WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:02.240 Good morning, Watermark. 00:00:03.560 --> 00:00:04.879 That was really good. 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:05.540 I'm impressed. 00:00:06.179 --> 00:00:07.960 If you don't know me, my name is Eric. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:10.179 I'm one of the guys on staff here at Watermark. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:13.980 It's an awesome privilege to be sharing with you guys today. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:18.539 If you haven't been with us the past couple months, we've been looking at the book of 00:00:18.539 --> 00:00:18.900 Acts. 00:00:19.080 --> 00:00:24.179 And what we've seen is that the book of Acts starts out with an angel telling Jesus' followers 00:00:24.179 --> 00:00:27.699 that this good news about Jesus is going to spread. 00:00:27.699 --> 00:00:31.899 It's going to start out in Jerusalem, which we said is kind of like our Pak Fulon. 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:37.479 And it's going to spread to Judea, which for us is kind of like Hong Kong Island as a whole. 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:42.019 And then it's going to go from there to Samaria, which for us is kind of like Kowloon New Territories. 00:00:42.100 --> 00:00:45.340 And then it's going to go to the ends of the earth, which is like Lantau Island. 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:48.299 Sorry, it's the rest, the ends of the earth. 00:00:48.359 --> 00:00:49.299 Yes, the ends of the earth. 00:00:50.579 --> 00:00:52.260 And the word is going to spread. 00:00:52.259 --> 00:00:57.879 And we saw in Acts chapter 2 that the Holy Spirit comes and empowers the church to go 00:00:57.879 --> 00:01:00.379 and spread this message of Jesus. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:02.979 And God blesses his church. 00:01:03.739 --> 00:01:09.019 But the past few weeks, we've seen these cycles of God blessing the church and then the church 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:10.219 facing opposition. 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:14.819 They face opposition from outside and from inside the church. 00:01:14.819 --> 00:01:20.579 So from the outside, there have been the Jewish religious leaders come and arrest the apostles 00:01:20.579 --> 00:01:21.599 a couple times. 00:01:21.979 --> 00:01:22.779 They threaten them. 00:01:23.059 --> 00:01:23.879 They've beaten them. 00:01:24.119 --> 00:01:27.139 They've told them to stop preaching and teaching about Jesus. 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:30.399 And every time, God has rescued them so far. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:34.879 And then from inside the church, there was this couple that came and came up with this plan 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:39.179 to lie to the church leaders so that they could get prestige and recognition. 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:45.640 And again, God saved the church from the destructive power that this plan had. 00:01:46.060 --> 00:01:52.060 And today, we're going to take a look at another time in the book of Acts when the church faces 00:01:52.060 --> 00:01:52.920 opposition. 00:01:53.460 --> 00:01:57.700 And what we're going to see is that while conflict within the church needs to be dealt with, 00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:03.860 preaching and prayer must remain priorities for God's people even in the midst of conflict. 00:02:04.580 --> 00:02:08.140 So let's pray that God would speak to us during this time together. 00:02:08.139 --> 00:02:10.139 And then we'll jump in and look at the passage. 00:02:11.339 --> 00:02:13.279 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:02:13.379 --> 00:02:18.079 We thank you for this chance today to look at your word together, to hear what you have 00:02:18.079 --> 00:02:18.679 to say to us. 00:02:18.739 --> 00:02:24.839 We thank you that you are powerful and that your word is powerful and gives life to your 00:02:24.839 --> 00:02:26.879 people and that you have spoken to us. 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:30.819 And we pray that as we hear your word today, that we would be attentive and that it would 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:31.899 transform us. 00:02:32.239 --> 00:02:34.060 And in Jesus' name, amen. 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:34.180 Amen. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:38.819 So in today's passage, it starts out with a problem. 00:02:39.460 --> 00:02:45.159 The problem is the church did this distribution program to care for the widows and the needy. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:49.939 And there was one group that was being taken care of better than another group. 00:02:50.480 --> 00:02:52.819 Division was starting in the church. 00:02:52.920 --> 00:02:55.080 And division in the church is a big deal. 00:02:56.240 --> 00:03:01.259 Division, more than anything else, has the ability to just split the church in half. 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:05.340 I've been part of a church before where there were divisions that weren't dealt with properly 00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:07.739 by church leadership and the church split. 00:03:08.239 --> 00:03:14.599 And so in such an early age of this worldwide global church movement, for there to be this 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:17.799 type of division, that is a big deal. 00:03:18.539 --> 00:03:20.620 But it's not just any type of division. 00:03:20.799 --> 00:03:26.199 See, this is a really big deal because it's ethnic and cultural division. 00:03:26.899 --> 00:03:30.280 If you look, it says the two groups are called Hellenists and Hebrews. 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:34.879 Now the Hebrews are the Jews who have been born and raised in Israel. 00:03:35.140 --> 00:03:37.560 They speak the language that they speak in Israel. 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:41.080 And they culturally are as Jewish as you can be. 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:46.400 The Hellenists have been born and raised outside of Israel. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:48.319 They speak Greek. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:53.759 Some of them ethnically are from a different group than the Israelites and have converted 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:54.460 to Judaism. 00:03:54.920 --> 00:03:59.080 So for that part of the Hellenists, it's actually an ethnic difference. 00:03:59.080 --> 00:04:02.580 For some of them, they were born Jewish but outside of Israel. 00:04:03.100 --> 00:04:04.420 And so they speak the different language. 00:04:04.580 --> 00:04:05.640 They have a different culture. 00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:10.860 And even though they're the same ethnic group, they're culturally very different. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:15.380 And so the lines are not just drawn to separate and distinguish people. 00:04:15.460 --> 00:04:19.300 The lines are drawn along this ethnic and cultural lines. 00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:26.579 And ethnic and cultural division has incredible power to spiral out of control very quickly. 00:04:26.960 --> 00:04:31.100 Because in ethnic and cultural division, you're not taking the time to get to know someone. 00:04:31.280 --> 00:04:35.740 You're looking at external features about them and making judgments about what type of person 00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:39.000 they are based on the color of their skin or the language that they speak. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:49.639 And in this context, there was great potential for things to spiral out of control very, very quickly within the church. 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:54.719 And so when this problem arises, what does it say happen? 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:57.699 It says a complaint arose. 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:02.300 Now just to give you some context, that's not a good thing. 00:05:03.419 --> 00:05:07.539 What this doesn't mean is that people saw a problem and brought it to church leadership. 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:13.779 What it does mean is that they saw a problem and they started talking about it in the background. 00:05:13.779 --> 00:05:22.379 The word here that's used for complaint literally means speaking in a low tone of voice or behind-the-scenes talk. 00:05:23.099 --> 00:05:29.559 So what it means is people saw the problem in the church, but rather than going and talking to the apostles about it, 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:31.039 they just went up to their friends and they're like, 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:34.359 did you notice how our people aren't being fed like their people are? 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:41.159 And the murmuring and complaining and grumbling got louder and louder and louder 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:46.500 as more and more voices got added to this talking and complaining. 00:05:47.220 --> 00:05:54.860 And it got louder and louder until eventually the apostles couldn't help but be aware that something was going on. 00:05:55.200 --> 00:05:57.420 Like I said, not an ideal situation. 00:05:57.900 --> 00:06:02.900 People saw the problem, simple solution, go to the apostles, tell them, they can deal with it, 00:06:03.160 --> 00:06:07.960 and it actually takes less time to deal with the problem than you spend complaining about the problem in the first place, right? 00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:13.539 But because the people complained and talked behind the scenes, 00:06:14.359 --> 00:06:17.319 it allowed the problem to take on a life of its own. 00:06:17.739 --> 00:06:23.219 It allowed people to make assumptions in their hearts about the attitude of leadership towards the people affected. 00:06:23.719 --> 00:06:28.659 It allowed people to develop these feelings of anger and bitterness inside their hearts 00:06:28.660 --> 00:06:35.060 so that by the time the apostles finally became aware of something that was going on, 00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:39.640 the problem had grown way bigger than it ever needed to be. 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:42.520 And this still happens today. 00:06:42.640 --> 00:06:43.320 Can you believe it? 00:06:44.400 --> 00:06:47.060 It happens in churches, but it also happens in workplaces. 00:06:48.100 --> 00:06:49.460 And it happens in schools. 00:06:50.960 --> 00:06:53.460 People see a problem and they assume, 00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:57.140 well, if I see the problem, then the people in leadership must see the problem as well. 00:06:57.139 --> 00:07:02.300 And if they see the problem and the problem's still here because they're not doing anything about it, 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:04.339 it must mean that they don't care. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:07.699 I've done this several times. 00:07:08.300 --> 00:07:09.759 Several might be too small of a number. 00:07:10.539 --> 00:07:11.860 You see this issue. 00:07:12.300 --> 00:07:16.240 You think the people in charge who have the power to do something about it don't care. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:21.019 But nothing's happening, so you eventually start to think, maybe it's just me. 00:07:21.500 --> 00:07:23.120 So you go to your friend and you're like, 00:07:23.339 --> 00:07:24.120 I noticed this. 00:07:24.159 --> 00:07:25.120 Did you notice this too? 