WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.800 Well folks, lovely to see you today. My name is Graeme, I'm the pastor here at the church. 00:00:04.980 --> 00:00:10.019 Let me add my welcome to those who have mentioned it already in the service. So 1st Timothy chapter 00:00:10.019 --> 00:00:16.019 5 open in front of you. Let me encourage you to do that. And let me tell you what I've realized 00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:21.660 the more time I've spent in this passage. I've realized just how much against the grain of our 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:27.760 culture the central message of this passage in 1st Timothy 5 is. Right, let me just give you a 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:31.620 little example of that, see if you connect. The culture vultures out there may have spotted this 00:00:31.620 --> 00:00:40.100 over the last few weeks. Do you know who's got a new album out at the minute? Adele. Right? Adele, 00:00:40.160 --> 00:00:45.600 she's one of the kind of biggest selling singer-songwriters that we've ever produced in this 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:51.480 country. So she releases a new album over the last month or so. It hits the press for two reasons. 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:57.520 Firstly, because it's the first album that she's released in six years. Now if you're an Adele fan, 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:02.100 you'll know that that is a big deal from someone who kind of hit the scene so early on in her life 00:01:02.100 --> 00:01:07.719 with such wonderful music that people went into the streets and hit the shops and bought it. First 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:13.460 time she's released anything in six years. So it's a big deal. Second reason it's a big deal is the 00:01:13.460 --> 00:01:21.540 motivation behind where she got the ideas for her music was and is. So by her own admission, 00:01:21.540 --> 00:01:29.040 this whole album that she's produced tells the story of her decision to walk away from her marriage 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:37.820 and walk away from her family in pursuit of her own happiness. Now one reviewer that I read this week 00:01:37.820 --> 00:01:42.680 said this, he said this, here's the sounds, he's reviewing the album, here's the sound of a woman 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:52.420 who has dismantled her entire world, realizing that she needn't feel guilty for putting herself 00:01:52.420 --> 00:02:01.140 first. So this is what the reviewer was commenting on as he listened and reviewed the album. And what 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:08.520 he's saying I think is so revealing for where we are at as a culture. Because right now you and I are 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:16.600 living our lives in a world that is platforming and celebrating the me first story. So the fact 00:02:16.600 --> 00:02:25.480 that my happiness is the most important thing in life and our world is affirming it and is absolutely 00:02:25.480 --> 00:02:29.879 lapping it up. I think it's exactly what you see in that comment there from the reviewer. 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:38.300 She shouldn't feel guilty for putting herself first. And so here is where this passage is so 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:43.219 radically different from the message that our world is communicating at the minute. Because 00:02:43.219 --> 00:02:51.500 really simply it presents us with a picture of a church family who are being called to adopt a mindset 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:59.000 that is the polar opposite of the me first story. So if you come with me to the opening verses of 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:07.700 chapter five, here's the culture that Timothy is to both realize and work hard to cultivate in Ephesus. 00:03:07.699 --> 00:03:13.119 Do you see it? In this church that's made up of all sorts of different people, from all sorts of 00:03:13.119 --> 00:03:20.159 different backgrounds, from all sorts of different ages, what are they to him? So how is he to conduct 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:27.819 himself as a young guy trying to lead this church in this city? The older men, do you see it? Paul says, 00:03:27.819 --> 00:03:38.039 treat them like you would your father. Do you see it? Same for younger guys. They are your brothers. 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:45.400 Younger women, they are your sisters. Now, I think that's really fascinating. 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:55.120 In a letter where one of the big themes is all about Timothy's personal conduct, to see here how he is to 00:03:55.120 --> 00:04:04.140 set the pace when it comes to purity. And in our culture right now where young women are scared to 00:04:04.140 --> 00:04:09.500 go out in case their drinks get spiked, in our culture where women are told that it's a really good 00:04:09.500 --> 00:04:16.860 idea to carry on them a rape alarm. Do you see how this is so radically different? So radically different. 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:25.259 Timothy is being called to set the pace when it comes to purity. Timothy is to model to the church, 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:32.079 to the world, that this is how you treat and respect a young woman. You don't find that fascinating? 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:36.420 In this culture, even right here, this is what Timothy's being called to do. She's your sister. 00:04:36.420 --> 00:04:45.220 And the older woman, you are to treat them and view them as mothers. Now, take that together. 00:04:46.180 --> 00:04:51.740 What is it speaking of? What kind of culture is Paul telling Timothy to cultivate in Ephesus? 