WEBVTT

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 Amen. Well, thank you, David and Michelle and for everyone else who's been involved in the service.

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 My name is Alistair. I'm the assistant pastor here at Brunsfield, and it is my absolute joy to open up this passage of Ephesians 4 to us.

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 But I want you to think back as we begin.

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 Maybe one of the things that you probably remember growing up as a child is that proud day

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 when you and your siblings were all lined up ready to have your height marked on the doorpost.

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 Normally it was in the kitchen or in the cupboard doorframe.

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 Now, I am from a family of three boys, so we can get quite competitive at times.

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 And I remember puffing out my chest, standing as tall as I possibly could,

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 just to see how much I'd grown over the last few months.

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 So you'd stand with your back to the post and your, in my case, my mom would put the pencil on top of my head,

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 ready to make the mark.

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 And before she'd even made the line, the question would inevitably come, have I grown?

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 When we're younger, we do everything we can to grow.

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 We are fascinated with being older, with being taller, with being big.

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 How does that happen?

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 Well, if we eat enough good food, if we get enough good exercise,

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 and if we believe what our parents tell us, if we don't eat too many sweets.

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 Children want to grow, and that growth is a good thing.

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 Now, carry that same thought across to the local church.

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 How do we, as a church, grow?

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 I don't mean numerically, because numbers are no indication of how we're actually doing as a church.

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 I mean spiritually.

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 How does the church grow?

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 Well, the message that we hear ringing through the passage that was read to us just a moment ago

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 is that we, the church, are gifted to grow.

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 We have received gifts from Christ that we need to help us grow in unity and in maturity

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 so that we can become the church that Jesus Christ has called us to be.

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 The spiritual growth of the local church does not come about by following the newest trends

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 or by listening to a particular leader.

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 The church grows as every single member uses their God-given gifts to serve the church,

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 which is built on the Bible, the very words of God.

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 Now, the main focus of this passage this morning is not us as individuals,

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 but instead it is about the local church, and we are gifted to grow.

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 Now, to help us see that this morning, we will ask two questions of the text.

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 And the first question is, what were we given to grow?

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 In verses 7 to 11, what were we given to grow?

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 Read verse 7 with me.

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 But to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

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 Now, grace is a word that we throw around a lot in Christian circles.

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 You've probably heard it to explain God's goodness and kindness to his people.

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 Ian Hamilton, a minister and theologian, says this about grace.

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 Grace is God's undeserving kindness to judgment-deserving sinners.

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 Now, where we hear the word grace, Christians stand up and we scream, yes, amen.

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 We have been given grace by God.

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 And we usually think about grace in terms of our salvation,

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 that wonderful, miraculous wonder of forgiveness that has been given to us through Jesus and his death on the cross.

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 But that's not what Paul is actually getting at here in Ephesians.

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 Looking at the context of the whole book and the way Paul uses the word elsewhere in Ephesians,

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 the grace that he is speaking of is and must be gifts given to us by God.

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 But Jesus isn't like Santa, who takes in a wish list once a year and dishes out good gifts to those who happen to make it onto the nice list

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 and gives coal to those naughty children.

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 No, God in his immeasurable grace calls sinners like you and me to become Christians.

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 But that grace doesn't stop there because as verse 7 says,

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 God continues to equip his people by his grace.

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 He gives us gifts.

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 Now, maybe you're sitting there thinking, well, this doesn't really apply to me because I have no gifts.

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 We can often think that gifting must equal platform and recognition.

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 We equate the gifts with the upfront stuff that we see going on in church or the miraculous gifts that we read elsewhere in the New Testament.

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 And those are part of it.

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 But thinking that you're not gifted just because you're not preaching or you're not leading a ministry,

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 thinking that you're not gifted because you're not doing what someone else is doing is wrong.

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 Look at what the Bible says in verse 7 to each one of us.

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 Friends, each and every one of you listening in this morning is gifted by Christ to build up the church.

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 No exceptions.

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 And to back this up, Paul quotes from Psalm 68 and relates it specifically to Jesus' work

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 and tells us how Jesus is able to give gifts to his people.

