WEBVTT

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 This is a very special day in the calendar of this church.

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 It's a day that we restart our small group ministry after a bit of a vacation during the summer.

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!

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 As a consequence, because of the significance of this day, last week Pastor opened his scriptures as to the why we do small groups.

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 Even before the exact dates of his vacation were planned, he had planned last week the why we do small group,

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 and this week the how do we do small groups.

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 And as I was considering it and praying about it and what passage to ask you to turn to,

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 I considered what do we mean by small groups.

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 I remembered, I don't know why I thought of this, but I did,

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 one of the significant budgetary changes that we made for small groups was the issue of training.

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 It is our desire that every one of our small group leaders attend biblical counseling training,

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 and almost every one of them has done that.

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 And we want to continue to have that happening.

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 We've got a couple of, we have one couple that's going to be going three weekends here in the next month,

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 this leader this month actually,

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 and then we have already two couples that are planning to go over to Lafayette in Indiana next year.

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 You see, biblical counseling is simply one step that's used in helping a person grow spiritually.

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 It's one step in the process.

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 And Josh is up here because I asked him to come up here.

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 He's not just ready to remove me if I say something wrong.

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 Josh has a purpose here, okay?

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 And what I wanted to do was to give you a picture of what does it mean,

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 what is biblical counseling?

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 What is it all about?

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 What does it mean?

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 So Josh is going to be my illustration here.

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 And I've got my iPhone here.

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 I'm going to just kind of lay right here, okay?

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 And Josh starts out right over here, okay?

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 Josh starts out with salvation, all right?

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 He starts right here, and he looks an awful lot like Josh, okay?

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 The process, the program for Josh is for him to move across here until he gets over here.

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 I'm not going to go over there because I don't belong there either.

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 And he looks where he looks an awful lot like Jesus Christ, okay?

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 That's discipleship.

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 That's spiritual growth.

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 That's what's supposed to happen in every one of our lives.

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 Unfortunately, sometimes Josh gets started, okay?

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 And he's going along, but see, he's gotten distracted.

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 I've got to come along and say, Josh, it's okay.

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 It's okay.

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 Just keep moving.

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 Just keep moving.

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 Keep going, okay?

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 Sometimes that's what happens to us, right?

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 Sometimes, sometimes Josh gets started off, and he's growing spiritually.

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 He's getting to be more like what happened.

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 He got completely sidetracked.

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 He's not even progressing to look like Jesus Christ anymore.

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 He's stuck on the world.

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 What are you doing with my phone?

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 Okay?

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 And what I need to do is stop him getting to put down my phone and say,

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 come on, Josh, we've got to keep moving this way.

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 Sometimes the person gets started.

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 They're walking along.

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 They're looking more and more like Christ.

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 It's like they're almost at the end.

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 And it goes right back to the stuff that was distracting them before.

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 Thanks, Josh.

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 So I thought about biblical counseling, what biblical counseling is and what it's meant to be.

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 I thought of a passage that is what we want to be the center of our small groups.

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 Would you turn your Bibles to Colossians chapter 1?

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 I'm going to read verses 24 to 29, which is one long sentence.

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 Okay?

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 Apostle Paul liked long sentences.

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 And then we're going to focus on the last half of the sentence in verses 28 and 29.

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 Colossians chapter 1 and verses 24.

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 Now I rejoice in my suffering for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body.

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 That is, the church of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you,

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 to make the word of God fully known.

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 The mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to his saints.

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 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery,

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 which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

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 Him we proclaim, warning everyone, teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

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 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

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 This morning, as I said, we're going to concentrate on what I believe constitutes the summary of ministry.

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 That's what we find in verses 28 and 29.

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 This is how we do small group.

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 I'm going to relate it in three ways.

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 First of all, the focus.

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 Second, the way they function.

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 And third, who is the true facilitator of small groups.

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 First one is our function.

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 I'm sorry, our focus.

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 Verse 29 says, him we proclaim.

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 Proclaim, here's the general term.

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 It's not restricted to formal preaching,

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 but rather it indicates all of communication.

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 Paul is saying here that all he talked about was Christ.

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 He was a one-topic person.

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 You know any one-topic people?

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 It's a person that no matter what question you ask them,

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 they always want to talk about the same thing.

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 It might be golf.

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 It might be football.

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 It might be cooking.

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 It might be anything.

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 They're focused on one thing,

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 and the only thing they talk about is that one thing.

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 Paul was one of those people.

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 But for Paul, it was Jesus.

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 Every time he talked to someone,

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 it didn't matter whether it was the highfalutin people

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 or the common people,

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 whether Paul was talking to King Agrippa,

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 the military commander,

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 a tradesperson like Lydia,

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 a common prison guard like in Philippi,

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 a soldier fastened to him in a Roman custody,

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 the philosophers of Athens,

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 or the religious leaders of Israel,

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 Paul had one topic, Jesus.

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 Whether we're considering Paul's messages in the book of Acts

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 or one of the many epistles,

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 one thing is sure,

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 you're going to get a full dose of Christ.

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 But, you know,

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 despite all of his education

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 and his training,

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 Paul doesn't give us a whole lot of ivory tower,

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 head-swelling information,

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 theory that doesn't have any practice to it.

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 Rather, you're going to get a rich theology

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 that presents the truth of Jesus Christ

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 and then applies it step by step

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 in the lives of people.

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 At the deepest level,

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 the apostle conceived of his message

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 not as a system,

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 not as a collection of rules and regulations,

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 but as a living and glorious person

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 who is the fulfillment of the deepest hopes of mankind

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 and the source of new life to his people.

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 You find teaching that centers on a person

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 and change lives.

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 So what is the connection there to our small groups?

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 Our small groups are not centered on social interaction,

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 pragmatic attempts to increase the Sunday evening attendance,

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 or meeting the felt needs of members,

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 but to glorify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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 When we forget that,

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 when we ignore it,

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 or if we simply don't keep working at it,

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 making that the focus,

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 then we've lost the one thing that really matters.

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 And if you walk out of here today,

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 and you can only remember one thing that I said,

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 I would sure like it to be that.

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 So let me say it again a little bit more simply.

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 Our small groups are centered on glorifying

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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Period.

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 So what does it mean to glorify Christ?

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 In Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17,

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 he begins with this concept of glorifying him.

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 And in that, he covers ideas such as attention to his word,

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 being sanctified,

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 being unified with other believers,

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 and having the love of Christ.

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 So if I would summarize,

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 it comes down to this.

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 Two of the best ways to glorify Christ

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 is to obey him and love others.

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 This really comes out throughout Scripture,

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 but especially here in the New Testament.

