WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.780 Let me pray and we'll carry on in that way. Let me pray for us. 00:00:11.740 --> 00:00:18.460 Heavenly Father, we pray now as we come to look at your word together and to think about what it means to be a member of a church. 00:00:18.460 --> 00:00:23.980 We pray, please, Lord, that you might help us. Help us to think carefully and truly and rightly. 00:00:23.980 --> 00:00:33.079 I pray that our time together might be just really good for us as we think about our church here and as we think about what it means to belong together. 00:00:33.780 --> 00:00:37.299 So bless us and watch over us and help us, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:39.140 --> 00:00:48.060 So over the next three Sunday evenings, we're going to do what I'm hoping is going to be an important little mini series in different offices in church. 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:52.980 So we're going to think about what it means to be a member, what it means to be an elder and what it means to be a deacon. 00:00:53.979 --> 00:00:55.659 Now, no, I don't need one as well. 00:00:56.779 --> 00:01:06.479 The point of doing this now is that obviously we are a church which has merged two churches together and lots of new people have also joined along the way. 00:01:06.859 --> 00:01:09.399 And we're going through lots of important transitions, aren't we? 00:01:09.399 --> 00:01:19.000 We submitted our paperwork to the FIEC, the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, and our membership is pretty much double what it was last year. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:25.579 And so that means thinking about what these things mean is really important for us so that we're all on the same page. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:33.739 But also, even though we've come from lots of different church cultures and lots of different church backgrounds, actually, we also need to acknowledge we're not inventing church. 00:01:33.739 --> 00:01:41.579 We come to something that has been going on for 2,000 years or so, and we are not inventing it for ourselves. 00:01:41.579 --> 00:01:55.780 And as you turn to the New Testament to think about church, you realize that the building blocks of church life are members, those who belong, elders, those who lead and shepherd and guide, and deacons, those who serve in the life of the church. 00:01:55.780 --> 00:02:05.040 And so it's really important for us that we get these right as we start, especially as our plan is over this next academic year. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:16.819 So before the summer at some point, we are going to appoint elders and deacons in the place of the joint leadership team as we move forwards. 00:02:16.819 --> 00:02:19.859 So we're going to start with church members. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:27.039 Now, lots of what I'm going to say to you this evening comes from a book by Jonathan Lehman called Church Membership. 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:30.939 And I've got a copy on my desk, which I intended to wave at you, but you can imagine it's a blue book. 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:32.840 It says church members on the front. 00:02:32.959 --> 00:02:34.579 There you go. It's upstairs in my office. 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:36.439 I really recommend the book. 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:37.319 It's very thorough. 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:38.299 It's really well written. 00:02:38.459 --> 00:02:39.560 It's easy to read. 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:48.439 And the way that book starts, which is how we're going to start this evening and I think is important, is not so much with the definition of membership, but as a definition of the church. 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:55.259 So to know what it means to be a member of the church, we need to know what is the church itself. 00:02:56.039 --> 00:02:57.280 What is the church? 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:00.939 Now, maybe just to try and keep your interest. 00:03:01.099 --> 00:03:02.240 What is the church not? 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:05.960 Let me tell you, the church is not a voluntary association. 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:08.000 We are not a knitting club. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:17.960 Not simply because I hate knitting and can't really do it, but also because actually what's involved in joining a knitting club is very different to what's involved in joining a church. 00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:22.039 This is not a voluntary association of people who've just decided to get together. 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:26.979 It's not a basketball club, as we're hearing about this morning, or a residence association. 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:35.460 Rather, in the church, the New Testament, in the New Testament, sorry, the church is something that Jesus is creating through the preaching of the gospel. 00:03:35.460 --> 00:03:40.219 So Jesus builds the church as the gospel is proclaimed. 00:03:40.820 --> 00:03:50.860 And if you like, the church is a present expression, like an expression in this time and in this place of what is still to come, his future eternal kingdom. 00:03:51.819 --> 00:03:53.379 So just back up with me for a moment. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:59.140 The gospel of the Lord Jesus brings sinners like us into his eternal kingdom. 00:03:59.139 --> 00:03:59.739 Right. 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:11.539 We are included in Christ's eternal heavenly kingdom, not by our works, but by his, not by our righteousness, but by his righteousness, his death in place of our death, his resurrection as our resurrection. 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:19.620 And at the moment of conversion is not just that our sins are forgiven and we personally receive salvation. 00:04:19.620 --> 00:04:28.500 But also at that moment of conversion, we get included in, we become citizens of Christ's eternal heavenly kingdom. 00:04:29.339 --> 00:04:32.920 But we are not immediately transferred to glory. 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:34.800 Instead, we live in the in-between. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:40.160 We live in the in-between of the now of forgiveness and the not yet of perfection. 00:04:40.960 --> 00:04:42.639 None of us are yet perfect. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:44.379 We live in the in-between. 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:54.939 We are members of the local time bound, geography bound expression of God's eternal kingdom, but not the final glorious kingdom itself. 00:04:54.939 --> 00:05:00.779 The illustration that Jonathan Newman uses in his book over and over again is that of an embassy. 00:05:01.579 --> 00:05:07.519 So an embassy is a little bit of another country in an in a in a host country, isn't it? 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:19.540 So the job of that embassy is not so much to make citizens of the other country, but it's to help citizens of that other country while they're living in the country in which that embassy exists. 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:29.840 So they are there, if you like, to recognize the citizens, to provide them with representation, to act as an outpost of that other country in a different place. 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:33.540 And that's just leaving, which is a really helpful little illustration of what church is. 00:05:33.660 --> 00:05:37.960 Church is an embassy of glory in time and geography today. 00:05:38.220 --> 00:05:40.900 It is an outpost of what is yet to come. 00:05:40.899 --> 00:05:59.779 It is there not so much to make citizens of heaven, but to recognize who they are as they join citizenship of heaven through faith in Jesus Christ is to provide for them representation, support, encouragement as they live outside of their and away from their eternal home. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:02.239 So that is the church. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:05.959 The church is an embassy of glory in a particular time and place. 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:11.539 Another way to think about it is to think about how authority works in the world. 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:25.139 You know, don't you, that there is only one person who has ultimate authority, one person who is able to decide what happens and to insist on it, insist on his own will and punish all disobedience to his will. 00:06:25.579 --> 00:06:28.719 And that authority belongs only to Jesus Christ. 00:06:28.899 --> 00:06:32.039 He alone is the King of kings and Lord of lords. 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:36.540 He rules from heaven while all enemies are brought under his feet. 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:44.160 And in his world, that King institutes other authorities, authorities which themselves are not ultimate. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:49.439 He alone has ultimate authority, but which have a delegated authority under him. 00:06:50.400 --> 00:06:51.879 Now, let's think about a couple of those. 00:06:52.259 --> 00:06:56.080 Let's think about the state or the government, national powers. 00:06:56.460 --> 00:06:57.600 Now you're going to need your handout. 00:06:57.879 --> 00:06:59.680 Romans chapter 13. 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:05.720 Here we see that God gives authority to states or to governments. 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:07.699 He says, 00:07:08.400 --> 00:07:15.620 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:19.000 The authorities that exist have been established by God. 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:22.899 That doesn't mean that they are all godly, right? 00:07:23.019 --> 00:07:24.460 We've been thinking already about corruption. 00:07:24.459 --> 00:07:28.019 So they are not godly, but they are established by God. 00:07:28.099 --> 00:07:31.680 They are there by his sovereign purpose. 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:36.660 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted. 00:07:36.660 --> 00:07:40.360 And those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:44.800 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:48.620 Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:51.000 Then do what is right, and you will be commended. 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:54.300 For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:56.740 But if you do wrong, be afraid. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:59.379 For rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:04.240 They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:12.000 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of the possible punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 00:08:12.659 --> 00:08:13.819 This is why you pay taxes. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:17.920 The authorities are God's servants who give their full time to governing. 00:08:18.719 --> 00:08:20.259 Give to everyone what you owe them. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:21.920 If you owe taxes, pay taxes. 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:23.060 If revenue, then revenue. 00:08:23.219 --> 00:08:24.159 If respect, then respect. 00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:25.920 If honor, then honor. 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:28.840 Now, we don't have time to go into all the detail of that. 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:31.160 We'll get to that in our series in Romans eventually. 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:35.519 But this is the power that the nation states have over citizens. 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:43.960 They are given by God delegated authority to rule and reign, and they are given a sword by which to administer justice. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:47.440 Now, that authority has boundaries, doesn't it? 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:50.860 They are not given ultimate authority over all things. 00:08:50.860 --> 00:08:55.399 And sometimes nation states cross over and abuse the boundaries that they're given. 00:08:55.399 --> 00:09:04.740 But still, God raises up kings and those in authority and calls us to pray for them and submit to them in the way that they are instituted by God with a sword to rule. 00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:10.360 But then also, alongside that, you also have not just the nation state, but you have the church. 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:12.559 Now, the church is not the state. 00:09:12.779 --> 00:09:14.240 It's not given the power of the sword. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:16.720 Instead, it's given the power of the keys. 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:21.200 So, Matthew 16, verses 16 to 19. 00:09:22.019 --> 00:09:25.639 Simon Peter answered, you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:28.139 This is Peter's declaration of who Jesus is. 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:29.560 You're the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:35.619 Jesus replied, blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:44.679 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, the rock of your confession, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:50.299 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:57.699 Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:03.399 Now, Peter is told that the church is going to be built on this confession that Jesus is the Christ. 00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:09.939 And Peter has been given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, which gives him the power of binding and loosing. 00:10:10.459 --> 00:10:11.659 Now, that sounds a bit mysterious, doesn't it? 00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:12.620 So, what exactly is that? 00:10:12.959 --> 00:10:18.039 Well, if you turn on a few pages in Matthew, you get to Matthew 18, and you see those keys in use. 00:10:18.039 --> 00:10:24.599 We see in verse 15, if your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault just between the two of you. 00:10:25.459 --> 00:10:27.159 If they listen to you, you have won them over. 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:33.659 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 00:10:34.339 --> 00:10:38.039 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church. 