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:28.139 And your friend's like, yeah, I noticed that too. 00:07:28.899 --> 00:07:33.199 And then you start sharing theories with each other about why leadership doesn't care and isn't doing anything. 00:07:33.740 --> 00:07:39.120 And once you've confirmed with your friend that it's definitely that the leadership who's responsible for this decision 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:41.920 doesn't care and isn't doing anything because of that, 00:07:42.259 --> 00:07:45.060 then it's much easier to go around and talk to other people and be like, 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:48.160 can you believe that this is going on and they just don't care? 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:55.660 And it grows and spreads when all along, actually, the people responsible don't know there's a problem 00:07:55.660 --> 00:07:59.200 because they're dealing with other stuff and haven't seen the same issues that you see 00:07:59.200 --> 00:08:02.320 and no one's told them that there's a problem. 00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:07.720 That's exactly what happens in our world today and it's exactly what happened here with the apostles. 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:13.800 So, all that to say, if you see a problem here in your kid's school, at your workplace, 00:08:14.320 --> 00:08:17.680 talk to people, not in a gossipy sort of way, 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:20.780 but the people who have the power to do something to change that problem 00:08:20.780 --> 00:08:23.880 and work towards a solution and offer to be part of that solution 00:08:23.880 --> 00:08:26.160 instead of just grumbling and complaining. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:33.320 So, eventually, the voices get louder and the apostles realize something is going on. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:39.580 And it says that they gathered together the full number of the disciples, 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:46.660 all of the Christians they brought together because everyone is affected by this decision. 00:08:46.920 --> 00:08:49.279 And they bring them together to work towards a solution 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:54.940 and they say it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 00:08:54.940 --> 00:08:57.920 Now, that seems odd, doesn't it? 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:02.940 The apostles, now remember, let's think about who the apostles are here. 00:09:03.040 --> 00:09:05.620 They have spent loads of time studying the Old Testament. 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:11.160 They know that God's word says that the compassion of a community 00:09:11.160 --> 00:09:18.300 is going to be judged by how that community cares for the most weak and vulnerable within the community. 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:23.360 Not only that, but these were the guys who were with Jesus 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:29.720 when he said, whatever you do to the least of these, you've done it unto me. 00:09:30.060 --> 00:09:34.000 And not only were they there when he said that, but they're the reason that we've heard that he said that. 00:09:34.060 --> 00:09:36.379 They're the ones who passed that down to us. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:41.820 And these guys were the guys who the night before Jesus died, 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:46.899 he grabbed a towel and he got down on his knees and he washed their feet. 00:09:46.899 --> 00:09:53.840 And he told them, if I, your Lord and Master, have done this for you, now you go do it for others. 00:09:55.079 --> 00:10:01.379 They knew that caring for the poor and vulnerable and serving are crazy important. 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:06.159 So this is not them saying, we're above that type of work. 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:09.600 No, this is something else. 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:14.139 See, it's actually quite likely that up to this point, 00:10:14.319 --> 00:10:17.879 the apostles were the main people in charge of this daily distribution. 00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:21.039 That makes sense of a lot of things that have happened in Acts. 00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:23.679 For example, in Acts chapter 4 and 5, 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:27.899 it talks about these people who sold their houses and gave the money to the church. 00:10:28.319 --> 00:10:30.100 And when they gave the money to the church, 00:10:30.539 --> 00:10:34.860 it says they gave the money to the church by coming and laying it at the apostles' feet. 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:37.419 Now, why would you lay the money at the apostles' feet? 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:41.960 Because the apostles are the ones who are turning around to distribute that to the church. 00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:45.360 And when a problem arises, 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:50.759 typically the person responsible for that problem is the one who's responsible for finding a solution. 00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:54.519 And here, the apostles are the ones tasked with finding a solution. 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:57.340 Which implies that up till this point, 00:10:58.060 --> 00:11:04.159 they were the ones who were primarily responsible for this task of this distribution. 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:08.779 So this isn't them saying we're above this kind of work. 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:11.340 They've probably been doing this work all along. 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:16.680 But if that isn't them saying we're above this kind of work, what is it? 00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:22.399 Basically, what they're saying is there's a priority to the things that they're doing. 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:27.100 And God has made preaching and prayer their number one priority. 00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:31.740 I mean, these are the guys who spent three or four years following Jesus around, 00:11:31.860 --> 00:11:34.399 listening to every word that he said. 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:41.879 And God had given them the special task and responsibility of passing those words on to the church. 00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:46.200 And they were equipped for this in a way that no one else was. 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:47.540 Yes, other people preached, 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:52.480 but the apostles were equipped and prepared for this in a way that no one else was. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:55.100 And service is very important. 00:11:55.680 --> 00:12:00.320 But the job that needed to be done to serve these tables now had gotten so big 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:04.300 that the apostles could not adequately do this job 00:12:04.300 --> 00:12:07.560 and do the job of preaching that God was calling them to. 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:11.080 And so in order to prioritize properly 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:14.320 and focus on the things that God wanted them to focus on 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:16.180 as the number one priority, 00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:20.840 they needed to delegate certain roles to different people in the church. 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:24.379 If you're thinking sort of of a modern-day equivalent of this, 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:27.360 imagine that you're a doctor, some of you are, 00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:29.280 and you're having a dinner party, 00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:33.160 and someone at the dinner party drops a glass on the floor and it shatters. 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:36.700 As the host, you clean up the glass 00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:39.540 because not having glass on the floor is important. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:42.780 But same dinner party, 00:12:43.040 --> 00:12:46.500 someone drops a glass because they're having a heart attack 00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:47.840 and they collapse to the floor. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:51.340 If you as the doctor jump up and grab the broom and dustpan 00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:52.680 and start sweeping up the glass, 00:12:53.040 --> 00:12:54.139 everyone looks at you and says, 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:54.960 what are you doing? 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.899 There's a priority here. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:01.940 You save a life before you clean up broken glass on the floor. 00:13:02.060 --> 00:13:03.440 Yes, the broken glass is important, 00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:06.300 but anyone at the party can clean up the broken glass. 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:09.720 And you as a doctor have a special gifting and skill 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:11.800 to save a life in this moment. 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:15.639 And the apostles knew that the preaching of God's word 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:17.899 brings spiritual life. 00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:23.059 Yes, feeding these widows and serving the tables is vitally important. 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:29.379 But preaching God's word and giving life to God's people 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:31.719 is even more important. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.779 And the serving of the tables 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:36.799 can be done by a lot of people within the church. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:39.599 And this job of preaching and teaching God's people 00:13:39.599 --> 00:13:42.059 to give life to them through God's word 00:13:42.059 --> 00:13:45.179 is something that the apostles were specially equipped for, 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:48.259 which is why they needed to prioritize it 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:50.500 even in the midst of this conflict. 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:54.779 So their solution is to find seven men of good character, 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:56.459 full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:58.779 and appoint them to take over this task. 00:13:59.359 --> 00:14:00.579 They find seven guys. 00:14:01.099 --> 00:14:03.939 Interestingly, all seven of these guys have Greek names, 00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:07.060 which implies that they came from this group 00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:09.140 that was feeling excluded and marginalized. 