WEBVTT

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 Many of you, or at least some of you have heard the story now of a party that I went to when I was in my fourth year of university.

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 And I went to a party, and at the time I was in love with Louise, and she wasn't in love with me.

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 And I went to this party, and Louise was at the party, but I didn't go to the party with Louise or come home from the party with Louise.

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 I went with Tom, and he's a great guy, but he wasn't Louise.

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 And after the party, as I was going home with Tom, we were walking, we sort of lived near each other, and we walked good ways together.

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 I said to Tom, Tom, I really like Louise, but I think she's too good looking to go out with a guy like me.

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 And Tom said, George, you're right.

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 She's way too good looking to go out with a guy like you.

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 Every time I think about that story, I think, isn't it amazing that he went into counseling?

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 And I think he's probably good at it now.

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 And, you know, many of us can look at couples, and you say to yourself, like, how on earth do those two get together?

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 Like, what keeps them together?

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 What is that magic or whatever that keeps them together?

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 They just seem to be so different.

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 You know, if we were to keep a little list of everybody who came to St. Albans today, and then tomorrow we were to interview them all,

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 I mean, you know, there are people in this church, and I know this, there are people in this church who think the NDP aren't probably left-wing enough.

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 And I know that there's people in this church who think the conservatives are wusses and should be far more conservative.

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 And, you know, if you were to line us all up, and all of a sudden you'd see that, you know, we differ in politics, we differ in marital status, we differ on children, a number of children, we differ in sexual orientation, we differ in education, we differ in race and culture, in sickness and health.

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 And so, you know, I mean, if you're not going to be a person, we differ in life, we differ in life.

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 And I think, you know, how on earth do those guys ever stay in the same room?

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 Like, what on earth actually keeps them together?

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 It just doesn't seem to make any sense.

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 Just like for some couples.

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 I think they'd say this about St. Albans, that they actually talked to us beyond these things.

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 And the answer is, and hopefully, you know, there's lots of bad things that keep different people together,

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 but for Christians, there's something really good which keeps us together.

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 And it's the second of the four marks of the church.

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 Those of you maybe who are here this week for the first time, we've been looking for basically for four weeks,

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 we've looked time and time again at this text which my son Tosh read,

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 like sort of going right back to that early snapshot of what the church is like and what it's to be like.

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 And in verse 42, we see the four marks of a church which is formed by the gospel

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 and upon which the Holy Spirit has fallen, in other words, a true church.

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 And the four marks are that they are devoted to the apostles' teaching.

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 And we understand that now to mean, of course, New Testament teaching and biblical teaching

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 as understood through the New Testament with Christ as Savior and Lord,

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 gospel-hearted, New Testament teaching, devoted to the apostles' teaching,

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 devoted to koinonia, or fellowship it's translated, I think, here in our Bible,

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 devoted to the Lord's Supper, which is more than just a ritual,

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 but also involves the deep remembering of Jesus' death and resurrection upon the cross,

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 and fourthly to the prayers.

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 And today, we're going to look at the second mark of the church

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 because it's in fact koinonia in a good church which keeps such different people together.

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 Koinonia is a spiritual reality which generates a common life.

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 Koinonia is a spiritual reality which generates a common life.

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 Devotion to koinonia is a devotion to a common message, a common mission, a common life,

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 common boundaries, all flowing from a living communion with the living God,

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 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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 Right?

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 It is a spiritual reality which generates a common life.

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 Koinonia is a devotion to a common message, a common mission, a common life,

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 common boundaries, all flowing from a living communion with the living God,

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 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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 Today, my sermon is going to be a little bit different from my usual sermons.

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 I'm not going to exposit one text, but I'm going to look at several texts

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 which help us to understand this mark of the church, which is koinonia.

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 And koinonia is really important.

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 You know, without koinonia, New Testament study can just become arrogant, proof-texting.

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 Liturgy can become just something that we have huge wars over.

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 The Lord's Supper can be merely a boundary which marks our group versus your group.

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 We won't allow your group to have the Lord's Supper with our group.

