WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:05.520 Well, let me add to Fraser's welcome. Very good afternoon. Let's pray as we open up God's word together. 00:00:06.620 --> 00:00:12.560 Lord Jesus, we have already looked so much at what it means to be your church here. 00:00:13.179 --> 00:00:17.719 And now as we open up your word, just make it real to each one of us, we ask. 00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:25.580 Speak to each of us. We need to hear your voice loud and clear through your word this morning. Amen. 00:00:25.579 --> 00:00:30.500 Amen. Well, last week we looked at the foundation of the church. 00:00:30.619 --> 00:00:36.299 And Graham, our assistant pastor, spoke to us about the fact that at the very foundation of the church is the gospel, 00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:43.079 is the good news of Jesus Christ, his death, his resurrection, his ascension and flowing from that. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:50.019 The fact that he calls all those who believe in him to automatically be part of his church. 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:54.539 And today we're going to build on that by saying, OK, we've got that. We've got that as the foundations. 00:00:54.539 --> 00:00:59.119 But now what does it look like to be part of this church? 00:00:59.219 --> 00:01:01.859 And what does involvement in the church look like? 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:07.420 And I think you'll have got from the video clips and from some of what is said that you're going to hear about the fact 00:01:07.420 --> 00:01:12.000 that this is something that involves every single one of us who are here today 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:19.579 and all those who, for whatever reason, are maybe out teaching kids or are just not able to be with us today. 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:21.140 So that's where we're going to go. 00:01:21.140 --> 00:01:27.980 It strikes me that this morning's talk is going to be a little bit like a driving test in some respects. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:30.500 Now, I did my driving test 23 years ago. 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:32.760 I am horrified to acknowledge. 00:01:33.540 --> 00:01:37.200 And at that point, all you did was sit in the car and drive around. 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:39.960 And then at the end, the guy said, right, look at some road signs. 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:40.760 Do you know what that is? 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:41.740 Yeah, that's a stop sign. 00:01:42.099 --> 00:01:42.799 Do you know what that is? 00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:43.700 That's a giveaway sign. 00:01:43.780 --> 00:01:44.200 That's fine. 00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:45.219 You've passed your test. 00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:47.500 But nowadays, I believe it's much more difficult. 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:52.599 Is anybody in the process of sitting a driving test just now or learning to drive? 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:53.760 None of you are learning to drive. 00:01:53.879 --> 00:01:54.099 Gosh. 00:01:54.420 --> 00:01:57.599 Okay, well, if you are going to be learning, you've got to get the theory bit right. 00:01:58.180 --> 00:02:00.159 And you've got a separate theory exam. 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:04.400 And then you go and do the practical bit where you're actually driving around the road. 00:02:04.460 --> 00:02:06.700 So we're going to have two aspects to the message. 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:07.659 We're going to have some theory. 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:09.439 And then we're going to have it. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:11.859 We're going to see what it looks like in real life. 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:14.079 Okay, this whole thing about church. 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:16.300 But it's going to be much better than a driving test. 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:18.300 There's not going to be any failing at the end of the day. 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:19.939 And it's going to be an awful lot more fun. 00:02:20.060 --> 00:02:22.740 Because this is a brilliant topic, I believe. 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:25.800 The theory of what church is all about. 00:02:26.180 --> 00:02:32.699 And then we're going to look at a real life example of church actually living up to the theory. 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:35.139 And that's going to be in Romans chapter 16. 00:02:35.139 --> 00:02:41.000 But the theory, first of all, and really if you remember and can let four words sink in, 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:43.279 then you'll pretty much have the theory. 00:02:43.619 --> 00:02:47.439 Okay, although we're going to try and apply that theory a little bit over the next few minutes. 00:02:47.519 --> 00:02:53.759 So here are the four words which I think pretty much capture the theory that's in the New Testament 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:56.060 about what the church is supposed to be. 00:02:56.379 --> 00:02:58.219 Number one is a house or a home. 00:02:58.299 --> 00:03:00.500 I'm going to describe it as a home today. 00:03:00.979 --> 00:03:02.560 Number two is a body. 00:03:02.779 --> 00:03:04.799 Number three is a family. 00:03:05.139 --> 00:03:07.059 Number four is a community. 00:03:07.579 --> 00:03:11.819 And I'd love it if by the time we go away we've got those four words sunk deep down 00:03:11.819 --> 00:03:14.579 and we can think through what that means in practice. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:17.299 A home, a body, a family and a community. 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:23.739 Those four words used to describe the theory about church and involvement in church 00:03:23.739 --> 00:03:26.000 according to the New Testament. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:30.199 Let me start then with this word house or home. 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:34.219 If you've got a Bible either in paper copy or on your phone or something like that, 00:03:34.239 --> 00:03:38.060 you might want to dot around with me because we're not having only one text. 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:39.199 We're looking at a few. 00:03:39.579 --> 00:03:43.659 And we'll start off in 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 4. 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:46.159 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 4. 00:03:46.239 --> 00:03:49.120 And here, check with me that I'm not getting the theory wrong. 00:03:49.399 --> 00:03:53.359 I'm pretty sure if we're doing a theory exam and it was about what is church like, 00:03:53.679 --> 00:03:57.000 then we'd have to say, wait a minute, there's something around houses and homes. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:59.199 It's there in 1 Peter chapter 2. 00:04:00.020 --> 00:04:08.840 As you come to him, the living stone, rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him. 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:10.439 So this is a reference to Jesus. 00:04:11.379 --> 00:04:20.000 You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:26.680 offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.839 And then we'll dash on to verse 9. 00:04:29.939 --> 00:04:30.220 It says, 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:38.860 You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, 00:04:39.420 --> 00:04:46.279 that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:51.699 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. 00:04:51.699 --> 00:04:58.620 Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:02.019 So let's get our head around this idea of the church being a home. 00:05:02.259 --> 00:05:06.779 Well, we've sung already such a helpful song which helps us understand this. 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:09.699 We've sung that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone. 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:12.759 And that's the idea in this passage here. 00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:19.180 That we can have in our minds the idea of the church as a building where Jesus Christ is the cornerstone. 00:05:19.459 --> 00:05:24.360 The stone that is absolutely essential in terms of holding the whole thing together. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:31.439 But that every single one of us are also invited to take our place as stones in this building. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:37.000 But it's not just some kind of house where nothing's happening, which is why I'm describing it as a home. 00:05:37.180 --> 00:05:39.199 Because we're described as living stones. 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:45.000 And there's something that's not static, but that's really dynamic about this house. 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:49.639 So it really is a home which God is building. 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:55.720 And the key point I want to get across in relation to this first bit of theory about church 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:59.159 is that it's somewhere where we all belong. 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:05.840 Isn't that what we have in mind for many of us if we've had a happy background and we think about home? 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:08.200 It's a place of refuge. 00:06:08.420 --> 00:06:10.160 It's a place where we can return to. 00:06:10.460 --> 00:06:15.480 It's a place where regardless of what else has been happening, we all belong at home. 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:19.420 And I want to say to each one of you coming into church today 00:06:19.420 --> 00:06:23.940 that I long and pray that you might feel that this place is home. 00:06:24.440 --> 00:06:28.220 It's a place where Jesus Christ is the key cornerstone. 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:34.980 But it's a place where each of us are invited to come and contribute to the overall building project 00:06:34.980 --> 00:06:39.500 that Jesus Christ is doing and that God is doing. 00:06:40.320 --> 00:06:45.620 And why do I say I think the key thing is to understand that in this home we all belong? 00:06:45.720 --> 00:06:48.860 Well, let me refer again to verses 9 and 10. 00:06:48.860 --> 00:06:53.439 Because it's very easy to think, oh, do you know, I'm not sure that I, that me, 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:58.780 I've really got an entitlement to play an integral part in this home. 00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:03.220 I reckon that there's others around me that probably play a part in the home. 00:07:03.400 --> 00:07:04.139 But I'm not sure. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:05.840 I've done too much in the past. 00:07:05.900 --> 00:07:07.520 I've had too many regrets. 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:08.800 I've got too many failures. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:09.939 I'm too old. 00:07:10.020 --> 00:07:10.720 I'm too young. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.660 I'm too inexperienced to really play an integral part. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:18.520 Well, the apostle Peter tackles that here. 00:07:18.840 --> 00:07:22.780 He says, yes, once you were not a people in verse 10, 00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:25.480 once you had no place in this home, 00:07:25.740 --> 00:07:27.620 once you weren't part of it at all, 00:07:27.760 --> 00:07:29.240 but now through Jesus Christ, 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:33.240 through that wonderful foundation of the gospel that we learned about last Sunday, 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:34.880 once you were not a people, 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:37.740 but now you are the people of God. 00:07:37.980 --> 00:07:40.459 Once you had not received mercy. 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:40.899 It's true. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:42.819 You've not been part of this all your life, 00:07:42.819 --> 00:07:46.560 but now you have received mercy. 