WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:03.800 Good morning. Can you hear me? That's great. 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:08.939 Good morning. My name's Chris. I'm a teaching pastor here at Watermark, 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:13.900 and I echo Leo's sentiments about the weather. 00:00:15.900 --> 00:00:23.980 In fact, I'm from the UK, so in the UK, it's like 24 degrees is like tropical weather. 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:29.019 And yet here, I'm getting cold at 24 degrees, so I'm feeling a real wimp. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.019 And one of the things that I've been just thinking about and reading recently, 00:00:38.100 --> 00:00:39.159 I've been reading 1 Corinthians. 00:00:40.359 --> 00:00:46.019 And in 1 Corinthians, I just had this very simple thought struck me. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:49.379 Jesus loves his church. 00:00:50.980 --> 00:00:52.299 Did you get that? 00:00:52.900 --> 00:00:56.260 It's not rocket science. It's not kind of mind-blowing, 00:00:56.259 --> 00:01:02.179 except you see when you read through Scripture, Jesus calls his church, 00:01:02.519 --> 00:01:07.759 his building, his temple, his bride, his body, his flock, his saints, his disciples, 00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:10.280 his servants, his family, his people. 00:01:11.140 --> 00:01:13.959 Jesus loves his church. 00:01:16.039 --> 00:01:19.759 And just kind of look around you for a second. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:22.100 Okay, it's audience participation. 00:01:22.859 --> 00:01:23.920 Okay, look around you. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:27.359 The church is not a building. 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:30.060 The church is not a place. 00:01:31.080 --> 00:01:33.800 The church is primarily a people. 00:01:35.100 --> 00:01:38.400 You and me, we are the church. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:44.700 Which means you and I are the church that Jesus loves. 00:01:45.320 --> 00:01:50.920 You and I are the church that is so costly that Jesus died, 00:01:51.320 --> 00:01:56.420 paid the ultimate price that you might come to be part of his church. 00:01:57.080 --> 00:02:00.700 That's how much he wants you to be part of his body. 00:02:01.460 --> 00:02:03.320 He paid with his entire life. 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:07.739 It is grace, pure grace, that you are part of his church. 00:02:09.259 --> 00:02:11.560 And if you think about it, it truly is grace, 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:13.799 because if you actually get to know each other, 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:16.799 then you are really amazed that it's grace, 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:22.000 because some of you have just incredibly weird tastes in TV shows. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:25.159 Some of you have strange personalities. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:29.240 Some of us have habits, 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:32.659 which normally we would never hang around with people 00:02:32.659 --> 00:02:34.360 who had those kind of habits, right? 00:02:34.939 --> 00:02:36.360 They're not the kind of people you'd always choose 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:37.780 to hang out on a Friday night with. 00:02:38.100 --> 00:02:43.500 But Jesus died that you and I might be part of his body. 00:02:44.740 --> 00:02:47.360 He says he loves his church. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:49.080 Some people say, 00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:50.879 I love Jesus, but I don't like the church. 00:02:51.640 --> 00:02:52.680 That's a bit like saying, 00:02:53.100 --> 00:02:56.060 I like you, but your body is really ugly. 00:02:56.680 --> 00:02:58.980 You know, that's not nice, right? 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:01.480 That's not the way you love the church. 00:03:01.580 --> 00:03:04.980 And yet Jesus says the church is his plan A. 00:03:05.860 --> 00:03:06.920 You know, in the Bible, 00:03:07.140 --> 00:03:09.439 he doesn't have a plan B, right? 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:11.100 The church is his plan A. 00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:13.500 And all through the New Testament, 00:03:14.040 --> 00:03:16.340 90 times out of 114 times, 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:17.879 whenever the word church is mentioned, 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:19.700 it's all about the local church. 00:03:20.540 --> 00:03:22.260 All about the local church. 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:25.740 So the question that kind of kept coming back to me was, 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:28.700 if Jesus loves his church that much, 00:03:29.399 --> 00:03:31.199 how much do I love his church? 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:34.919 How much do I love this church 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:37.379 that he's brought me into? 00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:41.139 And today we're kind of talking about membership. 00:03:41.299 --> 00:03:42.459 And if this is your first time 00:03:42.459 --> 00:03:43.619 and you're a visitor here, 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:44.759 you're just really welcome. 00:03:44.839 --> 00:03:46.439 You kind of listen in to the conversation 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:48.299 that we want to be having. 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:51.560 And really, I just, I mentioned last week, 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:53.480 but I'm just so aware that membership is something 00:03:53.480 --> 00:03:56.340 we as a church have not really talked about well. 00:03:56.439 --> 00:03:59.060 We haven't done well at all, I think. 00:03:59.180 --> 00:03:59.920 We've done it since, 00:04:00.020 --> 00:04:02.040 we've done it since right at the beginning. 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:04.300 And yet, I think some of you, 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:05.920 I mean, I know that we haven't done it well 00:04:05.920 --> 00:04:07.260 because some of you are like saying, 00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:10.500 I'm not sure whether I am a signed member 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:11.420 of the church or not. 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:12.540 Let me just check. 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:13.780 Did I sign that thing? 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:16.319 Okay, I've been talking to some of you, 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:17.720 so I know that this is the case, 00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:19.480 which shows that actually we want to make 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:21.079 what it means to be a member 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:23.259 more meaningful in the church. 00:04:23.339 --> 00:04:24.279 And so that's what we want to kind of be 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:26.699 talking about today, looking at the Bible. 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:29.259 We're going to be having some membership classes 00:04:29.259 --> 00:04:31.439 coming up, and we just really want everyone 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:33.639 to be engaged with this. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:37.300 Many churches practice membership, 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:39.000 and it's kind of becomes this like 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:42.340 exclusive little holy club for really holy people. 00:04:42.339 --> 00:04:44.119 I don't know if you've been in those kind of churches. 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:46.339 You know, I've also seen other churches 00:04:46.339 --> 00:04:47.459 where they do kind of membership, 00:04:48.019 --> 00:04:51.379 and it's like they lower the bar so low to be a member 00:04:51.379 --> 00:04:53.299 that kind of anyone can just kind of walk in, 00:04:53.339 --> 00:04:55.359 and suddenly they're kind of the member of the church. 00:04:56.939 --> 00:04:58.599 And yet, when you look at Scripture, 00:05:00.139 --> 00:05:02.779 Jesus never lowers the bar for what it means 00:05:02.779 --> 00:05:04.019 to be a disciple of his. 00:05:05.719 --> 00:05:08.439 In fact, Jesus lost followers 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:10.279 because he wouldn't lower the bar. 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:13.079 And the church actually grew 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:14.899 because he wouldn't lower the bar. 00:05:16.299 --> 00:05:18.399 And he didn't say, 00:05:18.599 --> 00:05:20.799 okay, you've got to kind of meet up to this standard 00:05:20.799 --> 00:05:22.039 to be a member of the church. 00:05:22.119 --> 00:05:23.859 He said, no, I have met the standard. 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:25.219 Now I want you to follow me 00:05:25.219 --> 00:05:26.839 and walk with me 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:29.500 in your brokenness, in your sinfulness, 00:05:29.819 --> 00:05:32.359 and realize that I am going to lead you to walk 00:05:32.359 --> 00:05:34.759 as I call you to be as part of my people. 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:38.339 So here's why I think 00:05:38.339 --> 00:05:39.819 we just need to be talking about membership. 00:05:41.599 --> 00:05:42.500 Because as a church, 00:05:42.599 --> 00:05:44.599 I think just even what Jeremy was sharing, 00:05:45.119 --> 00:05:46.939 one of the most amazing things I see 00:05:46.939 --> 00:05:49.659 is we're really a community who serves together, 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:52.839 who really tries to value each other, 00:05:52.919 --> 00:05:53.979 engage in each other's lives, 00:05:54.019 --> 00:05:55.319 and it's just amazing to see. 00:05:55.599 --> 00:05:57.599 I could tell you many stories of what I'm seeing. 00:05:58.979 --> 00:06:01.219 But I also noticed some other things. 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:04.980 I noticed that sometimes when difficulty 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:06.220 or struggles come, 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:08.880 when it comes to just kind of moving away, 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:11.120 sometimes people just slip out of the back door. 