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 And all of these things can become quickly and utterly deformed without this lifeblood of koinonia,

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 which is a spiritual reality which generates a desire and a drive and a forming of a common life.

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 And so let's open your Bibles and turn first to 1 John 1, verse 3.

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 Very tiny little book towards the back of your Bible.

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 And if you're using the Pew Bibles, it's on page 1054.

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 Page 1054.

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 And John chapter 1.

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 And it's verse 3, which is what I want to really focus.

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 But I'm going to give you the couple of verses before and after so you have a little bit of the context.

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 Page 1054, 1 John chapter 1.

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 But by the way, if, you know, many other Sundays we say an ancient creed.

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 Today we sang a wonderful short creed.

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 But in the creed, we say we believe in the communion of saints, the koinonia of saints.

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 And in fact, the word koinonia is one of the most common New Testament words.

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 Sometimes it's translated as communion.

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 Sometimes it's fellowship.

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 Sometimes as partake.

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 Sometimes it's participation.

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 Sometimes it's sharing.

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 And there's, what was the sixth word?

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 The sixth word will come to me later on.

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 Oh, partnership is the sixth word.

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 And so we can miss the fact that it's the same word time and time again.

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 But listen to 1 John.

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 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,

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 which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, concerning the word of life.

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 Just pause there for a moment.

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 He's talking about Jesus, who has been from all eternity the second person of the Trinity.

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 And counter to the thought of the day, which thinks that God is distant, distant, distant, distant, distant,

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 and could never, ever, ever, ever come and walk amongst us.

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 John has just said in very, very powerful ways.

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 That which was from the beginning, the second person of the Trinity, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,

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 which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, concerning the word of life.

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 The life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and declare to you that eternal life,

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 which was with the Father and was manifested to us.

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 That which we have seen and heard, we declare to you that you also may have koinonia with us.

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 And truly, our koinonia is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

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 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

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 You see, koinonia flows first from responding to the apostles' message that God has sent his Son, Jesus,

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 to be the Savior of the world.

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 And the really spectacular news is that he came to be your Savior and he came to be mine.

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 And so koinonia begins when we hear the message of the apostles, the message of the Bible,

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 that there is a Savior who loves you, who has died upon the cross for you,

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 has risen from the dead and conquered sin and death and hell and hostile spiritual powers.

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 And he is conquered, not as a lonely victor, but he is conquered so that you can share in his triumph.

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 And we hear this message and we respond to love in love and trust and obedience.

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 And what happens is that we have koinonia with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

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 That means mere mortals, pillars of dust formed by a soul,

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 people who struggle with mortgages and with temptation and sickness and death.

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 You have said yes to Jesus and you got more than just Jesus loving you.

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 You now actually participate in and taste and live in the very life of God.

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 Isn't that the most amazing thing in the world?

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 Pillars of dust formed by a soul,

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 people with bad knees and bad credit ratings and all of those things,

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 that through Jesus you actually are brought into the very, very life of God

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 and can begin to taste that and know that.

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 And you are invited to have that become more and more a part of your life.

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 It is a living reality.

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 And the word here is that you and I are in koinonia,

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 a communion, a participation, a sharing,

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 a dwelling in the very life of the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.

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 And through responding to the gospel message,

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 the message of the apostles,

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 and saying yes to this message,

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 and all of a sudden discovering or beginning to discover

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 that God, in fact, has granted you vastly more

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 than you had ever begun to understand

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 when you first heard an inkling of the person of Jesus Christ.

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 And at the same time,

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 it is because we have responded to the gospel,

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 have entered into the very life of God,

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 that we also have koinonia with one another.

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 Listen to the verse of Scripture,

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 that that which we have seen and heard,

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 verse 3,

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 we declare to you,

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 why?

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 That you also may have koinonia with us.

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 And truly, our koinonia is with the Father

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 and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

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 Koinonia is a spiritual reality

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 which generates a common life.

