WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.839 Gracious Father, we thank you for your word. 00:00:03.980 --> 00:00:05.540 Thank you for your church. 00:00:06.540 --> 00:00:09.220 I pray that as we look into your word this morning 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:11.220 that we might see something of our heritage 00:00:11.220 --> 00:00:13.919 and that as we look to the future 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:17.420 that we might be committed to the name Christ 00:00:17.420 --> 00:00:20.480 and seeing that name declared and glorified 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:21.820 throughout this area of Chatswood. 00:00:21.820 --> 00:00:23.740 We pray for your sake. Amen. 00:00:23.739 --> 00:00:32.039 St. Paul's first ministry in the Chatswood area 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:37.420 began almost or just over 112 years ago 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:42.739 with a Sunday school on the 1st of September 1901. 00:00:43.820 --> 00:00:46.420 It wasn't a great start because no one turned up. 00:00:47.420 --> 00:00:49.379 The weather wasn't so great. 00:00:50.459 --> 00:00:52.480 Three children turned up the next week 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:54.599 and the first official church service 00:00:54.599 --> 00:00:55.959 was a couple of months later 00:00:55.959 --> 00:01:00.459 on the 8th of December 1901. 00:01:01.559 --> 00:01:03.899 The official opening of St. Paul's 00:01:03.899 --> 00:01:08.979 was conducted on the 15th of December 1901 00:01:08.979 --> 00:01:11.679 by the Archdeacon of Cumberland, 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:13.319 the Venerable John Langley, 00:01:14.060 --> 00:01:16.620 to whom my wife Natalie is a direct descendant. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:21.000 So I am married into St. Paul's history 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:23.540 more than most. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:29.620 A new church doesn't just pop up. 00:01:31.420 --> 00:01:34.840 It doesn't just arrive one Sunday. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:38.140 Many things happen over a period of time 00:01:38.140 --> 00:01:40.019 before any church, 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:42.780 and a church like St. Paul's comes to be. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:45.120 And as always, with anything, 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:48.079 there are different motives and agendas at play 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:51.939 in order to see something like a church pop up. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:54.519 And some of those agendas and motives 00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:56.620 lack any sort of vision. 00:01:57.459 --> 00:01:59.060 There are those who are dissatisfied 00:01:59.060 --> 00:02:00.659 with the ministry of another church 00:02:00.659 --> 00:02:02.780 and figure it's much better to start our own thing. 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:05.299 There are those who felt that the church 00:02:05.299 --> 00:02:07.280 was a good place for social activities. 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:10.620 For others, it was a place for mutual support 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:13.000 and friendships and family interactions 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:14.180 and cultural pursuits. 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:16.800 For others, the church is a healthy place 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:19.500 for young people of marriageable age. 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:23.379 That is St. Paul's the dating service 00:02:23.379 --> 00:02:25.520 before RSVP and all those other things 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:26.240 came into being. 00:02:27.620 --> 00:02:28.719 On the other hand, 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:31.860 there are those with a real gospel vision. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:35.860 There are those who are doing evangelism 00:02:35.860 --> 00:02:37.800 on steam trains. 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:43.480 A boy riding the district on horseback 00:02:43.480 --> 00:02:45.480 to break the news of a Sunday school 00:02:45.480 --> 00:02:47.580 and a church coming into being. 00:02:48.620 --> 00:02:49.700 There were the four young men 00:02:49.700 --> 00:02:53.320 who in the summer of 1901-02 00:02:53.320 --> 00:02:56.600 met weekly for prayer before dawn 00:02:56.600 --> 00:02:57.840 out in the bush 00:02:57.840 --> 00:02:59.380 and spent time walking around 00:02:59.380 --> 00:03:01.520 looking for potential church sites 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:03.340 to plant a church. 00:03:03.340 --> 00:03:05.800 And so here we are, 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:08.700 112 years later, 00:03:09.580 --> 00:03:10.960 on the site that was chosen. 00:03:12.099 --> 00:03:13.480 It's Commitment Sunday. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:17.960 We're thinking about commitment 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:21.460 to the mission and vision of St. Paul's 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:22.800 here in Chatswood 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:27.480 as we look ahead to 2014 and beyond. 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:31.579 And my question for us today 00:03:31.579 --> 00:03:35.299 is what is it about our beginning 00:03:35.299 --> 00:03:38.719 that will most define our present 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:42.019 and our future as a church? 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:46.659 Is it St. Paul's the dating service? 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:52.199 Or is it a gospel-driven vision? 00:03:53.959 --> 00:03:55.759 And so in thinking about that question, 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:57.259 what is it about our beginnings 00:03:57.259 --> 00:03:59.879 that will so define our present, 00:03:59.979 --> 00:04:00.560 our future, 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:03.019 I want us to take us back to the beginning? 00:04:05.799 --> 00:04:08.459 Back past 112 years 00:04:08.459 --> 00:04:10.439 on the lower north shore of Sydney, 00:04:11.219 --> 00:04:13.500 back past the Anglican Church 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:17.379 starting with chaplain arriving 00:04:17.379 --> 00:04:18.459 with the first fleet, 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:21.060 back past the act of supremacy 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:24.139 in November 1534, 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:25.879 that brought the Church of England 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:27.500 into existence, 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:30.699 back to the first century 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:32.040 and the church in Antioch. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:35.319 The church in Antioch 00:04:35.319 --> 00:04:36.939 is our mother church. 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:38.860 It is our ancestry. 00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:40.720 It is our bloodline. 00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:44.759 In the first half of chapter 11, 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:48.060 Peter is up in front of the leaders 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:49.519 in Jerusalem explaining 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:51.519 why he, as a Jew, 00:04:51.980 --> 00:04:54.040 had gone to the house of a Gentile 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:55.519 and eaten with them. 00:04:56.220 --> 00:04:57.740 He went to explain 00:04:57.740 --> 00:04:58.720 how Cornelius 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:00.560 and his family 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:02.300 had received the Holy Spirit 00:05:02.300 --> 00:05:03.160 and came 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:04.439 to put their trust 00:05:04.439 --> 00:05:05.259 in the Lord Jesus. 00:05:07.060 --> 00:05:08.639 It's the first instance 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:09.680 of Christian faith 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:11.500 breaching Jewish circles. 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:14.060 And so, 00:05:14.259 --> 00:05:15.199 in chapter 11, 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:16.100 verse 18, 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:17.720 we have the response 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:18.500 of the leaders 00:05:18.500 --> 00:05:19.759 of the church in Jerusalem. 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:22.560 When they heard this, 00:05:22.939 --> 00:05:24.120 they had no further objections 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:25.040 and praised God, 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:25.459 saying, 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:26.680 so then, 00:05:27.180 --> 00:05:28.420 God has granted 00:05:28.420 --> 00:05:29.680 even the Gentiles 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:31.279 repentance unto life. 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:34.660 And so, 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:36.019 this means that 00:05:36.019 --> 00:05:37.680 unless you are a Jew, 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:40.300 Antioch, 00:05:40.840 --> 00:05:42.259 in the very next verse, 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:44.920 is your mother church. 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:49.000 As the first Gentile church, 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:49.980 my hope is that 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:51.379 something of its heartbeat 00:05:51.379 --> 00:05:52.579 might define 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:54.500 something of our heartbeat. 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:56.960 And there are a number of things 00:05:56.960 --> 00:05:58.120 you could pull out of here 00:05:58.120 --> 00:05:58.980 in this, 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:00.540 but I just want to pick on a few. 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:02.579 A number of the characteristics 00:06:02.579 --> 00:06:04.240 of our mother church 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:05.660 that we must commit to 00:06:05.660 --> 00:06:06.420 emulating 00:06:06.420 --> 00:06:08.560 as we look to the future 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.540 at St. Paul's. 00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:12.699 Notice, 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:13.340 first of all, 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:14.500 our mother church's commitment 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:15.660 to representing Jesus 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:16.939 where God had placed them. 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:18.620 Verse 19, 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:19.439 Acts 11. 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:20.939 If you haven't got your Bibles, 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:22.220 you need to have your Bibles open. 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:26.900 Or your iPads 00:06:26.900 --> 00:06:27.840 or whatever it is you've got. 00:06:28.580 --> 00:06:29.340 Acts 11. 00:06:32.080 --> 00:06:32.879 Verse 19. 00:06:32.980 --> 00:06:33.100 Now, 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:34.480 those who had been scattered 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:35.520 by the persecution 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:37.039 in connection with Stephen 00:06:37.039 --> 00:06:38.419 traveled as far as Phoenicia, 00:06:38.899 --> 00:06:39.979 Cyprus and Antioch, 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:40.939 telling the message 00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:42.019 only to Jews. 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:43.359 Some of them, 00:06:43.479 --> 00:06:43.719 however, 00:06:43.859 --> 00:06:45.579 men from Cyprus and Cyrene 00:06:45.579 --> 00:06:46.779 went to Antioch 00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:48.319 and began to speak 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:49.779 to Greeks also, 00:06:50.599 --> 00:06:52.019 telling them the good news 00:06:52.019 --> 00:06:53.099 about the Lord Jesus. 00:06:54.099 --> 00:06:55.599 The Lord's hand was with them 00:06:55.599 --> 00:06:57.099 and a great number of people 00:06:57.099 --> 00:06:59.039 believed and turned to the Lord. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:01.939 So chapter 11, 00:07:02.020 --> 00:07:02.920 verse 19, 00:07:03.460 --> 00:07:04.680 takes us back 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:06.100 to chapter 8, 00:07:06.280 --> 00:07:07.140 verse 1, 00:07:07.140 --> 00:07:08.520 and the scattering 00:07:08.520 --> 00:07:09.760 of the believers 00:07:09.760 --> 00:07:10.680 as a result 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:11.600 of the persecution 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:13.460 relating to the martyrdom 00:07:13.460 --> 00:07:14.160 of Stephen. 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:15.780 And some of these 00:07:15.780 --> 00:07:16.939 persecuted believers 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:18.439 went as far 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:19.140 as Antioch, 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:20.740 the capital 00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:22.500 of the Roman province 00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:23.140 of Syria 00:07:23.140 --> 00:07:25.540 and the third largest city 00:07:25.540 --> 00:07:26.280 in the empire. 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:28.599 And as they went, 00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:29.879 as they were scattered, 00:07:30.419 --> 00:07:31.319 they simply 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:33.559 talked about Jesus. 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:36.379 What was in their hearts 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:38.159 came out of their mouth. 00:07:40.559 --> 00:07:42.159 These unnamed Jews 00:07:42.159 --> 00:07:43.359 from the island of Cyprus 00:07:43.359 --> 00:07:44.059 and Cyrene 00:07:44.059 --> 00:07:45.759 with no official direction, 00:07:46.739 --> 00:07:49.019 no human instruction, 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:51.439 no precedent to follow, 00:07:51.919 --> 00:07:53.479 nothing but a burning 00:07:53.479 --> 00:07:55.219 love for Christ 00:07:55.220 --> 00:07:56.200 took the good news 00:07:56.200 --> 00:07:56.960 of the Lord Jesus 00:07:56.960 --> 00:07:58.420 to Antioch. 00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:01.780 They were probably 00:08:01.780 --> 00:08:02.960 not even aware 00:08:02.960 --> 00:08:05.520 that they were doing 00:08:05.520 --> 00:08:07.020 something radical, 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:09.180 no clue about their, 00:08:09.380 --> 00:08:10.260 the revolutionary 00:08:10.260 --> 00:08:12.000 greatness of their act. 00:08:13.340 --> 00:08:14.720 They were the first believers 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:16.920 to bring the explosive 00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:18.600 light of the gospel 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:20.680 into the pitch black 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:21.720 darkness 00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:23.760 of paganism 00:08:23.760 --> 00:08:24.780 in Antioch. 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:29.060 Antioch was evangelized 00:08:29.060 --> 00:08:30.000 not by apostles, 00:08:31.280 --> 00:08:32.639 but by average 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:33.639 members 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:34.379 of the body 00:08:34.379 --> 00:08:35.000 of Christ 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:36.019 who just simply 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:37.379 represent Jesus 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:39.680 because Jesus 00:08:39.680 --> 00:08:41.139 had pushed them there. 00:08:43.460 --> 00:08:44.019 Wherever 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:45.120 these refugees 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:45.779 landed, 00:08:46.560 --> 00:08:47.840 Jesus was on display. 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:49.820 Sharing Christ 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:50.100 to them 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:50.800 appears to be 00:08:50.800 --> 00:08:51.280 as natural 00:08:51.280 --> 00:08:51.760 as tears 00:08:51.760 --> 00:08:52.220 to sorrow 00:08:52.220 --> 00:08:52.800 and as smiles 00:08:52.800 --> 00:08:53.600 to happiness. 00:08:54.620 --> 00:08:55.720 Everyday believers 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:56.520 empowered 00:08:56.520 --> 00:08:57.840 by the Holy Spirit 00:08:57.840 --> 00:08:58.720 blew away 00:08:58.720 --> 00:08:59.980 the hold of paganism 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:01.560 on needy souls 00:09:01.560 --> 00:09:02.920 and the result 00:09:02.920 --> 00:09:03.980 was a great harvest 00:09:03.980 --> 00:09:04.600 in Antioch. 00:09:04.680 --> 00:09:05.400 Verse 21, 00:09:06.020 --> 00:09:06.960 the Lord's hand 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:07.660 was with them 00:09:07.660 --> 00:09:09.080 and a great number 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:10.140 of people believed 00:09:10.140 --> 00:09:11.260 and turned to the Lord. 00:09:11.680 --> 00:09:12.460 We see it again 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:13.360 in verse 24, 00:09:13.800 --> 00:09:14.600 a great number 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:15.120 of people 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:16.080 were brought 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:16.860 to the Lord. 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:21.060 Luke is very 00:09:21.060 --> 00:09:22.100 careful here 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:23.680 to stress 00:09:23.680 --> 00:09:24.919 the sovereign 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:26.259 providence of God 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:27.620 behind the growth 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:28.860 of this church. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:31.100 It was the Lord's hand, 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:31.600 did you see that? 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:33.159 It was the Lord's hand 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:34.820 that was responsible 00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:36.259 for the success. 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:37.659 No apostles, 00:09:38.800 --> 00:09:40.720 no parish council, 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:43.240 no ecclesiastical structure, 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:45.120 just the Lord's hand 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:46.220 and a tremendous 00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:47.820 number of new believers. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.840 But it doesn't negate 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:53.659 the personal witness 00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:54.539 of the disciples 00:09:54.539 --> 00:09:55.580 who chose 00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:57.820 to accomplish 00:09:57.820 --> 00:10:00.200 his sovereign purpose. 00:10:00.659 --> 00:10:02.399 This is his appointed means. 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:06.159 Christians 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:07.960 representing Jesus 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:09.560 where he has put them, 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:12.379 wherever that might be. 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:17.620 Now let me say, 00:10:19.220 --> 00:10:20.080 there would be 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:20.899 few churches 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:22.700 that would confess 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:23.299 that they have 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:23.940 no interest 00:10:23.940 --> 00:10:24.500 in mission. 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:27.460 Many operate 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:27.879 like they have 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:28.320 no interest 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:28.720 in mission, 00:10:28.860 --> 00:10:29.240 but there'd be 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:29.799 few who would 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:30.539 confess they have 00:10:30.539 --> 00:10:31.000 no interest 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:31.440 in mission. 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:35.100 Most want to be 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:35.779 a light 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:37.000 in a dark place. 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:40.740 Too many, 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:41.279 however, 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:42.320 I fear 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:44.480 operate 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:45.500 like a lighthouse 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:46.920 in a dark place. 00:10:48.920 --> 00:10:49.879 Our focus 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:51.260 is illuminating 00:10:51.260 --> 00:10:52.879 the far off distances, 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:56.020 but leaving 00:10:56.020 --> 00:10:56.760 the area 00:10:56.760 --> 00:10:57.800 around our base 00:10:57.800 --> 00:10:58.980 plunged in darkness. 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:02.100 no church 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:02.659 will ever 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:03.560 become a missionary 00:11:03.560 --> 00:11:04.200 church 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:04.879 unless it 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:05.560 possesses 00:11:05.560 --> 00:11:06.519 a vigorous 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:07.960 grassroots 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:08.920 concern 00:11:08.920 --> 00:11:09.960 for mission 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:11.019 to the non-Christian 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:11.539 world 00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:12.539 where they 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:13.300 are. 00:11:16.300 --> 00:11:17.159 This is 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:17.680 our mission 00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:18.139 field 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:20.039 right here. 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:24.679 if we are 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:25.399 not concerned 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:25.939 for the good 00:11:25.939 --> 00:11:26.480 news of the 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.000 Lord Jesus 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:27.980 increasing 00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:29.259 and spreading 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:30.500 where God 00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:31.620 has put us, 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:33.360 there is no 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.620 genuine concern 00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:35.779 for gospel 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:36.379 impact 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:37.079 thousands of 00:11:37.079 --> 00:11:37.879 kilometers away. 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:41.539 the commitment 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:42.100 to local 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:42.439 mission 00:11:42.439 --> 00:11:42.799 for this 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:43.100 church 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:43.899 at Antioch 00:11:43.899 --> 00:11:45.019 did in fact 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:45.600 flow over 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:46.100 to the rest 00:11:46.100 --> 00:11:46.500 of the world. 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:47.000 Acts 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:48.259 chapter 13 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:51.980 we see 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:52.480 Barnabas 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:53.120 and Paul 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.720 are sent 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:54.679 from Antioch 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:55.299 to the rest 00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:56.039 of the world. 