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:14.340 And you're like, oh, where was that person? 00:06:14.420 --> 00:06:16.600 And they're like, oh, they left like two months ago. 00:06:16.980 --> 00:06:19.360 And you're like, but as a family, 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:21.120 we want to be able to walk with you in that. 00:06:21.200 --> 00:06:22.340 We want to be able to send you. 00:06:22.400 --> 00:06:25.620 That's a great time for us to pray for you together. 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:29.720 And if we don't see that that's part of being a family, 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:34.079 you know, we've missed something 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:35.420 of what it means to be church. 00:06:35.860 --> 00:06:38.300 You know, some of us don't know exactly 00:06:38.300 --> 00:06:39.860 what we believe and why we believe. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:41.600 I don't know if you, 00:06:42.259 --> 00:06:45.259 I did an iTunes update this last week. 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:47.840 Do you know when you get the iTunes update 00:06:47.840 --> 00:06:49.680 and they give you all the new terms and conditions, 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:52.399 how many of you actually ever read them? 00:06:53.939 --> 00:06:55.240 Or do you just click agree? 00:06:56.620 --> 00:06:59.280 Like, I have never read a single one of those iTunes. 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:01.060 Now, Alfie told me, 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:02.800 like, I have no idea what I'm signing up to. 00:07:03.019 --> 00:07:03.500 No idea. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:07.040 Alfie actually told me that apparently 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:09.280 you're not supposed to make nuclear weapons 00:07:09.280 --> 00:07:10.019 with your iPad. 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:11.920 So that's one of the agreements, 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:12.740 which I didn't know. 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:15.180 But it's a good thing I'm keeping that one. 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:17.399 But the thing is, 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:19.100 nothing terrible has happened to me so far. 00:07:19.220 --> 00:07:20.680 So I think it's cool, right? 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:21.840 I think it's fine. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:23.319 And you know, the thing is, 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:25.139 I can treat church in the same way. 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:27.120 It's like, I know the deal. 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:30.159 I just click agree by coming to church on a Sunday. 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:32.919 But in fact, do I understand 00:07:32.919 --> 00:07:34.699 what I'm really signing up for 00:07:34.699 --> 00:07:37.039 when I say I'm a Christian and I belong to the church? 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:39.339 Do I know what it is? 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:41.459 You know, I have, 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:44.739 I've had people come to me and say, 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:46.599 hey, I need you to sign this form 00:07:46.599 --> 00:07:48.579 to say that I'm a member of Watermark 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:50.620 for the school that my child is trying to get in. 00:07:51.159 --> 00:07:53.560 And I haven't seen them for weeks or months. 00:07:54.219 --> 00:07:56.459 And I've heard they go into about three different churches. 00:07:57.180 --> 00:07:57.759 And I'm like, 00:07:58.479 --> 00:08:00.439 maybe we need to think about 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:02.560 what it actually means to be a member of a church. 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:07.199 Because the Bible has some very significant things 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:08.040 to say about it. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:10.780 And so I want us just to talk about 00:08:10.780 --> 00:08:12.360 a few different things. 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:14.959 Membership is about commitment. 00:08:16.180 --> 00:08:17.899 Membership is about belonging. 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:20.279 Membership is about accountability. 00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:22.319 And membership is about submission. 00:08:22.899 --> 00:08:23.000 Okay? 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:24.519 So that's just kind of where we're going to go. 00:08:24.899 --> 00:08:25.600 We're going to start with 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:26.879 membership is about commitment. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:29.439 And if you have your Bible 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:31.360 or your bulletin with you, 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:32.759 we're just going to kind of go through 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:35.000 a few of these different passages together. 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:38.360 So we're going to start looking in Acts 2. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:41.159 Acts 2, it's the birth of the church. 00:08:41.899 --> 00:08:43.259 Remember, Jesus says to Peter, 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:46.879 I'm going to build my church through you, Peter. 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:47.799 I'm going to build it. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:48.500 It's my church. 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:49.899 And then Pentecost happens. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:51.240 The Spirit comes down. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:53.940 3,000 people get saved. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.220 And do you know what it says? 00:08:55.220 --> 00:08:57.420 It says they got baptized 00:08:57.420 --> 00:08:59.660 and they get added to the church. 00:08:59.920 --> 00:09:01.340 And then verse 42 says, 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:03.920 they devoted themselves 00:09:03.920 --> 00:09:05.800 to the apostles' teaching, 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:06.860 the fellowship, 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:08.420 the breaking of bread, 00:09:08.560 --> 00:09:09.620 and the prayers. 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:12.820 They devoted themselves. 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:15.800 Do you know what that word devoted means? 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.980 It actually means to cling on to, 00:09:19.160 --> 00:09:20.639 to hold fast to 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:22.840 with perseverance and persistence. 00:09:23.800 --> 00:09:24.500 That's what it means. 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:26.220 You know, 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:27.360 when you have a teenager 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.279 who is devoted 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:31.300 to playing Assassin's Creed 00:09:31.300 --> 00:09:32.580 on their Xbox One, 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:34.860 what does it look like? 00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:36.120 Right? 00:09:36.560 --> 00:09:37.000 You know, 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:38.340 they will, 00:09:38.820 --> 00:09:40.200 even though they could be eating 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:40.899 or sleeping, 00:09:41.040 --> 00:09:41.680 they're willing 00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:42.860 to hold fast 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:44.019 to that game console 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:47.960 just because there's something 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:49.519 about it that's important for them. 00:09:50.579 --> 00:09:51.919 Nothing's moving them from that. 00:09:52.079 --> 00:09:52.740 There's a commitment. 00:09:55.139 --> 00:09:56.340 When the passage says 00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:57.559 they devoted themselves, 00:09:57.799 --> 00:09:59.379 they committed themselves 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:01.279 to the apostles' teaching. 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:02.399 They were so desperate 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:03.539 for God's word 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:04.439 that they were going 00:10:04.439 --> 00:10:05.519 to just cling to it. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:07.439 They were committed 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:08.240 to one another. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:08.820 So it says 00:10:08.820 --> 00:10:09.940 they had all things in common. 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:11.259 They sold their possessions. 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:13.019 They gave money 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:13.860 to those who are in need. 00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:14.080 I mean, 00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:15.000 just think how committed 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:15.539 you've got to be 00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:16.639 to give away your stuff. 00:10:17.180 --> 00:10:17.279 I mean, 00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:18.460 that's pretty committed. 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:20.200 And then, 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:21.299 they were meeting daily 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:22.019 in the temple. 00:10:22.419 --> 00:10:22.539 You know, 00:10:22.940 --> 00:10:24.139 they were kind of, 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:25.019 so the temple's like 00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:25.779 Sunday sermon, 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:26.460 kind of, 00:10:26.580 --> 00:10:27.620 it's big group gathering. 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:28.680 A lot of people 00:10:28.680 --> 00:10:29.200 can fit there. 