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:44.919 And if they refuse to listen to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:51.620 Truly, I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 00:10:52.599 --> 00:11:03.079 It seems, doesn't it, that the church is given the authority to recognize who is and who isn't a part of God's eternal kingdom. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:05.899 Now, obviously, they don't always get that right. 00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:08.240 They sometimes make mistakes and get it wrong. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:16.699 But Jesus is determined that his future kingdom will be visible in the present day in the church. 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:20.720 Now, again, the church doesn't have ultimate authority over all things. 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:22.539 They don't have the power of the sword. 00:11:23.059 --> 00:11:24.279 They don't have the power of the state. 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:26.340 The church can't draft you into an army. 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:28.959 They can't take away your liberty and send you to prison. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:34.480 But the church does have the authority to decide whether or not to recognize you as a citizen of heaven. 00:11:35.180 --> 00:11:43.460 The authority and therefore the responsibility to care for you spiritually and disciple you and discipline you and call you back to faith in Christ. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:45.360 They hold the keys. 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:49.360 Now, how does it exercise the authority of the keys? 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:51.600 I mean, we know how the sword is exercised, don't we? 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:57.000 We know about the authority of the state taking you to prison or pursuing you for not paying your taxes. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.200 But how about the church? 00:11:58.279 --> 00:12:02.919 How does it exercise this responsibility to recognize those who belong to Jesus? 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:03.759 How does it do that? 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:06.559 Well, as you read the New Testament, you see two ways, don't you? 00:12:06.679 --> 00:12:08.600 One, baptism, right? 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:14.500 The church is instructed to baptize people who have faith in Jesus Christ. 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:15.559 Now, it's interesting, isn't it? 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:19.320 We talk about baptism as being the public declaration of the candidate. 00:12:19.799 --> 00:12:24.159 So we say this is them publicly declaring faith in Jesus. 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:25.960 Now, it is that, right? 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:27.580 But it's a lot more than that. 00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:39.900 In the New Testament, it is also the declaration of the church on behalf of God that this individual getting baptized on the basis of their profession of faith is a part of God's eternal kingdom. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:44.160 So we're saying, as we baptize someone, they're saying, I believe in Jesus. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:52.399 And we say, because you've declared your faith in Jesus, we baptize you because we recognize that you are part of God's eternal kingdom. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:13:00.779 So you might think of the end of Acts 10 when Peter sees that the Gentiles become Christians, that they've received the spirit. 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:03.659 And he says, well, who can stand in the way of these people being baptized? 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:07.039 These people are obviously part of God's kingdom. 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.980 We must recognize them as such. 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.399 How are we going to recognize them as such? 00:13:10.459 --> 00:13:11.620 We're going to baptize them. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:13.059 That's what we're going to do. 00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:14.220 That's the first way. 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:16.519 The other way is the Lord's Supper. 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:28.179 So the church are given a meal to share, and they're to share it with believers, where access is given to members to feed on and delight in the Lord Jesus. 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:34.960 And at the supper, there's to be a distinction between those who belong to Christ and those who don't. 00:13:36.819 --> 00:13:41.860 1 Corinthians 11 is the next cross-reference on your handout. 00:13:42.899 --> 00:13:43.740 1 Corinthians 11. 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:46.259 This is the bit just before the bit that we normally read. 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:50.519 In the following directives, I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:56.700 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent, I believe it. 00:13:57.399 --> 00:14:01.539 No doubt, there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. 00:14:02.319 --> 00:14:05.580 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:09.580 For when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:13.659 As a result, one person remains hungry, another gets drunk. 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:27.559 Now, briefly, the background seems to be that in the Corinthian church, when they're meeting on a Sunday, those who are rich, who don't have to go to work, get there early, eat all the food, drink all the wine, and they get drunk. 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:31.839 The poor people who turn up later because they've been working all day, they get there and there's none left. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:39.660 So there's a distinction in the church between the rich, who are there early and they're drunk, and the poor, who get there late and don't have anything. 00:14:40.420 --> 00:14:42.899 That division in the church is a wrong division. 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:46.620 That is not the division that should be visible in the supper. 00:14:47.160 --> 00:14:49.500 There should be a division that's visible in the supper. 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:50.680 What does it say? 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:55.920 Verse 19, there should be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:15:05.000 It should be that the supper is for those who have faith in Christ, and it is them sharing together in the Lord's Supper, which shows that distinction. 00:15:05.719 --> 00:15:15.279 And it's interesting because the distinction in their church is between the rich and the poor, because they're not running the supper properly, it's actually not the Lord's Supper that they're sharing. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.240 You notice that? 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:19.459 So actually, you're just going, it's a private supper. 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.259 Really interesting, isn't it? 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:25.299 If you don't do the Lord's Supper properly, it's not really the Lord's Supper. 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:30.860 The benefit of the Lord's Supper comes in doing it in the manner in which it's instituted and given to us by God. 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:34.799 You can't just eat and drink it in any way we fancy or any way we please. 00:15:35.319 --> 00:15:44.879 And actually, the thing that makes the supper the supper is that we give it to people who belong to Jesus Christ, because that's who it's for, to show the distinction. 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:49.039 Now, what does all that mean? 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:57.879 It means, doesn't it, that the supper and baptism and membership of the church is visible in those actions. 00:15:58.079 --> 00:16:02.199 Baptism and Lord's Supper make visible who belongs to church. 00:16:04.219 --> 00:16:06.679 Now, let me skip down in my notes a little bit. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.099 Here's the church then. 00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:10.179 We are the embassy of glory. 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:11.980 We're given a job. 00:16:12.199 --> 00:16:17.919 We're given the authority of recognizing the genuine believer and then discipling and caring for them. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:23.740 Baptizing new believers and feeding believers on the word of the cross in the supper. 00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:28.059 Any questions or comments at that stage? 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.679 And then we'll come and think about what is a member. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:41.839 Maybe I'll give you a second to talk to the person next to you to say, how is that different or the same as you might have defined church before we talked about it? 00:16:42.079 --> 00:16:44.039 What is surprising them? 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:44.919 Maybe what's missing? 00:16:45.859 --> 00:16:48.620 Have a talk with the person next to you and then we'll get back together. 00:16:49.719 --> 00:16:51.159 Go for it for a couple of seconds. 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:52.159 Okay. 00:16:56.620 --> 00:17:02.159 Any comments or questions, feedback that's come from your group? 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:05.579 What was surprising about that? 00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:06.700 What's missing perhaps? 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:07.599 Seth? 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.480 I have a question. 00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:16.339 You said it's important that we do, if we don't do the word of supper the right way, then it's not a single word of supper, right? 00:17:16.399 --> 00:17:16.579 Yeah. 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:21.879 All I was talking about, what is the right way? 00:17:22.939 --> 00:17:23.259 Yeah. 00:17:23.459 --> 00:17:23.659 Okay. 00:17:23.719 --> 00:17:24.679 So what is the right way? 00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:27.339 So I think, what is the right way to celebrate the supper? 00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:39.339 So I think in the context of just the things I was saying, so I'd want to say more than this, but in the context of what I was saying, the right way to do the supper is in a way that publicly recognizes those who belong to Jesus and those who don't. 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:48.259 So I think if you stand up publicly and say, listen, it doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter what you believe, you can just join in with this, that it ceases to become the Lord's Supper. 00:17:48.259 --> 00:18:02.579 I think when you stand up and say, listen, this is for those who have faith in Jesus Christ, not because we're trying to withhold something that will be beneficial for somebody who's not a Christian, but because the benefits of the supper become through faith in Christ. 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:08.339 And I think when we do that and we show that distinction, that is when the supper becomes the supper. 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:13.160 So it's possible to eat bread and wine and think about Jesus, right? 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:17.740 And that might also be good for you in a way, but it's not the supper as it's defined by the New Testament. 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:19.259 Okay. 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:21.700 Nick was giving the same information to me. 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.079 Okay. 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:29.180 And was admonishing at the fact on verse 27 of the one who is in the death. 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:41.960 If what you said is true and we believe it to be true, then I think we have a responsibility to those who are visiting and who will understand that we clarify what on verse 27. 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:42.480 Yeah. 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:43.920 In the context of what I was saying. 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:44.920 Yes. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.420 They drink it unwillingly. 00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:47.000 Yes. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:56.559 So, I mean, we might think it's quite a light thing to celebrate the supper in an inappropriate way, but it seems like it's a really serious thing, right? 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:05.960 So he says, this is why some of you are sick and this is why some of you are dying because of the way that they are sharing the Lord's Supper in such a bad way. 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:10.400 It seems to be as well that the importance of discerning the body. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:14.480 I think that means discerning the people who belong to Christ. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:14.920 Yeah. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:22.540 And so whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of Christ. 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:52.539 And so if any of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of those of 00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.960 if it's saying what can we buy them? 00:19:55.960 --> 00:20:00.000 Yeah, so I think it's giving weight to their words, isn't it? 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:03.539 I think it would be to understand that verse 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:06.259 outside of the rest of New Testament theology 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:10.180 to say that it meant that the church was flawlessly right 00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:12.000 on those who were... 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:15.339 But I think it means that it's really serious. 