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 Paul uses this psalm to describe the ascension of Jesus that we read about in the book of Acts

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 and how because of his reigning victory over our enemies,

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 he is now seated at the right hand of God the Father.

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 And by grace, he gives us gifts.

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 When Jesus took on flesh or descended to the lower earthly regions, as verse 9 says,

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 he stooped from his place of glory with the Father in heaven and became one of us,

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 yet was without sin.

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 And through his death on the cross, he defeated the spiritual forces that wage war

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 against humanity every single day.

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 He defeated sin.

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 He defeated death.

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 And after his ascension, when he returned to the Father,

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 he sat at his right hand and is now reigning in absolute control over all things,

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 as verse 10 says.

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 Friends, this is the Savior that we serve.

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 And as if that wasn't glorious enough, he has given each of us gifts.

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 But he has also given particular, he has gifted particular leaders to the body of Christ.

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 And that is what we see in verse 11.

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 Christ has gifted the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers to the church.

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 Now, the pastors and teachers, those are one office.

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 And are what we currently understand to be pastors and elders.

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 But why does Paul mention these four leaders?

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 Well, if you think of the global church as a building, it will help us understand.

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 You see, the apostles and the prophets are the foundation of the church.

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 That's what Paul says in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 19 to 20.

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 Read with me.

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 The apostles here in this passage are the twelve apostles and Paul himself.

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 They are the ones who knew Jesus, who saw him and who were called to be sent ones.

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 That's what apostle means.

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 They are the foundations of the church, which is ultimately built on Jesus Christ.

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 The prophets were those who spoke the word of God to the people of God.

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 And again, remembering the context of Ephesians 2, 20.

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 The prophets were the original New Testament prophets who taught the church.

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 So if they are the foundation of this house, the body of Christ,

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 the next leaders are the frame put in place to help the building grow.

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 The evangelists are those who took the gospel to the people who don't know Jesus.

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 And there are those who continue this work on a daily basis in their friends and family circles,

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 on street corners and in marketplaces all over the world.

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 And there are those who are especially gifted in this phenomenal work.

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 But if you think that this is a get out of evangelism free card, you are wrong.

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 That's not the case.

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 This does not mean that the rest of us can sit back and leave the work of the Great Commission

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 to a select few of evangelists.

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 Every single Christian, according to Matthew 28, is called to share the gospel.

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 And then we have the pastors, those whose job it is to care for the Lord's people and to teach them.

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 Do you notice one thing that connects all of these offices?

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 Well, it's the word of God.

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 The apostles and the prophets built the church on the word that they had received from Jesus.

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 The evangelists share the good news of Jesus as we find it in the Bible.

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 And the role of any pastor, any elder, is primarily to be a teacher of God's word.

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 Now, this is really important because if we misunderstand this,

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 if we move away from the Bible, then friends, we are done for.

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 Because we're not built on the cornerstone that is Jesus Christ and the foundations of solid teaching.

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 To be a local church family that grows in our unity and maturity,

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 we don't need to look at the world and do the newest trendy thing.

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 We don't need growth strategies.

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 And we shouldn't be trying to become more like the world to seem more normal.

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 If we want to be a church that grows in unity and in maturity,

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 then we need to get our heads in our Bibles.

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 We need to know the word.

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 We need to live in the word.

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 And use the gifts that Christ has given us.

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 To be taught by the leaders that God has given us.

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 And to live for Jesus.

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 By grace, Christ has given each and every single one of us gifts.

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 Well, maybe you're left thinking, why?

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 Why did Jesus do that?

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 What's the point of him giving me a gift?

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 That's the second question we need to ask of this passage.

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 Why were we given them?

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 Verses 12 to 16.

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 Why were we given them?

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 When thinking about every Christian receiving a gift,

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 the temptation might be to think about the how and why to use those gifts

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 merely in an individualistic way.

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 But we're not called and gifted

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 to make ourselves great.

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 We're not called and gifted for ourselves to be the focus.

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 This whole passage is about how we can use our individual gifts

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 for the upbuilding of the local church.

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 Even the leaders in verse 11,

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 they weren't called and gifted

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 so that they could be put on a pedestal.