00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:29.879 Then they met 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:30.820 in each other's homes, 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:32.039 small groups, 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:33.399 like our CGs. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:35.240 They're loving each other. 00:10:36.319 --> 00:10:37.419 And they're doing 00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:38.220 all of this 00:10:38.220 --> 00:10:40.860 and it doesn't seem like, 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:41.699 oh no, 00:10:42.079 --> 00:10:42.939 I've got to do this. 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:43.659 It's actually, 00:10:43.819 --> 00:10:45.100 Jesus has captured them 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:45.939 in such a way 00:10:45.939 --> 00:10:48.220 that their commitment 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:48.819 to Jesus 00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:49.819 is always lived out 00:10:49.819 --> 00:10:50.579 through the commitment 00:10:50.579 --> 00:10:51.600 to the people 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:52.340 that he provides 00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:53.000 around them 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:54.000 in his church. 00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:55.959 So here's the progression 00:10:55.959 --> 00:10:56.500 of faith. 00:10:57.179 --> 00:10:58.860 You hear and believe 00:10:58.860 --> 00:10:59.379 the gospel. 00:10:59.779 --> 00:11:00.659 You get baptized. 00:11:01.079 --> 00:11:01.559 You get added 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:02.759 to a local church 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:04.000 and then you devote 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:04.840 yourselves there 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:05.620 to the people, 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:06.819 to God's word, 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:07.840 to prayer, 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:09.559 to really following Christ 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:10.360 in that community. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:12.340 That's the biblical pattern. 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:15.220 So if you're thinking about it, 00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:16.700 in the first century 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:18.259 in Jerusalem, 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:19.539 how many churches were there? 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:23.340 One. 00:11:23.779 --> 00:11:24.899 Good answer, Graham. 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:26.240 Yes. 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:27.960 There was one church. 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:29.220 So when you got baptized, 00:11:29.939 --> 00:11:31.879 which church you got committed to 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:34.039 was the church in Jerusalem 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:35.139 because there was only one. 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.439 There was no other choices. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:39.740 And baptism was a huge sign 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.360 of commitment 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:42.000 because in a pagan culture, 00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:43.200 you know, 00:11:43.460 --> 00:11:44.700 being a Christian 00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:45.419 wasn't cool. 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:48.580 But now the issue 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:49.519 for us 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:50.620 in our society 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.539 is in Hong Kong, 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:51.799 you know, 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:53.580 there's like over 1,500 churches. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.799 And when you get baptized, 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:56.679 you get brought 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:57.500 into God's 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:59.000 universal church 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:00.100 and you're a believer 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:00.820 but you need to learn 00:12:00.820 --> 00:12:02.639 where do I express that, 00:12:03.059 --> 00:12:04.740 my identity in Christ 00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:06.360 in a local church body? 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:07.539 Where do I do that? 00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:10.139 And hopefully what you do 00:12:10.139 --> 00:12:11.000 is you get baptized 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:12.039 and if you're not, 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:12.620 if you're Christian 00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:13.500 and you're not baptized, 00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:14.820 we want to encourage you 00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:15.580 to get baptized. 00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:17.340 So you get baptized 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:18.600 and then you, 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:19.460 hopefully you stay 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:20.399 in your local church. 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:21.100 But the thing is, 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:21.879 in our society, 00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:22.559 things move. 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:23.440 People move. 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:24.740 Things change. 00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:27.259 And so then 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:27.960 when you move on, 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:29.039 how are you going to express 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:29.940 your commitment 00:12:29.940 --> 00:12:31.019 to your new church? 00:12:32.060 --> 00:12:33.180 How do the elders know 00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:34.279 that you're committed there? 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:36.180 How do you understand 00:12:36.180 --> 00:12:36.799 what the church 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:37.700 really believes 00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:38.460 more than you just 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:39.259 kind of like the music 00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:40.279 and you like the atmosphere? 00:12:41.299 --> 00:12:42.759 The way that we do that 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:44.580 is through membership process. 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:46.080 That's why we do it. 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:48.039 One of the things 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:48.620 I've noticed, 00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:49.539 you know, 00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:50.100 in Hong Kong, 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:51.100 I don't think it's only Hong Kong, 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:52.180 I think it's a lot of places, 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:54.200 but we can sometimes 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:55.240 treat Christianity 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:56.379 and church 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.259 kind of like a buffet. 00:12:57.920 --> 00:12:58.040 You know, 00:12:58.060 --> 00:12:58.440 we do church 00:12:58.440 --> 00:12:59.480 kind of buffet style. 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:00.400 You know, 00:13:00.460 --> 00:13:00.960 there's a bit of 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:02.480 spiritual sashimi over here, 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:05.180 a bit of teaching curry 00:13:05.180 --> 00:13:05.879 over there. 00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:06.320 You know, 00:13:06.400 --> 00:13:07.840 we pick and choose 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:08.980 the little bits we like. 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:09.879 And so I hear this 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.320 all the time. 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:10.600 I hear, 00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:11.440 hey, 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.040 I've started going 00:13:12.040 --> 00:13:12.840 to this new church 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:14.340 and I just really love 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.220 the sermons over there. 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:15.920 They're so relevant. 00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:16.879 But the community 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:17.500 is not great there. 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.980 I love going to that church 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:19.420 because they have 00:13:19.420 --> 00:13:20.520 great community over there. 00:13:20.640 --> 00:13:21.480 So I want to get engaged 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.820 in that community group there. 00:13:23.060 --> 00:13:23.660 And then sometimes 00:13:23.659 --> 00:13:24.399 my friends invite me 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:24.860 to another church 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:26.120 and I love the music there. 00:13:27.079 --> 00:13:27.399 Right? 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:28.519 We're doing church 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:29.740 spiritual buffet style. 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:32.579 And the question is, 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:35.399 where has God called you 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:37.379 to love the church, 00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:39.439 not just to date the church? 