WEBVTT

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 At the age of 23, Jesus really did turn my life upside down.

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 Almost immediately, I had a desire to contribute to serve in the local church, synonymous for me with my conversion.

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 And I would hang around and sign up for basically anything that I could.

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 So I'd sign up to lead on camps.

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 It was one of the first things I ever did.

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 It was a fishing camp.

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 I remember it was this fishing camp that was being run up in the New England area.

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 I rang up the bloke and said, you know, I'd like to come and help.

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 And he said, you ever led on a camp before?

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 I said, no, but I can fish.

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 So I passed the qualifications for that.

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 Cutting the grass, do repairs or fixing pews, getting rid of feral animals in the ceiling of church and all kinds of stuff.

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 Eventually, hospital visiting, doing funerals even.

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 And it just grew over time.

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 I was given the task of starting a youth ministry and then an evening congregation and then a young adults ministry.

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 And that was all within the first six months of me being a Christian.

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 I was then given a two-year apprenticeship.

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 The job offer was this.

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 You're hanging around that much and you're eating my food that much.

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 I might as well give you a job.

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 And so I took an 85% paid cut and did a two-year apprenticeship to test my skills and my stamina for vocational ministry.

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 At the end of that, I entered formal theological education and the process of becoming a full-time minister.

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 After three years of theological education with a degree in theology and diplomacy and ministry under my belt in five and a half years as a Christian,

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 I was ordained as a deacon in the Anglican Church of Australia in Armadale Cathedral on the 21st of December 1998,

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 which means in about two weeks or so, it's 20 years since that happened.

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 Christian for 25 and a half years, I've been involved in vocational ministry for 25 of those years.

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 And God has given me many opportunities to serve him over that time in a whole different variety of ways.

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 And I can say that God has used me to impact people's lives in that time.

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 But for whatever he has done through me, it's what he's done in me that has been the greatest joy, I think, the greatest benefit of ministry.

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 It's one of the surprising blessings, what God does in you as you serve other people.

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 So it has been my joy with all the ups and downs.

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 It's been my joy in the darkest moments.

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 It's my joy to be involved in ministry.

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 I'm totally convinced that it's God's call on my life.

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 This is not just a job, a career thing.

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 It's not about promotion.

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 It's not about getting the next big opportunity.

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 It's his call on my life.

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 And so I'm really pleased to be able to talk about ministry today.

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 If you've just joined us today, we are week four into our five-part vision series called My Purpose, Our Purpose, God's Purpose.

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 It's an annual vision series.

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 In week one of this, when we kicked it off, we asked the question, what's the purpose of life?

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 And we saw that the purpose of life was that God created and saved us for his glory.

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 And we used the word magnification to summarize all of that.

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 Week two, we narrowed it down.

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 What's the purpose of church?

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 And we saw that God has gathered his people together in order to magnify him.

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 And we used the word membership to describe that.

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 Last week, week three, now that God's gathered us, what is his purpose for his gathered people?

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 And we saw that it is to transform us into the image of his true son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And the word we used to summarize that was maturity.

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 Okay, so we've got magnification, membership, maturity.

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 He created us, he saved us, he's gathered us, and he's growing us.

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 Now the question is, what does God want us to do?

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 Is it just to grow up?

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 Is that it?

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 We're going to use the word ministry to summarize that.

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 And if you are sharp this afternoon, you would have realized they all start with an M.

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 Okay?

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 And next week will be mission.

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 And it is also an M.

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 So if you look at your service outline, same breakdown as what we've done in the previous weeks.

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 Firstly, what's God's purpose?

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 And then how can we pursue it on purpose here at St. Paul?

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 So what is God's purpose for his growing children?

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 The goal of spiritual growth is to become more like the Lord Jesus.

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 That's what we saw last week.

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 It's become more and more in the likeness of the image of the Lord Jesus.

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 And while this means becoming more like him in his character, and the Bible is very, very clear about that,

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 we must also remember that Jesus came to do a specific work.

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 And that was to do the will of his father.

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 On the eve of his crucifixion, he prayed this, John 17, 4,

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 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

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 So, which means that if God's intention is for us to grow up to be more and more like the Lord Jesus,

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 not just his character, but also it is to do the work that God has called us to do.

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 Ephesians 2.10 tells us that we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

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 which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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 So God intends for all believers to be active members in his kingdom.

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 And that's my first sub point here, every member ministry.

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 God's purpose is for every one of his gathered and growing children to be involved in ministry.

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 That is, ministry is not a special category of Christians.

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 It's not, they're an elite Christian or the suckers or something like that.

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 So what I want to do is to trace this out in the Old and New Testament just really briefly.

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 Looking at the role of the priesthood, the concept of priesthood is common in the ancient world.

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 Generally, priests in the ancient world, their main function was to offer sacrifices to appease the gods.

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 And that can be anything from animals through to sacrificing people in order to appease the gods.

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 In fact, back in the ancient Incas, they sacrificed people because they believed the gods got their energy from blood of humanity.

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 And so you sacrificed humans in order to energize the gods, to swing them around into your favor, to get them to do things for you.

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 The animals would die in the place of those.

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 Sorry, sorry.

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 That's the ancient one.

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 The Old Testament, however, priests, they would offer sacrifices in a very different way.

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 The biblical idea of sacrifice in the Old Testament, animals were offered to cleanse the worshiper from their sin.

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 And so the animal would die in the place of the worshiper so that the worshiper could go away forgiven.

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 So as an Israelite, if you wanted to receive the blessing of God, the forgiveness of sins, then you would take your animal to the priest.

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 And these guys were known as the Levites.

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 You can read the book of Leviticus and you'll discover all about the priesthood.

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 Or you can just listen to the sermon series that we did in the last five years here, whenever it was, on Leviticus and you can listen to it all there.

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 So there were those in the Old Testament who were set apart for this special function as priests to offer sacrifices.

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 But we also read something really interesting in Exodus 19.

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 This is where God calls his children Israel to himself at Mount Sinai.

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 He's rescued him from slavery in Egypt.

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 And then it says this in Exodus 19 verse 4.

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 You yourselves have seen what I did in Egypt and how I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself.

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 Now, if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all the nations, you will be my treasured possession.

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 Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

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 So God's word to hear to his people Israel, who he's just rescued from Egypt, his corporate gathered children, is that you collectively will be priests.

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 That is, priests in the sense that you will serve me in the world.

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 Not like the Levites, who have a special function of priests, but you will be not sacrificial priests, but you'll be serving priests in the whole world.

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 And so both of these ideas, both the individual sacrificial, functional, formal priests and the corporate serving God in the world priests, the body of God's people, come to their climax and reach their fulfillment in the New Testament.

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 And that's the passage that was read out to us in Hebrews 10.

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 If you've got time, quickly run to Hebrews 10.

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 In verse 1, it says the law, that's a reference to the Old Testament.

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 It says the law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming.

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 So the law, the Old Testament, is a shadow of the good things which are coming, which is a reference, a valid reference, if you like, to the gospel of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament.

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 For this reason, it can never, and talking about the Old Testament, it can never by the same sacrifices repeat endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

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 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered?

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 For the worshipers would have been cleansed once and for all and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.

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 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.

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 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

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 So what it's saying there in Hebrews is that whole Old Testament sacrificial system didn't remove sin.

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 But it did serve to remind God's people of the seriousness of their sin.

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 And it reminded them that a representative was needed.

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 Something needed to die, if you like, in order to atone for their sin.

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 So let's just jump down now to verse 11.

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 It says,

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 Day after day, every priest, this is the individual functional priest, the formal Levites, stands and performs his religious duties.

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 Again and again, he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

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 Okay, that's their job.

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 Feels like a kind of pointless job, really.

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 Then verse 12 talks about Jesus' sacrifice.

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 This is the New Testament.

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 It talks about Jesus' sacrifice of himself on the cross.

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 But when this priest, Jesus, had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,

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 he sat down at the right hand of God.

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 And since that time, he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.

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 For by one sacrifice, he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

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 So Jesus is what Hebrews 10 is saying.

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 Jesus is the true priest who offers the true sacrifice.

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 Once and for all, he deals with the sin of humanity.

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 He's the true lamb, the lamb of God, whose blood is shed and dies in our place so that we're forgiven and spared.

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 So Jesus is both the priest who offers the sacrifice and the sacrifice itself.

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 He perfects both.

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 Why?

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 So that we who are scattered from God because of our sin can be gathered to him as his much-loved and forgiven children

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 and be brought into a new humanity of priests set free to serve God in the world.

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 We see it again in Revelation chapter 1.

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 Verse 4, John introduces his letter and he says,

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 This is written to the seven churches in the province of Asia.

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 In other words, this is not just written to the church leaders.

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 This is not written to the...

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 This is written to everyone in the church.

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 And then we read this about halfway down through verse 5.

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 So the New Testament is clear.

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 The old formal, Levitical, sacrificial individual priest is done with in Jesus.

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 But the corporate priesthood of God's people is not.

