WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.420 Well, very good morning to you. If you will, please take your copy of God's Word and turn to 2 Timothy 3. 00:00:16.420 --> 00:00:23.080 ! On this, the first Lord's Day of the Year, we are going to do something rather dramatically different. 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:30.539 If you're a guest today, we want you to know that our regular practice for preaching is verse-by-verse exposition. 00:00:30.779 --> 00:00:37.560 And if you're not a first-time guest this morning, it's been a little while since we've done a verse-by-verse, 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:47.739 through-a-book exposition as we've just come through Advent season and then kind of did the traditional sermon that we do at the end of the year, 00:00:47.740 --> 00:00:56.120 kind of charging you to make good resolutions for change. But this is even a little more dramatically different, 00:00:56.260 --> 00:01:03.340 because today I'm going to take our time together to talk about plans for the upcoming year. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:07.740 And I struggled a little bit with this idea. If you hate it, it's all my fault. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:14.680 But it's difficult, as we're thinking about doing new things together, to communicate that really clearly, 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:20.940 to kind of help give you the thought process to undergird it the way we would like for that to happen. 00:01:21.260 --> 00:01:25.420 And as I'm just looking around the room, it seems that we have a lot of people out sick today. 00:01:25.540 --> 00:01:35.200 I know that we've heard both croup and RSV, and there's this, like, recycling stomach bug that I really hope is not the ronavirus. 00:01:36.420 --> 00:01:42.520 We'll see. But there's a lot of people out, so you may need to even help me to communicate some of this to others. 00:01:42.519 --> 00:01:47.719 But I have three goals this morning. I want to inform you of some of these plans for the year. 00:01:48.379 --> 00:01:56.479 I hope to excite you a bit about them and to involve you, both in those things that you can attend, 00:01:56.599 --> 00:01:59.239 those things that are for you, those things that you have time for, 00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:07.579 and to be praying for those things that you cannot attend, that you would understand why they're important and what we're up to. 00:02:07.579 --> 00:02:17.560 But I do want to first develop some biblical framework for how we ought to think about planning for the church. 00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:21.240 What should guide the process of that? 00:02:21.460 --> 00:02:26.439 And we're going to start here in 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:28.599 because the simple answer is the Scripture. 00:02:28.740 --> 00:02:34.560 The Scripture should be guiding the process for everything that the church does. 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:38.620 So, Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:43.099 all Scripture is breathed out by God. 00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:48.379 He exhaled it is the actual word that could be translated there. 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:50.479 He is its very source. 00:02:50.580 --> 00:02:54.699 All Scripture breathed out by God and profitable 00:02:54.699 --> 00:02:58.439 for teaching, for reproof, for correction, 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:02.620 and for training in righteousness. 00:03:02.620 --> 00:03:09.259 That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 00:03:09.700 --> 00:03:15.819 Certainly, the doctrine of the sufficiency of the Scripture, which we derive from this, 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:21.819 means that the Bible has everything in it that we need for life and godliness. 00:03:22.580 --> 00:03:26.900 It's not going to tell us how to design an electrical circuit, 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:30.400 but for those things concerning righteousness, 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:33.379 it is a sufficient text. 00:03:33.540 --> 00:03:37.240 So, it goes broader than just what we do together as a church, 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:41.420 but it most certainly includes what we do together as a church. 00:03:41.939 --> 00:03:45.520 And I'm very grateful that early in my life, 00:03:46.420 --> 00:03:49.439 through many influences and by the great grace of God, 00:03:49.920 --> 00:03:54.439 this doctrine got, what I like to say, concreted in my heart. 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:58.379 It's immovable, I believe, that the Bible is sufficient. 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:01.840 And you have church leadership that believes that the Bible is sufficient. 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:06.879 And frankly, I think our entire church believes that the Bible is sufficient. 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:09.500 And I'm so very, very glad for this. 00:04:10.379 --> 00:04:15.460 So, we want to think biblically about what we do together as a church. 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:20.399 Are we serving one another the way the Bible would ask us to serve one another? 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:25.879 It's at the core of what we're doing, the instruction that God has given us. 00:04:25.919 --> 00:04:28.419 And we believe that this is the case. 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:31.039 It doesn't mean we'll always get it right or perfect, 00:04:31.359 --> 00:04:32.459 but we want to. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:36.299 We need to keep going back to the text, back to the text, back to the text. 00:04:36.539 --> 00:04:37.799 Semper Reformande, right? 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:38.879 The cry of the Reformation. 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:40.060 Always reforming. 00:04:40.179 --> 00:04:41.500 Always looking back to the text. 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:43.479 Making sure that we don't err. 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:46.679 Making plans that the Lord will bless, 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:51.259 because they come from, they're derived from His commands for us. 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:56.240 So, we want to start there as we think about what we ought to be doing together as a church. 00:04:56.340 --> 00:05:01.180 The sufficient, God-breathed word that we have. 00:05:02.699 --> 00:05:08.439 Secondly, we should think about kind of the nature of the church and its leadership. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:14.519 What those leaders are to do and what those leaders are not to do. 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:16.719 So, if you'll join me in Ephesians chapter 4, 00:05:17.599 --> 00:05:18.819 I'm going to speak to this briefly. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:20.219 And while you're getting there, 00:05:20.599 --> 00:05:24.159 I'm going to read to you Acts chapter 6 and verse 4. 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:31.259 Now, I don't for a moment want to suggest that the elders of a church are synonymous with the apostles. 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:39.500 But we believe that the elders of a church pick up certain elements of the apostolic ministry. 00:05:39.919 --> 00:05:41.839 The apostles were receiving revelation, right? 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:43.120 They're writing much of the New Testament. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:44.379 We don't do that. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:46.540 We don't receive new revelation. 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:50.920 But we do see them doing in Acts chapter 6 and verse 4. 00:05:51.019 --> 00:05:54.240 In Acts 6, they're calling men to serve. 00:05:54.740 --> 00:05:58.439 Calling men to serve to unencumber them. 00:05:58.579 --> 00:06:04.780 So that verse 4 says they can devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. 00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:15.959 So the simplest job description you could possibly come up with for the elders of a church is to pray and to minister the Word. 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:20.579 Let me show you this a little further in Ephesians chapter 4. 00:06:20.679 --> 00:06:23.799 This is verses 11 through 16. 00:06:24.659 --> 00:06:27.439 Paul has just talked about Christ ascending, 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:32.339 which then is implied, he says, that he also descended and he gave gifts. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:35.699 He gave gifts to the church for its function. 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:37.620 And he says, starting in verse 11, 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:41.339 and he gave the apostles, the prophets. 00:06:41.899 --> 00:06:43.959 There's much debate about what he means here. 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:47.159 I'm going to suggest to you that he's talking about the Scripture in this place. 00:06:47.160 --> 00:06:49.939 We have now the Bible that serves this role. 00:06:51.080 --> 00:06:58.740 The evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry. 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:02.140 So he's given to us leadership to the church. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:05.879 We've got the Scripture and we have leaders in the church, evangelists, shepherd, teachers, 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:13.920 to equip the church, to equip us, all of us, for the work of ministry. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:18.500 And I think this is one of the most important texts that's often not referred to 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:20.560 when we think about congregationalism. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:22.259 What is congregationalism? 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:26.700 I want to say it's so much more than just showing up to a members meeting of the church 00:07:26.700 --> 00:07:27.939 and voting on stuff. 00:07:28.080 --> 00:07:28.920 It is that. 00:07:29.220 --> 00:07:31.120 But it's so much more than that. 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:35.520 We as the total congregation, myself and our other elders included, 00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:39.280 are to be doing this work of ministry. 00:07:39.819 --> 00:07:42.939 So you're to be equipped to love and serve one another. 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:44.199 Look what the text goes on to say. 00:07:44.199 --> 00:07:47.980 For building up the body of Christ. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:52.360 Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:57.439 To mature manhood to the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ. 00:07:57.540 --> 00:07:59.600 So there's the goal and the positive. 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:01.879 And then in the negative he says in verse 14, 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:15.079 So we want to be mature. 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:20.420 We want to be growing up into Christlikeness and not staying immature. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:24.180 This is the ministry work of the church together. 00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:26.959 And he tells us how it's accomplished in verse 15. 