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:57.059 Antioch 00:11:57.059 --> 00:11:57.759 became the 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:58.500 launching pad 00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:59.220 for global 00:11:59.220 --> 00:11:59.659 mission. 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:01.079 it was the 00:12:01.079 --> 00:12:01.639 base for 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:02.000 Paul's 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:02.319 missionary 00:12:02.319 --> 00:12:03.059 journeys 00:12:03.059 --> 00:12:05.240 and it 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:05.939 started with 00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:06.419 disciples 00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:07.000 representing 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:07.559 Jesus 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:09.059 right there 00:12:09.059 --> 00:12:10.139 in Antioch. 00:12:11.659 --> 00:12:12.740 To represent 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:13.240 Jesus 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:13.639 where he's 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:14.000 put us 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:14.659 in Chatswood 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:15.659 is to keep 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:16.360 in step 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:17.199 with our 00:12:17.199 --> 00:12:18.439 mother church. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:20.079 It is our 00:12:20.079 --> 00:12:20.439 heritage, 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:21.319 our bloodline. 00:12:23.839 --> 00:12:24.339 Representing 00:12:24.339 --> 00:12:24.659 Jesus 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:25.120 as written 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.579 into our 00:12:25.579 --> 00:12:26.319 mission statement 00:12:26.319 --> 00:12:26.740 is one of 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.279 the reasons 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:28.379 that we exist 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.600 local and 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:30.259 global impact 00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:30.659 is one of 00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:31.039 our core 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:31.620 values and 00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.279 mobilizing 00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:33.139 members for 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:33.720 local mission 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:34.120 is one of 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:34.539 the five 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:35.000 strategies 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:35.879 that we 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:36.720 are working 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:37.200 on in order 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:38.439 to accomplish 00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:39.340 vision 2020. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:41.759 Our stated 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:42.500 ministry 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.080 objective 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:44.019 out there 00:12:44.019 --> 00:12:44.439 on the 00:12:44.439 --> 00:12:44.720 door 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:45.120 on the 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:45.879 way out 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:46.299 is that 00:12:46.299 --> 00:12:46.679 by the 00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:47.179 end of 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:48.019 next year 00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:48.899 is to 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:49.600 see 500 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.120 people 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:50.500 attending 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:50.840 church 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.460 each week 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:51.740 here at 00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:52.519 St. Paul's. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:55.240 That's our 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:55.559 mission, 00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:55.940 that's our 00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:56.320 focus, 00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:56.679 that's our 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:57.159 objective. 00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:58.719 we are 00:12:58.719 --> 00:12:59.579 praying and 00:12:59.579 --> 00:13:00.279 laboring to 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:00.939 see people 00:13:00.939 --> 00:13:01.939 come to 00:13:01.939 --> 00:13:02.639 a saving 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:03.860 faith in 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.279 the Lord 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:04.799 Jesus, 00:13:05.699 --> 00:13:08.600 not transferring 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:09.120 from another 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:09.699 church, 00:13:10.939 --> 00:13:12.339 not interested 00:13:12.339 --> 00:13:12.860 in that. 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:15.679 That doesn't 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:16.000 mean I'm not 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:16.439 interested in 00:13:16.439 --> 00:13:16.719 you, 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:17.279 if that's 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:17.579 what you've 00:13:17.579 --> 00:13:17.879 done, 00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:18.620 I'm just 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.139 saying our 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.740 focus is 00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:21.519 to see people 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:22.639 come to 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:23.459 know Christ. 00:13:23.459 --> 00:13:23.539 Christ. 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:29.860 praise God 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:30.299 for the 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:31.459 person in 00:13:31.459 --> 00:13:32.399 five o'clock 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.120 congregation 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:35.500 who responded 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:36.039 to back to 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:36.659 church Sunday 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:37.899 invitation, 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:38.679 went immediately 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:40.079 into Christianity, 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:40.919 explored and gave 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:41.459 their life to 00:13:41.459 --> 00:13:43.759 Christ two 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.379 Sundays ago, 00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:44.740 I think it 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:45.019 was. 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:48.959 Make a 00:13:48.959 --> 00:13:49.459 commitment to 00:13:49.459 --> 00:13:49.980 pursue this 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:51.259 goal in 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:52.259 2014, 00:13:52.939 --> 00:13:53.860 here today on 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:54.179 Commitment 00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:54.480 Sunday. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:58.460 Notice also 00:13:58.460 --> 00:13:58.800 our mother 00:13:58.800 --> 00:13:59.200 church's 00:13:59.200 --> 00:13:59.759 commitment to 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:00.279 establishing 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:00.879 believers in 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.340 the faith. 00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:02.759 Again, 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:03.080 this is 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:03.440 something of 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:03.920 our heritage 00:14:03.920 --> 00:14:04.220 and our 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:04.820 bloodline that 00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:05.360 we want to 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.180 emulate today. 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:07.259 In verse 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:08.259 22 we see 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:09.320 the church in 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:10.000 Jerusalem gets 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:10.519 a wind of 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:10.860 all that's 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:11.379 happening in 00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:12.379 Antioch and 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:12.980 so they send 00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:13.440 one of its 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.159 main men to 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:14.840 check it out. 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:15.940 And Barnabas 00:14:15.940 --> 00:14:16.480 likes what he 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:16.680 sees, 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.440 verse 23, 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:18.159 when he 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:18.720 arrived and 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:18.980 saw the 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:19.500 evidence of 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:19.899 the grace 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:20.320 of God, 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:21.120 he was glad 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:21.700 and encouraged 00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:22.539 them all to 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:23.539 remain true to 00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:24.080 the Lord with 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:24.460 all of 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.080 their hearts. 00:14:26.280 --> 00:14:26.600 You see, 00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:27.259 he liked what 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:27.820 he saw, 00:14:28.540 --> 00:14:29.379 but his 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:30.040 concern was 00:14:30.040 --> 00:14:30.600 to nurture 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:31.480 this young 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:32.160 multicultural 00:14:32.160 --> 00:14:33.460 church in 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:34.160 Antioch. 00:14:34.660 --> 00:14:35.100 And in 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:36.920 verse 25 we 00:14:36.920 --> 00:14:37.960 see he brings 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:38.900 in extra help 00:14:38.900 --> 00:14:39.400 to make sure 00:14:39.400 --> 00:14:39.820 it happens 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:40.379 effectively. 00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:41.519 It says, 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.440 then Barnabas 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:43.320 went to 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:45.060 Tarsus to 00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:46.060 look for 00:14:46.060 --> 00:14:46.420 Saul. 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:47.560 That's about 00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:48.160 a 160 00:14:48.160 --> 00:14:48.620 kilometer 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.139 journey. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.500 And when 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:51.180 he found 00:14:51.180 --> 00:14:51.600 him, he 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:52.019 brought him 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.800 to Antioch. 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:53.580 And so for 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:53.940 the whole 00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:54.640 year, Barnabas 00:14:54.640 --> 00:14:55.000 and Saul 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:55.500 met with 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.020 the church 00:14:56.020 --> 00:14:56.860 and taught 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:57.780 great numbers 00:14:57.780 --> 00:14:58.300 of people. 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:00.920 Great numbers 00:15:00.920 --> 00:15:01.480 of people were 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:01.820 taught. 00:15:02.140 --> 00:15:02.500 And what were 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.020 they taught? 00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:03.800 Acts 20 00:15:03.800 --> 00:15:04.500 verse 27 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:05.040 leads me to 00:15:05.040 --> 00:15:05.760 believe that 00:15:05.760 --> 00:15:06.080 they were 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:06.680 taught the 00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:07.500 whole will 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.300 of God. 00:15:11.180 --> 00:15:12.100 The emphasis 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:13.480 on establishment 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.520 is again seen 00:15:14.520 --> 00:15:15.640 in chapter 14 00:15:15.640 --> 00:15:16.820 verses 21 to 00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:18.020 23 where the 00:15:18.020 --> 00:15:18.740 missionaries are 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.560 returning from 00:15:19.560 --> 00:15:20.000 the first 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:21.180 missionary journey 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:21.899 and it says 00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.199 they were 00:15:22.199 --> 00:15:23.259 strengthening the 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.500 disciples and 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:25.500 encouraging them 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:26.120 and appointing 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:26.579 elders. 00:15:28.579 --> 00:15:29.359 I want to 00:15:29.359 --> 00:15:29.839 suggest to you 00:15:29.839 --> 00:15:30.379 that everything 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:31.099 that this church 00:15:31.099 --> 00:15:31.839 is and does 00:15:31.839 --> 00:15:32.139 here at 00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:33.719 Antioch comes 00:15:33.719 --> 00:15:34.620 back to God's 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.219 grace and the 00:15:35.219 --> 00:15:35.659 fact that they 00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:36.139 were well 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:36.979 established in 00:15:36.979 --> 00:15:37.939 the truth and 00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:38.199 they were 00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:38.839 growing in 00:15:38.839 --> 00:15:39.419 maturity in 00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:39.859 Christ. 00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:42.259 People coming 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:42.839 to know 00:15:42.839 --> 00:15:44.139 Jesus is not 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:45.639 the only reason 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.479 we exist. 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:47.779 We want to 00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:48.659 see people grow 00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:49.539 into maturity 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.620 in Christ and 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.240 becoming more 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.799 like him. 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.439 We want to 00:15:52.439 --> 00:15:52.839 see people 00:15:52.839 --> 00:15:53.879 standing firm 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.919 and secure 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:56.500 in Christ. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.079 Barnabas' 00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:00.879 desire for the 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.279 church at 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.659 Antioch is 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.039 for them to 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:03.879 remain true to 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.379 the Lord with 00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:04.939 all of their 00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:05.599 hearts and that 00:16:05.599 --> 00:16:06.179 ought to be our 00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:07.299 desire as well. 00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:08.879 And that's why 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.299 our missionary 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:10.000 objective is not 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.860 just to have 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.839 500 people 00:16:11.839 --> 00:16:12.480 sitting in 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.439 church but to 00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:14.559 see growth in 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:15.219 core membership 00:16:15.219 --> 00:16:15.939 to 150. 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:17.599 As I've said 00:16:17.599 --> 00:16:18.299 a number of 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:18.639 times, 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:19.519 core membership 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.779 is really 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:22.000 simple and 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.539 practical. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:24.819 It's just a 00:16:24.819 --> 00:16:26.340 visible expression 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.639 that I as an 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:29.019 individual are 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:30.379 living out what 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.600 we value here as 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.199 a church. 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:33.519 That's all it 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:33.899 is. 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.539 Devotion to 00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:35.840 prayer, 00:16:36.579 --> 00:16:37.079 Christ-centered 00:16:37.079 --> 00:16:37.960 Bible saturation, 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:38.899 humble authenticity, 00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:39.840 treasuring Jesus 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.279 together, 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.439 servant leadership, 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.500 radical generosity, 00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.500 local and global 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.019 impact. 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.019 commitment. 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:47.720 And so here on 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.460 Commitment Sunday 00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:50.419 2013, make a 00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:51.600 commitment to 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.579 grow in those 00:16:53.579 --> 00:16:55.220 core values next 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:55.620 year. 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:59.679 And especially to 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:01.579 grow deeper in 00:17:01.579 --> 00:17:02.100 knowing and 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:03.220 treasuring Jesus by 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.660 saturating yourself 00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.579 in the scriptures. 00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:11.119 notice too that 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:11.519 there is an 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.519 attitude expressed 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.220 here in the 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:14.099 Barnabas-Saw 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:15.079 relationship at our 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:17.079 mother church that 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:18.059 would have impacted 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:19.119 the way that this 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:20.199 whole church served 00:17:20.199 --> 00:17:21.539 and I believe we 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.240 need to follow in 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.179 their footsteps here 00:17:23.179 --> 00:17:23.740 something of our 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.460 bloodline that we 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.119 need to emulate. 00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:28.759 Barnabas is not an 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:30.879 apostle but he is 00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:32.000 one of the main men 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.879 in the Jerusalem 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:33.580 church. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.820 Barnabas' goodness 00:17:35.820 --> 00:17:36.640 was expressed in 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.360 his generosity of 00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:37.900 the church in 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:39.480 chapter 4 and 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.440 also in him 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.360 sticking out his 00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:42.360 neck to commend 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:44.280 Paul to the 00:17:44.280 --> 00:17:44.940 apostles in 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:45.700 chapter 9. 00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.960 But here we find 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:49.100 something I think 00:17:49.100 --> 00:17:50.200 even more beautiful 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:51.120 than chapter 4 and 00:17:51.120 --> 00:17:53.500 chapter 9 because 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:56.200 Barnabas would soon 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:57.220 yield his 00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:58.180 preeminence to 00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.620 Paul. 00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:01.720 Barnabas was 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.140 older. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:03.880 Barnabas was 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:04.700 more respected, 00:18:05.040 --> 00:18:06.100 more widely known 00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:08.400 and in many ways 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.700 he was way more 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.520 experienced than 00:18:10.520 --> 00:18:11.000 Paul. 00:18:12.540 --> 00:18:13.460 But when he 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.860 asked Paul to 00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:15.600 come and help 00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:17.240 him in Antioch 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:18.420 in verse 25 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:20.460 and when they 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.620 later commenced 00:18:21.620 --> 00:18:22.260 their missionary 00:18:22.260 --> 00:18:23.480 journey together in 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.520 chapter 13, 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.880 Paul began to 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.680 play a greater 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.160 role than 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:28.760 Barnabas. 