WEBVTT

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 How many of you watch movies for the credits?

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 It's your favorite part.

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 You skip to the end and watch the credits before you watch anything else.

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! Nobody?

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 How many of you have seen a Marvel Comics movie?

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 Like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Iron Mans, the Spider-Mans, all that stuff.

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 What do they have?

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 Now, I'm going to test how many of you are really fans of Marvel here.

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 What do they have after the movie ends?

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 Extra scenes, right?

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 Usually a mid-credits scene and then a post-credits scene.

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 And so, if you're watching it in the theater, do you get up and leave when the movie ends?

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 No, you got to stick it out.

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 You can always see the people who leave when a Marvel movie ends.

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 It's like, y'all don't really know how this works, do you?

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 Otherwise, now what I do whenever I, we just went and watched the Sheep Detective movie.

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 That was funny, by the way.

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 Sheep solving a murder mystery, if you're wondering.

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 They're scraping the bottom of the barrel for what to make movies about nowadays.

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 But look, it was a good time.

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 And I was Googling, is there a post-credits scene to this movie?

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 There wasn't.

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 So, we got up and left.

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 Why?

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 Because nobody wants to stick around for the credits, right?

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 It's just kind of...

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 Now, they should.

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 All those people worked really hard on that movie.

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 And you see their names scrolling by and you're like, forget it.

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 I don't care who made this thing.

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 It's over.

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 We're going to start the book of Romans with the credits.

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 So, take your Bibles, if you would, and go to Romans chapter 16.

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 It's the end.

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 It's the credits.

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 He is recognizing the people he needs to acknowledge.

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 Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome.

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 We're going to get into more of the background of the letter, the purpose behind it.

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 We're going to get into more of that next week.

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 So, come back next week if you want to know what this whole thing is about.

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 But today, we're going to focus on some very interesting things that Paul focused on as he ended this letter to the church in Rome.

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 This was arguably the most important, or if you look up at the slides, the most influential letter that Paul ever wrote.

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 We don't need to skip over the credits.

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 So, let's see what he has to say in Romans chapter 16.

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 You say, why are we starting with the credits?

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 Why are we starting with the end?

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 Well, I have read Romans front to back my whole life, and only recently I was challenged by a book and a teaching series called Reading Romans Backwards, more of a lecture series, from one of my favorite Bible scholars and theologians out there.

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 And he got into this thing called Reading Romans Backwards.

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 And it's kind of starting toward the end of the book because we get to get the whole picture, the context of why he was writing this letter.

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 And it serves us well to start back then.

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 The people to whom he was writing, they already knew the context.

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 They knew the whole situation.

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 They were living it.

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 So, they didn't need that context.

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 They were the context.

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 So, they got to start at the beginning and understand exactly what he was talking about in context.

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 We have to go kind of get the picture.

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 So, we're going toward the end where he shares some of the context.

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 And then we'll work our way back toward the beginning of Paul's letter to the churches in Rome.

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 So, let's look at verse 1 of Romans 16.

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 Paul writes,

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 By the way, Asia, not the continent you're thinking of.

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 Asia was one of the provinces of Rome and about in modern day Turkey.

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 So, that's what he's talking about when he says the province of Asia.

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 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

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 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me.

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 They are outstanding among the apostles.

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 They were in Christ before I was.

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 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend of the Lord.

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 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

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 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.

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 Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

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 Greet Herodian, my fellow Jews.

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 We have different names nowadays, don't we?

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 They're a little different, aren't they?

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 They're a mouthful.

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 Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

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 Was Narcissus narcissistic?

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 I don't know.

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 We can move on.

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 We don't need rabbit trails right now.

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 Here we go, verse 12.

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 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa.

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 Watch this.

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 Those women who work hard in the Lord.

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 Greet my dear friend Persis.

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 Another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

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 And then in verse 13, we finish.

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 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me too.

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 Quite some time ago, I felt like the Lord laid this epistle, this letter from Paul to the churches in Rome that we call Romans.

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 We all have it in our New Testaments.

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 Laid this book of the Bible in on my heart to preach through.

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 And this has been probably the last couple months.

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 I've been praying through and working through what sermon series to start next for our church.

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 And he confirmed to me, yeah, Romans is the way we need to go right now.

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 So I was thinking, well, we've got Mother's Day coming up.

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 I kind of want to go from Romans backwards to the front.

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 So I'm looking through, how is this going to work?

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 And then that verse 13 stood out to me.

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 Rufus's mother, who has been a mother to me too.

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 Thinking, huh, that's interesting that Paul talks about mothering.

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 And this lines up to start this series in Romans on Mother's Day.

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 Then I went back through the rest of that chapter and I saw how many women Paul was highlighting in his credits, in his acknowledgements at the end of his letter.

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 So I worked through this and the Holy Spirit guided me into seeing how valuable a role these women played in not only Paul's life in ministry, but the work of the early church of Jesus Christ.

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 Jesus had died.

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 He was risen from the dead.

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 He had given his marching orders to his people, his followers, to spread around the known world at the time and carry the message, the gospel message of Jesus, the good news.

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 Jesus was here.

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 Jesus had come.

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 Jesus had risen.

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 He was alive.

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 And all could be forgiven of their sins and have a place in God's kingdom through Jesus Christ.

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 This was the message.

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 So his followers started preaching that message.

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 They started going everywhere they could.

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 And Paul was one of the early fathers of this movement.

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 He was one of the people that God used in the most instrumental ways to help this catch on.

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 And there were people all around Paul that were helping him in this ministry.

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 And he acknowledges them in each one of his letters.

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 And in this one, women are featured prominently.

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 So I think it's appropriate on this Mother's Day to look at these women that Jesus valued, that Paul valued,

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 and that God used mightily in the early days of this church.

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 Churches are gathered all across this world, all across America celebrating Mother's Day.

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 Let's look and see what role they played in the life of Paul.

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 So, number one, we're going to look at the planters.

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 We've been in Romans 16.

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 We're going to jump around a little bit to a couple other places.

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 But if you want to keep your Bible open to Romans 16, that'll work because we'll keep referring back to that.

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 So let's start back at the beginning with Priscilla and Phoebe.

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 Phoebe and Priscilla.

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 What does he call them?

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 He calls Phoebe our sister, a deacon, a benefactor.

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 It's safe to say that Phoebe was instrumental in the life of Paul and the early church.

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 Now, what do we mean by a sister?

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 We call somebody a sister in Christ.

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 What are we talking about?

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 Come on, y'all.

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 This isn't a hard one.

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 Somebody's got this.

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 Fellow believer, right?

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 A fellow Christ follower.

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 We believe the same thing about Jesus.

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 So you're a woman.

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 We believe the same thing about Jesus.

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 So I can call you my sister in the faith, following Jesus together.

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 I'm married to my wife, but she's also my sister in Christ, right?

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 So let's move on to the next part.

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 He calls her a deacon.

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 This was a diakonos.

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 That is the Greek word that was used.

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 It's talking about a servant of the church.

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 Usually would have some kind of ordination coupled with that,

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 based on Paul's other teachings.

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 So Phoebe was a sister in Christ.

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 She was a deacon, and she was a prosthesis.

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 That is a benefactor.

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 That means she had means.

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 She had income.

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 She had some measure of wealth and was able to help support,

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 both probably by opening her home and also giving financially to the work of the ministry.

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 So she was an instrumental key player in Paul's ministry and in the church.

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 So when Paul was writing this letter to the church at Rome, he wasn't in Rome.

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 He had to send this letter by hand.

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 They had to travel over a thousand miles to get to Rome to share this letter with the churches in Rome.

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 We'll give you more background next Sunday on the churches in Rome.

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 I'm not going to spend too much time diving into that.