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:30.819 Rather, speaking the truth in love. 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:35.159 We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. 00:08:35.680 --> 00:08:39.799 From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:46.580 when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:08:46.580 --> 00:08:46.940 Right? 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:50.200 So we are to be speaking the truth in love to one another. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:55.580 And doing all of the various things that God has gifted us to do. 00:08:56.060 --> 00:09:00.920 So if you're a member of this church, or another church for that matter. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:03.500 If you go on and you're a member of another church. 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:04.720 It's right and proper. 00:09:04.920 --> 00:09:08.100 And it's safe to assume that God has brought you to that church. 00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:12.480 That you might function in some way in that body. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:16.740 You have a part to play in the life of that church. 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:18.300 And that includes all kinds of things. 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:20.920 And I'm not about to recruit you to take out trash. 00:09:21.060 --> 00:09:23.360 Although you're welcome to be recruited for that. 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:24.740 Because we have to do it. 00:09:25.300 --> 00:09:26.460 What's the focus here? 00:09:26.560 --> 00:09:29.220 Speaking the truth in love to one another. 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:32.580 Which happens in informal, casual ways. 00:09:32.680 --> 00:09:34.879 It should be going on all the time. 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:38.420 You should hit the ground here on a Sunday morning thinking, 00:09:38.420 --> 00:09:41.899 How am I to love and serve others this morning? 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:49.199 How am I meant to walk into the building and greet people and speak the truth in love to them? 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:55.179 And I think you'll find as you do this, others will speak the truth in love to you. 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:59.199 And will press at each other and will grow in holiness together. 00:09:59.819 --> 00:10:06.399 This is what's supposed to be going on when each part, verse 16, is working properly. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:11.720 And I fear that often we don't function properly. 00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:16.559 Because every part is not doing its part in this work. 00:10:17.819 --> 00:10:22.319 So, the leaders of our church need to be thinking in these terms. 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:27.120 If we're to be praying and doing the ministry of the word. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:29.639 That ministry of the word has this extension. 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:31.220 It's part of the ministry of the word. 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:37.600 To be equipping the saints to minister the word, the truth in love to one another. 00:10:37.819 --> 00:10:41.279 We're going to have to think about the best ways to do that. 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:44.500 We're going to have to be rational. 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:48.259 Perhaps a little bit practical at times. 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:51.340 How is this accomplished? 00:10:51.340 --> 00:11:01.220 For a lot of years, and no dramatic change here, but for a lot of years, we have really, really pushed back. 00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:05.700 And tried to keep ourselves from becoming highly problematic. 00:11:06.680 --> 00:11:13.740 And the reason for that is that very often in the lives of churches, programs begin to exist for the sake of the program to exist. 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:17.400 And you push people into them and you burn people out. 00:11:17.540 --> 00:11:20.220 And it must go on because we've always done it this way. 00:11:20.220 --> 00:11:25.080 And we lose sight of why we would even start to do something particular at all. 00:11:25.820 --> 00:11:28.360 But we're not entirely anti-programs. 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:31.779 What we're doing right now is, in some sense, a program. 00:11:32.060 --> 00:11:36.519 We've decided that we should gather together at certain times. 00:11:37.160 --> 00:11:39.460 We kind of start at that time. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:43.220 There are certain things that ought to be done during this time. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:49.120 There's goals in mind as we gather together and do this. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:52.419 There's a great little book called The Trellis and the Vine. 00:11:52.560 --> 00:11:55.179 I'd love for all of you to read it at some point. 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:57.399 Although it's really written for church leaders. 00:11:58.580 --> 00:12:02.259 And in that book, they work out this analogy of a trellis and the vine. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:07.480 And the author talks about how he has on the side of his garage this really beautiful hand-built trellis. 00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:09.019 And nothing seems to grow on it. 00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:11.059 And it's just put in a bad spot. 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:14.379 A side of the house that just nothing seems to grow on. 00:12:14.439 --> 00:12:21.159 But then on his fence, he has another trellis that he can't see because there's a jasmine vine growing on it. 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:25.220 And that jasmine vine has outgrown the trellis. 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:29.319 And it threatens to pull the trellis off the fence. 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:35.679 And he has to go in and get up underneath it and pin it back onto the fence to keep it held up. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:42.079 And what they suggest in the book is that there are, of course, those necessary things we should do together as a church. 00:12:42.079 --> 00:12:43.839 The plans that we should make. 00:12:44.199 --> 00:12:48.339 The structures we should build that are trellis. 00:12:49.479 --> 00:12:55.319 But that that trellis is meant to hold up the vine, which is the people work. 00:12:55.719 --> 00:12:57.599 The gospel proclamation. 00:12:57.839 --> 00:13:00.759 The speaking the truth in love to one another. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:04.399 And it's easy to get those two things out of priority. 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:04.959 Right? 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:07.240 Let's do some things. 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:08.639 Let's put some things in place. 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:15.240 Let's structure stuff and program things so that the vine can flourish. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:22.159 And for a lot of years, we've been able to do it with very, very little trellis. 00:13:22.959 --> 00:13:24.679 We've always tried it minimally. 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:26.919 We want to do so little trellis. 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:30.199 We want to focus everybody's attention on vine. 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:31.819 We want to be so clear about this. 00:13:31.820 --> 00:13:38.140 But I think we find ourselves, as we've been growing, that we just need a bit more trellis. 00:13:38.520 --> 00:13:42.720 We need to put a little more structure into place. 00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:52.420 That is to say, in order to free you all to do this precious and most important vine work, 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:55.339 we just need some plans to do so. 00:13:55.479 --> 00:13:58.759 We need to be deliberate about doing these things. 00:13:59.979 --> 00:14:07.839 I find for myself, I want to be a person who is so clearly prioritized in my mind that it's just natural. 00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:09.459 It just runs around in me. 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:14.560 That there's no doubt in my mind what the next right thing to do is. 00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:16.900 It just bubbles up out of me. 00:14:17.300 --> 00:14:20.500 But if there's anything important that needs to happen in my life, 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:22.980 I find that I have to make a plan for it. 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:25.060 I've just got to be really deliberate. 00:14:25.680 --> 00:14:27.019 I've got to write it down. 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:29.700 I've got to think about when it's going to happen. 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:32.820 If you happen to have a child sitting next to you that has the coloring sheet, 00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:36.260 it's a drawing of the mind that America has ever produced. 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:40.140 And many will say he's the greatest mind that America has ever produced. 00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:45.520 And he had to write down notes and pin them on his jacket in order to remember things. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:47.379 This encourages me. 00:14:47.900 --> 00:14:50.960 Important things, I think, need to be planned for. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:55.100 If you're not like me, that's a wonderful gift to you. 00:14:55.180 --> 00:14:56.560 But I've got to structure. 00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:59.020 I've got to think about those most important things. 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:02.100 Otherwise, they tend to get put back. 00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:07.480 They tend to get chased away by the tyranny of the urgent, 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:12.360 the crisis that often seems to be right in front of us. 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:17.940 So we're going to add a few things this year. 00:15:18.040 --> 00:15:22.820 And I just want you to understand the why behind some of these things. 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:27.220 Again, hopefully to inform you, to excite you, and to involve you. 00:15:27.300 --> 00:15:30.019 So in your bulletin that you were handed, there was an insert. 00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:34.519 You're welcome to, this might serve you to pull this out and take a look at it. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:38.079 This was just a temporary thing that I can't pull together. 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:42.799 I'm really hoping that we have some graphic artists, and I know that we do, 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:44.799 who are looking at this and saying, this is terrible. 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.720 It could be so much better. 