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 Remember when Jesus was asked to summarize the whole Testament.

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 Break down the law for us, Jesus,

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 and tell us what is the one most important thing.

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 And what was his answer?

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 Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

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 with all your soul,

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 with all your mind,

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 and with all your strength.

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 And love your neighbor as yourself.

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 How do I know that I love him

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 with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength?

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 Jesus answered that one too.

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 He said, if you love me, keep my commandments.

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 So let me connect it for you,

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 very plainly,

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 to ensure that Jesus Christ

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 is the center of our small groups,

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 we all need to grow in obeying Christ

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 and loving one another.

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 That's what I was pointing out with Josh.

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 Josh needed to keep moving,

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 keep moving forward and growing

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 to be more like Christ.

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 And the purpose of small groups

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 is what I was doing,

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 where I came along beside him

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 and I said, no, don't pay attention to that thing.

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 Or pulling him back,

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 and Josh made it easy for me,

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 to show you that sometimes

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 we need to be pulled back.

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 Sometimes it's not enough

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 to just say,

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 well, you know,

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 you really ought to follow Jesus.

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 So let's next look at the way

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 our small groups function.

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 Colossians 1.28 says,

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 warning everyone,

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 teaching everyone,

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 with all wisdom

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 that we may present everyone

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 mature in Christ.

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 The first thing I want you to notice there,

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 and I tried to highlight it for you,

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 is that everyone appears three times.

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 It appears after each verb in this verse.

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 I think that's significant.

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 Spiritual growth in Christ's likeness

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 is not restricted to the few.

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 It's not only the pastors.

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 It's not only the deacons.

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 It's not only the biggies of the church.

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 It's not even only the adults.

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 It is everyone.

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 Everyone.

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 Not everyone is capable

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 of an advanced degree in mathematics.

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 Not everyone is capable

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 of running a sub-four-minute mile.

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 Not everyone is capable

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 of climbing the corporate ladder

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 to the place where you're CEO

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 of the multinational corporation.

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 But everyone, everyone

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 is able to come to the maturity

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 that Paul speaks about here.

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 Each and every one of us.

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 Not only are we able,

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 but we are expected.

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 Every single Christian

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 is capable of the maturity

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 that Paul talks about.

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 Two things.

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 Can I encourage you

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 on the small groups?

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 The first one is

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 small groups need to make sure

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 that everyone is involved,

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 everyone is growing,

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 everyone is serving.

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 What does that mean?

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 What means this?

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 That, of course,

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 the activities must be age-appropriate.

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 I've worked with twos and threes

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 off and on for years.

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 I understand that a two-year-old

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 cannot handle a 45-minute lecture.

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 Okay?

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 Okay?

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 On the other hand,

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 a three-year-old,

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 a four-year-old, maybe,

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 four-year-old who has come to Jesus

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 can have a short Bible lesson

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 and can pray for other people

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 in a small group.

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 Small groups should not just be

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 two hours

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 where we send the kids off

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 and give mommy and daddy a break.

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 Small group ought to be for everybody.

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 Second thing.

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 It should not just be

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 one person teaching many,

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 but many teaching one another.

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 There is a leader

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 in the small group.

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 There should not be a lecturer

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 in the small group.

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 I have to fight this

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 as much as anybody.

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 I can obviously talk

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 without anybody else talking

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 for 45 minutes,

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 and it's okay.

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 Okay?

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 I understand some people can't.

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 I can do that,

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 but I should not do that.

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 I want to get people involved

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 because the way that

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 someone in my small group

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 like Kate

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 or the way that Jeff

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 or the way that Margie

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 says something

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 in my small group

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 may be just the way

00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:02.340
 that somebody else

00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:03.139
 needed to hear it

00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:04.120
 that I couldn't even

00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:05.059
 think of it that way.

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:08.480
 We work together.

00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:10.100
 We teach each other.

00:15:10.819 --> 00:15:11.659
 So what are the things

00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:12.799
 that we should be doing

00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.100
 with everyone?

00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:16.600
 The first one it says

00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.219
 is warning.

00:15:18.219 --> 00:15:19.100
 Some translations

00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:20.639
 use the word admonishing.

00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:22.000
 Let me start out

00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:23.740
 with a definition for you,

00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:24.639
 and then I'm going

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.360
 to explain it just a little bit.

00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:27.240
 Sorry, I'm getting

00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.059
 distracted here.

00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:29.480
 Okay.

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:31.179
 It's this.

00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.659
 Biblical warning

00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:33.779
 or admonition

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:35.120
 is the process

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.220
 of applying the Scripture

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.420
 to the issues

00:15:38.420 --> 00:15:40.580
 of our individual lives.

00:15:41.420 --> 00:15:42.360
 Biblical warning

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.040
 or admonition

00:15:43.040 --> 00:15:44.180
 is the process

00:15:44.180 --> 00:15:46.259
 of applying the Scripture

00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:48.200
 to the individual issues

00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:49.340
 in people's lives.

00:15:50.040 --> 00:15:51.360
 It includes the idea

00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:53.560
 of setting someone's mind straight

00:15:53.560 --> 00:15:55.279
 with the idea

00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:57.379
 that it's not quite straight

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.080
 right now.

00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:00.779
 It has to do with will

00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:01.480
 and emotions,

00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:03.560
 and it connotates warning.

00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:05.159
 It can relate

00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:06.359
 to non-Christians

00:16:06.359 --> 00:16:07.579
 with the thought being

00:16:07.579 --> 00:16:08.779
 that the apostle

00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.099
 sought to awaken

00:16:10.099 --> 00:16:11.159
 each one of them

00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:12.839
 to their need for Christ,

00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:14.839
 or it can focus

00:16:14.839 --> 00:16:16.299
 on warning of Christians

00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:17.879
 who might be tempted

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.559
 to stray.

00:16:19.839 --> 00:16:20.759
 It could be simply

00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.279
 the person

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:22.199
 who's distracted.

00:16:23.619 --> 00:16:24.699
 It could be the person

00:16:24.699 --> 00:16:26.419
 who's turned aside

00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:27.819
 and not growing anymore.

00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:29.099
 It could be the person

00:16:29.099 --> 00:16:30.699
 who was on his way

00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:32.040
 and backed up.

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:37.200
 So let's see how this relates

00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:38.000
 to small groups.

00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:41.660
 Involvement in one another's lives

00:16:41.660 --> 00:16:42.600
 using Scripture.

00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:46.280
 Involvement in one another's lives

00:16:46.280 --> 00:16:46.860
 during Scripture.

00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:48.060
 Not long ago,

00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.940
 I had a very sad phone call,

00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:52.840
 and I'm just going to be up front with you.