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 It is a devotion to a common message,

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 a common mission,

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 a common life,

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 common boundaries,

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 all flowing from a living communion

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 with the living God,

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 the Father,

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 the Son,

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 and the Holy Spirit.

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 Spirit.

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 Isn't that the most amazing

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 and wonderful thing in the world?

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 Let's look at the second text.

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 It's Philippians chapter 1,

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 verses 5 and 7,

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 but once again,

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 we'll read around it

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 to give you a little bit of the context.

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 And for those of you using the pew Bibles

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 in the church,

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 it's page 1016.

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 Page 1016.

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 And it's verses 5 and 7,

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 both have this word fellowship

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 or koinonia.

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 And here's what,

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 I'll begin reading at verse 3

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 just to give you the context.

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 I thank my God

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 upon every remembrance of you,

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 always in every prayer of mine,

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 making request for you all with joy,

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 for your koinonia in the gospel

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 from the first day until now,

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 being confident of this very thing,

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 that he who has begun

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 a good work in you

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 will complete it until the day

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 of Jesus Christ.

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 Just as it is right for me

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 to think this of you all,

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 because I have you in my heart,

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 inasmuch as both in my chains

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 and in the defense

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 and confirmation of the gospel,

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 you are all koinonia

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 with me of grace.

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 For God is my witness,

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 how greatly I long for you all

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 with the affection of Jesus Christ,

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 and this I pray,

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 that your love may abound

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 still more and more

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 in knowledge and all discernment,

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 that you may approve

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 the things that are excellent,

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 that you may be sincere

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 and without offense

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 till the day of Christ,

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 being filled with the fruits

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 of righteousness

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 which are by Jesus Christ

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 to the glory and praise of God.

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 Amen.

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 Hallelujah.

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 Listen to this again.

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 You see, it's a spiritual reality.

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 It's a real communion

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 with the living God,

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 but it is more than that.

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 This living communion

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 with the living God

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 generates a desire

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 for a common mission

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 and common message

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 and a common life

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 and a common work

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 which is being involved.

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 It's in a sense this desire

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 not only to know Jesus.

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 If you go in and read Philippians,

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 he wants to know Christ

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 and he wants to share

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 in his sufferings

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 and he urges them

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 to participate

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 in his mission

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 and in his ministry

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 and it's this sense

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 that God is at work

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 in the world,

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 Jesus is building his church

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 and when we are

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 in communion with God,

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 we have this desire

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 to be part of that action,

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 to be part of Jesus

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 building his church,

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 God being at work

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 in the world

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 through the proclamation

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 of the gospel

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 and people entering

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 into God's family

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 through adoption,

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 by grace alone,

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 through faith alone,

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 in Christ alone.

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 Verse 5,

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 for your fellowship,

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 your koinonia in the gospel

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 from the first day until now.

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 You see,

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 they have a koinonia

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 in the gospel message,

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 in the proclamation

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 of the gospel.

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 Verse 7,

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 I have you in my heart

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 inasmuch as both

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 in my chains

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 and in the defense

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 and confirmation

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 of the gospel.

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 You are all,

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 you all are koinonia

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 with me of grace.

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 You see,

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 this spiritual reality

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 of communion

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 with the living God

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 generates within us

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 this desire

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 to be involved

00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.379
 in mission,

00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:58.620
 common mission

00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:00.160
 and common proclamation

00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:01.600
 of the gospel message

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:03.480
 and a common life.

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:04.759
 You know,

00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:05.420
 it's what,

00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:07.300
 it's what drives us

00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:08.240
 to be interested

00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:09.799
 in Matthew Hoskin

00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:10.679
 in Cyprus

00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:11.779
 or other missionaries

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:13.019
 or the work of Katrin

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:14.459
 amongst the street poor

00:15:14.459 --> 00:15:15.479
 or the work of Jill

00:15:15.479 --> 00:15:17.059
 amongst the university students

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:18.919
 or thinking of other ways

00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:19.979
 that we can be involved

00:15:19.979 --> 00:15:20.899
 in the extension

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:21.620
 of the gospel

00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:22.679
 and what's going on

00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:23.419
 in Nigeria

00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:24.479
 and what's going on

00:15:24.479 --> 00:15:25.139
 in the Arctic

00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:27.559
 and it's a spiritual reality

00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:29.099
 which generates within us

00:15:29.099 --> 00:15:29.919
 this desire

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.319
 to know of

00:15:31.319 --> 00:15:32.679
 and to participate in

00:15:32.679 --> 00:15:33.620
 and to further

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.000
 this,

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:34.679
 the message,

00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.379
 the mission

00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:36.899
 and this common life.