00:14:09.920 --> 00:14:12.200 They were the people who would have known specifically 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:14.740 which widows felt neglected 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:17.320 and the best ways to reach them culturally, 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:21.020 which is an interesting insight into dealing with conflicts. 00:14:22.160 --> 00:14:24.920 And the problem is never again mentioned in the book of Acts, 00:14:25.020 --> 00:14:27.400 which I think means we can pretty reasonably assume 00:14:27.400 --> 00:14:28.540 they dealt with it properly, 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.720 because problems that aren't dealt with properly come back. 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:36.399 So I want us to take a minute to look at the pattern 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.740 for how the apostles dealt with this conflict, 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:41.800 and then spend the rest of our time together today 00:14:41.800 --> 00:14:45.019 looking at their priorities in the midst of the conflict. 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:46.980 So first, their pattern. 00:14:47.660 --> 00:14:49.500 And their pattern is the gospel. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.320 If we look at the story of the gospel, 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:55.100 what we see is that God creates us 00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:57.560 and we owe complete allegiance to him, 00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:00.700 and yet we sin and rebel against him. 00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:03.700 There's this conflict between us and God. 00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:07.580 And God, being God, doesn't look at that conflict 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:11.020 and say, that's it, we're over, 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.720 we can never have a relationship again. 00:15:13.040 --> 00:15:15.700 But at the same time, he doesn't ignore our sin. 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:18.520 He looks at it and he takes it seriously. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.400 And in the person of Jesus, 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:22.379 he steps down into our world 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:25.220 to get personally involved in our conflict, 00:15:25.540 --> 00:15:28.440 to work to bring a solution for us 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:30.480 that we can't bring for ourselves. 00:15:31.920 --> 00:15:35.520 And that's the model that God wants us to have 00:15:35.520 --> 00:15:37.160 as a church for dealing with conflict. 00:15:37.160 --> 00:15:39.980 When we see complaining, when we see grumbling, 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:41.140 when we see problems, 00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:42.760 we don't ignore them, 00:15:43.160 --> 00:15:45.720 but we also don't blow them out of proportion 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.540 and say, that's it, 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:48.600 we can never have a relationship with you again. 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:51.260 But instead, we step in, we engage, 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:54.240 we get involved to help bring a solution 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:57.679 for those who can't bring a solution for themselves. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.600 And that's exactly what the apostles do here 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:02.179 by stepping in, taking charge, 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:04.840 delegating the task so that it will be done properly. 00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:07.059 They get involved to bring a solution 00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:10.819 for those who cannot bring a solution for themselves. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.019 And that's how God wants us 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:13.819 to approach our conflicts today, I think. 00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:19.580 But then, the priorities of the apostles in this passage 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:21.920 are super interesting to me. 00:16:22.640 --> 00:16:24.920 Because as someone who works in the church, 00:16:25.180 --> 00:16:25.860 I can tell you, 00:16:25.920 --> 00:16:27.920 when someone in the church comes to you and says, 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:30.260 I have a problem with something that's happening 00:16:30.260 --> 00:16:31.160 within this ministry, 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:34.240 the easy, instinctive reaction 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.500 is to jump in and fix it yourself. 00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:39.320 As probably most of our tendencies, 00:16:39.540 --> 00:16:41.720 when people come to us with problems in our workplaces 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:43.920 or in things that we're responsible for, 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:45.740 we want to jump in, we want to do it ourselves. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:48.519 We figure things are already messed up, 00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:50.240 that's why people are coming to me with a problem. 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:52.920 If I delegate it and it doesn't get properly fixed, 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:55.100 then they're going to be even more upset with me 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:57.139 for not just doing the job right myself. 00:16:57.820 --> 00:17:00.519 It's easier to do it right, get it done, 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:02.139 and then we can move on with life. 00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:04.779 But that's not what the apostles did here. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:07.759 They knew that if they did that, 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:10.039 they would be losing sight of the priorities 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.680 that God wanted them to have. 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:14.759 And so they delegated the role 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:19.120 because they needed to prioritize preaching and prayer. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:23.940 And they recognized that if they did the job 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:25.420 of feeding the widows, 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:27.900 they could not prioritize the things 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:30.319 that God wanted them to prioritize. 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:33.000 So I want us to take the rest of our time today 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.519 looking at these two priorities, 00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:37.519 seeing why they were so important for the apostles then 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:40.940 and why they're so important for us as a church now. 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.599 First up, preaching. 00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:47.279 Why is preaching important for us as a church? 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:52.480 Preaching is important because God's word is important. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:57.339 If you do a quick search through the Bible 00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:59.319 about the importance of God's word, 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:02.980 it's amazing the things that the Bible tells us 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:05.680 about the power of God's word. 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:08.519 You start out in Genesis chapter one, 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:11.220 start of the Bible, and what happens? 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:16.380 God speaks, and through his word, 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.980 everything that exists comes into being. 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:24.980 Fast forward to Isaiah chapter 40, 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:29.299 and we see the grass withers, the flowers fade, 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:33.279 but the word of God endures forever. 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:36.860 In Ezekiel chapter 37, 00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:41.740 we see that the word of God gives life to God's people. 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:45.720 In Psalm chapter 119 verse 11, 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:48.920 we see that by learning God's word, 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:50.519 it helps us to fight temptation 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:52.680 and resist sin in our lives. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:57.220 In John chapter one, Jesus comes to us. 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:59.259 We had this verse on the screen earlier today, 00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:03.940 and it says that Jesus is the word of God made flesh. 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:08.620 In Hebrews, I think it's chapter four, verse 12. 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:11.440 Yes, it tells us that the word of God 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:14.400 is living and active, is powerful, 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:16.560 is sharper than a two-edged sword, 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:19.780 and it discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, 00:19:19.820 --> 00:19:21.840 that God's word looks at us 00:19:21.840 --> 00:19:27.480 and does this deep inspection into our hearts 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:30.080 and shows us the places that we fall short 00:19:30.080 --> 00:19:31.940 of being the people that God wants us to be 00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:34.460 and what it takes for us to become those people 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:36.240 that God wants us to be. 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:39.480 In 2 Timothy chapter three, verse 16, 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:43.300 Paul tells Timothy that through God's word, 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:47.599 God's people are equipped to become the type of people 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:49.680 that God wants us to be, 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:51.099 that through God's word, 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:54.059 we are equipped for every good work. 00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:56.220 And then in the book of Acts, 00:19:56.980 --> 00:20:00.240 God's word goes forward through preaching. 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:03.779 It moves from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:07.099 to the ends of the earth as it is preached. 