WEBVTT

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 We will now read from two passages in the Bible.

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 If you have a Bible with you,

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 and then please turn to Acts chapter 6.

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 It's also printed in your bulletin,

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 and you can see it on the screens.

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 There are, however, Bibles at the back

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 if you would rather like a hard copy in your hands.

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 So first, Acts chapter 6,

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 verses 1 to 6.

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 Now, in these days,

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 when the disciples were increasing in number,

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 a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews

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 because their widows are being neglected

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 in the daily distribution.

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 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said,

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 It is not right that we should give up

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 preaching the word of God to serve tables.

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 Therefore, brothers,

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 pick out from among you seven men of good repute,

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 full of the Spirit and of wisdom,

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 whom we will appoint to this duty.

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 But we will devote ourselves to prayer

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 and to the ministry of the word.

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 And what they said pleased the whole gathering,

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 and they chose Stephen,

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 a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,

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 and Philip, and Prochorus,

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 and Nicanor, and Timon,

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 and Parmenas, and Nicholas,

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 a proselyte of Antioch.

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 These they said before the apostles,

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 and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

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 And then the second passage is 1 Timothy 3, verses 1 to 10,

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 which talks about the qualifications for elders and deacons.

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 The saying is trustworthy.

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 If anyone aspires to the office of overseer,

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 he desires a noble task.

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 Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach,

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 the husband of one wife,

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 sober-minded, self-controlled,

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 respectable, hospitable,

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 able to teach,

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 not a drunkard,

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 not violent but gentle,

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 not quarrelsome,

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 not a lover of money.

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 He must manage his own household well,

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 with all dignity,

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 keeping his children submissive.

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 For if someone does not know

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 how to manage his own household,

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 how will he care for God's church?

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 He must not be a recent convert,

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 or he may become puffed up with conceit

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 and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

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 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders,

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 so that he may not fall into disgrace,

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 into a snare of the devil.

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 Deacons, likewise,

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 must be dignified,

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 not double-tongued,

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 not addicted to much wine,

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 not greedy for dishonest gain.

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 They must hold the mystery of the faith

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 with a clear conscience,

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 and let them also be tested first.

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 Then let them serve as deacons,

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 if they prove themselves blameless.

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 This is the Holy Word of God.

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 Amen.

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 All right, well, we are in a month

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 where we are nominating

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 both elders and deacons for office.

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 And so, in a season like this,

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 a lot of questions come up.

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 Who can be an elder?

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 Who can be a deacon?

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 What is an elder?

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 What is a deacon?

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 Who should we choose?

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 What do they do, for that matter?

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 Why do we have church leadership

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 in a structure like this

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 with elders and deacons?

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 There are more questions

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 that might come up for you

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 than we can answer today.

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 So, let's do the most foundational thing,

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 the most fundamental things

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 with this call for elders and deacons

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 that we're having right now

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 and look together at Acts 6.

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 So, we read from Acts 6

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 because this is one of the few places

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 in the Bible

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 where we see elders and deacons

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 working together in a really live way.

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 The apostles acting as some of the first elders

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 and then the first seven proto-deacons,

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 as we often say,

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 called here at the beginning,

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 right in the earliest moments of the church.

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 And let's see the realism of the church

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 that gives way to deacons,

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 the reality of what the church is like,

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 the need for deacons, in other words,

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 the priorities of elder and deacon,

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 and then lastly, the people themselves.

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 Okay, so first, the realism,

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 the circumstances,

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 the reality of the church

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 that gives rise to a need for deacons.

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 That's what we see here.

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 So, in Acts 6,

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 there's a couple circumstances taking place

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 that give rise to the office of deacon

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 for the first time ever.

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 First, the church was growing explosively.

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 So, Jesus died,

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 He rose from the dead,

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 He commissioned His apostles,

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 and now the church is expanding really rapidly.

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 And so, we learn in Acts already twice,

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 3,000 people came to faith in Jerusalem

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 in a weekend, in a day.

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 5,000 people in the next chapter

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 come to faith around Jerusalem.

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 And then, in the passage just before this,

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 Acts 5, 14,

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 it says that a multitude of men and women follow Jesus.

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 And so, there's this explosive growth,

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 and they're trying to figure out

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 how to do church and churches

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 in the light of all the people

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 coming to faith in Jesus

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 and following Jesus.

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 The other circumstances,

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 we see really clearly

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 from the very beginning of the church

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 that the apostles,

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 the disciples,

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 the first leaders,

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 were really, really committed

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 to daily distributions

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 of food and clothing

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 to the poor.

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 So, that's the context

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 that this passage is all about.

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 Now, to understand that,

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 you've got to understand

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 that in the first century,

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 there are a lot of people

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 experiencing abject poverty,

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 true poverty.

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 So, we have the materially poor,

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 poor people

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 who struggle with material poverty

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 in our city.

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 And here in the first century,

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 you would have had

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 the type of poverty

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 where truly people

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 could often not find clothing.

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 So, when Jesus says,

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 feed the poor,

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 give a cup of water

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 to the thirsty,

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 and clothe the naked,

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 he was serious.

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 It was not,

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 that was not just a metaphor,

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 that was very real.

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 There were people

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 who literally

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 could not find clothing.

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 And so, there's a lot

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 of abject poverty here

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 in the earliest moments

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 of the church in Jerusalem.

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 Just in a couple chapters

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 previously,

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 Barnabas,

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 one of the early evangelists,

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 he, we're told that

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 when he experienced

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 the gospel,

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 the transforming work

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 of the gospel in his life,

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 he turned around

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 and sold his land

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 so that he could give

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 the money

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 to cover the clothing

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 and food needs

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 of the poor in Jerusalem.

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 And so, people were doing

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 that all the time.

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 This was not

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 communism.

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 No, it was people

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 who had been transformed

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 by the generosity

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 of Christ in the gospel.

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 And so, we're willing

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 to give away everything

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 to meet the needs

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 of the people

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 all around them.

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 They had a real needs ministry.

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 And they learned that

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 through God's generosity

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 to them,

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 the generosity

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 of the cross,

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 the love of God

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 in the gospel.

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 So, we read in James,

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 Jesus' brother,

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 James, biological brother,

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 who did not believe

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 in Jesus

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 when Jesus was doing

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 his ministry,

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 but after the resurrection

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 came to faith

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 in his biological brother,

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 his Messiah, Jesus.

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 In the book of James,

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 chapter 2,

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 this is what he says

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 about needs ministry

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 that Georgie was talking

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 about,

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 what we read about here.

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 He says,

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 if a brother or sister

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 is without clothing

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 and in need of daily food

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 and one of you says to them,

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 go in peace,

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 be warm,

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 be filled,

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 but you do not give them

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 what is necessary

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 for their body

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 to make them warm

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 or fill them up with food.

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 What use is that?

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 Even so,

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 even so faith,

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 even with faith,

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 if it has no works,

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 it is dead.

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 So James says,

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 faith without the living act

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 of service of people

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 in need is dead faith.

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 Faith loves,

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 faith works,

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 faith exhibits itself

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 in transformation.

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 And so caring for one another

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 was a really,

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 really big deal

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 in the early church

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 and we learn here

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 just from the example

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 of Christ,

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 the example of the apostles

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 that faith in Jesus

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 must be accompanied

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 by care for one another,

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 by loving works,

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 by good works.

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 And we learn that

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 from who?

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 From God himself

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 in the Old Testament.

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 One scholar talks about

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 the quadrilateral

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 of the vulnerable

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 in the Old Testament,

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 this fourfold way

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 of understanding paradigm

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 for who are the most vulnerable

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 in the Old Testament

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 ancient Near Eastern society.

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 And he says,

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 they are the widow,

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 the orphan,

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 the sojourner,

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 the person who's traveling

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 without a home,

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 and the materially poor.

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 And we all across

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 the Old Testament

00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:35.399
 see God say,

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 I care for the widow,

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 the fatherless,

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 the sojourner,

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 and the poor.

00:08:41.459 --> 00:08:42.139
 Psalm 68,

00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:43.459
 Isaiah chapter 1,

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 do good,

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 do justice.

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 I am a father

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 to the fatherless.

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 I am a home

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 for those who have poverty,

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 God says.

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 And then he turns

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 and he says to God's people,

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 go and do likewise.

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 Jesus said,

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 love as I have loved.

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 So he gives the church

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 really clearly

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 this example

00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:03.899
 in the early days

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 of the church.