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.840
 I'm going to just lay it out.

00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:55.520
 The person called me,

00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.640
 and they said

00:16:56.640 --> 00:16:58.140
 that they had this challenge

00:16:58.140 --> 00:16:59.340
 that they were working on

00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:01.240
 and that they had already

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:02.360
 asked all their friends.

00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:04.460
 The person was from this ministry.

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:05.920
 They'd already asked

00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:06.720
 all their friends,

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.620
 and their friends gave them

00:17:08.620 --> 00:17:09.440
 this advice.

00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:12.100
 And I listened to the advice,

00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:12.960
 and I was a little troubled.

00:17:14.840 --> 00:17:15.759
 So I said,

00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:17.900
 so could you tell me

00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:18.720
 what passage

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:21.160
 one of them used with that?

00:17:22.620 --> 00:17:23.920
 And the person said,

00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:26.000
 oh, nobody used a verse with me.

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:31.160
 My comment to them

00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.119
 was,

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.180
 is that the advice you want?

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.059
 My brothers and sisters,

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.160
 that ought not to be.

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.319
 The advice,

00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:41.160
 the counsel,

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.000
 the direction

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.980
 that we give

00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.759
 to one another

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:45.859
 ought to be poured out,

00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:46.720
 ought to be dripping

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.380
 with the Word of God.

00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.539
 And if it's not,

00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:51.559
 it's not good advice.

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:55.079
 Second thing,

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.639
 how do we make sure

00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:58.000
 this warning takes place?

00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:59.119
 The pastor mentioned

00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.539
 this one

00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:01.960
 in his training

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:03.019
 for small group leaders,

00:18:03.179 --> 00:18:04.339
 and he asked me

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.899
 to repeat it

00:18:05.899 --> 00:18:06.919
 for everybody.

00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:08.879
 And that was

00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:10.000
 making sure

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.599
 that our prayer requests

00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:13.159
 are appropriate.

00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:15.980
 What do I mean by that?

00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:17.359
 We want to be involved

00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:18.359
 in one another's lives.

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.359
 How can you be involved

00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:20.319
 in one another's lives

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.759
 if you don't know

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.480
 what's going on?

00:18:22.159 --> 00:18:23.439
 There needs to be

00:18:23.439 --> 00:18:24.779
 a level of transparency

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:26.919
 or we can't be involved

00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:27.939
 in one another's lives.

00:18:28.179 --> 00:18:29.480
 On the other hand,

00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.759
 every one of you

00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:32.319
 has been in a situation

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.619
 where you're in

00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:35.500
 some kind of a prayer group

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.259
 or going to pray

00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.079
 for one another,

00:18:37.379 --> 00:18:38.659
 and one person

00:18:38.659 --> 00:18:40.439
 uses the prayer time

00:18:40.439 --> 00:18:41.200
 for manipulation.

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.720
 I just want everyone

00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.059
 to pray for my wife

00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:46.819
 who's being very unsubmissive,

00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.579
 and she just really needs

00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.919
 to get right with God,

00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:51.259
 and so I'm just going to,

00:18:51.340 --> 00:18:52.080
 I just want you all

00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:52.800
 to pray for her.

00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.560
 Well, what did I just do?

00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:59.039
 She can't say anything now,

00:18:59.080 --> 00:18:59.300
 right?

00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.259
 Except I guess

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.200
 I need to be submissive.

00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:04.940
 I beat her into submission

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.640
 by using her

00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.900
 as a prayer example.

00:19:08.060 --> 00:19:08.980
 That's terrible.

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:13.240
 My prayer requests

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:15.099
 need to be appropriate,

00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:17.099
 not used to manipulate

00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:17.860
 other people,

00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:20.240
 not used as a means

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.860
 of gossip.

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.140
 Well, I really,

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.860
 I don't want anybody

00:19:22.860 --> 00:19:24.120
 to gossip about this,

00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:25.319
 but I did want to share it

00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.220
 with you for prayer.

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.360
 Well, if you shouldn't

00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:30.259
 be gossiping about it,

00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.279
 don't talk about it.

00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:33.500
 You can tell Jesus about it,

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.160
 and that's enough.

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.980
 Those are two ways

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.840
 that that warning

00:19:37.840 --> 00:19:38.560
 is to come about.

00:19:39.080 --> 00:19:40.279
 Admonishing is to be

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.220
 with all wisdom.

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.420
 We're going to talk about this

00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:44.340
 in each one of the two sections,

00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:46.240
 but the warning

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:48.160
 and warning everyone

00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:49.420
 and teaching everyone

00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:50.800
 are parallel phrases.

00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:53.060
 So both of them

00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:54.400
 are to be done with wisdom.

00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:56.900
 Wisdom refers to

00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:58.480
 the practical discernment,

00:19:58.860 --> 00:20:00.820
 understanding the biblical principles

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:02.019
 for holy conduct.

00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:04.359
 The consistent pattern

00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.980
 of God-honoring ministry

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:07.720
 is to link teaching

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.939
 and admonishment

00:20:08.939 --> 00:20:10.439
 and bring them together

00:20:10.439 --> 00:20:11.559
 in the context

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:13.879
 of the general doctrinal truths

00:20:13.879 --> 00:20:14.359
 of the word.

00:20:16.139 --> 00:20:17.139
 Doctrinal teaching

00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:18.740
 is invariably

00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:21.899
 followed by practical admonitions,

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:24.519
 and that has to be the pattern

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.779
 for all of ministry.

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:29.500
 Next thing in it

00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.960
 is teaching everyone.

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:33.099
 Refers to teaching,

00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:34.220
 and that refers to

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:38.420
 imparting positive Christian truth.

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:41.099
 The verb

00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:42.819
 and its corresponding nouns

00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:44.119
 of teacher and teaching

00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:45.440
 are often used

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.299
 in the New Testament

00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:49.700
 to denote authoritative communication

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.720
 of gospel truth,

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.299
 like preaching.

00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:55.539
 At the same time,

00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:57.559
 this truth is reinforced

00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.599
 as believers

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.779
 teach one another.

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.440
 So teaching

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:03.879
 is the positive sense

00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:05.079
 in which Scripture

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:05.779
 is spoken

00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:07.079
 to increase

00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:07.819
 and improve

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:08.859
 our understanding

00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:11.059
 of who Christ is

00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:12.899
 and what his ways are.

00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:15.779
 Teaching is to lay out

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.899
 those two things

00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.899
 so that we grow

00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:19.079
 in our understanding

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:20.019
 and our knowledge.

