WEBVTT

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 The Baptist missionary, who is considered the father of modern missions,

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 set sail for India as a Christian missionary.

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 But before he did, he was facing a band of brothers,

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 a group of men who were also serving like he was.

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 And he said this to them,

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 Well, I will go down if you will hold the rope.

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 He was comparing Christian missionary work to that of the rescue efforts

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 along treacherous mountain cliffs.

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 And there must be those who would bravely venture down the mountain,

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 but there must also be those who would tenaciously hold the rope

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 for them to be able to go down.

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 And so one of the people in that gathering was Andrew Fuller.

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 At his home, the Baptist Missionary Society was formed in 1792.

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 And for the next 21 years, he led this organization by recruiting missionaries,

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 raising funds, writing periodicals with updates,

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 and sending personal letters to missionaries in the front line.

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 During that period, his wife passed away as the aid of their 11 children.

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 But Fuller persevered through this severe affliction and continued to hold the rope

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 for the hope that the unleashed peoples in the world will come to know Jesus Christ.

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 And for his ministry, Andrew Fuller became this archetype among missionary circles of the rope holder.

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 In this closing section of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians,

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 we see the importance of this rope-holding ministry.

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 And because Paul understood that there was a divinely ordained interdependence within the local church,

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 but also there's a vital partnership that God ordained among churches,

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 he knew that the cooperation of the Corinthian church was vital,

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 that it was imperative that they cooperate with him for the advancement of the gospel.

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 So in this final section of his letter, he exhorts the Corinthian believers

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 that those who love the Lord should be generous and hospitable toward the saints.

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 That's the main point of this passage.

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 And I'll talk about that in three phases.

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 Generosity for churches, hospitality for laborers, love for Christ.

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 But before I do that, let me pray for us.

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 God, we need your help.

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 We ask that you speak to us.

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 We acknowledge that this is your word and we want to be addressed by you.

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 Lord, please speak to us and change us so we may be conformed to the image of your son.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 So at the end of last week's passage, Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers

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 to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,

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 knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

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 Because death is not the final stop for the Christian,

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 but because it's the gateway that opens the way for our future resurrection life,

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 Paul believed that our labors were not in vain.

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 And now in this passage, he gives some specific directions

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 about how we can abound in the work of the Lord.

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 He begins in verse 1.

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 Now concerning the collection for the saints,

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 as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.

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 This is now the fifth time in the letter Paul is using the phrase,

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 now concerning.

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 Whenever he uses that, he is indicating that he is addressing a new topic

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 that the Corinthians themselves had brought up in their letter to Paul.

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 So they had brought this topic up.

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 Okay, so you mentioned this thing about the collection for the saints.

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 What are we supposed to do about it?

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 So now Paul is addressing that and turning to that matter.

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 And the fact that he hardly provides any detail about this collection

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 shows that he has already addressed it.

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 He assumes a lot of details that they already know it.

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 Only thing we see here is from verse 3 that the destination is in Jerusalem.

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 And in several of his other letters, Romans 15, for example, 2 Corinthians 8-9,

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 he mentions the same collection for the saints.

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 And it was for the Jewish believers, the Jewish converts in Jerusalem who were impoverished.

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 And he was taking up a collection for their sake.

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 And this was not some extraneous peripheral activity for Paul.

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 Actually, this was a major aspect of Paul's third missionary journey.

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 And this was important to him.

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 And he expended considerable time, energy, and relational capital toward making sure

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 that this collection for the saints in Jerusalem was successful.

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 And so even though here in 1 Corinthians, he's pretty matter-of-fact in the way he describes this,

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 he's really emphatic in other places when he mentions this collection.

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 For example, he calls it an act of grace in 2 Corinthians.

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 He calls it the proof of their love.

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 He calls it the ministry of the saints.

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 He calls it a service.

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 For Paul, this was much more than a fundraiser.

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 It was an act of worship.

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 It was a form of ministry.

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 It was the natural and expected overflow of the love and grace that we have received from God.

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 And James 2.15-17 says this,

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 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them,

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 Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

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 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

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 If we don't seek to meet a tangible need that we see of a brother or sister in Christ,

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 how can we claim to care for their intangible needs that we don't see?

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 If we don't care to fill their empty stomach, how can we claim to care for the nourishment of their souls?

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 Paul was no advocate of faith, divorced from works,

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 and he expected and encouraged the better-off Christians to supply the needs of the worse-off Christians.

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 And of course, as Christians, we're not just called to take care of other Christians.

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 We're also called to love our neighbor as ourselves.

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 But there is a particular call to love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ

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 because they belong to the same Lord, and we're accountable to one another.

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 Then in verse 2, Paul tells the Corinthians what a specific instruction to the churches of Galatia was.

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 He says, follow with me in verse 2,

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 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up as he may prosper,

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 so there will be no collecting when I come.

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 The first day of the week refers to a Sunday.

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 The Jews historically worshipped on a Saturday, on a Sabbath,

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 but Christians, because Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week,

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 as we see in Acts 27, they started to worship on the first day of the week, which is Sunday.

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 And so Paul is referring to the gathering.

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 He may mean that when you gather, bring something to get set aside for the collection of the poor,

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 but it probably more likely means he wants them to use Sunday as a reference point,

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 to use that day, to set aside money privately,

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 so they can bring it to the collection for the poor.

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 Because if the sentence is translated even more literally,

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 he says, each of you by himself put something aside and store it up.

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 So Paul is emphasizing that this is supposed to be voluntary, not compulsory.

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 You should, of your own accord, bring something, set aside something to bring to this collection for the saints.

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 And each believer is to do this as he may prosper, it says.

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 There's no defined amount that every believer is supposed to give.

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 Rather, each believer is to give as he may prosper, in accordance with how they have prospered for that week.

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 Now, we could be tempted, some of us, to breathe a sigh of relief at this point quickly and say,

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 Well, if that's the case, I guess I'm off the hook because I'm definitely not prospering.

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 Other people should give, not me.

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 But Paul didn't say only those who prosper should give.

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 He said, each should give as he may prosper.

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 He expects everyone to give according to his or her means.

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 It often happens that when our earning power increases,

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 our standard of living increases proportionally,

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 while our standard of giving does not.

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 It should be the exact opposite.

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 Provided that we're maintaining a livable standard,

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 when our earnings increase,

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 we should prioritize increasing our standard of giving,

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 rather than our standard of living.

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 Why store up treasures on earth,

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 when you can be storing up treasures in heaven?

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 That's the reality that we must live with in mind.

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 Some people think that giving a flat percentage will solve this issue.

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 Since if we're giving a percentage,

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 then we'll be giving according to our respective means.

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 But note that Paul doesn't specify a percentage.

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 In the Old Testament, believers were required to tithe,

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 meaning to give a 10% of their income.

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 But after Christ's death and resurrection,

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 the New Testament never again mentions tithing.

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 And this is because Christ has fulfilled the law.

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 As it says in Romans 7, 6,

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 But now we are released from the law,

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 having died to that which held us captives,

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 so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit,

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 and not in the old way of the written code.

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 Now, does that mean that our standard for giving in the New Testament is lowered?

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 Not at all.

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 The standard for the Christian is incomparably higher in every way,

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 and that's why Jesus says in Matthew 5, 20,

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 Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees,

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 you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

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 Think about what Jesus taught in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.

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 For example, Jews were commanded not to murder.

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 But he says to Christians,

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 Not only are you not to murder,

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 you're not even supposed to harbor anger against the brother.

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 because anger is the root of murder.

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 And what does Jesus say about adultery?

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 Jews were commanded not to commit adultery.

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 But Jesus commands Christians,

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 Not only are you supposed to commit physical adultery,

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 you should never lust in your heart,

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 because that is tantamount to adultery in your mind.

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 So a New Testament saint who has experienced the generosity and sacrifice of Christ

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 should not be outdone by Old Testament saint

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 who wasn't even filled with the Holy Spirit.

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 We often ask,

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 How much are we required to give?

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 Because we have a legalistic mentality sometimes,

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 and I must include myself in this,

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 we want to fulfill the so-called requirement.

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 Well, just tell me how much I need to give,

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 so I can give that and be done with it.

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 But that kind of attitude is incongruous.

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 It's not consistent with God's lavish grace and generosity toward us.

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 Instead of asking how much we have to give,

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 we should be asking how we can order the affairs of our lives

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 so that we get to give more.

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 Christians give freely, joyfully, faithfully, and generously,

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 not because we must, but because we love our Savior.

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 We give as God prospers us,

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 but our posture is to give generously,

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 sacrificially, not selfishly or stingily.

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 And that's why in 2 Corinthians 8, 1-5,

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 when Paul's again bringing this issue up

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 to further motivate the Corinthian believers to give,

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 he gives the example of the Macedonian believers.

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 We want you to know, brothers,

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 about the grace of God that has been given

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 among the churches of Macedonia.

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 For in a severe test of affliction,

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 their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty

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 have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

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 For they gave according to their means,

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 as I can testify,

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 and beyond their means of their own accord,

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 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part

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 in the relief of the saints.

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 And this, not as we expected them,

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 but they gave themselves first to the Lord,

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 and then by the will of God to us.

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 Our attitude should be likewise to be able to give.

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 What can we, how can we give more?

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 What can we get, what do we get to give?

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 Not, let's, let me do everything that I need

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 and everything I want,

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 and here's some spare change for the offering box.

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 And I'm not saying this for, necessarily for our church.

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 Our church, you guys give,

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 our church members give very faithfully.

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 And the giving that Paul's talking about here

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 is actually giving to another local church

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 that's in need of other saints.

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 Verse 3 makes that explicitly.

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 It says that it's for the saints in Jerusalem.

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 So Paul's not speaking of the Corinthians' own church,

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 but he's speaking to, of another church,

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 another local expression of the universal church.

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 So there is a biblical precedent that's here

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 for strong partnership among churches across regions.

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 And this is vital and healthy for the ministry of the church.

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 And that's why my first point is called

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 generosity for the churches.

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 And Paul continues his instructions in verses 3 to 4.

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 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter

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 to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

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 If it seems advisable that I should go also,

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 they will accompany me.

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 Paul wants the Corinthians themselves to choose a delegation

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 that they will accredit to go and deliver this.

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 Because obviously this is an important issue.

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 It will probably be a sizable sum.

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 There's no electronic transfers in this day and age.

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 So everything is carried in coins.

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 That's not exactly easy to hide as you're traveling, right?

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 So I mean, so there needs to be accountability.

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 There needs to be safety.

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 So there should be a delegation that is sent out.

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 And if they should consider it necessary,

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 maybe because the sum is too large,

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 Paul himself, as the one in charge of the project,

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 will also go with them.

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 So then having spoken of his arrival to Corinth,

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 Paul goes on to give them a preview of his itinerary

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 in verses 5 to 9.

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 First he says,

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 I will visit you after passing through Macedonia,

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 for I intend to pass through Macedonia,

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 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter,

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 so that you may help me on my journey wherever I go.

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 For I do not want to see you now just in passing.

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 I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord permits.

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 So this is pretty straightforward.

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 Paul wants to visit the Corinthians.

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 He's expressing that desire,

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 but he wants to first pass through Macedonia,

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 which includes Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.

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 And he wants to do this not so that he can tour the areas,

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 but because those are all places where he has planted churches.

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 And he wants to care for the churches that are there.

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 Only then he wants to come,

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 because if he visits them now,

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 it will have to be cut short for his later trip.

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 But he doesn't want to have a short visit with the Corinthians.

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 He wants to come and stay a while.

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 He'll even spend perhaps the winter there.

00:14:14.979 --> 00:14:16.039
 And as he does that,

00:14:16.099 --> 00:14:18.719
 his hope is that they may help him on his journey,

00:14:18.939 --> 00:14:19.299
 he says,

00:14:19.739 --> 00:14:21.199
 wherever he might go after visiting Corinth.

00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:21.699
 The phrase,

00:14:21.859 --> 00:14:23.120
 help me on my journey,

00:14:23.219 --> 00:14:24.419
 is the technical phrase

00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:27.959
 that refers to furnishing all the needs of a traveling missionary.

00:14:28.719 --> 00:14:31.759
 So it includes food, money, traveling companions as well.

00:14:31.839 --> 00:14:33.759
 So recall from 1 Corinthians 9,

00:14:33.859 --> 00:14:35.299
 which we covered earlier,

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:39.479
 that Paul voluntarily gave up his rights

00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:41.600
 to be compensated by the Corinthians for his ministry.

00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.960
 He did that so that the gospel,

00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:46.340
 he might present the gospel free of charge.

00:14:46.800 --> 00:14:48.560
 And this was a point of contention

00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:50.399
 between Paul and the Corinthian believers,

00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:53.340
 because the Corinthian believers took offense to that.

00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:54.659
 They took that as a sign that

00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:56.639
 Paul didn't want them to partner with him

00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.740
 and to share in his ministry.