00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:30.880 It begins with 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:31.580 Barnabas and 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:33.919 Saul and 00:18:33.919 --> 00:18:34.319 soon it 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.119 becomes Paul 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:35.899 and Barnabas 00:18:35.899 --> 00:18:37.059 and it 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:37.819 stayed that way 00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:38.539 to the end. 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.639 Barnabas to 00:18:40.639 --> 00:18:41.419 Paul was like 00:18:41.419 --> 00:18:41.759 John the 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.299 Baptist to 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:42.779 Christ. 00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:43.799 He must 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.599 become greater, 00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.259 I must become 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:46.679 less. 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:48.500 And it 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.159 wasn't because 00:18:49.159 --> 00:18:50.139 Barnabas is like 00:18:50.139 --> 00:18:51.480 I'm a little 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.220 old now, 00:18:53.159 --> 00:18:54.139 it's retirement 00:18:54.139 --> 00:18:54.799 time, 00:18:55.879 --> 00:18:56.799 need someone to 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.460 come and fill the 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.000 shoes that I've 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.559 been running, 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:00.720 ministries I've 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.200 been doing. 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.460 What I see 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:04.079 here is an 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:04.720 attitude of 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.519 humility and 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.339 an attitude of 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:08.059 strategy. 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.539 In Acts 00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.319 chapter 9 we 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:11.819 read of the 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.960 miraculous conversion 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.839 of Saul. 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.720 God then says 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.919 this about 00:19:17.919 --> 00:19:18.919 Saul in 00:19:18.919 --> 00:19:20.179 verse 15 of 00:19:20.179 --> 00:19:20.919 Acts 9, 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.940 this man is 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.639 my chosen 00:19:23.639 --> 00:19:24.379 instrument to 00:19:24.379 --> 00:19:25.200 carry my name 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:25.659 before the 00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:26.379 Gentiles and 00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:27.080 their kings. 00:19:28.280 --> 00:19:28.860 And at the 00:19:28.860 --> 00:19:29.220 end of 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.040 chapter 9, 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.520 Barnabas is 00:19:31.520 --> 00:19:32.260 the one who 00:19:32.260 --> 00:19:34.480 takes Saul to 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.800 the apostles and 00:19:35.800 --> 00:19:36.820 commends him 00:19:36.820 --> 00:19:39.180 for all that 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:39.600 he's been 00:19:39.600 --> 00:19:40.000 doing. 00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:42.120 And so 00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:42.840 Barnabas must 00:19:42.840 --> 00:19:43.540 have known that 00:19:43.540 --> 00:19:44.260 it was Paul's 00:19:44.260 --> 00:19:45.560 calling to be 00:19:45.560 --> 00:19:46.360 apostle to the 00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:46.960 Gentiles. 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.280 And here is 00:19:49.280 --> 00:19:50.740 Barnabas now in 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:51.820 Antioch seven, 00:19:52.320 --> 00:19:52.820 eight years 00:19:52.820 --> 00:19:55.480 later with all 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.480 these Gentile 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.299 conversions 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.460 surrounding him 00:19:58.460 --> 00:20:00.539 and he must 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:00.940 have thought 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:03.120 Paul's the 00:20:03.120 --> 00:20:03.339 man. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:04.920 This is 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.940 Paul's domain. 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:07.160 This is what 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:08.299 Paul has been 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:09.120 set apart to 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:09.420 do. 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:11.880 And so 00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:12.480 Barnabas 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:14.440 puts his 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.200 ego to one 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:17.319 side and 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:19.400 allows Paul 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:20.160 to rise up 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:20.920 over him. 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:24.519 all for the 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.340 sake of the 00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:26.120 word of God 00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:27.600 increasing and 00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:28.380 spreading. 00:20:33.120 --> 00:20:34.340 It is a 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:36.039 glimpse of 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.900 genuine 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:39.420 humility and 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:40.160 it's a glimpse 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.220 of gospel 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:43.000 strategy and 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.759 it's a glimpse 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:45.100 of sacrificial 00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:45.640 leadership. 00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:49.280 You see 00:20:49.280 --> 00:20:49.880 when Paul 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.320 and 00:20:50.320 --> 00:20:52.060 traveled with 00:20:52.060 --> 00:20:52.860 Barnabas to 00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:53.940 heathen Antioch 00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:55.100 they were the 00:20:55.100 --> 00:20:56.100 original dynamic 00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:56.860 duo before 00:20:56.860 --> 00:20:57.460 Batman and 00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:58.160 Robin came into 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:58.480 being. 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.100 They 00:21:00.100 --> 00:21:01.040 complemented one 00:21:01.040 --> 00:21:02.020 another beautifully. 00:21:03.280 --> 00:21:03.860 Barnabas 00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:05.560 soft, 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:06.000 gentle, 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:06.600 pastoral, 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.020 heart, 00:21:07.360 --> 00:21:07.640 son of 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:08.259 encouragement, 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.440 known for 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:09.720 that. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:10.980 Paul, 00:21:11.320 --> 00:21:11.660 sharp, 00:21:11.820 --> 00:21:12.520 legal mind, 00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:13.320 argue with 00:21:13.320 --> 00:21:13.680 anyone. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:16.660 They 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:17.340 complemented 00:21:17.340 --> 00:21:18.440 one another 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.100 beautifully 00:21:19.100 --> 00:21:20.380 thanks to 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:21.519 the expert 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.920 orchestration 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:23.480 of the 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.100 Spirit of 00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:24.460 God. 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.500 Barnabas 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:28.960 sensitive, 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:29.600 empathetic, 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.019 gracious, 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:30.880 Paul had a 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.759 brilliant hone, 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.880 razor sharp, 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:33.960 lawyer's 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:35.480 intellect and 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.140 together the 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:36.680 Spirit of 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.360 God worked 00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:37.740 together 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.779 powerfully 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:40.980 and together 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:41.820 humbly 00:21:41.820 --> 00:21:42.779 appreciating one 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.200 another, 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:43.980 they were 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.420 almost 00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:45.340 inconquerable. 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.380 And so I 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:48.620 want to 00:21:48.620 --> 00:21:49.299 encourage you 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:49.580 as 00:21:49.580 --> 00:21:50.380 Commitment 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:50.840 Sunday 00:21:50.840 --> 00:21:52.140 2013, 00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:52.920 make a 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.259 commitment 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.259 to use 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:54.720 your gifts 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.279 to serve 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.680 the body 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.279 of Christ 00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:56.980 and to 00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:57.600 serve with 00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:58.220 this kind 00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:58.700 of heart 00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.980 and this 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.340 kind of 00:22:00.340 --> 00:22:00.779 strategic 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.380 thinking, 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.400 a heart 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.100 that says 00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:03.900 whatever 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:05.900 serves the 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.940 advancement of 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.560 the gospel 00:22:07.560 --> 00:22:08.180 through this 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:08.620 place, 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.539 I will do 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.180 it even if 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:10.700 it means I 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.480 step down. 