00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:11.519 And this is both Christians growing in their understanding 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:13.619 of who God is and growing deeper 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:14.740 in their relationship with him, 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:17.579 but also non-Christians hearing God's word 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:19.359 as it is spoken publicly 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:22.079 so that they can know him 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:25.579 and come into this life-giving relationship with him. 00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:30.259 And so God's word is vitally important 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.759 throughout scripture. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:34.039 And this is just a brief survey, 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:35.059 a brief overview, 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:37.879 but God's word brings life. 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:40.480 If you are here today and you are a Christian, 00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:42.759 God's word is vitally important 00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:44.799 to your spiritual health. 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:47.460 If you're here today and you're not a Christian, 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.440 I encourage you, 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:50.140 keep coming and keep listening 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:53.559 to God's word being preached here every Sunday 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:56.299 because that is how you will discover 00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:59.559 spiritual life and a relationship with God. 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:03.859 And preaching is one of the most important ways 00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:06.899 that God delivers his word to his people. 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:11.819 Now I know that might be a controversial statement, 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:13.440 like what about reading my Bible? 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:15.659 What about going to community group? 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.440 Can't I just do those? 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:19.759 Why do I need to have God's word preached to me? 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:23.000 Well, let's start with reading our Bibles. 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:27.919 First, you should be reading your Bible. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:30.940 If you think of God's word 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:34.140 as the thing that gives life to God's people, 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:36.080 you can kind of compare it to food. 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:39.580 If you come on Sunday and you eat this massive feast 00:21:39.580 --> 00:21:42.320 and then you don't eat again until next Sunday, 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.820 you're going to be malnourished. 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.820 It doesn't matter how great the meal was on Sunday. 00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:48.700 Even if you eat on Sunday 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:52.300 and then on Friday night at your community group, 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:54.240 if you don't eat the rest of the week, 00:21:54.300 --> 00:21:56.420 you're still going to be malnourished. 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:59.060 And so we need to be people 00:21:59.060 --> 00:22:02.900 who are being fed by God's word every single day. 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.580 And to do that, 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:05.920 we need to be reading our Bibles on our own. 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.860 And if you're here today 00:22:06.860 --> 00:22:08.900 and you don't know how to read your Bible on your own, 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:11.620 I encourage you to talk to me after the service 00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:13.680 or talk to your community group after the service, 00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:15.940 community group leader after service, 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:17.980 because we would love to teach you 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.259 how to read your Bible 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:20.900 so that you can grow closer to God. 00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:26.740 However, although it is important to read your Bible on your own, 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.519 it's not enough. 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:32.620 Because there is power in God's people coming together 00:22:32.620 --> 00:22:35.019 under the teaching of God's word. 00:22:35.300 --> 00:22:36.120 And here's what I mean. 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:39.019 When I read my Bible on my own during the week, 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:39.900 that's great. 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:42.940 But when I come to church on Sunday 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:46.200 and I hear God's word preached to me 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:49.320 and I'm sitting listening to the same sermon 00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:51.000 as my community group 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:53.039 and my wife 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:55.500 and several other friends, 00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:59.519 there's this level of accountability 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:01.299 in responding to God's word 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:03.059 that's greater than the sum total 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:05.600 of each of us individually reading our Bibles on our own. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:07.579 Because I walk out of here 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:10.899 and I know the sermon that Alfie heard on Sunday 00:23:10.899 --> 00:23:13.240 and I know how he was challenged to respond to God 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.059 through that sermon. 00:23:15.139 --> 00:23:17.639 And he knows how I was challenged to respond to God 00:23:17.639 --> 00:23:18.339 through this sermon. 00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:20.759 And throughout the week, 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:22.439 we can hold one another accountable 00:23:22.439 --> 00:23:24.219 to growing closer to God 00:23:24.219 --> 00:23:26.299 because we have that common basis 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:29.759 of having heard God's word preached to us 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:31.199 throughout that week. 00:23:32.439 --> 00:23:34.079 Also, hearing sermons together 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:36.119 helps build us into a family 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:38.159 that can encourage one another 00:23:38.159 --> 00:23:39.839 and build one another up for Christ 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:41.779 as we're growing and learning 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:44.179 the same things about God together. 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:47.139 And hearing sermons allows us 00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:50.599 to have God's word applied to our world today 00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:52.579 by people who God has gifted 00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:53.779 for the good of the church. 00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:55.960 The Bible says that God gifts the church 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:58.119 with people who are able to teach 00:23:58.119 --> 00:24:00.119 and preach his word to the church. 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:02.539 So while reading our Bibles on our own 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:04.200 is absolutely important, 00:24:04.899 --> 00:24:06.359 it's not a substitute 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:09.240 for hearing God's word preached to us 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.319 as a group. 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.680 But what about community groups? 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.779 That's a group thing, right? 00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:15.480 Like there are people in there 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.659 who can teach us God's word. 00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:17.799 Can't we just do that 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.879 instead of having a sermon? 00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:22.180 Well, the importance of a sermon 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.240 over a community group 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.980 is that a sermon forces us 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:27.460 to come under the teaching of God's word. 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:29.440 If you've been in a community group 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.519 for any length of time, 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.299 there's two experiences 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.980 that I'm pretty sure 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.240 you've probably had. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:38.380 The first is when 00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:39.680 that person in your group 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:42.100 takes over the whole conversation 00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:43.220 and just shares the updates 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:44.500 from the past like six months 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.080 of their life. 00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:46.340 Anyone been there? 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:47.820 Yep. 00:24:48.820 --> 00:24:49.940 And you walk out 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:50.580 and you're like, 00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:52.299 I don't think I even like 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.440 opened my Bible tonight. 00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:55.860 Definitely don't remember if I did. 00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:58.879 The other type of community group meeting, 00:24:58.939 --> 00:24:59.759 and I think this is probably 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.719 the more common one, 00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:03.719 is the one where we get so focused 00:25:03.719 --> 00:25:05.139 on what we think 00:25:05.139 --> 00:25:07.819 that everyone in the group is sharing, 00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:08.639 everyone's interacting, 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.859 everyone's sharing what they think, 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.639 but we're basing it on what we think, 00:25:11.699 --> 00:25:12.959 not on what God thinks. 