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 All of God's people are saved and gathered to be a priesthood serving God in the world.

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 Every one of God's children is a minister.

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 And yet, this is interesting because the priesthood of all believers, every member ministry,

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 was something that was recaptured, if you like, or rediscovered at the Reformation 501 years ago.

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 In around about...

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 In there somewhere.

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 And yet, there are so many people sitting in Protestant churches today

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 who totally misunderstand the biblical idea of priesthood of all believers in every member ministry.

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 And in fact, what even ministry is.

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 You see, for a start, because of Jesus' finished work,

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 there is no such thing, there's no need, if you like,

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 for priests who mediate between you and God.

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 You don't need people to do that anymore.

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 People like me, who are ordained leaders of churches,

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 are not priests in the individual Old Testament sacrificial sense.

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 I don't have a special connection that you need to get by me to God.

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 That doesn't exist in the New Testament.

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 I am, like all Christians, a priest in the corporate serving God in the world sense, however.

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 All of God's saved and gathered children, like me, like you,

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 are called into the service of God in this world.

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 And so God's purpose for you, God's purpose for me,

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 and for all of us collectively, is to do ministry.

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 And you are ministers who are doing ministry, all of you, if you're a Christian.

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 So when people say, I'm going into the ministry,

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 or they say things like, let me introduce you to my minister,

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 you're actually reinforcing a category error.

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 Because you're the minister as well.

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 So, you know, next time we do that, a new person comes along,

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 brand new person in church, I'll bring them to you.

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 Let me introduce you to the minister.

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 It's one of the ministers.

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 Let's see how we go with that.

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 Okay, so the reason I say that is because ministry equals service.

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 Ministry is interchangeable with the word service.

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 The words ministry and minister simply mean service and servant.

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 That's all they are.

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 So the title Prime Minister of Australia simply means that Scott Morrison

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 is the first servant of the people of Australia, for the time being.

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 At least for now, until the next guy comes along.

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 And so this says quite a lot about the way in which we do ministry.

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 Our core value of servant leadership here at St. Paul's is so important

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 because it is about us ministering together, serving together

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 with identities which are deeply secure in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 You see, it is so common to serve out of a sense of duty

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 in the hope of earning God's favor,

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 or it's so common nowadays, especially in our world,

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 there's a big push in a secular culture to serve less fortunate people.

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 A lot of that is driven by self-centeredness.

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 Just need to dig a little bit deeper.

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 A sense of superiority for cultures, not as sharp or not as good as ours,

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 and need to be able to serve those cultures so that they would grow up.

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 It's driven from a sense of my own fulfillment.

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 So we don't do it for personal reasons.

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 We don't do it in order to earn favor with God.

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 We must never forget that God saves his people out of Egypt.

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 Then he gathers them to himself as his treasured possession.

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 And then he says, I want you to serve me.

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 It's the same with Jesus at the cross.

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 He dies for our sins, gathers us to himself as his church.

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 He calls us to serve him in the world.

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 We don't serve God to gain his favor.

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 We do ministry because we already have it.

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 We serve others with the attitude of which Jesus served us.

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 Mark 10, 45.

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 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,

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 but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

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 At the source of all Christian service of ministry in the world

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 is the crucified, risen Lord who died to set us free

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 into a life of service of God and of others.

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 It's the reason which you were created.

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 God has created you and saved you in order to serve

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 and to serve together the world.

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 And before you were saved,

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 you were enslaved to your own self-centeredness.

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 So you've been set free to pursue the very design God had on your life initially.

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 And serving the biblical sense is putting the needs of others ahead of your own

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 or putting the needs of the community ahead of your individual needs.

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 There's a paradox here.

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 And I mentioned it right at the beginning.

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 I feel like God has so blessed me over the years in service.

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 If you serve primarily for yourself when it suits you,

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 because it fits into your program,

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 it does stuff you just want to do,

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 it doesn't push you out of your comfort zone at all,

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 then it isn't actually serving.

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 And so therefore you'll never feel the benefits.

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:12.539
 You'll never experience the benefits of serving.

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.599
 Ever.

00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:13.680
 Ever.

00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:19.740
 The only workable dynamic for ministry in the church is Mark 10, 45.

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:21.740
 The Son of Man did not come to be served,

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:25.660
 but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:28.339
 So having just, you know,

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:31.700
 knocked down the hierarchy idea,

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:34.839
 what's the relationship between church leaders and church members?

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.799
 Or more specifically,

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:41.000
 between those in vocational ministry

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:44.599
 and those who are members of the church,

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.779
 serving in the church.

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:51.380
 I want to jump back into Ephesians 4, verse 11 to 12.

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.579
 We were there last week.

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.019
 Verse 11.

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:56.640
 So Christ gave, himself gave the apostles,

00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:58.880
 the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers.

00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.960
 These, broadly speaking,

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:03.220
 we can call these categories, if you like,

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:06.440
 leaders within the church.

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:08.440
 We're happy to go with that just for the time being.

00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:13.259
 So why did Christ give these to the church?

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.100
 Verse 12.

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:18.000
 To equip his people for works of service,

00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:19.339
 for works of ministry.

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:23.400
 What's the end goal that God has in giving church leaders

00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:25.539
 to equip his people for works of service and ministry?

00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:26.960
 Verse 12.

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:30.779
 So that the body of Christ may be built up.

00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:33.880
 And in fact, the word actually means built up and built out.

00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:37.519
 The whole idea here is

00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:41.740
 Christ gives leaders to equip the members

00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:44.000
 for the work of ministry in such a way

00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:47.220
 that the whole church grows up into maturity,

00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:50.120
 which is his design for his people.

00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:53.259
 We all have a ministry.

00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:59.619
 Church leaders have primarily an equipping ministry

00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:03.279
 and church members have primarily a doing ministry.

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.920
 And there's obviously crossover there

00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:06.440
 with some of that stuff.

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:10.099
 But we all are called to minister together

00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:12.140
 to build Christ's church.

00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.859
 This is crucial.

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:18.000
 Because I think that too many,

00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:21.619
 in fact, I would suggest that way over 90% of churches

00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:25.979
 think of ministry in the local church

00:22:25.979 --> 00:22:29.759
 in the same way that you would think of the manly ferry.

00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:33.319
 On the ferry, you've got a few staff

00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:35.099
 who get you from point A to point B.

00:22:35.219 --> 00:22:36.599
 There's that bloke, whoever it is,

00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:38.179
 up the front driving the whole thing.

00:22:38.939 --> 00:22:40.579
 And there might be a couple of people there

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.639
 who are checking your tickets

00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:44.259
 or putting out the ramp

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:47.139
 so you can get on without falling in the water.

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:49.379
 And there's someone selling you snacks.

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.019
 I mean, who knows?

00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:51.459
 It might even be the same person doing everything.

00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.140
 I've got no idea.

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:57.840
 And everyone else is sitting there passively in the seats,

00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:03.180
 working on whatever it is that you're working on

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:05.779
 and your phones and taking photos and conversation,

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:08.100
 just waiting to get to the destination.

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:11.019
 And the people on the boat, the staff,

00:23:11.100 --> 00:23:13.220
 it's their job to get you to the destination

00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:14.840
 as smoothly as you possibly can,

00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.880
 as fast as you can,

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.299
 to get on your own way.

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:23.680
 And that is the way so many churches view ministry.

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:28.680
 We pay people to do that for us.

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:33.159
 And can I say that it's particularly,

00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:35.980
 and I've talked to ministers all over the place,

00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:37.880
 it's particularly prevalent

00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:41.360
 in places like eastern suburbs, North Shore,

00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:45.180
 where we're used to getting people

00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.819
 to pay for everything for us.

00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.980
 They cut our grass,

00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:49.720
 they clean our windows,

00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.680
 people do all that.

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:52.660
 They walk our dogs for us, for goodness sake.

00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:54.579
 Pay a fortune to get this dog

00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.980
 and get someone to walk it for us.

00:23:57.599 --> 00:24:00.000
 We're used to people paying for all those things

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:03.079
 and we treat church in exactly the same way.

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:08.220
 The local church ought to be viewed

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.640
 more like a sailing boat,

00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.900
 actually a bit more than a sailing boat.

00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:13.380
 Let's call it one of the yachts

00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:15.180
 in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:19.559
 Everyone on board has a job to do.

00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:22.299
 There's no passengers there,

00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:24.299
 kind of, you know,

00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:25.900
 I'm just here to take the photos.

00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:28.039
 You know, that's just,

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:29.579
 you know, the guy's not there.

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.939
 You know, you don't have the person

00:24:30.939 --> 00:24:32.720
 sunbathing at the front, you know,

00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:34.699
 a couple of days to catch some rays.

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:38.139
 Captain's job is to set the course,

00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:40.039
 to navigate the direction,

00:24:40.439 --> 00:24:43.359
 to get the crew operating together

00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:45.240
 and each part doing its work,

00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.899
 but making sure that we're doing it together

00:24:46.899 --> 00:24:48.980
 in order to get to the goal,

00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.159
 to get to Hobart.