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:49.759 We were in Disney for our first time ever over the summer 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:51.439 and we found it somewhat corny, 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:52.779 but in some ways slightly comforting 00:07:52.779 --> 00:07:56.899 that every single time we went back into the particular hotel 00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:58.980 that we were going to, 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:01.040 the people said two words to us 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:02.360 and it was in an accent, 00:08:02.459 --> 00:08:03.480 which I'm tempted to imitate, 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:04.339 but I'll get it wrong. 00:08:04.339 --> 00:08:06.279 They said, welcome home. 00:08:06.679 --> 00:08:07.459 Every single time. 00:08:07.459 --> 00:08:09.179 I'd like to say that today genuinely 00:08:09.179 --> 00:08:12.000 to all those of you who form a part of Brunsfield, 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:14.199 whether this is just your first or second time 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:17.120 or you've been here a hundred times or a thousand times, 00:08:17.339 --> 00:08:18.639 welcome home. 00:08:18.979 --> 00:08:20.799 Let's remember that Jesus Christ 00:08:20.799 --> 00:08:24.459 is the absolute center and cornerstone 00:08:24.459 --> 00:08:29.179 and he wants us to feel that this is part of the house, 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:33.000 the building, the home that he is building. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:34.500 It's a home. 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:36.519 It's also a body. 00:08:36.659 --> 00:08:41.659 And here I'm going to turn you to Romans chapter 12 and verse 4. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:43.440 Again, if you want to turn to it, that would be great. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:45.759 If you'd rather just listen, that's fine. 00:08:45.799 --> 00:08:48.720 There's various passages which I could turn to in the New Testament 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:51.559 where the church is compared not as a house or a home, 00:08:51.779 --> 00:08:53.600 but the church is compared to a body, 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:55.159 a single body. 00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:57.000 We could look at Ephesians chapter 4, 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:00.320 but for today we're going to look at Romans chapter 12. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:01.740 So listen to this. 00:09:01.820 --> 00:09:03.820 Romans chapter 12, verse 4. 00:09:04.820 --> 00:09:07.659 For just as each of us has one body with many members 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:10.659 and these members do not all have the same function, 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:15.679 so in Christ we, though many, form one body 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:19.500 and each member belongs to all the others. 00:09:20.179 --> 00:09:24.100 We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us. 00:09:24.100 --> 00:09:28.279 If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:30.519 If it is serving, then serve. 00:09:30.800 --> 00:09:32.320 If it is teaching, then teach. 00:09:32.580 --> 00:09:34.820 If it is to encourage, then give encouragement. 00:09:35.180 --> 00:09:37.180 If it is giving, then give generously. 00:09:37.540 --> 00:09:39.480 If it is to lead, do it diligently. 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:43.740 If it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:45.779 So it couldn't be clearer, could it, 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:49.580 that God says that the church that he established, 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:52.000 built on the foundation of the gospel, 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:54.620 is intended to be like a body. 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:56.840 Well, to understand this more fully, 00:09:57.100 --> 00:10:00.280 I have had to have recourse to some of the doctor friends 00:10:00.280 --> 00:10:01.520 who are in the church today. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:02.960 Now, folks, for those of you who don't know, 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:04.180 we're spoiled for choice at the moment. 00:10:04.540 --> 00:10:06.900 We are blessed to have many doctors among us. 00:10:06.920 --> 00:10:08.420 This is a brilliant place to fall ill. 00:10:08.920 --> 00:10:10.500 So, you know, if you're not feeling great any Sunday, 00:10:10.560 --> 00:10:11.520 don't worry, come along, 00:10:11.800 --> 00:10:12.960 because if something goes wrong, 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:14.800 there'll be people running towards you, 00:10:15.020 --> 00:10:17.020 ready to help, thanks to all the doctor friends. 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:18.220 Then again, maybe some of you are actually thinking, 00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:19.480 don't say that, I'm off duty, 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:20.679 and I've been working hard. 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:22.639 But anyway, one particular doctor friend 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:23.799 who is serving in other ways, 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:25.059 David, who's at the back, 00:10:25.319 --> 00:10:27.779 told me a little bit about how the body works. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:28.519 He said this, 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:31.199 if a part of the body is injured, 00:10:32.039 --> 00:10:33.340 e.g. muscle strain, 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:37.179 this puts more work onto the opposite leg 00:10:37.179 --> 00:10:40.620 to compensate for and support the injured leg. 00:10:41.319 --> 00:10:43.259 This reflects in the church. 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:48.039 We have a role to support injured or weaker parts of the church, 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:51.960 even if this means more work for ourselves. 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:55.159 I think David put that in a beautifully positive way, 00:10:55.340 --> 00:10:57.379 because we could be really negative and say, 00:10:57.539 --> 00:10:59.879 are you causing the rest of the body to limp along? 00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:02.019 But we're not going to say that today at all, okay? 00:11:02.139 --> 00:11:03.480 We're going to look at it positively, 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:05.720 and we're going to say that each one of us 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:07.480 has an essential part to play 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:08.779 in order that this body, 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:10.379 the church at Brunsfield, 00:11:10.439 --> 00:11:12.120 or any other churches that you're represented, 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:14.899 in order that this body functions really well. 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:17.240 It's intended to be a body that's full of energy, 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.940 that's full of vitality, 00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:20.360 that's able to run, 00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:22.960 that's able to do incredibly powerful things, 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:24.100 and for that to happen, 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:27.960 each one of us has got a key part to play in the body. 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:29.120 But we recognize that sometimes, 00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:31.759 bits of the body won't be working well. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:34.679 Sometimes bits of the body 00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:38.480 just can't perform their full function. 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:41.180 And isn't it beautiful that in the human body, 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:43.360 what happens is that other bits of the body 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:45.680 kick in to compensate for 00:11:45.680 --> 00:11:48.060 and really help make up for 00:11:48.060 --> 00:11:52.100 what is lacking in the bits that are sick or struggling. 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:53.740 And I think that's a lovely image 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:54.800 which we could try and take, 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:55.820 because I can look around, 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:58.180 and I can say that I know there are some people 00:11:58.180 --> 00:11:59.820 who have been performing 00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:01.980 an incredibly active role in the body 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:03.740 for many, many, many years. 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:05.600 But maybe the time has come 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:07.799 and actually they're struggling 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:10.039 or they're unwell, 00:12:10.180 --> 00:12:12.779 and they can no longer play that part. 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:14.940 And my hope is, my belief is, 00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:17.860 that as God brings others into the body here, 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:19.740 he encourages every one of us 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:21.480 to play the part that we can. 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:22.960 In Romans 12, we read about 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:24.680 the whole variety of gifts 00:12:24.680 --> 00:12:26.360 which he gives to every one of us. 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:27.360 Every one of you, 00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:30.580 you are here with God-given gifts. 00:12:30.580 --> 00:12:32.080 And in this church, 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:34.120 the theory says, at least, 00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:37.060 that we will be able to use those gifts 00:12:37.060 --> 00:12:39.759 in order to ensure that that body is healthy 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:43.740 and growing and full of life and vitality. 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:45.580 What is your part in the body 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:47.139 at Brunsfield here? 00:12:48.160 --> 00:12:49.500 Maybe as you look through the gifts, 00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:51.120 you think, oh, I'm not sure. 00:12:51.900 --> 00:12:54.160 Well, maybe try out some opportunities. 00:12:54.300 --> 00:12:55.759 Later on today and over lunch, 00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:56.740 we'll be making known 00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:58.200 some of the opportunities that there are. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:00.360 But equally, it's not all about joining rotas. 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.220 Look at some of this. 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:02.360 It might be giving. 00:13:02.800 --> 00:13:04.080 If I can refer to Fraser's 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:06.159 very gentle and subtle plug 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:07.779 about giving to the church 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:09.480 potentially through wills. 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.700 Maybe it's leading. 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:12.440 Maybe it's showing mercy. 00:13:12.560 --> 00:13:13.779 And we'll come on to an example of that 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:14.960 in just a minute or two. 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.480 So there's a theory number one. 00:13:16.560 --> 00:13:17.480 The body is a home. 00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:18.919 Sorry, the church is a home. 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:20.419 Number two, it's a body. 00:13:20.680 --> 00:13:22.820 Number three, it's a family. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.940 Now, we could look at 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:27.139 so many different passages here. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:28.259 I'm not going to turn to them all, 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:29.799 but there are many passages 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:31.399 where what is referred to 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:32.899 or how the apostles 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:34.860 and the writers of the New Testament 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:36.819 refer to the other Christians 00:13:36.819 --> 00:13:38.740 is in the following terms, 00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:41.159 brothers and sisters. 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:43.200 Brothers and sisters. 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:45.580 The language that we use for family. 00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:48.240 Very briefly, if you want to look at it, 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:49.840 Hebrews 2.19, 00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:52.259 you are not foreigners and strangers, 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.899 but fellow citizens with God's people 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:57.139 and members of his household. 00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:59.360 We're all part of God's family. 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:01.340 And therefore, in this household, 00:14:01.459 --> 00:14:04.379 we are brothers and sisters with one another. 00:14:04.939 --> 00:14:06.720 1 Peter 2.17 says this, 00:14:06.959 --> 00:14:09.779 love the family of believers. 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:11.139 And a minute or two, 00:14:11.199 --> 00:14:13.079 we'll read together Romans chapter 16, 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:14.459 where we'll see so many references 00:14:14.459 --> 00:14:16.519 to our sisters, Phoebe, 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:19.379 the brothers and sisters with them. 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:23.379 I wonder if we truly see each other 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:25.519 as part of a family. 00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:28.639 I kind of feel for me when I was younger 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.539 in a much smaller church, 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:32.899 people were referred to as brother, 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:33.700 as sister, 00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:34.919 as for the kids, 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:36.340 as a child, 00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:38.259 I knew others as auntie and uncle. 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:40.519 And there was that real sense of family. 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.100 And my prayer, 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:43.360 perhaps my challenge, 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:44.820 would be that we try to 00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:46.639 possibly recapture 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.939 the sense of Brunsfield as family. 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:51.480 It doesn't matter 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:52.340 whether you've been here 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:54.019 for a long time or a short time. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.120 And maybe the particular responsibilities 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.059 and those of us who've been here 00:14:57.059 --> 00:14:58.059 for quite a long time 00:14:58.059 --> 00:15:00.240 to be sufficiently welcoming of others 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.659 so that we recognize 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:04.360 that we're not only a house and a home, 00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:06.199 we're not only a single body, 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:07.360 we're also family. 00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.759 And the people sitting next to you, 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.559 behind you, 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.439 in front of you, 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:11.840 in Christ Jesus, 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:14.120 are brothers and sisters. 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:14.740 Isn't that great? 00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:15.939 We don't need to feel alone. 00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:17.500 We don't need to be isolated 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.120 because you're not sitting next 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.400 to a group of strangers. 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:21.620 In Christ, 00:15:21.780 --> 00:15:24.580 you're sitting next to brothers and sisters. 00:15:25.540 --> 00:15:26.480 Here's my challenge. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.600 Could you manage, 00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:28.780 after church, 00:15:29.040 --> 00:15:30.060 at some point today, 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.900 to refer to somebody else 00:15:31.900 --> 00:15:34.900 as brother or as sister 00:15:34.900 --> 00:15:37.140 and really mean it 00:15:37.140 --> 00:15:39.360 because that's what we are in Christ. 00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:41.260 Finally, community. 00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:44.840 In so many passages of the New Testament, 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.120 we hear the word fellowship 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:50.480 and literally the word is koinonia, 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:52.019 linked to the words common, 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.879 sharing and participation. 00:15:54.160 --> 00:15:56.300 We're in community with God the Father, 00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:58.320 God the Son and God the Spirit 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.560 and we're in community with each other. 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:02.200 And I think the key verse that gets that 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:03.639 is that one that I read 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:05.580 from Romans chapter 12, 00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:07.420 which I think really, 00:16:07.420 --> 00:16:11.340 really challenges 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:16.300 the kind of predominant individualistic tone 00:16:16.300 --> 00:16:17.220 of our society. 00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:20.139 Romans 12, verse 4, 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:22.420 each of us has one body with many members 00:16:22.420 --> 00:16:24.379 and these members do not all have the same function. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.460 So in Christ, 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.560 we, though many, 00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:27.480 form one body 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:30.039 and each member belongs 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:31.800 to all the others. 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:34.860 Each member belongs 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:37.039 to all the others. 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:39.399 There's this real sense of closeness. 00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:42.340 There's this real sense of interdependence. 00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:44.379 There's this real sense of support 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.840 for one another. 00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:48.379 I think that's some of the sense of community 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:51.060 or the fellowship 00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:52.600 that we are intended to have. 00:16:52.680 --> 00:16:54.080 I've been reading a great book this week 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:55.200 called Total Church 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:58.080 by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis. 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:00.040 And they say this, 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.680 by becoming a Christian, 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.920 I belong to God 00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:07.700 and I belong to my brothers and sisters. 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:10.579 It's not that I belong to God 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:13.620 and then make a decision to join a church. 00:17:14.340 --> 00:17:15.880 My being in Christ 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:17.600 means being in Christ 00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:19.360 with others who are in church. 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.400 This is my identity. 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:24.540 This is our identity. 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.840 And they go on to provide 00:17:25.840 --> 00:17:27.759 what I found quite a helpful illustration 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.960 where they say that so many of us 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:29.860 can feel that in life 00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:31.880 we're kind of juggling lots of balls 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:33.700 and we're there on our own 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:36.900 trying to just keep all these balls in the air. 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:37.620 Yeah? 00:17:37.780 --> 00:17:39.259 Does that feel familiar to some? 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.820 And we've got family 00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:41.680 and we've got work 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.680 and we've got studies 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:44.900 and church is one of the balls 00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:46.340 that sometimes we feel 00:17:46.340 --> 00:17:47.660 we need to try and keep in the air 00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:48.680 and sometimes it drops 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:50.700 because there's so many other things. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:53.300 And the challenge from the theory part 00:17:53.300 --> 00:17:54.780 which is coming to an end now 00:17:54.780 --> 00:17:56.740 is not to see church 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.960 as just one of the balls 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:59.220 that's up in the air 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:02.160 but to see what God is doing to us 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:02.700 through Christ 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:04.019 is meaning that I'm not standing 00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:05.620 on my own juggling balls at all. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.860 Actually, I'm in a fellowship. 00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:09.480 I belong to others 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:11.080 and at the very heart of me 00:18:11.080 --> 00:18:13.200 is my relationship with Jesus Christ 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.180 and my relationship with those around us. 00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:17.340 So we together belong to one another 00:18:17.340 --> 00:18:19.300 and it's we together who are at the centre 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:21.359 perhaps juggling lots of balls 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.399 all around us 00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:23.500 but let's not see church 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.440 as just one of them. 