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:18.000 So that actually... 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.960 We'll come on to this a little bit in a minute. 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:20.640 And... 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.960 But it is... 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:27.340 We're so keen to talk about, 00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.960 and rightly keen to talk about, 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:31.779 it's about personal, individual faith in Jesus Christ, 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:32.680 which saves them, 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:36.100 that we're really cautious about talking about church membership 00:20:36.100 --> 00:20:37.240 in that regard. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:40.019 Because we live in a place and a time 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:41.680 where we've seen that abused, haven't we? 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:44.460 Where you have to belong to this church in order to be saved. 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:48.259 But the idea that you can be an individual Christian 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:51.960 who doesn't belong and isn't recognized by a local church 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:54.420 is totally alien in the New Testament, isn't it? 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:58.859 And so the idea that there are lots of individuals 00:20:58.859 --> 00:21:01.119 who just kind of do church themselves 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:03.000 or don't really belong to a church 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.559 is just really alien. 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:09.319 And also, it's really alien, 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:11.940 the idea that you would be able to continue to live 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:13.279 as somebody who wasn't a Christian 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:16.519 and still be involved in the life and membership of a church. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:20.839 So we're quite used to that as well 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.859 in an unhelpful way, aren't we? 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:23.519 Sort of nominalism, right? 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:25.740 So people who belong to church, 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.019 but we all sort of think 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.960 they're probably not really Christians, 00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:30.039 but we just kind of carry on with it. 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.819 That's really unknown in the New Testament as well. 00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:34.680 So actually, this idea of putting out 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:35.779 and receiving in 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:37.059 is really important in the New Testament. 00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:42.019 I don't think that fully answers your question, Hannah. 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:43.240 And the truth is that 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:46.799 if you fully understand what that verse 18 means, 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:48.960 you should be explaining it to the rest of us. 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:51.799 So yeah, there is mystery in that, yeah. 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.220 Great. 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.359 Should we move on? 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:59.839 Let's talk about what is a church member then. 00:22:00.419 --> 00:22:01.679 I mean, just let me say, 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:04.139 I haven't, in that, what is a church, 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:06.119 I haven't said everything that a church is, right? 00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:08.019 So there is lots of things that church does 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:09.559 and should do that I haven't included. 00:22:09.699 --> 00:22:12.019 But in the context of what is a church member, 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:14.279 being an embassy of glory 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:16.859 and having the authority to recognize believers 00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:18.979 are really important in our definition of church. 00:22:19.719 --> 00:22:21.539 So what then is a church member? 00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:24.299 One of the things, again, that Lehman says in his book, 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:25.479 which is really helpful, 00:22:25.699 --> 00:22:27.379 is that given what a church is, 00:22:27.879 --> 00:22:30.259 a Christian doesn't so much join a church 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:32.679 as they do submit to a church. 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:35.799 It's not because they surrender their conscience 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:39.240 and in all things to a local church. 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.879 It's really unhelpful and wrong, isn't it? 00:22:41.879 --> 00:22:42.440 If that's what we're doing. 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:44.819 We don't all have to vote for the same political party. 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:46.779 We don't all have to wear the same clothes. 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:49.740 We don't all have to support Liverpool football team, 00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:53.019 you know, or Arsenal or something like that. 00:22:53.419 --> 00:22:54.819 We don't have to do that. 00:22:55.419 --> 00:22:56.159 Praise the Lord. 00:22:57.099 --> 00:23:00.000 Rather, the point is that becoming a member of a local church 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:03.299 is its heart submitting to an authority 00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:06.039 that God has instituted in this world. 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:11.319 That's what belonging to a church involves. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.259 And in that sense, like I was saying before, 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:15.200 it's impossible to be a Christian 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:17.480 without being a member of a church. 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:19.779 Not because being a member of a church saves you. 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:21.460 Jesus alone can save you. 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:23.660 But rather, submitting to a church 00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:25.660 is really submitting to the authority 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:28.620 that Jesus has instituted in this world 00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:31.880 for our good, this side of glory. 00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:34.759 Now, of course, that's exactly what you find 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:36.259 going on in the New Testament, isn't it? 00:23:36.820 --> 00:23:39.540 Believers in Acts devote themselves 00:23:39.540 --> 00:23:40.440 to the apostles' teaching, 00:23:40.540 --> 00:23:42.240 to the breaking of bread and to one another. 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:45.440 It's not so much that, you know, 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:48.560 they kind of are bound to do that 00:23:48.560 --> 00:23:51.060 by being whipped into doing it, 00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:52.660 but rather that's what they want to do. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.800 It's how it works. 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:53.859 It's how it works. 00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:55.859 They're described as being together, 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.299 of having everything in common. 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:00.519 Belonging to Jesus is membership 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.919 in his new community. 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:05.680 And we find the Lord adds to their number. 00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:07.039 He grows the community. 00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:10.859 So that faith in Jesus brings people 00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:11.960 into the community. 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:14.200 And a community then work together, don't they? 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:16.440 In Acts 6, to provide for those who are in need 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:18.720 to prioritize the preaching of the word and prayer. 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:21.299 In Acts 8, when the church is scattered 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.119 through persecution, 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:24.000 they regather in different locations, 00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:24.839 sharing the gospel, 00:24:25.219 --> 00:24:27.599 and becoming churches in different places. 00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:29.500 So here's the first thing. 00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:32.159 A church member is an individual 00:24:32.159 --> 00:24:34.199 who has submitted to the fellowship 00:24:34.199 --> 00:24:36.859 of other Christians in a local church. 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:38.659 Secondly, though, 00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:40.459 a church member is an individual 00:24:40.459 --> 00:24:43.079 who is part of that local church, 00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:45.399 exercises authority themselves. 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.519 Right. 00:24:47.479 --> 00:24:49.279 This is a little bit complicated, maybe. 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:51.859 So let me give you an illustration 00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:54.200 that I've robbed from Jonathan Neiman in his book. 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:57.940 He describes a time when, as a US citizen, 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.759 he was living in Brussels, 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:03.399 presumably for something to do with politics, right? 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.779 Why else would you live in Brussels? 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:09.539 Anyway, his American passport expired. 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:12.839 So he goes into the US embassy in Brussels 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:16.319 and the US embassy recognizes him 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:18.259 as a citizen of the United States 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:19.740 and they renew his passport. 00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:21.980 That's what they're there to do. 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:23.480 That's their responsibility. 00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:26.740 He says that the difference between that 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.779 and a local church 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:31.259 is that when you become a member of the local church, 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.839 you also, in one sense, 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.960 join this staff of the embassy 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:38.740 that is also involved in recognizing other citizens, right? 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.519 You necessarily, 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:42.339 so that as a church member, 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:46.099 you become a sharer in the keys, right? 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:50.359 You also exercise this power of recognition of others. 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.039 It seems, doesn't it, 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.359 that it will be guided by the elders. 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:55.220 We'll think about that more next week. 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:58.639 But the keys are given to the whole church in Matthew 18 00:25:58.639 --> 00:26:00.599 and not just to the leaders. 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:03.339 So the leaders of the church 00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:05.440 can't recognize the members on their own. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:07.259 We can't appoint the leaders on our own. 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:08.640 We can't decide the budget on our own. 00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:10.839 We are sharing all those things together. 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:13.660 So membership is submission, yes, 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:16.859 but that submission also brings with it 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:19.299 a share in the authority of the local church. 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:21.480 As an individual Christian, 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:24.900 God calls you to exercise the gift 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:26.940 that he has given you of membership in his kingdom 00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:29.720 in the church, in the embassy. 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.680 Perhaps it's worth saying here 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:34.820 that this I think is a really important answer 00:26:34.820 --> 00:26:38.279 to how the church is intended to protect itself 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.779 against the overreach of leaders 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:41.100 in their exercise of authority. 