00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:48.139 I agree with you that it could be so much better. 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:51.759 And I would love for you to volunteer to make it prettier for us. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:57.120 I would even gladly turn this into a magnet that we could stick on our fridges. 00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:59.620 So there's some thoughts for you. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:05.139 You're going to notice firstly at the top, it says Providence Baptist Church. 00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:11.620 And if you're unaware, I want you to know that our church has voted to change our name. 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:14.939 So that's not taken place yet. 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:18.279 There's a lot of details that have to be sorted out to make that possible. 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:22.679 But as I sat down and typed this up this week, I just thought, 00:16:22.779 --> 00:16:25.240 this is going to go perhaps in the front of somebody's Bible, 00:16:25.959 --> 00:16:31.980 maybe up on the fridge, and we're going to change our name, I hope, very soon, formally, 00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:33.299 and I just didn't want it to be confusing. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:34.120 So that's what's happening. 00:16:34.579 --> 00:16:37.059 Be confused for a moment this morning so that you don't have to be confused in the future. 00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:41.419 These are some plans for this upcoming year. 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:46.220 So it's a save the dates, you know, kind of like a wedding save the date, 00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:49.740 but this is multiple dates, some things to be thinking about, 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:51.820 some things to be looking forward to, 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:53.639 to go ahead and put on your digital calendar, 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:55.500 to have it up in a visible place, 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:58.320 to stick it in the front or back of your Bible, 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:02.019 to be able to reference the things we're planning on doing this year. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:06.460 And I will tell you that the years that we've done more good things together 00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:08.319 are years that we tend to plan this early, 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:12.600 because if it goes on the calendar, it's most likely going to get done. 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:15.619 And if it doesn't, then, oh man, it's Christmas again, 00:17:15.899 --> 00:17:18.859 and we're off on into the next year. 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:21.679 So I want to talk through some of these things. 00:17:22.699 --> 00:17:27.879 Probably the most significant change is that we're going to add 00:17:27.879 --> 00:17:33.079 a Sunday evening litany of things to do together. 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.519 I want to be really clear. 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:39.099 The church, the church as a total, only gathers, 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:43.440 as a total, only gathers on Sunday mornings. 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:45.819 This is what we've decided as a church. 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:48.240 We have two what we call gatherings. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:50.859 We have a members gathering at 10, it goes till 1030, 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:52.359 we take a little break, 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:56.359 and then we have this gathering, which we call the public gathering. 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:58.139 If you're a member of our church, I've said to you, 00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:00.700 you ought to think of that as a singular event. 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:04.319 Come Sunday morning, when we say to you, 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:06.779 Hebrews chapter 10, do not neglect to meet with the saints, 00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:08.140 that's what we're talking about, right? 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:12.580 That time that we have all decided to come together. 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:17.259 So everything I'm about to talk to you about is optional, but good. 00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:19.779 I want you to really seriously consider 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:23.840 if these things are worth spending your time on. 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:28.359 So Sunday evenings from 6 to 730, 00:18:28.899 --> 00:18:30.819 beginning January 19th, 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:34.539 and that is just a couple of weeks away, I know. 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:36.839 We're going to do some things together. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:40.519 Now, those things together will be interrupted at times 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.959 by members' meetings. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:43.699 It's when we typically have had those meetings. 00:18:44.179 --> 00:18:46.399 That's going to happen next Sunday evening, 00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:48.599 January 12th, and then April 13th, 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:51.019 and July 13th, and October 12th. 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.959 So that's when you can anticipate those members' meetings. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.160 things happening, 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:57.360 and those will interject on top of 00:18:57.360 --> 00:19:01.259 and take the place of the things that I'm about to mention. 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:05.819 The first thing that we'll do on Sunday evenings together 00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:08.240 is a men's prayer meeting. 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:10.299 So we're going to ask that the men of the church 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:13.100 come together and pray. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:15.500 It's good that the church prays together. 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.519 And we do this already. 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:18.160 We do this on Sunday mornings, right? 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:21.140 When you're led in a prayer in the morning, 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:24.500 this morning, it wasn't just Gary that was praying, 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:26.040 and you were listening to him pray, right? 00:19:26.040 --> 00:19:28.660 He was leading us in prayer. 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:30.820 So we do this corporately, 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:32.180 but we think it would be helpful 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:35.880 if we set aside an additional time for prayer. 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:38.540 Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2, verse 8, 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:43.920 I desire then that in every place the men should pray. 00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:49.079 There's a little story about the ministry of Charles Spurgeon 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:50.599 you may be familiar with, 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:55.220 but it always encourages me to encourage the church to pray. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:56.099 It goes like this. 00:19:56.139 --> 00:19:58.159 Five college students visited London one Sunday 00:19:58.159 --> 00:19:59.980 to hear Charles Spurgeon preach 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:02.599 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. 00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:05.679 They arrived early and were met by a kind gentleman 00:20:05.679 --> 00:20:07.359 who offered to give them a tour. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.439 At one point, he asked them 00:20:09.439 --> 00:20:12.519 if they would like to see the furnace room in the basement. 00:20:13.159 --> 00:20:13.959 If you're very young, 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:16.000 you may not know what a furnace room is, 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.639 but it heats up water, 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:19.459 and it circulates it all throughout the building 00:20:19.459 --> 00:20:20.419 so that the building can be warmed. 00:20:21.159 --> 00:20:24.439 So the furnace room in the basement. 00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.439 It was a hot July, 00:20:26.679 --> 00:20:28.039 and the students were not interested, 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.959 but not wanting to appear rude, 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.880 they consented. 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:33.319 Their guide quietly opened the door, 00:20:33.600 --> 00:20:34.559 and there in the basement 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:36.160 of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:38.259 there were several hundred people 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:40.299 fervently praying for the service 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:42.000 that was about to begin. 00:20:42.840 --> 00:20:44.960 It was then that their guide introduced himself. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:48.140 He was none other than Charles Spurgeon, 00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:50.140 and he wanted those college students 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:51.640 to understand that prayer 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:54.980 was the power source of his ministry. 00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:59.299 Prayer matters incredibly. 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:02.779 I too readily rush off into things 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:04.480 thinking that I've got it handled, 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:06.279 but I have nothing handled 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:08.900 without God's help. 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:11.299 Prayer is that thing 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:14.000 without which nothing happens. 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.240 Sine qua non. 00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:17.500 Without which nothing. 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:19.900 We need to pray. 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:22.160 We need to pray for God's blessing 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:25.019 on the things that we are about doing. 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:25.920 And we need to be praying 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:28.480 more broadly as well. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:32.000 We need to be praying for area churches. 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.360 Churches in our area. 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.740 Those that are like-minded, 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:36.259 that are preaching the gospel, 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.779 that we can praise God for, 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:39.640 that God would give them great courage 00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:40.779 and spur them on. 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.819 We need to be praying for churches 00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:45.559 that we might not agree with so much. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:47.640 That they would see the truth 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.720 of the gospel 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:50.599 and perhaps come to conviction 00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:51.819 and change. 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:54.779 It's a good thing for us to do. 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:57.379 We need to be praying for our ministry partners. 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.680 We need to be doing this regularly, 00:21:58.819 --> 00:22:00.460 which we often do on Sundays, 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.740 but we need to be doing so 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:03.980 in more detail and more carefully. 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:06.000 They're on the back of your bulletin 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.720 this morning, right? 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:08.559 The Andersons were serving 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.559 in Southeast Asia. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.819 They're learning language right now. 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:13.259 They're working towards being sent 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:14.700 to an unreached people group. 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:18.139 They need a great deal of prayer. 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.740 The Hamores, 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:21.960 Josh is serving as the director 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:23.380 of the UNG FCA. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.880 You may have opinions about FCA, 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.720 but I can tell you 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:29.660 that Josh is doing a good work 00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.860 on that campus. 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:32.059 And we need to be thinking about 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:32.640 how to partner 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:35.000 and how to be praying for him. 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.460 Matthew Carnegie, 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.220 who's going to actually come 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:38.600 and share with us this evening, 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.620 talking about the state 00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:42.880 of Bible translation in the world. 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.140 He's in Texas right now 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:45.440 at Bible translation school 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.680 and preparing very soon 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.759 to go with a team. 00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:50.420 We don't know where to just yet, 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.560 but to be going and doing 00:22:51.560 --> 00:22:53.920 translation work. 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.840 Emma Zwimpke, 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.960 we need to add her 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:58.120 to the back of this. 00:22:58.840 --> 00:23:00.100 She also is going to be going 00:23:00.100 --> 00:23:01.560 and doing a very similar work 00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:03.560 in the coming year-ish, 00:23:03.800 --> 00:23:06.039 doing Bible translation work. 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.180 The Walkers, 00:23:07.340 --> 00:23:08.700 also in Southeast Asia, 00:23:08.800 --> 00:23:10.940 they're there with the IMB. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.080 And the Zwimpkes in Germany 00:23:13.080 --> 00:23:13.820 who are coming back to us 00:23:13.820 --> 00:23:14.620 this summer, praise God. 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:16.420 We're very thankful for that. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.240 But we need to be praying 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.140 for these, 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:19.960 for Great Commission work. 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.740 We need to be praying 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.960 that the Gospel would go 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:23.940 to all peoples. 00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:26.440 And perhaps in the process of that, 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.539 the Lord may raise up people 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.039 in our midst 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:30.400 that would go to those very places. 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.500 We need to be paying 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:33.500 for people in positions of power, 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:36.059 for governmental leaders, 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.900 local and state 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:40.440 and certainly federal. 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.120 We need to be praying 00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:43.960 for the future of our church, 00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:45.960 that God will give us wisdom, 00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:47.500 what things ought we do 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:50.640 and what things ought we not do. 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.380 We need to be praying 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:53.460 for our church leadership. 00:23:53.619 --> 00:23:55.900 We desperately need your prayers. 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.700 We are feeble men 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:59.960 and we need your prayers. 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.559 We need to be praying 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:03.480 about the possible future 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.779 of a biblical counseling center. 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:06.619 We've talked about this for years. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.380 What might it look like? 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:10.599 You may not be aware of this, 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:12.279 but this past semester 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:14.919 on the University of North Georgia's campus, 00:24:15.159 --> 00:24:16.439 there were three suicides. 00:24:17.659 --> 00:24:19.199 And I sat with Josh, 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:21.759 just him absolutely heartbroken 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:23.419 over that. 00:24:23.699 --> 00:24:26.099 And there's currently a president 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:28.099 at the University of North Georgia 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:30.679 who wants biblical counseling 00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:31.599 to be available 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:33.059 to students on that campus. 00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:35.279 He said, 00:24:35.439 --> 00:24:36.039 I'm going to say this 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.559 on a recording, 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:37.720 he said 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.639 that the services 00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:39.659 the college provides 00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:41.039 are not ample 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.879 for what those students need. 00:24:45.159 --> 00:24:46.779 There's a door of opportunity. 00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:49.299 At least in some small way, 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.619 we could help. 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.559 What a chance. 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.599 What a chance 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:55.559 to be on the leading edge 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.440 of sharing the gospel 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.879 on that campus. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.460 So we need to be praying 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.359 about that. 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.379 Without which nothing, 00:25:01.679 --> 00:25:02.759 how are we to accomplish 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.460 such a task? 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.559 I have no idea 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:07.120 we need God's power. 00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:10.220 So there's some things 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:11.079 that we're going to be asking 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:13.200 that the men would come together 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:15.299 and that they would pray. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.279 We also are going to add 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:19.500 a men's morning meeting. 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:20.340 So this is just kind of men, 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.039 men on the side 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.059 I'm just talking about 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.840 for a moment. 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:24.600 We did this some time ago, 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.860 a Saturday morning meeting 00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:27.279 once a month. 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:27.980 It's going to be 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.160 a little bit longer form 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:29.700 this time 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:31.180 and we're not just going to talk 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:31.940 about man issues 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.500 all the time, 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.200 but we're going to 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.579 in advance 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.480 let you know 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:37.039 what topics may be covered. 