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.339
 Then you get to Hobart,

00:24:51.439 --> 00:24:52.179
 you go, what am I doing here?

00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:53.179
 We're going to get home again.

00:24:53.180 --> 00:25:00.480
 All of God's people are called

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:02.900
 to a corporate priesthood,

00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:05.460
 either an equipping ministry

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.500
 or a doing ministry,

00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.840
 but doing it together

00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:10.140
 for a purpose.

00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:14.539
 So that is what's God's purpose

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.820
 for his growing children.

00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.400
 Second point,

00:25:17.560 --> 00:25:19.080
 how can we minister on purpose

00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:19.759
 at St. Paul?

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.359
 So let me say,

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.440
 first of all,

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:23.319
 this is by way of a caveat,

00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:23.960
 if you like,

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:26.299
 you can serve God

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.460
 both in the church

00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.140
 and in the world.

00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.799
 You can minister

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.839
 in a whole range of ways

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.799
 through being citizens,

00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.879
 neighbours and friends

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:32.539
 and colleagues.

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:34.160
 And I'm very keen

00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:34.960
 for us to develop

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:36.119
 that concept of

00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:37.539
 frontline ministry

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.400
 as a church.

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.819
 You can speak to Adrian,

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.879
 our missions minister,

00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:41.539
 about that

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.539
 and we'll touch on it

00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:43.720
 probably next week a bit.

00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:44.660
 But tonight,

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:46.879
 I've got my ministry minister hat.

00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:47.900
 I oversee ministry,

00:25:48.020 --> 00:25:49.780
 this M for St. Paul's

00:25:49.780 --> 00:25:51.100
 and I've got that hat on tonight.

00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.800
 And I want to look at

00:25:53.800 --> 00:25:54.740
 what does it look like

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.920
 for us to work,

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.820
 to minister on purpose

00:25:57.820 --> 00:25:58.740
 at St. Paul's

00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.420
 and I want to suggest

00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.300
 three ways,

00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:02.320
 time, talents and treasures.

00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.040
 So firstly,

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:03.660
 time.

00:26:05.280 --> 00:26:06.580
 Easiest way to serve God

00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:07.360
 with your time

00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:09.240
 is turn up.

00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:10.040
 This is profound.

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.000
 Turn up.

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.380
 Don't underestimate,

00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:16.500
 as I said two weeks ago,

00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:18.020
 don't underestimate

00:26:18.020 --> 00:26:19.900
 the role you play

00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:21.420
 by turning up

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:23.080
 and just engaging

00:26:23.080 --> 00:26:24.260
 with another individual.

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.960
 And especially an individual

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:29.380
 who's not necessarily

00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:30.540
 a close friend

00:26:30.540 --> 00:26:31.520
 or anything like that.

00:26:33.120 --> 00:26:34.520
 Taking the time to talk,

00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.080
 to encourage,

00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:35.600
 to listen,

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.360
 to be there.

00:26:37.040 --> 00:26:38.320
 As you speak

00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:39.480
 the truth in love,

00:26:39.520 --> 00:26:40.480
 as I said last week

00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:42.380
 from Ephesians 4.15,

00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:43.160
 speaking the truth

00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:44.100
 in love to each other,

00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:46.640
 you are ministering,

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:48.180
 you are serving

00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.860
 another human being.

00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:52.560
 Now when we think

00:26:52.560 --> 00:26:53.080
 of ministry

00:26:53.080 --> 00:26:54.060
 at a local church,

00:26:54.120 --> 00:26:55.400
 we normally think of it

00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:57.440
 in the formal sense,

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.300
 a position.

00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:00.540
 I'm on a team

00:27:00.540 --> 00:27:03.300
 and I've got my spot

00:27:03.300 --> 00:27:04.160
 in the roster.

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.140
 It is possible

00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:08.680
 to fulfill your function

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.620
 in a roster

00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:11.080
 and yet not do ministry.

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:12.439
 I want to make that clear.

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.460
 Because that is

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:17.119
 such a small portion

00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:17.879
 of the ministry

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:18.599
 that gets done

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.500
 in this church.

00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.839
 And it isn't

00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.619
 the starting point

00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.079
 of ministry

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:23.099
 and it's certainly

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.960
 not the end point

00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.599
 of ministry.

00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:26.500
 The informal ministry

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.240
 is what happens

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:28.919
 outside of the formal structures

00:27:28.919 --> 00:27:29.480
 of the gathering

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.159
 of St. Paul's

00:27:30.159 --> 00:27:31.839
 and it is extremely important

00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:32.379
 for service

00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:32.960
 to one another.

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:34.559
 And it takes time.

00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:36.799
 People take time

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:38.519
 and it takes effort.

00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.119
 Ministry doesn't stop

00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:40.700
 there though.

00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:41.659
 I don't want you

00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.180
 to just think,

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:42.759
 well all you do

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.419
 is turn up.

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.859
 I want to encourage you

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:46.159
 to do that

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:47.339
 but go beyond that

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.200
 and in fact

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.619
 join a ministry team.

00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.159
 Again,

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.399
 this is going to require

00:27:51.399 --> 00:27:52.500
 you using

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.500
 the time

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.779
 that God has given you

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:56.139
 to serve Him.

00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.460
 There's preparation

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.019
 for ministry,

00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.659
 there's coordination

00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.319
 of people,

00:27:59.440 --> 00:27:59.940
 there's training,

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.720
 there's all sorts of stuff.

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.639
 It all takes time.

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.960
 And what's more,

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:04.079
 once you join a team,

00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.819
 you're accountable

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:06.179
 for your time

00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:06.859
 to others.

00:28:07.159 --> 00:28:08.059
 When you are part

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.720
 of a team

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.759
 and you don't put

00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:12.059
 the time in

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:13.439
 then others need

00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:14.279
 to carry that load

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.699
 for you.

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.579
 If you're part

00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.220
 of a team,

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:21.299
 when you don't

00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:22.960
 put your effort in,

00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:24.099
 the rest of the team

00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:24.980
 takes that load.

00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:25.939
 And that's the case

00:28:25.939 --> 00:28:26.419
 anywhere.

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.259
 It's work teams,

00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:28.899
 it's sporting teams,

00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:29.500
 you know,

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.480
 all that kind of stuff.

00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:33.159
 So there might be

00:28:33.159 --> 00:28:33.899
 an opportunity

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.700
 as well for you.

00:28:34.800 --> 00:28:35.660
 There's some very

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.180
 broad categories.

00:28:36.280 --> 00:28:36.700
 It might be also

00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.080
 an opportunity,

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:37.460
 when I'm thinking

00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.200
 about time,

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.820
 where for some of you,

00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.140
 because of life

00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:43.100
 circumstances,

00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:45.100
 you are able to give

00:28:45.100 --> 00:28:47.480
 larger chunks of time

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.740
 to the ministry

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.660
 of St. Paul's.

00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.860
 In a previous church

00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:52.780
 that I belonged to,

00:28:53.280 --> 00:28:54.220
 a teacher

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:56.120
 retired

00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:57.360
 at the normal

00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:58.460
 retiring age.

00:28:59.080 --> 00:28:59.980
 He went from his

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:01.480
 retirement from a teacher

00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:02.980
 and spent,

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.360
 you know,

00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:04.680
 all of his years

00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.259
 as a teacher.

00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.640
 He went then

00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.940
 and did some training,

00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:09.240
 got himself ordained

00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.019
 as a deacon

00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:11.579
 in the Anglican church

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:13.539
 and now ministers

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.779
 as,

00:29:15.120 --> 00:29:16.740
 in an honorary capacity

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:18.019
 on staff

00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.819
 in the church

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.860
 that he'd been a worshiper

00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:21.039
 in for 40 years.

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.900
 And he realized

00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:24.579
 as he was heading

00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:25.480
 towards retirement,

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:29.160
 because our ministry team

00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:30.900
 is running flat out

00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.740
 doing jobs

00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.559
 that I don't think

00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.539
 that they need to do.

00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.799
 But people expected

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.360
 to do it

00:29:35.360 --> 00:29:36.339
 because they got

00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:36.860
 the mentality

00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.920
 that we're the manly fairy.

00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:38.960
 So he thought

00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.599
 the best thing

00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:40.420
 that he could do

00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:42.140
 was to take the load off

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:43.420
 by getting himself

00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:44.380
 trained and ordained.

00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:45.779
 And therefore,

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.720
 he could step in

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.660
 in an honoring capacity

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.940
 to serve in the church.

00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.940
 So don't buy into

00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:53.559
 our society's values

00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:54.960
 that when you retire,

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.980
 the whole goal of life

00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.960
 is to get to retirement

00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:58.360
 with a secure nest egg

00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:59.620
 so that I can spend

00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.579
 the rest of my days

00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:02.100
 in self-indulgent ease.

00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:05.539
 That's not a retirement plan.

00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:06.799
 That's shooting yourself

00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:07.420
 in the foot.

