WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:07.520 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Shine Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:07.520 --> 00:00:10.400 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you on this snowy day. 00:00:11.500 --> 00:00:14.939 Special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. We're glad that you're here, 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:17.879 and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:22.359 but because we're following Jesus together as one community, and as we follow Jesus, 00:00:22.460 --> 00:00:25.679 we become convinced that there's no one so good that they don't need God's grace, 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:33.320 and no one so bad that they can't have it, which is why we turn every week to hear what God has to say to us in his word. 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:39.219 We've been studying the book of 1 Peter, and the book of 1 Peter, as I've been telling you, is a letter. 00:00:39.299 --> 00:00:44.939 It's a letter written by a man named Peter to churches in the first century A.D. in Asia Minor, 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:48.739 what's now modern-day Western Turkey, and these churches are struggling. 00:00:48.879 --> 00:00:51.920 They're struggling because they feel out of place in the world as Christians, 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:56.620 and they're struggling because they're facing opposition in the world for being Christians. 00:00:57.400 --> 00:00:59.560 And so Peter writes to encourage and instruct them. 00:00:59.660 --> 00:01:01.939 He writes to encourage them that Jesus is worth it. 00:01:02.780 --> 00:01:06.900 He's worth living and loving for, and he's worth serving and dying for. 00:01:08.099 --> 00:01:10.000 And he also writes to instruct them. 00:01:10.020 --> 00:01:13.060 He writes to instruct them how to live as Christians in the world 00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:16.780 and also how to respond when they face opposition for being Christians. 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:20.299 Now, the last several weeks, we've been in a section on suffering, 00:01:20.299 --> 00:01:22.379 so we've been on the instruction side. 00:01:22.459 --> 00:01:26.579 We've been on the side of how to respond when you face opposition for being a Christian. 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:30.519 We're going to turn this week back to the other portion of the instruction, 00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:32.439 how to live as a Christian in this world. 00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:34.359 We'll be back to suffering next week. 00:01:34.379 --> 00:01:39.239 In this section, we're going to look primarily about how it is that we interact as a church together, 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:40.079 as one community. 00:01:41.239 --> 00:01:44.299 We've got a lot to cover today, so I'm just going to jump right in. 00:01:44.299 --> 00:01:46.079 And I'll say this as we start. 00:01:46.219 --> 00:01:48.420 Many people, in fact, we might even say most people, 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:53.359 long for thick and rich community. 00:01:55.479 --> 00:01:59.019 You probably long for thick and rich community. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:04.859 Few people are willing to do the work that it takes to get there. 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:09.960 Many people long for thick and rich community. 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:13.479 Few people are willing to do the work that it takes to get there. 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:17.639 Peter, in this passage, is going to give us some very practical advice 00:02:17.639 --> 00:02:20.239 about how to live together in the church. 00:02:21.399 --> 00:02:25.219 How can we actually have the type of community that we long for? 00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:29.280 We're in 1 Peter 4, starting at verse 7. 00:02:29.379 --> 00:02:31.839 And as we come to this, remember that this is God's word. 00:02:32.819 --> 00:02:37.519 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold. 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:42.459 And it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:45.659 And so that's why we read now, starting at verse 7. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:48.460 The end of all things is at hand. 00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:53.840 Therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 00:02:54.860 --> 00:02:57.200 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, 00:02:57.819 --> 00:03:00.680 since love covers a multitude of sins. 00:03:01.580 --> 00:03:02.060 Verse 9. 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:05.080 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:09.660 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:11.880 as good stewards of God's varied grace. 00:03:12.900 --> 00:03:13.460 Verse 11. 00:03:14.360 --> 00:03:17.340 Whoever speaks as one who speaks oracles of God. 00:03:18.140 --> 00:03:21.939 Whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies. 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:27.340 In order that in everything, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:31.100 To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. 00:03:31.099 --> 00:03:31.979 Amen. 00:03:33.639 --> 00:03:36.699 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:42.799 Father in heaven, we come asking for your help, as we always do. 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:46.539 By ourselves, we will destroy this community. 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:51.500 And so we ask that you would speak to us by your word, 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:53.680 and you'd move in our hearts by your spirit. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:04:00.259 That you would change us into the type of people who build up rather than tear down. 00:04:01.659 --> 00:04:04.079 Most of all, we ask that you would soften our hearts, 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:06.719 and you'd open our ears and our eyes, 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:08.199 and that you'd clear our minds. 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:12.899 That we would be able to hear and see and understand and believe 00:04:12.899 --> 00:04:17.079 everything that it's written about Jesus in your word. 00:04:18.039 --> 00:04:19.920 And so we ask these things in his name. 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:21.000 Amen. 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:29.800 The last several weeks, we've had a variety of challenging theological statements to sort out. 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:34.579 We had the section about Jesus proclaiming to the spirits who were in prison. 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:36.500 That was somewhat challenging. 00:04:37.819 --> 00:04:41.759 Last week, we had to deal with what in the world does Peter mean 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:43.980 when he says those who are suffered have done with sin. 00:04:44.460 --> 00:04:45.699 And we're not over yet. 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:49.620 So we're starting this passage again with another challenging phrase. 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.600 In verse 7, we find out the end of all things is at hand. 00:04:53.080 --> 00:04:57.019 This has been something that's been erased as an objection to Christian faith for many years. 00:04:57.019 --> 00:04:59.560 It's based on not just this passage, but other passages. 00:04:59.719 --> 00:05:03.459 You may have noticed in our preparation for worship, Mark chapter 1, 00:05:03.539 --> 00:05:06.279 Jesus says the kingdom of God is at hand or is near. 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:09.299 Many people have claimed, well, that's great. 00:05:09.419 --> 00:05:13.060 Jesus and Paul and Peter all believed that the kingdom of God was near. 00:05:13.180 --> 00:05:13.839 And guess what? 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:15.339 We're here 2,000 years later. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:17.000 Obviously, they were wrong. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:20.139 Clearly, they were mistaken. 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:22.019 They thought the end of the world was coming. 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:23.139 It hasn't come. 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:26.759 The fact that we're still here disproves Christianity. 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:28.120 It proves that it's not true. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:32.279 And so what do we as Christians make of that? 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:34.259 What is Peter saying here? 00:05:34.980 --> 00:05:35.379 Excuse me. 00:05:36.420 --> 00:05:39.399 To understand, I want you to imagine this for a second with me. 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:41.539 Let's say, and this is not just hypothetical, 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:46.219 a report has reached my ears that this has actually occurred in the city of Colorado Springs. 00:05:46.220 --> 00:05:54.000 You and a group of your friends decide in one day you are going to watch all three of the Lord of the Rings movies. 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:56.440 Wait. 00:05:57.140 --> 00:05:59.420 It's not just the regular Lord of the Rings movies. 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:01.220 You're watching the extended version. 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:07.120 So every single movie is over three or four hours long. 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:11.120 Now, the report I heard about this happening in Colorado Springs, 00:06:11.200 --> 00:06:14.540 they also made the recipes from the movie that went along with it, 00:06:14.580 --> 00:06:16.280 so they had breaks in between where they could eat. 00:06:16.860 --> 00:06:17.940 All I can say is amen. 00:06:17.939 --> 00:06:21.300 And let's imagine you're at this event, 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:23.439 and you have finished the first two movies. 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:25.819 You finished The Fellowship of the Ring, three plus hours. 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:28.300 You finished The Two Towers, three plus hours. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:31.019 And you're about to start The Return of the King. 00:06:32.899 --> 00:06:34.139 Can you say, 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:37.300 the end of all things is at hand? 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:41.839 Well, in the sense of time, 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:43.139 no, you're wrong. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:45.659 The end of all things is not at hand. 00:06:45.660 --> 00:06:49.100 The last movie is four plus hours long. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:53.439 That is the length of two or three movies. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:54.840 Calm down. 00:06:54.939 --> 00:06:56.360 The end of all things is not at hand, 00:06:56.640 --> 00:07:00.240 as our human perception of movie time goes. 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:05.660 However, in terms of stage, 00:07:06.140 --> 00:07:08.460 the end of all things is at hand. 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:11.100 You have made it to the last movie. 00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:16.879 Peter here is not speaking in the sense of human time. 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:19.340 He is speaking in the terms of stages 00:07:19.340 --> 00:07:22.520 when it comes to the way that God has been working in the world. 00:07:22.640 --> 00:07:23.600 Think about this for a second. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:25.140 There are lots of stages in the Bible. 00:07:25.520 --> 00:07:26.780 First of all, we had creation. 00:07:26.960 --> 00:07:28.360 Creation was followed by Abraham. 00:07:28.540 --> 00:07:30.140 Abraham was followed by the patriarchs. 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:32.700 Patriarchs were followed by the nation of Israel and Egypt. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:33.760 Then they were leaving Egypt. 00:07:33.840 --> 00:07:34.500 They left Egypt. 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:34.920 They came. 00:07:34.980 --> 00:07:36.300 They had to conquest the Promised Land. 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:36.980 That was the stage. 00:07:37.220 --> 00:07:38.560 Then they had a stage in the Promised Land 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:39.500 where they were ruled by judges. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:40.519 After they were ruled by judges, 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:41.360 they were ruled by kings. 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:42.040 When they had the kings, 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:42.899 it was a united kingdom, 00:07:42.980 --> 00:07:43.780 then a divided kingdom. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:45.220 After it was a divided kingdom, 00:07:45.280 --> 00:07:46.139 there was before the exile, 00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:46.959 and after the exile, 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:47.959 and then finally they were looking 00:07:47.959 --> 00:07:49.839 during the time when there was no word from God, 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:51.079 and finally Jesus came. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:56.040 There's a lot of stages. 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:58.379 The last stage is here. 00:07:59.959 --> 00:08:01.139 That is the sense in which 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:03.500 the end of all things is at hand. 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:05.759 If you remember from 1 Peter 1, 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:07.100 and I'm going to turn back there, 00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:08.860 we had verse 21, 00:08:09.760 --> 00:08:10.860 which told us, 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:14.360 maybe it's verse 20, 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:17.420 he was foreknown before the foundation of the world, 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:18.960 but was made manifest in what? 00:08:19.700 --> 00:08:21.420 In the last times, 00:08:21.660 --> 00:08:23.660 for the sake of you. 00:08:25.340 --> 00:08:27.620 Both the recipients and the reader, 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:28.600 and us today, 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.480 so the recipients of this letter in the 60s AD, 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:31.820 and us in 2020, 00:08:32.019 --> 00:08:33.980 are living in the last times, 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:37.139 in the sense that we are in the last stage 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:38.759 of God's plan of redemption. 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:41.600 Both of us look back, 00:08:41.680 --> 00:08:43.060 all those other stages are done. 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:44.700 There's no new stage that's happened. 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:46.440 We're in the age of the church, 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:47.940 as some people might call it. 00:08:48.340 --> 00:08:50.480 We're in the age after Jesus has come. 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:51.740 So all of us, 00:08:51.820 --> 00:08:52.960 in that sense, 00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:53.920 are in the last times. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:56.279 But we do know, 00:08:57.059 --> 00:08:58.019 wherever we are, 00:08:58.120 --> 00:08:58.979 in that last movie, 00:08:59.079 --> 00:09:00.679 we haven't gotten to the battle of the Black Gates. 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:04.039 But all of us are in the last times. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:05.599 So in that sense, 00:09:05.959 --> 00:09:06.959 Peter is telling them, 00:09:07.319 --> 00:09:08.679 the end of all things is at hand. 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:10.719 It's the same sense in which Jesus means it. 00:09:11.199 --> 00:09:12.360 The same sense he tells them, 00:09:12.419 --> 00:09:13.459 in our preparation for worship, 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:15.379 repent and believe the gospel, 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:18.299 for the kingdom of God is at hand. 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:20.579 With that being said, 00:09:20.580 --> 00:09:21.720 everything that follows here 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:22.560 is going to be in light of that. 00:09:22.660 --> 00:09:23.620 How do we live, 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:25.639 knowing that we're in the last stage 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:26.720 of God's plan of redemption? 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:28.060 The first thing he tells them 00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:30.240 is that they need to be in prayer. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:31.560 Again, verse seven, 00:09:31.660 --> 00:09:33.220 be self-controlled and sober-minded 00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:34.940 for the sake of your prayers. 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:35.879 This would be the opposite, 00:09:36.060 --> 00:09:37.520 self-controlled of what we've seen before. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:38.720 And there's a focus 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.680 and a certain way of thinking. 00:09:40.800 --> 00:09:42.440 They need to remember and know 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:44.240 that they're in the last stage 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:44.920 of God's redemption. 00:09:45.180 --> 00:09:47.480 Knowing and remembering that's going to focus them. 00:09:47.540 --> 00:09:48.320 It's going to remind them 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:49.360 that they need to pray. 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:51.720 And then it's going to help them 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:52.759 understand how to pray. 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:53.879 Perhaps they're praying 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:55.120 that they would be faithful 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:56.740 to 1 Peter 3.15, 00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:58.280 that they'd be able to give an answer 00:09:58.280 --> 00:09:59.460 for the hope that's within them. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:01.080 Maybe they're praying 00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:02.660 for their friends who don't know Jesus, 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:04.080 knowing that the end is near, 00:10:04.139 --> 00:10:05.480 that they also would repent 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:06.680 of their sins and believe. 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:08.680 Maybe they're in the midst of suffering 00:10:08.680 --> 00:10:09.680 for righteousness' sake 00:10:09.680 --> 00:10:10.860 and they need to pray 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:12.060 that God would give them 00:10:12.060 --> 00:10:13.400 the strength to continue. 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:15.980 No matter what it is, 00:10:16.040 --> 00:10:16.740 they're praying 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:18.180 with an understanding 00:10:18.180 --> 00:10:20.200 of what's going on right now. 00:10:21.400 --> 00:10:22.460 We could tie this back 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:23.320 to last week as well 00:10:23.320 --> 00:10:23.600 and say, 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:24.700 if they don't believe 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:25.460 the end is at hand, 00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:27.259 why would they not engage 00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:28.639 in the sorts of things we discussed? 00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:31.100 If there's no future, 00:10:31.560 --> 00:10:32.420 why would you not seek 00:10:32.420 --> 00:10:33.639 as much pleasure as possible? 00:10:35.280 --> 00:10:35.639 Well, 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:37.100 because the end of all things 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:37.680 is at hand. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:39.280 So, 00:10:39.400 --> 00:10:40.240 be self-controlled 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.040 and sober-minded 00:10:41.040 --> 00:10:42.240 for the sake of your prayers. 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.420 There's an expectation 00:10:43.420 --> 00:10:44.620 that if we understand 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:45.840 the reality of where we're at 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:46.600 in God's plan 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:47.300 for the world, 00:10:47.299 --> 00:10:48.019 that we will not 00:10:48.019 --> 00:10:49.059 become complacent, 00:10:49.339 --> 00:10:50.479 but instead we'll be faithful 00:10:50.479 --> 00:10:51.639 in praying to him 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:53.519 for the help that we need 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:54.519 and what we hope to see 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:55.859 happen before his return. 00:10:57.959 --> 00:10:58.419 And so, 00:10:58.479 --> 00:10:59.000 how do we live 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:00.079 in light of the fact 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:00.979 that the end of all things 00:11:00.979 --> 00:11:01.539 is at hand? 00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:02.299 First of all, 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.459 we are praying 00:11:03.459 --> 00:11:04.959 with that in mind. 00:11:08.459 --> 00:11:09.779 Having covered prayer, 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:12.279 Peter moves on 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.439 for the rest of this passage 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:14.540 to how it is 00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:15.580 that we exist together 00:11:15.580 --> 00:11:16.220 as a community. 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:17.240 If we're going to be 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:18.560 experiencing the kind of suffering 00:11:18.560 --> 00:11:19.960 that's come in the previous passages 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:21.360 and that we'll discuss 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.760 in next week's passage, 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:25.940 we're not going to make it alone. 00:11:29.020 --> 00:11:30.440 If the end of all things 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:31.060 is at hand, 00:11:31.100 --> 00:11:31.960 we're not going to be able 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:32.920 to do it by ourselves. 00:11:33.040 --> 00:11:33.420 And so, 00:11:33.780 --> 00:11:34.920 this is where Peter begins 00:11:34.920 --> 00:11:35.920 to give us incredibly 00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:37.220 practical advice 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:39.260 for how we can have 00:11:39.260 --> 00:11:40.820 a rich and thick 00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:42.180 and strong community. 00:11:42.179 --> 00:11:43.479 first, 00:11:43.599 --> 00:11:44.120 verse 8. 00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:45.879 He says, 00:11:45.959 --> 00:11:46.399 above all, 00:11:46.459 --> 00:11:47.679 so apparently this is more important 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:48.419 than anything else, 00:11:48.979 --> 00:11:50.579 keep loving one another earnestly 00:11:50.579 --> 00:11:52.159 since love 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:53.699 covers a multitude of sins. 00:11:55.219 --> 00:11:55.659 Now, 00:11:55.699 --> 00:11:56.339 in what sense 00:11:56.339 --> 00:11:57.339 does love cover 00:11:57.339 --> 00:11:58.879 a multitude of sins? 00:11:58.979 --> 00:11:59.919 It's probably here 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:01.519 in the sense that Proverbs 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.699 chapter 19, 00:12:02.839 --> 00:12:03.939 verse 11 talks about. 00:12:04.079 --> 00:12:04.799 In the book of Proverbs, 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:05.899 it says in that verse, 00:12:06.479 --> 00:12:08.359 it is a man's glory 00:12:08.359 --> 00:12:10.240 to overlook 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:11.079 an offense. 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:14.879 It's to a man's glory 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.859 to overlook 00:12:15.859 --> 00:12:16.839 an offense. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:18.279 Some translations say honor. 00:12:18.839 --> 00:12:19.579 There's a variety 00:12:19.579 --> 00:12:20.459 of different strategies 00:12:20.459 --> 00:12:20.959 that we have 00:12:20.959 --> 00:12:21.959 for dealing with conflict. 00:12:22.219 --> 00:12:23.379 One of them is overlooking. 00:12:23.839 --> 00:12:24.039 Now, 00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.599 if you never have conflict, 00:12:25.739 --> 00:12:26.519 you're not overlooking. 00:12:27.319 --> 00:12:28.199 You're just very 00:12:28.199 --> 00:12:28.879 passive aggressive. 00:12:30.779 --> 00:12:31.219 But, 00:12:31.359 --> 00:12:32.099 in the variety 00:12:32.099 --> 00:12:32.679 of conflicts 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.239 that happen, 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:34.399 sometimes the option 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:34.959 is to know, 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:35.279 you know what, 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:35.959 I'm just going to take 00:12:35.959 --> 00:12:36.679 this one on the chin. 00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:39.199 Not every conflict 00:12:39.199 --> 00:12:41.000 is worth pursuing. 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:42.500 Not every way 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.219 that someone else 00:12:43.219 --> 00:12:43.859 hurts you 00:12:43.859 --> 00:12:45.359 is worth pursuing. 