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.539 It's much more integral. 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:27.480 It's much more central. 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.740 And I think that's absolutely clear 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:31.740 through these four phrases. 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:33.379 Home. 00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:34.659 Body. 00:18:35.419 --> 00:18:35.779 Family. 00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:36.899 Community. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:38.379 But what does it look like in practice? 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.279 I want to take you 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:42.099 in our last 10 minutes or so 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:43.000 10-15 minutes 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.480 to a beautiful example 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:46.920 of the practical reality 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:48.259 of church 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:50.279 as it's really intended to be 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:50.860 by God. 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:51.579 Can you come with me 00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:52.860 to Romans chapter 16 00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:54.900 and we'll look at some of these examples 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.460 of people. 00:18:56.120 --> 00:18:56.920 Context here is 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.720 the Apostle Paul 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.980 is writing a letter 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:00.140 to the church in Rome. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.900 He longs to be with them 00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:03.279 but he can't be with them 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.240 for various reasons. 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.839 But as he writes this letter 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:07.539 he speaks about the people 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:08.360 in the church 00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:10.160 and he gives us a beautiful insight 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.819 of how that church 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.720 was functioning. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.079 And I think that church 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:14.700 was functioning 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.700 as both body, 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.120 building, 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.980 family and community. 00:19:19.120 --> 00:19:19.680 Come with me 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:21.500 and let's look in 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:23.180 on this church. 00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:23.860 Verse 1 00:19:23.860 --> 00:19:25.000 I commend to you 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.000 our sister Phoebe 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.660 a deacon of the church 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.980 in Centuria. 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.480 I ask you to receive her 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.079 in the Lord 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.740 in a way worthy of his people 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.660 and to give her 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:35.279 any help she may need for you 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.100 for she has been 00:19:36.100 --> 00:19:36.759 the benefactor 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.539 of many people 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.319 including me. 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:39.420 Verse 3 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.700 Greet Priscilla and Aquila 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:41.759 my fellow workers 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.539 in Christ Jesus 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:43.799 they risked their lives 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.180 for me 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.359 not only I 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.279 but all the churches 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.000 of the Gentiles 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.940 are grateful for them. 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:49.359 Greet also the church 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:50.420 that meets at their house. 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:51.720 Greet my dear friend 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.359 Epenetus 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:53.799 who was the first convert 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.339 to Christ 00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.359 in the province of Asia. 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.339 Greet Mary 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:57.700 who worked very hard 00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:58.119 for you. 00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.319 Greet Andronicus 00:19:59.319 --> 00:19:59.879 and Junia 00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:00.839 my fellow Jews 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:01.839 who have been in prison 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.299 with me. 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.460 They are outstanding 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.339 among the apostles 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:05.639 and they were in Christ 00:20:05.639 --> 00:20:06.559 before I was. 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.859 Greet Ampelatus 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:09.879 my dear friend 00:20:09.879 --> 00:20:10.480 in the Lord. 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.920 Greet Urbanus 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:13.019 our fellow worker 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:13.560 in Christ 00:20:13.560 --> 00:20:14.660 and my dear friend 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:15.279 Stachys 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.380 Greet Apelles 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:17.380 whose fidelity 00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:18.039 to Christ 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:19.060 has stood the test. 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:19.880 Greet those 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.320 who belong 00:20:20.320 --> 00:20:21.019 to the household 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:22.380 of Aristobulus. 00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:23.420 Greet Herodian 00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.220 my fellow Jew. 00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.019 Greet those 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:25.660 in the household 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:26.560 of Narcissus 00:20:26.560 --> 00:20:28.440 who are in the Lord. 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.660 Greet Triphina 00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.500 and Triphosa 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.440 those women 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:32.420 who work hard 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.519 in the Lord. 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.759 Greet my dear friend 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.360 Persis 00:20:35.360 --> 00:20:36.320 another woman 00:20:36.320 --> 00:20:36.840 who has worked 00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.440 very hard 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:37.820 in the Lord. 00:20:38.100 --> 00:20:38.759 Greet Rufus 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.759 chosen in the Lord 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.660 and his mother 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:41.440 who has been 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.920 a mother 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:42.900 to me too. 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.859 Greet Assyntricus 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:45.759 Philegon 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.440 Hermes 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.299 Patrobus 00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.019 Hermas 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.559 and the other 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.519 brothers and sisters 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.099 with them. 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.279 Greet Philogius 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:51.759 Julia 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.980 Nerus and his sister 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.660 and Olympus 00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.799 and all the Lord's 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.700 people who are with them. 00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:56.720 Greet one another 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.619 with a holy kiss. 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.759 All the churches 00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.420 of Christ 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:00.980 send greetings. 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.299 Verse 21 00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.480 Timothy my co-worker 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.480 sends his greetings 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:04.940 to you 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:06.160 as do Lucius 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:06.600 Jason 00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:08.140 and Sosipater 00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:09.080 my fellow Jews. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.200 I Tertius 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:10.880 who wrote down 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:11.340 this letter 00:21:11.340 --> 00:21:12.340 greet you in the Lord. 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.120 Gaius 00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:13.980 whose hospitality 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:15.560 I and the whole church 00:21:15.560 --> 00:21:16.160 here enjoy 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:17.300 send you his greetings. 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.279 Erastus 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:19.080 who is the city's 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:20.279 director of public works 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.080 and our brother 00:21:21.080 --> 00:21:21.660 Quartus 00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:22.640 send you 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:24.180 their greetings. 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:27.240 Bit of a whistle stop tour 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:28.019 through an awful lot 00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.420 of names. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:30.040 I probably didn't do justice 00:21:30.040 --> 00:21:31.740 to many of those names 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.880 and I want to just 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:33.660 focus in 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:35.180 in this last few minutes 00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:36.000 on some of them. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.080 Because I think 00:21:37.080 --> 00:21:38.060 if we look at some of them 00:21:38.060 --> 00:21:39.360 we get a beautiful picture 00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.640 of the theory 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.700 being translated 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.480 into action 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.279 and I pray that we might 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:44.080 see some of that 00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:45.519 here among us. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.240 Phoebe 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.220 at the start. 00:21:47.800 --> 00:21:48.259 There she is 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:48.680 Phoebe 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.620 our sister 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:50.900 I commend to you 00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.320 Phoebe 00:21:51.320 --> 00:21:52.240 our sister 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.660 a deacon in the church 00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:55.000 and she's been the 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.680 benefactor 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.720 of many people. 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.060 I learned from looking 00:21:58.060 --> 00:21:58.920 at this this week 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:00.000 that it seems almost certain 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.519 that Phoebe 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.920 who was with Paul 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:03.040 is the woman 00:22:03.040 --> 00:22:04.019 who was entrusted 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.740 by Paul 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:06.160 to take the only 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.140 copy of Romans 00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.900 and to travel 00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:09.460 with it 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.779 over land 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:12.279 and across sea 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.420 and to take it 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:13.980 to the church 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.539 in Rome. 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.000 What an incredible 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.759 responsibility 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:18.359 was given to Phoebe. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.180 It also seems 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:19.940 from the passage 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.900 and from what else 00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.380 we can learn 00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:21.799 that Phoebe 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:23.099 was a very well 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:23.740 off woman 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.720 possibly a business 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.519 woman in the day 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.740 and Paul says 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.759 Phoebe has been 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:29.000 a great help to me. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.539 She's probably met 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.299 some of Paul's 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.299 financial needs 00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.759 and in other ways 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.579 has come alongside. 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.460 Literally 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.859 what she's described 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:38.680 as is one 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.940 who has stood by 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:41.559 in times of need. 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:42.960 One who's stuck 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:43.859 close to Paul 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:44.659 when the going 00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:45.599 has got tough 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.680 and Paul says 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.759 greet Phoebe. 00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:49.240 I commend to you Phoebe. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.119 She's travelling 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:51.599 with this precious letter. 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:52.839 Welcome her 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.740 because she's been 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:55.019 a great help 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.759 to me. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.000 I look out 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.460 and I recognise 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.480 that some of you 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.940 are probably closer 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.599 to Phoebe 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:03.380 than you even imagine. 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.279 Some of you 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:05.240 have stood by 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:06.440 and helped others 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:08.220 in times of need 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:09.160 and that's one 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:09.720 of the ways 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:11.000 in which the theory 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.720 of the church 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.759 is brought out 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.640 in practice. 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.279 Look around. 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.819 There are others 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:16.980 in need today 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:18.319 and the challenge 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.099 is where are 00:23:19.099 --> 00:23:20.180 the other Phoebes 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:21.759 who will stand by 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.740 in times of need 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:25.079 and where are those 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.759 like Phoebe 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.900 who can contribute 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.860 practically 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:29.439 and at times 00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:30.159 financially 00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:31.639 to the work 00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:32.279 of God 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:32.879 here. 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.139 Maybe you're 00:23:34.139 --> 00:23:34.799 a Phoebe. 00:23:35.419 --> 00:23:35.919 He goes on 00:23:35.919 --> 00:23:36.359 to say 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:37.859 greet Priscilla 00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:38.759 and Aquila 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:40.119 my fellow workers 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:40.959 in Christ Jesus 00:23:40.959 --> 00:23:41.839 they risked 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.319 their lives 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:42.740 for me. 00:23:43.219 --> 00:23:44.259 Not only I 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.479 but all the churches 00:23:45.479 --> 00:23:46.279 of the Gentiles 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.399 are grateful for them. 00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.339 Priscilla and Aquila 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.619 are an amazing couple. 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.439 There are seven 00:23:50.439 --> 00:23:52.059 references to Priscilla 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.679 and Aquila 00:23:52.679 --> 00:23:53.439 in the New Testament. 00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:54.139 Interestingly 00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:55.319 most of the times 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.039 five of them 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.179 the woman is mentioned 00:23:57.179 --> 00:23:57.679 first. 00:23:58.459 --> 00:23:58.839 Twice 00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.679 Aquila 00:23:59.679 --> 00:24:00.279 the guy 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:00.799 is mentioned 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.219 first. 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.259 They are never 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.299 mentioned apart 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:04.479 and here I want 00:24:04.479 --> 00:24:04.959 to look out 00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:05.979 at some of the 00:24:05.979 --> 00:24:06.479 couples 00:24:06.479 --> 00:24:07.619 who are working 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.979 together for God. 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.059 Some of the Priscillas 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:11.099 and Aquilas 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.240 where together 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.259 you are able 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.819 to do 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:15.199 tremendous things 00:24:15.199 --> 00:24:15.799 for God 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:17.159 and for his glory 00:24:17.159 --> 00:24:18.359 in this place. 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.519 Greet Priscilla 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.139 and Aquila. 00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:21.259 One of the most 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.139 beautiful things 00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:22.799 that I've enjoyed 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.240 this week 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:23.819 about Priscilla 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.319 and Aquila 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.059 let me tell you 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.619 a wee story 00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:26.299 about them 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.559 in Acts chapter 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.019 18. 00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:29.559 This great scholar 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.379 called Apollos 00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:30.979 comes along 00:24:30.979 --> 00:24:32.779 and he was one 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.219 of Paul's 00:24:33.219 --> 00:24:33.979 right hand men 00:24:33.979 --> 00:24:34.599 later on. 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:36.579 He was a big guy 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.379 big teacher 00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:39.079 well learned 00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:40.399 brilliant preacher 00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:41.859 and he comes along 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:42.699 and he starts to 00:24:42.699 --> 00:24:43.039 preach 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.159 and Priscilla 00:24:44.159 --> 00:24:44.799 and Aquila 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.339 are there 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.719 and they recognise 00:24:46.719 --> 00:24:47.239 that actually 00:24:47.239 --> 00:24:47.819 Apollos has got 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.539 some stuff wrong. 