00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:11.420
 We ought to be

00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:13.680
 congratulating,

00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:15.079
 in my view,

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.279
 and celebrating

00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:17.840
 the fact that,

00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:19.140
 for instance,

00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.340
 Debbie Gould,

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:22.240
 our membership minister,

00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.120
 she's one of our

00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:23.640
 purpose pastors,

00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.299
 one of the five

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:26.059
 pastors,

00:30:26.419 --> 00:30:27.700
 leaders of

00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:29.539
 our leadership team,

00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:31.099
 has been ministering

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:31.940
 at St. Paul's

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:33.619
 three to five days a week

00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:35.200
 for more than 20 years,

00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:38.639
 longer than I've been ordained,

00:30:39.639 --> 00:30:40.619
 as a volunteer.

00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:47.279
 Okay, now,

00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:47.879
 let me just,

00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:49.400
 I do think,

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.060
 when I said we should

00:30:50.060 --> 00:30:51.000
 celebrate that,

00:30:51.120 --> 00:30:52.960
 I didn't mean a pause

00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:54.000
 and,

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:56.720
 okay,

00:30:56.760 --> 00:30:57.280
 let me just say it again,

00:30:57.320 --> 00:30:58.660
 I think we should celebrate that.

00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:06.520
 Okay,

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.840
 so that took twice,

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.980
 it took four times for me

00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:09.800
 to say it this morning,

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.460
 twice tonight,

00:31:10.520 --> 00:31:11.080
 so that's good.

00:31:11.320 --> 00:31:12.220
 That's an improvement.

00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:14.180
 That,

00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:15.200
 that I don't think

00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.759
 means that we

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.700
 undervalue you,

00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:16.980
 Debbie,

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.940
 I don't think that was

00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.079
 what I mean.

00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:19.700
 Andrew Smith has been

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.460
 giving at least

00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:21.259
 two days a week

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:23.720
 for four to five years

00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.240
 or so

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.039
 at St. Paul's,

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.380
 doing a whole range

00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:26.960
 of things.

00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:37.440
 And there are others

00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.559
 who contribute

00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:40.279
 in a whole range

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.400
 of other ways

00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:41.880
 in volunteer.

00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:42.360
 We've had,

00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:43.559
 one of the joys,

00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.039
 I think,

00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:44.920
 we've had a number

00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.559
 of young people

00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.360
 who have come through

00:31:46.360 --> 00:31:47.940
 over the years,

00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:49.059
 the 10 years I've been here,

00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:49.440
 have given,

00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.120
 you know,

00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:50.680
 one or two,

00:31:50.840 --> 00:31:51.620
 three days a week

00:31:51.620 --> 00:31:52.299
 for a year

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:54.039
 as a sort of a gap year

00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:55.000
 and stuff like that

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:56.579
 and which has just been

00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:58.559
 amazing to have

00:31:58.559 --> 00:31:59.079
 those opportunities.

00:31:59.220 --> 00:32:01.039
 We get more done

00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:01.879
 in those times

00:32:01.879 --> 00:32:03.279
 and ministry progresses

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.000
 remarkably

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.919
 when those things

00:32:04.919 --> 00:32:05.399
 are happening.

00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:06.619
 So that's the first thing,

00:32:06.699 --> 00:32:07.379
 with your time,

00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.460
 give of your time.

00:32:09.139 --> 00:32:09.579
 Secondly,

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.139
 talents.

00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:10.919
 The Bible uses

00:32:10.919 --> 00:32:12.379
 the language of gifts here

00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:14.059
 when it talks about this,

00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:15.480
 1 Corinthians 12,

00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.379
 four to seven.

00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:18.099
 There are different kinds

00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:18.519
 of gifts

00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.799
 but the same spirit

00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.819
 distributes them.

00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:21.919
 There are different kinds

00:32:21.919 --> 00:32:22.379
 of service

00:32:22.379 --> 00:32:23.079
 but the same Lord.

00:32:23.179 --> 00:32:23.879
 There are different kinds

00:32:23.879 --> 00:32:24.460
 of working

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.379
 but in all of them

00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:26.199
 and in everyone

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:27.340
 it is the same God

00:32:27.340 --> 00:32:27.799
 at work.

00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:29.559
 Now to each one

00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:30.220
 the manifestation

00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:30.900
 of the spirit

00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:31.299
 is given

00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:32.279
 for the common good.

00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.940
 So every Christian,

00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:35.660
 that's what the each one

00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:36.480
 is referring to

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.400
 in verse seven,

00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:39.779
 receives spiritual gifts.

00:32:40.840 --> 00:32:41.779
 Spiritual gift

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:43.000
 is an ability.

00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:44.440
 Verse six calls it

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:45.200
 a working

00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:47.200
 or it could also be

00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:48.740
 called a power.

00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:51.080
 And this ability,

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.799
 this working,

00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:52.640
 this power

00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:54.020
 comes to us

00:32:54.020 --> 00:32:54.040
 comes to us

00:32:54.040 --> 00:32:55.720
 as a free gift

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:57.020
 from God.

00:32:57.820 --> 00:32:58.620
 They are gifts

00:32:58.620 --> 00:33:00.120
 from the spirit of God

00:33:00.120 --> 00:33:02.100
 according to verse four.

00:33:02.100 --> 00:33:03.020
 They are given

00:33:03.020 --> 00:33:04.340
 to every Christian

00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:05.360
 for the purpose

00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:06.500
 of ministering

00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.480
 to the needs

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.360
 of others.

00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.740
 Verse five

00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:11.100
 calls it service.

00:33:12.280 --> 00:33:13.300
 And this service

00:33:13.300 --> 00:33:15.800
 is for the building up

00:33:15.800 --> 00:33:17.200
 of the Christian community

00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:18.259
 both in its size

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:18.920
 and depth

00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:19.780
 because verse seven

00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.399
 calls that

00:33:20.399 --> 00:33:21.819
 for the common good

00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:23.480
 of the church.

00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:25.339
 So the bottom line

00:33:25.339 --> 00:33:26.480
 is that every Christian

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:28.660
 is in ministry

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.839
 through the church

00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:31.099
 and if you're a Christian

00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:31.960
 you've been gifted

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:33.160
 by God

00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:34.680
 for that end.

00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.480
 No one,

00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:38.960
 no Christian

00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:41.119
 is ever

00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:43.660
 merely a consumer

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.539
 of the services

00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.339
 of others.

00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:46.519
 They are also

00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:47.319
 distributor

00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:48.059
 of services

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:48.660
 to others.

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:52.779
 Now,

00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:54.200
 1 Corinthians 12

00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.799
 tells us

00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.759
 how the gifts

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.420
 are distributed

00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.339
 in the church

00:33:57.339 --> 00:33:58.379
 and the answer

00:33:58.379 --> 00:33:59.899
 is diversely.

00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:00.859
 Note the

00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:02.000
 repeated use

00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:02.359
 of the word

00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:02.859
 different

00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:03.819
 in these verses.

00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.240
 Firstly,

00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:06.039
 there are

00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:06.779
 a variety

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:07.859
 of individual gifts.

00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.699
 Some have

00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:11.139
 put the diversity

00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:11.820
 of gifts

00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:13.279
 into three broad categories

00:34:13.279 --> 00:34:14.159
 the prophetic gifts,

00:34:14.279 --> 00:34:14.900
 the priestly gifts

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.699
 and the kingly gifts.

00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:16.880
 Prophetic gifts

00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.880
 are gifts

00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:18.920
 and abilities

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:20.059
 based on understanding

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.920
 and articulating

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:22.119
 biblical truth.

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:23.099
 They are gifts

00:34:23.099 --> 00:34:24.039
 that represent God

00:34:24.039 --> 00:34:24.599
 to others

00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:25.119
 that are marked

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:25.860
 by things like

00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.960
 boldness and clarity,

00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.740
 evangelism,

00:34:28.200 --> 00:34:28.559
 teaching,

00:34:28.780 --> 00:34:29.059
 speaking,

00:34:29.220 --> 00:34:29.619
 discernment,

00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:30.099
 prophecy.

00:34:30.700 --> 00:34:31.420
 Priestly gifts

00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:32.880
 are abilities

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:34.579
 based on understanding

00:34:34.579 --> 00:34:36.119
 and supplying

00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:37.059
 basic needs

00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.659
 for people.

00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:39.059
 They represent

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:40.360
 others to God

00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:42.659
 and the world

00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.579
 and are marked

00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.340
 by things like

00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:44.880
 sympathy

00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:46.000
 and sacrifice

00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:47.000
 and care,

00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:47.960
 encouragement,

00:34:48.179 --> 00:34:48.519
 helping,

00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:49.119
 pastoring,

00:34:49.259 --> 00:34:49.500
 mercy,

00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.219
 that kind of stuff.

00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:51.420
 Kingly gifts

00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.880
 are abilities

00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:54.420
 based on understanding

00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:56.820
 and direction

00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:58.759
 and people groups

00:34:58.759 --> 00:34:59.619
 as a whole,

00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:00.579
 what they need

00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:01.039
 as a group

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.679
 as a whole.