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:38.240 I think this will give us 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:38.700 the opportunity 00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.359 to have some kind of 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.440 longer form teaching 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:42.440 about some issues. 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.319 The first one 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:45.720 will be February 1st. 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.819 I will tell you 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.940 just off the cuff, 00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:49.519 I can't guarantee this, 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.880 but I think when I'm 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.039 going to be 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:52.339 and let's think together 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.220 biblically 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.539 about whether we should 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.339 or shouldn't 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.660 take up this kind 00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:58.079 of teaching. 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.579 We shouldn't. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:01.660 But February 1st, 00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:03.240 if I can manage 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.420 to prepare for that. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.220 So in advance, 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:05.840 I'll let you know 00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.560 what we're going to do. 00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:07.100 We're going to come together. 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:07.440 We're going to have 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:07.860 some breakfast. 00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:08.519 We're going to really 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.400 get into the Word 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:10.480 together around 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.660 some particular topics. 00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:13.940 And a men's retreat 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.580 every year. 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.940 We can check that one off. 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:17.040 We did it this weekend 00:26:17.040 --> 00:26:18.140 and I'm really grateful 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:19.120 for those guys 00:26:19.120 --> 00:26:19.680 that could come 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:21.140 and sad if you weren't 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.040 able to be with us. 00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:22.519 Genuinely, 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.600 wish you could have 00:26:23.600 --> 00:26:24.080 joined us 00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:24.840 over these past 00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:26.160 two days. 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:28.200 Also on Sunday evening, 00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:28.700 we're going to have 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:30.120 a women's Bible study. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:32.460 So my sweet 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.360 and wonderful wife 00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:34.200 has been pressing 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:35.680 at me for quite some time 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.580 that the women 00:26:36.580 --> 00:26:37.980 need a consistent time 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:39.100 to connect together 00:26:39.100 --> 00:26:41.460 without little ones 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.600 distracting them. 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:42.980 Boy, 00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.740 do we have a lot 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.519 of beautiful 00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:45.360 little distractions 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.640 right now, 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.200 don't we? 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:48.180 So she's been 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.100 encouraging this 00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:49.940 and pressing this 00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.779 and I said, 00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:51.860 you're absolutely right. 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.600 We should be thinking 00:26:52.600 --> 00:26:53.480 about how to do this 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.519 and so we're going to 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.380 try to accomplish this 00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:57.420 on Sunday evenings. 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:59.039 Sam is going to begin 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:00.620 that by leading 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.420 through a book 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.660 called Women of the Word 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:04.440 and then beyond that 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.660 it will be an inductive 00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:06.200 Bible study. 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.539 So we'll select a book 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:08.360 and the women will 00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:09.240 get together 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:11.500 and discuss those texts 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.480 together. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:13.720 We'll also have 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.980 a women's retreat 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.680 and that will be 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:17.920 April 4th and 5th 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.900 of this year. 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.759 We've got the 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.920 center booked. 00:27:21.080 --> 00:27:21.779 It is happening. 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.580 It's going down 00:27:22.580 --> 00:27:23.840 April 4th 00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:25.640 and 5th. 00:27:26.060 --> 00:27:27.039 And then to support, 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:29.519 kind of the broader needs 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.139 of the men and women 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.839 of our church, 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:31.819 this year we're going 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:34.059 to do two one-day retreats. 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.539 The first will be 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.339 on parenting. 00:27:36.659 --> 00:27:38.220 That will be February 8th. 00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:39.200 Many of you are 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.859 in the trenches 00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:41.899 right in those early years. 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.700 Right now, 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.899 including unborn children, 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.319 the members of our church 00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:48.299 have 84 kids, 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.039 four and under. 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:49.839 Really, 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:51.659 that's a staggering number. 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.720 And then I think 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.639 when you add the 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:55.460 five and up kids in, 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.960 we're like at 128 children. 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:59.379 It's a wonderful blessing 00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:00.480 and a need 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.440 that we should be 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.500 thinking about together. 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:03.859 And then in September 00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.740 on the 27th, 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:05.759 we're going to do 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.319 one on marriage. 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:06.940 And I think, 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.119 I think we may do these 00:28:08.119 --> 00:28:08.920 every single year. 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:10.960 Do a parenting one day 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.220 and a marriage one day 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:14.299 every single year. 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.619 Also on Sunday evening, 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.799 we're going to start a, 00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:19.420 what I'm currently calling, 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.420 and this is just me, 00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:21.500 so it may take 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.039 a different shape. 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:23.019 Somebody may tell me 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.460 they hate it. 00:28:23.639 --> 00:28:24.159 That's okay. 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:26.040 But I'm framing it this way 00:28:26.040 --> 00:28:26.759 for our thinking. 00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.400 A young adult class. 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.960 And by that, 00:28:30.060 --> 00:28:31.060 I mean youth. 00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:32.060 So I just don't like 00:28:32.060 --> 00:28:33.279 that term very much. 00:28:34.320 --> 00:28:36.660 Young adult class. 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:38.860 And we think this is important 00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:40.800 because this age 00:28:40.800 --> 00:28:42.900 is a difficult age. 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:46.000 I'm so really glad 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:48.360 that I'm not that age 00:28:48.360 --> 00:28:49.460 in this age. 