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 So come back next week, and you'll find out what was going on in Rome.

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 But Paul needed somebody reliable.

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 He needed somebody who could speak well.

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 He needed somebody who could expound on what he was writing.

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 When they went and read his letter multiple times to the different churches meeting in Rome,

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 they weren't all gathering in a building like we enjoy today.

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 There were many house churches that had sprang up throughout Rome.

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 They were filled with a mixture of Gentile Roman believers,

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 and they were filled with a mixture of traditional Jewish believers,

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 all trying to follow Jesus in the days after his resurrection.

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 And Paul needed somebody to go on his behalf and preach this letter to these churches.

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 The most reliable person he had was Phoebe.

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 So she played a powerful, dynamic, vital role in the early church.

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 And God used her in this arguably most important, most influential letter that Paul wrote that we call Romans.

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 One of the early church fathers, Origen.

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 Noted this about Phoebe.

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 He said there were women ordained in the church's ministry by the apostles' authority.

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 So we see this Phoebe being called a deacon.

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 And that would have been, like we said, coupled with some ordination.

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 Well, that wasn't something the church would take lightly.

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 They would identify who are the best equipped, who are the most qualified,

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 who are the people who are going to serve the church well in this servant role of deacons.

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 God has blessed us with some wonderful deacons here in our church.

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 We've got nearly 20 deacons who have set themselves apart to serve the church.

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 And they do so every week.

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 They meet every month.

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 They'll take meals to those who can't get here.

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 They will pray.

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 They'll serve.

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 They meet together.

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 They pray for each other.

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 They pray over needs that you have.

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 They serve the church well.

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 The church has had that.

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 The church at large, the universal church scattered around the world and identified in local individual assemblies just like ours here in Henrietta.

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 They have had deacons throughout from the very beginning.

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 And Phoebe was one of these.

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 So we recognize and celebrate that a woman like Phoebe, the church believed she ought to be ordained into the ministry because she helped in many ways.

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 There was precedent for this.

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 Think back of Luke chapter 8 when Mary Magdalene and Joanna provided for Jesus' ministry out of their own means.

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 Jesus was the first one to normalize women as the financial and logistical backbone of his ministry.

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 So Paul was picking up the torch of what Jesus did.

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 The early church was saying, yes, we see the value that women brought to Jesus' ministry, and we're going to continue that today.

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 Back in Luke chapter 8 and verses 1 through 3, the 12 were with him, were with Jesus.

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 And also some women, Mary, called Magdalene, Joanna, the wife of Chusa, the manager of Herod's household, Susanna, and many others.

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 These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

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 So this is Phoebe.

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 Then we move on to Priscilla.

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 Along with her husband Aquila, Paul says she risked her neck or risked her very life.

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 He called her his co-worker in Christ.

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 She laid it all on the line for the ministry.

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 So on this Mother's Day, we recognize these women that were instrumental in Paul's life and in his ministry.

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 By the way, Paul's son in the ministry.

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 We're going to test your Bible knowledge here.

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 Does anybody know or want to guess who Paul's son in the ministry was?

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 Timothy.

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 We got it.

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 Timothy.

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 He wrote two letters to Timothy.

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 First Timothy, second Timothy.

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 We've got them in our New Testament.

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 He uses the same word for Timothy that he uses for Priscilla and Aquila.

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 This co-worker means somebody who carried the burden with them.

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 Somebody who shared in the load.

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 Priscilla was identified as a church planter.

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 They would open their home, Priscilla and Aquila, and help get churches off the ground.

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 They were the early version of a church starter, a church planter.

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 And they were teachers, Priscilla and Aquila both.

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 Funny thing is, in Acts chapter 18, there were two great teachers in the church in the day of Paul.

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 One was Paul.

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 Does anybody remember who the other one was?

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 Apollos.

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 It was Apollos.

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 It was Paul and Apollos.

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 These two great teachers of the Christian faith.

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 Apollos was out there teaching.

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 And you know what Priscilla and Aquila did?

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 They invited him into their home and they corrected his teaching.

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 They corrected his theology.

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 In Acts chapter 18, you can read about this.

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 They set him straight on some things.

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 Said, Apollos, you're doing great.

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 You're a little bit off on a few things.

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 So they brought him in and set him straight according to the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

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 So these women had powerful ability in ministry.

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 A deep understanding of the faith and the scriptures.

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 And Paul gives them credit here at the end of Romans chapter 16.

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 So Phoebe carried the letter.

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 Preached it to the churches in Rome.

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 Priscilla explained the teaching of the scriptures.

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 Without them, Paul's teachings, Paul's ministry look a lot different.

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 So we're thankful for them.

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 Moving on.

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 There we go.

00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:34.879
 Number two.

00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:38.000
 Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis.

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:39.660
 Who were these women?

00:16:39.780 --> 00:16:42.120
 These were the ordinary laborers.

00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:45.639
 Paul calls them hard workers.

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.160
 Mary.

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:52.259
 And then there were seemingly the twins, Tryphena and Tryphosa.

00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:56.059
 Do you know what those names meant back in that world?

00:16:56.879 --> 00:17:00.000
 Tryphena meant dainty and Tryphosa meant delicate.

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:09.740
 So whatever vision their parents had for these ladies, maybe they were dainty and delicate in some ways, but they knew how to work.

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:15.619
 Paul specifically calls them out for their hard work.

00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:20.500
 Look back in chapter 16 of Romans, verse 6.

00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:25.459
 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:28.099
 And then jump down, if you would, to verse 12.

00:17:29.439 --> 00:17:33.500
 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who worked hard in the Lord.

00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:38.959
 Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:41.039
 Here's what I want to leave you with.

00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:46.079
 Ordinary work is the invisible strength of God's kingdom.

00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:51.180
 So on this Mother's Day, I think it's appropriate to highlight how hard these women work.

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:56.319
 How many of you would say mothers work as hard or harder than anybody else?

00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:59.259
 You better have your hand up right now.

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:01.059
 It's Mother's Day, y'all.

00:18:01.159 --> 00:18:02.039
 Of course they do.

00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:05.819
 The role of motherhood demands hard work.

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:09.720
 These women worked very hard.

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:12.480
 Paul noted them for their work.

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:15.140
 There were plenty of other people who worked hard.

00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:18.420
 Listen, it wasn't easy being a Jesus follower.

00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:21.100
 And starting point this morning, we talked a little bit about that.

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:24.740
 In today's world, it's different.

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.059
 You get up.

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:31.380
 Sometimes you fulfill a societal expectation of going to church on Sunday.

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.019
 Sometimes it's more than that.

00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:36.960
 But sometimes it's just, well, it's Sunday.

00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.039
 I guess we're going to church.

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:40.059
 Church, we've got Christian radio.

00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:42.059
 We've got Christian bookstores.

00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:43.139
 We've got Christian music.

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.819
 We've got Christian insurance.

00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:46.920
 We've got Christian everything, man.

00:18:47.899 --> 00:18:50.019
 That was not so in their world.

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.819
 It was a very pagan world.

00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:55.339
 It was a very anti-Christ world, anti-Christian world.

00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:58.579
 And this church was trying to get its feet under it.

00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:03.559
 And it was hard being a follower of Jesus.

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:06.379
 You know what Christian means, right?

00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.000
 Like Christ.

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:14.720
 So when we call ourselves Christian, as just a side note, what we're telling people is,

00:19:15.439 --> 00:19:16.339
 I'm like Christ.

00:19:16.639 --> 00:19:17.679
 I'm like Jesus.

00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:20.220
 I'm like the one who called himself the Christ.

00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:22.119
 Well, that's a lot to live up to.

00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:26.239
 So by God's power, by his spirit, we can reach that.