00:04:53.000 --> 00:05:01.520 One of love, one of respect, one of honor, one of commitment, and one of responsibility 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:09.379 to everyone in the church family. Because here's what's going on. The gospel, the message of Jesus, 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:16.819 crucified, risen, Holy Spirit sent, living inside of God's people, that has changed the relationship 00:05:16.819 --> 00:05:20.699 between us. I mean, just think that we're going to think about really practically later on. You can 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:26.839 start thinking that way. It's changed the relationship between us. So we are no longer strangers who happen 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:31.459 to rub shoulders with one another in the same building on a Sunday and during the week. 00:05:32.719 --> 00:05:41.539 We are family. Jesus Christ, our faith in him, has connected us. Connected us. So I find it one of 00:05:41.539 --> 00:05:45.099 the most fascinating things when you travel the world, if you've ever got the privilege of doing 00:05:45.099 --> 00:05:51.279 that, going to another, remember going to Malawi, bumping into people. I had absolutely nothing in 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:56.579 common with him. And yet because we were in church, because we were singing praises to our same God, 00:05:57.099 --> 00:06:04.119 instantly we were united. It's an incredible feeling if you've sensed that in your life. 00:06:05.359 --> 00:06:13.939 Because Jesus Christ has united us together. We are family. So what do you say? And so with that 00:06:13.939 --> 00:06:18.019 understanding of the church, I think what Paul does this week, and we'll see two more next week, 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:24.779 he identifies three relationships in particular that I think he probably knows might be vulnerable 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:29.979 to abuse in this church in Ephesus. So as I say, we're going to look at two of them next week. 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:38.699 But let me just introduce you to the one person who's in Paul's mind in this passage. As somebody 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:44.359 who the church needs to step up and take loving responsibility for. Do you see her mentioned first 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:51.759 at verse three, who is she? She is the widow. Do you see it in the text? The widow. Now that, 00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:57.699 by very definition, don't just skip that word. By very definition, remember there's a person, 00:06:57.819 --> 00:07:08.000 there are people represented by that word. By very definition, the widow, her life is full of pain. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:15.980 Very definition. What has she lost in her life? She's lost her husband. She has been through 00:07:15.980 --> 00:07:25.139 incredible pain because of her loss. Right? Her husband, likely her best friend, but also remember 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:32.019 in this culture, this source of financial income for the family, is she likely worked at home. 00:07:32.019 --> 00:07:37.459 And because she's elderly, do you see in verse nine, how Paul, that's what that 60 is all about, 00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:43.079 which would have been very old in this society, in this culture. Given her age, not only is she 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:47.599 unlikely to get another job or to, sorry, to get a job that might give her some kind of income, 00:07:48.039 --> 00:07:54.299 but there's very little prospect of her potentially getting remarried. And couple that with the fact 00:07:54.300 --> 00:08:03.079 that in this day, okay, there's no such thing as, as benefits packages or pension plans or income 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:12.080 support. Make no mistake, widow in this society has absolutely nothing. She has got nothing. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:17.680 And what is she? What does she represent in the church community? We'll see the phrase that Paul 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:28.160 uses three times at verse three, five and 16. What is she? She is someone who is really in need. 00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:37.440 She's really in need. And so the widow is the person who's in Paul's mind as he writes this little 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:42.740 section. So here's the principle. And if you're sermon doodling, this is the point where you get your pen. 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:52.539 As a church, we are called to take loving responsibility for those in our church family 00:08:52.539 --> 00:09:00.539 who are most in need. Say that again. We as a church family are called to take loving responsibility 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:07.980 for those in our church family who are most in need. And so the time we have remaining, 00:09:08.060 --> 00:09:12.440 I've just got two questions to ask us just to help us think about how we're going to put this into 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:18.620 action. The first is about concerns rather and instruction in the text. And the second question 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:27.480 really is the application of the text. Okay. Now here is the first question. When someone is in need, 00:09:28.260 --> 00:09:37.200 who should step in? Now Paul's a realist. He's a realist. And he knows the reality for this church. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:43.160 He knows the reality for every church. Here's the reality is that there is a limit on our resources, 00:09:44.160 --> 00:09:55.440 time, energy, money. And so the church needs to make sure that what we do have and what we can 00:09:55.440 --> 00:10:02.220 offer in terms of loving people, we've got to make sure that it goes to the right people. And so Paul, 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:08.639 do you see it? He starts talking about a list at verse nine, right? A list. Presumably it's just a 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:17.840 list of names of people in the church who they have come up with and who are most in need and who are 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:23.379 in one way or another, they're being supported by the church. And I imagine what's going on in Ephesus 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:29.919 right here in this moment is that this list is Scottish phrase bursting at the seams, right? 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:37.360 It is full. The church cannot cope. And I think later on in the passage, you see Paul talking about 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:42.179 the burden that's on the church. And I think that's what's going on. This list is bursting at the seams 00:10:42.179 --> 00:10:50.019 because there's people on this list who shouldn't be on the list. Verse four, 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:56.819 those widows who have biological families who can help, they are on the list. Paul saying they 00:10:56.819 --> 00:11:03.500 shouldn't be on the list, right? Who have got children or grandchildren who are stepping in 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:07.519 to love and help mum when she's most in need. 00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:15.600 And all Paul is doing here is just applying a commandment that runs right the way through 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:22.879 all of scripture. And it's the call to care for, love and honour your parents. 