00:12:45.699 --> 00:12:47.099 There's a lot of things 00:12:47.099 --> 00:12:48.039 that all of us do 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:48.679 in the church 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:49.399 that hurt each other. 00:12:50.479 --> 00:12:51.279 I've done things 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:52.179 that have hurt some of you. 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:53.579 Some of you 00:12:53.579 --> 00:12:54.120 have done things 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:54.759 that have hurt me. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.059 Some of you have done things 00:12:56.059 --> 00:12:56.919 that hurt each other. 00:12:58.319 --> 00:12:59.459 And at some point, 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.059 we decide 00:13:00.059 --> 00:13:01.259 what is worth fighting over 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:01.939 and what isn't. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.099 We're going to be 00:13:04.099 --> 00:13:04.759 sinful people 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:05.419 in this world. 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:06.559 We're going to hurt 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:07.039 each other. 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.620 And there's certain things 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:10.019 that are at such a small level, 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.039 we've just got to let it go. 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:13.639 That's love. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:14.840 That's what it looks like 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:15.879 to love one another 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:17.059 earnestly from the heart. 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:19.580 We love someone else 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:20.360 so much 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.580 that we're just 00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:22.279 sometimes willing 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:22.659 to say, 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:22.960 you know what, 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:23.439 that person, 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:24.939 they really get on my nerves. 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:25.879 I don't like the way 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.879 that they articulated that 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:27.620 or said that. 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:30.500 But I also love them. 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:32.220 And I'm not going to 00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:32.840 call a foul 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:33.639 every time there's a foul. 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:34.259 I'm not a referee. 00:13:34.759 --> 00:13:37.299 A mentor of mine 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:38.059 explains it this way, 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:38.740 living in life 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:39.319 is sort of like 00:13:39.319 --> 00:13:40.159 being in an airport. 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.779 And there's all kinds 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.840 of people with backpacks 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:43.480 that they have on. 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:45.759 And often, 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:46.600 they move around 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:47.659 and they just whack you 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:48.279 right in the face 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:48.819 with their backpack. 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:51.819 They have no idea, 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:52.100 right? 00:13:53.779 --> 00:13:54.519 All of us 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.139 have baggage. 00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.500 And all of us 00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.559 have more baggage 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:00.480 than we realize. 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:04.179 I have another mentor 00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:04.659 who says that 00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:05.239 many of us think 00:14:05.239 --> 00:14:05.819 that we have 00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:07.339 carry-on baggage 00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:07.939 in our lives 00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:08.519 when really we all 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.379 have checked baggage. 00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:12.419 That causes us 00:14:12.419 --> 00:14:13.599 to hurt each other a lot, 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:14.839 sometimes unintentionally. 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:18.559 Living in the church 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:20.120 means as we love each other, 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.959 sometimes we make the choice 00:14:21.959 --> 00:14:22.839 to overlook that. 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.819 And that's the godly thing to do. 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:28.839 Some of us 00:14:28.839 --> 00:14:30.120 are real strong personalities. 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:32.460 And the way we say things 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:33.519 just grates on other people. 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:36.620 Sometimes we just overlook that. 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:37.480 We hear the heart 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.560 behind what someone's saying. 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:40.679 Some people have been 00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:41.940 really hurt in the past 00:14:41.940 --> 00:14:43.539 by people that resemble us. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:45.720 And they're going to 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.460 take that out on us 00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.340 even though it's not our fault. 00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:48.500 We'll pay other people's 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.159 debts for them. 00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:52.759 Sometimes we overlook that. 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:56.519 recognizing that sometimes 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.240 we whack people 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:57.980 in the face too. 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:00.299 With our backpack 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:01.080 that's larger 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:03.179 than we realize it is. 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:06.220 If we want to have 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:07.379 rich and thick community, 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:08.399 we keep loving 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.419 one another earnestly, 00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:10.259 letting love 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:11.200 cover 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:13.200 a multitude of sins. 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:18.159 Next, verse 9. 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.220 This is a list, by the way. 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:19.939 It's just a list 00:15:19.939 --> 00:15:21.100 of practical instruction 00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:21.679 for the church. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:22.939 Show hospitality 00:15:22.939 --> 00:15:23.839 to one another 00:15:23.839 --> 00:15:24.599 without grumbling. 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.859 Now, it'd be quick 00:15:26.859 --> 00:15:27.359 to think 00:15:27.359 --> 00:15:29.500 in our Western American context, 00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:30.759 it'd be easy for us 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.879 to think this is primarily 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.739 about having people 00:15:32.739 --> 00:15:33.659 over to your house 00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:34.659 and maybe you would grumble 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:36.259 because you'd have 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:37.039 to clean up the house 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:37.519 and that would create 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.099 some work 00:15:38.099 --> 00:15:39.299 and you're the one 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:40.379 hosting the main dish 00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:41.359 so you're spending money 00:15:41.359 --> 00:15:42.039 you wouldn't otherwise 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:42.579 be spending. 00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:43.759 And there's all kinds 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:45.000 of ways in which 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.579 you're put out 00:15:45.579 --> 00:15:46.779 by showing this hospitality. 00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:49.620 And so don't grumble. 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:51.940 Now, it's certainly 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:53.259 not less than that 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:53.840 in this passage 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:54.639 but it's probably 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.659 much, much more. 00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:56.500 If you think about 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.379 this church for a second, 00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:58.060 if they're suffering 00:15:58.060 --> 00:15:59.340 for the name of Jesus Christ 00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:00.279 and they're living 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:00.779 in this culture 00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:01.299 that's hostile, 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:01.679 there's probably 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:02.980 all sorts of needs 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:03.580 that they have 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.580 that involve hospitality 00:16:04.580 --> 00:16:06.080 that are not just 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:06.860 having someone 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.500 over to their house 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:07.779 for dinner. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:08.560 They probably need 00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:09.399 a worship space. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:11.940 Well, who has 00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:12.500 the biggest house 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.000 in the church? 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:17.120 There might be 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.720 needs for gatherings 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.879 of groups. 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:22.740 Maybe someone 00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.419 needs shelter. 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:25.940 Maybe, 00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:27.580 and this really 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:28.379 gets to the heart of it, 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:29.740 this is after a section 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.440 about suffering 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:31.000 for the name 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:31.779 of Jesus Christ. 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:33.399 Maybe someone 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.639 needs hospitality 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.899 because they've chosen 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:36.659 to do what's right. 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.360 Think about this 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:37.919 for a second. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:40.700 We have someone, 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.279 let's say, 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:42.120 in our congregation 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:44.060 they choose 00:16:44.060 --> 00:16:44.539 that they're going 00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:45.600 to do what's right 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.860 and therefore 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:48.120 they lose their job 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:50.039 and they're no longer 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:51.120 able to pay their rent. 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:54.019 Who are they going 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:54.679 to stay with? 00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:58.399 Us. 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:00.039 They're staying with us. 00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:02.100 They're staying 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:02.899 with one of you. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.500 Imagine another situation. 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.220 Someone is in 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:07.700 a sinful relationship 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.039 and they're living 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.640 with someone else 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.619 in that relationship. 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:11.480 They convert 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.160 to Christianity 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:12.759 and they realize 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.500 we can't be 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.360 under the same roof 00:17:14.360 --> 00:17:14.759 anymore. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:15.900 However, 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:17.120 we signed a lease 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:17.740 together and I'm 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.539 legally obligated 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.380 to continue paying 00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:19.779 this lease 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.700 with this other person 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:21.720 for the next three months. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:22.860 I can't get out of it 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.519 but I also have to 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.079 leave this house 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:24.980 for the sake of righteousness. 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:26.920 Where are they 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:27.640 going to live? 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:29.980 They're living 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:30.480 with you. 00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:33.900 Let's say 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:34.500 someone's a 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.259 1 Peter 4, 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:35.860 1 through 6 00:17:35.860 --> 00:17:36.420 sort of person. 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.220 They're celebrating 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:37.779 the passions 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:38.700 of the Gentiles 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.920 and they've 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.839 come to realize 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:41.599 that Jesus calls 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.119 them to something 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:42.559 different 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.639 so they repent 00:17:43.639 --> 00:17:44.519 of their sins 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.279 except 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.799 they no longer 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.319 have anywhere 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:48.160 to go on Friday 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:48.720 night because 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.660 they used to be 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.799 what did it say 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.940 verse 3? 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:52.960 They used to be 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.399 at orgies 00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:54.200 and drinking parties. 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:54.779 Now they're not 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.359 there anymore. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.460 Where are they 00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:58.259 going on Friday 00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:58.680 night? 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.500 Your house. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.319 They're coming 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:03.240 to your house 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:04.500 to play 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.400 Bananagrams 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.240 with you 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:09.480 because otherwise 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.779 they don't have 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.440 community. 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.720 Let's think 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.559 about one more. 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.160 Someone converts 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:15.779 to Christianity 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.579 and they're kicked 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:17.620 out of their house. 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:18.700 I had a friend 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.299 this happened to 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:19.779 by the way 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.039 here in the United States. 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.299 Parents disown them 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.120 so you cannot live 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:23.559 here anymore 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.099 as a Christian. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.640 Happens at 10 p.m. 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:28.120 by the way. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.240 Whose door 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.140 are they knocking on? 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:33.759 Our door. 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:34.920 They're knocking 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:35.920 on our door. 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:37.480 And what would be 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.040 tempting in that 00:18:38.040 --> 00:18:38.500 situation? 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.460 Maybe you're sharing 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.020 a bathroom with 00:18:40.020 --> 00:18:40.440 someone you don't 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:40.880 want to be sharing 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.440 a bathroom with. 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:41.980 Maybe it's just 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.940 less space 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.420 for a limited 00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:44.100 amount of time. 00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:45.180 What does Peter 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:45.900 tell us to do? 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:48.340 Show hospitality 00:18:48.340 --> 00:18:49.440 to one another 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.800 without grumbling. 00:18:53.040 --> 00:18:53.259 In fact, 00:18:53.300 --> 00:18:54.000 this will probably 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.780 be something 00:18:54.780 --> 00:18:56.040 that's more and more 00:18:56.040 --> 00:18:57.480 relevant for the 00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.300 American church. 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:00.680 Now I do say 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.279 this sometimes. 00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.200 Don't hear what 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:02.779 I'm not saying. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:04.900 I'm not saying 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:05.480 you as a Christian 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.180 are obligated 00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:07.000 to provide housing 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.400 for anyone 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.080 who needs housing 00:19:08.080 --> 00:19:08.480 and hospitality 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.080 for anyone 00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:09.700 who needs housing. 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:10.759 I'm not saying 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.160 there are not 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:11.500 boundaries. 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:12.080 I'm not saying 00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:12.640 any Christian 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.120 who makes that 00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:13.820 demand on you. 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.380 What I am saying 00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:15.880 is that if we 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:16.660 call people 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.320 to suffer 00:19:17.320 --> 00:19:18.000 for righteousness 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.460 sake, 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:20.860 we need to be 00:19:20.860 --> 00:19:21.660 prepared to give 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.340 them the resources 00:19:22.340 --> 00:19:23.259 necessary for that 00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:23.620 obedience 00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:26.279 as a community. 00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:28.019 If we call 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:28.500 someone to 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.240 righteousness sake, 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:29.940 we can't say, 00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:30.420 hey, 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:30.819 you've got to 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:31.160 leave that 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:31.680 relationship 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.640 and you can't 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.000 live there 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.339 anymore. 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.839 Good luck 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:35.500 finding a place. 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:37.640 No, 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:38.220 we say, 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.500 you have to 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:39.779 leave that 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.240 relationship 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:40.880 and you can't 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:41.299 live there 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:41.599 anymore 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.900 and so-and-so 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.640 and so-and-so 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:44.319 and so-and-so 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.200 all have rooms. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.319 And while you 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:48.079 figure things out 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.640 or while that 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:49.299 lease ends, 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.579 they are going 00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:51.259 to back you 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:51.880 up on that 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:52.660 as you follow 00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.460 Jesus Christ 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.480 in faith. 