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.360 Does that make sense? 00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:51.000 Like, oh, 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.859 the pressures 00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:54.159 that they're experiencing 00:28:54.159 --> 00:28:55.500 are immense. 00:28:56.219 --> 00:28:57.159 And parents, 00:28:57.219 --> 00:28:58.539 you're doing a wonderful job. 00:28:58.639 --> 00:29:00.500 So we're in no way saying, 00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:00.959 oh gosh, 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.619 we've got to come in 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:02.839 and rescue these 00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:03.859 poor teenagers 00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.719 from their parents. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:06.339 And we don't want to suggest 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:08.019 that at all. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:09.379 But we do think 00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:10.139 it's an age 00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:12.079 that needs a lot of support. 00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:15.299 Very tragically, 00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.419 Hillary Clinton 00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:18.099 has co-opted the term 00:29:18.099 --> 00:29:18.819 that takes a village. 00:29:18.959 --> 00:29:19.779 So maybe we can just 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.439 turn it into, 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.599 it takes a church. 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:24.379 We need to be helping 00:29:24.379 --> 00:29:25.959 and supporting one another. 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:28.159 Our young men 00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:29.240 need the wisdom 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.119 of their fathers. 00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:31.539 And then they need 00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.399 a bunch of other fathers 00:29:32.399 --> 00:29:33.740 saying the same stuff 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.179 to them. 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:34.859 Right? 00:29:35.179 --> 00:29:36.500 Their heads are thick. 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.559 My head was very thick. 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:39.240 It still is. 00:29:39.719 --> 00:29:40.639 But I think it's thinning 00:29:40.639 --> 00:29:41.439 as I get older. 00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:44.079 But very thick. 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.439 And they need a lot 00:29:45.439 --> 00:29:46.919 of input into their lives. 00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:48.019 And they need that 00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:50.080 age group friendships. 00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:51.680 They need to be able 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.580 to talk to one another 00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:53.220 through the challenges 00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:54.779 that they're going through. 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.180 And so, 00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:56.700 we intend to do this. 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:57.259 I'll have a meeting 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.720 with parents. 00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:58.500 We'll talk out 00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.560 what this might look like. 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:01.019 We need your help. 00:30:01.300 --> 00:30:02.080 We need your help 00:30:02.080 --> 00:30:03.460 pulling this off. 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.460 Church, 00:30:04.580 --> 00:30:05.680 we need your prayers. 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.900 We suddenly have 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.900 a bunch of teenagers. 00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:11.420 And I will tell you 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:11.900 right now, 00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:13.240 myself included, 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.720 all of those parents 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.240 are trembling 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.480 with the challenges 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.579 that are ahead of us 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:19.319 with these young people. 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.620 And yeah, 00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.380 we need your input. 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.259 We need your partnership. 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:24.400 We need your help. 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:24.819 So we're going to have 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.420 a class for them. 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:27.640 That'll be on Sunday evenings. 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:29.039 And I'll tell you, 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.420 just in case, 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:31.299 it's going to be a shocker 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.640 to you, 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.640 we're going to have 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.200 some fun. 00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:35.740 And we're going to 00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:37.120 feed them some food 00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:38.039 they probably shouldn't eat. 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:39.920 but we are going to 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:41.460 open the Bible together. 00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:41.920 We're going to get 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:43.819 their noses in the text. 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.759 We're going to 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.599 help them learn 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:46.659 how to study the Bible 00:30:46.659 --> 00:30:47.240 well, 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.420 understand the gospel, 00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.899 get the church 00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:50.960 and what the church is 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:51.700 and the great blessing 00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:52.359 that it is. 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:53.680 Yeah. 00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.879 We've also put 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.740 on the calendar 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.819 a retreat for them 00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:57.559 in June. 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:59.200 I just blocked out 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.139 the entire week. 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.859 I can't promise 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:02.299 it'll be the entire week. 00:31:02.619 --> 00:31:03.480 We'll talk more 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:03.940 with parents 00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:05.220 and see what might work 00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:06.359 for us. 00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:06.939 But we want to take 00:31:06.939 --> 00:31:08.599 those young people away 00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:10.939 and with their parents 00:31:10.939 --> 00:31:11.439 to be clear. 00:31:11.679 --> 00:31:12.159 We're not going to 00:31:12.159 --> 00:31:12.699 steal your children 00:31:12.699 --> 00:31:14.000 but we'll take them away 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.879 and teach them. 00:31:15.179 --> 00:31:15.959 And then in addition to that 00:31:15.959 --> 00:31:16.659 on Sunday evening 00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:17.279 we're going to do 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.979 children's classes 00:31:17.979 --> 00:31:19.639 for all the other age groups 00:31:19.639 --> 00:31:20.419 as well. 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.779 And I'm excited about 00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.539 what we may be doing 00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:22.899 with them, 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.939 developing some curriculum 00:31:23.939 --> 00:31:25.519 for them. 00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.240 So that's the big one, 00:31:27.399 --> 00:31:28.399 Sunday evening. 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.879 And I think there's 00:31:28.879 --> 00:31:29.500 a lot, 00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.500 a lot of good. 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:30.839 And again, 00:31:30.919 --> 00:31:32.879 think of it as trellis 00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:35.399 for us to step into 00:31:35.399 --> 00:31:36.279 together and do 00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:37.740 a lot of really good 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.859 vine work. 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:39.740 Speak the truth 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:41.519 and love to one another 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:43.079 in all of these various ways 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:43.859 and around these 00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:44.940 different issues 00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:46.220 and topics. 00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:47.839 I think this will be 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:49.019 a very good thing 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.839 if we can lean 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.879 heavy into it. 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.779 And once again, 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.399 Sunday evenings may be 00:31:53.399 --> 00:31:54.599 the worst time for you. 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:55.379 You might be hearing 00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:55.819 all of this 00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:56.299 and you might be saying 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:57.139 this all sounds so great 00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:57.779 but I just don't think 00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:58.160 I'm going to be able 00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:59.200 to make Sunday evening work. 00:31:59.379 --> 00:32:00.119 But when else 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:00.639 would we do it? 