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 Now,

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 the specific issue

00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:07.219
 in Jerusalem,

00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:09.039
 this specific issue

00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:09.759
 we're reading about here

00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:10.679
 in Acts chapter 6,

00:09:10.959 --> 00:09:12.099
 is that

00:09:12.099 --> 00:09:13.799
 when all these thousands

00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:14.339
 of people

00:09:14.339 --> 00:09:15.059
 came to faith

00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:15.639
 in Jerusalem,

00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:18.000
 there were largely

00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.639
 two groups of people

00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:20.699
 that came to follow Jesus

00:09:20.699 --> 00:09:21.299
 in the beginning.

00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.379
 They were Hebrew-speaking Jews,

00:09:25.219 --> 00:09:26.679
 Hebrew and Aramaic-speaking Jews

00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:27.259
 on the one hand,

00:09:27.299 --> 00:09:28.079
 and on the other hand,

00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:29.339
 Greek-speaking Jews.

00:09:29.459 --> 00:09:30.419
 So that's what's referred to

00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:31.480
 here in verse 1

00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:32.299
 as the Hellenist.

00:09:32.299 --> 00:09:36.120
 And so you've got Jews

00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:37.279
 spread out all over

00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:38.000
 the Roman Empire,

00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:39.339
 and many of them

00:09:39.339 --> 00:09:40.000
 have come back

00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:40.620
 to Jerusalem.

00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:41.859
 And so they would have

00:09:41.859 --> 00:09:43.079
 spoken the lingua franca

00:09:43.079 --> 00:09:43.639
 of the day,

00:09:43.719 --> 00:09:44.359
 which was Greek,

00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:45.219
 not Hebrew,

00:09:45.339 --> 00:09:46.099
 not Aramaic.

00:09:46.579 --> 00:09:47.240
 And so what's happened

00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:48.099
 is all these people,

00:09:48.199 --> 00:09:49.019
 all these Jews

00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:49.599
 have come to faith

00:09:49.599 --> 00:09:50.120
 in Christ,

00:09:50.599 --> 00:09:52.099
 but some speak Hebrew,

00:09:52.359 --> 00:09:53.359
 some speak Greek.

00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:54.839
 And you know that

00:09:54.839 --> 00:09:55.259
 when you have

00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:56.099
 different languages,

00:09:56.479 --> 00:09:57.740
 you're often separated,

00:09:57.740 --> 00:10:00.000
 and there's cultural difference.

00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:01.460
 And so in the daily

00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:03.019
 distribution for the poor,

00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:04.980
 the widows who spoke

00:10:04.980 --> 00:10:06.180
 Greek said

00:10:06.180 --> 00:10:07.899
 that they were getting

00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:08.500
 neglected

00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:10.159
 by the apostles

00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:11.100
 in the daily distribution

00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:11.779
 of food and clothing.

00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:13.740
 So we don't know

00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:14.700
 all that was going on

00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:14.899
 in there,

00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:15.560
 but we learned a couple

00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:16.399
 things about that.

00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:17.399
 One is,

00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:18.440
 and here's the realism

00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:19.060
 of the church.

00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:21.220
 The church,

00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:22.299
 as it grew,

00:10:22.560 --> 00:10:23.200
 was struggling

00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:24.240
 administratively,

00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:25.860
 was struggling

00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:26.840
 organizationally.

00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:27.620
 Now,

00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:28.879
 I'm sure you've never

00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:29.920
 been in a church

00:10:29.920 --> 00:10:31.340
 that struggles

00:10:31.340 --> 00:10:32.240
 administratively

00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:33.100
 and organizationally,

00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:33.660
 right?

00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:34.180
 You've never been

00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:34.540
 in a church

00:10:34.540 --> 00:10:35.360
 that fails to communicate

00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:35.639
 well.

00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:36.100
 You've never been

00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:36.560
 in a church

00:10:36.560 --> 00:10:37.560
 that struggles

00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:38.480
 to get it all in order

00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.600
 and get all the volunteers

00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:40.060
 in place,

00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:40.280
 right?

00:10:42.160 --> 00:10:42.600
 Look,

00:10:43.180 --> 00:10:44.060
 the realism of the church,

00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:45.100
 churches struggle

00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:46.120
 organizationally.

00:10:47.280 --> 00:10:48.120
 And the longer

00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:48.820
 you've been around

00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:49.639
 the local church,

00:10:49.680 --> 00:10:50.740
 the more you know that.

00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:52.600
 And we see that

00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:53.120
 right here.

00:10:53.220 --> 00:10:54.019
 Even the apostles,

00:10:54.180 --> 00:10:54.940
 they couldn't keep

00:10:54.940 --> 00:10:55.759
 it all together.

00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:56.340
 They were

00:10:56.340 --> 00:10:57.840
 all over the place

00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:58.519
 trying to meet

00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.580
 everybody's needs

00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:00.300
 and there was just

00:11:00.300 --> 00:11:01.180
 too many people

00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:02.580
 and they couldn't do it.

00:11:02.680 --> 00:11:02.820
 You know,

00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:03.620
 the church is much more

00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:04.060
 of a family

00:11:04.060 --> 00:11:05.019
 than it is a corporation

00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:06.960
 and so sometimes

00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:08.080
 there's a lot of struggle

00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:08.980
 in the midst of that.

00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:10.420
 The second real thing

00:11:10.420 --> 00:11:11.040
 we see here

00:11:11.040 --> 00:11:12.720
 is that

00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:14.139
 we don't know for sure

00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:15.180
 but it very well

00:11:15.180 --> 00:11:16.080
 may have been the case

00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:17.100
 that there was prejudice

00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:18.180
 involved in this.

00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:20.040
 So when you're speaking

00:11:20.040 --> 00:11:20.879
 a different language,

00:11:21.220 --> 00:11:22.200
 when you're a Hebrew speaker

00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.280
 and there's the Greek speakers,

00:11:23.660 --> 00:11:24.379
 but you're all

00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.240
 in the same church,

00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:25.919
 there's a lot of

00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:26.600
 cultural difference,

00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:27.779
 a lot of divide,

00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:30.159
 and it's just a natural thing

00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:31.639
 that probably many people

00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:32.879
 were favoring those

00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:34.039
 that speak their own language

00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:35.100
 from their own culture

00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:35.620
 and community.

00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:37.060
 And there was maybe

00:11:37.060 --> 00:11:38.019
 an element of prejudice

00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:38.460
 in all this

00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:39.659
 and there's relational messiness

00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:41.259
 from the very beginning

00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:42.180
 even with the lives

00:11:42.180 --> 00:11:43.080
 of the apostles here.

00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:44.000
 And that means

00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:44.659
 we see

00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:46.200
 that churches

00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:48.440
 can be organizationally messy

00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:49.820
 and relationally messy.

00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:51.120
 We are not

00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.500
 perfect people

00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:53.980
 and this is not

00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:54.740
 a perfect place

00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:56.500
 and that is the culture

00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:57.299
 and the context

00:11:57.299 --> 00:11:58.340
 that gave rise

00:11:58.340 --> 00:11:59.679
 to the office of deacon.

00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:01.220
 Quite unremarkable

00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:02.039
 in many ways,

00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:02.940
 so important

00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:04.399
 in another sense of it.

00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:06.360
 But what we do see

00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:07.240
 is that

00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:08.740
 in spite of

00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:09.600
 the messiness,

00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:10.960
 the relational messiness,

00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:12.039
 the organizational messiness,

00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:13.100
 the two things

00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:13.740
 we learn about here

00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.580
 that they would not

00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:15.299
 let go of

00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:16.779
 is the apostle said

00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:17.899
 we have an intense

00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:18.460
 devotion

00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:19.460
 to the ministry

00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:20.000
 of the word

00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.259
 so we will not neglect

00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:22.360
 the preaching

00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.040
 of the gospel,

00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:24.160
 the opening of the Bible

00:12:24.160 --> 00:12:24.879
 on the one hand

00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.860
 and we will not neglect

00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:27.519
 the caring

00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.480
 of the daily distribution

00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:28.940
 on the other.

00:12:29.300 --> 00:12:30.300
 We'll do whatever it takes

00:12:30.300 --> 00:12:31.480
 to figure it out.

00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:32.680
 Even God

00:12:32.680 --> 00:12:33.980
 in his providence

00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:34.980
 creating an office

00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:35.639
 called deacon

00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:37.139
 to satisfy this issue

00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:37.680
 and satisfy

00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:39.040
 these needs.

00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:40.240
 Look,

00:12:40.420 --> 00:12:41.120
 in the early church

00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.379
 the historians

00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:42.860
 will tell you

00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:43.560
 Rodney Stark,

00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:44.420
 Larry Hurtado,

00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:45.720
 they will say

00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.980
 these great scholars

00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:47.800
 of church history,

00:12:47.900 --> 00:12:48.420
 they will say

00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:50.179
 that what gave rise

00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:51.860
 to the rapid growth

00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:52.519
 and expansion

00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:53.219
 of Christianity

00:12:53.219 --> 00:12:54.299
 in the Roman Empire

00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:55.919
 in the first three centuries

00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:56.860
 was two things.