00:14:57.740 --> 00:15:00.440
 And some of them mocked Paul saying,

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:03.960
 well, the reason why he doesn't accept our compensation

00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:06.639
 is because he's not a worthy apostle.

00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:08.519
 He doesn't deserve our compensation.

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:11.580
 So that was a point of tension between the two.

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:14.759
 And so this seems to be kind of a conciliatory gesture

00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.600
 on Paul's part.

00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:18.539
 Hey, I know I'm not taking any compensation from you

00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:19.519
 for my ministry among you,

00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:21.799
 but hey, if you really insist on this,

00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:24.799
 you can help me as I serve and minister to others.

00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:26.620
 You can furnish my missionary journey

00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:28.859
 as I go on from your place.

00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:31.679
 And so that brings me to the second point,

00:15:31.819 --> 00:15:33.219
 hospitality for laborers.

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:36.279
 And Paul's closing comments in this letter

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.919
 encouraged the church to be hospitable

00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:39.539
 toward those who labor among them,

00:15:40.199 --> 00:15:41.579
 including, that's why he says,

00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:43.279
 he hopes that they will furnish his missionary journey.

00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:45.879
 But for now, Paul says in verses eight to nine,

00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:48.719
 I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,

00:15:49.099 --> 00:15:51.799
 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me,

00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:54.139
 and there are many adversaries.

00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:56.899
 The reasons that Paul gives here are fascinating,

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.240
 aren't they?

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.719
 Look at, Paul gives,

00:15:58.839 --> 00:16:01.279
 the reason that Paul gives for staying in Ephesus to serve,

00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:02.620
 on the one hand is,

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:05.639
 a wide door for effective work has opened to me.

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:07.379
 Well, that sounds like a sensible reason

00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:09.219
 to stay in the same place and keep ministering, right?

00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:12.620
 And we see an example of that in Acts 19.

00:16:13.199 --> 00:16:15.699
 It says that God was doing extraordinary miracles

00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:16.479
 by the hands of Paul,

00:16:16.819 --> 00:16:19.839
 so much so that there were some Jewish exorcists,

00:16:19.839 --> 00:16:21.919
 these traveling exorcists, magicians,

00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:25.679
 who tried to appropriate the power that Paul had access to.

00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.779
 So they went to a demon-possessed man,

00:16:27.839 --> 00:16:28.319
 and they said,

00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:30.339
 by the name of Jesus,

00:16:30.479 --> 00:16:31.839
 whom Paul proclaims,

00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:33.039
 come out of this man.

00:16:33.099 --> 00:16:34.240
 And then the demon was like,

00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.360
 hey, I know Jesus,

00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.139
 and I know Paul,

00:16:36.219 --> 00:16:37.039
 but who are you?

00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:38.699
 And they attacked them, right?

00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:40.000
 So after that happened,

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.899
 so there was this huge revival in Ephesus.

00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:43.740
 It put the fear of God in people,

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:45.899
 and they brought out all their magical,

00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:47.100
 you know, paparazzi,

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:49.500
 all their magical manuscripts that burned them,

00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:51.240
 and there was a revival among Christians,

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.440
 and a lot of unbelievers came to know Christ.

00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:55.740
 That's a wide door for effective ministries.

00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:57.139
 The Spirit of God is moving.

00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:57.740
 So Paul said,

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.860
 I need to stay here.

00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:00.039
 I need to keep working.

00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.639
 So that makes perfect sense.

00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:03.639
 But the next reason doesn't make any sense.

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.140
 Right?

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.259
 He says,

00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:10.099
 and there are many adversaries.

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:11.920
 Right?

00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.640
 That would make you think,

00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:15.259
 well, that doesn't sound like an effective,

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:17.000
 like wide open door for ministry.

00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:18.660
 I mean, there's a lot of adversaries, Paul.

00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:20.400
 What do you mean it's a wide open door for ministry?

00:17:20.800 --> 00:17:21.620
 But Paul says,

00:17:21.800 --> 00:17:23.800
 Paul doesn't seem to see those two things

00:17:23.800 --> 00:17:24.740
 as mutually exclusive.

00:17:25.360 --> 00:17:26.539
 Rather, he seems to assume

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:28.320
 that those two things go hand in hand.

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:31.120
 Yes, when there is a wide open,

00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.539
 effective door for ministry,

00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:34.820
 the enemy will be there to oppose you

00:17:34.820 --> 00:17:36.500
 because it's effective.

00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:39.620
 He expects that,

00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.259
 and he says,

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.220
 because of this,

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:42.720
 I must persevere.

00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:45.360
 I must continue the work.

00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.600
 So he does that,

00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:50.700
 and before he arrives in Corinth,

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.980
 Paul knows that the Corinthians

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:53.299
 still need attention,

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:55.660
 and so he sends his apprentice,

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:56.559
 Timothy, to them.

00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:57.720
 He mentioned that he would do this

00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.759
 earlier in chapter 4.

00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:01.860
 And you can see that,

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.920
 this is why I sent you,

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:03.259
 Timothy,

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:05.220
 my beloved and faithful child in the Lord,

00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:07.339
 to remind thee of my ways in Christ

00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:08.559
 as I teach them everywhere

00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:09.259
 in every church.

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:11.379
 The Corinthians were transgressing

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:12.099
 the ways of Christ.

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:13.539
 They were violating the things

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.400
 that Paul taught them,

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.259
 and so he was sending his apprentice,

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.420
 Timothy, to them

00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:19.940
 to remind them of the ways of Christ.

00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:22.259
 But since there is obvious tension

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:24.059
 between him and the Corinthian church,

00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:26.319
 Paul fears that they will receive

00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.400
 Timothy coldly

00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:29.619
 because he represents Paul.

00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:32.039
 And he's afraid

00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:33.039
 that he'll be disrespected

00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.779
 and disregarded,

00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:34.659
 so he adds this

00:18:34.659 --> 00:18:35.719
 in verses 10 to 11

00:18:35.719 --> 00:18:36.899
 out of his care for Timothy.

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:38.379
 When Timothy comes,

00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:40.479
 see that you put him at ease among you,

00:18:40.899 --> 00:18:42.839
 for he is doing the work of the Lord

00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:44.119
 as I am.

00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:46.899
 So let no one despise him.

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:49.259
 Help him on his way in peace

00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.719
 that he may return to me,

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.879
 for I am expecting him

00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.859
 with the brothers.

00:18:53.479 --> 00:18:54.059
 The phrase,

00:18:54.219 --> 00:18:54.839
 put him at ease,

00:18:54.899 --> 00:18:55.459
 is literally,

00:18:56.219 --> 00:18:58.299
 see to it that he has nothing to fear.

00:18:58.299 --> 00:19:01.639
 Don't make my son Timothy,

00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.819
 not his literal son,

00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:03.980
 his spiritual son,

00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:06.259
 don't make my son Timothy apprehensive.

00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:08.039
 Don't make him anxious

00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:09.419
 and nervous in your presence.

00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.859
 Put him at ease.

00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.659
 Furnish his needs.

00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:14.139
 Help him on his journey.

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:22.339
 And these interactions show clearly

00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:23.740
 that Paul and Timothy

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.819
 had fallen out of favor

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:26.680
 with the prideful Corinthians

00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:28.900
 that Paul felt it was necessary

00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:29.539
 to do this.

00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:31.259
 But as we find out,

00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:31.940
 as we already know

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.660
 from the earlier chapters,

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.279
 there was one person

00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:35.539
 that the Corinthians

00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:37.440
 did like quite a bit

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:39.920
 and they were eagerly

00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:42.360
 awaiting his return.

00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:44.860
 And that person was Apollos.

00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:47.119
 Apparently,

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.599
 the Corinthians,

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.000
 in their letter to Paul,

00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:51.879
 after challenging his apostleship,

00:19:52.179 --> 00:19:52.899
 had the audacity

00:19:52.899 --> 00:19:53.719
 to ask him,

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:53.839
 hey,

00:19:53.939 --> 00:19:55.379
 but we don't really need you

00:19:55.379 --> 00:19:55.839
 to come back,

00:19:55.899 --> 00:19:57.019
 but you can tell Apollos.

00:19:57.219 --> 00:19:57.859
 Please tell him

00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.759
 because we're waiting for him.

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.599
 So he feels the need

00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.959
 to address Apollos' visit

00:20:01.959 --> 00:20:03.039
 and it's remarkable

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:03.619
 what he says.

00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:04.299
 Look at verse 12.

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.559
 Now concerning

00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:06.679
 our brother

00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:08.019
 Apollos,

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:10.259
 I strongly

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.339
 urged him

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.399
 to visit you

00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:13.319
 with the other brothers.

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:14.980
 But it was not

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.919
 at all his will

00:20:15.919 --> 00:20:16.579
 to come now.

00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.519
 He will come

00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.139
 when he has

00:20:18.139 --> 00:20:19.139
 the opportunity.

00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.500
 Isn't that amazing?

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:25.319
 Apollos was quite popular

00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:26.000
 among the Corinthians.

00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.619
 He was described

00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.879
 in Acts 18.24

00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:30.399
 as an eloquent man,

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.019
 competent in scriptures.

00:20:33.439 --> 00:20:34.379
 And he was trained.

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.720
 He was trained in Alexandria,

00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:38.099
 which was a center of learning

00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:38.939
 and rhetoric

00:20:38.939 --> 00:20:40.339
 in Greek civilization.

00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.500
 So he knew how to speak.

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:44.099
 He knew how to teach.

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:45.359
 He knew how to command

00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:46.000
 an audience.

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:46.940
 And the Corinthians

00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.779
 liked him

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.740
 and liked the wisdom

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.400
 that he had.

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:52.180
 And they compared Paul

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:53.339
 unfavorably to that.

00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:55.720
 Considering this,

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.779
 Paul seems to be

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:59.359
 out of his mind.

00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:00.440
 And he says,

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.220
 Now concerning

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.240
 our brother Apollos,

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.119
 I strongly

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:04.240
 urged him

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.039
 to visit you

00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.500
 with the other brothers.

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.839
 Given that the Corinthians

00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.900
 are divisive

00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:09.500
 and that they have

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.519
 an unhealthy

00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:12.380
 attachment to Apollos,

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.640
 why would Paul

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.780
 ascend to sending

00:21:14.780 --> 00:21:15.740
 Apollos to them again?

00:21:18.540 --> 00:21:19.620
 If I were him,

00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.500
 I would never

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.220
 let Apollos

00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:22.020
 step foot in Corinth

00:21:22.020 --> 00:21:22.520
 again.

00:21:23.040 --> 00:21:23.220
 Right?

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:26.880
 In my sinfulness,

00:21:27.040 --> 00:21:27.280
 I would.

00:21:29.580 --> 00:21:30.300
 This is

00:21:30.300 --> 00:21:31.600
 a large-hearted gesture

00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:32.100
 from Paul.

00:21:32.520 --> 00:21:33.460
 And Paul reveals

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:34.420
 the profound unity

00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.280
 that he and Apollos

00:21:35.280 --> 00:21:36.340
 have with this gesture.

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.520
 He said this

00:21:37.520 --> 00:21:38.760
 earlier in chapter 3,

00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:39.620
 verses 4 to 8.

00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:41.099
 For when one says,

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.039
 I follow Paul

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:42.500
 and another,

00:21:42.639 --> 00:21:43.719
 I follow Apollos,

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.599
 are you not

00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.859
 being merely human?

00:21:46.419 --> 00:21:47.739
 What then is Apollos?

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.599
 What is Paul?

00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:49.779
 Servants

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.739
 through whom you believe

00:21:50.739 --> 00:21:52.019
 as the Lord

00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.439
 assigned to each.

00:21:53.919 --> 00:21:54.639
 I planted

00:21:54.639 --> 00:21:55.419
 Apollos' water,

00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:56.159
 but God

00:21:56.159 --> 00:21:56.799
 gave the growth.

00:21:56.979 --> 00:21:57.479
 So neither

00:21:57.479 --> 00:21:58.279
 he who plants

00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.219
 nor he who waters

00:21:59.219 --> 00:21:59.899
 is anything,

00:22:00.159 --> 00:22:01.259
 but only God

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.619
 who gives the growth.

00:22:03.179 --> 00:22:03.799
 He who plants

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.399
 and he who waters

00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:04.879
 are one,

00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:05.959
 and each will receive

00:22:05.959 --> 00:22:06.479
 his wages

00:22:06.479 --> 00:22:07.839
 according to his labor.

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.480
 In spite of

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:09.980
 the Corinthians'

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:11.359
 attempt to pit

00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.559
 Paul against

00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.359
 Apollos,

00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:14.399
 they themselves

00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:15.480
 had great unity

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.179
 between them.

00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.899
 Because they were

00:22:17.899 --> 00:22:18.919
 fellow servants

00:22:18.919 --> 00:22:19.439
 of God,

00:22:20.459 --> 00:22:21.099
 it was God

00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:21.859
 who sovereignly

00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:22.839
 chose to use them

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.619
 and he assigned

00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:23.919
 to them

00:22:23.919 --> 00:22:25.199
 whatever he saw fit.