00:13:41.719 --> 00:13:43.139 Are you there to give 00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:44.120 or are you there to get? 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:46.799 The call of membership 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:49.139 is to stop dating the church 00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:49.980 and to settle down 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:50.659 and marry her, 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:52.500 if I can use that analogy. 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:53.759 Right? 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:55.679 Now, 00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:57.159 I'm not saying, 00:13:57.699 --> 00:13:58.919 you go to a church, 00:13:59.220 --> 00:14:00.319 you will find no church 00:14:00.319 --> 00:14:01.419 which is a perfect church 00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.179 which does everything. 00:14:02.819 --> 00:14:03.840 If you join it, 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:04.519 anyway, 00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:06.240 even if it was a perfect church, 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:07.559 it wouldn't be perfect 00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:08.399 after you've joined. 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:09.720 But, 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.559 what membership is saying, 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.159 I'm going from being 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:13.259 a fan of this church 00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:14.399 to being a family member. 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:15.980 I'm going from saying, 00:14:16.319 --> 00:14:17.379 I like this, 00:14:17.459 --> 00:14:17.759 to saying, 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:18.500 I'm committed. 00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:20.360 I'm going to devote myself here. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:22.959 That's what membership is about. 00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:24.360 And so, 00:14:24.959 --> 00:14:26.740 some of us 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:30.059 really just don't understand 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:31.019 in terms of, 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:34.340 Hong Kong is very transient. 00:14:35.439 --> 00:14:36.139 It's very transient. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:36.980 Some of us are only here 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:37.840 for a short time. 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.419 But God actually says, 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:41.679 when you look 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:42.840 and prayerfully look around 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:43.779 different churches, 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:44.879 you have to think, 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.600 where am I going to get plugged in? 00:14:47.059 --> 00:14:49.039 Even if it's just a short time, 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.159 where is the church 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.579 I'm going to devote myself to? 00:14:52.579 --> 00:14:53.799 And if it's this church, 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.120 great. 00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:55.000 If it's another church, 00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:55.360 great. 00:14:55.459 --> 00:14:56.639 But God calls you 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.899 to devote yourself, 00:14:58.019 --> 00:14:59.360 no matter how long you're here, 00:15:00.079 --> 00:15:00.839 to a church. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.600 Membership is about 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:03.379 commitment 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:04.839 to Jesus first 00:15:04.839 --> 00:15:06.139 and then to the body 00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:06.720 that he loves. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:07.579 Okay, 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:08.480 that's the first thing. 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:10.000 Second thing, 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.539 membership is about 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.000 belonging. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:17.539 Flick over to 1 Corinthians 00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:18.840 for me. 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:19.799 I just want to spend 00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:20.860 a little bit of time here. 00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:23.159 1 Corinthians 12, 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.960 verse 12, 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:25.480 says this, 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:28.060 Just as the body is one 00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:29.740 and has many members 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.820 and all the members 00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:31.379 of the body, 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:33.399 though many are one body, 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:35.039 so it is with Christ. 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:36.940 For in one spirit 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:38.300 we were all baptized 00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:39.399 into one body, 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.539 Jews or Greeks, 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.399 slave or free, 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:43.320 and all were made 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:45.300 to drink of one spirit. 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.519 Did you notice 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.960 how many times he said all? 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:50.460 Did you get that? 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.259 He said, 00:15:51.920 --> 00:15:52.759 All members, 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.040 all baptized, 00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:56.240 all drink of one body. 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:57.680 Yet we're one together, 00:15:57.780 --> 00:15:58.900 but all of us 00:15:58.900 --> 00:15:59.580 are important. 00:16:02.180 --> 00:16:03.460 In the church in Corinth, 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.379 which is where Paul's talking, 00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:06.240 it's a local church, 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:08.519 he's talking to people 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.820 who are thinking 00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.620 things like that. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:10.900 Well, 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:13.000 if I'm not engaged, 00:16:13.800 --> 00:16:14.680 there's plenty of other people 00:16:14.680 --> 00:16:15.720 who can take my place. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.600 They're looking at everybody 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.320 else around them 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:18.500 and saying, 00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:18.639 well, 00:16:18.660 --> 00:16:19.800 I'm not as gifted as them. 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:20.620 I'm not as good 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.620 a communicator as them. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:23.139 I'm not as extroverted as them. 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.079 I'm not quite as good. 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.319 So I'm not going to be a mist 00:16:25.319 --> 00:16:26.839 if I don't engage in the body. 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.679 And Paul is saying to them, 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.059 guys, 00:16:31.339 --> 00:16:32.319 don't you understand 00:16:32.319 --> 00:16:33.120 who you are? 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:34.919 Don't you understand 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:36.919 what Jesus has brought you in? 00:16:36.979 --> 00:16:37.539 You're a body. 00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:38.439 And he says, 00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:39.240 if the foot, 00:16:39.439 --> 00:16:40.159 verse 14, 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.579 the foot should say, 00:16:41.719 --> 00:16:42.559 because I'm not a hand, 00:16:42.599 --> 00:16:43.859 I don't belong to the body, 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.579 that would not make it 00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:47.000 any less a part of the body. 00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:49.059 He's saying, 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:52.159 if you are a foot 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.519 and you go AWOL, 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.339 okay, 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:55.039 you're saying, 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.259 well, 00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:56.000 I'm only smelly 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.739 and a little hairy. 00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:58.079 I don't get much pictures 00:16:58.079 --> 00:16:58.699 on Facebook. 00:16:59.059 --> 00:16:59.739 So therefore, 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.759 I'm not so important. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.460 He's saying, 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.139 no, 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:06.240 don't you realize, 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.659 just as with the body, 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.720 every part is valuable. 