00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:45.279 There are such things as bullying pastors or elders. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:48.799 But really the authority of elders in the church, 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:50.580 and again we'll think about this some more next week, 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:53.340 is the authority of advice or counsel. 00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:56.860 They don't hold the right to enforce membership 00:26:56.860 --> 00:26:57.920 or excommunication. 00:26:58.080 --> 00:26:59.759 The church collectively are given that power. 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:04.160 So if you're in a church where a small group of men 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:07.799 behind closed doors decide who's in and who's out, 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:10.180 that doesn't seem to be a New Testament model 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.740 of local church. 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:15.299 Likewise, if you belong to a church 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:17.859 where the individual themselves decides 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:19.119 whether they are in or out 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.900 by just writing their name on a list, 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:24.779 or I'm volunteering to join in this or that, 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:26.619 then that too seems to be different 00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:29.240 to the model outlined in Matthew 18, 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:31.160 where the individual submits 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:32.759 to the decision of the church 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:34.519 and then themselves belong 00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.940 to that decision-making body. 00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:40.279 Now, of course, that means that joining the church 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:42.379 and submitting and joining 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:45.200 as the staff of the church effectively, 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:48.680 you must first be a believer in Jesus Christ 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:50.259 and a member of his heavenly kingdom. 00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:52.440 Church isn't making Christians, 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:54.640 it's recognizing Christians 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:56.120 and church members are those 00:27:56.120 --> 00:27:57.120 who have faith in Jesus, 00:27:57.620 --> 00:28:00.500 a faith which necessarily comes with a desire 00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:02.660 to belong to his people and meet with them. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:06.759 Repentance and faith becomes an ongoing mark 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:08.299 of the life of a believer, doesn't it? 00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:11.200 So as church members, 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.759 we are to recognize other believers 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:14.220 and we recognize other believers 00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:17.059 by recognizing ongoing repentance, 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:18.200 not perfection. 00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.799 Yeah. 00:28:20.600 --> 00:28:22.720 I've put one quote from Jonathan Newman's book 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:24.900 on your thing and it's here. 00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.000 It says this, 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:28.460 if I were to write a standards guide 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:30.120 for those conducting membership interviews, 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:32.559 I would go straight to Matthew's Beatitudes. 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:34.100 It might read something like this, 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:36.160 look for the ones who are poor in spirit, 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.880 who mourn for their sin, 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:39.279 who aren't entitled, 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:41.380 always insisting on their own way, 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.500 but are meek, 00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:44.140 who are sick to death of sin 00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:45.019 and all its nonsense 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:47.160 and so hunger and thirst for righteousness 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:48.319 like it is water. 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:50.359 When you find people like that, 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:52.039 make sure they know who Jesus is, 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.400 make sure Jesus is the one 00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:55.000 who fills their impoverished spirit, 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.700 who has forgiven their sins, 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:58.859 who receives their life and worship 00:28:58.859 --> 00:28:59.740 and whose righteousness 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.980 they depend on and pursue. 00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.859 When you find such people, 00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:04.539 tell them to join. 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:07.740 Notice it's not a person's moral perfection 00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:09.119 that qualifies him or her 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:09.960 for church membership. 00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:11.359 It's just the opposite. 00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:13.200 It's his or her recognition 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.860 of a lack of moral perfection 00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:16.680 coupled with a hunger for it. 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.779 It's not the people who never sin, 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.680 it's the people who fight sin. 00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:22.500 A church's judicial work 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:24.200 is to affirm not the righteousness, 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.680 but the unrighteous 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:27.500 who thirst for righteousness, 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:29.539 the righteousness only God 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.500 in Christ can give. 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.380 Here's one more way to say it. 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.200 What makes people acceptable 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.500 to a church 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:36.140 is not their own moral purity, 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.200 but Christ's. 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.120 Not what they have done 00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:40.160 to save themselves, 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.539 but what God has done 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.879 to save them. 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.339 That's what it means 00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:46.220 to be a member of a local church. 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.980 It is somebody 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:48.460 who is repenting 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.440 and turning from their sin. 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:49.980 It's not someone 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:51.599 who's morally perfect 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:53.159 and churches are to recognize 00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:54.779 those people as members. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.579 Right, let's just put this together. 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.240 This is where we're up to. 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.899 A church is someone 00:29:57.899 --> 00:29:59.700 who submits to a local church 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:01.559 and who then, 00:30:01.659 --> 00:30:02.599 as a member of that church, 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:04.299 goes on to exercise authority 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:06.339 with others in the local church. 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.740 That means a member 00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:09.359 is someone who has faith in Jesus 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.779 and is displaying 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:11.979 ongoing repentance 00:30:11.979 --> 00:30:12.659 for their sin. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.779 Now, as we finish, 00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:15.639 I just want us to think 00:30:15.639 --> 00:30:17.500 about what the life 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:18.219 of a church member 00:30:18.219 --> 00:30:18.939 will look like. 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.000 And I'm going to pull these 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:23.459 directly from Neiman's book 00:30:23.459 --> 00:30:25.079 because, one, 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.059 I think they're excellent, 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.279 and two, 00:30:27.439 --> 00:30:28.599 it means if you disagree with them, 00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:29.279 you disagree with him 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.740 and not me, 00:30:30.179 --> 00:30:31.259 and you can pick it up 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:33.119 with him when you see him. 00:30:33.719 --> 00:30:35.119 So here are, he says, 00:30:35.199 --> 00:30:37.079 eight ways that a church member 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:38.720 submits to the membership 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.740 of a local church. 00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:41.079 Let me talk about them briefly 00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:42.919 and then you can discuss them 00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:44.439 with the person sat next to you 00:30:44.439 --> 00:30:45.960 and then we'll pray together 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.659 as we close. 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.619 Firstly, he says that 00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:50.539 church members submit publicly. 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:51.740 That is, 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.980 membership of the local church 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:54.819 should be formal and official, 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:57.299 not informal and unofficial. 00:30:58.639 --> 00:30:59.579 Now, he talks about 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.399 what that might look like 00:31:00.399 --> 00:31:02.159 in a persecuted church context 00:31:02.159 --> 00:31:03.059 where it would be 00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.839 particularly dangerous 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.720 to admit that you are 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.919 a member of a local church. 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:07.980 But under normal circumstances 00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:09.740 and certainly in our circumstances, 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:11.560 there should be a means 00:31:11.560 --> 00:31:13.340 of being publicly recognized 00:31:13.340 --> 00:31:15.600 as belonging to church 00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:17.240 and therefore being a part 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:18.160 of what's going on. 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:19.440 There should be a way 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.100 of you saying, 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.940 this is my church. 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.640 And that is our membership system. 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.660 Our membership system 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:26.039 is not perfect, right? 00:31:26.800 --> 00:31:28.900 And we don't administer it perfectly. 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:30.940 We make lots of, you know, 00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:32.820 administrative gaffes 00:31:32.820 --> 00:31:33.400 all the time 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:34.120 and that kind of thing, 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.380 don't we? 00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:35.740 And we don't always run 00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.660 members meetings brilliantly. 00:31:36.760 --> 00:31:37.620 That's not what we're saying. 00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:38.820 We're not saying our system 00:31:38.820 --> 00:31:39.400 is perfect. 00:31:39.540 --> 00:31:40.300 But what we're saying is 00:31:40.300 --> 00:31:42.580 there needs to be a system, 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:45.300 a system of publicly recognizing 00:31:45.300 --> 00:31:46.380 who belongs to the church 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:47.120 and who doesn't. 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.860 And that's not to be unfriendly 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:49.340 to outsiders. 00:31:49.560 --> 00:31:50.240 In a way, 00:31:50.340 --> 00:31:51.340 it's actually to be friendly 00:31:51.340 --> 00:31:51.940 to outsiders. 