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.240 That would be my 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.680 retort to you. 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.379 And I think these things 00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.420 are important enough 00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:06.160 to make the effort 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:06.880 if it's at all 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:08.260 possible for you. 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.880 A couple of other 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:10.400 opportunities 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.580 to connect 00:32:11.580 --> 00:32:13.020 and to serve. 00:32:13.560 --> 00:32:14.300 There are some 00:32:14.300 --> 00:32:15.440 50 commandments 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:16.000 in the Bible 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.880 that end in 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:17.740 one another 00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:18.680 and those things 00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:19.240 can be happening. 00:32:19.340 --> 00:32:20.080 All those one another's 00:32:20.080 --> 00:32:20.580 can be happening 00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:21.180 in everything 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:22.560 that I've mentioned 00:32:22.560 --> 00:32:23.280 so far. 00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.660 Some examples, 00:32:24.840 --> 00:32:25.480 love one another, 00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:26.620 welcome one another, 00:32:26.860 --> 00:32:27.820 bear with one another, 00:32:28.040 --> 00:32:29.840 care for one another. 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:30.800 To do that, 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:31.340 you need to be 00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:32.359 connected with people 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.539 and it's really easy 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:34.500 to show up 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:35.740 on a Sunday morning, 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.859 the last minute, 00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:37.959 get up when it's time 00:32:37.959 --> 00:32:39.399 to go and get out of here 00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:40.419 and not ever really 00:32:40.419 --> 00:32:41.319 get to know anybody 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:42.299 or to be known 00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:43.439 by anybody. 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:44.819 We're not a terribly 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:45.839 large church 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:47.039 but the way this building 00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:47.659 is set up, 00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.159 you kind of get 00:32:48.159 --> 00:32:49.720 funneled in and funneled out 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.500 and it creates 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.079 some difficulty. 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.899 It's hard to connect 00:32:52.899 --> 00:32:53.559 with people 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:55.359 if that's all you're doing. 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.279 So we're going to 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:56.939 continue to do 00:32:56.939 --> 00:32:58.139 community groups, 00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.839 no changes to that. 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:00.480 Those groups, 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.200 if you're not familiar 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:01.559 with them, 00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:02.480 are led by an elder. 00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:04.579 Often, not always, 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:05.259 but they're hosted 00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:06.160 in an elder's home. 00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:07.460 They're on the second 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.220 and fourth Tuesday 00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:08.680 or Wednesday 00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.599 of each month. 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:11.620 It's very light. 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:12.240 You can bring 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.099 your children to it. 00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:13.539 We're going to open 00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:14.460 the text for just 00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.200 a few minutes, 00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:17.120 perhaps sing a song, 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:17.740 a prayer. 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:18.839 I think just about 00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.700 everybody eats food 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.440 in some measure 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.200 or another. 00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:22.740 Our group, 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.000 not because I'm 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.779 a great leader of it, 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.180 but our group 00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:25.700 does a dinner 00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:26.539 and it's always 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:26.960 a really, 00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:27.539 really wonderful 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.720 time to get it. 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:29.140 So it's a chance 00:33:29.140 --> 00:33:30.039 to come and connect 00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:30.539 with people, 00:33:30.900 --> 00:33:31.640 get to know people, 00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:32.539 and hopefully this 00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:34.039 flows into other 00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:35.559 discipling relationships 00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:36.880 beyond just that 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:38.059 time together. 00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:39.480 And then some 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.059 service days. 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.120 So we have some 00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:42.059 property work days 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:42.779 on the calendar. 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:43.880 Beloved, 00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:44.500 we need to steward 00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:45.180 this building well. 00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.779 It's a gift to us. 00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:48.519 You've benefited from it, 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.100 whether you think 00:33:49.100 --> 00:33:49.980 you have or not. 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:50.759 You're benefiting 00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:52.380 from it right now. 00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:55.160 And we can't pull 00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.059 this off on our own. 00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:57.480 We need your help. 00:33:59.919 --> 00:34:00.659 Unclogging toilets 00:34:00.659 --> 00:34:02.000 does not fit in the 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:02.619 prayer and ministry 00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:04.379 of the word job 00:34:04.379 --> 00:34:04.779 description. 00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:06.399 Although I'm happy 00:34:06.399 --> 00:34:07.099 to do it, 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:08.299 but we're finding 00:34:08.299 --> 00:34:09.380 ourselves so busy 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.579 that something else 00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.400 is getting neglected 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.360 if I'm doing that. 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.400 If I'm unclogging 00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:13.779 a toilet, 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:14.539 there's something 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.420 prayer and ministry 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:15.940 of the word 00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:17.000 that I probably 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:18.239 should be doing 00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:19.920 and I'm not able 00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:20.699 to do it. 00:34:20.739 --> 00:34:21.900 Not above any 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.880 of that kind of work, 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:24.119 but we need to be 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:25.000 able to pitch in 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:25.840 and help out. 00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:26.900 And so we're going 00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.739 to schedule some work days 00:34:27.739 --> 00:34:28.840 both to clean 00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:29.559 on the inside 00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.699 of the building, 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.139 those things that are 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:33.400 difficult to do 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:35.300 like dusting 00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.159 the lights in here 00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:37.500 and also working 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:38.119 on the outside 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:38.679 of the building 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.880 as well. 00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.260 And then in some 00:34:41.260 --> 00:34:41.840 other months, 00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.539 we've been calling 00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:45.539 them barn raisings, 00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:47.380 but I dropped the G 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:48.920 and did an apostrophe S 00:34:48.920 --> 00:34:49.500 which makes it look 00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.079 really hilarious. 00:34:50.219 --> 00:34:51.260 It says barn raisins. 00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:53.880 And I'm seeing it 00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:54.440 now that I'm looking 00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:56.600 at it written down. 00:34:57.140 --> 00:34:57.500 But it doesn't 00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:57.860 really matter. 