00:25:13.159 --> 00:25:14.899 And we walk out of the group 00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:15.379 and we're like, 00:25:15.439 --> 00:25:16.099 that was great. 00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:17.479 I got to share with everyone 00:25:17.479 --> 00:25:18.199 what I think. 00:25:18.699 --> 00:25:19.019 And then, 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:21.339 but is what I think 00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.419 the same as what God thinks? 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.819 Not really sure. 00:25:23.879 --> 00:25:25.059 We didn't look at what God thinks. 00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:27.319 And it can be very easy 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:29.119 in the context 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.299 of a community group alone 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:32.839 to focus on our thoughts 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:35.039 and our stories 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:37.119 and to actually ignore 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:38.359 looking at God's word 00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:41.759 or easy to read briefly 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.379 through a passage 00:25:42.379 --> 00:25:44.259 but not actually talk about 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.359 what that passage means 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:47.099 or how it applies to our lives. 00:25:48.179 --> 00:25:49.559 And when we come to a sermon, 00:25:49.699 --> 00:25:51.539 if God's word is being preached 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.699 from the Bible, 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:54.420 it forces us 00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:55.880 to interact directly 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:57.840 with God's word 00:25:57.840 --> 00:25:59.039 and with God himself 00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.900 and respond 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:01.640 to what he is saying 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:02.559 to us. 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:04.360 Now, 00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.600 I know there are some preachers 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:06.900 who don't preach 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:07.440 from the Bible 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:10.140 and just share fun stories 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:10.740 from their life 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.980 to make interesting talks. 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.539 And if you hear 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.500 one of those sermons, 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.039 don't use that 00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.740 as an argument 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.880 against the importance 00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:18.400 of preaching. 00:26:19.340 --> 00:26:20.200 Rebuke the preacher 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:22.900 because God's word 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:23.800 brings life 00:26:23.800 --> 00:26:24.780 to God's people. 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.900 And if a preacher 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.720 is not preaching 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.519 God's word, 00:26:27.780 --> 00:26:28.259 that preacher 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:30.259 is robbing God's people 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:32.060 of life-giving sustenance 00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:33.019 that is essential 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.480 for their growth. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.660 So the proper response 00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.440 to a preacher 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.840 who ignores God's word 00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:41.460 is not to discount 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.180 the importance 00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:42.840 of preaching 00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.800 but rather 00:26:43.800 --> 00:26:45.060 to emphasize it 00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:46.060 to that preacher 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:47.460 and call them out 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.980 for not preaching 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.679 God's word 00:26:49.679 --> 00:26:51.179 to God's people. 00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:53.159 And community groups 00:26:53.159 --> 00:26:54.079 are great, 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.940 don't get me wrong. 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.460 I think they're wonderful 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.419 for helping us 00:26:57.419 --> 00:26:58.179 reinforce 00:26:58.179 --> 00:26:59.299 what was taught 00:26:59.299 --> 00:26:59.940 in the sermon, 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.859 for helping us 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:01.399 go deeper 00:27:01.399 --> 00:27:02.440 and personalize 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.019 the application 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.859 to our lives. 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:07.079 But because of the nature 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:08.519 of what community groups are, 00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:09.679 they're not a substitute 00:27:09.679 --> 00:27:12.179 for hearing God's word 00:27:12.179 --> 00:27:12.859 preached 00:27:12.859 --> 00:27:14.299 to God's people. 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:16.940 Now, as a millennial 00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:19.019 with many millennial friends, 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.839 one thing that I hear 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.960 quite often is, 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.759 I just find it so hard 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.879 to focus during a sermon. 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.799 Anyone ever heard that? 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.180 Yeah? 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.319 What if that's me? 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.399 What if, you know, 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.359 I can really engage 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.259 during a community group 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.339 because I'm talking 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:33.919 and listening 00:27:33.919 --> 00:27:34.639 and interacting 00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:35.579 and in a sermon 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:36.339 I'm just like, 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:38.419 he's been up there 00:27:38.419 --> 00:27:39.899 for a long time. 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:43.780 Well, first, 00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:44.740 if you have trouble 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:46.019 listening during a sermon, 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.160 I would challenge you 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:48.460 in terms of the attitude 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.040 that you bring 00:27:49.040 --> 00:27:49.560 to a sermon 00:27:49.560 --> 00:27:50.540 and here's what I mean. 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:52.500 We live in a 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:54.160 very well-educated city 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:56.060 and my guess is that 00:27:56.060 --> 00:27:57.500 almost everyone 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.180 in this room 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:59.800 has been in a situation 00:27:59.800 --> 00:28:01.120 where we have sat 00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:02.160 through a lecture 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:03.880 that is long, 00:28:04.080 --> 00:28:05.320 way longer than a sermon 00:28:05.320 --> 00:28:06.780 and dry 00:28:06.780 --> 00:28:07.600 and dull 00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:08.360 and boring. 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:10.359 And we've walked 00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:11.199 out of that lecture 00:28:11.199 --> 00:28:12.359 and memorized 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:13.939 every single last word 00:28:13.939 --> 00:28:14.719 the professor said 00:28:14.719 --> 00:28:15.240 because we knew 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.119 it would be on an exam. 00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:19.559 And then we come to church 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:22.219 and we sit in our seat 00:28:22.219 --> 00:28:23.259 and we struggle 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:23.919 to stay awake 00:28:23.919 --> 00:28:24.959 and play with our phones 00:28:24.959 --> 00:28:26.659 and hope that 00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:27.839 we magically hear from God. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:32.019 Do we come ready 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:33.719 to engage with God's word 00:28:33.719 --> 00:28:35.559 or do we come expecting 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:37.299 to just magically 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.259 have something happen 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.940 to us because 00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:40.079 we're in the same room 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:41.440 as the place 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.079 where God's word 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.779 is being taught? 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.299 You know, 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.400 preaching isn't 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:46.200 a magic formula. 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:47.019 Spiritual growth 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:48.420 doesn't have a magic spell. 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:48.980 It happens 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:50.539 as we get to know God more 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.779 and engage in a relationship 00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:52.619 with him. 