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 They're not perfect.

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 But so that they could do all the work in the church themselves.

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 Their role is, verse 12,

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 to equip his people, that is God's people,

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 for works of service.

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 And this is what we call every member ministry.

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 As elders, we believe that each one of you

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 is gifted.

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 And our role is to equip and enable you

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 to serve the church with your gift.

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 As a church, we are gifted to grow.

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 Now this flies right in the face of something

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 that is such a relevant temptation for us

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 at the moment during another lockdown.

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 It is so easy to roll out of bed on a Sunday morning,

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 turn on YouTube,

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 and then not think about church

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 until the next Sunday comes around.

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 Consumer Christianity is always a temptation.

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 But maybe it's even more of a danger now

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 than it was before.

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 As Christians, we weren't called to sit

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 and twiddle our thumbs.

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 We were called by God

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 to glorify him

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 and to serve him.

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 And that means that every one of us

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 should be using our gifts in the church.

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 That every one of us should be sharing the gospel

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 and reaching the lost.

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 And we get this repeated again in verse 16.

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 The church grows and builds itself up in love

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 as each part does its work.

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 Friends, if you're not serving in the church

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 at the moment,

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 why not?

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 Or if you're unsure which area you're gifted in,

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 we'll come and speak to myself

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 or any one of the other elders.

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 Our role is to equip you to serve

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 so that we as a church can be built up

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 to maturity and unity.

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 The way we serve can look different

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 for each one of us.

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 And age is no limit.

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 We are not a young people's church.

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 Are you older

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 and have been a Christian for a long time?

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 Don't sit back,

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 but why not use that experience

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 and get in a one-to-one

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 with a younger person?

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 As you grow and study the Bible together,

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 as you share life with one another,

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 you will both be blessed.

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 Are you a young person

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 and you've got a busy work schedule?

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 You've got a busy family life.

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 Maybe you've got a busy social calendar.

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 Well, the Bible gives nobody an excuse

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 not to serve their local church.

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 We are all to serve

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 by using our gifts out of love

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 to build up the church.

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 Maybe you're able to serve

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 in welcoming people to church

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 and inviting people

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 to the Life Explored course coming up

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 so that they too can hear about Jesus.

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 In sharing the gospel with people

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 every single day

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 or by encouraging people

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 and calling them up during lockdown

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 to see how they're doing

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 and how you can pray for them.

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 This is all of our job

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 as Christians

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 who are gathered together

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 as one family

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 in Brunsfield Evangelical Church.

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 Every single one of us

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 should engage in ministry

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 because each of us

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 have been gifted to grow.

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 And Paul gives us three reasons

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 for this every member ministry

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 in the local church

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 in verses 12 and 13.

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 Firstly, so that we would all

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 reach unity in faith

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 and full knowledge of God's Son.

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 Secondly, maturity.

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 And finally, so that we may attain

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 to the fullness of Christ.

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 Now again, remember the focus

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 of this passage is congregational,

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 not individualistic.

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 So our maturity and unity

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 as a church is measured

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 by how our relationship

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 as a congregation

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 is with Jesus.

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 If we grow in our maturity

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 and our unity,

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 then we will become

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 more like Christ.

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 We will attain

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 to the full measure of Christ,

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 which is the goal.

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 Now what does that look like?

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 Well, verse 14, read with me.

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 Then we will no longer be infants,

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 tossed back and forth by the waves

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 and blown here and there

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 by every wind of teaching

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 and by the cunning and craftiness

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 of people in their deceitful schemes.

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 A church that is equipped

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 to serve through the teaching

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 of God's word

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 will not be infants,

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 but mature.

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 A church that grows in maturity

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 and in unity

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 will not be tossed

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.940
 to and fro

00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:20.460
 by every wind of teaching.

00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:23.160
 A church that grows

00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:25.000
 in maturity and unity

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.379
 will be discerning

00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:28.900
 about what they listen to

00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:30.319
 and who they follow.

00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.980
 So flip that around.

00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:37.660
 What does a church look like

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.980
 that is not based on the Bible

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:41.259
 and that doesn't focus

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:42.680
 on growing in maturity

00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:44.080
 and unity?