00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:53.140 It's to say to people who come, 00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:53.600 listen, 00:31:54.080 --> 00:31:54.700 we want you to, 00:31:54.820 --> 00:31:55.800 you're our guests. 00:31:56.320 --> 00:31:57.520 Come and be our guest. 00:31:58.080 --> 00:31:58.440 Listen, 00:31:59.340 --> 00:31:59.560 you know, 00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:01.080 appreciate what's going on. 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:02.359 We're not going to put on you 00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:04.359 the burden of pretending 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:05.039 that you believe 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.980 something you don't believe. 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:06.899 We're not going to put on you 00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:08.500 the burden of running something 00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.720 or contributing to something 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:11.000 that you don't yet agree with. 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:12.740 We want you to be our guests 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:14.179 because those who belong 00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:14.579 to the church 00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.919 are publicly recognized. 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:17.619 Secondly, 00:32:18.139 --> 00:32:19.539 submitting physically, 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.619 geographically. 00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:22.419 That is that members 00:32:22.419 --> 00:32:23.259 of a local church 00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:24.279 basically agree 00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:25.199 to live in a place 00:32:25.199 --> 00:32:26.099 that makes it possible 00:32:26.099 --> 00:32:26.980 for them to attend. 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:27.699 So, 00:32:28.959 --> 00:32:30.959 membership of a particular 00:32:30.959 --> 00:32:31.559 local church 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.299 is a commitment 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.119 to attend 00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:34.740 that particular local church. 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.319 And so, 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.559 there's not a command 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.519 that you should live 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:41.059 within a certain distance 00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:41.980 of the place 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.000 in which your church gathers. 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.099 But still, 00:32:44.179 --> 00:32:45.419 the point of a local church 00:32:45.419 --> 00:32:46.139 is that it meets 00:32:46.139 --> 00:32:47.159 in a place 00:32:47.159 --> 00:32:48.599 and a time. 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.139 And that 00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:51.599 that is one of the things 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:52.599 that we submit to 00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:53.679 as a member of the church. 00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:55.219 We submit to being there 00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:56.279 at the gatherings of the church 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:57.039 which means that 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:58.319 we recognize 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:00.519 that one of the most helpful ways 00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:01.200 that we can submit 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:01.819 to a local church 00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.839 is by submitting 00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:03.400 to the place 00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:04.299 that that church meets 00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:04.860 and by, 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:06.279 as far as we are able, 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.500 living in a place 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.440 which enables us 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:09.319 to be there regularly 00:33:09.319 --> 00:33:10.880 and be part of that community. 00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:11.819 Now, 00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:12.700 I think that varies 00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.640 depending on where exactly 00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:14.299 you are in the world, 00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:14.740 doesn't it? 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:16.059 And how easy it is 00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:16.740 to get around. 00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:18.059 But, 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:18.860 I do think 00:33:18.860 --> 00:33:19.200 there's something 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:19.920 really important 00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:21.360 about recognizing 00:33:21.360 --> 00:33:21.839 that we belong 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.460 to this church 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:23.559 which meets in this place. 00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.980 We are West Kilburn Baptist Church. 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:26.579 We're not London Baptist Church. 00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:27.039 We're not, 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:27.799 you know, 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:28.680 I don't know, 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.279 whatever else, 00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:30.360 Birmingham Baptist Church 00:33:30.360 --> 00:33:30.660 or something. 00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:31.440 Actually, 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:33.099 we belong to this particular place. 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:34.759 Socially, 00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.160 it doesn't mean 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:37.519 that your entire social life 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.839 is swallowed up by church 00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:39.980 but rather 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:41.299 that in submitting 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:41.960 to a local church 00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:42.380 you say, 00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:44.019 these are the people 00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:45.400 who I commit 00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:46.460 to praying for 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:48.279 and getting to know, 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:50.200 sharing my life with. 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:51.500 You know, 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:54.940 one of the things 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:56.000 that is helpfully 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:56.579 drawn out in the book 00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:57.359 which I think 00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:59.119 is useful for us to know 00:33:59.119 --> 00:34:00.200 is that there is a difference 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:01.940 between being a fellow member 00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:03.319 and just a Christian friend. 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:03.960 Right? 00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:04.240 So, 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:06.359 I have Christian friends 00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:07.220 who are not in this church 00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:08.260 who I deeply value 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:09.320 and I really appreciate 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:09.820 their friendship 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:11.139 but if you're a member 00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:11.599 of this church, 00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:13.239 I am responsible for you 00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:13.960 and with you 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:15.019 in a way that I am not 00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:15.920 with my Christian friends 00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:16.659 who are outside 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.159 of this church 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:18.480 because we've covenanted 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.599 together to belong 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.500 to one another 00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:21.579 and to recognise 00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:23.399 one another 00:34:23.399 --> 00:34:23.920 as believers 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:25.000 in the Lord Jesus Christ 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:26.759 and that should affect 00:34:26.759 --> 00:34:28.219 how we live. 00:34:28.799 --> 00:34:28.879 Right? 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.159 So, 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.299 we can't be 00:34:30.299 --> 00:34:31.719 effective church members 00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:33.099 unless we're invested 00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:33.899 in getting to know 00:34:33.899 --> 00:34:34.960 people in the church. 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.019 So, 00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:38.039 that's what we submit to. 00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:39.739 Affectionately. 00:34:40.879 --> 00:34:41.739 Number four. 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.619 I guess this really 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.059 is just sort of 00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:44.759 unpacking that 00:34:44.759 --> 00:34:45.599 but it is picking up 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:47.159 on Paul's language 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:48.960 or his body language 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.940 about the church. 00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:50.519 You know, 00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:51.860 where one person hurts 00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:52.679 we all hurt. 00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:53.099 Yeah? 00:34:53.179 --> 00:34:53.699 We rejoice 00:34:53.699 --> 00:34:54.539 with those who rejoice. 00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:55.539 We mourn 00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:56.500 with those who mourn. 00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:59.179 Romans 12 verse 10 says 00:34:59.179 --> 00:34:59.980 we're to be devoted 00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:01.319 to one another in love. 00:35:01.880 --> 00:35:02.400 Meaning that 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:02.960 there is a sense 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.599 in which church 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:05.179 you submit to the church 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:06.579 capturing your affection 00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:07.719 part. 00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:07.940 Right? 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.119 So, 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.599 actually we are 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:11.559 to love deeply 00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:12.179 here 00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:13.539 and to care 00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:13.980 for one another 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.639 in that way. 00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:16.179 there is a sense 00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:16.619 in which 00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:18.420 it is right 00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:19.739 that our emotions 00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:21.019 ride with the church 00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:21.859 that when church 00:35:21.859 --> 00:35:23.319 is struggling 00:35:23.319 --> 00:35:23.779 and difficult 00:35:23.779 --> 00:35:24.960 that should grieve us. 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.980 When church is going 00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:27.019 well we should rejoice 00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:27.559 in that. 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:28.940 When people in church 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.799 are suffering 00:35:29.799 --> 00:35:30.539 we should suffer 00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:30.980 with them. 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:31.920 When they're rejoicing 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:33.440 we should rejoice 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:34.460 with them. 00:35:35.299 --> 00:35:35.819 Fifthly, 00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.059 financially 00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:38.359 here's the recognition 00:35:38.359 --> 00:35:39.379 that it is the members 00:35:39.379 --> 00:35:39.900 of the church 00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:40.739 who are primarily 00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:41.339 responsible 00:35:41.339 --> 00:35:42.139 for the funding 00:35:42.139 --> 00:35:42.839 of the ministry 00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:43.360 of the church 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:43.980 through their own 00:35:43.980 --> 00:35:45.680 personal generosity. 