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:53.859 And this 00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:55.379 might not be 00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.160 what some of us 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:56.660 want to hear. 00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:00.579 But the primary way 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.539 that God has revealed 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.579 himself to us 00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.619 in the 21st century 00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:05.980 is through a book. 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:07.640 which means 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:08.299 that if we want 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:08.980 to know God 00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.539 and we want 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.299 to get to know him 00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:11.319 fully as he wants 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:12.059 us to know him, 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.980 we have to engage 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:15.059 at least a little bit 00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.079 of the academic side 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:16.559 of our brains 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.480 in order to do that. 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:19.059 Which should be fine 00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:19.720 because Hong Kong 00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.819 is great at engaging 00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.599 the academic side 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.120 of our brains, 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:22.539 right? 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:24.099 But we need 00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:25.019 to have that side 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:25.599 of our brains 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:26.319 switched on 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.120 when we're interacting 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.940 with God's word 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:29.339 if we want to fully 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.259 hear from him 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:32.000 the way that he wants 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.619 us to hear from him. 00:29:34.140 --> 00:29:35.319 So I have a couple 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:37.019 tips for helping us 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:38.079 become better 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:39.200 at listening to sermons. 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.200 Okay? 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.599 And some of you 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:42.019 might think 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.960 these are really obvious 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.420 and basic 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:44.460 but I guarantee you 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:44.940 there are people 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:45.559 in this room 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.819 who if we apply 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:47.599 these things 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:48.900 will get much better 00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:49.879 at listening to sermons. 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.920 Step number one, 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:53.900 get a good night of sleep. 00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:56.619 Like I said, 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.579 it's obvious, 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.480 it's simple, 00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:00.620 but as a single person 00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:01.220 there were nights 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.920 where I'd get home 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.720 at 3 a.m. 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:03.740 the night before church 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:05.360 and show up for church 00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:06.700 expecting to hear from God 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:08.299 after hardly sleeping at all. 00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:11.079 If we want to hear from God 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.980 we need to be able 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.720 to stay awake 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.319 while his word 00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:14.579 is being taught to us. 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:16.259 And so proper preparation 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:17.200 for listening to a sermon 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.220 starts the night before 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:20.980 with getting a good night of sleep. 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:23.039 Step number two, 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.400 probably equally obvious, 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.519 pray for God 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.299 to speak to you. 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:28.299 If we believe 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.619 that God answers prayer, 00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:31.220 how often do we ask him 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.899 to speak to us 00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:32.559 through the sermon? 00:30:33.919 --> 00:30:34.759 Like hopefully we did it 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.419 20 minutes ago 00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:36.339 when we all did it together 00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:37.119 but other than that, 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.180 when was the last time 00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:39.799 that you prayed for God 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.659 to speak to you 00:30:40.659 --> 00:30:42.099 through his word? 00:30:43.659 --> 00:30:44.799 It doesn't take long. 00:30:44.899 --> 00:30:45.720 Something simple like, 00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:47.139 God, I know that this Sunday 00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:47.940 I'm going to hear 00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:48.859 your word taught 00:30:48.859 --> 00:30:50.359 and that your word gives life 00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:51.460 and I pray that you would 00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:52.680 speak to me through that. 00:30:54.419 --> 00:30:54.980 It's quick, 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.660 it's simple, 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.720 but it's powerful 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:58.380 because God answers prayer 00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:59.940 and if we're not asking him 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:00.860 to speak to us 00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:01.579 through his word, 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.180 then how much 00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:04.579 should we really expect 00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.259 to get out 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:06.319 of hearing his word? 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.240 Third, 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.039 again, 00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:09.660 obvious, 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.059 take notes. 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:14.480 By taking notes, 00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.660 you engage 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:17.339 the tactile senses 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.480 and the visual senses 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.200 in your learning 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:20.680 which reinforces learning. 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.360 Plus, 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.259 it gives you something 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:22.880 written down 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:23.660 that you can review 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:24.220 later on 00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:25.040 so you can remember 00:31:25.040 --> 00:31:26.040 what was said 00:31:26.040 --> 00:31:26.940 from God's word. 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.019 Again, 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:28.720 very simple 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.880 but very powerful 00:31:29.880 --> 00:31:31.160 in helping us 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:33.420 to hear from God 00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:34.720 when his word 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.800 is being preached to us. 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.040 Fourth, 00:31:37.560 --> 00:31:39.540 engage in active listening. 00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:41.100 I think sometimes 00:31:41.100 --> 00:31:41.880 we have this attitude 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:42.860 when we come to church 00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:43.840 and I've had this before 00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:44.800 where we sit down 00:31:44.800 --> 00:31:45.620 and we kind of expect 00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:46.420 listening to a sermon 00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.680 to be like watching a sitcom. 00:31:48.580 --> 00:31:48.960 Like, 00:31:49.060 --> 00:31:49.700 entertain me. 00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:51.240 dance. 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:55.220 But that's not 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.039 what a sermon is. 00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:56.539 The sermon 00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:58.220 is God's word 00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:59.580 being presented to us 00:31:59.580 --> 00:32:00.259 and if we want 00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:01.140 to hear from God, 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.940 we need to be engaging 00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:04.120 with his word 00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:04.960 actively 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:05.819 because these 00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:07.519 are powerful words 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:09.019 that give life. 