00:11:24.420 --> 00:11:31.360 All the way through scripture. It's a commandment that is so close to God's heart. It's why Jesus, 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:36.060 when you see him in action in the gospels in Mark chapter seven, he challenges and he outs the 00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:42.920 Pharisees because they've come up with this whole system called Corban, right? And it's the money that 00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:48.199 would go towards caring for mum and dad. They're kind of saying, whoa, sorry, mum and dad, 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:53.799 that money that would have gone towards you caring for you, I kind of needed to give it to God. So 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:58.659 do you know what? You guys, all the best, you can kind of just go at it on your own. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:04.479 Come up with this whole system. And that sounds really pious, but I imagine when you strip it back, 00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:10.599 all it is, is a desire in their own hearts that people would see the money would be given to God and 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:15.100 that therefore they would get the glory. And Jesus is coming along and saying, you've got a fine 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:21.519 habit of setting aside the commands of God in order to keep up your own traditions. 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:30.659 Friends, do we see how this commandment is so close to God's heart to care for your parents? 00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:43.519 You know, do you know what I see? I see many of you right now sacrificially caring for your family members that you love. 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:49.079 And maybe in particular, you're caring for your parents. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:57.459 And I see it, friends, you're ringing them in the middle of the night or carers are ringing you in the middle of the night about them. 00:12:57.460 --> 00:13:02.460 You're there. You're making sure that they're taking their correct meds. 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:06.720 You're bathing them. You're putting on the tea for them. 00:13:06.800 --> 00:13:09.920 You're getting them ready for bed. You're spending time with them. 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:14.860 You're cooking for them. You're giving up your evenings to go and just sit with them. 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:19.480 And I watch some of you do it and it is inspiring. 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:28.659 And I also see, though, the toll that it's taken on you emotionally, physically, spiritually. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:38.840 And so if that's you here today, I want you to be particularly encouraged by the truth that's at the end of verse 4. 00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:40.980 If you're here today and you're feeling that, 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:45.779 the world might not see it, but you see verse 4, 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:50.080 what you are doing that no one else will see, 00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:54.340 what you are doing is pleasing in the sight of God. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:57.779 As you care for those in your family, 00:13:57.779 --> 00:14:01.320 it is pleasing in the sight of God. 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:06.279 It is precious in the eyes of the one person that it matters. 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:10.740 It's a beautiful thing what you're doing. 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:16.240 I don't know, perhaps likely what's going on in Ephesus 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:20.159 is that people are swallowing this false teaching that's doing the rounds. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:22.379 Remember we thought about a few weeks ago about don't get married. 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:22.899 Do you remember that? 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:25.779 That's 4-3. 00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:26.920 You'll see it there. 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:27.659 Don't get married. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:29.180 This is what the false teachers are saying. 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:33.720 And so you've got young widows in this church family, 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:36.879 I'm assuming, who are perfectly capable of getting married, 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:39.440 but they're swallowing this teaching, hook, line and sinker. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:41.520 And they're just not doing it. 00:14:42.020 --> 00:14:42.840 They're not doing it. 00:14:42.900 --> 00:14:43.660 They're not entertaining it. 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:46.560 And so they're finding their way onto this list somehow. 00:14:46.800 --> 00:14:50.380 And they're kind of sponging off the church's limited resources, 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:52.880 meaning that those who can't get it, 00:14:52.920 --> 00:14:55.640 those who are really in need, they're just on their own. 00:14:56.620 --> 00:15:00.460 And all the while, those people are living questionable lives, 00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:03.639 leading non-believers in the community to ask, 00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:06.920 what, the church is picking up the tab for those guys? 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:08.340 And they're living like that? 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:11.040 You can imagine how that's going to go down in Ephesus, 00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:13.100 bringing the church into disrepute. 00:15:13.180 --> 00:15:14.060 That's what Paul is saying. 