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:20.019 Notice also 00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:20.500 our mother 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:20.940 church's 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.440 commitment to 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:21.900 generosity, 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:22.519 again this 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:22.980 is something 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.319 of our 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:23.759 heritage and 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.440 our bloodline 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.000 that we 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.660 must emulate 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.059 today. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:26.819 Verse 27, 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.680 during this 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.259 time some 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.940 prophets came 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.440 down from 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:30.099 Jerusalem to 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:30.660 Antioch, 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:32.360 one of them 00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:32.980 named Agabus 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.860 stood up and 00:22:33.860 --> 00:22:34.279 through the 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:35.160 Spirit predicted 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:36.079 that a severe 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:37.039 famine would 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.980 spread over the 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:39.279 entire Roman 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:39.860 world. 00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:41.599 this happened 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.079 during the 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.459 reign of 00:22:42.459 --> 00:22:43.039 Claudius, 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.099 the disciples 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:44.839 each according 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:45.199 to his 00:22:45.199 --> 00:22:46.459 ability decided 00:22:46.459 --> 00:22:46.939 to provide 00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:47.519 help for the 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.139 brothers living 00:22:48.139 --> 00:22:49.259 in Judea and 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.959 this they did 00:22:49.959 --> 00:22:50.500 sending their 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.079 gifts to the 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:51.679 elders by 00:22:51.679 --> 00:22:52.500 Barnabas and 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:52.959 Saul. 00:22:54.639 --> 00:22:55.479 Luke's main 00:22:55.479 --> 00:22:56.519 concern here in 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.219 letting us know 00:22:57.219 --> 00:22:57.959 this is not so 00:22:57.959 --> 00:22:58.659 much the 00:22:58.659 --> 00:22:59.659 fulfillment of 00:22:59.659 --> 00:23:00.339 Agabus' 00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:02.079 prophecy as 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.479 with the 00:23:02.479 --> 00:23:03.599 generous response 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.079 of the church 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:04.899 in Antioch. 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.479 There was a 00:23:06.479 --> 00:23:08.039 need and they 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.519 responded. 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:12.019 They gave to 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.180 the need each 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:14.359 according to 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.339 his ability is 00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:15.779 what it says 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.039 there. 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.440 I want to 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:18.859 suggest to 00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:19.200 you that 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:20.379 generosity is 00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:21.180 a plain 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.599 biblical principle 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.900 and generosity 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:25.000 should characterize 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:26.559 the family of 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:28.519 God as it did 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.079 right in our 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.779 very beginning 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.779 as a church in 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:32.259 Acts 2 in the 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.220 way they shared 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:35.000 with one 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.359 another. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:38.119 I was really 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:39.259 encouraged and 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.379 significantly 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:41.379 challenged by a 00:23:41.379 --> 00:23:43.099 pastor who 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:44.740 said recently 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.299 that he and 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:45.959 his wife made 00:23:45.959 --> 00:23:46.859 a commitment to 00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:47.599 grow in 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:49.519 generosity every 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.219 year of their 00:23:50.219 --> 00:23:50.699 marriage. 00:23:51.659 --> 00:23:52.259 Every year of 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:52.719 their marriage. 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:55.179 And under God 00:23:55.179 --> 00:23:56.139 they made a plan 00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:57.379 to increase the 00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.339 percentage of 00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:59.599 what God gave, 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.599 what they gave 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.500 away year by 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:04.660 year to 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.839 ministry, to 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.900 all sorts of 00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:07.500 other needs. 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.240 And after many, 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:09.920 many years of 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:11.640 marriage, they 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:12.359 are now giving 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:14.059 away 94% of 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:14.819 all income that 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.339 comes in. 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.200 Friends, we 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:20.940 need to see the 00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:21.839 opportunity that God 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.079 has given us in the 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:24.700 wealthy West to 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.460 meet needs and 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.160 demonstrate the 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.500 character of our 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.180 generous God. 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:29.680 And what we 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.220 are doing here 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:31.600 today in 00:24:31.600 --> 00:24:32.640 pledging off a 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.980 tree and making 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:36.000 gifts to see the 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.640 word of God 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.660 increase and 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:40.220 spread is in 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.100 our heritage. 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.539 Way back, 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.320 way back to our 00:24:45.320 --> 00:24:46.360 origin in Antioch 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:47.200 in first century. 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.420 Also happens to be 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.080 in our heritage. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.660 It supports 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:53.279 Chatswood. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:56.000 It says here 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:57.420 that voluntary 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.259 subscriptions, 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.039 payable any 00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.759 time during the 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.319 year to the 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:01.000 stipend and 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.720 building funds, 00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:02.859 are earnestly 00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:03.879 solicited from 00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:04.579 all those 00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:05.519 desirous of 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.839 assisting in 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.440 the movement. 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.940 That is, the 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.359 movement of 00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:10.700 seeing the 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.399 gospel go to 00:25:11.399 --> 00:25:11.859 Chatswood. 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.879 It is 00:25:14.879 --> 00:25:17.259 decided on 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:18.960 here that no 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:20.519 bazaars, sales 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.379 of works or 00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.420 morning teas 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:23.940 be resorted 00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.700 to obtain 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:25.360 funds. 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.259 It is 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:26.759 hoped that 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.440 every member 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:27.660 of the 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.259 congregation 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.960 will at 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:30.120 once notify 00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:31.279 their promise 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:32.000 of subscriptions. 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:34.860 Generosity 00:25:34.860 --> 00:25:37.279 is in our 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.740 heritage. 00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:39.019 And so make 00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.460 a commitment 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:39.960 to see the 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.480 word of God 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.259 increase and 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:41.940 spread and be 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.560 generous in 00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:43.340 2014. 