00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.240 He's got a pretty 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.039 mixed up on the 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.460 whole thing 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.119 about baptism. 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:53.339 So what do they do? 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:54.759 What would we do 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.720 if we think 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.099 there's people 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:56.519 where we just 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.180 know they're wrong? 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.740 We know 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.639 they are wrong. 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.619 What did Priscilla 00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:01.279 and Aquila do? 00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:01.980 Did they stand up 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.500 and say sorry 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.159 we have to say 00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:04.079 that's wrong? 00:25:04.379 --> 00:25:04.559 No. 00:25:05.139 --> 00:25:05.700 What they did 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.200 and we read it 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:06.879 in Acts 17 00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.539 you can look at it 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:07.759 they said 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.299 do you want to 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:08.559 come round 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:08.960 for a meal 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.639 Apollos? 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.339 Come round 00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:10.920 let's share 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.539 an evening together 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.359 let's have some food 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:14.139 and over a meal 00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:15.119 we read 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:15.899 that they gently 00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:16.740 explained 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.779 to Apollos 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:19.120 the word of God 00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:20.299 more accurately 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.259 and Apollos went on 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.059 to be an absolute 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:23.759 giant of the faith 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.819 who stood by Paul 00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.779 in times of need 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.880 all because Priscilla 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.420 and Aquila 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:28.519 or maybe at least 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.039 in part 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.819 because Priscilla 00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.319 and Aquila 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:31.400 had taken the time 00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:32.400 as that couple 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:33.259 to invite him round 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.700 for a meal 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.920 and to say 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.559 let's have a chat 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.279 about what God's 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:36.859 really up to 00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:37.980 and let me explain 00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.720 to you one or two 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.680 things that might 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:41.059 not yet be clear 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.539 to you. 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.480 Priscilla and Aquila 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.099 are you out there? 00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:44.099 I know you are. 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:45.839 Can you be the couples 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:47.879 who really stand 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:49.059 strong for God 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:51.059 who help us 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.500 who show such hospitality 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.240 and of course 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.720 crucially 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.980 Priscilla and Aquila 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.299 host a church 00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:57.599 in their house. 00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.599 We're all encouraged 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.720 to go and get that sheet 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.619 with our name on it 00:26:01.619 --> 00:26:03.339 which says that we belong 00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:04.059 to a home group 00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.839 and thank you 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.919 to those who are choosing 00:26:05.919 --> 00:26:07.539 to host house groups 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:09.279 over this next season. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:09.819 If any of you 00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.959 don't have your name there 00:26:10.959 --> 00:26:12.039 because you haven't signed up yet 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.720 it's not too late 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.779 speak to Graham or I 00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.440 we'd be delighted 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.960 to get you as part 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:17.339 of one of these 00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:18.019 house groups. 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:18.899 Priscilla and Aquila 00:26:18.899 --> 00:26:20.019 marvellous couple. 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.160 Verse 5 00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:22.259 Epenetus 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.759 my dear friend 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.379 who's described 00:26:24.379 --> 00:26:25.799 as the first convert 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.440 to Christ 00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.579 in the province 00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:28.740 of Asia. 00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:30.099 And then verse 7 00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:31.359 Andronicus and Junia 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.279 my fellow Jews 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:32.960 who have been 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:33.920 in prison with me 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:35.180 outstanding among 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:35.779 the apostles 00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:37.200 and wearing Christ 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.720 before I was. 00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:39.960 What point do I want 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.519 to make from 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.319 Epenetus 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.799 and Andronicus 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.419 and Junia? 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.200 Well it's there 00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:44.839 in the passage. 00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:46.220 Here we have 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.399 the experienced 00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:48.639 men and women 00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:49.419 of the faith. 00:26:49.879 --> 00:26:50.639 Here we have 00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:51.079 the people 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.799 who have been 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:53.139 disciples of Jesus 00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:54.179 long before 00:26:54.179 --> 00:26:55.379 the apostle Paul was 00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:56.119 and Paul says 00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:57.000 I want to greet you 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.480 Epenetus 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.839 I want to greet you 00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.859 Andronicus and Junia 00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.659 you're the guys 00:27:00.659 --> 00:27:01.279 that have been at it 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.240 for so much longer 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.980 than I have 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:04.000 and you're still 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.599 going on 00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:05.939 you're still encouraging 00:27:05.939 --> 00:27:07.099 the newer brothers 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:08.240 and sisters in Jesus. 00:27:08.919 --> 00:27:09.359 Epenetus 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:11.179 Andronicus 00:27:11.179 --> 00:27:11.799 Junia 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.519 you don't have 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.039 those names 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:13.799 but you're here 00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:14.259 today. 00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:15.500 You're the ones 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.740 who are long 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.240 in the faith 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.179 please feel 00:27:18.179 --> 00:27:19.339 part of the body 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:20.439 for as long 00:27:20.439 --> 00:27:21.299 as God gives you 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.000 strength 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:24.039 to breathe 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:25.019 and to sing 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:25.599 his praises 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:26.779 and please encourage 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.619 those who have 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.419 not been part 00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:28.899 of the body 00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:29.979 for so long 00:27:29.979 --> 00:27:30.459 those who might 00:27:30.459 --> 00:27:31.279 be new in the faith 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:31.979 those who might 00:27:31.979 --> 00:27:32.619 not yet even 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.339 have taken their 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.379 first steps 00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:35.039 in the faith. 