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:20.460 There's people on this list who shouldn't be on this list, 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:25.600 but there are most definitely people who should be. 00:15:27.160 --> 00:15:28.980 And I want you to come with me to verse eight. 00:15:30.680 --> 00:15:36.740 Who should be on this list of the most needy that the church has to care for? 00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:42.440 Do you see the widow whose life has been marked by godliness? 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:46.000 And here's what I want us to do, whoever we are here today, 00:15:47.280 --> 00:15:51.940 in our world of Instagram fame, in our world of Twitter bluetix, 00:15:52.160 --> 00:15:55.460 in our world of social media influencers, 00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:58.980 all of us here today, friends, need to get this widow 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:01.120 and the description of her life. 00:16:01.420 --> 00:16:04.820 We need to get the picture of her and put it on our bedroom walls 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:06.580 because this is what we want to be. 00:16:06.900 --> 00:16:09.140 This is a role model for us all to follow. 00:16:09.140 --> 00:16:11.980 I'm pleading with you to look at the description of her 00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:13.759 and think that's what we want for our lives. 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.779 Look at it. 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:19.019 She's a woman who's been faithful in her marriage. 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:23.759 She's a woman who's sacrificially brought up her children. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:25.180 Do you see this description of her? 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:29.200 It was the late John Wesley who once remarked 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:32.659 that he'd learned more of Christianity from his mum 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:35.379 than he had from all the theologians in England. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:38.279 It's an amazing testament, isn't it, 00:16:38.300 --> 00:16:41.800 to the power of a godly woman. 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.399 And it reminds us, doesn't it, 00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:46.620 that the home is the primary place for making disciples 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:49.620 as we show our children what it is to love the Lord. 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:54.940 She's a woman who's shown hospitality to others. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:57.800 She's a woman who's washed the feet of the saints. 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.680 Now get that one. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.740 It's an incredible, what lovely description. 00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:05.640 She is a woman who's washed the feet of the saints. 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:06.620 She is a woman. 00:17:07.300 --> 00:17:08.920 And standing behind that, remember, 00:17:09.060 --> 00:17:13.580 is a life that has been deeply formed and transformed by Jesus. 00:17:15.100 --> 00:17:17.780 Because why has she learned to wash the feet of the saints? 00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:18.900 Where does that come from? 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:23.280 It comes from the fact that you know that Jesus has first washed your feet, 00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:23.940 as it were. 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:26.000 He's the one who has served us. 00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:31.279 He's the one that came, that laid down his life on a cross. 00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:32.360 He is the one who has risen. 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:36.680 He is the one who's personifying what it is to be servant-hearted. 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:41.000 And this woman, her life has been wonderfully formed by Jesus. 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:45.500 She is a woman whose life has been marked by sacrifice. 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:53.599 And she's a woman whose life has been all about helping and devoting herself to the needs of others. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:58.440 In other words, her life is one that has just, over the years, 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:00.500 just oozed the fruit of the Spirit. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:09.319 Friends, let me just ask, as we maybe bring this first little section to a close, 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:15.659 who are the people in our church family who are really in need? 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:16.980 Who are they? 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:21.539 Just think practically, who are those in our church family who are really in need? 00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:26.720 Just moving on, thinking of the widow and maybe just broadening it out a little bit 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:31.759 to those, as it were, who right now are the kind of people that she represents, 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:33.839 those who are really in need. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:37.799 As we think about those people, here's the second question. 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:41.659 When someone is in need, friends, how can we step up? 00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:46.019 Just a few things to think about. 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:48.819 Thinking about, first of all, practically. 00:18:49.419 --> 00:18:53.279 Friends, what can we do to help those in our church family who are most in need? 00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:54.899 Right? 00:18:55.159 --> 00:19:03.659 Cook meals, babysitting, visiting, spending time, phoning, texting, 00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:05.779 offer to come and stay in our homes. 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:09.200 Friends, I remember being so blown away when I used to live down south, 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:12.779 and my pastor texted me one Sunday afternoon. 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:15.019 He just sent me a text saying, missed you this morning. 