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.700
 It does have

00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.319
 the aspect

00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:24.080
 of more information,

00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.740
 but it has

00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.900
 the aspect also

00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:27.940
 of that information

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.680
 applied to our lives.

00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.620
 It's the responsibility

00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:33.759
 that's given to everyone.

00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.460
 I want you to look

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.519
 at an illustration of that.

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.360
 You're in the book

00:21:36.360 --> 00:21:37.080
 of Colossians.

00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:38.140
 You just need to turn

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:39.100
 a page or two

00:21:39.100 --> 00:21:41.180
 to Colossians chapter 3

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:42.740
 and verse 16.

00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:46.940
 Colossians chapter 3

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.900
 verse 16.

00:21:48.860 --> 00:21:50.140
 Let the word of Christ

00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:51.540
 dwell in you richly.

00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.900
 Teaching and admonishing

00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:54.580
 one another

00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:55.440
 in all wisdom,

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.580
 singing psalms and hymns

00:21:57.580 --> 00:21:58.820
 and spiritual songs

00:21:58.820 --> 00:22:00.300
 with thanksgiving

00:22:00.300 --> 00:22:01.820
 or thankfulness

00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:02.640
 in your hearts

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.340
 to God.

00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:05.180
 This verse is more about

00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:06.400
 let's do another song.

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.980
 It points to everyone

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.840
 as Paul says

00:22:09.840 --> 00:22:11.759
 because in this verse

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.700
 the you,

00:22:13.060 --> 00:22:15.060
 let the word of Christ

00:22:15.060 --> 00:22:16.960
 dwell in you richly.

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:18.559
 the you there is plural.

00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:20.640
 It's like y'all.

00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:21.500
 Okay?

00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.840
 It means everybody in here.

00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:25.319
 Not just one person.

00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:28.480
 Not just those people

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.680
 who are teachers.

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.019
 Not just those people

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:33.980
 who are spiritual giants.

00:22:34.360 --> 00:22:35.340
 Not just those people

00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:36.640
 who are small group leaders.

00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:38.500
 It applies to everybody

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:40.579
 at the church in Colossae.

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:43.519
 So first of all

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.519
 it applies to everyone.

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.099
 Secondly,

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:47.019
 it ties together

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.339
 the idea

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:50.099
 of in all wisdom

00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:52.220
 with the word of Christ

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:53.220
 dwelling in you.

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.819
 Those two things

00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.619
 go together.

00:22:56.939 --> 00:22:58.279
 So in both passages,

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.259
 this one here

00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.639
 in Colossians chapter 3

00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:02.960
 and back in Colossians chapter 1,

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.879
 both passages then,

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:06.259
 with all wisdom

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:08.179
 seems to express the way

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.620
 that the admonishing

00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.759
 and teaching were done.

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.279
 That says it's not

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.600
 just about funny stories.

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.799
 That it has at its core

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.740
 and at its root

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:20.080
 the word of God

00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:21.400
 and that's the thing

00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.620
 that is being used

00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.900
 to help one another

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:25.580
 by admonishing and teaching.

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.740
 As people need wisdom

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.400
 to know how to live out

00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:32.299
 the true knowledge of God

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:33.440
 so they need wisdom

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.960
 to know how to teach

00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.920
 and admonish one another.

00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:39.000
 And this wisdom

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.519
 comes only

00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:42.340
 from the word of God.

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.420
 Third word there

00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:46.180
 is presenting.

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:48.960
 The aim of Paul's

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.320
 proclaiming and admonishing

00:23:50.320 --> 00:23:51.039
 and teaching

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:53.039
 was to present everyone

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.900
 perfect in Christ.

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.600
 Present refers to

00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:58.340
 the bringing them

00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:59.600
 into God's presence

00:23:59.600 --> 00:24:01.060
 at the return of Christ.

00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:02.539
 The example that I used

00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:03.320
 with Josh

00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:04.620
 as I had him walking

00:24:04.620 --> 00:24:06.720
 from the point of salvation

00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:07.799
 to the point

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:09.100
 of Christ-likeness

00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:10.339
 we recognize

00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:11.740
 that that actually

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.839
 is vertical.

00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:13.200
 Right?

00:24:14.600 --> 00:24:16.240
 That the only time

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.220
 any of us

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.860
 is going to be

00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:19.100
 perfect in Christ

00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:20.799
 and look just like him

00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:22.220
 is when we see him

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:22.960
 as he is.

00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.319
 Okay?

00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.360
 So that's going

00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:26.120
 to be vertical.

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:28.059
 I tried to illustrate

00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:28.819
 it horizontally

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.620
 because Josh

00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:30.420
 wasn't prepared

00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:30.860
 to fly.

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.620
 Okay?

00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:33.079
 So I couldn't have him

00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:33.640
 moving up.

00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:35.700
 This issue

00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:37.460
 of progressing

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.600
 growing to be

00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:39.300
 more like Christ

00:24:39.300 --> 00:24:40.220
 we recognize

00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.440
 that we're not there.

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:43.040
 None of us are.

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.880
 But said simply

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.560
 the goal

00:24:46.560 --> 00:24:47.500
 of the ministry

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:49.560
 of small group

00:24:49.560 --> 00:24:51.040
 is the maturity

00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:52.140
 of the saints

00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:54.400
 so that each one

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.360
 of us hears

00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:56.740
 well done

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.720
 good and faithful

00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.380
 servant

00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:59.900
 when we stand

00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:00.500
 before him

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.279
 in the last day.

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:04.000
 Shows up

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.819
 in this passage

00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.500
 in Colossians

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.099
 chapter 1

00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:07.299
 all the way back

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.240
 in verse 22.

00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.660
 I didn't start

00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.140
 back there.

00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:10.980
 I started in 24.

00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.960
 But back in verse 22

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.680
 it points to the fact

00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:16.579
 that it was Christ's aim

00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:19.259
 to present us

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.440
 perfect before him.

00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.640
 Here in 28

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.720
 it says

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:25.839
 that it was Paul's aim

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.779
 to present people

00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:29.500
 perfect before Christ.

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:32.339
 I'm here to tell you

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.160
 today that it's

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:34.220
 your leadership's

00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:34.759
 goal

00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.680
 aim

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:37.240
 function

00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:40.039
 for small groups

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:41.240
 to present people

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.859
 perfect in Christ.

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.240
 And I pray it's yours.

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:48.400
 The Greek word here

00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.220
 that's translated

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:49.660
 mature

00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.940
 is kind of challenging

00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:52.900
 and so you see it

00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:53.539
 different

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.680
 in different translations.

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:55.960
 Some translations

00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:57.140
 use the word mature.

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.400
 Some translations

00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:59.599
 use the word perfect.