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.180 So we need to engage 00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:10.559 with them 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:11.380 as we hear them. 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.120 So as the preacher 00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:12.759 is speaking, 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:13.880 ask questions. 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:14.759 You know, 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.480 he's saying this. 00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:16.180 If that's true, 00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:17.440 how should that impact 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.180 the way 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.039 that I interact 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.600 with my friends? 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:22.519 If what he is saying 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:23.299 is true, 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.600 how does that connect 00:32:24.600 --> 00:32:25.880 to my life? 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.240 Think of it not 00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:28.019 as a monologue 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:29.060 but as a dialogue 00:32:29.060 --> 00:32:30.820 where there's a back and forth 00:32:30.820 --> 00:32:33.180 and we're talking 00:32:33.180 --> 00:32:33.900 with each other, 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.600 thinking through 00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:36.100 the ways that God's word 00:32:36.100 --> 00:32:38.080 applies to our lives. 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.880 And if the preacher 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:39.380 says something 00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:40.600 that doesn't make sense to you, 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:41.560 write it down 00:32:41.560 --> 00:32:42.240 and ask him about it 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.900 after service. 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:44.340 It's actually great. 00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.960 Preachers should love it 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.539 because it means 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.480 that you are paying attention 00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.120 and listening 00:32:48.120 --> 00:32:48.980 to what they were saying 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:51.200 and it helps us 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:52.180 think through 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:53.180 and understand 00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:54.160 the way that you're hearing 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:54.819 what we're saying 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.660 so that next time 00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.339 we can communicate 00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:57.200 more clearly 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.380 when we preach. 00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:00.059 And final step 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:00.819 for improving 00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.960 at listening to sermons, 00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:02.759 talk about it 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.240 with a friend. 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.059 Find someone 00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:05.720 after service 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:06.160 and say, 00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:07.700 here's one big thing 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.599 that stuck out to me 00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:09.099 from the sermon 00:33:09.099 --> 00:33:09.880 and one way 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:10.539 that my life 00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:11.099 can be different 00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.500 this week 00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:12.079 because of it. 00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:14.200 It's a simple step 00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:16.160 but verbalizing it 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:16.880 cements it 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:17.559 in our learning 00:33:17.559 --> 00:33:19.100 and forces us 00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:20.279 to synthesize it 00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:21.660 and process it 00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:22.819 to a level 00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.720 where we can communicate 00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.340 it with others. 00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:25.720 And then it allows us 00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:26.420 also to hear 00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:27.000 what stuck out 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.980 to them from the sermon 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:29.200 so that we can learn 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:30.319 from what they've learned 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:30.779 as well. 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:32.160 See, 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.240 God's word 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:35.920 is vitally important. 00:33:36.080 --> 00:33:36.600 The preaching 00:33:36.600 --> 00:33:37.480 of God's word 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:38.920 is so important 00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:40.319 that the apostles said 00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.039 it's one of the top 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:41.759 two things 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:42.920 we need to spend 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:44.759 our time prioritizing. 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:48.079 And God's word 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:49.639 is important for us today 00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:51.139 because God's word 00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:52.200 gives life 00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:53.220 to God's people. 00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:54.200 So we need to, 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:54.920 if we want to be 00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:55.359 the people 00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:56.720 that God wants us to be, 00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.940 we need to learn 00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:59.359 to engage properly 00:33:59.359 --> 00:34:01.079 with his word. 00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:02.859 Now the second thing, 00:34:02.899 --> 00:34:03.659 I know we're basically 00:34:03.659 --> 00:34:04.159 out of time, 00:34:04.619 --> 00:34:05.480 but the second thing 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.000 the apostles 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.039 wanted to prioritize 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:08.199 was prayer. 00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.739 And just like preaching, 00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.919 prayer is essential 00:34:11.919 --> 00:34:13.059 if we want to be 00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.759 the people 00:34:13.759 --> 00:34:15.319 that God wants us to be. 00:34:15.819 --> 00:34:16.539 Last week, 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:17.159 if you were here, 00:34:17.219 --> 00:34:17.759 we talked about 00:34:17.759 --> 00:34:18.379 how life 00:34:18.379 --> 00:34:20.139 is a spiritual war 00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:21.500 that is fought 00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.139 on the turf 00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.939 of our hearts 00:34:22.939 --> 00:34:23.619 for control 00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:24.399 of our souls. 00:34:24.919 --> 00:34:25.599 And there's a pastor 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.479 named John Piper 00:34:26.479 --> 00:34:27.439 who says that prayer 00:34:27.439 --> 00:34:28.799 in that spiritual war 00:34:28.799 --> 00:34:30.299 is the walkie-talkie 00:34:30.299 --> 00:34:31.519 to radio into headquarters. 00:34:32.659 --> 00:34:34.019 I love that picture 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.879 because it shows 00:34:34.879 --> 00:34:36.079 the desperation 00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:37.059 with which we should 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:38.219 be approaching prayer 00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:39.839 in our daily life. 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:42.600 And if we aren't praying, 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.820 it means that we're 00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:44.840 depriving ourselves 00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:46.420 of this valuable resource 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.320 that's essential 00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:48.180 and necessary 00:34:48.180 --> 00:34:49.519 for being the people 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.820 that God wants us to be 00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:52.280 in this spiritual war 00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:52.760 of life. 00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:54.500 And I don't want to spend 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:55.640 too long talking 00:34:55.640 --> 00:34:56.400 about prayer today 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.160 because I actually want 00:34:57.160 --> 00:34:57.720 to take some time 00:34:57.720 --> 00:34:59.140 together to pray. 00:34:59.780 --> 00:35:01.660 But if you're like, 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.160 come on, Eric, 00:35:02.200 --> 00:35:02.820 you spent all this time 00:35:02.820 --> 00:35:03.500 talking about preaching, 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:03.940 I want to know 00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:04.700 about prayer too. 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:06.039 I have great news for you. 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:08.019 Starting next Sunday 00:35:08.019 --> 00:35:09.300 after service 00:35:09.300 --> 00:35:10.199 for the month of July, 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:11.400 Henrika is going to be 00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:12.679 running a prayer course. 