00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:30.539
 We can become more and more like him with each passing day.

00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:35.799
 But man, being a Christian back then, it was dangerous.

00:19:36.979 --> 00:19:38.599
 It required a lot of hard work.

00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:43.500
 You didn't have a beautiful building to come in and have your service and go off to your classroom and all that.

00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:45.819
 We didn't have any of that back in the early church.

00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:51.759
 We, as a church, as a universal church, were just trying to get our feet under us.

00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:53.419
 We were trying to get going.

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:57.659
 We were trying to stay out of prison, trying to stay off the government's radar,

00:19:57.659 --> 00:20:01.960
 and still propagate or spread the gospel message of Jesus.

00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:03.720
 And it did spread.

00:20:03.899 --> 00:20:10.939
 It spread like wildfire because of the hard work of the men and the women of the early church.

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:14.400
 And Paul notes four of them here specifically.

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:18.200
 Mary, Tryphena, and Tryphos of the twins, and Persis.

00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:21.460
 And you know what he uses when he says work?

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:23.799
 He uses the word copiao.

00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:28.580
 Copiao means we're not just working a job.

00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:32.279
 It means laboring to the point of exhaustion.

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:35.380
 It means working until you're ready to drop.

00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:38.360
 Working your fingers to the bone.

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:41.779
 Now think back on your own mom.

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.019
 How many of you would say,

00:20:44.959 --> 00:20:48.639
 I remember seeing my mom work to the point of exhaustion.

00:20:48.979 --> 00:20:54.519
 I remember seeing her work, laboring, hard.

00:20:55.699 --> 00:20:56.379
 She's exhausted.

00:20:56.459 --> 00:20:56.979
 She's tired.

00:20:57.959 --> 00:20:59.039
 And she kept working.

00:20:59.679 --> 00:21:00.619
 Kept a smile on her face.

00:21:03.159 --> 00:21:06.279
 God has given mothers this unique gift,

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:12.160
 this unique ability to sometimes, often set themselves aside

00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:15.680
 and prioritize those whom they love

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:20.339
 and work their fingers to the bone for those people.

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:25.079
 And Paul's calling out these women for doing that

00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:28.420
 on behalf of the Lord and his work and his church.

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:32.019
 So we should value our moms.

00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:34.560
 Value the women in our midst

00:21:34.560 --> 00:21:36.640
 who work tirelessly,

00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:39.460
 who work to the point of exhaustion

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:41.140
 for their families,

00:21:41.560 --> 00:21:43.100
 for their church family,

00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:44.480
 for their community.

00:21:45.060 --> 00:21:46.420
 And I've seen it in this church.

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.779
 I've seen it in our school system.

00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.720
 I've seen it in your families.

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:52.420
 I've seen so many examples sitting in this room

00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:56.200
 of women who tirelessly are used by God

00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:59.220
 to work, to labor for the faith,

00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.500
 for their families.

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:04.539
 This is the same word that Jesus used in John 4

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:06.339
 when he was tired.

00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:10.039
 He had worked himself to the point of exhaustion.

00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:12.180
 And he sat at a well.

00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:14.920
 And a Samaritan woman came up

00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:16.100
 to draw water from the well.

00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:19.059
 And while he's recovering from the point of exhaustion,

00:22:19.699 --> 00:22:20.899
 he shares Jesus.

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.740
 He shares himself.

00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:23.519
 He shares the way, the truth, and the life

00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.619
 with this woman.

00:22:25.439 --> 00:22:26.599
 But that's the word.

00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:29.019
 It's what Jesus needed.

00:22:30.219 --> 00:22:31.839
 He needed to do the work

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:33.299
 that his father had sent him to do.

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:34.699
 And so many of you,

00:22:35.159 --> 00:22:36.919
 specifically, I'm looking at you moms today,

00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:39.679
 work yourselves tirelessly

00:22:39.679 --> 00:22:41.980
 for the same work that Jesus did

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:45.579
 that we're all called to do as his church.

00:22:46.459 --> 00:22:48.839
 So Paul noted these women for that.

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:51.639
 These women represent the invisible strength

00:22:51.639 --> 00:22:52.939
 of God's church,

00:22:53.219 --> 00:22:55.659
 the invisible strength of God's kingdom.

00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:57.599
 I'm thinking of, man,

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:59.559
 I'll start calling out examples

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:02.119
 and then we're gonna leave out way too many people.

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.559
 But one specifically,

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.879
 I'm thinking of Jaquita Graves,

00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:07.959
 who has taught her class for so many years.

00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:10.139
 And so many people have been used,

00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:12.339
 have been, she's been used in their lives.

00:23:12.419 --> 00:23:13.519
 She's taught them so much.

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:15.599
 Their knowledge has expanded.

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.879
 Their faith has grown.

00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:18.960
 Their walk with God has been cemented.

00:23:19.099 --> 00:23:20.460
 Roots have dug down deep

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:22.519
 because of the ministry

00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.740
 that God has done through her.

00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:24.420
 Not only that,

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.879
 but she's chairman of the committee on committees.

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.119
 And listen, y'all,

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.879
 we could do a dozen other examples

00:23:28.879 --> 00:23:29.920
 off the top of my head

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.180
 from this church.

00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:33.099
 So we're only gonna take time for one.

00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.559
 And if you got mad that it was Jaquita,

00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.779
 I can't help you, all right?

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:40.220
 But she's one that comes to mind immediately.

00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:42.440
 But there are so many other women in this church

00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:43.740
 that we could highlight

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:48.220
 and just thank God for their faithful service,

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.519
 tireless service.

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:51.119
 But you know they do get tired.

00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:53.279
 But they continue on.

00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:54.879
 And we thank God for that.

00:23:55.639 --> 00:23:56.819
 They aren't always in the spotlight.

00:23:58.339 --> 00:24:00.059
 Sometimes they might be in the scullery.

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:02.660
 Sometimes they might be in the background.

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:04.140
 Sometimes they might be

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:06.000
 in a seemingly low level position.

00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:08.060
 Sometimes they might be taking care

00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:09.300
 of a screaming baby in the nursery.

00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:11.460
 Who else wants to do that?

00:24:12.320 --> 00:24:13.100
 I don't.

00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:14.840
 I don't want to take it.

00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:17.480
 I don't covet their role in the nursery.

00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.480
 No, thank you.

00:24:20.800 --> 00:24:22.220
 But they are making sure

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.279
 that the hungry are fed.

00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:24.160
 They are making sure

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:25.500
 that the babies are comforted.

00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:26.400
 They're making sure

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:29.300
 that the ministry gets done.

00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:30.160
 They're making sure

00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:31.920
 that people get taught the word of God.

00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.680
 They're making sure

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:34.740
 that prayers are continually

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:36.259
 being prayed on behalf

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:38.620
 of those in need.

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:41.180
 In the kingdom of God,

00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:43.400
 there is no menial work.

00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:45.860
 It is all missionary work.

00:24:46.580 --> 00:24:48.920
 It is all important work

00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:49.800
 for God's kingdom.

00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:51.320
 Ordinary, what we might call

00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:52.279
 ordinary work,

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:54.220
 is the invisible strength

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.340
 of God's kingdom.

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.180
 When we're lacking

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:57.600
 that ordinary work,

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.220
 something breaks.

00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.700
 we're weaker.

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.759
 So, I was supposed

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.680
 to take you to this slide

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:06.220
 when I read that word out,

00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:06.559
 kopio.

00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:08.940
 But that's the Greek word

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.880
 that Paul was using there.

00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.960
 Then we go to number three,

00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.360
 verse seven.

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:13.920
 Would you go back with me

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.519
 to verse seven,

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:16.860
 Romans chapter 16.