00:35:47.180 --> 00:35:48.120 Sharing with those 00:35:48.120 --> 00:35:48.740 in need. 00:35:49.600 --> 00:35:50.579 Allowing those 00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:51.559 to preach the gospel 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.700 to get a living 00:35:52.700 --> 00:35:53.559 from the gospel 00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:54.980 and seeing the need 00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.760 to fund missions 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:56.840 and other churches 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:57.539 in need. 00:35:58.840 --> 00:35:58.980 You know, 00:35:59.059 --> 00:36:00.860 we hope 00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.620 we give 00:36:01.620 --> 00:36:03.120 to the ministry 00:36:03.120 --> 00:36:03.500 and life 00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:03.900 of the local church. 00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.960 We might choose 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:05.920 to give beyond that 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:06.400 as well. 00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:06.960 We might choose 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:08.260 to give other money 00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:08.680 elsewhere 00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:09.899 but we are 00:36:09.899 --> 00:36:11.159 primarily responsible 00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:12.619 for funding 00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.139 the ministry 00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:13.899 of the church 00:36:13.899 --> 00:36:14.419 here, 00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:14.980 aren't we? 00:36:15.619 --> 00:36:16.219 And the needs 00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:16.539 here. 00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:18.059 And if we are 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:18.759 not able to do 00:36:18.759 --> 00:36:19.279 that we need 00:36:19.279 --> 00:36:19.799 to either trim 00:36:19.799 --> 00:36:20.940 what we're doing 00:36:20.940 --> 00:36:21.500 or we need 00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:22.179 to ask one another 00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:22.659 whether we're 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:24.000 really being 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:24.619 as sacrificial 00:36:24.619 --> 00:36:25.539 as we should be. 00:36:25.839 --> 00:36:26.339 That applies 00:36:26.339 --> 00:36:27.000 not only 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:28.899 to church members 00:36:28.899 --> 00:36:29.259 it applies 00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:29.960 to church leaders 00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:30.579 it applies to me 00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:31.000 it applies to 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.379 everybody. 00:36:31.919 --> 00:36:33.299 And we're 00:36:33.299 --> 00:36:33.759 responsible 00:36:33.759 --> 00:36:34.519 for the finances 00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:34.799 here. 00:36:34.899 --> 00:36:35.500 It's the family 00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:37.039 finances. 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:39.340 Vocationally 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.679 now for some 00:36:40.679 --> 00:36:41.320 this will mean 00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:42.759 perhaps stepping 00:36:42.759 --> 00:36:43.579 away from a career 00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.219 to some kind 00:36:44.219 --> 00:36:45.079 of paid ministry. 00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:46.059 For others 00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:46.579 it might mean 00:36:46.579 --> 00:36:47.380 holding back 00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:47.940 in a career 00:36:47.940 --> 00:36:48.699 to give time 00:36:48.699 --> 00:36:49.139 to the ministry 00:36:49.139 --> 00:36:49.779 of the church. 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:50.880 For all of us 00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.279 it will mean 00:36:51.279 --> 00:36:52.059 that recognizing 00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:53.079 that what God 00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:53.699 is building 00:36:53.699 --> 00:36:54.880 in the local church 00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:56.579 is the most 00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:57.360 significant thing 00:36:57.360 --> 00:36:57.880 that is being 00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:58.420 put together 00:36:58.420 --> 00:36:59.219 in this world. 00:36:59.759 --> 00:37:00.619 It's more important 00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:01.340 than whatever it is 00:37:01.340 --> 00:37:01.800 that we're building 00:37:01.800 --> 00:37:02.699 in our jobs. 00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:04.199 Now that doesn't 00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:05.239 mean that God 00:37:05.239 --> 00:37:05.860 is not honored 00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:06.380 by the way 00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:06.759 that you go 00:37:06.760 --> 00:37:07.500 about your work 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:08.140 and that you 00:37:08.140 --> 00:37:08.900 can't glorify 00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:09.500 him in your work. 00:37:09.600 --> 00:37:10.020 That's really 00:37:10.020 --> 00:37:10.460 important. 00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:11.360 You do do that. 00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:11.600 We're going 00:37:11.600 --> 00:37:11.920 to be thinking 00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:12.300 about that 00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:13.160 later this term. 00:37:13.760 --> 00:37:14.180 But actually 00:37:14.180 --> 00:37:14.900 it recognizes 00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:16.160 that what God 00:37:16.160 --> 00:37:16.520 is doing 00:37:16.520 --> 00:37:16.940 in the local 00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:18.000 church is really 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:18.880 the significant 00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:19.260 thing. 00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:20.060 This is the 00:37:20.060 --> 00:37:20.720 outpost 00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:21.980 of future glory. 00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.400 Ethically 00:37:24.400 --> 00:37:25.960 again not that 00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:26.540 the local church 00:37:26.540 --> 00:37:27.120 has authority 00:37:27.120 --> 00:37:27.920 over your conscience 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:28.520 but rather 00:37:28.520 --> 00:37:29.200 that your brothers 00:37:29.200 --> 00:37:29.640 and sisters 00:37:29.640 --> 00:37:30.140 in the church 00:37:30.140 --> 00:37:30.760 have the right 00:37:30.760 --> 00:37:31.280 to call you 00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:31.640 out on your 00:37:31.640 --> 00:37:32.060 behavior 00:37:32.060 --> 00:37:33.680 and to encourage 00:37:33.680 --> 00:37:34.220 you to walk 00:37:34.220 --> 00:37:34.960 closely with the 00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.200 Lord. 00:37:35.720 --> 00:37:36.180 When you join 00:37:36.179 --> 00:37:36.460 in church 00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:36.839 membership 00:37:36.839 --> 00:37:37.199 you are 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:37.539 submitting 00:37:37.539 --> 00:37:38.099 to say 00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:38.759 listen 00:37:38.759 --> 00:37:40.139 I commit 00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:40.719 myself 00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:42.000 to living 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:42.879 for Jesus 00:37:42.879 --> 00:37:44.139 and if you 00:37:44.139 --> 00:37:44.719 see that I 00:37:44.719 --> 00:37:45.559 am not doing 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:46.859 that I 00:37:46.859 --> 00:37:48.219 invite you 00:37:48.219 --> 00:37:49.719 to say to me 00:37:49.719 --> 00:37:50.759 Steve you're 00:37:50.759 --> 00:37:51.460 not living for 00:37:51.460 --> 00:37:52.000 the Lord Jesus 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:52.619 in that area 00:37:52.619 --> 00:37:53.259 of your life. 00:37:53.919 --> 00:37:54.559 What you did 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.039 there was 00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:56.159 not right. 00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.799 And I mean 00:37:58.799 --> 00:38:00.199 that's good 00:38:00.199 --> 00:38:00.539 for us. 00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:01.019 I know it feels 00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:01.539 difficult but it 00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:02.219 is good for us 00:38:02.219 --> 00:38:02.559 isn't it? 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:03.639 At the heart 00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:04.159 of church 00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:05.579 sin is not 00:38:05.579 --> 00:38:06.199 dealt with 00:38:06.199 --> 00:38:06.799 by pretending 00:38:06.799 --> 00:38:07.119 that it 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:07.940 doesn't exist 00:38:07.940 --> 00:38:09.059 but by 00:38:09.059 --> 00:38:09.860 repentance and 00:38:09.860 --> 00:38:10.400 faith isn't 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:10.639 it? 00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:12.539 So when we 00:38:12.539 --> 00:38:14.000 submit like 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:14.500 that to church 00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.059 and someone 00:38:15.059 --> 00:38:15.460 points out 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:16.039 and we say 00:38:16.039 --> 00:38:17.099 oh yeah 00:38:17.099 --> 00:38:17.619 you're right 00:38:17.619 --> 00:38:19.039 I'm sorry 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:20.579 I'm sorry 00:38:20.579 --> 00:38:20.920 that I did 00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:21.360 that please 00:38:21.360 --> 00:38:21.940 forgive me 00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:22.980 and then that 00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.440 person doesn't 00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:23.940 say oh 00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:24.599 of course 00:38:24.599 --> 00:38:24.820 I'm not 00:38:24.820 --> 00:38:24.980 going to 00:38:24.980 --> 00:38:25.400 forgive you 00:38:25.400 --> 00:38:26.500 they go 00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.219 no of course 00:38:27.219 --> 00:38:27.440 I will 00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:27.900 forgive you 00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:29.380 we have 00:38:29.380 --> 00:38:29.980 the means 00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:30.460 of forgiveness 00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:30.980 in the 00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:31.340 center of 00:38:31.340 --> 00:38:31.639 our church 00:38:31.639 --> 00:38:32.119 life in 00:38:32.119 --> 00:38:32.500 the person 00:38:32.500 --> 00:38:32.760 and work 00:38:32.760 --> 00:38:32.940 of the 00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:33.320 Lord Jesus 00:38:33.320 --> 00:38:35.539 spiritually 00:38:35.539 --> 00:38:36.700 that is that 00:38:36.700 --> 00:38:37.019 the local 00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.559 church is to 00:38:37.559 --> 00:38:37.940 be the 00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:38.559 place where 00:38:38.559 --> 00:38:39.180 your spiritual 00:38:39.180 --> 00:38:39.820 gifts are to 00:38:39.820 --> 00:38:40.519 be exercised 00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:40.880 for the good 00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:41.380 of others 00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:42.880 doesn't mean 00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:44.320 that every 00:38:44.320 --> 00:38:44.940 spiritual gift 00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:45.340 in the life 00:38:45.340 --> 00:38:45.920 of church 00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:47.059 is on 00:38:47.059 --> 00:38:48.000 display in 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:48.460 a public 00:38:48.460 --> 00:38:49.039 gathering of 00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:49.340 the local 00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:49.639 church 00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:49.980 it's really 00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:50.340 important 00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:50.740 isn't it? 00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:53.180 We don't 00:38:53.180 --> 00:38:53.740 have an 00:38:53.740 --> 00:38:54.180 administration 00:38:54.180 --> 00:38:55.260 slot in 00:38:55.260 --> 00:38:55.940 our service 00:38:55.940 --> 00:38:56.940 so that those 00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:57.280 with gifts 00:38:57.280 --> 00:38:57.800 of administration 00:38:57.800 --> 00:38:58.500 can come and 00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:58.940 display them 00:38:58.940 --> 00:38:59.320 in front of 00:38:59.320 --> 00:38:59.740 everybody on 00:38:59.740 --> 00:39:00.000 a Sunday 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:00.280 morning 00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:01.700 no because 00:39:01.700 --> 00:39:03.080 the gifts 00:39:03.080 --> 00:39:03.560 that we use 00:39:03.560 --> 00:39:04.080 on a Sunday 00:39:04.080 --> 00:39:05.019 morning are 00:39:05.019 --> 00:39:05.400 those that 00:39:05.400 --> 00:39:05.720 are good 00:39:05.720 --> 00:39:06.140 for building 00:39:06.140 --> 00:39:06.560 us up 00:39:06.560 --> 00:39:07.320 but actually 00:39:07.320 --> 00:39:07.880 we all have 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:08.400 