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.899
 Paul calls Apollos

00:22:26.899 --> 00:22:27.839
 our brother,

00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:28.980
 a fellow worker.

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.319
 There was no jealousy,

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:30.759
 rivalry,

00:22:30.819 --> 00:22:31.339
 or contention

00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:31.859
 between them.

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:32.339
 They knew they were

00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:33.039
 on the same page,

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:33.919
 so Paul knew

00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:34.480
 that even if he

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.439
 sent Apollos back,

00:22:35.659 --> 00:22:36.139
 that Apollos

00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:36.699
 would bring the

00:22:36.699 --> 00:22:37.699
 necessary correction

00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.700
 as he himself

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.019
 would.

00:22:41.860 --> 00:22:42.900
 This is amazing

00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:43.400
 to me because

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.039
 it shows that

00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.740
 Paul wasn't

00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.360
 concerned for

00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:46.299
 his own ministry,

00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.640
 his name,

00:22:48.100 --> 00:22:49.200
 his reputation,

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.559
 but he was

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.220
 concerned for

00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.380
 God's name,

00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.299
 God's church,

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.640
 God's ministry.

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.200
 It'd be like,

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.220
 I mean this is

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:57.039
 a very possible

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.799
 scenario because

00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.340
 we have very

00:22:58.340 --> 00:22:59.039
 gifted pastoral

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.660
 interns in our

00:22:59.660 --> 00:22:59.920
 church,

00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:00.700
 so imagine

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.019
 that this

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.580
 sort of happens.

00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.660
 So I let

00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:02.980
 one of our

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.460
 pastoral interns

00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:03.740
 preach,

00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:04.340
 which they do

00:23:04.340 --> 00:23:04.819
 on a regular

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.660
 rotation basis,

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.120
 and every time

00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:07.699
 this one

00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:08.599
 pastoral intern

00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:08.979
 preaches,

00:23:09.199 --> 00:23:10.199
 everybody loves

00:23:10.199 --> 00:23:10.379
 it.

00:23:10.659 --> 00:23:11.059
 They're so

00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:11.839
 blessed by it,

00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.679
 he's faithful to

00:23:12.679 --> 00:23:13.000
 the word,

00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:14.059
 God uses it,

00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:14.939
 and everyone

00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:15.439
 wants to hear

00:23:15.439 --> 00:23:16.119
 him preach more

00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:16.439
 often.

00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.339
 And when I

00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:18.659
 preach,

00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.039
 however,

00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:20.319
 it's like,

00:23:20.399 --> 00:23:20.519
 okay,

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.339
 same thing,

00:23:21.439 --> 00:23:21.979
 I've heard this

00:23:21.979 --> 00:23:22.299
 before,

00:23:22.399 --> 00:23:22.559
 right?

00:23:22.939 --> 00:23:24.779
 So there's this

00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:25.819
 kind of brewing

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.359
 tension,

00:23:26.659 --> 00:23:28.099
 but in that

00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:28.679
 situation,

00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.199
 imagine if I

00:23:30.199 --> 00:23:30.399
 said,

00:23:30.479 --> 00:23:30.579
 oh,

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:30.779
 whoa,

00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.779
 then if God's

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.139
 using him,

00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:32.579
 he should preach

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:32.879
 more.

00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:33.539
 Let's have him

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.000
 preach more.

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.099
 Lord,

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.119
 that's exactly

00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.599
 what's happening

00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:35.779
 here.

00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:36.019
 I mean,

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:37.039
 Paul is giving

00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:38.200
 more air time

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.099
 to basically

00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:39.880
 his rival

00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.220
 from the

00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:40.660
 eyes of

00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.019
 the Corinthians

00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:42.420
 because it's

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.259
 not about us.

00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.660
 It's about God

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.500
 and his ministry

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.380
 going forward.

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.220
 And so he

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:51.559
 addresses Paul's

00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:51.859
 visit,

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:53.039
 but it seems

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.779
 that Paul himself

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.460
 doesn't really

00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.000
 want to go.

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.500
 I can understand

00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:58.119
 him because he

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:58.660
 said it was

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.859
 not at all

00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.740
 his will

00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.440
 to come

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:01.819
 now.

00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:03.099
 He will

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.480
 come when

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:03.919
 he has

00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:04.480
 opportunity.

00:24:04.919 --> 00:24:05.720
 So indefinitely

00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.299
 delayed,

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.159
 right?

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:07.799
 Perhaps

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.439
 Paul himself

00:24:08.439 --> 00:24:09.240
 was uncomfortable

00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:09.839
 with the way

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.319
 he was being

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:10.980
 idolized by

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.439
 the Corinthians.

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.799
 We don't

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.259
 know that for

00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:14.439
 sure,

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:14.960
 but for whatever

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.299
 reason,

00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:15.859
 Paul has

00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:16.539
 determined

00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:16.899
 that it's

00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:17.539
 not time

00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:17.899
 for him

00:24:17.899 --> 00:24:18.200
 to go

00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:18.460
 back.

00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.119
 So Paul

00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:20.559
 has said

00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:20.960
 that he

00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.460
 cannot come

00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:21.659
 to them

00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:22.700
 now because

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.319
 he's ministering

00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:23.679
 in Ephesus

00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:24.259
 and he has

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:24.659
 said that

00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.159
 Timothy is

00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:25.419
 on his

00:24:25.419 --> 00:24:25.759
 way,

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.220
 but he's

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:26.659
 not there

00:24:26.659 --> 00:24:26.980
 yet.

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.559
 And he

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.059
 said that

00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:28.879
 Apollos himself

00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:29.500
 is refusing

00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.000
 to go to

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.240
 Corinth.

00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:32.000
 So in

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.640
 the intervening

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:32.960
 period,

00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:33.319
 however,

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:33.759
 they must

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.240
 persevere.

00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:34.599
 So he

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.259
 exhorts them

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.599
 in chapter

00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.240
 verse 13.

00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.700
 Be watchful,

00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:40.059
 stand firm

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.680
 in the faith,

00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:41.640
 act like

00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:41.940
 men,

00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:42.900
 be strong.

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:43.779
 This is

00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.180
 similar to

00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.559
 what Paul

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.079
 said earlier

00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:45.460
 in chapter

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.079
 15,

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.400
 1-2.

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.120
 Now I

00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:48.559
 would remind

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:48.700
 you,

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:48.920
 brothers,

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.220
 of the

00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:49.779
 gospel I

00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.160
 preached to

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:50.339
 you,

00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:50.740
 which you

00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:51.140
 received,

00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:51.579
 in which

00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.359
 you stand,

00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.000
 and by

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.299
 which you

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.599
 are being

00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.059
 saved.

00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.400
 If you

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.160
 hold fast

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:55.460
 to the

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.160
 word I

00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.440
 preached

00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:56.880
 to you,

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.680
 unless you

00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.200
 believed

00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:59.380
 in vain.

00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:00.180
 The

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:00.500
 Corinthians,

00:25:00.780 --> 00:25:01.120
 in their

00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:02.480
 doctrinal errors,

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.480
 but also in

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:03.900
 their sinful

00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:04.420
 behaviors,

00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.700
 were at risk

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.600
 of forfeiting

00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:07.180
 their faith

00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:08.040
 and failing

00:25:08.040 --> 00:25:08.960
 to persevere

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.480
 until the

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:09.680
 end.

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:10.220
 They were

00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:10.700
 starting to

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.340
 give evidence

00:25:11.340 --> 00:25:11.920
 of the fact

00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.260
 that maybe

00:25:12.260 --> 00:25:12.840
 they had

00:25:12.840 --> 00:25:13.380
 believed in

00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:13.580
 vain.

00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:13.900
 They didn't

00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.460
 have genuine

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:14.980
 faith to

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.500
 begin with.

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:16.480
 And so

00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:16.940
 Paul says,

00:25:17.060 --> 00:25:18.080
 be watchful.

00:25:18.520 --> 00:25:19.280
 This refers

00:25:19.280 --> 00:25:20.060
 to spiritual

00:25:20.060 --> 00:25:20.900
 alertness,

00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:21.240
 and it's

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.860
 often connected

00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:22.300
 to the idea

00:25:22.300 --> 00:25:22.560
 of being

00:25:22.560 --> 00:25:23.380
 sober-minded.

00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:24.540
 Don't fall

00:25:24.540 --> 00:25:25.120
 asleep on

00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:25.440
 this.

00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.760
 Be alert,

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.599
 be engaged,

00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:28.440
 be aware,

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.200
 lest you

00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:29.700
 fall,

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.799
 and stand

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.500
 firm in

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.039
 the faith.

00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:32.940
 Paul is

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.420
 here using

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:33.740
 the word

00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.200
 faith to

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.500
 refer to

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.000
 the content

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.440
 of the

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:35.759
 faith.

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:36.599
 Don't

00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.039
 waver,

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.220
 don't be

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.960
 wishy-washy,

00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:40.099
 stand firm

00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.379
 in the

00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:40.759
 faith.

00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:41.359
 And the

00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:41.779
 next two

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.180
 commands are

00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:42.700
 also related

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.059
 to this

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.379
 idea,

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.019
 act like

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.420
 men,

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:46.019
 be strong.

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.559
 The phrase

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.099
 act like

00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:48.359
 men,

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:48.660
 of course,

00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.579
 distinguishes

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.900
 manly behavior

00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.819
 from boyish

00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.299
 behavior,

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.299
 as well as

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.180
 from womanly

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.539
 behavior,

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.579
 and it's

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.079
 connected to

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.519
 the idea

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:56.859
 of being

00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.700
 strong and

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.099
 courageous.

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:58.579
 It's a

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.200
 Greek expression

00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.859
 that's commonly

00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.779
 used in the

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.259
 context of

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.659
 exhorting

00:26:01.659 --> 00:26:02.440
 soldiers in

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:02.759
 battle.

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.240
 Of course,

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.159
 that is not

00:26:05.159 --> 00:26:05.680
 to say that

00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.259
 women are

00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.039
 all cowardly

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.839
 or incapable

00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.659
 of being

00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:09.200
 courageous and

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:09.579
 strong,

00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:10.399
 nor is it

00:26:10.399 --> 00:26:10.960
 to say that

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.319
 men are

00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:11.759
 better than

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.000
 women,

00:26:12.159 --> 00:26:12.680
 where this

00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.399
 passage merely

00:26:13.399 --> 00:26:14.359
 recognizes that

00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:14.740
 men and

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.059
 women are

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:15.599
 different,

00:26:16.159 --> 00:26:16.460
 and that in

00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:17.399
 God's design,

00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.500
 he has given

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.019
 to men and

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.960
 women different

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:21.559
 interdependent

00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.059
 areas of

00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.779
 specialization.

00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:23.779
 And of

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:23.899
 course,

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.240
 it's a

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.660
 spectrum,

00:26:24.820 --> 00:26:25.400
 so if this

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:25.820
 man over

00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:26.100
 here on

00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:26.460
 this side,

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.080
 woman on

00:26:27.080 --> 00:26:27.500
 this side,

00:26:27.780 --> 00:26:28.460
 some men

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:28.900
 are on

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.840
 this end

00:26:29.840 --> 00:26:30.060
 of the

00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:30.400
 spectrum,

00:26:30.780 --> 00:26:31.700
 and some

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.080
 women are

00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:32.500
 on this

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:32.740
 end of

00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.200
 the spectrum,

00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:33.940
 so some

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.259
 women are

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.400
 going to

00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:34.700
 have more

00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.200
 masculine,

00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:35.540
 seemingly

00:26:35.540 --> 00:26:36.180
 masculine traits

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:36.500
 than men,

00:26:36.560 --> 00:26:37.019
 and that's

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.519
 fine.

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.300
 But the

00:26:38.300 --> 00:26:39.420
 call for

00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:39.800
 men to

00:26:39.800 --> 00:26:40.280
 be men and

00:26:40.280 --> 00:26:40.600
 call for

00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:40.920
 women to

00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.400
 be women

00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.700
 still remain.

00:26:42.800 --> 00:26:43.060
 It's their

00:26:43.060 --> 00:26:43.440
 biblical

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.360
 mandates.

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.540
 But generally

00:26:45.540 --> 00:26:46.019
 speaking,

00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:46.460
 there are,

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.640
 as we can

00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.160
 recognize,

00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:48.560
 there are

00:26:48.560 --> 00:26:49.060
 character traits

00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:49.400
 that more

00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:50.300
 frequently are

00:26:50.300 --> 00:26:51.080
 associated with

00:26:51.080 --> 00:26:51.740
 men and

00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.240
 character traits

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.660
 that are more

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.400
 frequently associated

00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:53.880
 with women,

00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.920
 and there are

00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.880
 instances when

00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.920
 both men and

00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:57.600
 women should

00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:59.100
 exhibit masculine

00:26:59.100 --> 00:26:59.560
 traits,

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.620
 and there are

00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.400
 instances when

00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.300
 both men and

00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:02.920
 women should

00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.840
 exhibit feminine

00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.279
 traits.