00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:16.819 Hope you're doing okay. 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:19.200 And anything I can do to help, just let me know. 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:23.059 I remember being blown away by that as somebody who'd just moved to a new city. 00:19:24.139 --> 00:19:25.960 That somebody would notice that I wasn't there, 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:28.819 that somebody would follow up in love. 00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:33.180 Friends, who can we be in contact with this week? 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:35.880 Remembering key dates in people's lives. 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.980 It's just ideas, right? 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:41.840 Maybe particularly anniversaries, birthdays of loved ones who've sadly died. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:45.299 Times over the year where it's difficult to be on your own. 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:47.420 Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day. 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:52.180 I heard recently about a church in Northern Ireland who started a hardship fund. 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:55.460 Fund flowing off from lockdown. 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:57.460 Money set aside. 00:19:57.539 --> 00:20:00.440 They set aside to potentially help people who'd lost jobs, 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:03.480 who were struggling with mental health off the back of lockdown. 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:07.180 Some of them we're looking into maybe starting here. 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:12.019 But what are some of the practical things we can do to help people in our church family 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:14.900 who are most in need? 00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:18.680 And what can we do to help them spiritually as well? 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:26.060 Getting alongside people, listening, bringing God's word to bear on each other's lives. 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:30.680 And just praying with and for one another. 00:20:30.780 --> 00:20:34.340 Do you know, I think the discovery of the Zoom prayer meeting, 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:37.340 friends, I think that's going to open up huge possibilities for us. 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.660 I just want to echo what Alistair said. 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.660 Come tomorrow night. 00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:44.560 A huge proportion of that meeting is just praying for people in our church family who are in need. 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.900 Please come along. 00:20:47.840 --> 00:20:52.920 And as you see how we're called to be a church that's there for people in their hardest times. 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.560 Do you see that? 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:58.880 Do you see how this whole letter, do you see how it is the church back on track? 00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:03.580 A church that cares for one another. 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:06.960 And so here's what I want you to think about as we maybe just wrap this up this morning. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:13.600 Friends, how can we step up for those in our church family who are most in need? 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:17.539 You know, just as we close, I want to leave you just with a story I heard this week 00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:20.980 of a church down in the Wirral. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.240 You know where the Wirral is? 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.579 It's just outside near Liverpool. 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:29.880 And as a church family, over the last, I can't think, kind of six months as I heard this story, 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:36.120 as they've emerged from lockdown and as they started kind of looking at each other in the eye, 00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:41.379 maybe picking up on things that they hadn't noticed when they were doing stuff on Zoom or online, 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:45.739 as they've heard and listened to one another tell their stories. 00:21:45.939 --> 00:21:48.419 I think they've realized, and we've all realized this, haven't we, 00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:52.979 just how much lockdown has taken a toll on each of us, and maybe in different ways. 00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:57.759 But one of those ways, I think, is they listen to people tell their stories. 00:21:57.899 --> 00:22:05.379 They recognize that particularly an older generation had really struggled, many of them, with bereavement. 00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:14.419 Many had lost spouses, many had lost friends, and as a result, just struggling with isolation and loneliness. 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:19.339 And so what just a few of them in the church started to do, they started to get together and pray, 00:22:19.439 --> 00:22:20.359 Lord, what can we do? 00:22:20.719 --> 00:22:25.639 And so they started this bereavement cafe in the church, just kept it really simple. 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:29.339 What they did, they just invited people to come to the church building, 00:22:29.959 --> 00:22:32.139 enjoy some nice biscuits and coffee, 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:36.580 and just encouraged people to share their stories and struggles, 00:22:37.020 --> 00:22:38.900 to try and carry one another's burdens. 00:22:39.320 --> 00:22:42.380 And they would listen to a short thought from the Bible, 00:22:42.820 --> 00:22:44.620 put some books on the table to take away, 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:49.280 and just offer people the chance to be prayed for if they wanted it. 00:22:49.780 --> 00:22:49.920 Right? 00:22:50.020 --> 00:22:52.220 Just keeping it really, really simple. 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:55.579 And people found it really helpful. 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.539 Really helpful. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:03.759 So much so that the people who started coming along and feeling the benefit of what it is to be loved, 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:07.660 they started telling other people in the church family to come along. 00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:12.100 And they also started telling people outside the church family to come along. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:16.400 And so people just started coming to this group, and all of a sudden it starts growing. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:21.000 And so much so, and the lady who told me this on the phone has got no idea how this happened, 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:24.220 but the local GP started to find out about the group. 00:23:24.840 --> 00:23:28.280 And they started referring people to this little group because they understood 00:23:28.280 --> 00:23:30.300 if they were going to care for people holistically, 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:34.720 that to be involved in a community which was safe, 00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:38.759 and which encouraged people just to talk about their problems and their pains, 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:40.540 was a wonderfully healing thing. 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:47.220 And so now you have this little community down in Wirral that started with a handful of people 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:49.399 trying to respond to a need in their congregation, 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:53.379 and God is using it mightily in that part of the country. 00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.859 It's an incredible story. 00:23:55.399 --> 00:23:57.899 What God is doing just from simple faithfulness, 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:00.420 God is using it to impact that local community. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:03.740 Friends, see what we've looked at today. 00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:05.399 It is not glitz and glam. 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:08.059 It's not glitz and glam, is it? 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:11.899 It is tears and toil. 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:19.259 But as a church family, see if we model this as we respond to God's word, 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:21.700 as we allow him to form us as a community, 00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:25.099 as we care for those who are most in need, 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:28.940 as we live our lives in this me first world, 00:24:29.639 --> 00:24:34.059 just see how we will be a city on the hill community that Jesus talked about. 00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:42.299 We will be that community of salt and light as we hold out the message of the gospel to a world 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:44.339 and says, come and meet Jesus. 00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:45.940 Come and meet him. 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.679 Come and repent of your sins. 00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.539 Come to him. 00:24:48.919 --> 00:24:52.599 And know what it is to be loved as part of the church family, 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:56.779 the community that's been birthed and is formed by his word. 00:24:56.779 --> 00:25:00.819 So friends, two questions as we close. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.139 Who needs to step in? 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:05.460 So if you think about those in our church family who are most in need, 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.539 who needs to step in? 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:09.180 And how can we step up? 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:11.119 Let's pray together. 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:18.000 Father, we thank you so much this morning for the Lord Jesus. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:22.839 And thank you that he is the one who came not to be served, 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:30.279 but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:35.039 And we just thank you, Lord, for the unity which we have in him. 00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:38.400 All sorts of different people represented here this morning 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:42.819 who probably are carrying all sorts of different burdens. 00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:46.759 And Lord, I pray by your spirit moving amongst us 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:49.419 as you continue to form us by your word, 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:52.399 you would help us to be a church community 00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:56.480 that really cares, that steps up, 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.980 that takes responsibility, 00:25:58.399 --> 00:26:03.579 that loves our dear brothers and sisters who are most in need. 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:07.879 And so if I just pray, maybe just in the silence now before we close, 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.960 for those who are here this morning 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:12.140 who are hurting 00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:15.000 and who maybe feel the pain of everything 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.779 that we've looked at today. 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:21.000 Lord, I ask that by your spirit 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:23.160 and through your people 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:26.380 that you would bring hope 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.860 and healing 00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:30.440 and the message of Jesus 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:32.819 into their lives. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.700 And Father, we commit ourselves to you 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:38.799 in Jesus' worthy 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.880 and in his loving name we pray. 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:42.059 Amen.