00:25:59.599 --> 00:25:59.719
 perfect.

00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:02.419
 The idea of perfect

00:26:02.419 --> 00:26:03.579
 in the English

00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.859
 speaks of

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:06.779
 absolute completeness.

00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.000
 Nothing missing

00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:08.659
 whatsoever.

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:09.439
 Okay?

00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.899
 It's perfect.

00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:11.759
 Okay?

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.259
 And that's not

00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:14.000
 the idea

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.099
 of the word

00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:17.000
 in the Greek.

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.419
 So consequently

00:26:19.419 --> 00:26:20.299
 some people

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.299
 have translated it

00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:21.779
 mature

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:23.379
 just kind of saying

00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:23.919
 well it's not

00:26:23.919 --> 00:26:24.519
 really perfect.

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.879
 the trouble

00:26:25.879 --> 00:26:26.400
 with using

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:26.819
 the word

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:27.299
 mature

00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:28.460
 is that we

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.559
 have the idea

00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:30.480
 that if we're

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.039
 older

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:32.400
 bigger

00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.759
 stronger

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.740
 then we must

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.359
 be mature

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:36.779
 okay?

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.720
 And it ain't

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.920
 necessarily so.

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.799
 And we don't

00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.440
 want to have

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.259
 that idea

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.259
 of relativeness.

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.400
 I can have

00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:46.259
 a teenager

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.319
 that's more

00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.180
 mature in

00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:48.740
 Christ

00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.460
 than

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.640
 an older

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.119
 person.

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.379
 The question

00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:54.079
 is

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.660
 are they

00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.400
 focused

00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.460
 solely on

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.279
 Jesus Christ

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.019
 and is that

00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.680
 the goal

00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:01.140
 and the highlight

00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:02.039
 of their life?

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.980
 Because that's

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.740
 the term.

00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:06.220
 One commentator

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.059
 put it pretty well

00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:07.400
 I thought.

00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:07.799
 He said

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.859
 it is the

00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:09.379
 complete

00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:10.500
 and undivided

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:10.879
 way

00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.339
 in which

00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:12.079
 a person

00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:13.039
 with all

00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:13.379
 of their

00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:13.960
 positive

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.899
 and negative

00:27:14.899 --> 00:27:15.539
 attributes

00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:16.899
 is oriented

00:27:16.899 --> 00:27:17.819
 towards God

00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.619
 or towards

00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.000
 Christ.

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.180
 I thought

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:20.440
 that was

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:20.899
 pretty good.

00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.279
 I got an

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.740
 even better

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.299
 one for you.

00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.519
 Turn in

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.119
 your Bibles

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:27.039
 to Philippians

00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:28.460
 chapter 3

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.960
 and verse

00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:30.700
 13 and

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.099
 14

00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:32.359
 because I

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:32.720
 think

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.379
 Paul

00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:34.039
 under the

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.440
 leading of

00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:34.759
 the Holy

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.220
 Spirit

00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.839
 put it

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.359
 even better.

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:39.200
 Philippians

00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.680
 3

00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.720
 13 and

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.279
 14

00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:43.940
 Brothers

00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.740
 I do not

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.259
 consider

00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:45.659
 that I

00:27:45.659 --> 00:27:46.159
 have made

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:46.460
 it my

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:46.779
 own

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:48.099
 but one

00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.539
 thing I

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:48.779
 do

00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.220
 forgetting

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.940
 what lies

00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.440
 behind

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.119
 and straining

00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:51.639
 forward

00:27:51.639 --> 00:27:52.019
 to what

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.700
 lies ahead

00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.619
 I press

00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.220
 on towards

00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:54.759
 the goal

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.379
 for the

00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:55.899
 prize

00:27:55.899 --> 00:27:56.480
 of the

00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:56.720
 upward

00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.159
 call

00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:57.700
 of God

00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.980
 in Christ

00:27:58.980 --> 00:27:59.460
 Jesus.

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.059
 Finally

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.399
 let's think

00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:04.799
 about the

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.680
 facilitator

00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:06.619
 of our

00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:07.180
 small group

00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.639
 ministry.

00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.240
 Colossians

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:10.019
 chapter 1

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.799
 verse 29

00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:12.740
 For this

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.339
 I toil

00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:14.299
 struggling

00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:14.919
 with all

00:28:14.919 --> 00:28:15.579
 his energy

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:15.919
 that he

00:28:15.919 --> 00:28:16.559
 powerfully

00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.079
 works

00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:18.299
 within me.

00:28:19.639 --> 00:28:20.379
 The

00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:21.059
 balance

00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:22.039
 of

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.480
 Christian

00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:22.879
 living.

00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.079
 Paul

00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:24.519
 says

00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.379
 he gave

00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.000
 the effort

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.859
 to serve

00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:27.700
 and honor

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.039
 God

00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:28.579
 with all

00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:28.919
 of his

00:28:28.919 --> 00:28:29.319
 might.

00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:30.899
 Labor

00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.440
 refers

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.259
 to working

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:32.680
 to the

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.039
 point

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.200
 of

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:33.899
 exhaustion.

00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:35.899
 Striving

00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.660
 is where

00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.040
 we get

00:28:37.040 --> 00:28:37.220
 the

00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:40.960
 English

00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.519
 word

00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:41.900
 to

00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.800
 agonize.

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.300
 It refers

00:28:44.300 --> 00:28:44.820
 to the

00:28:44.820 --> 00:28:45.280
 effort

00:28:45.280 --> 00:28:46.120
 required

00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:46.400
 to

00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:46.960
 compete

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.540
 in an

00:28:47.540 --> 00:28:47.960
 athletic

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.460
 event.

00:28:49.540 --> 00:28:50.320
 Let's say it

00:28:50.320 --> 00:28:51.080
 explicitly

00:28:51.080 --> 00:28:51.920
 and simply

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.800
 and then I'll

00:28:52.800 --> 00:28:53.460
 explain a little

00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:53.840
 bit more.

00:28:54.280 --> 00:28:54.840
 We're to put

00:28:54.840 --> 00:28:55.480
 the same

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.160
 kind of

00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:56.660
 effort

00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.480
 into

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.380
 this,

00:28:58.560 --> 00:28:58.920
 namely

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.820
 growing in

00:28:59.820 --> 00:28:59.980
 our

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.820
 Christlikeness.

00:29:00.820 --> 00:29:01.420
 We're to put

00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:02.080
 the same

00:29:02.080 --> 00:29:02.800
 kind of

00:29:02.800 --> 00:29:03.160
 effort

00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:03.480
 into

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.019
 this

00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.779
 that we

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.140
 put

00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.519
 into

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:05.820
 a

00:29:05.820 --> 00:29:06.259
 career

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.140
 accomplishment

00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:08.000
 or an

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.420
 athletic

00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.039
 achievement.