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.120
 Well, they're like a rubber dinghy

00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:49.299
 in the middle of a rainstorm

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:50.240
 caught at sea.

00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.740
 Imagine a blow-up lilo

00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:54.900
 that you use at the seaside.

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:57.180
 They are fun to relax on

00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:59.000
 and lie in the water for a while,

00:18:59.120 --> 00:19:00.019
 but they are not built

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.100
 to keep you afloat

00:19:01.100 --> 00:19:02.180
 in the middle of a storm.

00:19:03.560 --> 00:19:04.560
 A Christian,

00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:07.180
 a church that is not rooted

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:08.240
 in their theology,

00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:10.560
 a church that doesn't strive

00:19:10.560 --> 00:19:12.240
 for maturity and unity

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:13.740
 is like a lilo

00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:15.819
 being tossed to and fro

00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:17.079
 in a vicious storm.

00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.599
 And notice the warning there,

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:23.200
 blown here and there

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.700
 by every wind of teaching

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.960
 and by the cunning

00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:27.579
 and craftiness of people

00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:30.140
 in their deceitful scheming.

00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:33.039
 This is why

00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.859
 it is so important

00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.680
 to be careful

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:37.019
 who we listen to.

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:39.720
 If we listen to just anyone

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.039
 speaking about the Bible

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.240
 and take their word for it,

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:43.579
 we are not being mature.

00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:46.579
 If we're sick,

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:48.279
 we wouldn't go to just anyone

00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.420
 for a diagnosis

00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:50.779
 or a course of treatment.

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.599
 We would want to make sure

00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:53.779
 that we're going to a doctor,

00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.940
 someone who knows their stuff,

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.339
 who's been to medical school,

00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:59.240
 someone who has good knowledge

00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.159
 of our symptoms.

00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:02.240
 And if we do that

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.559
 with our physical health,

00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:05.500
 we pay close attention

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.720
 to the advice

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.619
 we're listening to,

00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:08.740
 to the people

00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:10.880
 we're speaking to.

00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:14.359
 Why would we not do it

00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:15.640
 with our spiritual health?

00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.880
 Because our spiritual health

00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:18.799
 lasts for eternity.

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:22.019
 Friends,

00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:22.920
 there are countless

00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:24.299
 false doctrines

00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:25.299
 and false teachers

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.559
 all over the world

00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:28.400
 who would seek

00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:29.460
 to distract you

00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:30.319
 from the truth

00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.720
 and draw our attention

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.819
 away from Christ.

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:34.859
 It's tempting

00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:36.799
 because we all want to

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.240
 think that everything

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.019
 will be fine.

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:42.939
 We want to think

00:20:42.939 --> 00:20:43.679
 that we will have

00:20:43.679 --> 00:20:44.779
 our best life now,

00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.200
 that our prosperity

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.960
 is the focus of life.

00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:49.460
 But Paul says

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.859
 that such departures

00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.859
 are,

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.619
 verse 14,

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.319
 deceitful schemes.

00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:58.819
 Think back to the context

00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.359
 of Ephesus.

00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:01.199
 this city filled

00:21:01.199 --> 00:21:02.539
 with pagan worship

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.379
 and idols.

00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:05.119
 Paul is calling

00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:05.740
 this church

00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:06.719
 to be discerning,

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:09.000
 to know what they believe

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:10.319
 and why they believe it

00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:12.159
 so that they can stand up

00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:13.559
 against the onslaught

00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:14.659
 of attacks

00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:16.199
 that will come their way.

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.319
 And our context today

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:22.159
 isn't much different,

00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:22.639
 really.

00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.619
 We're surrounded

00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.959
 by different religions,

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.000
 different ideas,

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.400
 and even different

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:30.660
 theological schools

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.279
 of thought

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:33.039
 and false gospels.

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.619
 The call is the same.

00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:37.859
 Be discerning.

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.900
 Do not be caught off guard

00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:41.259
 and be tossed

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.700
 to and fro

00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:44.900
 by every new teaching

00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:46.400
 that comes your way.