00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:19.100
 There's a married couple here,

00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.720
 Andronicus and Junia,

00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.900
 my fellow Jews

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:23.440
 who have been in prison with me.

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.700
 They are outstanding

00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:26.079
 among the apostles.

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.240
 They were in Christ

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.299
 before I was.

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.759
 Now, if you want to dive deep

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:31.000
 on Junia,

00:25:31.439 --> 00:25:32.679
 there's some controversy

00:25:32.679 --> 00:25:34.139
 over whether or not

00:25:34.139 --> 00:25:35.379
 she was an official apostle,

00:25:35.659 --> 00:25:36.919
 whether she and her husband

00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:38.079
 were called official apostles,

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:40.299
 or were just recognized

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:41.299
 by the apostles.

00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.500
 But it seems like

00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:45.480
 most Bible scholars

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:48.059
 who seem to do the best work

00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:49.299
 and really pour themselves

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.659
 into the study of the scriptures

00:25:50.659 --> 00:25:51.919
 and exegete correctly,

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.139
 they seem to agree

00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:55.100
 that this title was given

00:25:55.100 --> 00:25:56.340
 to this married couple,

00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:58.200
 Andronicus and Junia,

00:25:58.280 --> 00:25:59.240
 that they were recognized

00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.160
 as apostles.

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.960
 Now, that could only come

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.340
 from the apostles themselves

00:26:03.340 --> 00:26:04.000
 saying,

00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.560
 we recognize you

00:26:05.560 --> 00:26:06.680
 to be an apostle.

00:26:06.840 --> 00:26:07.660
 That had to be given

00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.520
 by the apostles.

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.640
 Each church couldn't just vote

00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:10.980
 and say,

00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:12.120
 we're going to vote

00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:12.660
 on an apostle.

00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:13.380
 It was different

00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:14.440
 than a pastor, okay?

00:26:14.520 --> 00:26:15.040
 Very different.

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:18.080
 So this was a very special role,

00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:19.660
 a very special title.

00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:21.279
 John Chrysism,

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:23.759
 another early church father

00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:25.160
 who's long been dead,

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:26.420
 but whose work was valuable

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.540
 in the early church,

00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:29.060
 wrote this about Junia.

00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:29.440
 He said,

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:31.160
 how great is the devotion

00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:32.720
 to the work of God

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.779
 that this woman had,

00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:34.900
 that she should be worthy

00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:36.180
 of the title,

00:26:36.300 --> 00:26:36.920
 the appellation,

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.580
 the title of apostle.

00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.320
 This was rare.

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:42.200
 Somebody would be given

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.519
 this title,

00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:45.200
 that they would be recognized

00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.840
 by the apostles themselves

00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:48.040
 in this way.

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:50.139
 So we should pay

00:26:50.139 --> 00:26:51.240
 close attention to this.

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.579
 What was so special

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.559
 about this woman?

00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:55.180
 Well, when we study,

00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:58.440
 Junia and her husband,

00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.220
 Andronicus,

00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:01.039
 they had been in prison

00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.879
 with Paul.

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:04.359
 How many of y'all know

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:06.420
 what Paul got put in prison for?

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.839
 You're thinking through it?

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.299
 You don't have to raise your hand.

00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:12.039
 You can just say it out.

00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.720
 What did Paul go to prison for?

00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.279
 Yes, he did.

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.119
 Preaching the gospel.

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:19.119
 He would run afoul

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.000
 of the local government.

00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.619
 He'd run afoul

00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:21.420
 of the Roman government.

00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:23.799
 He would get put

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.539
 in local prison.

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.539
 He'd get put on prison

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.420
 transport ships

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:29.240
 and get transported

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.059
 to another island.

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.759
 And then he would get

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.819
 shipwrecked along the way.

00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:32.659
 And crazy things

00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.039
 would happen

00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.700
 in the life of Paul.

00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.059
 Somebody's got to make

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:35.940
 a movie at some point

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.859
 about the life of Paul.

00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:38.399
 It would be amazing

00:27:38.399 --> 00:27:38.819
 cinema.

00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.420
 But clearly,

00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:42.159
 these women,

00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:43.819
 this man and his wife,

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.659
 were out there

00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.559
 preaching the gospel

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.159
 with Paul

00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.480
 because they got jailed too.

00:27:49.540 --> 00:27:50.680
 So these people

00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:53.080
 had a side-by-side

00:27:53.080 --> 00:27:54.360
 laboring role

00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:55.680
 in the ministry

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.440
 of Paul.

00:27:58.560 --> 00:27:59.700
 Think of the resurrection

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.840
 in John chapter 20.

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:05.000
 Jesus chose someone

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.600
 to be called

00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:06.180
 the apostle

00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:07.140
 to the apostles.

00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:08.340
 You know who that was?

00:28:08.800 --> 00:28:09.759
 Mary Magdalene.

00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:11.360
 He entrusted

00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.720
 the most important news

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.500
 in human history

00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:15.359
 to a woman first.

00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:17.740
 Junia,

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.180
 being called

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.779
 an apostle

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.839
 by the apostles

00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:21.900
 of the early church,

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.519
 reminds us that

00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.200
 God does not

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.460
 call the qualified.

00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.299
 He qualifies

00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:27.839
 the cult.

00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.279
 Regardless of

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.660
 your gender,

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.380
 regardless of

00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:30.960
 your status,

00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:32.420
 God can use

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:32.859
 you

00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:34.099
 in powerful

00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:34.740
 ways.

00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:36.880
 Just like

00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:37.480
 he used

00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.480
 these women.

00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.640
 So,

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:43.539
 we have

00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:45.160
 the planters,

00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.720
 Phoebe and Priscilla.

00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.500
 We have

00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.839
 the ordinary laborers,

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:50.799
 Mary,

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.440
 Tryphena,

00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:52.420
 Tryphosa,

00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.059
 Persis.

00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:53.960
 We have

00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.539
 the apostle,

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:55.440
 Junia.

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:56.839
 And now we're

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.559
 going to bring it back

00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.519
 to the heart

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.140
 of the home.

00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:00.640
 And this is

00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:01.099
 the mother

00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:02.019
 of Rufus.

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.860
 Paul said

00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:05.019
 of the mother

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.460
 of Rufus

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.599
 back in verse 13,

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.599
 the last verse

00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:08.039
 we read,

00:29:09.459 --> 00:29:10.079
 Greet Rufus

00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:10.959
 chosen in the Lord

00:29:10.959 --> 00:29:11.819
 and his mother

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:13.039
 who has been

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.579
 a mother

00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:15.000
 to me too.

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.480
 This woman

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.399
 was not seemingly

00:29:18.399 --> 00:29:19.359
 related to Paul.

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.299
 She was the mother

00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:22.379
 of Rufus

00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.219
 and Alexander.

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.319
 Rufus is mentioned

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:25.659
 here.

00:29:26.659 --> 00:29:27.619
 Alexander is mentioned

00:29:27.619 --> 00:29:28.659
 in Mark 15.

00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:30.459
 Let's go over

00:29:30.459 --> 00:29:31.240
 to Mark 15.

00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:32.159
 Look at verse 21.

00:29:32.959 --> 00:29:33.719
 A certain man

00:29:33.719 --> 00:29:34.619
 from Cyrene,

00:29:36.219 --> 00:29:36.699
 the father

00:29:36.699 --> 00:29:37.579
 of Alexander

00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.220
 and Rufus

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:39.419
 was passing by

00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:40.359
 on his way

00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:41.119
 from in

00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:41.839
 from the country

00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:43.279
 and they forced him

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.639
 to carry the cross.

00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:46.220
 Now y'all,

00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:47.059
 I wasn't there.

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:49.079
 So I can't say

00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:50.079
 with absolute certainty.