00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:57.299
 One,

00:12:58.159 --> 00:12:59.299
 people going around

00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:00.639
 in the first generation

00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:01.219
 saying

00:13:01.219 --> 00:13:03.240
 I saw Jesus Christ

00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.179
 die on the cross

00:13:04.179 --> 00:13:06.979
 and I saw Jesus Christ

00:13:06.979 --> 00:13:08.639
 alive three days later.

00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:10.639
 And then

00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:11.599
 that's called

00:13:11.599 --> 00:13:12.459
 the preaching of the gospel,

00:13:12.579 --> 00:13:13.480
 the sharing of the gospel

00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:14.379
 and the apostle said

00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:15.519
 we'll never let that go.

00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:16.839
 On the other hand,

00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:18.160
 the historians

00:13:18.160 --> 00:13:18.500
 will tell you

00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:19.019
 the other thing

00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:20.379
 was the churches

00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:21.840
 care for the poor

00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:23.820
 anywhere they were.

00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:25.820
 And so many people

00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:26.540
 were attracted

00:13:26.540 --> 00:13:27.320
 to Christianity

00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:28.480
 through that means.

00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:29.480
 And it wasn't just

00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.840
 care for the poor

00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:31.780
 within the community

00:13:31.780 --> 00:13:32.220
 of faith

00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:32.780
 like our needs

00:13:32.780 --> 00:13:33.460
 ministry does,

00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:34.600
 but it was care

00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:35.740
 for also outsiders,

00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:36.460
 those who are yet

00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:37.240
 to become Christians

00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:37.700
 as well.

00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:39.800
 We learn this

00:13:39.800 --> 00:13:41.139
 in Galatians chapter 6.

00:13:41.280 --> 00:13:42.019
 Paul says,

00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:43.319
 do not neglect

00:13:43.319 --> 00:13:44.519
 to care for the needs

00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:45.220
 of all,

00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.539
 especially those

00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:46.980
 in the household

00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:47.439
 of faith.

00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:48.980
 He says,

00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.039
 do not neglect

00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:50.960
 the care

00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:51.799
 of the needs

00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:52.519
 of everyone,

00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:53.960
 especially those

00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:54.879
 in the church community,

00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:56.120
 meaning both inside

00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:56.779
 and outside.

00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.139
 In the late

00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:00.019
 fourth century,

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.319
 the late 300s,

00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:02.500
 Christianity

00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:04.059
 had really

00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:05.000
 gathered momentum.

00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:06.079
 A lot of people

00:14:06.079 --> 00:14:06.639
 had come to faith

00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:06.960
 in Christ

00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:07.840
 across the Roman Empire.

00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.180
 But there was

00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:09.620
 an emperor

00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:10.280
 named Julian

00:14:10.280 --> 00:14:11.560
 called Julian

00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.340
 the Apostate.

00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:12.980
 That's his nickname.

00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:15.240
 And he was

00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.480
 a big enemy

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.080
 of Christianity.

00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.259
 He sort of

00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:19.519
 took the charge

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.440
 on the last ditch

00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:21.180
 effort to try

00:14:21.180 --> 00:14:21.960
 to rid the kingdom

00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:22.620
 of Christianity.

00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:23.240
 So there was

00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:24.600
 a grand persecution

00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:25.399
 across the empire

00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:25.920
 in that time.

00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:27.700
 But we have a letter

00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:28.340
 from Julian.

00:14:29.540 --> 00:14:30.180
 And Julian

00:14:30.180 --> 00:14:31.080
 writes a letter

00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:32.320
 to the priests

00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:33.879
 of polytheism,

00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:35.160
 the priests

00:14:35.160 --> 00:14:36.180
 of the Greco-Roman gods

00:14:36.180 --> 00:14:36.940
 across the empire.

00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:38.000
 And he writes

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.420
 a letter

00:14:38.420 --> 00:14:39.360
 about the church,

00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:40.380
 about the Christian church.

00:14:40.780 --> 00:14:41.400
 And listen to what

00:14:41.400 --> 00:14:42.000
 he says about it.

00:14:42.020 --> 00:14:42.600
 This is what he says.

00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:44.880
 He writes this

00:14:44.880 --> 00:14:45.380
 in an age

00:14:45.380 --> 00:14:46.220
 where polytheism

00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:46.860
 is in decline

00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:47.720
 and he's really

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.400
 worried about it.

00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:49.540
 Okay, that's the context.

00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:51.840
 Why do we think

00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:53.140
 that what we have done

00:14:53.140 --> 00:14:53.760
 is sufficient

00:14:53.760 --> 00:14:55.760
 and do not observe

00:14:55.760 --> 00:14:56.660
 how the kindness

00:14:56.660 --> 00:14:57.940
 of the Christians

00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:58.760
 to strangers,

00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.160
 their care

00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:00.800
 for the burial

00:15:00.800 --> 00:15:01.420
 of the dead,

00:15:01.560 --> 00:15:02.260
 the sobriety

00:15:02.260 --> 00:15:03.200
 of their lifestyle

00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:04.680
 has done the most

00:15:04.680 --> 00:15:05.260
 to advance

00:15:05.260 --> 00:15:05.760
 their cause

00:15:05.760 --> 00:15:06.260
 in the kingdom?

00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:08.000
 Each of these things

00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:08.980
 ought to be practiced

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.620
 by us.

00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.600
 Tell the priests

00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.460
 to stop drinking

00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.059
 so much.

00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:15.299
 I'm devising a plan.

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.039
 Erect hostels

00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:18.080
 for strangers

00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:19.340
 in all the cities.

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.659
 Be kind

00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.379
 to strangers

00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:23.439
 for it is disgraceful

00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:24.659
 that when no Jew

00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:26.460
 ever has to beg

00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:27.620
 and the Christians

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.720
 support not only

00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:29.620
 their own poor

00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:31.580
 but our poor

00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:32.259
 as well,

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.980
 all men see

00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:34.899
 that our people

00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.759
 are lacking

00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.740
 aid from us.

00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:37.920
 So this is

00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:38.539
 Julian's attempt

00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:39.200
 to try to battle

00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:39.740
 the Christians.

00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:40.820
 He said,

00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.639
 look at what they're doing.

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.200
 Look at how they love people.

00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:45.259
 Now in the midst

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:46.019
 of that point too,

00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:47.620
 we learn in the midst

00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:48.399
 of a context like this

00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:49.120
 the priorities

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:49.700
 of the elders

00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:50.259
 and deacons.

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:51.779
 And it's real simple.

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.500
 We've already said it.

00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.200
 It said,

00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:53.659
 they said,

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.980
 we will not neglect

00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:56.379
 the ministry of the word,

00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:58.100
 opening up the Bible,

00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:59.019
 preaching and teaching

00:15:59.019 --> 00:15:59.519
 the gospel,

00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:01.039
 and will not neglect

00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:02.120
 the ministry of love.

00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:02.980
 Right?

00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:04.100
 So we see the priorities

00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:04.840
 of elders and deacons.

00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.480
 Very simple.

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.480
 The two offices

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.120
 and what they're supposed

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:07.559
 to be doing.

00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:08.679
 So here,

00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:09.879
 the apostles say,

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.259
 we will not give up

00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:12.100
 our focus on preaching

00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:13.439
 the gospel to serve tables.

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.899
 And it's really fascinating.

00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:16.379
 What does it say?

00:16:16.439 --> 00:16:16.579
 It says,

00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:18.939
 we will open up the Bible

00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:19.740
 and do the ministry

00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:20.240
 of the word

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.120
 like we're doing now

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.259
 and we pray.

00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:23.439
 So the apostles,

00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:23.740
 it says,

00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:24.559
 devoted themselves

00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.699
 to preaching

00:16:25.699 --> 00:16:26.500
 and prayer.

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:30.419
 But then they say,

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:30.820
 nevertheless,

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:32.220
 let's raise up seven men

00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:33.019
 to fulfill this task.

00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:33.240
 Now,

00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:34.039
 today,

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.700
 we're in a time

00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:37.480
 where there's a lot

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.240
 of resurgence

00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:39.840
 in the church communities.

00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:41.000
 And this has happened

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:42.320
 over really the past century

00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.500
 in Scotland especially

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.879
 for recovering

00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:46.419
 the ministry of mercy.

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.200
 Recovering the focus

00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:49.720
 that the church

00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:50.500
 is in the Bible

00:16:50.500 --> 00:16:51.500
 called to take care

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.240
 of the needs of the poor.