00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:06.040
 For example,

00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.480
 1 Thessalonians 2,

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:07.759
 7,

00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:08.320
 Paul writes,

00:27:09.560 --> 00:27:10.360
 we were gentle

00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:12.120
 among you,

00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:14.600
 like the

00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.220
 nursing mother

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.960
 taking care of

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.400
 her own

00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:16.779
 children.

00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:17.620
 So Paul

00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:18.160
 describes his

00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:18.800
 own ministry

00:27:18.800 --> 00:27:19.480
 as like a

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.279
 nursing mother.

00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:21.240
 He had to

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.839
 display feminine

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.399
 traits in that

00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:23.839
 context.

00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.220
 But then

00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.180
 shortly after,

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:26.819
 in the same

00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.240
 passage,

00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:27.779
 just a few

00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.460
 verses later,

00:27:29.399 --> 00:27:29.799
 he says,

00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:30.440
 for you know

00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.160
 how like a

00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:32.000
 father with

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.500
 his children,

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:33.839
 we exhorted

00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.460
 each one of

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:34.700
 you and

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.399
 encouraged you

00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:35.920
 and charged

00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.559
 you to walk

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.039
 in a manner

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.559
 worthy of

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.139
 God who

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:38.660
 calls you

00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.000
 into his

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.639
 own kingdom

00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.559
 and glory.

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.019
 So I think

00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.879
 Paul intentionally

00:27:41.879 --> 00:27:42.579
 juxtaposes

00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:43.000
 those two

00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.099
 expressions to

00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:44.779
 show that he

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.960
 displayed a

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:47.240
 full range of

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.680
 parental care

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.559
 for the

00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.460
 church as

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:50.859
 the spiritual

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.299
 father.

00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:54.440
 And so this

00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:54.700
 was an

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.259
 instance when

00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:57.119
 he expressed

00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:58.339
 masculine traits.

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.299
 So then this

00:27:59.299 --> 00:27:59.940
 just shows us

00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:00.480
 that there are

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.220
 times as

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.259
 Christians we

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.960
 have to display

00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.639
 characteristically

00:28:03.639 --> 00:28:04.339
 feminine traits

00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:05.039
 as well as

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.899
 masculine traits

00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:06.799
 and in this

00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.639
 instance Paul's

00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:08.200
 calling men

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.079
 and women to

00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:10.019
 act like men,

00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:11.059
 to be strong

00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.759
 and stand firm

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.039
 and to

00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.559
 courageously

00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:13.259
 fight the

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.720
 fight of

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:13.919
 faith.

00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.220
 And as

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:16.059
 often he

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.359
 does,

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:16.960
 Paul adds

00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.279
 in verse

00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:17.779
 14,

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:19.200
 let all

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.519
 that you

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:19.980
 do be

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:20.639
 done in

00:28:20.639 --> 00:28:21.059
 love.

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.019
 As Paul

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.480
 taught in

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.319
 chapter 13,

00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.379
 love is the

00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.240
 supreme Christian

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.599
 virtue.

00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:27.420
 It's what

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.019
 should undergird

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:28.700
 everything that

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.740
 we do and

00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.480
 everything we

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:30.879
 do must be

00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:31.559
 springing from

00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:31.740
 love.

00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:33.079
 So this is

00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:33.700
 really kind of

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.160
 almost a

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.059
 summary exhortation.

00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:36.099
 It covers

00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:36.720
 everything that

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.000
 Paul has

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.559
 addressed up to

00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.000
 this point

00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.680
 regarding how

00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:38.960
 they have

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.379
 failed to

00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:39.700
 love one

00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.000
 another.

00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.420
 And so he

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:43.139
 finally exhorts

00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:43.720
 to let all

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.200
 that you do

00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.940
 be done in

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.139
 love.

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:45.539
 I'll talk

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:45.879
 about this

00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:46.440
 a little more

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.160
 as we go.

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.299
 And then

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:48.940
 after this,

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.819
 Paul turns

00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.639
 to one more

00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:51.000
 group of

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.480
 people that

00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.200
 he wants

00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:52.779
 to commend

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.000
 to the

00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.259
 Corinthians,

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:53.899
 and it's

00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:54.480
 the delegation

00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:54.960
 of the

00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.399
 Corinthian

00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:56.379
 believers who

00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:56.859
 had come

00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:57.660
 to him to

00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.160
 deliver the

00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:58.420
 Corinthians

00:28:58.420 --> 00:28:58.799
 letter.

00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.539
 It's the

00:28:59.539 --> 00:28:59.859
 ones that

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.259
 are mentioned

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.879
 named in

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:02.500
 verse 17,

00:29:02.639 --> 00:29:02.859
 I believe.

00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:04.680
 And he

00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.019
 says in

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.599
 verse 16,

00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:05.959
 Now I

00:29:05.959 --> 00:29:06.359
 urge you,

00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:06.599
 you know,

00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:07.519
 you know,

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.019
 that the

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.679
 household of

00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.459
 Stephanas were

00:29:09.459 --> 00:29:09.980
 the first

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:10.639
 converts in

00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:11.039
 Achaia,

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.039
 and that they

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.899
 have devoted

00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:13.539
 themselves to

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:13.980
 the service

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.579
 of the saints.

00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.740
 Be subject

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.359
 to such as

00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:16.919
 these and to

00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:17.599
 every fellow

00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:18.339
 worker and

00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:18.879
 laborer.

00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.459
 The members

00:29:20.459 --> 00:29:21.399
 of Stephanas'

00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.419
 family were

00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:23.079
 the first

00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:24.079
 Christian converts

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:24.699
 of Achaia,

00:29:25.219 --> 00:29:26.379
 and they had

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:27.359
 devoted themselves

00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:28.339
 to the service

00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:28.899
 of the saints.

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.259
 The word

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.039
 service is the

00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:30.439
 same word

00:29:30.439 --> 00:29:31.119
 that's translated

00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:31.879
 elsewhere in the

00:29:31.879 --> 00:29:32.279
 New Testament

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:33.460
 as ministry.

00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:34.740
 And we don't

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.220
 know exactly

00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.940
 what kind of

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.460
 ministry this

00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:36.899
 involved,

00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:37.759
 because all

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.279
 Christians are

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.839
 called to some

00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.619
 form of ministry,

00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:41.420
 but it's

00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.599
 possible that they

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:43.379
 hosted the church

00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:43.839
 gathering at their

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.379
 house, they were

00:29:44.379 --> 00:29:45.139
 the patrons of

00:29:45.139 --> 00:29:45.700
 the house, of

00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.319
 the house church.

00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.480
 But the language

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:49.559
 of verse 16

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:51.500
 strongly suggests

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.399
 that Stephanas,

00:29:52.399 --> 00:29:52.879
 as the head of

00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:53.559
 this household,

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.700
 served in some

00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.420
 kind of leadership

00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:56.379
 capacity, probably

00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.399
 as an elder of

00:29:57.399 --> 00:29:58.000
 the church that

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.319
 met with him.

00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:00.480
 Because verse 16

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:00.720
 says,

00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.680
 Be subject to

00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.320
 such as these,

00:30:02.580 --> 00:30:03.360
 and to every

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:04.100
 fellow worker

00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:04.900
 and laborer.

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:06.180
 The language of

00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:07.039
 being subject

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:07.680
 is used in

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.680
 1 Peter 5.5

00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.120
 to say,

00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.180
 Be subject

00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:11.380
 to the elders.

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:14.400
 I had this.

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:19.140
 And the word

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.820
 fellow worker

00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:20.400
 is the same

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:20.980
 expression that

00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.460
 Paul had used

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.140
 earlier to refer

00:30:22.140 --> 00:30:22.779
 to himself

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:24.000
 and to Apollos

00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.700
 in 1 Corinthians

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.220
 3.9.

00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:26.340
 So the context

00:30:26.340 --> 00:30:26.960
 suggests that

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.860
 Stephanas is involved

00:30:27.860 --> 00:30:28.480
 in some kind

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:28.980
 of ministry

00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:29.700
 and probably a

00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.120
 role of an

00:30:30.120 --> 00:30:30.799
 elder in leading

00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.279
 the church.

00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.220
 And Paul says,

00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:32.960
 Not just to

00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.560
 Stephanas,

00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.840
 but to every

00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.539
 such fellow

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.620
 worker and

00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:37.180
 laborer.

00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.320
 Be subject.

00:30:40.320 --> 00:30:41.080
 The fact that

00:30:41.080 --> 00:30:41.640
 Paul feels

00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:42.019
 the need to

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.380
 say this

00:30:42.380 --> 00:30:42.940
 probably also

00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.600
 suggests that

00:30:43.600 --> 00:30:44.080
 Stephanas,

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.039
 his leadership

00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.500
 was probably

00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:45.940
 in jeopardy

00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.460
 there as well.

00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:47.460
 Probably because

00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.240
 he was loyal to

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.920
 Paul and he

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:49.320
 was bringing

00:30:49.320 --> 00:30:49.700
 this letter

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.060
 to him.

00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:51.560
 And so in

00:30:51.560 --> 00:30:52.080
 this passage,

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:52.799
 as you've seen,

00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:53.400
 repeatedly,

00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:54.320
 Paul enjoins

00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:54.700
 the Corinthians

00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.420
 to respect

00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:55.820
 and to be

00:30:55.820 --> 00:30:56.360
 hospitable

00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:56.880
 toward the

00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:57.440
 church leaders.

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.299
 He expressed

00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:58.860
 his hope that

00:30:58.860 --> 00:30:59.060
 they would

00:30:59.060 --> 00:30:59.620
 furnish his

00:30:59.620 --> 00:31:00.279
 missionary journey.

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.099
 He expresses

00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:01.519
 hope that

00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:01.799
 they would

00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:02.460
 show the

00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:02.859
 same for

00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:03.220
 Timothy.

00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:04.180
 And now he

00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:04.599
 says this

00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.379
 for Stephanas.

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.319
 Why is this

00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:06.779
 so important

00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:07.200
 to Paul?

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.480
 It's not

00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.099
 because the

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:10.779
 elders are

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.779
 these sages

00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.519
 who know

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:12.839
 all the

00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.200
 answers,

00:31:13.899 --> 00:31:14.359
 so you should

00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:15.319
 always follow

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:15.740
 everything that

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.200
 they say.

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:17.980
 It's not

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.819
 because Paul

00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.700
 or the elders

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.240
 are seeking

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.539
 power and

00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:22.059
 they want to

00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:22.660
 lord it over

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:23.359
 the congregation.

00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:26.299
 Hebrews 13

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.099
 17 says

00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:27.500
 this.

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.779
 Obey your

00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:32.039
 leaders and

00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:32.599
 submit to

00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:34.000
 them for

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.259
 they are

00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:35.599
 keeping watch

00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.079
 over your

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:36.759
 souls as

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.240
 those who

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:37.740
 will have

00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.179
 to give

00:31:38.179 --> 00:31:38.619
 an account.

00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:39.819
 Let them

00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.299
 do this

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:40.919
 with joy

00:31:40.919 --> 00:31:41.319
 and not

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:41.859
 with groaning

00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:42.399
 for that

00:31:42.399 --> 00:31:42.759
 would be

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.099
 of no

00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:43.559
 advantage

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.019
 to you.

00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:45.299
 You should

00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:45.699
 be subject

00:31:45.699 --> 00:31:46.059
 to them.

00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:46.319
 Why?

00:31:46.479 --> 00:31:47.839
 Because they

00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.399
 are keeping

00:31:48.399 --> 00:31:49.419
 watch over

00:31:49.419 --> 00:31:50.219
 your souls

00:31:50.219 --> 00:31:51.740
 as those

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.000
 who will

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.399
 have to

00:31:52.399 --> 00:31:52.859
 give an

00:31:52.859 --> 00:31:53.219
 account.

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.319
 He's saying

00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:54.559
 it's a

00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:55.259
 hard job

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.159
 and provided

00:31:56.159 --> 00:31:56.439
 that they

00:31:56.439 --> 00:31:56.799
 are doing

00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.099
 what they're

00:31:57.099 --> 00:31:57.419
 supposed to

00:31:57.419 --> 00:31:57.759
 be doing,

00:31:57.859 --> 00:31:58.139
 they're not

00:31:58.139 --> 00:31:58.559
 doing it

00:31:58.559 --> 00:31:59.059
 for themselves,

00:31:59.179 --> 00:31:59.539
 they're doing

00:31:59.539 --> 00:31:59.979
 it for you.

00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.359
 They're serving

00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:02.719
 you.

00:32:03.179 --> 00:32:03.639
 And not only

00:32:03.639 --> 00:32:03.939
 that,

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:04.379
 they're not

00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:04.819
 their own

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.199
 bosses.