00:27:35.179 --> 00:27:35.599 Paul looked at 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.159 that church 00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:37.240 he gave thanks 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.000 for the older 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.559 believers 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.960 and we need 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.919 you older 00:27:40.919 --> 00:27:41.299 believers 00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:41.879 we need 00:27:41.879 --> 00:27:42.679 the Epenetuses 00:27:42.679 --> 00:27:43.599 and we need 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.419 the Andronicus 00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:46.220 and the Junias 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.759 Verse 6 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.279 Mary 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.679 what she commended 00:27:49.679 --> 00:27:50.059 for 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.419 Mary is the 00:27:51.419 --> 00:27:52.619 hard worker 00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:54.159 and then verse 12 00:27:54.159 --> 00:27:54.859 Tryphena 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:56.000 and Tryphosa 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.119 those women 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.980 who work 00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:59.000 hard in the 00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.339 Lord 00:27:59.339 --> 00:28:01.099 and then Persis 00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:02.220 another woman 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.899 who has worked 00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:04.279 very hard 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.579 in the Lord 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:06.899 it almost 00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:07.419 goes without 00:28:07.419 --> 00:28:07.699 saying 00:28:07.699 --> 00:28:08.099 we saw it 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.339 beautifully 00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:08.740 in one of 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.059 Fraser's 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.379 videos 00:28:09.379 --> 00:28:10.179 that what 00:28:10.179 --> 00:28:10.720 we also 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.079 need 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.939 for this 00:28:11.939 --> 00:28:12.259 church 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.819 to function 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:13.319 properly 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:13.919 is the 00:28:13.919 --> 00:28:14.559 hard workers 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.460 they've been 00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:15.939 there today 00:28:15.939 --> 00:28:16.319 already 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.720 the ones 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.099 who serve 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.419 coffee 00:28:17.419 --> 00:28:18.039 the ones 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.240 who are 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.559 preparing 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:18.879 lunch 00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:19.359 the ones 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:19.619 who are 00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:19.879 teaching 00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:20.339 the children 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.019 the ones 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.240 who have 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.379 been 00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:22.000 rehearsing 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.439 like mad 00:28:22.439 --> 00:28:23.000 in order 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.339 to bring 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:23.740 us great 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.319 music this 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:24.639 morning 00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:25.619 the hard 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.419 workers 00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:27.579 thank you 00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:27.980 to all 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.460 those who 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:28.939 are taking 00:28:28.939 --> 00:28:29.419 a stand 00:28:29.419 --> 00:28:29.980 like Mary 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.919 like Persis 00:28:30.919 --> 00:28:31.619 like Tryphena 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.299 and like 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:32.819 Tryphosa 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:33.279 there's one 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:33.799 lovely little 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.259 bit about 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:34.819 some of 00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.179 those names 00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:35.559 I just want 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:35.819 to bring 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.219 to you 00:28:36.219 --> 00:28:38.239 I understand 00:28:38.239 --> 00:28:39.039 that Tryphena 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:40.000 and Tryphosa 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:41.399 were the names 00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:41.799 that would be 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.879 given to the 00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:43.839 real elite 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.779 in the day 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.439 in Rome 00:28:45.439 --> 00:28:45.919 right 00:28:45.919 --> 00:28:46.539 those were not 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:46.879 the names 00:28:46.879 --> 00:28:47.179 that just 00:28:47.179 --> 00:28:48.019 anybody had 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.619 Tryphena 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.099 and Tryphosa 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:49.759 oh posh 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.259 names 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:51.439 suggesting that 00:28:51.439 --> 00:28:52.099 the parents 00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:53.000 were you know 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.500 had high 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.239 expectations 00:28:54.239 --> 00:28:54.879 and were probably 00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:55.439 from the kind 00:28:55.439 --> 00:28:56.059 of ruling 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.719 class 00:28:56.719 --> 00:28:57.939 but then you 00:28:57.939 --> 00:28:58.459 come on to a 00:28:58.459 --> 00:28:59.599 name like Persis 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:01.179 which in those 00:29:01.179 --> 00:29:01.599 days 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:02.439 was the type 00:29:02.439 --> 00:29:02.959 of name 00:29:02.959 --> 00:29:04.039 that a slave 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:05.000 would have 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.539 and what we 00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.559 see beautifully 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.679 in the church 00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.559 here is people 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:10.019 from all 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:10.699 backgrounds 00:29:10.699 --> 00:29:11.939 all classes 00:29:11.939 --> 00:29:12.939 all walks 00:29:12.939 --> 00:29:13.339 of life 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.059 but they're not 00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.699 distinguished 00:29:14.699 --> 00:29:15.439 they're just 00:29:15.439 --> 00:29:16.399 here as people 00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:17.159 who are working 00:29:17.159 --> 00:29:18.359 hard in the 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:18.579 Lord 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.079 and it's great 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.839 that in Christ 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.939 our barriers 00:29:20.939 --> 00:29:21.799 our backgrounds 00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.419 are broken 00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:23.019 down 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.159 because we are 00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:25.500 here united 00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.779 under Christ 00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.379 and his 00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.000 lordship 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.739 and those 00:29:28.739 --> 00:29:29.179 backgrounds 00:29:29.179 --> 00:29:29.939 are just 00:29:29.939 --> 00:29:31.059 not important 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.659 may we 00:29:31.659 --> 00:29:32.599 take care 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.000 that we 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.519 don't make 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.220 them something 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:34.980 important 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.659 we could go 00:29:35.659 --> 00:29:36.720 on but time 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.259 is gone 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:37.859 so I'll only 00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.919 mention in 00:29:38.919 --> 00:29:39.500 verse 8 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.559 Ampelatus 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.220 who had been 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:41.679 a dear 00:29:41.679 --> 00:29:42.419 friend 00:29:42.419 --> 00:29:43.639 Urbanus 00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:44.319 who had been 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:44.859 a fellow 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:45.419 worker 00:29:45.419 --> 00:29:46.519 I can't finish 00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.379 without mentioning 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:47.879 the mother 00:29:47.879 --> 00:29:48.579 of Mary 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.899 sorry the mother 00:29:49.899 --> 00:29:50.440 of Rufus 00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.159 verse 13 00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:51.579 have a quick 00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:51.879 look 00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:53.119 verse 13 00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:53.980 greet Rufus 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:55.059 chosen in the 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:55.399 Lord 00:29:55.399 --> 00:29:56.179 and his 00:29:56.179 --> 00:29:56.599 mother 00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:57.519 who has 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:57.879 been 00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:58.679 a mother 00:29:58.679 --> 00:29:59.539 to me 00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:00.199 too 00:30:00.199 --> 00:30:02.119 look out 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:02.379 at the 00:30:02.379 --> 00:30:02.619 women 00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:04.419 and ask 00:30:04.419 --> 00:30:04.799 whether you 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.259 might be 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.759 mothers 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:07.139 to some 00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:07.659 of the 00:30:07.659 --> 00:30:08.000 younger 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.519 women 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:08.980 in the 