different gifts 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:08.700 don't we 00:39:08.700 --> 00:39:09.060 which we are 00:39:09.060 --> 00:39:09.580 to exercise 00:39:09.580 --> 00:39:10.080 in the life 00:39:10.080 --> 00:39:10.560 of our church 00:39:10.560 --> 00:39:11.000 for the good 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:11.460 of the mission 00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:12.120 of the church 00:39:12.120 --> 00:39:14.120 for the building 00:39:14.120 --> 00:39:14.680 of one another 00:39:14.680 --> 00:39:15.740 up in all 00:39:15.740 --> 00:39:16.060 sorts of 00:39:16.060 --> 00:39:16.760 different ways 00:39:16.760 --> 00:39:17.740 the church 00:39:17.740 --> 00:39:18.180 is also the 00:39:18.180 --> 00:39:18.539 place where 00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:18.920 you will be 00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:19.300 taught the 00:39:19.300 --> 00:39:20.420 Bible by 00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:20.920 someone who 00:39:20.920 --> 00:39:21.780 knows you 00:39:21.780 --> 00:39:22.640 and who God 00:39:22.640 --> 00:39:23.039 has gifted 00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:23.640 to preach 00:39:23.640 --> 00:39:23.980 it 00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:25.539 again 00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:27.260 it seems 00:39:27.260 --> 00:39:27.460 to be 00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:29.040 the Lord 00:39:29.040 --> 00:39:29.340 in his 00:39:29.340 --> 00:39:29.780 wisdom 00:39:29.780 --> 00:39:31.060 suggests that 00:39:31.060 --> 00:39:31.640 the most 00:39:31.640 --> 00:39:32.260 spiritually 00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:32.940 helpful thing 00:39:32.940 --> 00:39:33.400 for you 00:39:33.400 --> 00:39:34.280 is not to 00:39:34.280 --> 00:39:34.620 be taught 00:39:34.620 --> 00:39:35.540 by the best 00:39:35.540 --> 00:39:36.140 preacher in 00:39:36.140 --> 00:39:36.580 the world 00:39:36.580 --> 00:39:37.500 which is 00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:37.980 definitely 00:39:37.980 --> 00:39:38.620 not me 00:39:38.620 --> 00:39:40.460 but you can 00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:40.860 find them on 00:39:40.860 --> 00:39:41.220 the internet 00:39:41.220 --> 00:39:41.700 whoever they 00:39:41.700 --> 00:39:42.040 are 00:39:42.040 --> 00:39:44.460 but to be 00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:44.880 taught by 00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:45.200 someone who 00:39:45.200 --> 00:39:45.840 knows you 00:39:45.840 --> 00:39:46.940 and who 00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:47.620 loves you 00:39:47.620 --> 00:39:48.420 and who 00:39:48.420 --> 00:39:48.720 will be 00:39:48.720 --> 00:39:48.940 held 00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:49.520 accountable 00:39:49.520 --> 00:39:50.680 by you 00:39:50.680 --> 00:39:51.640 and also 00:39:51.640 --> 00:39:52.480 by the Lord 00:39:52.480 --> 00:39:53.260 for what they 00:39:53.260 --> 00:39:53.620 say 00:39:53.619 --> 00:39:54.339 that's the 00:39:54.339 --> 00:39:54.799 most spiritually 00:39:54.799 --> 00:39:55.279 helpful thing 00:39:55.279 --> 00:39:55.639 for you 00:39:55.639 --> 00:39:56.500 even if they 00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:56.940 stumble over 00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:57.519 their words 00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:58.539 and even if 00:39:58.539 --> 00:39:59.259 they don't 00:39:59.259 --> 00:39:59.500 you know 00:39:59.500 --> 00:39:59.779 they don't 00:39:59.779 --> 00:40:00.039 have a 00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:00.239 stick 00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:00.719 illustrations 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:01.119 of other 00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:01.420 people 00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:02.599 because actually 00:40:02.599 --> 00:40:03.079 that's the 00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:03.579 way that the 00:40:03.579 --> 00:40:04.000 Lord has 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:04.779 designed the 00:40:04.779 --> 00:40:05.400 Christian life 00:40:05.400 --> 00:40:06.019 church is to 00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:06.960 be the place 00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:07.319 where your 00:40:07.319 --> 00:40:07.739 spiritual 00:40:07.739 --> 00:40:08.119 well-being 00:40:08.119 --> 00:40:08.420 will be 00:40:08.420 --> 00:40:08.639 taken 00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:09.219 seriously 00:40:09.219 --> 00:40:10.420 and cared 00:40:10.420 --> 00:40:10.839 for by 00:40:10.839 --> 00:40:11.279 others 00:40:11.279 --> 00:40:12.199 so you 00:40:12.199 --> 00:40:12.380 go 00:40:12.380 --> 00:40:13.639 what were 00:40:13.639 --> 00:40:13.859 they 00:40:13.859 --> 00:40:14.599 those eight 00:40:14.599 --> 00:40:15.139 things 00:40:15.139 --> 00:40:15.980 publicly 00:40:15.980 --> 00:40:16.619 physically 00:40:16.619 --> 00:40:17.339 geographically 00:40:17.339 --> 00:40:17.960 socially 00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:19.259 affectionately 00:40:19.259 --> 00:40:19.819 financially 00:40:19.819 --> 00:40:20.659 vocationally 00:40:20.659 --> 00:40:21.239 ethically 00:40:21.239 --> 00:40:22.479 spiritually 00:40:22.479 --> 00:40:24.559 I intended 00:40:24.559 --> 00:40:25.119 to put a 00:40:25.119 --> 00:40:25.679 question on 00:40:25.679 --> 00:40:26.319 your handout 00:40:26.319 --> 00:40:26.639 at the end 00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:26.839 of that 00:40:26.839 --> 00:40:27.259 but I did 00:40:27.259 --> 00:40:27.519 not 00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:27.939 did I 00:40:27.939 --> 00:40:29.019 I wonder 00:40:29.019 --> 00:40:29.439 whether you 00:40:29.439 --> 00:40:30.059 could talk 00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:30.500 with the 00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:31.000 person next 00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:31.299 to you 00:40:31.299 --> 00:40:32.119 about what 00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:32.379 you think 00:40:32.379 --> 00:40:32.779 about those 00:40:32.779 --> 00:40:33.319 any of those 00:40:33.319 --> 00:40:33.679 that are 00:40:33.679 --> 00:40:34.239 surprising 00:40:34.239 --> 00:40:35.459 or maybe 00:40:35.459 --> 00:40:36.139 something that 00:40:36.139 --> 00:40:36.379 you think 00:40:36.379 --> 00:40:36.819 is missing 00:40:36.819 --> 00:40:37.519 and then 00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:37.799 we'll take 00:40:37.799 --> 00:40:38.339 your questions 00:40:38.339 --> 00:40:38.899 and then 00:40:38.899 --> 00:40:39.439 we'll close 00:40:39.439 --> 00:40:41.059 go for it 00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:46.619 okay 00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:49.099 sorry to 00:40:49.099 --> 00:40:49.779 interrupt your 00:40:49.779 --> 00:40:50.179 conversations 00:40:50.179 --> 00:40:50.759 anyone got 00:40:50.759 --> 00:40:51.399 any comments 00:40:51.399 --> 00:40:52.199 or questions 00:40:52.199 --> 00:40:55.239 Nick has a 00:40:55.239 --> 00:40:55.619 question 00:40:55.619 --> 00:41:13.759 yes 00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:14.980 but the 00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:16.700 difficulty 00:41:16.700 --> 00:41:17.400 there is 00:41:17.400 --> 00:41:18.900 how do 00:41:18.900 --> 00:41:19.960 you draw 00:41:19.960 --> 00:41:20.560 the line 00:41:20.560 --> 00:41:21.100 or how 00:41:21.100 --> 00:41:22.820 do you 00:41:22.820 --> 00:41:24.440 what 00:41:24.440 --> 00:41:25.020 guidelines 00:41:25.020 --> 00:41:25.600 can we 00:41:25.600 --> 00:41:26.180 follow 00:41:26.180 --> 00:41:27.600 to ensure 00:41:27.600 --> 00:41:28.120 that we 00:41:28.120 --> 00:41:29.780 it's the 00:41:29.780 --> 00:41:30.380 right thing 00:41:30.380 --> 00:41:30.720 that we're 00:41:30.720 --> 00:41:31.440 not necessarily 00:41:31.440 --> 00:41:32.340 invading 00:41:32.340 --> 00:41:33.380 privacy as 00:41:33.380 --> 00:41:33.580 well 00:41:33.580 --> 00:41:33.860 yeah 00:41:33.860 --> 00:41:36.840 so I guess 00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:37.180 what sort 00:41:37.180 --> 00:41:37.860 of guidelines 00:41:37.860 --> 00:41:39.260 can we 00:41:39.260 --> 00:41:40.260 use 00:41:40.260 --> 00:41:44.700 yes 00:41:44.700 --> 00:41:46.760 how can 00:41:46.760 --> 00:41:47.080 we not 00:41:47.080 --> 00:41:47.980 be intrusive 00:41:47.980 --> 00:41:49.000 in our 00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:49.600 encouragement 00:41:49.600 --> 00:41:50.260 to people 00:41:50.260 --> 00:41:50.680 not to 00:41:50.680 --> 00:41:51.240 sin 00:41:51.240 --> 00:41:51.720 or to 00:41:51.720 --> 00:41:51.940 calling 00:41:51.940 --> 00:41:52.340 people out 00:41:52.340 --> 00:41:52.580 and sin 00:41:52.580 --> 00:41:54.120 so there's 00:41:54.120 --> 00:41:54.520 lots of 00:41:54.520 --> 00:41:54.820 things you 00:41:54.820 --> 00:41:55.440 could say 00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:55.900 on there 00:41:55.900 --> 00:41:57.200 Galatians 6 00:41:57.200 --> 00:41:59.340 verses 1 00:41:59.340 --> 00:42:00.000 and 2 00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:00.600 are really 00:42:00.600 --> 00:42:01.040 helpful aren't 00:42:01.040 --> 00:42:01.260 they 00:42:01.260 --> 00:42:01.980 brothers and 00:42:01.980 --> 00:42:02.440 sisters if 00:42:02.440 --> 00:42:02.840 someone is 00:42:02.840 --> 00:42:03.240 caught in 00:42:03.240 --> 00:42:03.520 sin 00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:04.280 you who 00:42:04.280 --> 00:42:04.719 live by 00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:05.380 the spirit 00:42:05.380 --> 00:42:06.139 should 00:42:06.139 --> 00:42:06.860 restore that 00:42:06.860 --> 00:42:07.280 person 00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:07.880 gently 00:42:07.880 --> 00:42:09.960 but watch 00:42:09.960 --> 00:42:10.659 yourselves 00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:11.860 or you 00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:12.559 also may 00:42:12.559 --> 00:42:13.039 be tempted 00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:14.360 carry each 00:42:14.360 --> 00:42:14.639 other's 00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:15.059 burdens 00:42:15.059 --> 00:42:15.639 and in 00:42:15.639 --> 00:42:16.039 this way 00:42:16.039 --> 00:42:16.360 you will 00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:16.880 fulfill the 00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:17.159 law of 00:42:17.159 --> 00:42:17.599 Christ 00:42:17.599 --> 00:42:18.699 it seems 00:42:18.699 --> 00:42:19.139 isn't it 00:42:19.139 --> 00:42:19.619 it's not 00:42:19.619 --> 00:42:21.099 it's not 00:42:21.099 --> 00:42:21.659 the leaders 00:42:21.659 --> 00:42:22.159 who do it 00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:22.619 necessarily 00:42:22.619 --> 00:42:23.420 it's 00:42:23.420 --> 00:42:24.139 believers 00:42:24.139 --> 00:42:24.719 don't believe 00:42:24.719 --> 00:42:25.079 so I think 00:42:25.079 --> 00:42:25.440 lots of 00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:25.619 church 00:42:25.619 --> 00:42:26.000 discipline 00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:26.500 just happens 00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:27.159 in conversation 00:42:27.159 --> 00:42:27.500 between 00:42:27.500 --> 00:42:27.780 church 00:42:27.780 --> 00:42:28.119 members 00:42:28.119 --> 00:42:28.340 doesn't 00:42:28.340 --> 00:42:28.440 it 00:42:28.440 --> 00:42:28.659 as we 00:42:28.659 --> 00:42:29.039 encourage 00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:29.219 each 00:42:29.219 --> 00:42:29.460 other 00:42:29.460 --> 00:42:30.340 we're 00:42:30.340 --> 00:42:30.599 to do 00:42:30.599 --> 00:42:30.719 it 00:42:30.719 --> 00:42:30.880 with 00:42:30.880 --> 00:42:31.579 gentleness 00:42:31.579 --> 00:42:32.739 and with 00:42:32.739 --> 00:42:32.900 a 00:42:32.900 --> 00:42:33.460 recognition 00:42:33.460 --> 00:42:34.000 that 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:34.599 actually 00:42:34.599 --> 00:42:35.079 the 00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:35.659 temptations 00:42:35.659 --> 00:42:35.960 that we 00:42:35.960 --> 00:42:36.440 see other 00:42:36.440 --> 00:42:36.920 people 00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:37.720 kind of 00:42:37.720 --> 00:42:37.960 giving 00:42:37.960 --> 00:42:38.400 into 00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:39.860 are not 00:42:39.860 --> 00:42:40.400 temptations 00:42:40.400 --> 00:42:40.740 that we 00:42:40.740 --> 00:42:41.079 ourselves 00:42:41.079 --> 00:42:41.380 wouldn't 00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:41.619 suffer 00:42:41.619 --> 00:42:41.900 with 00:42:41.900 --> 00:42:42.340 yeah 00:42:42.340 --> 00:42:43.900 there's 00:42:43.900 --> 00:42:44.300 lots more 00:42:44.300 --> 00:42:44.519 that could 00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:44.780 be said 00:42:44.780 --> 00:42:45.019 I think 00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:45.340 that's a 00:42:45.340 --> 00:42:45.539 really 00:42:45.539 --> 00:42:45.740 really 00:42:45.740 --> 00:42:46.039 important 00:42:46.039 --> 00:42:46.280 verse 00:42:46.280 --> 00:42:46.559 in that 00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:46.960 yeah 00:42:46.960 --> 00:42:47.900 anybody 00:42:47.900 --> 00:42:48.300 else 00:42:48.300 --> 00:42:50.840 yeah 00:42:50.840 --> 00:42:51.119 simming 00:42:51.119 --> 00:42:51.480 go on 00:42:51.480 --> 00:42:51.780 just trying 00:42:51.780 --> 00:42:52.039 to think 00:42:52.039 --> 00:42:52.320 through 00:42:52.320 --> 00:42:53.559 evangelism 00:42:53.559 --> 00:42:55.960 because 00:42:55.960 --> 00:42:56.480 in a 00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:56.820 sense 00:42:56.820 --> 00:42:57.720 even 00:42:57.720 --> 00:42:58.000 if you 00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:58.260 plant 00:42:58.260 --> 00:42:58.460 the 00:42:58.460 --> 00:42:58.780 church 00:42:58.780 --> 00:42:59.179 in a 00:42:59.179 --> 00:42:59.539 really 00:42:59.539 --> 00:43:01.019 in order 00:43:01.019 --> 00:43:01.579 to reach 00:43:01.579 --> 00:43:01.720 a 00:43:01.720 --> 00:43:02.199 community 00:43:02.199 --> 00:43:03.159 you're 00:43:03.159 --> 00:43:04.299 gatherings 00:43:04.299 --> 00:43:04.799 together 00:43:04.799 --> 00:43:05.480 the 00:43:05.480 --> 00:43:05.719 main 00:43:05.719 --> 00:43:06.359 part of 00:43:06.359 --> 00:43:06.579 them 00:43:06.579 --> 00:43:07.039 is 00:43:07.039 --> 00:43:08.119 the 00:43:08.119 --> 00:43:08.619 encouragement 00:43:08.619 --> 00:43:09.059 of 00:43:09.059 --> 00:43:10.339 brothers and 00:43:10.339 --> 