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:05.879
 It's easy

00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:06.199
 to think

00:32:06.199 --> 00:32:06.500
 of it that

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:06.799
 way because

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.019
 they don't

00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.359
 have any

00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:07.859
 human bosses

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.359
 above them,

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.679
 but it's

00:32:09.679 --> 00:32:10.119
 worse than

00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:10.339
 that.

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:10.819
 They have

00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.319
 God as

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:11.799
 their direct

00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:12.219
 boss.

00:32:13.679 --> 00:32:14.059
 They'll

00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:14.339
 have to

00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:14.619
 give an

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.839
 account to

00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.240
 him,

00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.519
 a holy

00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:17.919
 God.

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.119
 And they're

00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:21.519
 like these

00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.399
 ancient stewards,

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:22.659
 right,

00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.060
 who were

00:32:23.060 --> 00:32:24.279
 servants of

00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:24.740
 the master

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.220
 of the house,

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:25.759
 who was

00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.720
 given charge,

00:32:26.800 --> 00:32:27.300
 this derivative

00:32:27.300 --> 00:32:28.220
 authority to

00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.340
 have authority

00:32:29.340 --> 00:32:30.120
 over the

00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:30.500
 household,

00:32:30.620 --> 00:32:31.140
 the marriage of the

00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:31.360
 household,

00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:31.940
 and even over

00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.560
 their children.

00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:33.779
 But that was a

00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.700
 derived authority,

00:32:34.800 --> 00:32:34.980
 right?

00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:35.740
 when the master

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.180
 of the house

00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.720
 returned,

00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:38.019
 they had to

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:38.259
 give an

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:38.559
 account.

00:32:38.660 --> 00:32:38.880
 They didn't

00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:39.460
 own anything

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:39.740
 in the

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.099
 house.

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:41.700
 Everything

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.200
 belonged to

00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:42.640
 the master.

00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:45.660
 These leaders

00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.120
 of the church

00:32:46.120 --> 00:32:46.500
 are like

00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:47.140
 these stewards.

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.539
 So their

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.079
 livelihood,

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.720
 their inheritance,

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:53.339
 their rewards,

00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:54.440
 whether they will

00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.259
 be commended by

00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:56.160
 God or not in

00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:56.500
 heaven,

00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:58.500
 depends on how

00:32:58.500 --> 00:32:59.160
 they serve

00:32:59.160 --> 00:32:59.579
 you.

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:01.980
 So let

00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.480
 them do this

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.119
 with joy

00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:04.240
 and not with

00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:04.679
 groaning,

00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:05.199
 for that would

00:33:05.199 --> 00:33:05.639
 be of no

00:33:05.639 --> 00:33:06.319
 advantage to

00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:06.419
 you.

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:06.919
 The reason

00:33:06.919 --> 00:33:07.519
 why Paul

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:08.000
 tells the

00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:08.519
 churches to

00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:09.619
 submit to the

00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:10.379
 leaders is

00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:11.039
 not because

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:11.379
 they are

00:33:11.379 --> 00:33:12.059
 infallible,

00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:13.480
 but precisely

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.099
 because they

00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:15.000
 are fallible,

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:17.220
 because they

00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:18.059
 are human,

00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.059
 because they

00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:20.000
 are sinful,

00:33:20.179 --> 00:33:20.559
 because they

00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.220
 are prone

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:22.039
 to discouragement,

00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.559
 because they

00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:24.619
 will fail

00:33:24.619 --> 00:33:25.259
 miserably

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.200
 without your

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:26.900
 prayers and

00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:27.420
 support,

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:31.680
 because they

00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:32.480
 will face

00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.079
 the Father

00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:33.779
 on judgment

00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:34.779
 day and

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.339
 have to give

00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:35.759
 an account

00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.319
 for every

00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:37.440
 single person

00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.119
 they were

00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:38.920
 entrusted with.

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.980
 Paul continues

00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:42.440
 that line of

00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:42.759
 thought in

00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.440
 verses 17

00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:44.039
 to 18,

00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:44.920
 I rejoice

00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.359
 at the

00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:45.859
 coming of

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.779
 Stephanas and

00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.559
 Fortunatus

00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:48.359
 and Achaicus,

00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:49.259
 because they

00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.980
 have made up

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.379
 for your

00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:50.839
 absence,

00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:51.359
 for they

00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:52.059
 refresh my

00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:52.660
 spirit as

00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.019
 well as

00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.339
 yours.

00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:53.859
 Give

00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:54.359
 recognition

00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:54.819
 to such

00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:55.140
 people.

00:33:55.859 --> 00:33:56.480
 Stephanas and

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.160
 Fortunatus and

00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:57.640
 Achaicus.

00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:58.640
 So they're the

00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:58.980
 ones that

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.299
 formed the

00:33:59.299 --> 00:33:59.920
 delegation of

00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:00.379
 the Corinthian

00:34:00.379 --> 00:34:00.980
 church to

00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.400
 go to

00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:01.660
 Paul,

00:34:01.879 --> 00:34:02.519
 and they

00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:03.039
 have made

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:03.579
 up for

00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:03.779
 their

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.299
 absence.

00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:05.720
 Paul's

00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:06.559
 inability to

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.359
 be with

00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:07.940
 the Corinthian

00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.480
 church had

00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:08.960
 left the

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.539
 gaping hole

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:09.840
 in his

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.159
 life,

00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:11.219
 and this

00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:11.739
 delegation,

00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.500
 by representing

00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.000
 the Corinthian

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.340
 church and

00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:13.800
 coming to

00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:14.099
 Paul,

00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:14.920
 has made

00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.199
 up for

00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:15.340
 their

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:15.659
 absence,

00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.260
 has filled

00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:16.639
 up that

00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.139
 gap for

00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:17.420
 him,

00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:18.000
 and he

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.840
 rejoices in

00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:19.099
 that.

00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:19.760
 And he

00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:20.119
 says,

00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:20.920
 at one

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:21.420
 last time,

00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:21.659
 give

00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:22.639
 recognition to

00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:22.840
 such

00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:23.199
 people.

00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:23.980
 Don't

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.380
 take them

00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:24.579
 for

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:24.920
 granted.

00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:25.920
 Don't

00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:26.400
 neglect

00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:26.680
 them,

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.280
 acknowledge

00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:27.579
 them,

00:34:27.700 --> 00:34:28.039
 recognize

00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.420
 them.

00:34:29.160 --> 00:34:29.640
 That

00:34:29.640 --> 00:34:30.019
 kind of

00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:30.720
 hospitality

00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:31.660
 for

00:34:31.660 --> 00:34:32.380
 laborers is

00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:33.460
 vital for

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:33.880
 the health

00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:34.280
 and ministry

00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:34.519
 of the

00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:34.780
 church.

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.099
 That brings

00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:36.420
 me to my

00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:36.960
 final point,

00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.440
 love for

00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:37.820
 Christ.

00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:39.019
 Paul brings

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:39.420
 his letter

00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:40.320
 to a close

00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:40.960
 with the

00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.500
 final greeting

00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:41.860
 in verses

00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:42.519
 19 to

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:42.920
 24.

00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:43.280
 He says,

00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:43.840
 the churches

00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:44.360
 of Asia

00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:44.780
 send you

00:34:44.780 --> 00:34:45.140
 greetings,

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.240
 Aquila and

00:34:46.240 --> 00:34:46.660
 Prisca,

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:47.300
 together with

00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:47.660
 the church

00:34:47.660 --> 00:34:47.920
 in their

00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:48.260
 house,

00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:49.000
 send you

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.420
 hearty

00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:49.920
 greetings in

00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:50.220
 the Lord.

00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:50.960
 All the

00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:51.579
 brothers send

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.059
 you greetings.

00:34:52.240 --> 00:34:52.579
 Greet one

00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.220
 another with

00:34:53.220 --> 00:34:53.720
 a holy

00:34:53.720 --> 00:34:54.079
 kiss.

00:34:54.779 --> 00:34:55.199
 So he

00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:55.860
 sends greetings

00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:56.500
 from everybody.

00:34:56.659 --> 00:34:56.819
 He writes

00:34:56.819 --> 00:34:57.239
 the churches

00:34:57.239 --> 00:34:57.759
 of Asia,

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.199
 and hearty

00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.579
 greetings from

00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.039
 Aquila and

00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:00.639
 Prisca.

00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.360
 Prisca is

00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:01.880
 another name

00:35:01.880 --> 00:35:02.460
 for Priscilla.

00:35:02.779 --> 00:35:03.059
 They were

00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:03.719
 actually at

00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:04.259
 some point

00:35:04.259 --> 00:35:04.920
 in the past

00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:05.659
 members of

00:35:05.659 --> 00:35:06.059
 the Corinthian

00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:06.380
 church.

00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:07.199
 Now they're

00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:07.639
 laboring

00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:08.519
 alongside Paul

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.299
 in Ephesus.

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:10.539
 And then he

00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.019
 also says

00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.460
 greetings from

00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:11.940
 all the

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.259
 brothers,

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.480
 probably referring

00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:14.019
 to all of

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.319
 Paul's

00:35:14.319 --> 00:35:14.619
 traveling

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.119
 companions

00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:15.880
 and fellow

00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.299
 workers.

00:35:16.679 --> 00:35:17.019
 He only

00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:17.659
 names one

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.239
 in chapter

00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:18.519
 1,

00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:18.920
 verse 1,

00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.519
 Sosthenes,

00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:20.599
 but there's

00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.259
 probably others.

00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:21.840
 And he

00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:22.599
 says to

00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.000
 greet one

00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:24.119
 another,

00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:24.860
 and after

00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:25.480
 sending their

00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:25.800
 greetings,

00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:26.400
 he tells the

00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:26.659
 Corinthians

00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:27.619
 themselves to

00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:28.119
 greet one

00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:28.760
 another with

00:35:28.760 --> 00:35:29.239
 the holy

00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:30.000
 kiss.

00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:31.840
 Now I don't

00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:32.199
 think this

00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:32.579
 means we

00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:32.840
 need to

00:35:32.840 --> 00:35:33.219
 greet each

00:35:33.219 --> 00:35:33.719
 other with

00:35:33.719 --> 00:35:34.119
 kisses.

00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:38.219
 I don't

00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:38.500
 know, maybe

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:38.779
 some of you

00:35:38.779 --> 00:35:39.059
 guys come

00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:39.319
 from a

00:35:39.319 --> 00:35:39.739
 culture where

00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:39.960
 they do

00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:40.219
 that.

00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:40.559
 Yeah,

00:35:40.799 --> 00:35:41.039
 actually,

00:35:41.179 --> 00:35:41.460
 Portuguese

00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:41.900
 culture,

00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:42.139
 yeah.

00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:43.839
 Because if

00:35:43.839 --> 00:35:44.119
 you did

00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:44.980
 that today

00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.400
 after the

00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:45.699
 service,

00:35:45.799 --> 00:35:46.079
 that's going

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.219
 to be

00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:46.639
 misunderstood

00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:47.599
 because our

00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:48.900
 culture has

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.319
 changed,

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:49.679
 right?

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.739
 So it

00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:51.440
 doesn't

00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.440
 convey the

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.139
 same thing

00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:53.460
 that it

00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:53.839
 used to

00:35:53.839 --> 00:35:54.139
 convey.

00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:55.059
 So we

00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:55.400
 need to

00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:56.119
 rather labor

00:35:56.119 --> 00:35:56.839
 at preserving

00:35:56.839 --> 00:35:57.440
 the principle

00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:57.900
 that is

00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:58.559
 there and

00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.079
 not the

00:35:59.079 --> 00:35:59.339
 cultural

00:35:59.339 --> 00:35:59.859
 practice.

00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:01.680
 And the

00:36:01.680 --> 00:36:02.740
 principle is

00:36:02.740 --> 00:36:03.260
 this, right?

00:36:03.320 --> 00:36:04.059
 It's show

00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:04.800
 affection.

00:36:06.059 --> 00:36:06.400
 Greet one

00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.180
 another with

00:36:07.180 --> 00:36:08.200
 affection.

00:36:10.140 --> 00:36:10.800
 I don't

00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:11.220
 think a

00:36:11.220 --> 00:36:11.780
 professional

00:36:11.780 --> 00:36:12.620
 handshake kind

00:36:12.620 --> 00:36:12.960
 of cuts

00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.180
 that.

00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:15.940
 How can

00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.220
 you show

00:36:16.220 --> 00:36:16.660
 love for

00:36:16.660 --> 00:36:17.039
 one another?

00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:18.220
 Greet one

00:36:18.220 --> 00:36:18.400
 another

00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:19.260
 enthusiastically.

00:36:20.220 --> 00:36:21.059
 Look one

00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:21.400
 another in

00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:21.940
 the eyes.

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.019
 Ask how

00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:23.599
 they're doing

00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:24.039
 and be

00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:24.760
 present with

00:36:24.760 --> 00:36:25.019
 them.