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.740 Many people 00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.779 want thick 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.900 and rich 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.420 community. 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.559 Few people 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.039 are willing 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.519 to do 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.519 what it 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:05.840 takes. 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:08.420 Okay, 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:08.900 verse 8, 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:09.779 we're covering 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.380 over sins. 00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:11.440 Verse 9, 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:11.900 we're showing 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.720 hospitality to 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.100 one another 00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:13.759 without grumbling. 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.079 Verse 10 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.460 now, 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:18.779 as each 00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:19.240 has received 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.640 a gift, 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:20.519 use it to 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:20.860 serve one 00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:21.340 another as 00:20:21.340 --> 00:20:21.880 good stewards 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:22.480 of God's 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.460 buried grace. 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.440 There's a couple 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.019 things going 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:25.339 on here. 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:25.559 First, 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.000 God gives 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.579 people gifts. 00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:28.200 He gives 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:28.700 them abilities 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.279 to serve 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:29.779 one another 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.160 and the 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:30.480 church. 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:33.220 Second, 00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:34.799 those gifts 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.819 are buried. 00:20:36.360 --> 00:20:36.779 God's 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.480 buried grace. 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.380 Not everyone 00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:39.640 has the 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:40.339 same gift. 00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:43.839 Whatever 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.420 your gift 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:44.779 is, 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:45.680 use it 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.059 to serve 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.480 the body. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.120 Another 00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:49.620 angle on 00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:49.960 that might 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.220 be, 00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:51.460 if you're 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:51.819 serving, 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:53.279 the body 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:53.539 in a way 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:53.740 that's 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.220 not your 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:54.559 gift, 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:56.799 you've 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.000 got to 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.460 be open 00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:57.899 to someone 00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:58.179 saying, 00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:58.399 hey, 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:58.740 this is 00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.919 not your 00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:00.259 area of 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.579 strength. 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.159 Maybe you'd 00:21:02.159 --> 00:21:02.460 be better 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.099 serving over 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.519 in this 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:03.839 area. 00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:05.439 If you're 00:21:05.439 --> 00:21:05.799 not a 00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.039 friendly 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.539 person, 00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:09.079 you probably 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.399 shouldn't be 00:21:09.399 --> 00:21:09.579 on the 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:09.740 greeter 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.059 team. 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.200 Use your 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:12.859 varied gifts. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.619 Maybe you're 00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:13.839 good at 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.439 administration, 00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:14.779 you need 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:14.960 to be in 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.179 a different 00:21:15.179 --> 00:21:15.299 area. 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.039 If you're 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.439 a really 00:21:16.439 --> 00:21:16.759 friendly 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.179 person, 00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:17.519 but you're 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.039 terrible at 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.939 administration, 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.000 you probably 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.399 need to be 00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:20.599 on the 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:20.779 greeter 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.119 team. 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.339 Just not 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:22.779 running it. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:25.779 Serve God 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.319 according to 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:26.879 your 00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:27.439 gifts, 00:21:27.939 --> 00:21:28.319 your 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.279 varied 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.079 gifts. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:31.679 Second, 00:21:32.679 --> 00:21:33.200 make it 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.700 about 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.359 God. 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:35.899 Verse 11, 00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:36.159 whoever 00:21:36.159 --> 00:21:36.859 speaks as 00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:37.179 one who 00:21:37.179 --> 00:21:37.439 speaks 00:21:37.439 --> 00:21:37.919 oracles 00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:38.379 of God, 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.279 whoever 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:40.099 serves as 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:40.439 one who 00:21:40.439 --> 00:21:40.939 serves by 00:21:40.939 --> 00:21:41.619 the strength 00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:42.419 that God 00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:42.879 supplies. 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.419 So we're 00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:43.919 serving the 00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:44.259 church with 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:44.799 our gifts, 00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.220 the actual 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.579 gifts that 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:46.079 we have. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.299 We're open 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:47.639 to being 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.379 redirected to 00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:48.720 the place 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.019 where we're 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.819 actually strong 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.240 rather than 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:50.659 serving in 00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.019 an area 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:51.340 that we're 00:21:51.340 --> 00:21:51.660 weak, 00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:52.580 and then 00:21:52.580 --> 00:21:53.060 we do 00:21:53.060 --> 00:21:53.380 it in a 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:53.840 way that's 00:21:53.840 --> 00:21:54.519 actually about 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:54.860 God. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.420 So there's 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:55.860 two kinds 00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:56.220 of gifts 00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:56.420 that are 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:56.600 here. 00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:56.920 We're talking 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.259 about people 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:57.519 that are 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.100 speaking and 00:21:58.100 --> 00:21:58.420 people that 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:58.779 are serving. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.160 People that 00:21:59.160 --> 00:21:59.600 are speaking 00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:00.600 speak as 00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:01.220 oracles of 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:01.420 God. 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:01.779 In other 00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.160 words, 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.820 if you're 00:22:03.820 --> 00:22:04.160 a preacher 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:04.580 or a 00:22:04.580 --> 00:22:04.900 teacher, 00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:07.160 you're not 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:08.019 called to be 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.540 a life 00:22:08.540 --> 00:22:08.960 coach. 00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:11.880 You're not 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:12.360 called to 00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:12.940 preach your 00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.820 personal opinions 00:22:13.820 --> 00:22:14.500 about things. 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:15.880 You are 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:16.980 called to teach 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.620 the word of 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:17.899 God. 00:22:20.399 --> 00:22:21.000 That's part 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.359 of the reason 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:21.839 that we have 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.379 sequential 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:23.000 expositional 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.519 preaching at 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:23.839 this church. 00:22:23.939 --> 00:22:24.239 We can't 00:22:24.239 --> 00:22:25.000 avoid passages 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.439 of scripture. 00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:26.000 We're sticking 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:27.000 with the text 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.419 and the verses 00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:27.839 that God 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:28.219 has given 00:22:28.219 --> 00:22:28.639 us so that 00:22:28.639 --> 00:22:29.019 those who 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:29.679 speak would 00:22:29.679 --> 00:22:30.279 speak oracles 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:30.739 of God 00:22:30.739 --> 00:22:32.439 rather than 00:22:32.439 --> 00:22:33.039 speaking about 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.500 themselves. 