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:12.059 You have a unique contribution 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.379 to make in the body 00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:15.639 where God has placed you. 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:17.119 Did you get that? 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:17.839 You, 00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:19.399 say, 00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:19.939 me, 00:17:20.879 --> 00:17:21.479 I, 00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:24.859 have a unique contribution 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.879 to make to God's body 00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:28.559 that he has placed here. 00:17:30.399 --> 00:17:32.859 I think we can miss that sometimes. 00:17:33.939 --> 00:17:34.119 You know, 00:17:34.199 --> 00:17:35.199 I heard of one guy 00:17:35.199 --> 00:17:37.699 who left his church 00:17:37.699 --> 00:17:39.000 recently 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.279 because the elders 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.919 wouldn't let him charge his phone 00:17:41.919 --> 00:17:42.799 during the service. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:46.480 Do you think he understood 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.220 his role as a member of the body? 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:51.180 I don't think so 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:54.119 because what this is saying 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:55.779 is there is something bigger 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.839 than just you 00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:58.000 that God has brought you 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.180 to be a part of 00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:01.759 and you have value in that. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:04.240 The speaker, 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.579 Charles Spurgeon, 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.899 he said this to some people 00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:08.099 who say, 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:08.299 hey, 00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:09.639 I can be a good Christian 00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:10.800 but I don't intend 00:18:10.800 --> 00:18:12.300 to give myself to a church. 00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:13.140 This is what he says. 00:18:14.100 --> 00:18:14.780 He says, 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.080 think of a brick. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:17.080 Okay? 00:18:17.800 --> 00:18:19.660 What is the brick made for? 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:22.000 It's made to build a house. 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.960 It's no use 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.800 for the brick 00:18:24.800 --> 00:18:25.400 to tell you 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.240 that it's just as good 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:26.700 a brick 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.180 while it's kicking about 00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:28.680 on the ground 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:29.540 by itself 00:18:29.540 --> 00:18:32.140 as it would be 00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:33.560 as part of a house. 00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:34.759 Actually, 00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:35.380 by itself, 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:36.820 it's a good for nothing brick. 00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:38.700 This is what Spurgeon says. 00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:39.799 He's saying, 00:18:40.179 --> 00:18:41.419 a detached Christian, 00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:43.659 like a detached foot, 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:45.599 is not living 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.799 according to the purpose 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:48.419 that God has saved you for. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:50.700 You're living in disobedience 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:52.200 and the house without you, 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.839 the body without you, 00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:55.819 investing and contributing, 00:18:56.159 --> 00:18:57.019 will suffer 00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:59.779 just as you will spiritually 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:01.579 if you're not engaged 00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:03.299 with a local church body. 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:05.919 Verse 18 says, 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:08.519 God has arranged you here. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:09.940 You get that? 00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:12.200 God has arranged you here. 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:17.180 What that means is 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:20.380 you matter in the body. 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:21.680 Just say that. 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:22.560 I matter. 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.000 Just say that again. 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:25.840 I matter. 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:27.680 Yeah, 00:19:27.820 --> 00:19:28.620 you count 00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:30.720 in the body of Christ 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.259 because he's building something 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.500 and he's called you 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:35.619 to be part of his body. 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:36.839 You know, 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:37.779 we live in a society 00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:39.180 that values independence. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:40.940 You know, 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.599 it says like, 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.059 basically, 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.220 my identity 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.400 is built of juggling 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.420 a whole load of different 00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.440 things in my life. 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:46.660 So, 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:48.140 I'm a husband, 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.279 I'm a father, 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.200 I'm a brother, 00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.299 I'm a son, 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.079 I'm an employee, 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.039 I'm a church member. 00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:53.299 And so, 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:54.019 we're kind of juggling 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:54.720 all of these things 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.440 in our lives. 00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:56.740 And you know, 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.559 when life gets busy, 00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:58.140 you've got to drop 00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:58.740 one of the balls. 00:19:58.740 --> 00:20:00.940 And sometimes, 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:01.980 what we do is we kind of, 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:02.180 okay, 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:02.799 the church one, 00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:03.579 we're just going to drop 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.120 a little bit. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:07.900 But if you see 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:08.680 that you belong 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.660 as part of this, 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.700 even if you can't 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.359 make a meeting 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.579 because things are crazy, 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:15.200 you'll find other ways 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:15.539 to think, 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.900 how do I express 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.620 being part 00:20:17.620 --> 00:20:19.000 of this local body? 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.200 Don't underplay 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.799 God's design 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:25.180 in having you here 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.339 for however long 00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.880 he has placed you here. 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:29.640 And if this is the church 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.200 that you feel 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.660 God has called you to be, 00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:33.880 then God says, 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:36.360 I have placed you here 00:20:36.360 --> 00:20:38.020 not to be detached 00:20:38.020 --> 00:20:39.120 but to plug in. 00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:40.780 You matter. 00:20:44.580 --> 00:20:45.920 What that also means 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.600 is this. 00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:48.500 It's not just 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:50.200 belonging here 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.320 means you are valuable, 00:20:52.040 --> 00:20:53.320 but it also means 00:20:53.320 --> 00:20:54.960 that we have responsibility 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:56.540 towards each other. 