00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:03.940
 they represent

00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:05.699
 Christ's vision

00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:07.059
 to others

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:08.519
 and these gifts

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.419
 are generally marked

00:35:09.419 --> 00:35:10.139
 by things like

00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:10.500
 wisdom,

00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:11.359
 practicality,

00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:11.960
 leadership.

00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:14.039
 Often you look

00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:14.719
 at the apostles,

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.539
 founders of ministries,

00:35:16.759 --> 00:35:17.359
 leadership,

00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:19.739
 administration,

00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.099
 wisdom,

00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:21.759
 faith,

00:35:21.899 --> 00:35:22.179
 courage,

00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:22.960
 that kind of stuff.

00:35:23.859 --> 00:35:24.399
 That's how

00:35:24.399 --> 00:35:26.139
 the gifts are distributed,

00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:27.500
 all kinds of different gifts

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:30.659
 and no individual

00:35:30.659 --> 00:35:32.500
 has all of those gifts.

00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:35.480
 As much as we might like it,

00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:37.739
 no one has all of those gifts

00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:39.400
 and you tend to have

00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:40.539
 one area

00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:41.940
 that you're really strong at,

00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:43.219
 maybe two areas

00:35:43.219 --> 00:35:44.599
 that you're fairly strong at

00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:46.079
 but you'll never have

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.920
 three areas

00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:47.679
 that you are

00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:48.900
 supremely strong at

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.739
 where your passions

00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:51.219
 are for all three areas.

00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:52.340
 You might be able

00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:53.480
 to function in all of them

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:55.760
 but one or two of them

00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:56.360
 will dominate.

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.300
 Secondly,

00:35:58.659 --> 00:35:59.659
 there are different kinds

00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:00.800
 of service in verse 5

00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:01.659
 which means our gifts

00:36:01.659 --> 00:36:02.500
 are better suited

00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.920
 to some places

00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:04.539
 and context

00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:05.340
 over others.

00:36:05.800 --> 00:36:06.639
 Some work better

00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:07.139
 with children

00:36:07.139 --> 00:36:08.000
 than adults.

00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:10.019
 Some prefer

00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.739
 a small setting

00:36:10.739 --> 00:36:11.820
 rather than a large setting.

00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:13.139
 Some work with

00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:14.219
 blue collar

00:36:14.219 --> 00:36:14.960
 and some can work

00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.860
 with white collar better,

00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:16.579
 that sort of stuff.

00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.420
 Thirdly,

00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.500
 there are different kinds

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:19.920
 of working

00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:21.380
 in verse 6

00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:23.420
 which most likely

00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:24.300
 means there are

00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:25.039
 different levels

00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.880
 of capacity.

00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:28.059
 every Christian

00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:29.900
 has an almost

00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:31.460
 unique collection

00:36:31.460 --> 00:36:32.039
 of gifts

00:36:32.039 --> 00:36:34.200
 and on top of this

00:36:34.200 --> 00:36:34.960
 there are different

00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.880
 seasons in our lives

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:38.059
 where the context

00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:38.860
 where those gifts

00:36:38.860 --> 00:36:39.980
 are called out

00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:40.599
 in us

00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:41.800
 are called out

00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:42.400
 in us

00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:43.720
 in different ways.

00:36:45.220 --> 00:36:46.300
 When you put it

00:36:46.300 --> 00:36:46.920
 all together

00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:47.740
 it may be

00:36:47.740 --> 00:36:49.019
 that each Christian

00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:50.720
 has a personal

00:36:50.720 --> 00:36:51.460
 gift setting

00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:52.480
 which is totally

00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:53.260
 unique to them

00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:53.820
 in a way that

00:36:53.820 --> 00:36:54.880
 even a thumbprint

00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:55.660
 might be unique.

00:36:57.100 --> 00:36:58.059
 The implication

00:36:58.059 --> 00:36:58.680
 of that is

00:36:58.680 --> 00:36:59.039
 that there is

00:36:59.039 --> 00:36:59.600
 ministry

00:36:59.600 --> 00:37:01.559
 that most likely

00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:02.720
 only you can do.

00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:05.039
 Spiritual gifts

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:05.820
 fit you

00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:06.440
 for the mission

00:37:06.440 --> 00:37:06.940
 in life

00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.400
 that God

00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.260
 has given you

00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:08.880
 wherever

00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:10.320
 he has placed you.

00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:12.019
 So how do we

00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:12.559
 discover the

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.200
 spiritual gifts?

00:37:14.640 --> 00:37:15.480
 Let me just

00:37:15.480 --> 00:37:16.559
 clarify this point

00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.500
 really clearly.

00:37:17.620 --> 00:37:18.180
 I think I need

00:37:18.180 --> 00:37:18.820
 to make this.

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:19.760
 It is interesting

00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:21.340
 that there is

00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:22.400
 virtually nothing

00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:23.260
 in the Bible

00:37:23.260 --> 00:37:24.120
 at all

00:37:24.120 --> 00:37:24.880
 about how to

00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:25.740
 discover spiritual

00:37:25.740 --> 00:37:26.100
 gifts.

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:29.060
 Virtually nothing.

00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:30.860
 Very, very little.

00:37:31.940 --> 00:37:33.060
 Which means

00:37:33.060 --> 00:37:34.260
 there is a problem

00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:36.240
 with every single

00:37:36.240 --> 00:37:37.600
 prescribed process

00:37:37.600 --> 00:37:38.640
 that you'll pull

00:37:38.640 --> 00:37:39.300
 off a book

00:37:39.300 --> 00:37:39.920
 in Kurong

00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:40.320
 or whatever

00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:41.040
 off the shelves

00:37:41.040 --> 00:37:41.500
 in Kurong

00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:41.800
 and say

00:37:41.800 --> 00:37:42.240
 here's how you

00:37:42.240 --> 00:37:42.640
 discover your

00:37:42.640 --> 00:37:43.200
 spiritual gifts.

00:37:44.540 --> 00:37:45.780
 There's a problem

00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:46.860
 with every single

00:37:46.860 --> 00:37:47.620
 process.

00:37:47.619 --> 00:37:49.839
 There are at

00:37:49.839 --> 00:37:50.699
 least three

00:37:50.699 --> 00:37:51.579
 factors that

00:37:51.579 --> 00:37:52.219
 seem to come

00:37:52.219 --> 00:37:52.719
 together in

00:37:52.719 --> 00:37:53.619
 discovering gifts.

00:37:54.599 --> 00:37:55.079
 Affinity,

00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:56.199
 ability and

00:37:56.199 --> 00:37:56.900
 opportunity.

00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:00.659
 There is

00:38:00.659 --> 00:38:02.299
 pretty much

00:38:02.299 --> 00:38:03.400
 this is pretty

00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:04.019
 much the process

00:38:04.019 --> 00:38:04.579
 we go through

00:38:04.579 --> 00:38:05.119
 I think in

00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:06.039
 all of our

00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:06.739
 major decisions

00:38:06.739 --> 00:38:07.279
 in life.

00:38:07.619 --> 00:38:08.380
 Finding jobs

00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:09.039
 and every other

00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:09.759
 major decision.

00:38:10.099 --> 00:38:10.519
 Affinity,

00:38:10.779 --> 00:38:11.079
 ability,

00:38:11.279 --> 00:38:11.719
 opportunity.

00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:12.519
 Affinity,

00:38:12.699 --> 00:38:13.179
 what human

00:38:13.179 --> 00:38:13.839
 needs do I

00:38:13.839 --> 00:38:15.500
 vibrate towards?

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.719
 What interests

00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:16.940
 me?

00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:17.339
 What are my

00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:17.880
 passions?

00:38:18.900 --> 00:38:19.380
 Ability,

00:38:19.539 --> 00:38:19.860
 what am I

00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:20.220
 good at?

00:38:20.300 --> 00:38:20.519
 What do

00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:21.200
 people say

00:38:21.200 --> 00:38:21.900
 I'm effective

00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:22.440
 in?

00:38:23.120 --> 00:38:23.600
 Opportunity,

00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:24.700
 what doors

00:38:24.700 --> 00:38:25.180
 of service

00:38:25.180 --> 00:38:25.780
 are open,

00:38:26.180 --> 00:38:26.640
 what needs

00:38:26.640 --> 00:38:27.200
 to be done?

00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:29.140
 They're the

00:38:29.140 --> 00:38:29.820
 three of them,

00:38:29.900 --> 00:38:30.180
 affinity,

00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:30.960
 ability,

00:38:31.160 --> 00:38:31.620
 opportunity.

00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:33.840
 When I first

00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:34.320
 got involved

00:38:34.320 --> 00:38:34.880
 in ministry

00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:35.380
 there was

00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:36.100
 opportunities

00:38:36.100 --> 00:38:37.920
 and it

00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:38.720
 connected

00:38:38.720 --> 00:38:39.720
 with ability.