00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:52.439
 But the vast

00:29:52.439 --> 00:29:52.899
 consensus

00:29:52.899 --> 00:29:53.819
 among those

00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:54.480
 historians

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.339
 and Bible scholars

00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.000
 who have done

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.519
 the work

00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:57.460
 of piecing

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:57.960
 the scriptures

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:59.059
 and historical documents

00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.480
 together

00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.059
 believe

00:30:00.059 --> 00:30:01.939
 that the Rufus

00:30:01.939 --> 00:30:02.919
 mentioned right here

00:30:02.919 --> 00:30:03.720
 in Romans 16

00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.859
 is the same Rufus

00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:06.000
 who was the son

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:07.240
 of Simon

00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:08.779
 from Cyrene

00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.759
 who carried

00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.240
 the cross

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:10.819
 of Jesus.

00:30:13.219 --> 00:30:14.579
 And his wife

00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:17.839
 became like a mother

00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:19.319
 to Paul

00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:21.459
 who God used

00:30:21.459 --> 00:30:22.319
 arguably more

00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:23.119
 powerfully

00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:24.599
 with greater impact

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.879
 than anybody else

00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:26.419
 we've seen

00:30:26.419 --> 00:30:27.639
 in the early church history.

00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:31.660
 So we thank God

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.320
 for the letters

00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:32.820
 of Paul

00:30:32.820 --> 00:30:33.480
 that he used

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.220
 so powerfully

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:35.280
 and is still using

00:30:35.280 --> 00:30:35.780
 today

00:30:35.780 --> 00:30:36.940
 to teach churches

00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.580
 like ours.

00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:39.900
 But then we've also

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:40.740
 got to thank

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:43.200
 Simon's wife

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:45.340
 who God used

00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:46.100
 so powerfully

00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:47.360
 in his life.

00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:48.800
 She wasn't

00:30:48.800 --> 00:30:49.480
 his mother.

00:30:50.800 --> 00:30:51.440
 His mother

00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.860
 likely was not

00:30:52.860 --> 00:30:53.200
 a follower

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.780
 of Christ.

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:56.480
 but Simon's

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.160
 wife was.

00:30:58.399 --> 00:30:59.440
 And because

00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.859
 God allowed

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.379
 Simon

00:31:01.379 --> 00:31:02.160
 to be picked

00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:02.899
 from the crowd

00:31:02.899 --> 00:31:03.579
 that day

00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:05.379
 Simon

00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:06.799
 from Cyrene

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.940
 Cyrene was a country

00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.019
 in Africa

00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:10.519
 a region

00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.059
 in Africa

00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:11.599
 about where

00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.700
 Libya is today

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:13.639
 seemingly

00:31:13.639 --> 00:31:14.359
 he was

00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:15.160
 a Hellenistic

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:16.119
 or Greek Jew

00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:17.160
 who was probably

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.980
 living there

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.559
 at the time

00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.700
 and he came back

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.980
 during the Passover week

00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:21.759
 to celebrate

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.440
 the Passover

00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:24.720
 back in his homeland

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:26.340
 and the Roman soldiers

00:31:26.340 --> 00:31:26.820
 plucked him

00:31:26.820 --> 00:31:27.460
 from the crowd

00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.680
 well

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.420
 I think God

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.200
 allowed that to happen.

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:31.740
 God directed

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.340
 their choice

00:31:32.340 --> 00:31:33.240
 to the right man

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:33.820
 for the job

00:31:33.820 --> 00:31:34.580
 because then

00:31:34.580 --> 00:31:36.000
 when Simon

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.259
 carried the cross

00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:37.940
 for Jesus

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:39.019
 seemingly

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:40.340
 if he hadn't yet

00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:41.360
 he converted

00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:42.680
 his whole family

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.559
 to the way

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.160
 of Christ

00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:45.559
 and then Rufus

00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.340
 was chosen

00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:47.039
 in the Lord

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.660
 his son

00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:48.360
 because

00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:49.720
 Simon had been

00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.900
 chosen by the Lord

00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.780
 even though

00:31:51.780 --> 00:31:52.519
 those Roman soldiers

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.019
 thought they were

00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.720
 doing the choosing

00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:55.500
 God directed

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.300
 their choice

00:31:56.300 --> 00:31:57.340
 to the person

00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:58.160
 you see how it all

00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:58.780
 fits together

00:31:58.780 --> 00:31:59.620
 because then

00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:00.480
 Rufus was chosen

00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:00.960
 in the Lord

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.980
 his whole family

00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:02.340
 turned

00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:03.340
 his wife

00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:04.480
 became a mother

00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:04.880
 figure

00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:05.940
 to Paul

00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:07.180
 father of the

00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:07.840
 early church

00:32:07.840 --> 00:32:09.960
 so let me say this

00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.460
 to the moms

00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.000
 in the room

00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:13.200
 God has given

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.220
 you your children

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:16.980
 to have an impact

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.240
 to

00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:19.259
 but you can have

00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.420
 so much of an impact

00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.120
 even beyond

00:32:21.120 --> 00:32:21.880
 your own children

00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:24.759
 Rufus' mom

00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.480
 was not content

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.460
 just to be a mother

00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:28.000
 to Alexander

00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:28.620
 and Rufus

00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:30.660
 God used her

00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:32.700
 as a matriarch

00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:34.440
 of the early church

00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:37.019
 to fill that role

00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:38.259
 of support

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:38.880
 encouragement

00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:39.500
 love

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:40.900
 teaching

00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:42.680
 to Paul himself

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:44.840
 so

00:32:44.840 --> 00:32:48.640
 it's appropriate

00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.340
 on Mother's Day

00:32:49.340 --> 00:32:50.740
 to recognize

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:52.720
 who Paul looked at

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.340
 as a mother

00:32:53.340 --> 00:32:54.320
 in his life

00:32:54.320 --> 00:32:56.220
 Paul was a giant

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:56.720
 of the faith

00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:58.400
 he was a Pharisee

00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:59.480
 he knew the scriptures

00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:02.000
 knew them inside

00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.380
 and out

00:33:02.380 --> 00:33:03.759
 his teaching

00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.980
 often revealed

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.320
 that

00:33:05.320 --> 00:33:07.000
 but he had

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:08.100
 a spiritual mother

00:33:08.100 --> 00:33:09.759
 that God brought

00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.539
 into his life

00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:12.099
 and he felt

00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:12.480
 that it would

00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.240
 not be complete

00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:14.019
 this letter

00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:14.420
 to Rome

00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.279
 would not be complete

00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:17.599
 without recognizing

00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:17.980
 her

00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:18.879
 and the impact

00:33:18.879 --> 00:33:19.579
 she had

00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:21.559
 and then he goes

00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:22.599
 on and greets more

00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:23.220
 there are a few

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.720
 more women

00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.480
 that he greets

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.319
 but this is all

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:26.220
 the time we have

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.500
 to highlight today

00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:28.940
 so let me conclude

00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:29.500
 with this

00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:32.440
 the most important

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:32.980
 credential

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:34.559
 in God's kingdom

00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:35.859
 is answering

00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:36.379
 his call

00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:38.700
 you might not

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:39.420
 have all the

00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:40.460
 Pharisee training

00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:41.120
 like Paul had

00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.539
 you might not

00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.039
 have all the

00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:42.880
 seminary degrees

00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:43.840
 you might not

00:33:43.840 --> 00:33:44.579
 have all the

00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:46.240
 history of

00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:47.100
 serving in

00:33:47.100 --> 00:33:47.980
 particular roles

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.600
 in the church

00:33:48.600 --> 00:33:49.380
 etc etc

00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:51.319
 the most important