00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:54.419
 First inside the church,

00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.519
 then also outside the church.

00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.259
 So we've had

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.939
 a century of resurgence

00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:59.039
 and talking about that.

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:01.340
 And notice here

00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:03.919
 that the apostles say,

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.079
 no,

00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:05.119
 we're serious about that.

00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:06.680
 But a lot of times

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:08.379
 in our culture,

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.359
 in our past century,

00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.259
 that has been

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.400
 at the expense of

00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:12.019
 and neglect

00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.579
 of preaching the word,

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.059
 right?

00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:16.119
 So churches might focus

00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:17.359
 on the ministry of mercy,

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.980
 on social causes,

00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.299
 on justice

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.819
 in the broad sense

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.259
 of the term.

00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.140
 But oftentimes,

00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:24.960
 there's a false dichotomy

00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.200
 or a zero-sum game.

00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.519
 Where that just means

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.180
 that the gospel

00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.480
 is no longer preached anymore.

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:30.579
 And you see

00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.539
 what the apostles do here?

00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:32.859
 They say,

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.140
 we will never stop

00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:34.819
 preaching the gospel.

00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.920
 And we will appoint

00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.619
 seven men

00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:39.559
 to make sure

00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:40.619
 that the ministry of love

00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:41.220
 is taking care of

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:41.879
 the ministry of mercy.

00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:42.799
 So for them,

00:17:42.879 --> 00:17:44.079
 it's never a zero-sum game.

00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:45.879
 It's never a false dichotomy.

00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:47.240
 It's always a both-and.

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:48.379
 They refuse to choose.

00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:49.879
 And we see

00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.960
 all throughout the Bible

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:52.039
 that God's people

00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:52.839
 in the Old Covenant,

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.259
 Israel,

00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.359
 and in the New Testament,

00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:56.059
 the church,

00:17:56.699 --> 00:17:57.659
 fulfilled through Jesus,

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.539
 they're always called

00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.319
 to both ministries.

00:17:59.399 --> 00:18:00.099
 The ministry of the word,

00:18:00.699 --> 00:18:01.839
 the ministry of God's grace,

00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.119
 telling people about Jesus,

00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.159
 and at the same time,

00:18:04.199 --> 00:18:05.339
 the ministry of loving deeds,

00:18:05.439 --> 00:18:06.159
 of loving service.

00:18:06.679 --> 00:18:06.839
 Now,

00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.339
 very simple.

00:18:09.139 --> 00:18:09.579
 Elders,

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:10.720
 the apostles

00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.619
 were the first elders,

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:12.519
 right?

00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:13.439
 And first ministers

00:18:13.439 --> 00:18:14.000
 of the church.

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.579
 The elders' job

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.379
 in the church

00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:17.720
 is to be exemplars

00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:18.760
 and lead us

00:18:18.760 --> 00:18:20.060
 in the ministry

00:18:20.060 --> 00:18:20.600
 of the word

00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:21.120
 and prayer.

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.700
 The deacon's job

00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:25.060
 is to lead us

00:18:25.060 --> 00:18:26.020
 in the ministry

00:18:26.020 --> 00:18:27.120
 of tangible deeds

00:18:27.120 --> 00:18:27.600
 of love,

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:28.640
 tangible deeds

00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:29.120
 of service.

00:18:29.820 --> 00:18:30.520
 And these two

00:18:30.520 --> 00:18:31.280
 go together,

00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:32.000
 they fit together,

00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:33.640
 they work together perfectly.

00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:39.100
 You don't become

00:18:39.100 --> 00:18:39.580
 a Christian

00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:41.820
 by committing

00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:42.740
 wonderful acts of love.

00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:43.920
 You don't become

00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.300
 a Christian

00:18:44.300 --> 00:18:44.900
 by deaconing.

00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:46.860
 You don't become

00:18:46.860 --> 00:18:47.200
 a Christian

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.320
 by serving the community

00:18:48.320 --> 00:18:49.500
 or showing works

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:49.960
 of mercy.

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:50.580
 You don't.

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:50.820
 No,

00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.600
 you become a Christian

00:18:51.600 --> 00:18:52.160
 only.

00:18:52.560 --> 00:18:53.340
 You become a Christian

00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:54.640
 only by placing faith

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.460
 in the great deacon

00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:55.840
 himself,

00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:56.460
 Jesus Christ,

00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.280
 who served you

00:18:57.280 --> 00:18:58.019
 all the way

00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.880
 to the point of death.

00:18:59.120 --> 00:19:00.140
 That's the only way.

00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:02.580
 And faith

00:19:02.580 --> 00:19:03.880
 works itself out

00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:04.460
 in love.

00:19:05.800 --> 00:19:06.460
 Transforming faith,

00:19:06.560 --> 00:19:07.320
 the experience

00:19:07.320 --> 00:19:08.259
 of the grace

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:08.940
 of God in Christ,

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:09.720
 transforming faith

00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:11.259
 does work itself

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.300
 out in loving deeds.

00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.580
 It shows up

00:19:13.580 --> 00:19:14.580
 in the loving deeds.

00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.240
 The deacons

00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:15.659
 are there

00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:16.899
 to lead us

00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:18.179
 in loving deeds.

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.159
 The elders

00:19:19.159 --> 00:19:19.559
 are there

00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.480
 to lead us

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:20.980
 in the ministry

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.439
 of the word

00:19:21.439 --> 00:19:21.919
 of the gospel,

00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:22.899
 focusing on Christ.

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:23.859
 Now we see

00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:24.899
 that these are never,

00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:26.699
 it's so not a false

00:19:26.699 --> 00:19:27.099
 dichotomy,

00:19:27.399 --> 00:19:28.119
 so much so

00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:29.079
 that all across

00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:30.019
 even the book of Acts

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.359
 we see that elders

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.099
 will do the work

00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:32.659
 of mercy,

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:33.799
 deacons will do

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.519
 the work of preaching.

00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.419
 So Stephen,

00:19:36.679 --> 00:19:37.599
 even in this passage,

00:19:37.679 --> 00:19:38.619
 in the very next passage,

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.379
 Stephen,

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:39.939
 this first,

00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:40.939
 one of the first deacons,

00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:41.759
 he preaches

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.779
 for two whole chapters

00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:43.319
 after this.

00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.019
 Right?

00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:45.059
 And think about Paul,

00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.079
 the great elder,

00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:46.859
 the great apostle,

00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.519
 the great minister.

00:19:47.900 --> 00:19:48.559
 What does Paul do?

00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:49.839
 He says in Galatians 2.10,

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.240
 when I was commissioned

00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:52.720
 to go and share

00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.259
 the gospel,

00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:54.180
 the ministry of the word,

00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:54.940
 in prayer

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.839
 to the Gentiles,

00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:56.879
 they told me,

00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:58.379
 do not neglect the poor.

00:19:59.319 --> 00:19:59.900
 And he said,

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.119
 and that was the very thing

00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:02.240
 I was most eager to do.

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.099
 You see,

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:03.519
 elders,

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:03.980
 deacon,

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.480
 and deacons,

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:04.759
 elder.

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.839
 And that's because

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.839
 they're exemplars

00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.940
 for all of us.

00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:10.279
 Each of those offices

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:11.079
 lead us

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.619
 in each of those two things,

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.019
 but it's the whole work

00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.539
 of the church,

00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:14.819
 right?

00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:16.019
 And so we saw,

00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:17.339
 if you were around last week,

00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.299
 Ephesians chapter 4,

00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:21.160
 Jesus Christ gave

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:21.859
 the apostles,

00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:22.480
 prophets,

00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:23.220
 evangelists,

00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:24.019
 shepherds,

00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:24.480
 and teachers

00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:25.140
 to do what?

00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:25.839
 To equip

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:27.640
 the whole church

00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:29.079
 for the work of ministry.

00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.420
 So who gave us elders?

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.299
 Who gave us deacons?

00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:32.160
 Who gave us apostles,

00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.079
 prophets, evangelists?

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.059
 Jesus did.

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.799
 And he did that

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.220
 for what?

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.259
 So they could lead us

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.220
 in the whole work

00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:38.659
 of ministry

00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:39.859
 that we're all called to do.

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.119
 It's everybody's ministry.

00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:41.779
 And that means that

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:43.139
 we learn here

00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:45.500
 that deacons are,

00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:48.419
 it's not an A team,

00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.460
 B team situation.

00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:51.700
 Elders are not the A team

00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.720
 and deacons the B team.

00:20:52.899 --> 00:20:52.980
 You know,

00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.480
 you don't become a deacon

00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:55.119
 and then graduate

00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:55.659
 to an elder.