00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:40.700
 Steve,

00:38:40.820 --> 00:38:41.160
 that pew

00:38:41.160 --> 00:38:41.660
 needs to be

00:38:41.660 --> 00:38:42.000
 fixed.

00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:42.840
 We need

00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:43.320
 people sitting

00:38:43.320 --> 00:38:43.680
 on these

00:38:43.680 --> 00:38:44.120
 seats on

00:38:44.120 --> 00:38:44.700
 Sunday

00:38:44.700 --> 00:38:45.500
 and they

00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:45.880
 need to be

00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.140
 fixed.

00:38:46.280 --> 00:38:46.820
 I can do

00:38:46.820 --> 00:38:47.019
 that.

00:38:47.280 --> 00:38:47.760
 That's

00:38:47.760 --> 00:38:48.160
 connecting

00:38:48.160 --> 00:38:48.600
 with an

00:38:48.600 --> 00:38:48.900
 ability

00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:49.200
 that I

00:38:49.200 --> 00:38:49.480
 had.

00:38:50.300 --> 00:38:50.740
 Steve,

00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:53.960
 after several

00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:54.280
 months,

00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:55.360
 today,

00:38:55.820 --> 00:38:56.260
 pews are all

00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.440
 fixed,

00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:56.960
 grass is cut,

00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:57.160
 we're going to

00:38:57.160 --> 00:38:57.660
 go visit the

00:38:57.660 --> 00:38:58.039
 hospital.

00:38:58.780 --> 00:38:58.940
 Dunk,

00:38:59.019 --> 00:38:59.260
 dong.

00:39:00.640 --> 00:39:01.420
 That's not

00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:02.480
 something that I'm

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.500
 have an ability

00:39:03.500 --> 00:39:03.880
 at.

00:39:04.760 --> 00:39:05.200
 Affinity,

00:39:05.400 --> 00:39:06.240
 I think so,

00:39:06.420 --> 00:39:07.039
 but there's an

00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:07.700
 opportunity there,

00:39:07.700 --> 00:39:08.080
 so let's have a

00:39:08.080 --> 00:39:08.280
 crack.

00:39:08.280 --> 00:39:09.540
 So what I

00:39:09.540 --> 00:39:10.080
 would suggest

00:39:10.080 --> 00:39:10.500
 is the

00:39:10.500 --> 00:39:11.000
 place to

00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:11.600
 start is

00:39:11.600 --> 00:39:12.260
 opportunity.

00:39:13.260 --> 00:39:14.300
 Find the

00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:15.420
 ministries in

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:16.019
 the church

00:39:16.019 --> 00:39:16.720
 that need to

00:39:16.720 --> 00:39:17.160
 be done

00:39:17.160 --> 00:39:17.660
 and just

00:39:17.660 --> 00:39:18.220
 do them.

00:39:18.780 --> 00:39:19.080
 Just

00:39:19.080 --> 00:39:19.760
 serve.

00:39:21.040 --> 00:39:21.860
 Don't ask,

00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:22.540
 first of all,

00:39:22.620 --> 00:39:23.060
 whether it

00:39:23.060 --> 00:39:23.820
 fulfills you.

00:39:24.220 --> 00:39:24.660
 When,

00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:25.440
 after we've

00:39:25.440 --> 00:39:25.780
 had a

00:39:25.780 --> 00:39:26.580
 supper out

00:39:26.580 --> 00:39:27.760
 there and

00:39:27.760 --> 00:39:28.060
 there's

00:39:28.060 --> 00:39:29.400
 crumbs all

00:39:29.400 --> 00:39:29.900
 over the

00:39:29.900 --> 00:39:30.360
 floor,

00:39:30.720 --> 00:39:31.360
 don't ask,

00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:31.880
 will I be

00:39:31.880 --> 00:39:32.480
 fulfilled if I

00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:33.620
 vacuum the

00:39:33.620 --> 00:39:34.480
 floor tonight?

00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:36.960
 I'm not

00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:37.460
 naturally

00:39:37.460 --> 00:39:38.599
 vibrating across

00:39:38.599 --> 00:39:39.059
 here in this

00:39:39.059 --> 00:39:39.579
 direction.

00:39:41.800 --> 00:39:42.840
 Just do

00:39:42.840 --> 00:39:43.119
 it.

00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:45.480
 There's an

00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:46.440
 opportunity to

00:39:46.440 --> 00:39:47.119
 serve,

00:39:47.619 --> 00:39:48.519
 just do it.

00:39:48.539 --> 00:39:48.840
 And if you

00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.880
 need to know

00:39:49.880 --> 00:39:50.539
 how to work

00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:51.059
 a vacuum

00:39:51.059 --> 00:39:51.480
 cleaner,

00:39:52.860 --> 00:39:53.440
 I'll

00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:54.300
 willingly show

00:39:54.300 --> 00:39:55.579
 you how to

00:39:55.579 --> 00:39:55.940
 do that.

00:39:58.960 --> 00:39:59.659
 We've already

00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:00.139
 been told

00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:00.400
 tonight,

00:40:00.500 --> 00:40:00.740
 there's a

00:40:00.740 --> 00:40:01.219
 working bee

00:40:01.219 --> 00:40:01.840
 next Saturday.

00:40:02.639 --> 00:40:03.119
 Just be

00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:03.539
 here.

00:40:03.539 --> 00:40:04.800
 turn up,

00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:05.719
 be involved

00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:06.500
 in the

00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:07.099
 working bee.

00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:08.380
 For those

00:40:08.380 --> 00:40:09.159
 of you who

00:40:09.159 --> 00:40:10.159
 have certain

00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:11.420
 affinities and

00:40:11.420 --> 00:40:11.880
 abilities,

00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:14.679
 there's an

00:40:14.679 --> 00:40:15.619
 opportunity right

00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:16.219
 now to be the

00:40:16.219 --> 00:40:16.940
 treasurer of

00:40:16.940 --> 00:40:17.619
 St. Paul's.

00:40:19.820 --> 00:40:20.380
 We're looking

00:40:20.380 --> 00:40:21.059
 for a treasurer

00:40:21.059 --> 00:40:21.920
 right now.

00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:24.539
 Talk to

00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:25.400
 Andrew Smith

00:40:25.400 --> 00:40:26.980
 who's our

00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:28.599
 acting

00:40:28.599 --> 00:40:29.119
 treasurer

00:40:29.119 --> 00:40:30.199
 right now.

00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:31.800
 Okay,

00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:32.460
 having seen

00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:32.860
 all about

00:40:32.860 --> 00:40:33.139
 that,

00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.179
 there is a

00:40:34.179 --> 00:40:34.559
 distinction.

00:40:34.679 --> 00:40:35.019
 The last bit

00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:35.500
 about talents

00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:35.800
 is the

00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:36.119
 distinction

00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:36.779
 between gifts

00:40:36.779 --> 00:40:37.440
 and fruit.

00:40:37.980 --> 00:40:38.320
 Spiritual

00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:38.980
 gifts is

00:40:38.980 --> 00:40:39.500
 something we

00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:39.759
 do.

00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:40.179
 Spiritual

00:40:40.179 --> 00:40:41.219
 fruit is

00:40:41.219 --> 00:40:41.980
 something that

00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:42.800
 we are.

00:40:43.239 --> 00:40:43.880
 No one

00:40:43.880 --> 00:40:44.440
 but Jesus

00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:45.199
 has all

00:40:45.199 --> 00:40:45.940
 the spiritual

00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:46.460
 gifts.

00:40:47.059 --> 00:40:47.860
 But every

00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:48.779
 Christian is

00:40:48.779 --> 00:40:49.800
 to have all

00:40:49.800 --> 00:40:50.239
 of the

00:40:50.239 --> 00:40:50.679
 spiritual

00:40:50.679 --> 00:40:51.380
 fruit.

00:40:52.519 --> 00:40:53.059
 And the

00:40:53.059 --> 00:40:53.699
 list is there

00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:54.279
 in Galatians

00:40:54.279 --> 00:40:55.019
 5, 22

00:40:55.019 --> 00:40:55.619
 to 23.

00:40:55.759 --> 00:40:56.320
 The fruit of

00:40:56.320 --> 00:40:56.820
 the spirit

00:40:56.820 --> 00:40:57.300
 is love,

00:40:57.400 --> 00:40:57.519
 joy,

00:40:57.659 --> 00:40:57.980
 peace,

00:40:58.440 --> 00:40:58.920
 forbearance,

00:40:59.019 --> 00:40:59.320
 kindness,

00:40:59.519 --> 00:40:59.739
 goodness,

00:40:59.960 --> 00:41:00.400
 faithfulness,

00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:00.860
 gentleness,

00:41:00.860 --> 00:41:01.780
 and self

00:41:01.780 --> 00:41:02.420
 control.

00:41:03.420 --> 00:41:03.920
 Spiritual

00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:04.640
 gifts

00:41:04.640 --> 00:41:06.059
 can often

00:41:06.059 --> 00:41:07.160
 be honoured

00:41:07.160 --> 00:41:08.980
 ahead of

00:41:08.980 --> 00:41:10.400
 spiritual fruit

00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:11.539
 or even

00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:12.420
 be mistaken

00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:12.760
 for it.