00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:52.079
 credential that

00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:52.819
 every single one

00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:53.319
 of these women

00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:53.740
 answered

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:56.120
 in God's kingdom

00:33:56.120 --> 00:33:57.299
 is answering

00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:57.779
 his call

00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:59.559
 if you say

00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:00.420
 yes to Jesus

00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:01.840
 there's no limit

00:34:01.840 --> 00:34:02.980
 on what Jesus

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.519
 can do

00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:04.480
 through you

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.740
 whether you're

00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:06.140
 a husband

00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:07.079
 or a wife

00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:08.019
 a father

00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:08.699
 or a mother

00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:09.819
 a sister

00:34:09.819 --> 00:34:10.480
 or a brother

00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:10.980
 a woman

00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.619
 or a man

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:13.159
 a child

00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:13.819
 or an adult

00:34:13.819 --> 00:34:14.639
 a teenager

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.739
 or college age

00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:18.279
 regardless of

00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:19.019
 your age

00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.619
 your gender

00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:21.279
 your wealth

00:34:21.279 --> 00:34:22.719
 your abilities

00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:23.980
 if you say

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:25.000
 yes to Jesus

00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:26.500
 he can use you

00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:27.279
 in ways

00:34:27.279 --> 00:34:28.179
 that you will

00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:28.679
 never dream

00:34:28.679 --> 00:34:33.819
 Galatians chapter

00:34:33.819 --> 00:34:34.399
 three verse

00:34:34.399 --> 00:34:34.940
 twenty eight

00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.839
 Paul affirms

00:34:35.839 --> 00:34:36.199
 this

00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:37.460
 he says

00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:37.960
 in Christ

00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:38.519
 there is neither

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.599
 Jew nor Gentile

00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:40.480
 there is neither

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.599
 slave nor free

00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:41.859
 man

00:34:41.859 --> 00:34:43.039
 there is neither

00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:44.000
 male nor female

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.139
 we are all

00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:45.619
 one

00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:47.279
 under Christ

00:34:47.279 --> 00:34:48.759
 so Phoebe

00:34:48.759 --> 00:34:49.419
 shows us

00:34:49.419 --> 00:34:50.079
 that the gospel

00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.000
 is authoritative

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.859
 she carried

00:34:52.859 --> 00:34:53.460
 the authority

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:53.859
 of

00:34:53.859 --> 00:34:55.019
 and Junia

00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:55.399
 as well

00:34:55.399 --> 00:34:56.039
 but she carried

00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:56.599
 the authority

00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:58.779
 of the ordination

00:34:58.779 --> 00:34:59.420
 into the

00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:01.579
 the deaconhood

00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.639
 from the early church

00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.299
 and the apostles

00:35:03.299 --> 00:35:04.759
 Junia carried

00:35:04.759 --> 00:35:05.619
 that authority

00:35:05.619 --> 00:35:06.400
 of the apostles

00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:07.079
 that they had

00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:08.420
 bestowed upon her

00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.619
 collaborative

00:35:09.619 --> 00:35:10.759
 the gospel

00:35:10.759 --> 00:35:11.699
 is collaborative

00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:12.779
 this letter

00:35:12.779 --> 00:35:13.719
 was collaborative

00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:14.659
 and Priscilla

00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:15.440
 shows us that

00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:15.819
 as they were

00:35:15.819 --> 00:35:16.400
 co-workers

00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.259
 co-laborers

00:35:17.259 --> 00:35:17.839
 with Christ

00:35:17.839 --> 00:35:19.619
 it is transformational

00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:21.480
 we see what happened

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.059
 in the lives

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:23.480
 of all these women

00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.299
 but Junia

00:35:24.299 --> 00:35:24.980
 specifically

00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:26.440
 having been in prison

00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:27.820
 and then God

00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:28.480
 transformed

00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.840
 what seemed to be

00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:31.260
 a terrible thing

00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:32.500
 a setback

00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:34.460
 into a powerful thing

00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.539
 that God used

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.920
 to spread the gospel

00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:37.280
 message

00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:37.880
 every time

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:38.320
 the Romans

00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:39.460
 or the Jewish

00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:40.780
 traditionalists

00:35:40.780 --> 00:35:41.860
 tried to stamp out

00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:42.840
 this way of Christ

00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:44.000
 God would use it

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.900
 to transform

00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:45.639
 more lives

00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.219
 and more hearts

00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:46.740
 and the mother

00:35:46.740 --> 00:35:47.519
 of Rufus

00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.199
 shows us

00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:49.800
 that it is relational

00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:51.679
 that is one of the most

00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:52.699
 important aspects

00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:54.219
 all are important aspects

00:35:54.219 --> 00:35:55.619
 but that relational part

00:35:55.619 --> 00:35:56.279
 is maybe the part

00:35:56.279 --> 00:35:57.419
 we feel the most

00:35:57.419 --> 00:35:59.619
 that warmth

00:35:59.619 --> 00:36:01.539
 that dependability

00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:02.659
 that steadiness

00:36:02.659 --> 00:36:04.819
 so we thank you moms

00:36:04.819 --> 00:36:06.659
 we thank you ladies

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:08.099
 for your service

00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:09.779
 back in the day of Jesus

00:36:09.779 --> 00:36:11.239
 back in the day of Paul

00:36:11.239 --> 00:36:12.739
 and all throughout

00:36:12.739 --> 00:36:13.639
 the history of the church

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.179
 to today

00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:14.719
 right here

00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:15.599
 in First Baptist Church

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:16.299
 Henrietta, Texas

00:36:16.299 --> 00:36:17.699
 we thank you

00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.459
 for your giftings

00:36:18.459 --> 00:36:18.919
 in the spirit

00:36:18.919 --> 00:36:20.059
 we thank you

00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:20.799
 for your willingness

00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:22.420
 to serve us

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.980
 to serve the Lord

00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:25.300
 to serve our church

00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:26.519
 to serve your families

00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:27.580
 to serve your community

00:36:27.580 --> 00:36:30.480
 the gospel came to Rome

00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:31.880
 in the hands of a woman

00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:33.960
 the gospel has come

00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:34.660
 to your heart

00:36:34.660 --> 00:36:37.420
 so many of you

00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:39.280
 through the hands

00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:40.019
 through the love

00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:40.640
 of those

00:36:40.640 --> 00:36:41.380
 who have labored

00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:43.060
 for you

00:36:43.060 --> 00:36:45.320
 may we be a church

00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:46.680
 that honors the women

00:36:46.680 --> 00:36:47.320
 the mothers

00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.980
 in our lives

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:49.160
 not just with flowers

00:36:49.159 --> 00:36:50.299
 today in just a moment

00:36:50.299 --> 00:36:51.779
 but with the dignity

00:36:51.779 --> 00:36:52.559
 the respect

00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:53.559
 and the appreciation

00:36:53.559 --> 00:36:54.920
 that both Paul

00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:55.739
 and Christ

00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:57.599
 showed to mothers

00:36:57.599 --> 00:36:58.319
 and women

00:36:58.319 --> 00:36:59.399
 would you join me

00:36:59.399 --> 00:36:59.759
 in praying

00:36:59.759 --> 00:37:05.940
 God you took time

00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:09.059
 out of your ministry

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:10.379
 for everyone

00:37:10.379 --> 00:37:11.920
 for the great

00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:12.559
 for the small

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.199
 for the old

00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:13.879
 for the young

00:37:13.879 --> 00:37:16.199
 for men and women alike

00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:20.879
 those who wrote

00:37:20.879 --> 00:37:21.439
 the records

00:37:21.439 --> 00:37:22.339
 of your ministry

00:37:22.339 --> 00:37:23.019
 on this earth

00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:24.559
 knew that it would be

00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:25.539
 important to highlight