00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:58.400 So if you're not 00:34:58.400 --> 00:34:58.740 familiar, 00:34:59.700 --> 00:35:00.460 the Amish are 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:01.180 incredible people. 00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:02.920 From a lack 00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:03.580 of technology, 00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:04.360 they get together 00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:04.900 when they have to 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:06.300 raise a huge structure 00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:07.380 and the whole community 00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:07.980 comes together 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:09.800 and raises the walls 00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:10.320 of a barn. 00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:11.060 It's called a barn 00:35:11.060 --> 00:35:12.120 raising. 00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:13.440 And so we've been 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:13.940 doing this now 00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.920 for this past year. 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.160 Opportunities to come 00:35:16.160 --> 00:35:17.200 together and serve 00:35:17.200 --> 00:35:18.360 those people in our 00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:19.120 church that especially 00:35:19.120 --> 00:35:20.140 need help with big 00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:21.219 projects as kind 00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:22.500 of the priority. 00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:23.359 But it's just a good 00:35:23.359 --> 00:35:24.219 time to get together 00:35:24.219 --> 00:35:25.500 and make some stuff 00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:26.099 happen. 00:35:26.319 --> 00:35:27.420 So y'all have helped 00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:28.500 me on my property. 00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:29.779 I had to hand dig 00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:31.619 a ditch to run 00:35:31.619 --> 00:35:32.339 power in. 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:33.480 And I am so grateful 00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:34.659 that I didn't hand 00:35:34.659 --> 00:35:35.339 dig the ditch. 00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:36.199 A bunch of you guys 00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:37.679 came and made that 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:38.059 happen. 00:35:38.699 --> 00:35:40.480 We tore up a deck 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:42.219 and we've done 00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:43.179 some pressure washing. 00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:43.960 So it's a good 00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:44.679 opportunity to come 00:35:44.679 --> 00:35:46.619 together, love and 00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.299 serve one another. 00:35:48.299 --> 00:35:49.019 Men especially, 00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:49.659 but I don't want to 00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:50.379 exclude the women 00:35:50.379 --> 00:35:50.899 of the church, 00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:51.899 but men especially. 00:35:52.259 --> 00:35:52.879 Put those on the 00:35:52.879 --> 00:35:53.420 calendar and just 00:35:53.420 --> 00:35:54.259 consider if you might 00:35:54.259 --> 00:35:54.940 be able to take some 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:56.420 time to come together 00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:58.079 in that way. 00:35:58.219 --> 00:36:00.239 So there's a lot of 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:01.139 good opportunity here 00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:03.159 and it may seem like 00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:04.960 too much, like it's a 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:05.519 whole bunch. 00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.519 But we really want to 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:08.199 be careful not to 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:09.519 overpack anyone's 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.539 schedule. 00:36:11.359 --> 00:36:12.379 We want you to have 00:36:12.379 --> 00:36:13.440 time for work and 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:14.359 family and your 00:36:14.359 --> 00:36:15.859 unbelieving neighbors 00:36:15.859 --> 00:36:17.299 and friends. 00:36:17.300 --> 00:36:18.460 we want you to have 00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:19.940 time outside of these 00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:21.220 plans for Christian 00:36:21.220 --> 00:36:22.240 fellowship and service, 00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:24.019 that informal stuff 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.220 that you all do so 00:36:25.220 --> 00:36:25.780 well. 00:36:26.680 --> 00:36:27.340 So I just think a 00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:27.720 little bit of 00:36:27.720 --> 00:36:28.519 perspective may help 00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:29.060 at this point. 00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:30.580 I did a little math 00:36:30.580 --> 00:36:32.380 and if I did it 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:32.840 correctly. 00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:33.760 If you're a member 00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:35.120 of the church who 00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:36.180 were involved with 00:36:36.180 --> 00:36:37.480 everything I have 00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:39.019 mentioned, and no 00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:39.519 one's saying that you 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:40.300 have to be, but if 00:36:40.300 --> 00:36:40.640 you just said, 00:36:40.700 --> 00:36:41.280 all right, I'm doing 00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:41.940 it, every single 00:36:41.940 --> 00:36:42.940 thing I'm showing up 00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:44.940 to, if you availed 00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:45.360 yourself of 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:46.420 everything, you'd 00:36:46.420 --> 00:36:47.019 only be giving 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:49.700 about 30 hours of 00:36:49.700 --> 00:36:50.240 your month. 00:36:51.179 --> 00:36:52.119 About 30 hours of 00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:53.320 your month to all 00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:54.940 of these good works. 00:36:55.300 --> 00:36:55.679 It's a little 00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:56.099 perspective. 00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:57.639 It's not a terrible 00:36:57.639 --> 00:36:59.619 ask of you. 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:00.400 And I think you'll 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:02.139 find, in whatever 00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:02.840 measure you decide 00:37:02.840 --> 00:37:03.559 to engage, that 00:37:03.559 --> 00:37:04.280 you'll find yourself 00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:06.039 being served by it. 00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:08.280 So, for 2025, just 00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:10.019 ask yourself, how 00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:11.099 would God have you 00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:13.159 spend your time? 00:37:13.159 --> 00:37:14.719 And I don't presume 00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:15.559 to answer that 00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.480 question for you. 00:37:16.759 --> 00:37:17.659 I don't know how 00:37:17.659 --> 00:37:18.440 God would have you 00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:19.739 spend your time. 00:37:19.819 --> 00:37:20.920 The only expectation 00:37:20.920 --> 00:37:22.159 that this church can 00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:23.319 and does lay upon 00:37:23.319 --> 00:37:24.179 you, if you are a 00:37:24.179 --> 00:37:25.239 member, is that you 00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:26.159 join us for the 00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:27.139 times when the whole 00:37:27.139 --> 00:37:28.699 church gathers, or 00:37:28.699 --> 00:37:29.920 should be gathered, 00:37:30.299 --> 00:37:31.359 which is that Sunday 00:37:31.359 --> 00:37:32.159 morning, those meetings 00:37:32.159 --> 00:37:33.460 that I mentioned. 00:37:33.859 --> 00:37:34.619 I think that's the 00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:36.139 only moral obligation 00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:37.819 that you have. 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:39.579 But I hope that you 00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:41.819 will, with what I 00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:43.740 presented, see these 00:37:43.740 --> 00:37:44.640 opportunities, and 00:37:44.640 --> 00:37:46.019 you'll find some 00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:47.539 measure of excitement 00:37:47.539 --> 00:37:49.559 for and some 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:51.920 involvement in, if 00:37:51.920 --> 00:37:54.400 in nothing else, that 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:55.480 you would help us by 00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:56.960 praying that those 00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:59.380 efforts would be 00:37:59.380 --> 00:37:59.680 fruitful. 00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:01.460 In closing, I want 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:03.480 to read Psalm 127 00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:05.200 and verse 1, which 00:38:05.200 --> 00:38:05.640 says, 00:38:05.639 --> 00:38:07.539 Unless the Lord 00:38:07.539 --> 00:38:09.420 builds a house, those 00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:10.739 who build it labor 00:38:10.739 --> 00:38:11.799 in vain. 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.379 Unless the Lord 00:38:13.379 --> 00:38:14.099 watches over the 00:38:14.099 --> 00:38:15.339 city, the watchman 00:38:15.339 --> 00:38:18.799 stays awake in vain. 00:38:19.460 --> 00:38:20.559 Our efforts to 00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.239 build and to 00:38:21.239 --> 00:38:23.079 protect are of no 00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:24.859 value unless God 00:38:24.859 --> 00:38:26.539 blesses our efforts. 00:38:27.359 --> 00:38:28.420 So let's pray to the 00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:29.079 end that he would 00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:31.379 use our plan in 00:38:31.379 --> 00:38:33.079 mighty ways in this 00:38:33.079 --> 00:38:33.500 coming year. 00:38:33.739 --> 00:38:34.359 Let's pray together. 00:38:34.360 --> 00:39:04.340 Let's pray together.