00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:13.079
 There's a

00:41:13.079 --> 00:41:13.559
 reason for

00:41:13.559 --> 00:41:14.460
 that because

00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:15.340
 in our

00:41:15.340 --> 00:41:17.220
 Western culture

00:41:17.220 --> 00:41:18.440
 we value

00:41:18.440 --> 00:41:19.260
 production.

00:41:20.460 --> 00:41:21.099
 We value

00:41:21.099 --> 00:41:22.079
 getting things

00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:22.599
 done,

00:41:22.720 --> 00:41:23.360
 the task

00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:24.200
 resolved.

00:41:24.199 --> 00:41:24.819
 And so

00:41:24.819 --> 00:41:25.139
 when we

00:41:25.139 --> 00:41:25.679
 see people

00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:26.659
 doing tasks

00:41:26.659 --> 00:41:27.359
 and resolving

00:41:27.359 --> 00:41:27.879
 them well

00:41:27.879 --> 00:41:28.539
 with skill,

00:41:28.980 --> 00:41:29.359
 we just

00:41:29.359 --> 00:41:31.000
 assume that

00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:31.619
 is a higher

00:41:31.619 --> 00:41:32.739
 order for

00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:33.480
 us than

00:41:33.480 --> 00:41:34.019
 the character

00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:34.559
 of the person

00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:35.179
 doing it

00:41:35.179 --> 00:41:36.039
 in our

00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:36.439
 culture.

00:41:38.779 --> 00:41:39.460
 Spiritual

00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:40.679
 gifts can

00:41:40.679 --> 00:41:41.279
 often be

00:41:41.279 --> 00:41:42.179
 honoured ahead

00:41:42.179 --> 00:41:42.919
 of spiritual

00:41:42.919 --> 00:41:43.739
 fruit or even

00:41:43.739 --> 00:41:44.439
 be mistaken

00:41:44.439 --> 00:41:45.179
 for them.

00:41:46.179 --> 00:41:46.960
 And it

00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:48.119
 shocks us

00:41:48.119 --> 00:41:48.859
 to realise

00:41:48.859 --> 00:41:49.399
 in the

00:41:49.399 --> 00:41:49.759
 spiritual

00:41:49.759 --> 00:41:50.359
 realm that

00:41:50.359 --> 00:41:51.239
 it's possible

00:41:51.239 --> 00:41:52.480
 to touch

00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:53.399
 the lives

00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:54.380
 of individuals

00:41:54.380 --> 00:41:55.260
 even masses

00:41:55.260 --> 00:41:55.880
 of people

00:41:55.880 --> 00:41:57.360
 with a

00:41:57.360 --> 00:41:58.139
 spiritual

00:41:58.139 --> 00:41:58.920
 gift

00:41:58.920 --> 00:42:00.220
 while at

00:42:00.220 --> 00:42:00.900
 the same

00:42:00.900 --> 00:42:02.000
 time your

00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:03.019
 own spiritual

00:42:03.019 --> 00:42:04.280
 life is in

00:42:04.280 --> 00:42:04.860
 a downward

00:42:04.860 --> 00:42:05.639
 free fall.

00:42:06.660 --> 00:42:06.980
 That's

00:42:06.980 --> 00:42:07.360
 possible.

00:42:08.920 --> 00:42:10.059
 In fact,

00:42:10.440 --> 00:42:11.320
 Matthew 7,

00:42:11.960 --> 00:42:12.519
 in Matthew

00:42:12.519 --> 00:42:13.579
 7 there are

00:42:13.579 --> 00:42:14.700
 unregenerate

00:42:14.700 --> 00:42:16.860
 people exercising

00:42:16.860 --> 00:42:17.980
 gifts for the

00:42:17.980 --> 00:42:18.599
 benefits of

00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:18.980
 others.

00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:23.559
 you can

00:42:23.559 --> 00:42:24.460
 lead a

00:42:24.460 --> 00:42:25.340
 crusade

00:42:25.340 --> 00:42:26.199
 and see

00:42:26.199 --> 00:42:26.659
 people

00:42:26.659 --> 00:42:27.500
 converted

00:42:27.500 --> 00:42:29.820
 but at

00:42:29.820 --> 00:42:30.219
 the same

00:42:30.219 --> 00:42:30.840
 time be on

00:42:30.840 --> 00:42:31.240
 the way to

00:42:31.240 --> 00:42:31.860
 hell yourself.

00:42:33.940 --> 00:42:34.519
 That's

00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:34.880
 possible.

00:42:39.420 --> 00:42:40.280
 If God

00:42:40.280 --> 00:42:41.019
 can use a

00:42:41.019 --> 00:42:41.400
 donkey

00:42:41.400 --> 00:42:42.539
 to bring

00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:42.940
 about his

00:42:42.940 --> 00:42:43.440
 purposes,

00:42:44.059 --> 00:42:44.639
 he can use a

00:42:44.639 --> 00:42:45.099
 non-Christian

00:42:45.099 --> 00:42:46.320
 to bring about

00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:46.719
 the conversion

00:42:46.719 --> 00:42:47.179
 of Christians.

00:42:47.179 --> 00:42:50.500
 don't ever

00:42:50.500 --> 00:42:52.679
 use the

00:42:52.679 --> 00:42:53.719
 success that

00:42:53.719 --> 00:42:54.599
 you have in

00:42:54.599 --> 00:42:55.259
 ministry in

00:42:55.259 --> 00:42:56.219
 any way as

00:42:56.219 --> 00:42:57.819
 the gauge of

00:42:57.819 --> 00:42:58.239
 where you're

00:42:58.239 --> 00:42:58.679
 walking with

00:42:58.679 --> 00:42:59.099
 Christ in

00:42:59.099 --> 00:42:59.519
 that moment.

00:43:00.480 --> 00:43:01.159
 Don't ever

00:43:01.159 --> 00:43:01.779
 be confused.

00:43:03.719 --> 00:43:04.519
 Our church

00:43:04.519 --> 00:43:05.359
 needs people who

00:43:05.359 --> 00:43:06.379
 clearly demonstrate

00:43:06.379 --> 00:43:07.239
 both the fruits

00:43:07.239 --> 00:43:08.239
 and the gifts of

00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:08.739
 the Spirit,

00:43:09.259 --> 00:43:10.239
 which is why our

00:43:10.239 --> 00:43:11.679
 discipleship pathway,

00:43:11.940 --> 00:43:12.839
 growing up to be

00:43:12.839 --> 00:43:13.699
 like Jesus,

00:43:14.440 --> 00:43:15.359
 sits right beside

00:43:15.359 --> 00:43:16.059
 our ministry

00:43:16.059 --> 00:43:16.699
 pathway,

00:43:17.019 --> 00:43:17.639
 growing up in

00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:19.139
 my responsibility

00:43:19.139 --> 00:43:19.759
 and my

00:43:19.759 --> 00:43:20.179
 leadership.

00:43:22.139 --> 00:43:22.639
 So the

00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:23.059
 third and

00:43:23.059 --> 00:43:23.639
 final way we

00:43:23.639 --> 00:43:24.059
 can serve

00:43:24.059 --> 00:43:24.820
 God in

00:43:24.820 --> 00:43:25.360
 this world

00:43:25.360 --> 00:43:25.820
 is with

00:43:25.820 --> 00:43:26.000
 our

00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:26.500
 treasure.

00:43:27.480 --> 00:43:27.719
 And I'll

00:43:27.719 --> 00:43:28.099
 finish with

00:43:28.099 --> 00:43:28.480
 this one.

00:43:28.659 --> 00:43:29.279
 Next Sunday,

00:43:29.400 --> 00:43:29.820
 it's Commitment

00:43:29.820 --> 00:43:30.199
 Sunday.

00:43:30.960 --> 00:43:32.799
 It's the

00:43:32.799 --> 00:43:33.619
 Sunday each

00:43:33.619 --> 00:43:34.400
 year where we

00:43:34.400 --> 00:43:35.000
 ask our

00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:35.579
 regular members,

00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:36.179
 those who call

00:43:36.179 --> 00:43:36.659
 St. Paul's,

00:43:36.699 --> 00:43:37.119
 their church

00:43:37.119 --> 00:43:37.579
 family,

00:43:37.980 --> 00:43:38.519
 to make a

00:43:38.519 --> 00:43:39.519
 financial pledge

00:43:39.519 --> 00:43:40.119
 for the

00:43:40.119 --> 00:43:41.079
 ministry of

00:43:41.079 --> 00:43:41.639
 St. Paul's

00:43:41.639 --> 00:43:43.779
 in the

00:43:43.779 --> 00:43:44.119
 next year,

00:43:44.159 --> 00:43:44.739
 2019.