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.259
 No.

00:20:57.139 --> 00:20:58.740
 These are two distinct callings

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.599
 that are clearly

00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.980
 interrelated for life.

00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:02.460
 So what's an elder?

00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:03.799
 And I'll move to

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.299
 the final point.

00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:04.740
 An elder,

00:21:05.419 --> 00:21:06.940
 I like how one

00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:08.819
 early church theologian

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.399
 wrote about it

00:21:09.399 --> 00:21:10.299
 in the fourth century.

00:21:10.399 --> 00:21:10.740
 He said,

00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:12.259
 an elder is

00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.720
 a spiritual physician.

00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:15.299
 An elder is

00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:16.299
 a spiritual doctor.

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:19.159
 And not in the sense

00:21:19.159 --> 00:21:20.079
 that they do this

00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:21.240
 for status or prestige

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.259
 or to be called doctor.

00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:22.759
 You know,

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:23.720
 instead,

00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.180
 an elder is a

00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.279
 carer of souls.

00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:27.819
 So an elder

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.779
 is not a CEO,

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.480
 an elder is not a CFO,

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.579
 a chief financial officer.

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.859
 An elder is not

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.779
 a trustee

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:35.139
 or a board member,

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:36.199
 though sometimes

00:21:36.199 --> 00:21:36.839
 they have to do

00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.919
 all this sort of stuff

00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:39.059
 in the life of the church.

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:41.299
 An elder is a doctor

00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:41.980
 of the soul.

00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:43.559
 I'll use

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.599
 Harold Sinkbeil,

00:21:44.699 --> 00:21:45.359
 who's recently

00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.119
 wrote a book

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.960
 about eldership

00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:48.460
 and pastoring

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:48.960
 and caring

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.720
 for people's souls

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:51.279
 so that the current elders

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.059
 don't get mad at me

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.519
 for this,

00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.379
 so I'll quote

00:21:53.379 --> 00:21:54.079
 somebody else.

00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:55.899
 Harold Sinkbeil,

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.659
 he says that

00:21:56.659 --> 00:21:58.019
 elders are nothing

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.000
 but errand boys,

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.639
 errand boys

00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:01.259
 for Jesus.

00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:02.740
 I like,

00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:03.279
 he puts it

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.799
 in another metaphor,

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:04.700
 he says elders

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:06.039
 are the sheepdogs

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.700
 of the church.

00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:08.240
 What is a sheepdog?

00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:09.339
 You know,

00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:09.819
 a sheepdog,

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:10.799
 you've got the great shepherd,

00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:12.779
 Jesus Christ himself,

00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.379
 the great shepherd

00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:13.859
 of the sheep,

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:14.859
 and then you've got

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.259
 the sheep,

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.680
 the people,

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.240
 and then you've got

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.759
 the sheepdog.

00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.200
 And the sheepdog

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.980
 is not a master,

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:20.519
 you know.

00:22:20.639 --> 00:22:21.420
 What does the sheepdog do?

00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:23.299
 The sheepdog has one ear

00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.299
 and one eye

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.259
 always on the master.

00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.539
 Being commanded,

00:22:27.879 --> 00:22:29.039
 being told where to go,

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.899
 being told how to serve.

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.759
 And then the sheepdog

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.740
 has his other eye

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.220
 and his other ear

00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:35.180
 always on the sheep,

00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.419
 protecting the sheep,

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.200
 nourishing the sheep,

00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:38.039
 caring for the sheep,

00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.119
 making sure the sheep

00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:39.700
 don't get captured

00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.299
 by the wolves,

00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:40.980
 right?

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:41.819
 So elders,

00:22:42.159 --> 00:22:43.119
 they never come

00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:43.659
 for status,

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:43.960
 no.

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.539
 They mustn't

00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:46.539
 come for status,

00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.319
 they must come

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.079
 as sheepdogs,

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.779
 errand boys

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:50.339
 for Jesus Christ,

00:22:50.419 --> 00:22:51.299
 the first servants.

00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:53.119
 What's a deacon?

00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:53.519
 A deacon

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:55.059
 is not a position

00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:55.500
 of status.

00:22:55.659 --> 00:22:56.359
 There is no money,

00:22:56.679 --> 00:22:57.639
 there is no glamour.

00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.079
 I can tell you

00:22:59.079 --> 00:22:59.599
 at St. Columbus

00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.399
 there is no money,

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.319
 there is no glamour,

00:23:01.419 --> 00:23:02.439
 there is only service

00:23:02.439 --> 00:23:03.359
 to be had

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:04.539
 in this ministry.

00:23:05.199 --> 00:23:05.899
 And that means

00:23:05.899 --> 00:23:06.379
 that deacons

00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:07.159
 are not mere

00:23:07.159 --> 00:23:08.139
 building managers,

00:23:08.419 --> 00:23:09.759
 they're not finance team,

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:11.019
 they're not a finance team,

00:23:11.959 --> 00:23:12.939
 they're not a board

00:23:12.939 --> 00:23:14.059
 who makes sure

00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:15.000
 that our liability

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.639
 insurance

00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:16.619
 is covered fully,

00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:17.979
 and it is,

00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:18.459
 by the way.

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.899
 We checked that

00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:20.399
 this week.

00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:23.700
 deacons,

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.960
 I'll read to you

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.720
 one book,

00:23:25.820 --> 00:23:25.940
 it said,

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.780
 deacons are men

00:23:26.780 --> 00:23:28.100
 who desire to serve,

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.420
 who embrace the faith,

00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:31.240
 who live the Christian life

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.540
 in an exemplary way,

00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:33.740
 especially

00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:35.740
 in being a model

00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.600
 for tangible,

00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:37.800
 concrete,

00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:39.240
 Christian love.

00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.440
 They're the first

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.320
 to show up in crisis,

00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.519
 they're the first

00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:43.080
 to serve.

00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:44.340
 That's a deacon.

00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:45.519
 Lastly,

00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:45.900
 finally,

00:23:46.280 --> 00:23:47.180
 the people themselves.

00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:47.740
 Now,

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.539
 in Acts chapter 6,

00:23:49.600 --> 00:23:50.120
 verse 3,

00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.840
 there's a brief list

00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:52.759
 of qualifications

00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:54.380
 for what it takes

00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.560
 to be a deacon here,

00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:56.039
 and this also,

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:56.299
 I think,

00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:57.779
 applies to elders as well.

00:23:57.860 --> 00:23:58.220
 So it says,

00:23:58.620 --> 00:23:59.240
 pick brothers

00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.279
 from among you,

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.560
 seven men

00:24:01.560 --> 00:24:02.500
 of good reputation,

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.580
 full of the Spirit

00:24:03.580 --> 00:24:04.120
 and wisdom.

00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:05.840
 So we learn there

00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.740
 that these men

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:09.200
 must have a good reputation,

00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:10.060
 they must be full

00:24:10.060 --> 00:24:10.799
 of the Holy Spirit

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:11.700
 and of wisdom.

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.820
 And then we read

00:24:12.820 --> 00:24:14.160
 from 1 Timothy 3 as well,

00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.500
 and if you just

00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.640
 cast your eyes

00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:18.200
 across 1 Timothy 3

00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:19.180
 and see some

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.940
 of these qualifications,

00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:20.480
 okay?

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.559
 And I won't go through

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.259
 them in detail,

00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:22.680
 don't worry,

00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:24.500
 but just what does he say?

00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:24.720
 He says,

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:26.119
 they must be above reproach,

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.980
 the husband of one wife,

00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:28.839
 sober-minded,

00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:31.900
 that means not given

00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:32.980
 to extreme behavior,

00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.420
 self-controlled,

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.220
 respectable,

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:35.940
 hospitable,

00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:36.980
 opening their homes

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.420
 to people,

00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.119
 opening their homes

00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:38.720
 to strangers,

00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.079
 able to teach,

00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:41.200
 not drunk,

00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:42.019
 not a drunkard,

00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:43.279
 not constantly drinking,

00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:44.420
 not violent,

00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:45.259
 literally not getting

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.120
 in fights,

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.800
 not quarrelsome,

00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:47.539
 not a lover of money,

00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.440
 gentle,

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.039
 meek,

00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:51.500
 a manager of their

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.180
 own household.

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.580
 You can go through

00:24:53.580 --> 00:24:54.039
 these lists,

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.580
 deacons not double-tongued,

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:56.960
 not,

00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:58.620
 as the King James put it,

00:24:58.820 --> 00:25:00.340
 interested in sordid gain,

00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:01.259
 right?

00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.620
 Interested in loving money

00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.140
 too much.