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:35.099 We could 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:35.659 expand this. 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.019 Maybe it's 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.419 not just 00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:36.879 preachers and 00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:37.099 teachers, 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:37.919 but speaking 00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:38.439 in general. 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:38.939 Maybe you're 00:22:38.939 --> 00:22:39.399 in a small 00:22:39.399 --> 00:22:39.619 group. 00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.219 Maybe you're 00:22:40.219 --> 00:22:41.019 in a one-on-one 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.000 relationship with 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.619 another person, 00:22:42.659 --> 00:22:42.879 and they're 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:43.719 discipling you and 00:22:43.719 --> 00:22:44.259 helping you. 00:22:44.719 --> 00:22:45.519 The person who's 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:45.839 doing the 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.579 discipling needs 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.220 to be speaking 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.359 God's truth, 00:22:49.199 --> 00:22:50.899 not their own 00:22:50.899 --> 00:22:51.359 opinions. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.899 Speaking about 00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:53.779 God rather than 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.259 themselves. 00:22:55.139 --> 00:22:55.740 Whatever we're 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.359 doing, however 00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:57.119 we're serving, 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.519 we're serving in 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.000 a way that 00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.859 brings honor and 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:00.799 glory to God. 00:23:02.159 --> 00:23:02.980 The one who 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:05.119 serves by the 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:06.179 strength that God 00:23:06.179 --> 00:23:07.439 supplies, and here 00:23:07.439 --> 00:23:07.759 we have the 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.379 purpose, in order 00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.059 that in everything 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.619 God may be 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.299 glorified through 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:10.939 Jesus Christ. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:11.799 So no matter 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.480 what we're doing, 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:12.939 whether we're 00:23:12.939 --> 00:23:14.099 speaking or we're 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:14.679 serving, we're 00:23:14.679 --> 00:23:15.799 doing it so that 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.680 God would have 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.859 honor and 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:20.819 glory, which 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:23.680 means we have 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.899 to separate our 00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:26.659 ego from our 00:23:26.659 --> 00:23:27.159 service. 00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:30.759 We have to 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.440 separate our 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:32.940 ego from our 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.279 service. 00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:33.559 We have to 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.259 question our 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:34.740 motivations. 00:23:34.899 --> 00:23:35.480 Am I doing 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.539 this for the 00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:37.539 glory and honor 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.079 of God? 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:38.680 If we're doing 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.139 it for the 00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:39.859 glory and honor 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:40.879 of God, we 00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:41.379 won't have 00:23:41.379 --> 00:23:42.480 self-congratulation. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:45.099 We won't say 00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:45.420 things like, 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.380 man, even just 00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:46.799 to ourselves, 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.299 man, I'm so 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:47.720 glad I'm the 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.299 one doing that 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:48.839 and so-and-so's 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.259 not doing it 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:49.680 anymore because 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.039 they did a 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:51.039 terrible job, but 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.539 I'm really good 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:51.960 at this. 00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:53.259 That's not 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:53.920 bringing honor 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.319 and glory to 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:54.500 God. 00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:54.900 That's bringing 00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.460 honor and glory 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:55.900 to you. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:58.980 We know we're 00:23:58.980 --> 00:23:59.299 not bringing 00:23:59.299 --> 00:23:59.839 glory to God 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.180 when we say 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:00.579 things like, 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.799 man, church is 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.620 just so lucky 00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:03.339 to have me. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.000 Or we decide 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.460 what our gifts 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:08.960 are, right, and 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.599 there's no other 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.140 place we can serve. 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.579 I have to serve 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.240 in this way. 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:14.960 Well, it's not 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.379 about God 00:24:15.379 --> 00:24:15.699 anymore. 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.240 I have to do 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:20.460 this. 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.139 No one ever 00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:21.720 gives me the 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.539 credit or the 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.139 honor that they 00:24:23.139 --> 00:24:23.819 don't understand 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.720 how important I 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.019 am. 00:24:27.139 --> 00:24:27.740 That's not 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.359 serving by the 00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:29.439 strength that 00:24:29.439 --> 00:24:30.099 God supplies. 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.679 We know it's 00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.399 no longer about 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:35.139 God and his 00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:36.500 strength when we 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:37.319 can't hear feedback 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.000 about what we're 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.279 doing. 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.639 If no one's 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:42.040 able to give 00:24:42.040 --> 00:24:42.660 you criticism 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.040 in your 00:24:43.040 --> 00:24:45.320 service, to 00:24:45.320 --> 00:24:46.020 provide constructive 00:24:46.020 --> 00:24:46.520 feedback to 00:24:46.520 --> 00:24:47.100 encourage and 00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:47.660 also help you 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.200 understand ways 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.560 it could get 00:24:48.560 --> 00:24:50.360 better, it's 00:24:50.360 --> 00:24:50.940 not about God 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:51.259 anymore. 00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:54.540 In fact, the 00:24:54.540 --> 00:24:55.280 gospel is what 00:24:55.280 --> 00:24:56.160 allows us to 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.720 not get 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.700 everything right. 00:24:58.580 --> 00:24:59.120 Part of the 00:24:59.120 --> 00:24:59.759 gospel is this 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.600 profound humility 00:25:00.600 --> 00:25:01.220 to realize, 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.360 okay, I'm so 00:25:02.360 --> 00:25:02.960 bad that Jesus 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.540 had to die. 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.540 So there's 00:25:06.540 --> 00:25:07.280 probably a few 00:25:07.280 --> 00:25:07.840 things that I'm 00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:08.220 still getting 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:08.520 wrong. 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:11.440 And there's 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:11.920 ability to 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.319 laugh at 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:12.879 yourself, right, 00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.940 and say, man, 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.420 that's right, I 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:14.900 didn't even see 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.200 that, I 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.619 really messed 00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:15.940 that up, 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.319 didn't I? 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.720 Glad God's 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.460 gracious enough. 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.059 When we 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:23.279 really understand 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.460 God's love for 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:24.779 us in the 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.400 gospel, when we 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.059 understand how 00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:27.019 serious sin is, 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.400 and when our 00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:28.000 goal is to 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.779 bring honor and 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.639 glory to God, 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:30.859 we are going to 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.819 be humble people 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.539 in our service. 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:36.159 we'll be able to 00:25:36.159 --> 00:25:38.099 receive feedback and 00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:38.500 criticism. 00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:39.159 We'll be able to 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:40.139 hear, hey, actually 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:41.079 this isn't maybe the 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:41.879 right fit for you in 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.799 this particular 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.339 service. 