00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:50.820
 Our role as Christians,

00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:52.380
 according to verse 15

00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:53.140
 and 16,

00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:55.060
 is to speak the truth

00:21:55.060 --> 00:21:55.660
 in love

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.940
 and to build up

00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.560
 the church

00:21:57.560 --> 00:21:58.240
 in love.

00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:01.640
 All the use

00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:02.519
 of our gifts

00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:04.320
 are worthless,

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.720
 utterly worthless,

00:22:07.280 --> 00:22:08.440
 if they're not being

00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:09.259
 used in love.

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.940
 Go later on

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.500
 and read

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:13.040
 1 Corinthians 13

00:22:13.040 --> 00:22:14.080
 and you'll see that

00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:14.820
 very clearly.

00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:17.259
 this means

00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:19.119
 that we need

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.019
 to hold each other

00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:20.579
 accountable,

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:23.079
 that we will speak

00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.759
 to each other

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.379
 about things

00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:25.079
 in our lives

00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:25.879
 that should not

00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:26.700
 be there

00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:29.319
 and we will do it

00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:30.399
 out of a deep love

00:22:30.399 --> 00:22:31.799
 and care for people

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.079
 so that,

00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.019
 verse 15,

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.859
 we will grow

00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:37.200
 to become

00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.439
 in every respect

00:22:38.439 --> 00:22:39.460
 the mature body

00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.019
 of Him

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.200
 who is the head

00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:42.439
 that is Christ.

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.779
 from Him

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.820
 the whole body

00:22:44.820 --> 00:22:45.840
 joined and held

00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:46.880
 together by every

00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.900
 supporting ligament

00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:49.500
 grows and builds

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.820
 itself up in love

00:22:50.820 --> 00:22:52.259
 as each part

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.340
 does its work.

00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.380
 Friends,

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.500
 Jesus has gifted

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.700
 each and every

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.480
 one of us

00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.380
 for growth.

00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:02.140
 Each of us

00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:02.840
 has a part

00:23:02.840 --> 00:23:03.360
 to play

00:23:03.360 --> 00:23:04.059
 in the growth

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.220
 of the local

00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:05.900
 church,

00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:06.680
 not the numerical

00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:07.259
 growth,

00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.259
 but the growth

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.000
 in unity

00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:10.200
 and maturity

00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:11.839
 so that we

00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.559
 can attain

00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.500
 to the full,

00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:15.160
 the whole measure

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:16.200
 of the fullness

00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:16.940
 of Christ.

00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.660
 Think back

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.440
 to the markings

00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.519
 on the doorpost

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.400
 when you were a child.

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.700
 Imagine going back

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.299
 to that house

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:25.980
 years later,

00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.960
 you've probably

00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.900
 grown a fair bit

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.539
 since then,

00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.700
 I know I have.

00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:32.759
 But now think

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.500
 if it were possible

00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.420
 to do the same

00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:36.640
 with the church

00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.940
 and our spiritual

00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.420
 growth.

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.900
 Would we be able

00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:42.000
 to see a difference

00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.860
 in our growth

00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:43.540
 in maturity

00:23:43.540 --> 00:23:44.560
 and unity

00:23:44.560 --> 00:23:46.759
 as a local

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.340
 church

00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:48.540
 over the last

00:23:48.540 --> 00:23:49.320
 50 years?

00:23:50.580 --> 00:23:51.460
 Over the last

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.259
 20 years?

00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:53.960
 Over the last

00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.720
 five years?

00:23:56.300 --> 00:23:57.300
 What about over

00:23:57.300 --> 00:23:58.040
 these last 10

00:23:58.040 --> 00:23:58.820
 months of lockdown?

00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:01.720
 Friends,

00:24:01.820 --> 00:24:02.520
 we have been

00:24:02.520 --> 00:24:02.880
 gifted

00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:04.220
 for growth.

00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:08.400
 to build

00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:09.500
 up the church

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:12.600
 to actively

00:24:12.600 --> 00:24:13.259
 serve

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.140
 with the goal

00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:14.720
 of growing

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.660
 in our maturity

00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.559
 and unity

00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.720
 as a church

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.120
 family.