00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:58.320 Do you know 00:20:58.320 --> 00:20:59.300 the Bible has over 00:20:59.300 --> 00:21:01.060 50 one another's statements? 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.200 Love one another, 00:21:02.340 --> 00:21:03.360 carry one another's burdens, 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.620 forgive one another, 00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:05.400 a whole load 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.360 of different things. 00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:08.840 And yet, 00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:10.460 those one another's 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:11.520 are not just about 00:21:11.520 --> 00:21:12.700 kind of serving 00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.520 occasionally, 00:21:13.600 --> 00:21:14.460 although that's great. 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.720 In verse 25 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.320 in the passage, 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.360 which I didn't read there, 00:21:18.580 --> 00:21:19.000 it says, 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:19.820 you've got to care 00:21:19.820 --> 00:21:20.640 for one another 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:22.520 as a family, 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.320 as a body 00:21:23.320 --> 00:21:24.020 who's responsible 00:21:24.020 --> 00:21:24.820 for one another. 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.599 You know, 00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:26.539 that's how we flourish 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.079 together. 00:21:28.419 --> 00:21:28.740 Do you know 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.539 the difference 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.500 between being 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.799 a babysitter 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.980 or just leading 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.779 in the kids ministry 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.599 and being a parent? 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.019 Okay? 00:21:36.879 --> 00:21:37.740 What's the difference? 00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:39.779 You know, 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.460 I've done babysitting before. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.220 I've done kids ministry 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:43.559 before. 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.240 You know, 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:46.059 you do your task, 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:48.179 you play with the kids, 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:48.679 you do whatever, 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.339 you teach them, 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:50.059 and then, 00:21:50.179 --> 00:21:50.859 and you kind of hope 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:52.279 they just don't kill each other 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.059 or anything like that, 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.299 and then at the end of the day, 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:55.379 you just kind of hand them back, 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.559 and then your job's done, 00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:56.919 and then you, 00:21:57.159 --> 00:21:58.019 and then usually what you do 00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:58.819 is you just complain 00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.679 about the parents 00:21:59.679 --> 00:21:59.959 of like, 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.199 hey, 00:22:00.659 --> 00:22:01.399 shouldn't they have brought up 00:22:01.399 --> 00:22:02.179 their kids a bit better 00:22:02.179 --> 00:22:03.079 because it was such a nightmare 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:03.919 for me doing that? 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.699 And that's how you do it. 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.639 But if you're the parent, 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:11.539 you have responsibility, 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:13.339 and I've talked to many of you 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:15.059 as new parents, 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.859 there's this just incredible joy 00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:18.359 when you have a new child, 00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.779 but also a credible sense of, 00:22:20.379 --> 00:22:20.519 wow, 00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:22.159 I'm responsible for this. 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.279 And now that child, 00:22:25.419 --> 00:22:26.779 you view very differently 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:28.859 than if I'm just the babysitter, 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.559 right? 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:30.959 They're your family. 00:22:31.919 --> 00:22:32.979 You have a responsibility. 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.019 And so, 00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:40.259 in the same way Paul is talking about here, 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:41.759 the way that we see each other, 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:45.319 if you see yourself so interconnected, 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:50.159 is we belong, 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.460 and therefore we're responsible 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.599 for each other, 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:55.639 which means things like, 00:22:56.700 --> 00:23:00.240 if you lead a CG, 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:00.939 I mean, 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:01.759 just here's an example. 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:03.000 I don't know if you've ever 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.240 led a Bible study in a CG, 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:07.000 or if you've actually just turned up 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.799 to your CG, 00:23:07.919 --> 00:23:08.700 your community group. 00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:10.619 The difference is often, 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.700 the amount of prayer 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.539 that you pray 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:14.299 when you're actually leading the study 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.559 compared to if you just turn up 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.419 is quite considerable. 00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:18.559 You know, 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.599 if you just turn up 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.359 on a Sunday morning 00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:21.240 and it's just kind of, 00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:21.480 hey, 00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:22.059 whatever, 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.240 and if you're preaching, 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.419 the amount of prayer 00:23:24.419 --> 00:23:25.259 and the amount of thought 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.079 that you're talking about it 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.700 is different, 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.240 right? 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.980 If you see yourself 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:30.159 as a member of the body 00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:30.879 with responsibility 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:32.039 to each other, 00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:34.139 then when you come on a Sunday, 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.119 how much are you praying 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:37.460 for our time together? 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.159 Not just, 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:38.319 oh, 00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:39.359 I hope I hear a good sermon. 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.919 Or when you meet 00:23:40.919 --> 00:23:42.039 to the community group 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:43.919 and are you praying 00:23:43.919 --> 00:23:45.199 that God would be there, 00:23:45.479 --> 00:23:45.879 present, 00:23:45.979 --> 00:23:46.679 because you see 00:23:46.679 --> 00:23:47.919 it's us together, 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.139 it's not just one or two people 00:23:49.139 --> 00:23:49.759 who's doing everything 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.039 and I'm just gonna turn up. 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:52.119 Do you see that? 00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:53.399 That's what members see. 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.459 We belong, 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.479 we're responsible, 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:57.859 we all matter in this. 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.559 If someone doesn't show up 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.179 in your CG 00:24:03.179 --> 00:24:05.339 for five weeks 00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:06.659 or in the service, 00:24:07.419 --> 00:24:09.959 a fan will say, 00:24:10.459 --> 00:24:10.619 oh, 00:24:10.659 --> 00:24:11.179 it's a shame, 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.779 haven't seen them for a while. 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:15.179 A family member will say, 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:15.959 hey, 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:16.959 let me give them a ring, 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:18.179 let me see how they're doing. 