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.379 Oh, it's not the 00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:45.680 right fit? 00:25:46.159 --> 00:25:46.720 Well, I'm just 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.299 interested in serving 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:48.299 God, so where's the 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.180 area I can best serve 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:49.440 God? 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.339 And I know I'm 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.019 imperfect, right? 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.399 That's what the 00:25:53.399 --> 00:25:54.359 gospel tells me, so 00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:55.299 of course there are 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.980 things I'm not good 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.159 at. 00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.519 And God's going to 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.159 give me the strength 00:25:59.159 --> 00:26:00.279 no matter what 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:00.659 comes. 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:04.460 There is a rich 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:06.240 humility that comes 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:06.840 with understanding 00:26:06.840 --> 00:26:07.360 the gospel. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.860 Humble enough to 00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.800 admit there's things 00:26:11.800 --> 00:26:12.480 you're not good at. 00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.460 Humble enough to 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.300 risk doing the 00:26:14.300 --> 00:26:14.880 things you're good 00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:15.140 at. 00:26:17.040 --> 00:26:17.880 And sometimes 00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:18.240 fail. 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.220 One way to fall off 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:23.740 the path, by the 00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.460 way, is to be really 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:26.060 good at something and 00:26:26.060 --> 00:26:26.800 withhold that from 00:26:26.800 --> 00:26:27.140 everyone. 00:26:29.300 --> 00:26:30.019 I've talked about 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.640 people serving in 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.360 areas where they 00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:31.980 shouldn't be serving 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:33.380 or people serving 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.500 but not serving for 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.380 the glory of God but 00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:36.240 serving for their own 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:36.460 glory. 00:26:36.560 --> 00:26:37.640 There's also having a 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.720 tremendous ability and 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.660 a gift but thinking, 00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:41.600 but what if it's not 00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:42.560 good enough or it's not 00:26:42.560 --> 00:26:42.940 perfect? 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.140 God's given you a 00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:46.380 gift. 00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:48.740 Use it to serve the 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.000 body. 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:52.100 If you're afraid it's 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:52.759 not going to be good 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.320 enough or it's not 00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:54.160 going to be perfect or 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:55.720 maybe it might lead to 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.680 some conflict, it's not 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.420 about God's glory 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:57.800 anymore. 00:26:57.799 --> 00:27:01.460 If it's about God's 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.440 glory, then you use 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.399 your gift knowing at 00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:04.000 times you're going to 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.480 mess up. 00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:07.200 And the gospel's big 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:08.119 enough to cover that 00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:08.379 up. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.460 By the way, hopefully 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.099 you're in a community 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:13.079 where love covers a 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.839 multitude of sins. 00:27:16.139 --> 00:27:17.019 And you're able to 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.759 trip and make some 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:19.680 mistakes and God is 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.579 still glorified. 00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:24.139 Harry Truman says 00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.399 this, 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:25.400 it's amazing what you 00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:26.780 can accomplish if you 00:27:26.780 --> 00:27:27.920 do not care who gets 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.300 the credit. 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.800 It's amazing what we 00:27:32.800 --> 00:27:33.480 as a church can 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.800 accomplish if we don't 00:27:34.800 --> 00:27:36.120 care who gets the 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:36.380 credit. 00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:39.040 If we are, 00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:39.500 verse 10, 00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:40.480 as each has received a 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.960 gift, use it to serve 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:43.780 one another as good 00:27:43.780 --> 00:27:45.000 stewards of God's very 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.320 grace. 00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:46.000 You want to be a good 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.320 steward. 00:27:48.280 --> 00:27:49.120 Another way of thinking 00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:50.200 about it would be this, 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.900 and we're in the context 00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.740 of suffering, right? 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:53.019 That's what's coming next 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:53.720 week, that's what came 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:55.579 the last several weeks. 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:58.400 When you're up against 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:00.000 the weight of suffering, 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:02.619 it is too large of a 00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:03.920 weight for one person to 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.200 lift. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.440 We need the entire 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.379 community working 00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:08.859 together. 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:10.139 It's the difference 00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:11.059 between what someone 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.879 who's doing, who's 00:28:11.879 --> 00:28:12.599 working out, would tell 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:12.980 you the difference 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.980 between an isolated 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:15.119 exercise and a compound 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.720 exercise. 00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:17.720 If I'm doing a bicep 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.319 curl, that's an 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.119 isolated exercise. 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:21.079 I can't lift a lot of 00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:21.259 weight. 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:24.420 If you're doing a 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:26.039 bench press, that's a 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:27.059 compound exercise. 00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:28.720 You can lift a ton of 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:31.599 weight, but you need all 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:32.379 the parts of the body. 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.879 The challenges that we 00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:36.920 face as a church 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:38.099 suffering in this world 00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:41.099 is too heavy for anyone 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.339 to lift on their own. 00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:45.420 If you're bicep curling 00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.660 60 pounds, man, you're 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.319 really strong, that's 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:47.640 impressive. 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:50.020 If you're bench 00:28:50.020 --> 00:28:51.340 pressing 60 pounds, you're 00:28:51.340 --> 00:28:52.300 not really strong, that's 00:28:52.300 --> 00:28:53.000 not very impressive. 00:28:55.800 --> 00:28:57.000 God has called us to 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.540 compound exercises as a 00:28:58.540 --> 00:28:58.920 community. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.460 He's not called us to 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.520 isolated exercises. 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:05.680 And so we serve one 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:07.680 another as each has 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.540 received a gift. 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:11.980 in order that in 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:13.799 everything God may be 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.779 glorified through Jesus 00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.240 Christ. 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:17.740 To him belong glory and 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:19.420 dominion forever and 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:19.799 ever. 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:20.559 Amen. 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:23.579 And so there's two 00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:24.119 things here. 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.859 Talk about this first, 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.879 that God's glorified. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.399 We've talked about how 00:29:28.399 --> 00:29:29.299 that works practically. 00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:30.779 Of course, it's always 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.480 tempting, right? 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.960 When we see success in 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:34.980 ministry, we're serving in 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.819 any area of the church, 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.440 whether it's speaking 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:37.579 oracles, whether we're 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.659 serving with our hands 00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:39.379 and our abilities. 00:29:41.159 --> 00:29:42.500 As humans, we're always 00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.720 tempted to bring glory to 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.859 ourselves and not to God. 00:29:48.399 --> 00:29:49.960 I told you several weeks 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:51.039 ago, a couple weeks in a 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:52.679 row, the story of 00:29:52.679 --> 00:29:53.579 Corrie Ten Boom, and 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:54.179 she's going to continue 00:29:54.179 --> 00:29:55.220 to teach us a little bit. 00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:57.279 After all her suffering in 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.519 the Nazi concentration camp, 00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:59.259 she went on to have an 00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.399 amazing speaking career. 