00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:13.080
 Time for

00:29:13.080 --> 00:29:13.440
 a grandson

00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:13.940
 story.

00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.180
 Yesterday

00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:16.660
 I went

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:16.900
 over,

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.220
 we've been

00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:17.980
 driving over

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:19.120
 pretty well

00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:19.779
 once or twice

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.180
 a week

00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:20.920
 to see

00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:21.180
 our

00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:21.759
 grandsons

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.039
 run

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.400
 cross

00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:22.800
 country.

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.519
 So yesterday

00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.380
 we drove

00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:25.980
 over to

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:27.039
 Lafayette,

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:27.680
 well actually

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:27.960
 we drove

00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.440
 over Friday

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:28.860
 night and

00:29:28.860 --> 00:29:29.779
 then we

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.279
 came back

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.620
 yesterday.

00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.319
 Both of

00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:31.739
 them did

00:29:31.739 --> 00:29:32.319
 their best

00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:32.679
 that they've

00:29:32.679 --> 00:29:33.079
 done this

00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.299
 year.

00:29:33.919 --> 00:29:34.719
 But that's

00:29:34.719 --> 00:29:35.119
 not what I

00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:35.479
 want you to

00:29:35.479 --> 00:29:35.659
 hear.

00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:36.239
 What I want

00:29:36.239 --> 00:29:36.399
 you to

00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:36.679
 hear is

00:29:36.679 --> 00:29:36.979
 this,

00:29:37.479 --> 00:29:38.019
 that one

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.479
 of them

00:29:38.479 --> 00:29:40.139
 he did

00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:41.839
 just amazingly

00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:42.339
 good.

00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:43.879
 He's coming

00:29:43.879 --> 00:29:44.599
 to the end

00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:45.919
 and he

00:29:45.919 --> 00:29:46.579
 was really

00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:47.519
 sprinting to

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:47.959
 the finish.

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:48.959
 He got

00:29:48.959 --> 00:29:49.699
 done and

00:29:49.699 --> 00:29:50.179
 he said,

00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.119
 I thought

00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:51.399
 I was going

00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:51.859
 to puke

00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:52.259
 right there

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.539
 at the

00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.179
 finish line

00:29:53.179 --> 00:29:53.519
 in front

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.039
 of everybody.

00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:56.699
 And I

00:29:56.699 --> 00:29:57.000
 thought,

00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.979
 that's it.

00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:00.599
 That's it.

00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:02.419
 we ought

00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:02.879
 to feel

00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:03.399
 like we're

00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:04.359
 working so

00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:05.319
 hard to

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:05.859
 get to the

00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.559
 finish line

00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.119
 that I'm

00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:07.439
 going to

00:30:07.439 --> 00:30:08.359
 puke right

00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:08.819
 there,

00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:10.139
 right in

00:30:10.139 --> 00:30:10.459
 front of

00:30:10.459 --> 00:30:10.899
 everybody.

00:30:13.379 --> 00:30:14.099
 I hope

00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:14.519
 you think

00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.719
 about that.

00:30:17.719 --> 00:30:18.239
 Being

00:30:18.239 --> 00:30:19.119
 Christ-like

00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:19.859
 should be the

00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.659
 most important

00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:21.279
 thing in your

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:21.799
 life.

00:30:22.939 --> 00:30:23.919
 Being Christ-like

00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:24.539
 ought to be the

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.439
 thing that drives

00:30:25.439 --> 00:30:25.739
 you.

00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.479
 It's the thing

00:30:26.479 --> 00:30:27.000
 that pushes

00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.559
 you, keeps

00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.359
 you going when

00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:28.979
 you're tired,

00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:29.399
 when you're

00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:29.860
 wore out.

00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.080
 And ministry,

00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.000
 guess what,

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.220
 can wear you

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.540
 out.

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.780
 Paul doesn't

00:30:38.780 --> 00:30:39.480
 go about his

00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.800
 work half-heartedly

00:30:40.800 --> 00:30:42.280
 hoping that,

00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:42.540
 you know,

00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:43.519
 God's good and

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.900
 I think I'm

00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:45.360
 going to take a

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:45.780
 nap this

00:30:45.780 --> 00:30:46.560
 afternoon and

00:30:46.560 --> 00:30:46.920
 just, you

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:47.320
 know, God

00:30:47.320 --> 00:30:48.100
 will take care

00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:48.620
 of the lesson.

00:30:49.820 --> 00:30:50.240
 God will take

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:50.580
 care of my

00:30:50.580 --> 00:30:51.100
 small group,

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:51.940
 I'm sure about

00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:52.100
 it.

00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:54.780
 He doesn't

00:30:54.780 --> 00:30:55.540
 expect God's

00:30:55.540 --> 00:30:56.280
 grace to fill in

00:30:56.280 --> 00:30:57.000
 the gaps that he's

00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:58.060
 too lazy to work

00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:58.720
 at himself.

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.819
 Nor, however,

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.220
 does he think

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.700
 that it's all

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.240
 up to him.

00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:07.779
 So unless he

00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.559
 burns himself

00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.339
 out with

00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:09.940
 restless,

00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:11.339
 anxious toil,

00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.440
 nothing is going

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.039
 to be achieved.

00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:15.179
 Because he knows

00:31:15.179 --> 00:31:16.099
 that it's Christ,

00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:17.639
 it's God's desire

00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:18.899
 to bring Christians

00:31:18.899 --> 00:31:19.559
 to maturity.

00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.279
 And that while

00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.099
 God has called

00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:22.779
 him to have a

00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.559
 share in that,

00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:26.579
 it is God's

00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.460
 job to do it.

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:29.679
 So he can work

00:31:29.679 --> 00:31:30.119
 hard.

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:32.259
 You can work

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:33.919
 hard without any

00:31:33.919 --> 00:31:34.899
 of the stressful

00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:36.460
 motivation of

00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:38.039
 either pride or

00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:38.579
 fear.

00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.720
 Pride that you

00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:40.559
 can do it all

00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.960
 or fear that you

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.440
 can't.

00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:46.419
 He becomes,

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.639
 Paul becomes an

00:31:47.639 --> 00:31:49.419
 example of the

00:31:49.419 --> 00:31:50.599
 kind of maturity

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:52.179
 that he's trying

00:31:52.179 --> 00:31:54.200
 to develop in

00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:54.599
 these other

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:54.940
 people.

00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:57.160
 Paul can work

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.059
 himself to the

00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:59.539
 point of exhaustion.