00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.919
 the women

00:37:26.919 --> 00:37:27.519
 the mothers

00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:32.019
 who you used

00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:32.919
 powerfully

00:37:32.919 --> 00:37:35.379
 in your kingdom work

00:37:35.379 --> 00:37:36.119
 and Paul did

00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:36.779
 the same thing

00:37:36.779 --> 00:37:39.799
 so we would be wrong

00:37:39.799 --> 00:37:41.719
 to not recognize

00:37:41.719 --> 00:37:42.359
 the impact

00:37:42.359 --> 00:37:42.859
 they had

00:37:42.859 --> 00:37:44.119
 and on this

00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:44.699
 Mother's Day

00:37:44.699 --> 00:37:46.619
 I pray that we

00:37:46.619 --> 00:37:47.179
 would not only

00:37:47.179 --> 00:37:47.980
 just say thank you

00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:48.299
 to mom

00:37:48.299 --> 00:37:48.879
 and say happy

00:37:48.879 --> 00:37:49.519
 Mother's Day

00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:51.599
 hand them a flower

00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:52.419
 or maybe a card

00:37:52.419 --> 00:37:53.899
 or whatever else

00:37:53.899 --> 00:37:54.699
 we have planned

00:37:54.699 --> 00:37:57.679
 maybe give them a call

00:37:57.679 --> 00:37:58.359
 if they're not here

00:37:58.359 --> 00:38:00.339
 but God

00:38:00.339 --> 00:38:00.859
 I pray that we

00:38:00.859 --> 00:38:01.319
 would take it

00:38:01.319 --> 00:38:01.899
 a step further

00:38:01.899 --> 00:38:02.399
 and say

00:38:02.399 --> 00:38:03.379
 we recognize

00:38:03.379 --> 00:38:04.039
 the impact

00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:04.960
 you've had on us

00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:06.099
 we've recognized

00:38:06.099 --> 00:38:06.739
 the impact

00:38:06.739 --> 00:38:07.199
 that God

00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:07.719
 has had

00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:08.419
 through you

00:38:08.419 --> 00:38:10.559
 that we would

00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:10.919
 give them

00:38:10.919 --> 00:38:11.439
 the dignity

00:38:11.439 --> 00:38:11.980
 the honor

00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:12.779
 the respect

00:38:12.780 --> 00:38:14.320
 that you

00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:14.880
 showed them

00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:18.600
 that we would

00:38:18.600 --> 00:38:19.320
 not stifle

00:38:19.320 --> 00:38:19.840
 when you want

00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:20.519
 to use them

00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:21.640
 in your work

00:38:21.640 --> 00:38:22.800
 that we would

00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:23.500
 celebrate that

00:38:23.500 --> 00:38:23.820
 that we would

00:38:23.820 --> 00:38:24.440
 support it

00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:26.100
 God however

00:38:26.100 --> 00:38:26.980
 you choose

00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:27.480
 to work

00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:28.420
 through the lives