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.279 Do you see the difference? 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:23.519 That's what membership is about. 00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.559 It's about commitment, 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.799 it's about belonging, 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.559 thirdly, 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.579 it's about accountability. 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:32.419 There's another verse 00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:34.319 on your sheet, 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:35.079 which we didn't read, 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.099 but I'd like to just 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:37.919 read it to you now. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.539 Hebrews 3, 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.359 verse 12. 00:24:42.399 --> 00:24:42.779 Again, 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:43.220 this is written 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:44.819 to a local church. 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:45.559 He says, 00:24:45.679 --> 00:24:46.220 take care, 00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:46.740 brothers, 00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:48.799 lest there be in any of you 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.559 an evil, 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:51.119 unbelieving heart 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:53.359 leading you to fall away 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:54.359 from the living God. 00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:56.399 But exhort one another 00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:57.299 every day 00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:58.740 as long as it's called today, 00:24:59.199 --> 00:25:00.139 that none of you 00:25:00.139 --> 00:25:00.879 may be hardened 00:25:00.879 --> 00:25:02.000 by the deceitfulness 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.699 of sin. 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:05.299 Did you get that? 00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:07.160 Exhort one another 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:08.340 every day 00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:10.279 as long as it's called today. 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.340 You know, 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.360 the context 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:14.779 that this is written in 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:17.559 is a local church 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.779 where things have been tough 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.720 around them 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.500 and some of the Christians 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.319 are looking around 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.799 at the society 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.380 and they're saying, 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:24.780 maybe it would be easier 00:25:24.780 --> 00:25:25.740 for us if we kind of 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.500 became Jews 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.320 rather than just 00:25:27.320 --> 00:25:28.080 stayed as Christians 00:25:28.080 --> 00:25:29.200 because Jews get an easier 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:30.460 ride in society 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.980 and there's this temptation 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.820 for them 00:25:32.820 --> 00:25:34.120 to kind of go easy 00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:35.020 on the Jesus stuff 00:25:35.020 --> 00:25:35.720 and just fit in 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.420 with the crowd. 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.880 And the author 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.620 of Hebrews 00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:41.000 is saying to them, 00:25:42.260 --> 00:25:42.820 guys, 00:25:43.520 --> 00:25:44.860 you need to help 00:25:44.860 --> 00:25:46.000 each other with this. 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:46.820 Like, 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:48.080 does anyone ever feel 00:25:48.080 --> 00:25:48.760 that pressure 00:25:48.760 --> 00:25:49.600 at work, 00:25:50.300 --> 00:25:50.780 the pressure 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.440 and family 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.259 to just 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.160 dumb down 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:53.879 your relationship 00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:54.539 with Jesus? 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.960 Anyone feel that? 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.639 Because this passage 00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.440 says sin 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.720 is deceitful. 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.700 It can twist you. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.819 It creeps up on you 00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:04.399 like a persuasive salesman 00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:05.680 trying to sell you 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.299 a handbag 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.119 or a new drone 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.639 and you can't afford it 00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:09.660 but before you know it, 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:09.940 you've, 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.579 you're taken. 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:12.940 You're in. 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.339 And the author 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:16.339 of Hebrews says, 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:16.759 listen, 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:18.039 that responsibility 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.859 for each other 00:26:18.859 --> 00:26:20.159 means you are going 00:26:20.159 --> 00:26:21.420 to exhort each other 00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.579 to come back to Jesus. 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.460 What that means is, 00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:25.940 exhort means urge, 00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:26.940 implore, 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.859 encourage, 00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:28.579 say, 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.019 hey, 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:29.740 I'm with you, 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.319 come on, 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:32.079 let's run this race together. 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.920 That's what it means. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.700 In Watermark, 00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:37.000 our community groups 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.599 are really where 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.680 we want to encourage 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.960 that to take place. 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.099 Because I don't know 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:42.799 about you, 00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:45.079 but I'm always tempted, 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.480 you know, 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.579 prone to wander, 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:48.659 prone to wander. 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:50.159 Anyone else prone to wander? 00:26:51.919 --> 00:26:52.759 Graham is. 00:26:53.899 --> 00:26:54.159 Good, 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:54.599 this one. 00:26:54.699 --> 00:26:55.460 All the rest of you, 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:57.000 I need you to talk to me. 00:26:59.199 --> 00:26:59.960 But you see, 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.439 that's, 00:27:00.439 --> 00:27:01.439 that's what we're like 00:27:01.439 --> 00:27:02.359 as a community. 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:03.859 Because, 00:27:05.179 --> 00:27:05.519 you know, 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.579 the number one thing 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:07.980 that turns non-Christians 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.740 off Christians 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:10.919 and off Christianity 00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:13.279 is actually Christians. 00:27:14.139 --> 00:27:14.379 You know? 00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:16.740 Christians who say, 00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:16.960 hey, 00:27:17.020 --> 00:27:17.960 I go to church, 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:18.980 I do all these things, 00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:19.500 but then, 00:27:19.580 --> 00:27:19.800 actually, 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.720 all through the week, 00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:22.040 they're living a life 00:27:22.040 --> 00:27:23.500 which has no bearing 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.240 on how the gospel 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.080 is changing them. 00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:26.980 And the thing that people 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:28.160 keep telling me again and again, 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:28.340 oh, 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:28.640 Christians, 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.580 you're just hypocrites. 