00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:00.580
 Paul can work

00:32:00.580 --> 00:32:01.480
 himself, if I had

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.100
 been writing this

00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:02.720
 yesterday, I wrote,

00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:03.759
 Paul can work

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.539
 himself to the

00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.360
 point of puking

00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:08.660
 and know that it's

00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.640
 all of God and not

00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:09.920
 of him.

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.840
 Let's look at a

00:32:13.840 --> 00:32:14.580
 similar passage,

00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.680
 1 Timothy chapter

00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.060
 4.

00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:22.299
 I just suddenly got

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:23.360
 this feeling that

00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:24.180
 all the children

00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:24.680
 are going to

00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:25.180
 remember, the

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.640
 only thing they're

00:32:25.640 --> 00:32:26.120
 going to remember

00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:27.060
 today is puking,

00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.480
 especially the

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:28.740
 boys.

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.420
 But anyway,

00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:31.100
 1 Timothy chapter

00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:31.580
 4.

00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:34.940
 1 Timothy chapter

00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.799
 4 verse 10.

00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:37.539
 For to this end we

00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:38.860
 toil and strive,

00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:41.799
 because we have

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:43.959
 our hope set on

00:32:43.959 --> 00:32:44.599
 the living God,

00:32:44.979 --> 00:32:46.759
 who is the

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.519
 savior of all

00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:49.419
 people, especially

00:32:49.419 --> 00:32:50.819
 to those who

00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:51.319
 believe.

00:32:53.459 --> 00:32:54.439
 Why should each

00:32:54.439 --> 00:32:55.179
 one of us work

00:32:55.179 --> 00:32:56.619
 at small group?

00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:59.039
 Because our hope

00:32:59.039 --> 00:32:59.719
 is set on the

00:32:59.719 --> 00:33:00.559
 living God, that's

00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:00.799
 why.

00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:03.199
 So what does it

00:33:03.199 --> 00:33:04.039
 call us to do?

00:33:05.199 --> 00:33:06.240
 It calls us to

00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:07.959
 serve rather than

00:33:07.959 --> 00:33:08.559
 show up.

00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:12.219
 to serve, it

00:33:12.219 --> 00:33:13.079
 means to serve

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.919
 one another by

00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:14.439
 helping.

00:33:14.939 --> 00:33:15.699
 It may be in

00:33:15.699 --> 00:33:16.159
 hosting.

00:33:16.959 --> 00:33:17.919
 It may be in

00:33:17.919 --> 00:33:18.259
 setup.

00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:19.859
 It may be in

00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:20.240
 cleanup.

00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:21.839
 It may be in

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.359
 childcare.

00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.339
 It may be in

00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:24.459
 preparing for the

00:33:24.459 --> 00:33:24.759
 meal.

00:33:25.099 --> 00:33:25.899
 It may be in

00:33:25.899 --> 00:33:27.259
 preparing your

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.079
 heart and your

00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:29.079
 mind for the

00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:30.159
 lesson that the

00:33:30.159 --> 00:33:30.799
 small group is

00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.500
 going to look at.

00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.439
 And the reason

00:33:34.439 --> 00:33:35.139
 we do those

00:33:35.139 --> 00:33:36.459
 things, unlike

00:33:36.459 --> 00:33:37.039
 something that was

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:37.879
 on Facebook this

00:33:37.879 --> 00:33:38.839
 week, or last

00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:39.659
 week, is

00:33:39.659 --> 00:33:41.500
 not because it's

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.439
 good for us.

00:33:43.919 --> 00:33:45.240
 It is because we

00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:47.179
 want to glorify our

00:33:47.179 --> 00:33:48.240
 Lord Jesus Christ.

00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:52.480
 On the one side,

00:33:53.959 --> 00:33:56.259
 we don't forget that

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.919
 the effect of

00:33:56.919 --> 00:33:59.819
 striving or work

00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:01.659
 with spiritual and

00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:03.959
 eternal results is

00:34:03.959 --> 00:34:05.439
 always being done by

00:34:05.439 --> 00:34:07.599
 God, even if it's

00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:08.079
 through you.

00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:10.360
 It is only his

00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:12.019
 energy, his power,

00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.599
 working through us

00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:14.559
 that can accomplish

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:16.779
 anything of value

00:34:16.779 --> 00:34:17.920
 to the kingdom.

00:34:19.319 --> 00:34:21.019
 All our toil and

00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:22.519
 hard work is

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:24.199
 absolutely useless

00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:26.420
 apart from God's

00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:27.920
 power in our

00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.279
 lives.

00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:31.079
 God gave Paul the

00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:32.039
 strength to work

00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:32.860
 hard at his

00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:33.259
 ministry.

00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:33.320
 ministry.

00:34:34.200 --> 00:34:35.440
 And in fact, as

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.700
 we know, he gave

00:34:36.700 --> 00:34:37.580
 his life for that.

00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:40.080
 He worked hard at

00:34:40.080 --> 00:34:40.320
 it.

00:34:40.700 --> 00:34:42.600
 And God can do the

00:34:42.600 --> 00:34:44.180
 same thing in each

00:34:44.180 --> 00:34:44.800
 one of us.

00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:47.300
 Galatians 2.2,

00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:49.000
 I'm sorry, 2.20,

00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.580
 sums it up.

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:52.000
 These two components

00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:54.240
 of human and divine

00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:54.780
 action.

00:34:56.140 --> 00:34:57.100
 Paul says, I've been

00:34:57.100 --> 00:34:58.240
 crucified with Christ.

00:34:58.239 --> 00:34:58.839
 Christ.

00:34:58.839 --> 00:35:00.439
 It's no longer I who

00:35:00.439 --> 00:35:01.319
 live, but Christ

00:35:01.319 --> 00:35:02.519
 lives in me.

00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:04.719
 And the life which I

00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:05.619
 now live in the

00:35:05.619 --> 00:35:07.519
 flesh, I live by faith

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.359
 in the Son of God

00:35:08.359 --> 00:35:11.519
 who loved me and

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.919
 delivered himself up

00:35:12.919 --> 00:35:14.119
 for me.

00:35:16.819 --> 00:35:18.459
 So being centered on

00:35:18.459 --> 00:35:22.399
 Christ, making God's

00:35:22.399 --> 00:35:23.679
 word the means and

00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:25.419
 the foundation of

00:35:25.419 --> 00:35:25.899
 ministry.

00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:25.960
 ministry.

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:29.180
 Working to the

00:35:29.180 --> 00:35:30.360
 point where we're

00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:33.180
 tired, but trusting

00:35:33.180 --> 00:35:34.800
 that all accomplishments

00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:36.900
 come from the Lord.