00:43:45.480 --> 00:43:46.739
 And also,

00:43:47.159 --> 00:43:47.859
 next Sunday,

00:43:47.960 --> 00:43:48.359
 we're looking

00:43:48.359 --> 00:43:48.859
 to raise

00:43:48.859 --> 00:43:51.159
 $55,000 for

00:43:51.159 --> 00:43:52.099
 the internal

00:43:52.099 --> 00:43:52.599
 and external

00:43:52.599 --> 00:43:54.159
 projects that

00:43:54.159 --> 00:43:55.639
 you have heard

00:43:55.639 --> 00:43:56.119
 about tonight

00:43:56.119 --> 00:43:56.539
 as well.

00:43:57.699 --> 00:43:58.759
 No less than

00:43:58.759 --> 00:43:59.960
 five times in

00:43:59.960 --> 00:44:00.279
 the New

00:44:00.279 --> 00:44:00.779
 Testament,

00:44:01.379 --> 00:44:01.980
 the language

00:44:01.980 --> 00:44:03.059
 of supporting

00:44:03.059 --> 00:44:03.920
 missionaries

00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:05.139
 or supporting

00:44:05.139 --> 00:44:05.559
 a church

00:44:05.559 --> 00:44:06.739
 financially is

00:44:06.739 --> 00:44:08.019
 described as

00:44:08.019 --> 00:44:08.940
 a ministry,

00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:10.739
 an act of

00:44:10.739 --> 00:44:11.239
 service.

00:44:12.199 --> 00:44:12.799
 And it's a

00:44:12.799 --> 00:44:13.639
 key ministry

00:44:13.639 --> 00:44:15.099
 that all of

00:44:15.099 --> 00:44:15.779
 God's people

00:44:15.779 --> 00:44:16.679
 are involved

00:44:16.679 --> 00:44:17.879
 in regardless

00:44:17.879 --> 00:44:18.479
 of gifting.

00:44:19.599 --> 00:44:20.039
 You don't

00:44:20.039 --> 00:44:20.719
 have a special

00:44:20.719 --> 00:44:21.919
 gift of

00:44:21.919 --> 00:44:22.859
 radical generosity

00:44:22.859 --> 00:44:23.459
 per se.

00:44:24.279 --> 00:44:25.500
 It's to use

00:44:25.500 --> 00:44:26.259
 our treasure

00:44:26.259 --> 00:44:27.199
 to serve God

00:44:27.199 --> 00:44:28.139
 in this world.

00:44:28.579 --> 00:44:29.339
 Like our

00:44:29.339 --> 00:44:29.639
 gifting,

00:44:30.859 --> 00:44:31.959
 it is something

00:44:31.959 --> 00:44:32.699
 that we will

00:44:32.699 --> 00:44:33.719
 use to

00:44:33.719 --> 00:44:34.199
 differing

00:44:34.199 --> 00:44:34.819
 degrees.

00:44:35.959 --> 00:44:36.539
 That is,

00:44:36.639 --> 00:44:37.399
 we don't

00:44:37.399 --> 00:44:38.819
 give according

00:44:38.820 --> 00:44:41.559
 to what

00:44:41.559 --> 00:44:42.100
 we don't

00:44:42.100 --> 00:44:42.400
 have.

00:44:42.480 --> 00:44:42.760
 We give

00:44:42.760 --> 00:44:43.200
 according to

00:44:43.200 --> 00:44:43.600
 what we

00:44:43.600 --> 00:44:44.019
 have,

00:44:44.100 --> 00:44:44.400
 not what

00:44:44.400 --> 00:44:44.820
 we don't

00:44:44.820 --> 00:44:45.160
 have.

00:44:45.960 --> 00:44:46.800
 The principle

00:44:46.800 --> 00:44:47.539
 that we use

00:44:47.539 --> 00:44:48.120
 here is

00:44:48.120 --> 00:44:49.180
 unequal giving

00:44:49.180 --> 00:44:50.360
 equals sacrifice.

00:44:50.960 --> 00:44:51.780
 Equal sacrifice

00:44:51.780 --> 00:44:52.539
 is that whether

00:44:52.539 --> 00:44:54.019
 it's $2 that

00:44:54.019 --> 00:44:54.760
 you're giving or

00:44:54.760 --> 00:44:55.500
 whether it's

00:44:55.500 --> 00:44:56.760
 $2,000 you're

00:44:56.760 --> 00:44:57.059
 giving,

00:44:57.240 --> 00:44:57.620
 it's a

00:44:57.620 --> 00:44:58.580
 gulp factor.

00:44:59.180 --> 00:45:00.019
 I need God

00:45:00.019 --> 00:45:01.080
 to help me

00:45:01.080 --> 00:45:01.720
 fulfill this.

00:45:03.120 --> 00:45:04.019
 Our act of

00:45:04.019 --> 00:45:04.720
 giving is an

00:45:04.720 --> 00:45:05.800
 act of worship

00:45:05.800 --> 00:45:06.440
 and that is

00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:06.880
 why the

00:45:06.880 --> 00:45:07.480
 Bible calls

00:45:07.480 --> 00:45:08.039
 us to give

00:45:08.039 --> 00:45:08.420
 from our

00:45:08.420 --> 00:45:09.080
 first fruits

00:45:09.080 --> 00:45:10.060
 and to live

00:45:10.060 --> 00:45:10.600
 on the rest

00:45:10.600 --> 00:45:11.100
 rather than

00:45:11.100 --> 00:45:11.580
 giving God

00:45:11.580 --> 00:45:12.039
 what's left

00:45:12.039 --> 00:45:12.440
 over.

00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:13.060
 Wow,

00:45:13.140 --> 00:45:13.360
 God,

00:45:13.420 --> 00:45:13.740
 I've just

00:45:13.740 --> 00:45:14.180
 eaten this

00:45:14.180 --> 00:45:15.280
 massive roast

00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:15.800
 dinner and

00:45:15.800 --> 00:45:16.519
 there's a

00:45:16.519 --> 00:45:16.780
 potato,

00:45:16.960 --> 00:45:17.360
 there you go,

00:45:17.980 --> 00:45:18.380
 you can have

00:45:18.380 --> 00:45:18.740
 that one.

00:45:21.580 --> 00:45:22.320
 If God

00:45:22.320 --> 00:45:22.860
 has saved

00:45:22.860 --> 00:45:23.140
 you in

00:45:23.140 --> 00:45:23.480
 Jesus,

00:45:23.700 --> 00:45:24.140
 gathered you

00:45:24.140 --> 00:45:24.780
 to himself,

00:45:25.260 --> 00:45:25.940
 his purpose

00:45:25.940 --> 00:45:26.780
 is to grow

00:45:26.780 --> 00:45:27.320
 you to be

00:45:27.320 --> 00:45:27.940
 like Jesus

00:45:27.940 --> 00:45:28.940
 in both

00:45:28.940 --> 00:45:29.780
 his character

00:45:29.780 --> 00:45:31.100
 and the

00:45:31.100 --> 00:45:31.800
 work he

00:45:31.800 --> 00:45:32.260
 came to

00:45:32.260 --> 00:45:32.560
 do,

00:45:32.760 --> 00:45:33.120
 which is

00:45:33.120 --> 00:45:33.440
 the will

00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:33.700
 of the

00:45:33.700 --> 00:45:34.000
 Father.

00:45:35.800 --> 00:45:36.640
 So pursue

00:45:36.640 --> 00:45:37.039
 God's

00:45:37.039 --> 00:45:37.500
 purpose for

00:45:37.500 --> 00:45:38.019
 your life,

00:45:38.820 --> 00:45:39.440
 get behind

00:45:39.440 --> 00:45:40.120
 the vision

00:45:40.120 --> 00:45:40.620
 of this

00:45:40.620 --> 00:45:41.940
 church and

00:45:41.940 --> 00:45:42.600
 serve it

00:45:42.600 --> 00:45:43.340
 and God

00:45:43.340 --> 00:45:43.900
 with your

00:45:43.900 --> 00:45:44.280
 time,

00:45:44.519 --> 00:45:45.060
 your talents

00:45:45.060 --> 00:45:45.680
 and your

00:45:45.680 --> 00:45:46.019
 treasures.

00:45:47.160 --> 00:45:48.019
 And within

00:45:48.019 --> 00:45:48.720
 a week,

00:45:49.180 --> 00:45:49.600
 within the

00:45:49.600 --> 00:45:50.340
 next week,

00:45:50.820 --> 00:45:51.340
 you've got

00:45:51.340 --> 00:45:52.280
 opportunities to

00:45:52.280 --> 00:45:53.460
 do all of

00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:54.120
 those things

00:45:54.120 --> 00:45:55.620
 just by the

00:45:55.620 --> 00:45:56.920
 pledging and

00:45:56.920 --> 00:45:58.360
 by coming to

00:45:58.360 --> 00:45:58.720
 a working

00:45:58.720 --> 00:46:00.160
 bay or being

00:46:00.160 --> 00:46:00.519
 our next

00:46:00.519 --> 00:46:00.880
 treasurer.