00:43:10.599 sisters 00:43:10.599 --> 00:43:11.019 together 00:43:11.019 --> 00:43:11.940 but 00:43:11.940 --> 00:43:12.319 there's a 00:43:12.319 --> 00:43:12.699 sense in 00:43:12.699 --> 00:43:13.539 which as a 00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:14.179 church family 00:43:14.179 --> 00:43:14.739 you're there 00:43:14.739 --> 00:43:16.639 to go out 00:43:16.639 --> 00:43:19.519 yes 00:43:19.519 --> 00:43:20.319 yeah 00:43:20.319 --> 00:43:22.359 maybe it's 00:43:22.359 --> 00:43:22.639 just it 00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:22.900 doesn't 00:43:22.900 --> 00:43:23.500 fit into 00:43:23.500 --> 00:43:25.279 church 00:43:25.279 --> 00:43:25.659 as a 00:43:25.659 --> 00:43:25.980 gathering 00:43:25.980 --> 00:43:26.679 or 00:43:26.679 --> 00:43:27.299 how does 00:43:27.299 --> 00:43:27.460 it 00:43:27.460 --> 00:43:28.179 yeah 00:43:28.179 --> 00:43:28.719 so how 00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:29.400 does evangelism 00:43:29.400 --> 00:43:30.079 fit with 00:43:30.079 --> 00:43:30.739 those eight 00:43:30.739 --> 00:43:31.099 points 00:43:31.099 --> 00:43:32.059 because evangelism 00:43:32.059 --> 00:43:32.559 wasn't one of 00:43:32.559 --> 00:43:32.980 them that I 00:43:32.980 --> 00:43:33.159 gave 00:43:33.159 --> 00:43:34.039 well you 00:43:34.039 --> 00:43:34.400 probably ought 00:43:34.400 --> 00:43:34.739 to pick that 00:43:34.739 --> 00:43:35.099 up with 00:43:35.099 --> 00:43:35.719 Jonathan 00:43:35.719 --> 00:43:37.859 but one of the 00:43:37.859 --> 00:43:38.599 things I think 00:43:38.599 --> 00:43:39.119 is that we 00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:39.879 underestimate 00:43:39.879 --> 00:43:42.199 the evangelistic 00:43:42.199 --> 00:43:43.099 effectiveness of a 00:43:43.099 --> 00:43:43.699 healthy local 00:43:43.699 --> 00:43:44.279 church 00:43:44.279 --> 00:43:45.439 it seems 00:43:45.439 --> 00:43:45.799 that 1 00:43:45.799 --> 00:43:46.779 corinthians 14 00:43:46.779 --> 00:43:48.779 talks about 00:43:48.779 --> 00:43:51.000 unbelievers being 00:43:51.000 --> 00:43:51.819 present at the 00:43:51.819 --> 00:43:52.399 gatherings of the 00:43:52.399 --> 00:43:52.879 church and 00:43:52.879 --> 00:43:54.119 recognizing from the 00:43:54.119 --> 00:43:54.799 manner in which 00:43:54.799 --> 00:43:55.419 those gatherings 00:43:55.419 --> 00:43:56.279 are run 00:43:56.279 --> 00:43:57.500 that God is 00:43:57.500 --> 00:43:58.139 amongst them 00:43:58.139 --> 00:43:58.980 and at work in 00:43:58.980 --> 00:43:59.279 them 00:43:59.279 --> 00:44:00.839 and ironically 00:44:00.839 --> 00:44:02.519 that is the 00:44:02.519 --> 00:44:03.199 recognition that 00:44:03.199 --> 00:44:03.759 they're on the 00:44:03.759 --> 00:44:05.279 outside of it 00:44:05.279 --> 00:44:05.939 even though they're 00:44:05.939 --> 00:44:07.099 present in it 00:44:07.099 --> 00:44:08.239 and so 00:44:08.239 --> 00:44:09.880 that's I think 00:44:09.880 --> 00:44:10.739 the mistake of 00:44:10.739 --> 00:44:11.799 the seeker service 00:44:11.799 --> 00:44:12.319 isn't it 00:44:12.319 --> 00:44:13.139 which basically 00:44:13.139 --> 00:44:13.699 says 00:44:13.699 --> 00:44:14.659 this is 00:44:14.659 --> 00:44:15.679 our gatherings 00:44:15.679 --> 00:44:16.139 are really for 00:44:16.139 --> 00:44:16.779 people who don't 00:44:16.779 --> 00:44:17.480 know Christ 00:44:17.480 --> 00:44:18.779 actually that is 00:44:18.779 --> 00:44:19.659 not as that's not 00:44:19.659 --> 00:44:20.119 good for the 00:44:20.119 --> 00:44:20.420 believers 00:44:20.420 --> 00:44:21.659 actually not all 00:44:21.659 --> 00:44:22.219 that good for 00:44:22.219 --> 00:44:22.799 people who don't 00:44:22.799 --> 00:44:23.219 know Christ 00:44:23.219 --> 00:44:23.519 either 00:44:23.519 --> 00:44:25.099 our gatherings 00:44:25.099 --> 00:44:25.659 are for the 00:44:25.659 --> 00:44:26.299 building up of 00:44:26.299 --> 00:44:26.679 believers 00:44:26.679 --> 00:44:28.019 and are to be 00:44:28.019 --> 00:44:28.579 friendly and 00:44:28.579 --> 00:44:29.159 welcoming to 00:44:29.159 --> 00:44:29.699 those outside 00:44:29.699 --> 00:44:30.339 that they might 00:44:30.339 --> 00:44:31.239 watch and 00:44:31.239 --> 00:44:32.099 recognize that 00:44:32.099 --> 00:44:32.960 they're not a 00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:33.819 part of what's 00:44:33.819 --> 00:44:35.079 going on outside 00:44:35.079 --> 00:44:35.480 of faith in 00:44:35.480 --> 00:44:35.739 Christ 00:44:35.739 --> 00:44:36.519 and in that 00:44:36.519 --> 00:44:36.880 way 00:44:36.880 --> 00:44:38.440 they're supporting 00:44:38.440 --> 00:44:39.640 the evangelistic 00:44:39.640 --> 00:44:40.300 ministry of every 00:44:40.300 --> 00:44:40.960 individual in the 00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:41.240 church 00:44:41.240 --> 00:44:42.720 so you know 00:44:42.720 --> 00:44:43.360 come to church 00:44:43.360 --> 00:44:43.760 come and have 00:44:43.760 --> 00:44:43.940 a look 00:44:43.940 --> 00:44:44.240 come and have 00:44:44.240 --> 00:44:44.360 a look 00:44:44.360 --> 00:44:44.780 what we do 00:44:44.780 --> 00:44:45.480 you know 00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:47.220 does that 00:44:47.220 --> 00:44:48.240 help is that 00:44:48.240 --> 00:44:48.539 what you were 00:44:48.539 --> 00:44:48.800 saying 00:44:48.800 --> 00:44:50.500 yeah 00:44:50.500 --> 00:44:58.700 yeah 00:44:58.700 --> 00:45:02.420 yes 00:45:02.420 --> 00:45:03.079 yeah 00:45:03.079 --> 00:45:05.440 yeah 00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:05.760 thanks 00:45:05.760 --> 00:45:06.360 sorry 00:45:06.360 --> 00:45:06.580 go on 00:45:06.580 --> 00:45:06.820 simile 00:45:06.820 --> 00:45:07.040 you were 00:45:07.040 --> 00:45:07.160 going to 00:45:07.160 --> 00:45:07.360 say as 00:45:07.360 --> 00:45:07.520 well 00:45:07.520 --> 00:45:10.220 pretty sure 00:45:10.220 --> 00:45:10.420 you took 00:45:10.420 --> 00:45:10.840 a breath 00:45:10.840 --> 00:45:11.240 yeah 00:45:11.240 --> 00:45:11.920 yeah 00:45:11.920 --> 00:45:12.240 yeah 00:45:12.240 --> 00:45:25.700 yeah 00:45:25.700 --> 00:45:28.240 yeah 00:45:28.239 --> 00:45:28.739 yeah 00:45:28.739 --> 00:45:29.799 yeah 00:45:29.799 --> 00:45:29.979 yeah 00:45:29.979 --> 00:45:31.159 and in a 00:45:31.159 --> 00:45:31.579 way 00:45:31.579 --> 00:45:32.559 it's not 00:45:32.559 --> 00:45:33.219 just 00:45:33.219 --> 00:45:34.439 the church 00:45:34.439 --> 00:45:35.019 events that 00:45:35.019 --> 00:45:35.659 are designed 00:45:35.659 --> 00:45:35.979 with the 00:45:35.979 --> 00:45:36.619 unbeliever in 00:45:36.619 --> 00:45:36.979 mind 00:45:36.979 --> 00:45:38.039 it is actually 00:45:38.039 --> 00:45:39.699 church itself 00:45:39.699 --> 00:45:40.859 which is 00:45:40.859 --> 00:45:41.379 evangelistic 00:45:41.379 --> 00:45:42.359 so you know 00:45:42.359 --> 00:45:43.619 you're trying to 00:45:43.619 --> 00:45:44.159 reach out to a 00:45:44.159 --> 00:45:44.619 place that has 00:45:44.619 --> 00:45:46.000 no gospel 00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:46.279 witness 00:45:46.279 --> 00:45:46.659 you want to 00:45:46.659 --> 00:45:47.319 plant a local 00:45:47.319 --> 00:45:48.039 church there 00:45:48.039 --> 00:45:48.639 as a kind of 00:45:48.639 --> 00:45:49.459 beacon of light 00:45:49.459 --> 00:45:50.219 and you want to 00:45:50.219 --> 00:45:50.679 encourage them to 00:45:50.679 --> 00:45:51.139 be healthy 00:45:51.139 --> 00:45:51.799 to care for one 00:45:51.799 --> 00:45:52.279 other spiritually 00:45:52.279 --> 00:45:52.899 to grow as 00:45:52.899 --> 00:45:53.159 Christians 00:45:53.159 --> 00:45:53.599 because that 00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:54.519 will be 00:45:54.519 --> 00:45:55.399 evangelistic 00:45:55.400 --> 00:45:55.760 yeah 00:45:55.760 --> 00:46:00.680 yeah 00:46:00.680 --> 00:46:02.800 yeah 00:46:02.800 --> 00:46:03.380 yeah 00:46:03.380 --> 00:46:05.599 yeah 00:46:05.599 --> 00:46:05.680 yeah 00:46:05.680 --> 00:46:08.099 vocationally 00:46:08.099 --> 00:46:08.480 it's really 00:46:08.480 --> 00:46:09.019 interesting that 00:46:09.019 --> 00:46:09.300 isn't it 00:46:09.300 --> 00:46:10.059 so if you 00:46:10.059 --> 00:46:11.820 so you might 00:46:11.820 --> 00:46:12.240 have a job 00:46:12.240 --> 00:46:12.920 that involves 00:46:12.920 --> 00:46:14.119 shift work 00:46:14.119 --> 00:46:14.820 like Natasha 00:46:14.820 --> 00:46:15.260 was there 00:46:15.260 --> 00:46:15.960 you know 00:46:15.960 --> 00:46:16.280 so that you 00:46:16.280 --> 00:46:16.820 can't attend 00:46:16.820 --> 00:46:17.500 church as 00:46:17.500 --> 00:46:17.880 regularly as 00:46:17.880 --> 00:46:18.320 you'd like to 00:46:18.320 --> 00:46:19.079 but there 00:46:19.079 --> 00:46:19.820 might be 00:46:19.820 --> 00:46:20.980 some careers 00:46:20.980 --> 00:46:21.680 that for some 00:46:21.680 --> 00:46:22.139 Christians 00:46:22.139 --> 00:46:23.000 just might 00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:23.219 not be 00:46:23.219 --> 00:46:23.400 appropriate 00:46:23.400 --> 00:46:23.699 not because 00:46:23.699 --> 00:46:23.879 they're 00:46:23.879 --> 00:46:24.500 unethical 00:46:24.500 --> 00:46:25.319 but just 00:46:25.319 --> 00:46:25.819 because they 00:46:25.819 --> 00:46:26.619 take them 00:46:26.619 --> 00:46:27.219 away from 00:46:27.219 --> 00:46:28.139 the life of 00:46:28.139 --> 00:46:28.440 the local 00:46:28.440 --> 00:46:28.879 church in 00:46:28.879 --> 00:46:29.239 such a way 00:46:29.239 --> 00:46:29.440 that they 00:46:29.440 --> 00:46:29.799 could grow 00:46:29.799 --> 00:46:30.699 as Christians 00:46:30.699 --> 00:46:31.679 you know 00:46:31.679 --> 00:46:32.359 even if that 00:46:32.359 --> 00:46:33.679 job put you 00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:34.359 amongst non-Christians 00:46:34.359 --> 00:46:34.920 all day that 00:46:34.920 --> 00:46:36.000 you had technically 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:36.480 an opportunity 00:46:36.480 --> 00:46:37.019 to witness to 00:46:37.019 --> 00:46:38.139 if you were 00:46:38.139 --> 00:46:38.839 so taken away 00:46:38.839 --> 00:46:39.339 from a healthy 00:46:39.339 --> 00:46:39.960 local church 00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:40.460 that you weren't 00:46:40.460 --> 00:46:41.059 able to live 00:46:41.059 --> 00:46:41.559 as a Christian 00:46:41.559 --> 00:46:42.619 what's the 00:46:42.619 --> 00:46:43.359 evangelistic benefit 00:46:43.359 --> 00:46:43.819 in that 00:46:43.819 --> 00:46:44.099 yeah 00:46:44.099 --> 00:46:46.639 yeah so I think 00:46:46.639 --> 00:46:47.039 you could tease 00:46:47.039 --> 00:46:47.739 out evangelism in 00:46:47.739 --> 00:46:48.059 all of them 00:46:48.059 --> 00:46:48.359 couldn't you 00:46:48.359 --> 00:46:48.599 probably 00:46:48.599 --> 00:46:49.759 yeah 00:46:49.760 --> 00:46:51.660 any other 00:46:51.660 --> 00:46:53.100 final comments 00:46:53.100 --> 00:46:53.520 or questions 00:46:53.520 --> 00:47:00.340 great 00:47:00.340 --> 00:47:01.360 well I'll take 00:47:01.360 --> 00:47:01.740 it that you're 00:47:01.740 --> 00:47:02.640 all super excited 00:47:02.640 --> 00:47:03.360 to belong 00:47:03.360 --> 00:47:04.300 to a local 00:47:04.300 --> 00:47:04.660 church 00:47:04.660 --> 00:47:05.180 it's a great 00:47:05.180 --> 00:47:05.780 thing isn't 00:47:05.780 --> 00:47:06.120 it it's a 00:47:06.120 --> 00:47:06.440 really good 00:47:06.440 --> 00:47:07.320 thing to 00:47:07.320 --> 00:47:07.680 belong to 00:47:07.680 --> 00:47:07.860 church 00:47:07.860 --> 00:47:08.180 so let me 00:47:08.180 --> 00:47:08.460 pray 00:47:08.460 --> 00:47:09.200 and we'll 00:47:09.200 --> 00:47:09.520 close 00:47:09.520 --> 00:47:10.180 and let me 00:47:10.180 --> 00:47:10.840 pray for us 00:47:10.840 --> 00:47:13.220 heavenly father 00:47:13.220 --> 00:47:13.920 thank you 00:47:13.920 --> 00:47:14.980 that we get 00:47:14.980 --> 00:47:15.740 to belong 00:47:15.740 --> 00:47:16.860 to a local 00:47:16.860 --> 00:47:17.340 church 00:47:17.340 --> 00:47:18.300 like West 00:47:18.300 --> 00:47:18.800 Kilburn Baptist 00:47:18.800 --> 00:47:19.300 Church 00:47:19.300 --> 00:47:21.500 we thank 00:47:21.500 --> 00:47:21.900 you 00:47:21.900 --> 00:47:22.940 that for 00:47:22.940 --> 00:47:23.360 the sake 00:47:23.360 --> 00:47:23.700 of our 00:47:23.700 --> 00:47:24.000 growth 00:47:24.000 --> 00:47:24.560 in Christ 00:47:24.560 --> 00:47:24.960 and for 00:47:24.960 --> 00:47:25.280 the sake 00:47:25.280 --> 00:47:25.539 of our 00:47:25.539 --> 00:47:26.260 assurance 00:47:26.260 --> 00:47:27.180 and for 00:47:27.180 --> 00:47:27.480 the sake 00:47:27.480 --> 00:47:27.720 of our 00:47:27.720 --> 00:47:27.980 health 00:47:27.980 --> 00:47:28.560 as Christians 00:47:28.560 --> 00:47:29.700 you've put 00:47:29.700 --> 00:47:30.120 us around 00:47:30.120 --> 00:47:30.860 other people 00:47:30.860 --> 00:47:31.420 who have 00:47:31.420 --> 00:47:31.880 committed 00:47:31.880 --> 00:47:32.420 themselves 00:47:32.420 --> 00:47:33.000 to caring 00:47:33.000 --> 00:47:33.720 for us 00:47:33.720 --> 00:47:34.700 and to 00:47:34.700 --> 00:47:35.280 watching over 00:47:35.280 --> 00:47:35.720 us 00:47:35.720 --> 00:47:36.980 we want 00:47:36.980 --> 00:47:37.400 to pray 00:47:37.400 --> 00:47:37.880 please 00:47:37.880 --> 00:47:38.140 that 00:47:38.140 --> 00:47:39.640 belonging 00:47:39.640 --> 00:47:40.180 to our 00:47:40.180 --> 00:47:40.640 church 00:47:40.640 --> 00:47:41.460 would be 00:47:41.460 --> 00:47:42.039 good for 00:47:42.039 --> 00:47:42.539 us 00:47:42.539 --> 00:47:43.240 and that 00:47:43.240 --> 00:47:43.400 we'd 00:47:43.400 --> 00:47:43.780 exercise 00:47:43.780 --> 00:47:44.120 these 00:47:44.120 --> 00:47:44.640 responsibilities 00:47:44.640 --> 00:47:45.220 that you've 00:47:45.220 --> 00:47:45.539 given to 00:47:45.539 --> 00:47:45.680 us 00:47:45.680 --> 00:47:46.840 with due 00:47:46.840 --> 00:47:47.380 care and 00:47:47.380 --> 00:47:47.840 attention 00:47:47.840 --> 00:47:48.780 and that 00:47:48.780 --> 00:47:48.960 we wouldn't 00:47:48.960 --> 00:47:49.559 be sloppy 00:47:49.559 --> 00:47:50.320 about it 00:47:50.320 --> 00:47:51.360 not because 00:47:51.360 --> 00:47:52.200 we reckon 00:47:52.200 --> 00:47:52.539 that we can 00:47:52.539 --> 00:47:52.860 always get 00:47:52.860 --> 00:47:53.260 it right 00:47:53.260 --> 00:47:53.900 but because 00:47:53.900 --> 00:47:54.340 these things 00:47:54.340 --> 00:47:54.880 are important 00:47:54.880 --> 00:47:55.280 because they're 00:47:55.280 --> 00:47:55.700 important to 00:47:55.700 --> 00:47:56.000 you 00:47:56.000 --> 00:47:57.000 so Lord 00:47:57.000 --> 00:47:57.440 we thank you 00:47:57.440 --> 00:47:57.860 that you love 00:47:57.860 --> 00:47:58.220 us 00:47:58.220 --> 00:47:59.160 thank you for 00:47:59.160 --> 00:47:59.400 all you've 00:47:59.400 --> 00:47:59.740 done for 00:47:59.740 --> 00:48:00.079 us 00:48:00.079 --> 00:48:00.980 bless us 00:48:00.980 --> 00:48:01.480 as we go 00:48:01.480 --> 00:48:01.900 our separate 00:48:01.900 --> 00:48:02.280 ways 00:48:02.280 --> 00:48:03.559 in Jesus name 00:48:03.559 --> 00:48:04.380 amen 00:48:04.380 --> 00:48:04.420 amen