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:03.900
 Now,

00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:05.600
 you could read

00:25:05.600 --> 00:25:06.420
 a list like that,

00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:07.820
 full of the Holy Spirit,

00:25:08.080 --> 00:25:08.560
 wise,

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.660
 above reproach.

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.160
 The very last

00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:13.180
 qualification listed

00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.500
 in 1 Timothy 3

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.259
 about deacons,

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.080
 blameless,

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.799
 and say,

00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:18.900
 where are these people?

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:21.440
 Who are these people?

00:25:23.080 --> 00:25:23.519
 And,

00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:24.860
 that's so important

00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:25.400
 to ask,

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.420
 that's so critical

00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:27.120
 and necessary to ask.

00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.620
 Let me give you,

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.580
 let me just highlight

00:25:28.580 --> 00:25:29.700
 three qualifications

00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.340
 to look for.

00:25:31.320 --> 00:25:31.880
 Number one,

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.560
 we're told here,

00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.400
 1 Timothy 3,

00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:35.460
 verses 8 to 10,

00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:36.620
 and Acts 6.

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.420
 We see in Acts 6,

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.519
 the apostles say,

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.860
 we will not neglect

00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:41.339
 the ministry of the word.

00:25:42.179 --> 00:25:42.399
 And then,

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.139
 1 Timothy 3,

00:25:43.219 --> 00:25:43.859
 8 to 10,

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.559
 a deacon must hold

00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:47.219
 to the mystery of faith,

00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.019
 of the faith,

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.159
 with a clear conscience.

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.079
 What's that saying?

00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.099
 That's saying that

00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:52.099
 the first thing to ask

00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:53.759
 is in elders and deacons,

00:25:53.939 --> 00:25:55.339
 and your own heart

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.159
 as a Christian,

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.139
 if you're a Christian today,

00:25:57.699 --> 00:25:58.559
 do I hold

00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.819
 to the mystery of faith?

00:26:00.139 --> 00:26:00.699
 What is that?

00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.399
 What is that?

00:26:02.459 --> 00:26:03.439
 He's talking there

00:26:03.439 --> 00:26:05.439
 about the doctrines

00:26:05.439 --> 00:26:06.599
 of the Bible.

00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:07.659
 Very simple.

00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:08.700
 He's saying,

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.160
 are these men

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:10.779
 that we're choosing,

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:12.779
 are you holding fast

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.980
 to the doctrines

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:15.160
 that the Bible teaches?

00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:17.019
 The gospel itself

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:18.120
 and the answers

00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:18.900
 to questions like,

00:26:19.060 --> 00:26:19.759
 who is God?

00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:21.380
 Who am I?

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:23.160
 What is wrong with me?

00:26:23.600 --> 00:26:24.980
 Is this world redeemable?

00:26:25.340 --> 00:26:26.680
 How has Christ done it?

00:26:26.860 --> 00:26:28.140
 How can I be saved?

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:29.220
 What is to happen

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:29.880
 at the end of the world?

00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.920
 These are the doctrines

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:32.480
 of the faith, right?

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:32.840
 And so,

00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:33.720
 in the Bible,

00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:36.700
 sometimes there is two uses

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.480
 to the word faith.

00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.819
 There is the faith

00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:40.700
 that we believe by,

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:42.380
 so your personal faith.

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.720
 When you rest in Christ,

00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.299
 that's faith.

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.720
 You believe in more

00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:47.079
 than your eye can see right now.

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.360
 Then there is the language

00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:49.400
 of the faith,

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:51.559
 the mystery of the faith.

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.779
 What is the faith?

00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:54.360
 It's not your personal faith.

00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:56.420
 It's the objective faith

00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:58.380
 that can be written down on paper

00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.400
 and said,

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.980
 this is what the Bible teaches.

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.620
 So the first thing we learn

00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:03.960
 is that an elder and a deacon

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.279
 and all of us are called

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.039
 to open the Bible

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.359
 and say,

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.619
 what does the Bible teach?

00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:08.740
 Orthodoxy,

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.319
 we call it.

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.319
 Right teaching.

00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:12.460
 That's a necessary step

00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.659
 in choosing any leader.

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.879
 That has to be there.

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.399
 But secondly,

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.240
 it says they must,

00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:18.220
 and I'll just focus on this

00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:19.379
 because this encompasses

00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:20.139
 that whole list,

00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.740
 that elders and deacons

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:23.039
 must be beyond reproach

00:27:23.659 --> 00:27:24.039
 or blameless.

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.899
 That's the word that's used.

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:26.139
 Now,

00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:28.159
 does this mean

00:27:28.159 --> 00:27:30.220
 that all of these character qualities

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.420
 that we read about here

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:33.440
 in 1 Timothy 3 and Acts 6,

00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:35.960
 when we read the word blameless,

00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:36.900
 that's a summary word.

00:27:37.140 --> 00:27:38.720
 We're looking for men without sin,

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.860
 that they've gotten past it,

00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:41.120
 you know,

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.220
 they've beat it finally.

00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:44.799
 And if it was saying that

00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:47.640
 after 2,000 years of church history,

00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:49.279
 we would still be looking forward

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.519
 to the first ordination

00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.559
 of elders and deacons,

00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.240
 okay,

00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:53.940
 this is not saying

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:55.640
 that we are looking for perfect people,

00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:58.220
 that we are looking for men without sin.

00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:58.839
 No,

00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.380
 not at all.

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:00.140
 Instead,

00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:01.180
 if you could summarize

00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:02.400
 the whole list

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:04.740
 and the concept of above reproach

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.600
 or blameless

00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:07.319
 in modern language,

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:08.460
 it would be something like this.

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:10.240
 Not engaged

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:13.039
 in two different lifestyles.

00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:14.839
 Where on the one hand,

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.559
 they're saying,

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.660
 I'm an Orthodox Christian,

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.680
 I'm a follower of Christ,

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:19.140
 I'm walking the walk

00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:19.799
 in this community,

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.779
 but then living

00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:21.940
 a completely different way

00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:22.839
 outside of it.

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.960
 Not living differently privately,

00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:26.259
 not hypocritical.

00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:27.440
 That's the concept

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.620
 of above reproach.

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.240
 They're not living

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.440
 two different lives.

00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.559
 In other words,

00:28:31.600 --> 00:28:32.299
 you could say it like this,

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.960
 they are the biggest repenters

00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.480
 in the room.

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.440
 They're the first to repent.

00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:38.400
 They're daily confessing their sin.

00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:40.160
 They're daily looking to Christ

00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:41.799
 once more for gospel grace.

00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.779
 They're daily coming

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.140
 and saying,

00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.160
 I need thee,

00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.380
 oh,

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:44.840
 I need thee.

00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:45.460
 Every hour,

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.019
 I need thee.

00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.320
 That's what it means

00:28:47.320 --> 00:28:48.100
 to be above reproach.

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:48.940
 Not hypocritical,

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:51.220
 but truly behind closed doors,

00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.080
 Christian,

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.759
 walking with Christ,

00:28:53.860 --> 00:28:54.279
 in Christ,

00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:54.920
 towards Christ,

00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:55.600
 all the time.

00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.000
 Lastly,

00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.460
 thirdly,

00:28:57.580 --> 00:28:59.080
 Acts 6-3 summarizes it

00:28:59.080 --> 00:28:59.400
 so well,

00:28:59.480 --> 00:28:59.680
 I think,

00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:01.240
 full of the Holy Spirit.

00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:03.019
 What does that mean?

00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:04.200
 Full of the Holy Spirit.

00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.940
 It means so many things.

00:29:07.100 --> 00:29:07.460
 We can't,

00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.000
 I can't,

00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:09.019
 you wouldn't allow me

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.120
 to talk about it

00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.840
 too much right now,

00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.100
 but one thing

00:29:12.100 --> 00:29:12.660
 that means this

00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:13.660
 is that we're looking

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.500
 for leaders

00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:16.480
 who are not interested

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.259
 in serving

00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.779
 because they want

00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.820
 to be good people.

00:29:20.580 --> 00:29:21.640
 They're not interested

00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:22.259
 in serving

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:24.140
 because they want

00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:24.640
 to earn their way

00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:24.960
 to heaven.

00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:27.079
 They're not interested

00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:27.640
 in serving

00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:29.019
 because they want

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.579
 to be known

00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:30.740
 for status and reputation

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.720
 of being a great servant.

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.720
 Or they're not interested

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.200
 in serving

00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.259
 because they want

00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.859
 to be known

00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.640
 as an elder

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.460
 in the community.

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:37.980
 No,

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:38.799
 none of that.

