00.780 and labor 00:45:00.780 --> 00:45:02.140 and suffer 00:45:02.140 --> 00:45:04.800 out of love 00:45:04.800 --> 00:45:05.580 for one another 00:45:05.580 --> 00:45:07.420 and for the 00:45:07.420 --> 00:45:08.060 sake of Christ 00:45:08.060 --> 00:45:08.860 in this world 00:45:08.860 --> 00:45:11.440 and pray this 00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:12.220 in Jesus name 00:45:12.220 --> 00:45:13.340 Amen 00:45:13.340 --> 00:45:16.460 Amen 00:45:16.460 --> 00:45:46.440 Thank you.