00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:25.980
 Embrace

00:36:25.980 --> 00:36:26.360
 them if

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:26.500
 it's

00:36:26.500 --> 00:36:26.860
 appropriate.

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.539
 High

00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:30.099
 five if

00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:30.360
 that's

00:36:30.360 --> 00:36:30.659
 your

00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:33.320
 preferred

00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:33.679
 mode.

00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:34.900
 But greet

00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:35.519
 one another.

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:36.659
 Show

00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:37.259
 affection to

00:36:37.259 --> 00:36:37.659
 one another.

00:36:38.779 --> 00:36:39.579
 Then finally

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.619
 Paul writes

00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:41.099
 his own

00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:41.539
 greeting in

00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.099
 verse 21.

00:36:42.519 --> 00:36:43.039
 I, Paul,

00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:43.559
 write this

00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:44.099
 greeting with

00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:44.639
 my own

00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:45.059
 hand.

00:36:45.619 --> 00:36:45.940
 That means

00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:46.340
 up to this

00:36:46.340 --> 00:36:46.800
 point someone

00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:47.279
 else had

00:36:47.279 --> 00:36:48.219
 been serving

00:36:48.219 --> 00:36:48.519
 as a

00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:48.960
 scribe,

00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:49.340
 probably

00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:49.960
 Sosthenes,

00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:50.880
 but when it

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.119
 comes to

00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:51.739
 the end he

00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:52.179
 signs his

00:36:52.179 --> 00:36:52.980
 own name to

00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:54.059
 authenticate the

00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:54.880
 letter because

00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:55.559
 as we see in

00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:56.500
 2 Thessalonians

00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:57.139
 2.2 there

00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:57.639
 were people who

00:36:57.639 --> 00:36:58.440
 forged Paul's

00:36:58.440 --> 00:36:58.719
 letters.

00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.879
 And so he's

00:36:59.879 --> 00:37:00.299
 trying to make

00:37:00.299 --> 00:37:00.659
 sure that they

00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.059
 know that this

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:01.619
 is from him.

00:37:02.319 --> 00:37:03.139
 And with the

00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:03.879
 pen still in

00:37:03.879 --> 00:37:04.539
 hand, right

00:37:04.539 --> 00:37:04.980
 after signing

00:37:04.980 --> 00:37:05.559
 his name,

00:37:05.879 --> 00:37:06.379
 Paul feels

00:37:06.379 --> 00:37:06.980
 compelled to

00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:07.759
 add one last

00:37:07.759 --> 00:37:08.439
 bit of

00:37:08.439 --> 00:37:09.359
 exhortation.

00:37:09.459 --> 00:37:09.699
 In verse

00:37:09.699 --> 00:37:11.139
 22, in his

00:37:11.139 --> 00:37:11.599
 own hand,

00:37:11.919 --> 00:37:12.819
 if anyone has

00:37:12.819 --> 00:37:13.699
 no love for

00:37:13.699 --> 00:37:14.139
 the Lord,

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:16.119
 let him be

00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:16.819
 accursed.

00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:18.839
 Our Lord,

00:37:19.099 --> 00:37:19.399
 come.

00:37:22.179 --> 00:37:23.139
 Earlier, he

00:37:23.139 --> 00:37:23.699
 said in verse

00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:24.379
 14, let all

00:37:24.379 --> 00:37:24.739
 that you be

00:37:24.739 --> 00:37:25.339
 done in love.

00:37:25.459 --> 00:37:25.699
 And just

00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:26.279
 after this, he

00:37:26.279 --> 00:37:26.719
 says in verse

00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:27.679
 24, he

00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:28.799
 reiterates his

00:37:28.799 --> 00:37:29.179
 own love.

00:37:29.239 --> 00:37:29.959
 My love be

00:37:29.959 --> 00:37:30.419
 with you and

00:37:30.419 --> 00:37:31.079
 all in Christ

00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:32.079
 Jesus.

00:37:32.179 --> 00:37:32.359
 Amen.

00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:33.419
 So not only

00:37:33.419 --> 00:37:33.919
 is Paul telling

00:37:33.919 --> 00:37:34.359
 the Corinthians

00:37:34.359 --> 00:37:34.980
 to love, he

00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.980
 himself loves

00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:36.319
 them.

00:37:36.819 --> 00:37:37.019
 And the

00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:37.759
 reason why

00:37:37.759 --> 00:37:40.779
 Paul used the

00:37:40.779 --> 00:37:41.219
 language of

00:37:41.219 --> 00:37:42.279
 love here is

00:37:42.279 --> 00:37:43.199
 because love

00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:44.039
 is the ultimate

00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:44.980
 criterion of

00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.719
 Christian obedience.

00:37:47.299 --> 00:37:48.179
 The greatest

00:37:48.179 --> 00:37:48.799
 commandment of

00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:49.959
 Christianity is

00:37:49.959 --> 00:37:50.939
 to love the

00:37:50.939 --> 00:37:51.619
 Lord your God

00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:52.359
 with all your

00:37:52.359 --> 00:37:53.039
 heart, soul,

00:37:53.139 --> 00:37:53.480
 mind, and

00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:53.719
 strength.

00:37:53.719 --> 00:37:57.959
 love encompasses

00:37:57.959 --> 00:37:59.679
 and undergirds

00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:00.199
 all of

00:38:00.199 --> 00:38:00.480
 Christian

00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:00.819
 obedience.

00:38:00.980 --> 00:38:01.139
 And for

00:38:01.139 --> 00:38:01.659
 that reason,

00:38:01.779 --> 00:38:02.199
 Paul is

00:38:02.199 --> 00:38:03.299
 confident that

00:38:03.299 --> 00:38:03.959
 the church in

00:38:03.959 --> 00:38:04.899
 Corinth, those

00:38:04.899 --> 00:38:05.799
 who truly love

00:38:05.799 --> 00:38:06.759
 the Lord, will

00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:08.000
 obey God's

00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:08.399
 word and

00:38:08.399 --> 00:38:09.059
 reform their

00:38:09.059 --> 00:38:09.559
 ways.

00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:10.419
 And those

00:38:10.419 --> 00:38:10.819
 who do not

00:38:10.819 --> 00:38:11.219
 love the

00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:11.639
 Lord, he

00:38:11.639 --> 00:38:12.179
 also knows

00:38:12.179 --> 00:38:12.619
 that they

00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:13.139
 will not.

00:38:13.259 --> 00:38:13.500
 So he

00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:14.219
 says, let

00:38:14.219 --> 00:38:14.439
 them be

00:38:14.439 --> 00:38:14.980
 accursed.

00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:17.279
 Those who

00:38:17.279 --> 00:38:17.699
 do not love

00:38:17.699 --> 00:38:17.959
 the Lord

00:38:17.959 --> 00:38:18.500
 will incur

00:38:18.500 --> 00:38:19.059
 the judgment

00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:19.579
 of the Lord

00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:20.219
 who is coming

00:38:20.219 --> 00:38:20.559
 soon.

00:38:20.639 --> 00:38:20.799
 So he

00:38:20.799 --> 00:38:21.159
 says, our

00:38:21.159 --> 00:38:22.119
 Lord, come.

00:38:22.119 --> 00:38:23.659
 Do you

00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:24.139
 have love

00:38:24.139 --> 00:38:24.400
 for the

00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:24.639
 Lord?

00:38:26.139 --> 00:38:26.679
 Here's a

00:38:26.679 --> 00:38:27.719
 helpful diagnostic

00:38:27.719 --> 00:38:28.380
 question for

00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:28.880
 you to ask.

00:38:29.319 --> 00:38:29.659
 If you're

00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:30.000
 already a

00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:31.539
 Christian, ask

00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.099
 yourself this.

00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:32.420
 Do you

00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:33.079
 find yourself

00:38:33.079 --> 00:38:34.119
 serving and

00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:34.900
 obeying God

00:38:34.900 --> 00:38:35.980
 out of a

00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:36.839
 sense of

00:38:36.839 --> 00:38:37.279
 duty?

00:38:39.159 --> 00:38:39.639
 Merely

00:38:39.639 --> 00:38:40.139
 because you

00:38:40.139 --> 00:38:40.639
 feel that you

00:38:40.639 --> 00:38:41.279
 have to,

00:38:42.199 --> 00:38:44.000
 but not

00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:44.440
 because you

00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:44.960
 want to?

00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:47.980
 That's a

00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:48.440
 warning sign

00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:48.799
 that you need

00:38:48.799 --> 00:38:49.339
 to check your

00:38:49.339 --> 00:38:49.839
 engine room.

00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:51.680
 love is the

00:38:51.680 --> 00:38:53.079
 engine of

00:38:53.079 --> 00:38:53.680
 Christian life

00:38:53.680 --> 00:38:54.220
 and obedience.

00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:55.160
 Maybe you're

00:38:55.160 --> 00:38:55.680
 running out of

00:38:55.680 --> 00:38:55.860
 fuel.

00:38:55.940 --> 00:38:56.120
 Are you

00:38:56.120 --> 00:38:57.200
 freshly amazed

00:38:57.200 --> 00:38:57.700
 by the

00:38:57.700 --> 00:38:58.039
 grace of

00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:58.280
 God?

00:38:58.600 --> 00:38:58.980
 Are you

00:38:58.980 --> 00:38:59.640
 daily aware

00:38:59.640 --> 00:39:00.100
 of God's

00:39:00.100 --> 00:39:00.500
 love for

00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:00.660
 you?

00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:02.380
 Another

00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:02.740
 question you

00:39:02.740 --> 00:39:03.200
 can ask is,

00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:03.420
 do you

00:39:03.420 --> 00:39:04.420
 love your

00:39:04.420 --> 00:39:04.660
 Christian

00:39:04.660 --> 00:39:05.100
 brothers and

00:39:05.100 --> 00:39:05.380
 sisters?

00:39:06.380 --> 00:39:06.960
 Because love

00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:07.340
 for God

00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:07.920
 always flows

00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:08.340
 out into

00:39:08.340 --> 00:39:08.740
 your love

00:39:08.740 --> 00:39:09.220
 of your

00:39:09.220 --> 00:39:09.620
 brothers and

00:39:09.620 --> 00:39:09.920
 sisters.

00:39:11.820 --> 00:39:12.360
 Or are

00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:12.640
 you prone

00:39:12.640 --> 00:39:13.120
 to withdraw

00:39:13.120 --> 00:39:13.840
 from them?

00:39:17.420 --> 00:39:17.920
 C.S.

00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:18.440
 Lewis puts

00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:18.740
 it this

00:39:18.740 --> 00:39:18.960
 way,

00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:20.119
 a perfect

00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:21.019
 man would

00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:21.619
 never act

00:39:21.619 --> 00:39:21.980
 from the

00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:22.420
 sense of

00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:22.699
 duty.

00:39:22.840 --> 00:39:23.400
 He'd always

00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:23.920
 want the

00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:24.400
 right thing

00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:24.820
 more than

00:39:24.820 --> 00:39:25.159
 the wrong

00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:25.440
 one.

00:39:25.940 --> 00:39:26.400
 Duty is

00:39:26.400 --> 00:39:26.920
 only a

00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:27.360
 substitute

00:39:27.360 --> 00:39:28.000
 for love

00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.720
 of God

00:39:28.720 --> 00:39:29.000
 and of

00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:29.179
 other

00:39:29.179 --> 00:39:29.559
 people.

00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:30.400
 Like a

00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:30.740
 crutch,

00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:31.340
 which is a

00:39:31.340 --> 00:39:31.760
 substitute

00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:32.300
 for a

00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:32.559
 leg.

00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:33.740
 Most of

00:39:33.740 --> 00:39:34.460
 us need

00:39:34.460 --> 00:39:34.900
 the crutch

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.440
 at times,

00:39:35.760 --> 00:39:36.240
 but of

00:39:36.240 --> 00:39:36.699
 course it

00:39:36.699 --> 00:39:37.360
 is idiotic

00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:37.780
 to use

00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:38.199
 a crutch

00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:38.659
 where our

00:39:38.659 --> 00:39:38.960
 own

00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:39.460
 legs,

00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:40.320
 our own

00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:40.820
 loves,

00:39:41.059 --> 00:39:41.360
 tastes,

00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:41.980
 habits,

00:39:42.199 --> 00:39:42.840
 can do

00:39:42.840 --> 00:39:43.480
 the journey

00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:44.019
 on their

00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:44.280
 own.

00:39:45.320 --> 00:39:46.039
 The love

00:39:46.039 --> 00:39:47.000
 for Christ

00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:47.920
 which flows

00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:48.280
 into our

00:39:48.280 --> 00:39:48.560
 love for

00:39:48.560 --> 00:39:49.000
 others is

00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:49.660
 the ultimate

00:39:49.660 --> 00:39:50.960
 benchmark of

00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:51.420
 Christian

00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.400
 faithfulness.