00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:28.780
 of women

00:38:28.780 --> 00:38:29.500
 in your church

00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:30.800
 I pray that

00:38:30.800 --> 00:38:31.220
 we would not

00:38:31.220 --> 00:38:31.840
 stand in the way

00:38:31.840 --> 00:38:34.340
 but just like

00:38:34.340 --> 00:38:34.980
 the early church

00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:35.260
 did

00:38:35.260 --> 00:38:37.140
 that we would

00:38:37.140 --> 00:38:37.660
 say yes

00:38:37.660 --> 00:38:39.080
 God is working

00:38:39.080 --> 00:38:39.580
 through them

00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:41.440
 we celebrate

00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:41.739
 that

00:38:41.739 --> 00:38:42.559
 we honor

00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:42.779
 it

00:38:42.779 --> 00:38:43.840
 we make

00:38:43.840 --> 00:38:44.319
 room for

00:38:44.319 --> 00:38:45.059
 it

00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:46.299
 God

00:38:46.299 --> 00:38:46.519
 work

00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:46.679
 through

00:38:46.679 --> 00:38:47.019
 every one

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:47.400
 of us

00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:48.199
 if there's

00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:48.480
 somebody

00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:48.739
 here

00:38:48.739 --> 00:38:49.159
 who doesn't

00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:49.500
 know you

00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:49.840
 today

00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:50.380
 I pray

00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:50.679
 that they

00:38:50.679 --> 00:38:51.059
 would see

00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:51.360
 that you

00:38:51.360 --> 00:38:51.819
 are a God

00:38:51.819 --> 00:38:52.420
 who values

00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:52.960
 every one

00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.279
 of them

00:38:53.279 --> 00:38:54.380
 everyone

00:38:54.380 --> 00:38:54.860
 equally

00:38:54.860 --> 00:38:56.119
 that there

00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:56.619
 is no one

00:38:56.619 --> 00:38:56.900
 who would

00:38:56.900 --> 00:38:57.360
 say I'm

00:38:57.360 --> 00:38:57.920
 too far

00:38:57.920 --> 00:38:58.759
 gone

00:38:58.759 --> 00:38:59.219
 I'm out

00:38:59.219 --> 00:38:59.420
 of the

00:38:59.420 --> 00:38:59.659
 reach

00:38:59.659 --> 00:39:00.179
 of God's

00:39:00.179 --> 00:39:00.420
 love

00:39:00.420 --> 00:39:01.000
 every one

00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:01.519
 of us

00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:02.880
 regardless

00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.579
 of status

00:39:03.579 --> 00:39:04.000
 regardless

00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:04.659
 of identity

00:39:04.659 --> 00:39:05.500
 you love

00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:05.880
 us all

00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:06.699
 and you

00:39:06.699 --> 00:39:07.420
 died for

00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:07.759
 us all

00:39:07.759 --> 00:39:08.279
 you rose

00:39:08.279 --> 00:39:08.659
 for us

00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:08.880
 all

00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:09.800
 and you

00:39:09.800 --> 00:39:10.119
 offer

00:39:10.119 --> 00:39:10.640
 each one

00:39:10.640 --> 00:39:10.900
 of us

00:39:10.900 --> 00:39:11.200
 eternal

00:39:11.200 --> 00:39:11.599
 life

00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.019
 through

00:39:12.019 --> 00:39:12.460
 Christ

00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:13.840
 with our

00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:14.019
 heads

00:39:14.019 --> 00:39:14.280
 bowed

00:39:14.280 --> 00:39:14.460
 and our

00:39:14.460 --> 00:39:14.599
 eyes

00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:14.900
 closed

00:39:14.900 --> 00:39:15.099
 I'll

00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:15.240
 just

00:39:15.240 --> 00:39:15.440
 ask

00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:15.599
 this

00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:15.960
 question

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:16.300
 church

00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:16.820
 there's

00:39:16.820 --> 00:39:17.079
 someone

00:39:17.079 --> 00:39:17.500
 today

00:39:17.500 --> 00:39:18.760
 maybe a

00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:19.000
 guest

00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:19.340
 or maybe

00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:19.660
 someone

00:39:19.660 --> 00:39:20.000
 who's been

00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:20.420
 coming here

00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:20.880
 for a long

00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:21.200
 time

00:39:21.200 --> 00:39:21.820
 and you

00:39:21.820 --> 00:39:22.240
 would say

00:39:22.240 --> 00:39:23.059
 I know

00:39:23.059 --> 00:39:23.559
 today is

00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:23.840
 the day

00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:24.119
 that I

00:39:24.119 --> 00:39:24.380
 need to

00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:24.619
 surrender

00:39:24.619 --> 00:39:25.099
 to Jesus

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:27.019
 I need

00:39:27.019 --> 00:39:27.260
 to open

00:39:27.260 --> 00:39:27.640
 my heart

00:39:27.640 --> 00:39:28.039
 to Jesus

00:39:28.039 --> 00:39:28.519
 and say

00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:28.800
 I want

00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:29.119
 to follow

00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:29.400
 you

00:39:29.400 --> 00:39:30.099
 I believe

00:39:30.099 --> 00:39:30.960
 I believe

00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:31.300
 that you

00:39:31.300 --> 00:39:31.740
 are God

00:39:31.740 --> 00:39:32.059
 I believe

00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:32.380
 that you

00:39:32.380 --> 00:39:32.820
 died on

00:39:32.820 --> 00:39:33.300
 the cross

00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:34.700
 to take

00:39:34.700 --> 00:39:35.119
 the burden

00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:35.780
 of my sin

00:39:35.780 --> 00:39:36.260
 to forgive

00:39:36.260 --> 00:39:36.500
 me

00:39:36.500 --> 00:39:36.980
 I believe

00:39:36.980 --> 00:39:37.260
 that you

00:39:37.260 --> 00:39:37.500
 rose

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:37.860
 from the

00:39:37.860 --> 00:39:38.040
 dead

00:39:38.040 --> 00:39:38.320
 by the

00:39:38.320 --> 00:39:38.560
 power

00:39:38.560 --> 00:39:38.940
 of God

00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:39.220
 and I

00:39:39.220 --> 00:39:39.420
 believe

00:39:39.420 --> 00:39:39.600
 you're

00:39:39.600 --> 00:39:39.860
 alive

00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:40.140
 today

00:39:40.140 --> 00:39:40.380
 and I

00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:40.620
 want to

00:39:40.620 --> 00:39:40.920
 follow

00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:41.300
 you

00:39:41.300 --> 00:39:41.880
 through

00:39:41.880 --> 00:39:42.240
 the rest

00:39:42.240 --> 00:39:42.500
 of my

00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:42.840
 life

00:39:42.840 --> 00:39:43.860
 if that's

00:39:43.860 --> 00:39:43.980
 you

00:39:43.980 --> 00:39:44.240
 today

00:39:44.240 --> 00:39:44.519
 would you

00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:44.680
 slip

00:39:44.680 --> 00:39:44.980
 your hand

00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:45.120
 up

00:39:45.120 --> 00:39:45.340
 and I'd

00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:45.560
 love to

00:39:45.560 --> 00:39:45.860
 pray for

00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.060
 you

00:39:46.059 --> 00:39:49.159
 thank you

00:39:49.159 --> 00:39:49.980
 how many

00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:50.139
 of you

00:39:50.139 --> 00:39:50.500
 would say

00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:50.759
 God

00:39:50.759 --> 00:39:51.139
 is working

00:39:51.139 --> 00:39:51.440
 on my

00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:51.619
 heart

00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:51.820
 about

00:39:51.820 --> 00:39:52.179
 something

00:39:52.179 --> 00:39:52.440
 else

00:39:52.440 --> 00:39:52.699
 and I

00:39:52.699 --> 00:39:52.860
 need

00:39:52.860 --> 00:39:53.219
 prayer

00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:54.139
 would you

00:39:54.139 --> 00:39:54.340
 slip

00:39:54.340 --> 00:39:54.619
 your hand

00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:54.759
 up

00:39:54.759 --> 00:39:55.019
 and I'd

00:39:55.019 --> 00:39:55.279
 love to

00:39:55.279 --> 00:39:55.539
 pray for

00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:55.679
 you

00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:56.019
 as well

00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:58.299
 I need

00:39:58.299 --> 00:39:58.539
 prayer

00:39:58.539 --> 00:39:59.039
 thank you

00:39:59.039 --> 00:40:00.480
 thank you

00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:02.039
 thank you

00:40:02.039 --> 00:40:03.719
 how many

00:40:03.719 --> 00:40:04.039
 of you

00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:06.519
 well I'm

00:40:06.519 --> 00:40:06.739
 not going to

00:40:06.739 --> 00:40:07.059
 ask you to

00:40:07.059 --> 00:40:07.340
 raise your

00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:07.699
 hand right

00:40:07.699 --> 00:40:08.139
 now but I'll

00:40:08.139 --> 00:40:08.420
 just throw

00:40:08.420 --> 00:40:08.779
 this out

00:40:08.779 --> 00:40:08.940
 there

00:40:08.940 --> 00:40:09.360
 if anyone

00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:10.159
 would like

00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:10.699
 to join

00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:11.139
 us in

00:40:11.139 --> 00:40:11.440
 membership

00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:11.840
 in this

00:40:11.840 --> 00:40:12.099
 church

00:40:12.099 --> 00:40:12.400
 if you've

00:40:12.400 --> 00:40:12.739
 been maybe

00:40:12.739 --> 00:40:13.099
 attending

00:40:13.099 --> 00:40:13.480
 for a little

00:40:13.480 --> 00:40:13.699
 while

00:40:13.699 --> 00:40:14.059
 and you say

00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:14.320
 I'd like

00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:14.739
 to commit

00:40:14.739 --> 00:40:15.500
 I'd like

00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:15.820
 to make

00:40:15.820 --> 00:40:16.340
 this my

00:40:16.340 --> 00:40:16.559
 home

00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:16.840
 church

00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:17.099
 and be

00:40:17.099 --> 00:40:17.480
 a part

00:40:17.480 --> 00:40:18.260
 of this

00:40:18.260 --> 00:40:18.619
 body

00:40:18.619 --> 00:40:19.019
 of Jesus

00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:19.519
 followers

00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:20.599
 please come

00:40:20.599 --> 00:40:21.139
 down front

00:40:21.139 --> 00:40:21.579
 after the

00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:21.920
 service

00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:22.659
 is over

00:40:22.659 --> 00:40:23.119
 or meet

00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:23.440
 me in the

00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:23.699
 back

00:40:23.699 --> 00:40:24.139
 I would love

00:40:24.139 --> 00:40:24.539
 to set up

00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:24.760
 a time

00:40:24.760 --> 00:40:25.099
 to talk

00:40:25.099 --> 00:40:25.420
 with you

00:40:25.420 --> 00:40:26.360
 and discuss

00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:26.699
 what it

00:40:26.699 --> 00:40:27.099
 looks like

00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:27.579
 to join

00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:28.219
 us as we

00:40:28.219 --> 00:40:28.980
 follow Jesus

00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:30.039
 we want to

00:40:30.039 --> 00:40:30.619
 welcome you

00:40:30.619 --> 00:40:31.760
 into our

00:40:31.760 --> 00:40:32.119
 number

00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:33.639
 God thank you

00:40:33.639 --> 00:40:33.980
 for meeting

00:40:33.980 --> 00:40:34.320
 with us

00:40:34.320 --> 00:40:34.679
 today

00:40:34.679 --> 00:40:36.039
 we love

00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:36.159
 you

00:40:36.159 --> 00:40:36.400
 we want

00:40:36.400 --> 00:40:36.599
 to do

00:40:36.599 --> 00:40:36.900
 our best

00:40:36.900 --> 00:40:37.300
 to follow

00:40:37.300 --> 00:40:37.500
 you

00:40:37.500 --> 00:40:37.739
 and to

00:40:37.739 --> 00:40:38.340
 honor you

00:40:38.340 --> 00:40:39.119
 as we

00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:39.619
 also honor

00:40:39.619 --> 00:40:40.000
 the moms

00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:40.260
 in our

00:40:40.260 --> 00:40:40.559
 lives

00:40:40.559 --> 00:40:40.960
 in Jesus

00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:41.360
 name we

00:40:41.360 --> 00:40:41.619
 pray

00:40:41.619 --> 00:40:42.679
 amen