00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:32.640 And you know, 00:27:32.760 --> 00:27:32.980 yes, 00:27:33.080 --> 00:27:33.680 we are all here, 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.700 everyone is a hypocrite, 00:27:34.760 --> 00:27:35.040 actually, 00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:36.280 but I don't want to be 00:27:36.280 --> 00:27:37.480 pursuing hypocrisy, 00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:38.640 I want you to help me 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:39.660 to live faithfully. 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:42.019 And so, 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.460 your responsibility, 00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:45.700 my responsibility 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.680 as a member, 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:48.140 that's why we encourage you 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:49.400 to get into community groups, 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.680 is that you'll be 00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:52.080 helping each other, 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:54.320 engage in each other's life, 00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:57.320 so that we are not hypocrites, 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.080 but we are people 00:27:58.080 --> 00:27:59.060 who honor Jesus 00:27:59.060 --> 00:28:00.040 in the way that we live. 00:28:01.040 --> 00:28:02.100 And when we mess up, 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:03.580 we're just calling each other 00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:04.540 back to the grace 00:28:04.540 --> 00:28:05.340 and the mercy 00:28:05.340 --> 00:28:06.800 and the kindness of Jesus, 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.700 and helping each other 00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:09.360 on that road. 00:28:10.840 --> 00:28:11.880 Are we up for that? 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.860 Are you up for that? 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:19.080 That's what accountability means, 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.860 but it means something 00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:21.259 also more than that. 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.259 And here's the thing 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.840 which is a little culturally, 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.279 you know, 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.180 we struggle with. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.539 Throughout Scripture, 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.920 it tells us 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:30.519 that actually part of this process 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:32.019 of discipleship 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:33.880 is church discipline. 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.200 Same word, 00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:36.319 disciple discipline. 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:39.639 I don't like the word discipline 00:28:39.639 --> 00:28:43.000 because it reminds me 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:44.119 of harsh punishment. 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:44.819 It reminds me 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.799 of when I was at school, 00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:46.819 we used to have 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.819 corporal punishment, 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.159 you know, 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.759 where they hit you 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.240 with a cane. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:52.299 I just avoided it 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.799 and got my friend in trouble 00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:55.879 because I just got to stay 00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:56.359 in the corridor. 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.399 I was kicking a stone 00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:58.019 in the playground. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.419 And my friend, 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.460 I heard him getting beaten, 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:03.379 and I was just standing 00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:03.899 in the corridor. 00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:05.200 And that's my impression 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.040 of what discipline is. 00:29:06.100 --> 00:29:06.860 It's the kind of punishment 00:29:06.860 --> 00:29:07.800 that I want to avoid. 00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:08.519 And yet, 00:29:08.600 --> 00:29:09.300 that's not what the Bible 00:29:09.300 --> 00:29:10.040 calls discipline. 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:10.880 This says, 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.820 discipline is about discipleship. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.860 It's what Hebrews 00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:14.800 is talking about. 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.880 And Jesus talks about it 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:17.660 in the same way. 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.100 He says, 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.580 Matthew 18. 00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:20.460 He says, 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:20.900 when, 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:23.180 if a brother sins against you, 00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:26.900 and go and tell him his fault, 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:28.180 go and sort it out together. 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.519 If there's issues of sin, 00:29:29.820 --> 00:29:30.759 don't just leave them, 00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.620 sort them out. 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.019 And he says, 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:34.219 if he doesn't listen to you, 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:36.179 take two or three others with you. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:37.879 And so it's not a kind of 00:29:37.879 --> 00:29:38.399 he said, 00:29:38.479 --> 00:29:39.439 she said kind of thing. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:39.639 No, 00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.019 like, 00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:41.039 do it as a community. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:42.539 And then, 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:44.739 if they still won't listen to that, 00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:46.339 tell it to the church. 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:48.759 And then if he still won't listen 00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:49.459 to the church, 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:49.879 he says, 00:29:49.979 --> 00:29:51.119 treat them as a Gentile 00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:52.159 and a tax collector. 00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:54.959 This is hard, 00:29:54.959 --> 00:29:56.439 but this is Jesus talking. 00:29:57.679 --> 00:29:59.099 What he says is this. 00:29:59.099 --> 00:30:02.099 Sin is serious, 00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:05.559 but discipline is not about punishment. 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:08.179 Discipline is about bringing us back to Jesus. 00:30:08.719 --> 00:30:11.539 It's about helping us to win each other over 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:13.379 so we're not going to be hypocrites 00:30:13.379 --> 00:30:14.819 in the world around us. 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.419 And he says, 00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.459 sin is deceitful, 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:18.879 so therefore, 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.579 as a church, 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:21.219 we need to be praying for each other. 00:30:21.439 --> 00:30:23.179 We need to be calling those who we see 00:30:23.179 --> 00:30:24.059 going astray, 00:30:24.199 --> 00:30:25.179 calling them back. 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:28.200 This is part of what it means 00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:28.900 to be a member. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:32.120 At a previous church, 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:32.759 there were a couple. 00:30:33.620 --> 00:30:34.539 They were living together. 00:30:35.360 --> 00:30:36.320 They were sleeping together. 00:30:36.840 --> 00:30:37.400 But they said, 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:37.640 hey, 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.960 we're Bible-believing Christians. 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:40.160 We love Jesus. 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:43.360 But they refused to get married 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:44.080 because they just said, 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:44.700 okay, 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:46.220 marriage is just signing a piece of paper. 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.360 That's what they said. 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.460 We love each other. 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.440 That's all that's necessary. 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:52.840 What do you do in that situation? 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.640 If you're a member, 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.380 if you're an elder, 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:55.960 what do you do? 00:30:57.660 --> 00:30:58.039 You know, 00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.400 do you say, 00:30:59.600 --> 00:30:59.759 well, 00:30:59.860 --> 00:31:01.580 marriage is just a human institution. 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.539 It doesn't really matter 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.519 as long as they love each other.