00:39:52.880 --> 00:39:53.580
 But how

00:39:53.580 --> 00:39:54.140
 can we

00:39:54.140 --> 00:39:54.600
 stir this

00:39:54.600 --> 00:39:55.200
 up and

00:39:55.200 --> 00:39:55.519
 how can

00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.019
 we grow

00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:56.540
 in our

00:39:56.540 --> 00:39:56.860
 love for

00:39:56.860 --> 00:39:57.180
 Christ?

00:39:58.220 --> 00:39:58.720
 I've

00:39:58.720 --> 00:39:59.000
 mentioned

00:39:59.000 --> 00:39:59.740
 before that

00:39:59.740 --> 00:40:00.560
 Paul begins

00:40:00.560 --> 00:40:01.300
 all 13

00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:01.740
 of his

00:40:01.740 --> 00:40:02.220
 letters with

00:40:02.220 --> 00:40:02.680
 some form

00:40:02.680 --> 00:40:03.000
 of greeting

00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:03.600
 that involves

00:40:03.600 --> 00:40:04.340
 grace to

00:40:04.340 --> 00:40:04.640
 you.

00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:06.160
 And he

00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:07.340
 concludes all

00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:08.200
 13 of his

00:40:08.200 --> 00:40:08.620
 letters with

00:40:08.620 --> 00:40:09.420
 some form of

00:40:09.420 --> 00:40:10.080
 blessing that

00:40:10.080 --> 00:40:10.920
 involves grace

00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:11.760
 be with

00:40:11.760 --> 00:40:12.060
 you.

00:40:12.300 --> 00:40:12.720
 And he does

00:40:12.720 --> 00:40:13.160
 the same

00:40:13.160 --> 00:40:13.540
 here in

00:40:13.540 --> 00:40:14.220
 verse 23.

00:40:14.620 --> 00:40:15.280
 The grace

00:40:15.280 --> 00:40:15.840
 of the

00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:16.560
 Lord Jesus

00:40:16.560 --> 00:40:18.200
 be with

00:40:18.200 --> 00:40:19.100
 you.

00:40:19.740 --> 00:40:20.180
 Paul's

00:40:20.180 --> 00:40:20.820
 aim in

00:40:20.820 --> 00:40:21.220
 the whole

00:40:21.220 --> 00:40:21.960
 letter is

00:40:21.960 --> 00:40:23.519
 to bring

00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.220
 the grace

00:40:24.220 --> 00:40:24.500
 of the

00:40:24.500 --> 00:40:25.040
 Lord Jesus

00:40:25.040 --> 00:40:26.040
 to them

00:40:26.040 --> 00:40:26.580
 and then

00:40:26.580 --> 00:40:27.100
 to leave

00:40:27.100 --> 00:40:27.840
 them with

00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:28.380
 the grace

00:40:28.380 --> 00:40:28.920
 of the

00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:29.460
 Lord Jesus.

00:40:30.660 --> 00:40:31.560
 To bring

00:40:31.560 --> 00:40:32.240
 them to

00:40:32.240 --> 00:40:32.900
 with their

00:40:32.900 --> 00:40:33.580
 appetite with

00:40:33.580 --> 00:40:33.960
 the grace

00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:34.140
 of the

00:40:34.140 --> 00:40:34.580
 Lord Jesus

00:40:34.580 --> 00:40:34.940
 and to

00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:35.580
 leave the

00:40:35.580 --> 00:40:36.060
 taste of

00:40:36.060 --> 00:40:36.240
 it in

00:40:36.240 --> 00:40:36.360
 their

00:40:36.360 --> 00:40:36.740
 mouths.

00:40:38.800 --> 00:40:39.019
 We

00:40:39.019 --> 00:40:40.040
 love because

00:40:40.040 --> 00:40:40.740
 he first

00:40:40.740 --> 00:40:41.560
 loved us.

00:40:41.740 --> 00:40:42.200
 1 John

00:40:42.199 --> 00:40:42.799
 4.19

00:40:42.799 --> 00:40:43.259
 The grace

00:40:43.259 --> 00:40:43.500
 of the

00:40:43.500 --> 00:40:43.919
 Lord Jesus

00:40:43.919 --> 00:40:44.519
 is a

00:40:44.519 --> 00:40:44.819
 gift,

00:40:44.980 --> 00:40:45.539
 not a

00:40:45.539 --> 00:40:45.919
 payment.

00:40:46.299 --> 00:40:46.699
 It comes

00:40:46.699 --> 00:40:47.480
 freely from

00:40:47.480 --> 00:40:47.759
 the love

00:40:47.759 --> 00:40:48.159
 of Christ.

00:40:48.259 --> 00:40:48.619
 It's not

00:40:48.619 --> 00:40:49.599
 something that

00:40:49.599 --> 00:40:50.779
 we can earn

00:40:50.779 --> 00:40:51.359
 with our

00:40:51.359 --> 00:40:51.839
 love for

00:40:51.839 --> 00:40:52.439
 him and

00:40:52.439 --> 00:40:52.839
 our good

00:40:52.839 --> 00:40:53.399
 deeds on

00:40:53.399 --> 00:40:53.939
 his behalf.

00:40:54.139 --> 00:40:54.819
 The ultimate

00:40:54.819 --> 00:40:55.699
 expression of

00:40:55.699 --> 00:40:56.219
 this free

00:40:56.219 --> 00:40:56.639
 gift of

00:40:56.639 --> 00:40:56.839
 God,

00:40:56.919 --> 00:40:57.239
 the grace

00:40:57.239 --> 00:40:57.559
 of God,

00:40:57.599 --> 00:40:57.899
 the love

00:40:57.899 --> 00:40:58.199
 of God

00:40:58.199 --> 00:40:58.439
 we've

00:40:58.439 --> 00:40:58.980
 received

00:40:58.980 --> 00:40:59.759
 is seen

00:40:59.759 --> 00:41:00.039
 in the

00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:00.579
 cross of

00:41:00.579 --> 00:41:00.799
 Jesus

00:41:00.799 --> 00:41:01.279
 Christ.

00:41:02.339 --> 00:41:02.719
 Even

00:41:02.719 --> 00:41:03.179
 though we

00:41:03.179 --> 00:41:03.980
 deserve to

00:41:03.980 --> 00:41:04.399
 pay the

00:41:04.399 --> 00:41:04.960
 penalty for

00:41:04.960 --> 00:41:05.599
 our sins

00:41:05.599 --> 00:41:06.399
 and die,

00:41:06.899 --> 00:41:07.759
 Christ died

00:41:07.759 --> 00:41:08.299
 in our

00:41:08.299 --> 00:41:09.539
 stead so

00:41:09.539 --> 00:41:09.960
 that we

00:41:09.960 --> 00:41:11.039
 might live.

00:41:11.159 --> 00:41:11.599
 That's the

00:41:11.599 --> 00:41:12.019
 grace

00:41:12.019 --> 00:41:12.840
 of the

00:41:12.840 --> 00:41:13.139
 Lord

00:41:13.139 --> 00:41:14.139
 Jesus.

00:41:16.940 --> 00:41:17.699
 This story

00:41:17.699 --> 00:41:18.480
 was once

00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:18.940
 related to

00:41:18.940 --> 00:41:19.059
 me.

00:41:19.159 --> 00:41:19.280
 It's a

00:41:19.280 --> 00:41:19.880
 true story

00:41:19.880 --> 00:41:20.259
 by,

00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:21.699
 it was

00:41:21.699 --> 00:41:22.119
 told by

00:41:22.119 --> 00:41:22.659
 this boy's

00:41:22.659 --> 00:41:23.259
 grandfather.

00:41:24.619 --> 00:41:25.199
 It's from,

00:41:25.320 --> 00:41:25.579
 it happened,

00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:26.900
 they're part of a

00:41:26.900 --> 00:41:27.239
 church in

00:41:27.239 --> 00:41:27.519
 Cincinnati,

00:41:27.639 --> 00:41:27.900
 Ohio.

00:41:28.539 --> 00:41:29.139
 The mother

00:41:29.139 --> 00:41:29.599
 of a

00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:30.039
 nine-year-old

00:41:30.039 --> 00:41:30.440
 boy named

00:41:30.440 --> 00:41:30.780
 Mark,

00:41:30.980 --> 00:41:31.480
 this is the

00:41:31.480 --> 00:41:31.940
 boy that

00:41:31.940 --> 00:41:32.539
 received a

00:41:32.539 --> 00:41:33.000
 phone call

00:41:33.000 --> 00:41:33.320
 in the

00:41:33.320 --> 00:41:33.780
 middle of

00:41:33.780 --> 00:41:34.300
 the afternoon.

00:41:34.460 --> 00:41:34.739
 It was a

00:41:34.739 --> 00:41:35.340
 teacher from

00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:36.019
 son's

00:41:36.019 --> 00:41:36.320
 school.

00:41:37.320 --> 00:41:38.019
 And Mrs.

00:41:38.199 --> 00:41:38.559
 Smith,

00:41:38.860 --> 00:41:39.940
 I think that's a

00:41:39.940 --> 00:41:40.380
 made-up name

00:41:40.380 --> 00:41:40.759
 because they

00:41:40.759 --> 00:41:41.039
 don't want to

00:41:41.039 --> 00:41:41.380
 reveal their

00:41:41.380 --> 00:41:41.539
 name.

00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:42.539
 Something

00:41:42.539 --> 00:41:43.239
 unusual happened

00:41:43.239 --> 00:41:43.739
 today in our

00:41:43.739 --> 00:41:44.139
 school,

00:41:44.320 --> 00:41:45.039
 in your son's

00:41:45.039 --> 00:41:45.420
 third grade

00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:45.800
 class.

00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:46.679
 Your son did

00:41:46.679 --> 00:41:47.300
 something that

00:41:47.300 --> 00:41:48.219
 surprised me so

00:41:48.219 --> 00:41:48.739
 much that I

00:41:48.739 --> 00:41:50.460
 thought I had to

00:41:50.460 --> 00:41:50.940
 contact you

00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:51.300
 immediately.

00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:52.920
 The mother began

00:41:52.920 --> 00:41:53.519
 to grow worried

00:41:53.519 --> 00:41:54.059
 and then the

00:41:54.059 --> 00:41:54.840
 teacher continued,

00:41:55.099 --> 00:41:56.019
 nothing like this

00:41:56.019 --> 00:41:56.820
 has happened in

00:41:56.820 --> 00:41:57.659
 all my years in

00:41:57.659 --> 00:41:57.920
 teaching.

00:41:58.380 --> 00:41:59.139
 This morning I

00:41:59.139 --> 00:41:59.639
 was teaching a

00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:00.079
 lesson on

00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:00.719
 creative writing

00:42:00.719 --> 00:42:01.599
 and as I

00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:02.179
 always do,

00:42:02.259 --> 00:42:02.679
 I tell the

00:42:02.679 --> 00:42:03.599
 story of the

00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:04.179
 ant and the

00:42:04.179 --> 00:42:04.679
 grasshopper.

00:42:05.500 --> 00:42:06.559
 The ant works

00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:07.519
 hard all summer,

00:42:07.800 --> 00:42:08.800
 stores up plenty of

00:42:08.800 --> 00:42:09.000
 food,

00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:10.099
 but the grasshopper

00:42:10.099 --> 00:42:11.400
 plays all summer

00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:12.659
 and does no

00:42:12.659 --> 00:42:13.019
 work.

00:42:13.460 --> 00:42:14.000
 The winter

00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:14.579
 comes,

00:42:14.920 --> 00:42:15.519
 the grasshopper

00:42:15.519 --> 00:42:16.099
 begins to

00:42:16.099 --> 00:42:16.820
 starve because he

00:42:16.820 --> 00:42:17.460
 has no food,

00:42:17.679 --> 00:42:18.460
 so he begins to

00:42:18.460 --> 00:42:18.699
 beg,

00:42:18.900 --> 00:42:19.260
 please,

00:42:19.460 --> 00:42:19.699
 Mr.

00:42:19.760 --> 00:42:20.019
 Ant,

00:42:20.179 --> 00:42:20.880
 you have so

00:42:20.880 --> 00:42:21.340
 much food,

00:42:21.440 --> 00:42:22.000
 please let me

00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:22.500
 eat too.

00:42:23.179 --> 00:42:24.559
 Then I said,

00:42:24.780 --> 00:42:25.360
 boys and girls,

00:42:25.840 --> 00:42:26.559
 your job is to

00:42:26.559 --> 00:42:27.119
 write the ending

00:42:27.119 --> 00:42:27.719
 of the story.

00:42:29.340 --> 00:42:30.099
 Your son,

00:42:30.219 --> 00:42:30.360
 Mark,

00:42:30.420 --> 00:42:30.820
 raised his

00:42:30.820 --> 00:42:31.059
 hand,

00:42:31.579 --> 00:42:31.840
 teacher,

00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:32.699
 can I draw a

00:42:32.699 --> 00:42:32.920
 picture?