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.559 And at some point, 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.960 someone asked her, how do 00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:07.640 you handle all the praise 00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:08.299 that you receive? 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.140 How do you stay humble 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:10.100 and centered on God? 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.740 And she said this, 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:15.120 when people come up and 00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:15.960 give me a compliment, 00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:17.960 Corrie, that was a good 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:19.279 talk, or Corrie, you were 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.600 so brave, I take each 00:30:21.600 --> 00:30:22.980 remark as if it were a 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.319 flower. 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:26.480 At the end of each day, I 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.779 lift up the bouquet of 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.799 flowers I have gathered 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:30.059 throughout the day and say, 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.920 here you are, Lord. 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:34.100 Lord, it is all yours. 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:39.660 When we serve in a way 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:41.060 that brings glory to God, 00:30:41.800 --> 00:30:43.920 we recognize that he's the 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.700 one who's given us the 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.039 strength. 00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:48.480 And so we take the praise 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:50.779 that other people give us, 00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:53.539 we bring it to God, and we 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:55.460 say, here you are, Lord. 00:30:56.560 --> 00:30:58.560 It is all yours. 00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:04.399 And finally, we do it by the 00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:06.720 strength that God supplies, 00:31:08.159 --> 00:31:09.259 that God may be glorified 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.139 through Jesus Christ. 00:31:13.159 --> 00:31:14.559 I mentioned earlier that we 00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:15.859 have more baggage than we're 00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:17.339 often willing to recognize 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:17.839 or admit. 00:31:19.899 --> 00:31:22.980 We're also more flawed and 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:24.500 less gifted than often we 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:24.759 think. 00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:27.220 Most of us are good at one 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.019 or two things. 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.519 I read someone say this 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.319 once, and after that, it 00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:32.500 just kind of all falls apart. 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.759 If you see someone who's 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.940 amazing at one thing, you 00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:37.500 think, man, that's an 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.200 incredible person. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.660 They're probably terrible at 00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.339 15 things. 00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:44.160 And so as we serve, we're 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:45.079 not resting in our own 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:46.700 strength, but on the 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.740 strength of God, knowing 00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:48.860 that when we accomplish 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:49.880 something of spiritual 00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:51.079 significance, it's only 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:52.440 because of God's power 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.339 working through us. 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:56.819 And so that allows us and 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:59.139 other people to give honor 00:31:59.139 --> 00:32:00.759 and glory to God. 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:06.019 The story that best 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:07.500 illustrates this that I know 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:09.459 of comes at the very end of a 00:32:09.459 --> 00:32:12.559 book named Cinder Church, and 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.679 it's a book, a story about a 00:32:13.679 --> 00:32:13.899 donkey. 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:17.220 This donkey is the donkey that 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:19.399 Jesus rode in on Palm Sunday, 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:22.759 and this is a story about the 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.820 next day for that donkey. 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:24.440 He'd come in. 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.460 Jesus was riding on him. 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.100 Things were great. 00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:27.860 It goes like this. 00:32:27.860 --> 00:32:29.220 The little donkey awoke with a 00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:30.200 smile on his face. 00:32:31.280 --> 00:32:32.900 He had been dreaming of the 00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.759 previous day. 00:32:35.040 --> 00:32:36.759 He stretched and then happily 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:38.040 walked out into the street, 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:40.200 but the many passersby 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:41.280 simply ignored him. 00:32:43.280 --> 00:32:44.680 Confused, he went over to the 00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:45.600 crowded market area. 00:32:46.560 --> 00:32:48.240 With his ears held high with 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:50.180 pride, he strutted right down 00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:50.819 the middle of it. 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:54.240 Here I am, people, he said 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:54.759 to himself. 00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:57.160 But they stared in confusion, 00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.519 and some angrily struck him 00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.339 to drive him away. 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:01.440 What do you think you are 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.660 doing, you donkey, walking 00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:04.059 into the marketplace like this? 00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:06.579 Throw your garments down, he 00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.160 said crossly. 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:08.319 Don't you know who I am? 00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.960 They just looked at him in 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:11.400 amazement. 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:14.140 Hurt and confused, the donkey 00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:15.380 returned home to his mother. 00:33:15.380 --> 00:33:18.040 I don't understand, he said 00:33:18.040 --> 00:33:18.320 to her. 00:33:18.820 --> 00:33:20.340 Yesterday they waved palm 00:33:20.340 --> 00:33:21.120 branches at me. 00:33:21.560 --> 00:33:22.820 They shouted Hosanna and 00:33:22.820 --> 00:33:23.360 hallelujah. 00:33:24.320 --> 00:33:25.720 Today they treat me like I'm a 00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:26.080 nobody. 00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:30.260 Foolish child, she said gently. 00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:32.580 Don't you realize that without 00:33:32.580 --> 00:33:35.400 him, you can do nothing? 00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:40.340 You can do this ministry with 00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:42.060 God's help, so give it all 00:33:42.060 --> 00:33:42.500 you've got. 00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:45.280 You can't do this ministry 00:33:45.280 --> 00:33:47.400 without God's help, so be at 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:47.740 peace. 00:33:49.060 --> 00:33:50.820 It's in one verse recorded in 00:33:50.820 --> 00:33:51.480 John's gospel. 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:54.100 I am the vine, you are the 00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:54.460 branches. 00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:57.019 If a man remains in me and I in 00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:58.640 him, he will bear much fruit. 00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:02.100 But apart from me, you can do 00:34:02.100 --> 00:34:02.440 nothing. 00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:06.200 And earlier in his gospel, 00:34:06.360 --> 00:34:07.779 remember John told us he must 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:08.260 decrease. 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:10.220 He must increase, but I must 00:34:10.220 --> 00:34:10.619 decrease. 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:15.500 God gives us gifts, but he's 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.460 the one who gives us the 00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:16.800 strength. 00:34:18.700 --> 00:34:20.260 And he gives it to us so that 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:23.019 we would bring service to each 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:25.639 other and honor and glory not to 00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:27.619 ourselves, but to him. 00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:32.099 And so how do we have rich and 00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:33.719 thick community? 00:34:35.799 --> 00:34:37.299 We understand that we're in the 00:34:37.299 --> 00:34:40.239 last days, and so we pray to God 00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:40.960 with that in mind. 00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:44.219 We're quick to forgive and cover 00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:45.380 over the sins of others. 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:48.460 We serve showing hospitality 00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:51.219 without grumbling because we want 00:34:51.219 --> 00:34:52.579 the community's good more than our 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:52.759 own. 00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:56.220 And finally, we use our gifts 00:34:56.220 --> 00:34:58.380 humbly to serve others and to 00:34:58.380 --> 00:34:59.500 serve God. 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:03.180 Praying to God and serving one 00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:03.460 another. 00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:05.860 Please pray with me. 00:35:08.440 --> 00:35:10.780 Our Father in heaven, we thank you 00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:12.320 for your word, and we thank you for 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:14.140 this community that you've given us at 00:35:14.140 --> 00:35:15.380 Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian 00:35:15.380 --> 00:35:15.740 Church. 00:35:17.060 --> 00:35:18.380 We ask that you would work the 00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:21.560 gospel deep into our hearts so that 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:24.340 we'd be more and more humble and 00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:26.840 more and more eager to serve, not 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:29.880 for our glory, but for yours, and 00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:31.920 that you would use that to draw us 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:34.719 close to you and to draw others to 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:35.119 yourself. 00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:37.739 We ask these things in the mighty 00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:38.400 name of Jesus. 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:39.360 Amen. 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:39.500 Amen.