00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:13.880 The details are 00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.579 in your bulletin 00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:16.400 and you can get in touch 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.279 with her to sign up 00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:17.639 for that 00:35:17.639 --> 00:35:19.079 and you'll go way more 00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:19.940 in depth into prayer 00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:20.880 in that prayer course 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:21.539 than I can go 00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:22.739 in five minutes right now. 00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:24.019 So if you want to know 00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:24.679 more about prayer, 00:35:24.820 --> 00:35:25.759 get in touch with Henrika 00:35:25.759 --> 00:35:27.519 and sign up for the prayer course. 00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.860 It's going to be awesome 00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:30.539 and it's going to be 00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.219 a great time 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:32.119 learning how to pray 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:33.119 and getting opportunities 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:34.359 to pray together. 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:36.719 But just to recap 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:37.739 what we've talked about today, 00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:38.940 we looked at conflict 00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:39.480 in the church. 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:40.460 We looked at the gospel 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.739 as the pattern 00:35:41.739 --> 00:35:43.019 for dealing with conflict 00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:43.759 in the church. 00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:45.239 We talked about priorities 00:35:45.239 --> 00:35:45.839 in the church 00:35:45.839 --> 00:35:46.500 of preaching 00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.400 and how to listen 00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:47.799 to a sermon 00:35:47.799 --> 00:35:48.880 and why God's word 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:49.719 is so important 00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:50.500 for God's people. 00:35:50.839 --> 00:35:52.199 And then we've briefly, 00:35:52.339 --> 00:35:53.339 briefly touched on prayer. 00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:54.519 But I want us now 00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:56.460 to respond to God's word 00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:57.599 by praying together 00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:59.000 as a church family. 00:35:59.099 --> 00:35:59.559 So we're going to put 00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:00.699 a passage from the Bible 00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:01.400 up on the screen. 00:36:02.319 --> 00:36:02.859 There it is. 00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:04.480 And what we're going to do 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:05.359 is when I say go, 00:36:06.059 --> 00:36:06.779 we're going to split 00:36:06.779 --> 00:36:07.420 into groups 00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:09.299 of three to five people 00:36:09.299 --> 00:36:09.719 or so. 00:36:10.259 --> 00:36:11.799 And we're going to pray together 00:36:11.799 --> 00:36:12.719 using these verses 00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:13.679 as a prompt. 00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:15.480 Now, if you're like, 00:36:15.559 --> 00:36:16.559 I don't feel comfortable 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.659 praying out loud 00:36:17.659 --> 00:36:18.819 or in groups of people, 00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:19.799 that's okay. 00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:21.119 You don't need to pray. 00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.779 You can just simply 00:36:22.779 --> 00:36:23.259 join the group. 00:36:23.319 --> 00:36:24.019 But I encourage you 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.500 to try it at least once. 00:36:26.380 --> 00:36:27.019 If you're someone 00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:28.259 who's more comfortable praying, 00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:29.299 you can pray 00:36:29.299 --> 00:36:30.440 as many times 00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:30.980 as you want. 00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:32.079 But I encourage you 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:33.480 to keep each time short 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:34.639 so that other people 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:36.179 have a chance to pray too. 00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:38.800 And if you're here today 00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:39.980 and you're not a Christian 00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:41.159 and you want to know 00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:42.119 more about Christianity 00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:42.900 and what it is 00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:44.039 that we Christians believe, 00:36:44.320 --> 00:36:45.480 when we split into groups, 00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:46.460 I encourage you 00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:47.320 to ask the people 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.960 in your group 00:36:47.960 --> 00:36:48.840 more about it 00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:49.579 and they would love 00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:50.340 to share with you. 00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.619 So using these verses 00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:53.240 as a prompt, 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:54.820 we're going to pray. 00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:55.619 So for example, 00:36:55.719 --> 00:36:56.539 how this could work 00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:58.300 is have this mind 00:36:58.300 --> 00:36:58.980 among yourselves 00:36:58.980 --> 00:36:59.739 which is yours 00:36:59.739 --> 00:37:00.500 in Christ Jesus. 00:37:00.759 --> 00:37:01.779 Jesus, we thank you 00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:02.659 for your humility 00:37:02.659 --> 00:37:03.539 and we pray that you 00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:04.179 would make us 00:37:04.179 --> 00:37:05.759 a humble people as well. 00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:08.259 Or every tongue 00:37:08.259 --> 00:37:08.779 will confess 00:37:08.779 --> 00:37:09.619 that Jesus Christ 00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:10.079 is Lord 00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:10.579 to the glory 00:37:10.579 --> 00:37:11.340 of God the Father. 00:37:11.820 --> 00:37:12.920 Jesus, we praise you 00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:13.860 because you are powerful 00:37:13.860 --> 00:37:14.820 and you are big 00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:16.039 and we thank you 00:37:16.039 --> 00:37:17.079 for your greatness. 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:18.559 These types of prayers 00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:20.619 inspired by these verses. 00:37:21.239 --> 00:37:22.559 So let's split up 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:22.960 into groups 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:23.739 and in a few minutes, 00:37:23.739 --> 00:37:24.479 I'll come up 00:37:24.479 --> 00:37:26.139 and I will close us 00:37:26.139 --> 00:37:26.599 in prayer. 00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.579 Father, we thank you 00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:33.819 for your love for us. 00:37:34.459 --> 00:37:35.019 We thank you 00:37:35.019 --> 00:37:35.799 for sending Jesus 00:37:35.799 --> 00:37:36.799 to rescue us. 00:37:37.299 --> 00:37:37.799 We thank you 00:37:37.799 --> 00:37:38.699 that when we were 00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:39.619 far away from you 00:37:39.619 --> 00:37:40.879 that you didn't look at us 00:37:40.879 --> 00:37:42.299 and ignore our problem 00:37:42.299 --> 00:37:43.399 but you also didn't 00:37:43.399 --> 00:37:43.959 look at us 00:37:43.959 --> 00:37:46.279 and blow our problem 00:37:46.279 --> 00:37:46.899 out of proportion 00:37:46.899 --> 00:37:48.079 and say that's the end of it 00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:48.799 for a relationship 00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:49.759 between us and you 00:37:49.759 --> 00:37:50.799 but that you sent Jesus 00:37:50.799 --> 00:37:51.919 to rescue us. 00:37:52.459 --> 00:37:53.179 That you sent Jesus 00:37:53.179 --> 00:37:54.539 to give his life for us 00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:55.159 and we pray 00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:55.659 that we would be 00:37:55.659 --> 00:37:56.539 a people who follow 00:37:56.539 --> 00:37:57.139 that pattern, 00:37:57.619 --> 00:37:58.559 who humble ourselves 00:37:58.559 --> 00:37:59.759 so that you can exalt us 00:37:59.759 --> 00:38:00.960 rather than exalting ourselves. 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:02.299 We pray that we would be 00:38:02.299 --> 00:38:03.460 people who build 00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:05.359 our lives around your word, 00:38:05.559 --> 00:38:06.960 who have proper priorities, 00:38:07.699 --> 00:38:09.359 who seek to know you 00:38:09.359 --> 00:38:10.539 and find life 00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:12.579 through growing closer to you. 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.619 We pray that we'd be 00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:14.919 a people who seek you 00:38:14.919 --> 00:38:15.579 in prayer. 00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:18.359 We pray that as we do this 00:38:18.359 --> 00:38:19.219 that you will build us 00:38:19.219 --> 00:38:19.779 into the people 00:38:19.779 --> 00:38:20.879 that you want us to be, 00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:22.000 that you will grow in us 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:23.119 a love for you 00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:24.639 and a love for one another 00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:26.340 and that you will use us 00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:27.460 to impact our world 00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:28.579 and spread your word 00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:29.639 to those around us. 00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:31.159 Thank you again 00:38:31.159 --> 00:38:31.780 for your love. 00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:32.860 In Jesus' name, 00:38:33.219 --> 00:38:33.460 Amen.