00:42:33.639 --> 00:42:33.820
 Well,

00:42:33.880 --> 00:42:34.179
 yes,

00:42:34.380 --> 00:42:34.599
 Mark,

00:42:34.679 --> 00:42:35.219
 you can draw a

00:42:35.219 --> 00:42:35.460
 picture,

00:42:35.860 --> 00:42:36.579
 but only after

00:42:36.579 --> 00:42:37.059
 you write the

00:42:37.059 --> 00:42:37.340
 end of the

00:42:37.340 --> 00:42:37.579
 story.

00:42:37.579 --> 00:42:38.900
 As in all

00:42:38.900 --> 00:42:39.139
 the years

00:42:39.139 --> 00:42:39.460
 past,

00:42:39.559 --> 00:42:39.940
 most of the

00:42:39.940 --> 00:42:40.380
 students said

00:42:40.380 --> 00:42:40.739
 the ant

00:42:40.739 --> 00:42:41.340
 shared his

00:42:41.340 --> 00:42:41.819
 food through

00:42:41.819 --> 00:42:42.259
 the winter,

00:42:42.719 --> 00:42:43.139
 and both

00:42:43.139 --> 00:42:43.599
 the ant

00:42:43.599 --> 00:42:44.279
 and the

00:42:44.279 --> 00:42:44.759
 grasshopper

00:42:44.759 --> 00:42:45.099
 lived.

00:42:45.619 --> 00:42:46.039
 A few

00:42:46.039 --> 00:42:47.019
 children wrote,

00:42:47.460 --> 00:42:47.619
 no,

00:42:47.719 --> 00:42:47.920
 Mr.

00:42:48.119 --> 00:42:48.559
 Grasshopper,

00:42:48.719 --> 00:42:49.159
 you should

00:42:49.159 --> 00:42:49.500
 have worked

00:42:49.500 --> 00:42:49.739
 in the

00:42:49.739 --> 00:42:49.960
 summer,

00:42:50.099 --> 00:42:50.480
 now I

00:42:50.480 --> 00:42:50.880
 have just

00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:51.239
 enough food

00:42:51.239 --> 00:42:51.759
 for myself,

00:42:51.940 --> 00:42:52.380
 so the

00:42:52.380 --> 00:42:53.059
 ant lived

00:42:53.059 --> 00:42:53.460
 and the

00:42:53.460 --> 00:42:53.960
 grasshopper

00:42:53.960 --> 00:42:54.319
 died.

00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:56.759
 I think that's

00:42:56.759 --> 00:42:57.179
 how the

00:42:57.179 --> 00:42:57.659
 actual story

00:42:57.659 --> 00:42:57.900
 goes,

00:42:57.980 --> 00:42:58.119
 right?

00:42:58.340 --> 00:42:58.739
 I don't

00:42:58.739 --> 00:42:59.019
 remember,

00:42:59.139 --> 00:43:00.059
 but your

00:43:00.059 --> 00:43:00.739
 son ended

00:43:00.739 --> 00:43:01.340
 the story

00:43:01.340 --> 00:43:01.840
 in a

00:43:01.840 --> 00:43:03.199
 different way

00:43:03.199 --> 00:43:03.500
 from any

00:43:03.500 --> 00:43:04.279
 child ever.

00:43:04.380 --> 00:43:04.699
 He wrote,

00:43:05.079 --> 00:43:05.360
 so the

00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:06.159
 ant gave

00:43:06.159 --> 00:43:06.900
 all of his

00:43:06.900 --> 00:43:07.400
 food to

00:43:07.400 --> 00:43:08.139
 the grasshopper.

00:43:08.740 --> 00:43:09.720
 The grasshopper

00:43:09.720 --> 00:43:10.160
 lived through

00:43:10.160 --> 00:43:10.660
 the winter,

00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:11.180
 but the

00:43:11.180 --> 00:43:12.180
 ant died.

00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:15.059
 And he

00:43:15.059 --> 00:43:15.420
 drew a

00:43:15.420 --> 00:43:15.860
 picture of

00:43:15.860 --> 00:43:16.420
 three crosses.

00:43:20.880 --> 00:43:21.720
 That's what

00:43:21.720 --> 00:43:22.260
 Christ did

00:43:22.260 --> 00:43:22.820
 for us,

00:43:23.539 --> 00:43:24.320
 by dying on

00:43:24.320 --> 00:43:24.800
 the cross.

00:43:26.400 --> 00:43:27.720
 He took

00:43:27.720 --> 00:43:28.760
 our place,

00:43:28.980 --> 00:43:29.840
 our sins,

00:43:30.780 --> 00:43:32.360
 which deserved

00:43:32.360 --> 00:43:32.820
 the penalty

00:43:32.820 --> 00:43:33.400
 of death,

00:43:33.820 --> 00:43:35.180
 our failures,

00:43:35.340 --> 00:43:36.220
 our shortcomings.

00:43:36.219 --> 00:43:37.559
 He pays

00:43:37.559 --> 00:43:38.059
 for it

00:43:38.059 --> 00:43:38.679
 and dies

00:43:38.679 --> 00:43:38.959
 in our

00:43:38.959 --> 00:43:39.139
 stead.

00:43:39.219 --> 00:43:39.539
 That's

00:43:39.539 --> 00:43:40.219
 the grace

00:43:40.219 --> 00:43:41.980
 that now

00:43:41.980 --> 00:43:42.739
 motivates us.

00:43:42.919 --> 00:43:43.299
 That's the

00:43:43.299 --> 00:43:43.699
 grace that

00:43:43.699 --> 00:43:44.259
 stirs our

00:43:44.259 --> 00:43:44.599
 love for

00:43:44.599 --> 00:43:45.000
 Christ.

00:43:45.359 --> 00:43:45.859
 That's the

00:43:45.859 --> 00:43:46.259
 love for

00:43:46.259 --> 00:43:46.799
 Christ that

00:43:46.799 --> 00:43:47.619
 moves us

00:43:47.619 --> 00:43:48.259
 toward

00:43:48.259 --> 00:43:49.379
 hospitality for

00:43:49.379 --> 00:43:49.899
 our labors

00:43:49.899 --> 00:43:51.059
 and generosity

00:43:51.059 --> 00:43:51.980
 for the

00:43:51.980 --> 00:43:52.299
 churches.

00:43:53.559 --> 00:43:54.159
 Take a

00:43:54.159 --> 00:43:54.439
 moment of

00:43:54.439 --> 00:43:54.879
 science to

00:43:54.879 --> 00:43:55.379
 reflect on

00:43:55.379 --> 00:43:55.619
 that.

00:43:55.619 --> 00:44:04.960
 God's

00:44:04.960 --> 00:44:05.119
 we have

00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:06.299
 an opportunity

00:44:06.299 --> 00:44:06.960
 today to

00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:09.000
 express our

00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:09.920
 generosity toward

00:44:09.920 --> 00:44:10.699
 churches that are

00:44:10.699 --> 00:44:11.119
 in need.

00:44:11.319 --> 00:44:12.099
 Once a year,

00:44:12.659 --> 00:44:13.019
 the churches

00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:13.460
 within our

00:44:13.460 --> 00:44:13.940
 denomination

00:44:13.940 --> 00:44:15.259
 hold Mission

00:44:15.259 --> 00:44:16.000
 Fund Sunday

00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:17.559
 when we take

00:44:17.559 --> 00:44:18.460
 up an offering

00:44:18.460 --> 00:44:19.000
 for a

00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:20.019
 denomination-wide

00:44:20.019 --> 00:44:21.420
 mission fund.

00:44:21.980 --> 00:44:22.920
 This fund is

00:44:22.920 --> 00:44:23.839
 used to fund

00:44:23.839 --> 00:44:24.400
 church plans

00:44:24.400 --> 00:44:24.760
 throughout the

00:44:24.760 --> 00:44:24.980
 world.

00:44:25.639 --> 00:44:26.579
 When we first

00:44:26.579 --> 00:44:27.200
 launched our

00:44:27.200 --> 00:44:27.660
 church, we

00:44:27.660 --> 00:44:28.500
 actually received

00:44:28.500 --> 00:44:29.340
 funding from

00:44:29.340 --> 00:44:30.180
 this same fund

00:44:30.180 --> 00:44:30.519
 as well.

00:44:32.480 --> 00:44:33.139
 There's actually

00:44:33.139 --> 00:44:33.860
 a short five-minute

00:44:33.860 --> 00:44:34.559
 video that talks

00:44:34.559 --> 00:44:34.940
 about that, but

00:44:34.940 --> 00:44:35.340
 we're not going

00:44:35.340 --> 00:44:35.840
 to show it

00:44:35.840 --> 00:44:36.240
 today because

00:44:36.240 --> 00:44:36.559
 we're running

00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:36.800
 late.

00:44:37.340 --> 00:44:37.940
 We could show

00:44:37.940 --> 00:44:38.200
 it to you

00:44:38.200 --> 00:44:39.059
 next week if

00:44:39.059 --> 00:44:39.420
 there's time

00:44:39.420 --> 00:44:39.780
 for it.

00:44:40.700 --> 00:44:41.300
 Basically, in

00:44:41.300 --> 00:44:41.900
 that video,

00:44:42.019 --> 00:44:42.420
 you'll see

00:44:42.420 --> 00:44:43.360
 Stephen Bone,

00:44:43.860 --> 00:44:44.840
 who is a

00:44:44.840 --> 00:44:45.340
 friend of mine,

00:44:45.420 --> 00:44:46.039
 a pastor friend.

00:44:46.579 --> 00:44:47.619
 He went to

00:44:47.619 --> 00:44:48.220
 the same seminary

00:44:48.220 --> 00:44:48.920
 that I went to,

00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:49.440
 not at the same

00:44:49.440 --> 00:44:49.940
 time, here in

00:44:49.940 --> 00:44:50.420
 Gordon-Kamal,

00:44:50.500 --> 00:44:50.800
 Boston.

00:44:51.480 --> 00:44:52.220
 He and his

00:44:52.220 --> 00:44:53.160
 wife have a big

00:44:53.160 --> 00:44:53.840
 heart for urban

00:44:53.840 --> 00:44:54.220
 ministry.

00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:55.460
 inner-city

00:44:55.460 --> 00:44:55.880
 ministry.

00:44:56.519 --> 00:44:57.440
 They live in a

00:44:57.440 --> 00:44:57.940
 neighborhood with

00:44:57.940 --> 00:44:58.380
 a lot of

00:44:58.380 --> 00:44:59.320
 poverty and

00:44:59.320 --> 00:44:59.860
 drug addiction.

00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:00.400
 Just to give

00:45:00.400 --> 00:45:00.840
 you a glimpse

00:45:00.840 --> 00:45:01.800
 of it, the

00:45:01.800 --> 00:45:03.660
 neighborhood that

00:45:03.660 --> 00:45:04.079
 they serve is

00:45:04.079 --> 00:45:04.780
 called Frankfort,

00:45:04.900 --> 00:45:05.320
 Pennsylvania.

00:45:05.619 --> 00:45:06.119
 Their median

00:45:06.119 --> 00:45:06.760
 household income

00:45:06.760 --> 00:45:07.860
 is $29,000.

00:45:08.559 --> 00:45:09.579
 Compare that to

00:45:09.579 --> 00:45:11.680
 the $99,000 in

00:45:11.680 --> 00:45:12.780
 Cambridge and

00:45:12.780 --> 00:45:14.539
 $112,000 in

00:45:14.539 --> 00:45:15.099
 East Cambridge.

00:45:16.420 --> 00:45:17.420
 We do have our

00:45:17.420 --> 00:45:18.039
 own needs, but

00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:19.099
 their need is of

00:45:19.099 --> 00:45:19.800
 a different order.

00:45:19.800 --> 00:45:23.480
 We're going to

00:45:23.480 --> 00:45:24.240
 pray for them

00:45:24.240 --> 00:45:24.960
 too in the

00:45:24.960 --> 00:45:25.260
 prayers of

00:45:25.260 --> 00:45:25.460
 people.

00:45:25.580 --> 00:45:26.019
 Whoever is

00:45:26.019 --> 00:45:26.960
 leading prayers

00:45:26.960 --> 00:45:27.640
 of people,

00:45:27.720 --> 00:45:28.100
 you can come

00:45:28.100 --> 00:45:28.480
 up now.

00:45:29.280 --> 00:45:29.680
 We're going to

00:45:29.680 --> 00:45:30.160
 pray for that

00:45:30.160 --> 00:45:31.120
 church and I'll

00:45:31.120 --> 00:45:31.720
 tell you guys how

00:45:31.720 --> 00:45:32.120
 you can give

00:45:32.120 --> 00:45:32.400
 toward the

00:45:32.400 --> 00:45:32.920
 mission fund at

00:45:32.920 --> 00:45:33.200
 the end of

00:45:33.200 --> 00:45:33.539
 the service.

00:45:33.539 --> 00:45:34.539
 Thank you.

00:45:34.539 --> 00:45:39.199
 Thanks, Dan.