00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.660
 You are gifted

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.440
 to help

00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:22.539
 Brunsfield grow.

00:24:23.600 --> 00:24:24.079
 And so let me

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.660
 leave you with a

00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:25.539
 question this morning.

00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:27.819
 What are you

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.180
 doing

00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:29.660
 to help

00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:30.559
 the church

00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:30.980
 grow

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:32.339
 in maturity,

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:34.099
 in unity

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:35.740
 and to become

00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.339
 the bride

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:36.980
 of Christ

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:38.159
 that Jesus

00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:38.819
 has called

00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:39.579
 us to be?

00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:41.599
 Let's pray

00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:41.980
 together.

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.439
 Heavenly Father,

00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.019
 we thank you

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.539
 so much

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.059
 that by your

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.519
 grace

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.259
 you have

00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.039
 called us

00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.399
 to be

00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:52.019
 Christians.

00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.779
 But Father,

00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.339
 we thank you

00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:54.959
 for the wonderful

00:24:54.959 --> 00:24:55.819
 news that even

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:57.439
 more than that

00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:57.980
 your grace

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.659
 doesn't stop

00:24:58.659 --> 00:24:58.939
 there,

00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.699
 but you have

00:24:59.699 --> 00:25:00.819
 given us

00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.199
 gifts

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:01.740
 so that we

00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:02.500
 can serve

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.539
 your church.

00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:06.340
 Father,

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:06.860
 forgive us

00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:07.480
 for the times

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.120
 where our

00:25:08.120 --> 00:25:09.440
 goal has

00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:09.840
 not been

00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:10.580
 to serve

00:25:10.580 --> 00:25:11.279
 but to

00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:11.759
 consume.

00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.460
 Forgive us

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:15.059
 for the times

00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:15.340
 where we

00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:15.860
 have kept

00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:16.319
 our gifts

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.160
 to ourself

00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:18.360
 and not

00:25:18.360 --> 00:25:19.140
 sought to

00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:20.360
 grow the

00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:20.819
 church

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.819
 in unity,

00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.539
 in maturity,

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.980
 so that we

00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.559
 would become

00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.080
 the bride

00:25:26.080 --> 00:25:26.420
 that you

00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:26.860
 have called

00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:27.420
 us to be.

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.319
 Father,

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:29.840
 help us

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.519
 all think

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:30.959
 about how

00:25:30.959 --> 00:25:31.319
 we can

00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:31.659
 serve,

00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.139
 help us

00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:33.240
 all figure

00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:34.259
 out the

00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:34.839
 areas in

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.319
 which you've

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:35.939
 gifted us

00:25:35.939 --> 00:25:37.319
 so that we

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:37.799
 can build

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.679
 up this

00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:39.500
 local church

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:39.919
 that is

00:25:39.919 --> 00:25:40.599
 Bronzefield

00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:41.419
 Evangelical

00:25:41.419 --> 00:25:41.879
 Church.

00:25:42.919 --> 00:25:43.480
 Father,

00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:43.939
 we ask

00:25:43.939 --> 00:25:44.379
 all of

00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:45.339
 this for

00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:46.059
 your glory

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.899
 and in

00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:47.399
 the precious

00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:47.959
 name of

00:25:47.959 --> 00:25:48.559
 our wonderful

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.139
 saviour,

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.379
 Jesus Christ.

00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:51.379
 Amen.

00:25:51.379 --> 00:25:51.519
 Amen.

00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:51.579
 Amen.

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:51.599
 Amen.

00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:51.639
 Amen.

00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:51.659
 Amen.

00:25:51.659 --> 00:25:51.679
 Amen.

00:25:51.679 --> 00:25:51.699
 Amen.

00:25:51.699 --> 00:25:53.579
 Amen.

00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:53.599
 Amen.

00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:55.579
 Amen.

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:55.599
 Amen.

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:55.639
 Amen.

00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:55.699
 Amen.

00:25:55.699 --> 00:25:56.099
 Amen.

00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:56.139
 Amen.

00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:56.639
 Amen.

00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:57.639
 Amen.

00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:57.659
 Amen.

00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:59.819
 Amen.