00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:41.420
 This is how we do

00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:42.000
 small groups.

00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.480
 Come to think of

00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:47.960
 it, Colossians 1.28

00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:50.780
 and 29 looks an

00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:54.340
 awful lot like building

00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:56.320
 relationships that

00:35:56.320 --> 00:35:56.920
 build saints.

00:35:58.440 --> 00:36:00.660
 The theme idea that

00:36:00.660 --> 00:36:01.880
 we've used for, I

00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:02.760
 forget how long it's

00:36:02.760 --> 00:36:03.559
 been, eight years or

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.300
 something like that.

00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:07.840
 And the question we

00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:11.180
 ask ourselves is, are

00:36:11.180 --> 00:36:13.860
 you involved or are

00:36:13.860 --> 00:36:14.740
 you a bystander?

00:36:16.340 --> 00:36:20.200
 Do you show up or do

00:36:20.200 --> 00:36:20.780
 you serve?

00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:23.140
 Are you a

00:36:23.140 --> 00:36:26.660
 participator or are

00:36:26.660 --> 00:36:27.360
 you simply an

00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:27.720
 observer?

00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:36.400
 The purposes of our

00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:38.540
 small groups are to

00:36:38.540 --> 00:36:39.920
 help each one of us

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:42.380
 grow to be more like

00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.120
 Jesus Christ.

00:36:43.700 --> 00:36:44.760
 There may be someone

00:36:44.760 --> 00:36:45.780
 here this morning and

00:36:45.780 --> 00:36:48.300
 you say, well, I don't

00:36:48.300 --> 00:36:49.220
 even know Jesus Christ.

00:36:52.100 --> 00:36:53.080
 Well, this would be a

00:36:53.080 --> 00:36:54.620
 good day to change

00:36:54.620 --> 00:36:54.880
 that.

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:58.240
 And then you can come

00:36:58.240 --> 00:37:00.800
 to a small group and

00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:01.519
 that small group will

00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:03.820
 help you grow to be a

00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.200
 little more like

00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:04.560
 Christ.

00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:08.100
 You may be here and

00:37:08.100 --> 00:37:08.920
 you're not really

00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:09.800
 involved in small

00:37:09.800 --> 00:37:10.860
 groups and in fact

00:37:10.860 --> 00:37:11.400
 you're not really

00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:12.080
 involved in growing.

00:37:13.740 --> 00:37:15.620
 Maybe going back to

00:37:15.620 --> 00:37:16.420
 the illustration with

00:37:16.420 --> 00:37:17.420
 Josh, maybe it's

00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:18.460
 because you just

00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:20.000
 keep looking at the

00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:22.700
 world and it has this

00:37:22.700 --> 00:37:23.579
 drawl.

00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:26.740
 Maybe you find you've

00:37:26.740 --> 00:37:27.680
 actually gotten off the

00:37:27.680 --> 00:37:30.280
 track and you're just

00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:31.200
 standing over there

00:37:31.200 --> 00:37:32.820
 involved with the

00:37:32.820 --> 00:37:33.079
 world.

00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.880
 Maybe you were on the

00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:36.260
 track.

00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:37.740
 Maybe you were

00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:39.800
 progressing and

00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:41.200
 something happened and

00:37:41.200 --> 00:37:42.539
 you just kind of turned

00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:42.980
 aside.

00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:48.099
 building relationships

00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:49.280
 that build saints.

00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:52.980
 That's the purpose of

00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:53.740
 our small groups.

00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:54.960
 Let's pray.

00:38:01.699 --> 00:38:02.880
 Our great God, our

00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:06.760
 Savior, all to be

00:38:06.760 --> 00:38:07.260
 like thee.

00:38:07.260 --> 00:38:12.380
 we need to be

00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:12.920
 changed.

00:38:13.740 --> 00:38:14.660
 There's not a single

00:38:14.660 --> 00:38:15.460
 one of us in this

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:17.820
 auditorium that doesn't

00:38:17.820 --> 00:38:18.680
 need change.

00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:21.880
 There's not a single

00:38:21.880 --> 00:38:22.560
 one of us in the

00:38:22.560 --> 00:38:23.440
 auditorium that has

00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:24.760
 accomplished, that has

00:38:24.760 --> 00:38:26.360
 gotten there, that's

00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:27.140
 reached the goal.

00:38:29.760 --> 00:38:31.180
 And yet, Lord, we are

00:38:31.180 --> 00:38:33.140
 so quickly and so easily

00:38:33.140 --> 00:38:36.060
 distracted that it's

00:38:36.059 --> 00:38:36.579
 embarrassing.

00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:41.059
 Even when we're going

00:38:41.059 --> 00:38:44.059
 on the path, we're

00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:46.059
 more often just jogging

00:38:46.059 --> 00:38:46.440
 along.

00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:51.179
 Father, I pray that you

00:38:51.179 --> 00:38:53.059
 would bring conviction in

00:38:53.059 --> 00:38:53.820
 all of our hearts.

00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:58.579
 Lord, that we might be

00:38:58.579 --> 00:39:00.239
 drawn to the cross and

00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:03.480
 drawn to act more like

00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:05.940
 you, to want to be more

00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:06.440
 like you.

00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:08.360
 That our small groups

00:39:08.360 --> 00:39:09.420
 would grow in their

00:39:09.420 --> 00:39:10.740
 pointedness with one

00:39:10.740 --> 00:39:11.099
 another.

00:39:11.380 --> 00:39:14.320
 Not harshness, but

00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:15.519
 pointedness in the

00:39:15.519 --> 00:39:15.940
 scriptures.

00:39:17.659 --> 00:39:19.000
 That we would be more

00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:20.200
 transparent with one

00:39:20.200 --> 00:39:21.900
 another without ever

00:39:21.900 --> 00:39:24.340
 using our prayer time or

00:39:24.340 --> 00:39:26.019
 our small group time as

00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:27.240
 simply a gossip session.

00:39:28.940 --> 00:39:30.599
 Or manipulation time.

00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:36.039
 Father, help us to use our

00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:38.759
 small groups first and

00:39:38.759 --> 00:39:41.860
 foremost to bring glory to

00:39:41.860 --> 00:39:43.000
 your son, Jesus Christ.

00:39:44.360 --> 00:39:45.639
 First in his name we pray.

00:39:46.279 --> 00:39:46.559
 Amen.

00:39:47.259 --> 00:39:48.219
 that we have the

00:39:48.219 --> 00:39:49.759
 small groups that

00:39:49.759 --> 00:39:50.759
 have the

00:39:50.759 --> 00:39:51.539
!

00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:52.139
 Half