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.940 Let me just 00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.440 take you to 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:48.220 I think one of 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:48.680 the most 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.600 wonderful and 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:50.300 heartwarming and 00:25:50.300 --> 00:25:51.360 almost throwaway 00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:52.140 statements in 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.660 this passage and 00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:54.180 I think it 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.820 serves as an 00:25:54.820 --> 00:25:55.820 overarching statement 00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:57.080 to describe our 00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:57.820 mother church. 00:25:58.640 --> 00:25:59.820 It's found, it's 00:25:59.820 --> 00:26:00.640 almost, it is a 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.300 throwaway line 00:26:01.300 --> 00:26:02.540 almost but 00:26:02.540 --> 00:26:03.040 nothing's ever 00:26:03.040 --> 00:26:03.420 really thrown 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:03.780 away in the 00:26:03.780 --> 00:26:04.220 word of God. 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.240 It is found at 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:05.980 the end of 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:07.040 verse 26. 00:26:08.580 --> 00:26:09.240 The disciples 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.940 were called 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:11.320 Christians first 00:26:11.320 --> 00:26:12.480 at Antioch. 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:15.720 In the first 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.900 century Antioch, 00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.220 back first 00:26:19.040 --> 00:26:20.080 century, Antioch 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:20.740 was a melting 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.859 pot of at 00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:22.619 least five 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.899 different cultures. 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:25.839 People came 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:27.599 far, to live in 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.079 Antioch, people 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:29.199 came as far away 00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:30.899 as China to 00:26:30.899 --> 00:26:31.899 live in the 00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:33.299 Las Vegas of 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.119 the Roman Empire. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.439 It was known 00:26:36.439 --> 00:26:38.179 for two things, 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.799 its chariot 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:41.759 races and its 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.000 deliberate pursuit 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.799 of pleasure. 00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:47.539 Antioch was 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.619 most famous 00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.359 in terms of its 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:49.740 pursuit of 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.639 pleasure for 00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:51.419 its worship 00:26:51.419 --> 00:26:52.200 of the 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.259 goddess Daphne. 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.559 Apollo's 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.519 famous pursuit 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.279 of Daphne 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.779 was reenacted 00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.639 each night 00:26:59.639 --> 00:27:00.440 by the men 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.559 of Antioch 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:02.539 pursuing 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:04.000 the Daphne 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.519 temple 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.720 prostitutes. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.019 Every night. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:10.960 And throughout 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.720 the world, 00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:12.740 the morals 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.480 of Daphne 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:13.980 was a 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.559 euphemism 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.620 for depravity. 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.579 A depravity 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.279 that has its 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.000 centre at 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:20.380 Antioch, a 00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:21.460 city of 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:23.200 sensuality and 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.940 depravity. 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.180 And if you've 00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:26.620 been reading the 00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.299 local papers 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:28.099 recently, you'll 00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:28.759 notice that we've 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.660 got a whole lot 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:32.180 of brothels 00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:33.759 in Chatswood 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.640 and Crowsnest 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:36.079 and it is 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:37.460 becoming the 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:37.839 red light 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.400 district of 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:38.700 Sydney. 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.599 It's astounding. 00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:42.959 And the 00:27:42.959 --> 00:27:43.480 church at 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.379 Antioch 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:45.659 was like a 00:27:45.659 --> 00:27:46.959 flower growing 00:27:46.959 --> 00:27:47.799 in a putrid 00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:49.119 bog, a 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:49.839 patch of 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.639 lush grass 00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:51.259 in a desert, 00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:51.959 a gospel 00:27:51.959 --> 00:27:53.719 vitality now 00:27:53.719 --> 00:27:54.819 burned in 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.819 the sensual, 00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:56.500 depraved, 00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.339 materialistic, 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.500 spiritual darkness 00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:59.859 of Antioch. 00:27:59.859 --> 00:27:59.899 Antioch. 00:28:02.459 --> 00:28:04.119 And this 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:04.899 new church 00:28:04.899 --> 00:28:05.279 which had 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.899 formed in 00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:06.659 Antioch, 00:28:06.939 --> 00:28:07.699 this flower 00:28:07.699 --> 00:28:08.779 in the bog 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:10.559 was so 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.419 completely 00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:13.099 foreign to 00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:13.819 the bleak 00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.819 environment 00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:16.959 that it 00:28:16.959 --> 00:28:17.479 altered the 00:28:17.479 --> 00:28:18.339 vocabulary of 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:18.779 the city 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:20.399 and from 00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:20.819 there the 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.219 world. 00:28:22.699 --> 00:28:23.359 When God's 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:23.899 people live 00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:24.359 for Christ 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:24.879 in such 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:25.399 depth and 00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:26.500 power that 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.179 those who 00:28:27.179 --> 00:28:28.119 round them 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:29.059 have to 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:30.079 strive for 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.559 a new 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.819 term to 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.639 describe what 00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:33.399 they see, 00:28:34.239 --> 00:28:35.059 that's 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:35.759 astounding. 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.139 Now perhaps 00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:39.519 there's a 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.099 jesting and a 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:40.759 mocking edge 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.039 to the 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.459 nickname, 00:28:41.899 --> 00:28:43.019 perhaps there's 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.699 even a little 00:28:43.699 --> 00:28:44.500 bit of rage 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:45.699 because these 00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:46.219 people were 00:28:46.219 --> 00:28:46.739 such a 00:28:46.739 --> 00:28:47.479 contradiction to 00:28:47.479 --> 00:28:48.239 the ethos of 00:28:48.239 --> 00:28:48.759 Antioch. 00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:50.419 The new 00:28:50.419 --> 00:28:51.159 term which is 00:28:51.159 --> 00:28:51.819 part Greek 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.679 and part 00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:54.139 Latin was a 00:28:54.139 --> 00:28:54.959 mongrel name 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:57.240 but it 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.559 said it 00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:57.860 all, 00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.220 Christian, 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.559 followers 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.980 of Christ. 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.559 Christ was 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.539 so much on 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.180 these believers 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:09.660 lips, 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:12.480 they lived 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:12.980 so like 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.700 Christ that 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.380 no other 00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:14.920 name would 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.279 do. 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.720 Followers 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.279 of Christ. 