00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.660
 Full of the Holy Spirit

00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:41.539
 means we're looking

00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.500
 for people

00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.440
 who have been transformed

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.460
 by the grace

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.279
 of Jesus Christ,

00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:45.940
 that the Holy Spirit

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:46.920
 has encountered them.

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.539
 They've had an encounter

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.099
 with God

00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:50.140
 and they'll never

00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:50.700
 be the same

00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:52.140
 because of it.

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.119
 That's what it means

00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:53.720
 to be full

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.359
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.420
 Think about Paul,

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.460
 Paul who gives us

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.160
 some of these lists

00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:58.940
 of qualifications.

00:29:59.240 --> 00:29:59.859
 Paul says,

00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:02.559
 I am the worst

00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.339
 of sinners,

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.019
 but by the grace

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:05.339
 of God

00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.019
 I am what I am.

00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:07.879
 Full of Holy Spirit,

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.859
 elders and deacons,

00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.000
 men,

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.559
 do you know,

00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:10.859
 men,

00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.480
 leaders in this room,

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.119
 do you know that you,

00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.299
 have you had an experience

00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:14.379
 of grace that you're

00:30:14.379 --> 00:30:16.140
 daily being transformed

00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:17.460
 by saying,

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.599
 I am the worst.

00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:20.799
 I have the biggest need

00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:22.079
 of God's grace

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:22.539
 in my life.

00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:23.759
 That's the leaders

00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.159
 we need.

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:25.460
 That,

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.079
 the Holy Spirit

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.899
 at work in your heart

00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:27.419
 that you can say

00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:27.779
 that every day.

00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.419
 Think about Peter.

00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.599
 He gives a list

00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:30.259
 of qualifications

00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:30.839
 for elder

00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:31.819
 in his letter.

00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:33.480
 Peter,

00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.159
 Peter,

00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:34.859
 he's the one

00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:36.399
 who committed treason

00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:37.639
 against Jesus Christ

00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:40.899
 and he was restored

00:30:40.899 --> 00:30:41.460
 by the grace

00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:41.899
 of the gospel

00:30:41.899 --> 00:30:42.819
 by the Holy Spirit

00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:43.440
 and encounter

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.759
 with God the Holy Spirit.

00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:45.759
 Elders and deacons

00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:46.960
 are not perfect people.

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.480
 They are men

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:48.980
 that are willing

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:50.279
 to say alongside Paul,

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.660
 I'm the first person

00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.779
 to express my need

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.920
 of grace.

00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.759
 Close with this.

00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:58.200
 What we're looking for

00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:59.000
 is Christians.

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:01.740
 Christians,

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:02.920
 because elders and deacons

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.859
 are just examples

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:06.160
 and the calling

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:06.819
 that we've read,

00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:08.140
 the list of qualifications

00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:09.559
 here in large measure

00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:11.259
 with some add-ons,

00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.079
 with some takeaways,

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.559
 this is what we all

00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.420
 want for ourselves.

00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:16.600
 people in need

00:31:16.600 --> 00:31:17.740
 of grace growing

00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:19.100
 and that's why

00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:19.700
 God has given

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.259
 the church,

00:31:20.560 --> 00:31:20.840
 apostles,

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.200
 elders,

00:31:21.360 --> 00:31:21.580
 prophets,

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.180
 evangelists,

00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:23.960
 pastors and shepherds

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.720
 and deacons

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:26.320
 to equip the saints

00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:27.400
 for the work of ministry.

00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.000
 The work of ministry

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:30.220
 is grow in Christ

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.860
 and serve people's needs

00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:33.800
 and it's all

00:31:33.800 --> 00:31:34.200
 of our calling.

00:31:34.300 --> 00:31:34.840
 So what we're looking

00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:36.120
 for here in this

00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:36.620
 is leadership

00:31:36.620 --> 00:31:38.500
 where we know

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.180
 these people

00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:39.960
 do not have

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.080
 functional saviors

00:31:41.080 --> 00:31:42.019
 other than Christ.

00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.380
 They're not

00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:44.680
 lovers of money.

00:31:45.020 --> 00:31:45.360
 They're not

00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:46.040
 so interested

00:31:46.040 --> 00:31:46.680
 in career

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:48.060
 that they've been

00:31:48.060 --> 00:31:48.560
 taken away

00:31:48.560 --> 00:31:48.980
 from the work

00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:49.540
 of the ministry.

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.500
 Non-functional saviors.

00:31:52.100 --> 00:31:52.800
 In other words,

00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:54.620
 they point us

00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:56.260
 away from themselves

00:31:56.260 --> 00:31:57.680
 and to Jesus,

00:31:58.540 --> 00:31:59.400
 the great deacon

00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:00.140
 and the great shepherd.

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:03.180
 We have a letter

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:04.260
 written by a man

00:32:04.260 --> 00:32:05.800
 named Clement of Alexandria.

00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.400
 Sorry,

00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:07.840
 a lot of early church today.

00:32:08.280 --> 00:32:09.140
 We have a letter

00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:09.800
 from a man named

00:32:09.800 --> 00:32:10.720
 Clement of Alexandria

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:12.000
 in the early 2nd century.

00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:13.799
 He became a Christian

00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:15.359
 underneath the Apostle John.

00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:17.039
 So the Apostle John

00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:18.279
 who wrote the Gospel of John,

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:18.859
 he wrote the book

00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:19.579
 of Revelation

00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:21.339
 and he discipled

00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:21.880
 this young man

00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:22.380
 named Clement

00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:23.319
 and Clement

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.039
 became a leader

00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.920
 in the church.

00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:26.799
 Clement tells a story

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:28.539
 about the Apostle John,

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.700
 one of the early elders

00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.240
 of the church.

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.980
 John had founded,

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.299
 planted the church

00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.380
 in Smyrna.

00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:36.140
 We read about that

00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:36.920
 in the book of Revelation.

00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:37.720
 Smyrna.

00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:40.240
 And John

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:42.680
 had shared the Gospel

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.460
 with a young man

00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.339
 who was an orphan.

00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.519
 And the young man

00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.460
 came to Christ

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.559
 and started following Jesus.

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.500
 And John

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.480
 had to be taken away

00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:52.640
 from pastoring the church

00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:53.440
 to another town

00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.380
 for a long, long time.

00:32:54.460 --> 00:32:55.440
 So John left.

00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.200
 And Clement writes

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:57.279
 that he turned

00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:58.000
 to the minister

00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.039
 that they had chosen,

00:32:59.160 --> 00:32:59.600
 the elder

00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:00.420
 that they had chosen

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.339
 in Smyrna

00:33:01.339 --> 00:33:02.339
 to replace John

00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:03.500
 and said this,

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.059
 In earnestness,

00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:06.539
 I commit this youth

00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:07.039
 to you

00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:08.079
 in the presence

00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:09.299
 of all here

00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.319
 and in the presence

00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:10.920
 of Christ.

00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:12.099
 Now what they did

00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:13.019
 was they took this young man

00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:13.720
 in front of the church.

00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:14.339
 It'd be like me

00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:15.019
 calling one of you

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.619
 saying come up front

00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:16.059
 right now

00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:17.339
 and saying

00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:18.779
 I commit you

00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:19.380
 to Simon

00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:20.059
 in the presence

00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.500
 of all

00:33:20.500 --> 00:33:21.440
 to be discipled

00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.319
 for the rest

00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:22.839
 of your days.

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.480
 Don't let this man go,

00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.259
 this young boy

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:25.940
 that's come to faith

00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:27.400
 from a rough background

00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:28.940
 come and disciple him.

00:33:29.640 --> 00:33:30.420
 John leaves.

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.279
 He comes back

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:32.039
 years later

00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:33.059
 and when he comes

00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:33.799
 back to Smyrna

00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.500
 he asks,

00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:35.599
 Clement records,

00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:37.299
 where is the young man?

00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.339
 And we learn

00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:40.539
 that the young man,

00:33:40.639 --> 00:33:41.519
 the pastor says,

00:33:41.659 --> 00:33:42.740
 left the church

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:44.599
 and he is now

00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:46.059
 living in a cave

00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.220
 outside of the city

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:49.220
 with a gang

00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:50.339
 of the text says

00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:50.899
 bandits.

00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:52.200
 Classic word,

00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:52.659
 bandits.

00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:54.920
 And John says,

00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:56.960
 Clement records,

00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:58.980
 you are a fine guard

00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:00.099
 of that brother's soul.

00:34:01.139 --> 00:34:01.599
 Sarcasm.

00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:02.839
 In the next breath

00:34:02.839 --> 00:34:03.399
 John said,

00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.399
 bring me a horse

00:34:04.399 --> 00:34:05.159
 and a guide,

00:34:05.639 --> 00:34:06.240
 lead me

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:07.679
 to where he is.