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.379 church 00:30:09.379 --> 00:30:10.319 look out 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:10.559 at the 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:10.899 men 00:30:10.899 --> 00:30:12.099 might some 00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:12.379 of us 00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:13.039 be fathers 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.119 to some 00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:14.399 of the 00:30:14.399 --> 00:30:14.740 younger 00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.379 men 00:30:15.379 --> 00:30:15.819 in the 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.159 church 00:30:16.159 --> 00:30:16.500 how are we 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:16.759 getting on 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:17.419 with mentoring 00:30:17.419 --> 00:30:17.779 remember 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.259 delve 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.759 maybe that's 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.319 a practical 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:19.699 way 00:30:19.699 --> 00:30:20.419 in which 00:30:20.419 --> 00:30:20.839 we can 00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:21.179 offer 00:30:21.179 --> 00:30:21.939 a bit 00:30:21.939 --> 00:30:22.740 of mothering 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.980 or fathering 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:25.720 to others 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.279 it was 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:26.700 happening 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.339 in the 00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:27.759 church of 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.019 Rome 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:29.140 in practice 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:29.940 God would 00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:30.279 want it 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:30.779 to happen 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.380 among us 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:31.759 here 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.599 verse 21 00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.140 we go on 00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:33.380 to read 00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:33.779 about those 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.000 who were 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.299 working 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:34.759 alongside 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.359 Paul 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:35.940 he wasn't 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.259 doing it 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:36.620 alone 00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:37.140 it was 00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:37.519 not a 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:37.960 one man 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.380 band 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:38.980 and although 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.339 we are 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:39.700 blessed 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:39.920 to have 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:40.500 a pastor 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.140 assistant 00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:41.700 pastor 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.180 youth 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:42.660 pastor 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.140 team 00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:43.579 of elders 00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:44.039 please 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.539 let's 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.079 not think 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.839 that this 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:46.519 church 00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.079 thing 00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:48.079 is something 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:48.859 that is 00:30:48.859 --> 00:30:49.480 just for 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.220 one or 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:50.460 two 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.019 I want 00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:51.319 to finish 00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:51.680 with one 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.200 more quote 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:53.000 from that 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.340 book 00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:54.259 Total 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:54.799 Church 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:56.120 if you 00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:56.580 warm 00:30:56.580 --> 00:30:57.319 to this 00:30:57.319 --> 00:30:57.720 vision 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.120 of 00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:58.559 Christian 00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.120 community 00:30:59.120 --> 00:31:00.539 then start 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:00.880 where you 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:01.259 are 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.519 sell 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.019 the vision 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:04.100 by modelling 00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:04.799 the vision 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.900 don't become 00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:06.420 a pain 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:06.759 to your 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.360 congregation 00:31:07.360 --> 00:31:08.380 telling them 00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:08.840 that everything 00:31:08.840 --> 00:31:09.420 they are doing 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.080 is wrong 00:31:10.080 --> 00:31:11.420 become a 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:11.819 blessing 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:13.059 by offering 00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:13.779 hospitality 00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.680 showing 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:15.180 practical 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:15.620 care 00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:16.360 dropping 00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:16.720 in on 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.059 people 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:17.920 create 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:18.440 around you 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:18.720 a group 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.240 of Christians 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.620 who will 00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:20.039 share their 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.440 lives 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.420 and encourage 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:21.880 one another 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:22.180 in the 00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:22.520 faith 00:31:22.520 --> 00:31:23.260 you might 00:31:23.260 --> 00:31:23.560 start 00:31:23.560 --> 00:31:23.800 with your 00:31:23.800 --> 00:31:24.060 home 00:31:24.060 --> 00:31:24.360 group 00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:24.960 you don't 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:25.300 have to 00:31:25.300 --> 00:31:25.760 start a 00:31:25.760 --> 00:31:26.200 campaign 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:26.880 for change 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:27.840 just get 00:31:27.840 --> 00:31:28.260 on with 00:31:28.260 --> 00:31:28.480 it 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.540 and make 00:31:29.540 --> 00:31:30.180 your 00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:30.940 community 00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.860 better 00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:34.140 let's 00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:34.360 pray 00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:49.579 thank you 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:49.599 thank you 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:49.819 for this 00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.159 church 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:50.419 Lord 00:31:50.419 --> 00:31:50.679 Jesus 00:31:50.679 --> 00:31:52.240 thank you 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:52.479 for all 00:31:52.479 --> 00:31:52.759 that you're 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.059 doing 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.799 among us 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:55.619 and thank you 00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:55.959 for all 00:31:55.959 --> 00:31:56.259 that you 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:56.719 have yet 00:31:56.719 --> 00:31:57.119 to do 00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:57.779 among us 00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:59.660 we stand 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.119 amazed 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:00.700 we stand 00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:01.899 amazed 00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:02.579 we stand 00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:03.339 amazed 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:03.819 to be part 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.019 of a 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.379 family 00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:05.000 a body 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.740 a community 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.379 a home 00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:12.059 and may we glorify you 00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:12.740 in this place 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.579 by reflecting 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.139 just 00:32:14.139 --> 00:32:15.839 to at least 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.720 some extent 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:18.240 what you 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:18.879 would call 00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.539 the church 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:19.980 to be 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:21.220 pray that everyone 00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:21.940 here who's been 00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:22.639 listening today 00:32:22.639 --> 00:32:23.839 might feel 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:25.000 part of this 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.319 home 00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:27.140 and able 00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:28.220 to do 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:28.539 what you 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:28.960 call us 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.359 to do 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:31.140 and to receive 00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:31.960 the love 00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:32.660 and support 00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:33.619 that is here 00:32:33.619 --> 00:32:33.920 for us 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:34.660 in this place 00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:36.039 Amen