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.759 Alexander 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.340 the Great 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:24.599 once learned 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:24.980 that in 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:26.559 his army 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:28.039 was another 00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.799 Alexander 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:30.059 who was a 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.559 notorious 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:32.079 coward and 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:32.699 Alexander the 00:29:32.699 --> 00:29:32.959 Great, 00:29:33.199 --> 00:29:33.859 as you would 00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:34.959 hopefully know, 00:29:35.179 --> 00:29:35.720 conquered the 00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.339 then known 00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:36.819 world at the 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.679 age of 23. 00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:40.480 He called 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:42.459 this young 00:29:42.459 --> 00:29:43.720 coward before 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.399 him and he 00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:44.559 said, 00:29:44.619 --> 00:29:45.319 is your name 00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.399 Alexander and 00:29:46.399 --> 00:29:47.480 are you named 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:49.299 after me? 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:50.759 And the 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.480 trembling coward 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:51.859 said, 00:29:51.959 --> 00:29:52.439 yes sir, 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.080 my name is 00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:54.059 Alexander and 00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:55.000 yes I was 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:56.440 named after 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:56.860 you. 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.080 And the 00:29:58.080 --> 00:29:58.299 Great 00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:58.840 General looked 00:29:58.840 --> 00:29:59.180 at him and 00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.380 said, 00:29:59.480 --> 00:29:59.840 then either 00:29:59.840 --> 00:30:00.779 be brave or 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.360 change your 00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:01.720 name. 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:08.320 Fortunately 00:30:08.320 --> 00:30:08.960 Christ 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:10.640 doesn't say 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.460 that to us 00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:13.120 but he does 00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:13.840 call us to 00:30:13.840 --> 00:30:14.480 be who we 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:14.779 are. 00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:18.299 In two 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:18.759 Sundays, 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.440 it will be 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.620 112 years 00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:23.000 since our 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:23.739 first services 00:30:23.739 --> 00:30:26.059 here in 00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:26.439 the mission 00:30:26.439 --> 00:30:26.859 field of 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.359 Chatswood. 00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:30.059 St. Paul's 00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.759 was once upon 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.359 a time a 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:31.659 young, 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.639 newly founded 00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:33.819 North Shore 00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:34.539 Antioch. 00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:36.659 And praise 00:30:36.659 --> 00:30:37.379 God that in 00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:38.439 its 112 years 00:30:38.439 --> 00:30:38.899 there has 00:30:38.899 --> 00:30:40.959 been generosity 00:30:40.959 --> 00:30:41.779 and mission 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.739 orientation and 00:30:42.739 --> 00:30:43.000 servant 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.879 hardness and 00:30:43.879 --> 00:30:45.299 it's been 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.000 disciple making 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.599 church. 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:46.699 church. 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.699 But we 00:30:50.699 --> 00:30:51.139 also know 00:30:51.139 --> 00:30:51.639 something of 00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:52.519 those things 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:54.500 have been 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.179 lost or 00:30:55.179 --> 00:30:55.579 not as 00:30:55.579 --> 00:30:55.919 sharply 00:30:55.919 --> 00:30:56.699 focused as 00:30:56.699 --> 00:30:57.019 it could 00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.459 have been. 00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.659 There were 00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:00.179 more people 00:31:00.179 --> 00:31:00.699 in church 00:31:00.699 --> 00:31:01.699 112 years 00:31:01.699 --> 00:31:02.179 ago than 00:31:02.179 --> 00:31:02.480 what there 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.159 are here 00:31:03.159 --> 00:31:03.579 today. 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:08.919 And as 00:31:08.919 --> 00:31:09.480 we launch 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:09.859 into the 00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:10.359 future, 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.720 my deep 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.099 commitment 00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:13.059 is for us 00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:13.740 to emulate 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.599 our mother 00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.139 church's 00:31:15.139 --> 00:31:16.740 vision and 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:18.099 passion and 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:19.059 commitment to 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:20.379 display Christ 00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:21.619 where he has 00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:22.460 placed us. 00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.339 Imagine if 00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:25.720 there was 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.439 such a 00:31:26.439 --> 00:31:27.899 Christ-centered 00:31:27.899 --> 00:31:29.579 spiritual dynamic 00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.639 operating amongst 00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:32.240 us that it 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:32.899 caused for 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.440 people to 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:34.560 reach for 00:31:34.560 --> 00:31:34.900 a new 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.259 name. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.259 And that 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:41.660 is what we 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:42.040 are committing 00:31:42.040 --> 00:31:42.700 to today. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:44.780 We are 00:31:44.780 --> 00:31:45.500 simply committing 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.420 to live out 00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:48.019 who we say 00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:48.660 we are. 00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:50.920 We are 00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:51.640 committing to 00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:52.440 be worthy of 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.940 the name 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:55.540 Christian in 00:31:55.540 --> 00:31:56.519 2014. 00:31:57.900 --> 00:31:58.759 So let's 00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.420 commit together 00:31:59.420 --> 00:31:59.840 to know 00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:01.120 Jesus and 00:32:01.120 --> 00:32:01.940 treasure Jesus 00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:02.700 and represent 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.420 Jesus for 00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:04.120 God's glory 00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:04.980 and the 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.660 joy of 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:06.200 all people. 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:06.840 Let's 00:32:06.840 --> 00:32:07.080 pray. 00:32:07.080 --> 00:32:07.400 Let's 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:07.640 pray. 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.240 Our 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.539 gracious 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:13.980 Father, 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:15.140 help us 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:15.440 to be 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:15.840 loyal, 00:32:16.580 --> 00:32:16.980 brave, 00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:17.440 committed 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.100 followers of 00:32:18.100 --> 00:32:19.539 Christ who 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.180 refuse to 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:20.759 turn back, 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.720 who dare to 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.519 stand firm 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.720 and to 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.600 make Christ's 00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:26.200 name known 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:26.980 to all 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.920 around us, 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:30.120 who desire 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:32.940 to shine 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:33.620 the light of 00:32:33.620 --> 00:32:34.060 the glory 00:32:34.060 --> 00:32:34.720 of Christ 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:36.039 in the 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.680 dark world 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:37.340 of Chatswood. 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.660 Enable us 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.060 with your 00:32:40.060 --> 00:32:40.620 spirit, 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.640 by your 00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:42.120 spirit that 00:32:42.120 --> 00:32:42.620 we might 00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:43.519 have such 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:44.560 confidence and 00:32:44.560 --> 00:32:44.960 joy in 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:46.340 Christ that 00:32:46.340 --> 00:32:46.700 it might 00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.940 overflow into 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.460 a growing 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:49.759 commitment to 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:50.560 live out our 00:32:50.560 --> 00:32:51.300 purpose as 00:32:51.300 --> 00:32:51.880 your children. 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:54.140 and we 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:54.680 ask that you 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.140 would open 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:55.740 us to new 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.580 horizons of 00:32:56.580 --> 00:32:57.240 your expansive 00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:58.000 purposes in 00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:58.540 this world. 00:32:59.760 --> 00:33:00.540 Save people 00:33:00.540 --> 00:33:01.880 and build your 00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:03.900 church for 00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:04.480 your glory. 00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:05.480 Amen.