00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:08.380
 And so they take

00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:09.420
 John out of the city

00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:10.279
 to the caves

00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:11.739
 and John comes across

00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:12.719
 a member of this gang

00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:13.980
 and as soon as he's there

00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.319
 he says,

00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:15.339
 take me to your captain.

00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.960
 And the men are shocked,

00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:17.799
 this old man

00:34:17.799 --> 00:34:19.619
 coming to this group.

00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.440
 And he shows up

00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.940
 and there

00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:23.079
 the captain

00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:24.339
 is the young man

00:34:24.339 --> 00:34:25.299
 that he had discipled

00:34:25.299 --> 00:34:26.400
 and brought to Christ.

00:34:27.259 --> 00:34:28.279
 And Clement says

00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:29.139
 that as soon as

00:34:29.139 --> 00:34:29.679
 the young man

00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:30.880
 saw the apostle John,

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:32.039
 he ran

00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:34.079
 in fear

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:35.079
 and shame

00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:36.840
 and guilt

00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:38.720
 as soon as he saw him

00:34:38.720 --> 00:34:39.960
 and this is what John said,

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.039
 my son,

00:34:41.160 --> 00:34:42.220
 why do you flee from me,

00:34:42.280 --> 00:34:43.500
 your father in the faith,

00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:44.220
 old,

00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:45.000
 unarmed?

00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.559
 See my compassion for you,

00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:50.059
 my son.

00:34:50.340 --> 00:34:50.940
 Fear not.

00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:53.059
 You still have hope.

00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:55.559
 I will pray for Christ's forgiveness

00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:56.360
 for you.

00:34:56.799 --> 00:34:57.599
 If needs be,

00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:59.239
 I will take your death

00:34:59.239 --> 00:35:01.159
 as the Lord died for me.

00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:01.980
 For you,

00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:02.579
 my son,

00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:04.099
 I will surrender my life.

00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:05.480
 Stop and believe

00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.900
 Christ has sent me

00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:07.639
 to you today.

00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:09.579
 Now,

00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:11.199
 there's a story

00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:12.000
 of forgiveness

00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.539
 and mercy

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.539
 available to anyone

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:14.380
 no matter what.

00:35:15.179 --> 00:35:15.940
 And there's a story

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.579
 of a great elder.

00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:18.059
 Right?

00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:18.840
 That's a great elder.

00:35:19.759 --> 00:35:20.599
 The sheepdog.

00:35:21.239 --> 00:35:22.139
 He won't let him go.

00:35:22.839 --> 00:35:23.879
 He's chasing after him.

00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:25.339
 How did John become like that?

00:35:25.739 --> 00:35:26.839
 He looked at the true deacon.

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:28.420
 He looked at the true shepherd,

00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.079
 the true deacon,

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.119
 Jesus Christ,

00:35:30.219 --> 00:35:30.980
 in John 13,

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.139
 on the night

00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:33.019
 that he was betrayed,

00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.819
 facing the horror

00:35:34.819 --> 00:35:35.440
 of the cross,

00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.319
 about to be murdered

00:35:36.319 --> 00:35:37.559
 for our sin.

00:35:38.319 --> 00:35:38.839
 What did he do?

00:35:38.879 --> 00:35:40.159
 He got down on his knees

00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:41.539
 in the most demeaning act

00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:41.940
 you could do

00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.579
 in the first century

00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:43.619
 and he washed

00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:44.159
 the dirty,

00:35:44.379 --> 00:35:45.179
 stinky feet

00:35:45.179 --> 00:35:46.799
 of the men

00:35:46.799 --> 00:35:47.299
 who were about

00:35:47.299 --> 00:35:48.139
 to betray him.

00:35:49.279 --> 00:35:50.119
 He was about to go

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.960
 to the cross for them.

00:35:51.259 --> 00:35:51.679
 They were going

00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:52.399
 to betray him

00:35:52.399 --> 00:35:53.659
 and he washed their feet

00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:54.599
 and he said,

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.699
 I serve you.

00:35:55.839 --> 00:35:56.480
 I serve.

00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:57.539
 I came,

00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:57.960
 what did he say?

00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.440
 I came

00:35:58.440 --> 00:36:00.739
 not to be served

00:36:00.739 --> 00:36:01.899
 but to serve,

00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:02.960
 to give my life away

00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:03.699
 as a ransom for many.

00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:03.940
 Do you know

00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.359
 what that word

00:36:04.359 --> 00:36:05.279
 to serve is

00:36:05.279 --> 00:36:05.839
 when he says that?

00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.759
 It's the word deacon.

00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:09.179
 I came to deacon for you.

00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:10.980
 John became like that

00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.460
 because he looked

00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:12.219
 at the ultimate deacon.

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:15.679
 He looked at the true elder,

00:36:15.799 --> 00:36:16.579
 the great shepherd

00:36:16.579 --> 00:36:17.299
 of the sheep.

00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:18.599
 In John chapter 20,

00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:20.039
 when this same one

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.960
 who died for your sins

00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:21.699
 rose again,

00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:23.599
 for your justification,

00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:25.220
 he was there

00:36:25.220 --> 00:36:25.860
 in the garden

00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:28.059
 and Mary Magdalene

00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:29.000
 comes to him

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:30.900
 and she doesn't recognize him

00:36:30.900 --> 00:36:31.559
 and she says,

00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:32.639
 is this the gardener?

00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:34.820
 And what did he do?

00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:36.380
 He said her name,

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:36.800
 Mary.

00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:39.420
 And she would have been there

00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:40.360
 in John chapter 10

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:40.940
 that we opened

00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:41.900
 our call to worship with

00:36:41.900 --> 00:36:42.440
 when he said,

00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:44.199
 my sheep hear my voice

00:36:44.199 --> 00:36:46.099
 and when I call their name,

00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:47.280
 they come to me.

00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:48.660
 And all he does

00:36:48.660 --> 00:36:49.100
 is he says,

00:36:49.180 --> 00:36:49.460
 Mary.

00:36:50.280 --> 00:36:51.080
 And the blindness,

00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:51.580
 gone.

00:36:51.740 --> 00:36:52.620
 She, it says,

00:36:52.720 --> 00:36:53.280
 we're told in the text,

00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:54.340
 she clung to him,

00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:55.280
 she embraced him,

00:36:55.560 --> 00:36:56.780
 she wrapped her hands

00:36:56.780 --> 00:36:57.220
 around him

00:36:57.220 --> 00:36:58.180
 and would not let go.

00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:59.000
 And he said,

00:36:59.040 --> 00:36:59.840
 you've got to let me go.

00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:00.700
 I've got to go

00:37:00.700 --> 00:37:01.740
 and send the spirit

00:37:01.740 --> 00:37:02.519
 to the church.

00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:03.080
 Right?

00:37:03.140 --> 00:37:04.060
 She wouldn't let go of him.

00:37:04.120 --> 00:37:04.460
 Now look,

00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:05.620
 how did John become

00:37:05.619 --> 00:37:06.420
 an elder like that?

00:37:08.339 --> 00:37:10.500
 We need leaders

00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:12.279
 who help us all

00:37:12.279 --> 00:37:13.859
 cling to Jesus

00:37:13.859 --> 00:37:16.319
 and not let go

00:37:16.319 --> 00:37:16.599
 and say,

00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:17.359
 I won't let go.

00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.400
 That's the leaders we need.

00:37:21.400 --> 00:37:22.039
 Let us pray.

00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:22.440
 Father,

00:37:23.279 --> 00:37:24.719
 we pray for these shepherds,

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:25.659
 these deacons,

00:37:25.859 --> 00:37:27.199
 and we ask that you would

00:37:27.199 --> 00:37:28.519
 teach us all as Christians

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:30.279
 to cling to Jesus

00:37:30.279 --> 00:37:32.599
 and to see the true deacon,

00:37:32.839 --> 00:37:33.940
 the one who washed our feet

00:37:33.940 --> 00:37:34.460
 at the cross,

00:37:34.539 --> 00:37:35.940
 the true elder and shepherd,

00:37:36.099 --> 00:37:38.519
 the one who would run

00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:40.240
 to the uttermost far country

00:37:40.240 --> 00:37:41.500
 and give his life away

00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:42.380
 for the sheep, Lord.

00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:45.240
 Teach us the grace

00:37:45.240 --> 00:37:46.099
 that that is

00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:47.440
 and then how to love

00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:48.340
 like that as well.

00:37:48.519 --> 00:37:49.119
 We pray for that

00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:49.720
 in Christ's name.

00:37:49.940 --> 00:37:50.179
 Amen.