00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:39.719
 But there are boundaries.

00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.539
 There are boundaries.

00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:45.279
 Our age has this

00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:46.479
 ambivalence

00:15:46.479 --> 00:15:47.399
 about boundaries.

00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.120
 But this,

00:15:49.459 --> 00:15:50.240
 there's boundaries.

00:15:50.819 --> 00:15:51.740
 Let's turn to a,

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:53.019
 sort of a dark passage

00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:55.000
 in 1 Corinthians chapter 10

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:58.159
 verses 16 to 21.

00:15:58.719 --> 00:16:00.639
 There's a warning here.

00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:04.599
 1 Corinthians 10

00:16:04.599 --> 00:16:06.039
 verses 16 to 21.

00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:06.659
 We're going to begin

00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.500
 at verse 14.

00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.980
 It's on page 993

00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:09.579
 if you're using

00:16:09.579 --> 00:16:10.379
 the Pew Bibles.

00:16:12.699 --> 00:16:13.740
 This text,

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:14.819
 as you turn there

00:16:14.819 --> 00:16:16.099
 to page 993,

00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.339
 1 Corinthians 10

00:16:17.339 --> 00:16:18.639
 verse 14 and following,

00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:21.159
 you know,

00:16:21.299 --> 00:16:23.519
 this text sort of

00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:24.519
 opens up to us

00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:24.939
 for a moment

00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:25.659
 that the Bible

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:26.599
 has a different view

00:16:26.599 --> 00:16:27.139
 of what it means

00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.799
 to be human

00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:29.099
 than our culture has.

00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:32.200
 and it's almost

00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:33.580
 as if you think

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:34.560
 of an hourglass

00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:36.220
 and in some ways

00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:37.180
 an hourglass

00:16:37.180 --> 00:16:39.040
 is biblically speaking

00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:39.879
 what a human being

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.540
 really is.

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:43.320
 Our culture

00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:44.940
 tends to think

00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:45.800
 of us as being

00:16:45.800 --> 00:16:46.800
 that little tiny

00:16:46.800 --> 00:16:47.879
 joining part

00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.879
 in an hourglass.

00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.139
 But this,

00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:50.860
 the Bible

00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:52.279
 constantly pushes us

00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:52.919
 to sense

00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:53.919
 that really,

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:54.519
 even though,

00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:54.799
 I mean,

00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.279
 it's that little

00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:56.000
 tiny part

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.720
 in an hourglass

00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.299
 that we see,

00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.500
 that little center part,

00:16:58.580 --> 00:16:59.220
 that's what we see

00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:00.039
 walking around,

00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.620
 but that if in a sense

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.240
 we were to be able

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:04.660
 to have God glasses

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.980
 or biblical glasses

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.700
 that we would see

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.579
 that every human being

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.740
 is not just in a sense

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:10.059
 the little center part

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:10.859
 in an hourglass,

00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:12.500
 but that because

00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.359
 we are

00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:15.359
 enfleshed

00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:16.219
 souls,

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:17.199
 souls

00:17:17.199 --> 00:17:18.459
 that have

00:17:18.459 --> 00:17:19.099
 a body,

00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:20.740
 an embodied soul,

00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.179
 we would see

00:17:22.179 --> 00:17:23.059
 that in a sense

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.219
 just speaking

00:17:24.219 --> 00:17:25.240
 figuratively

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.000
 and literally

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.259
 that in a sense

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:28.219
 opening out

00:17:28.219 --> 00:17:28.899
 from us

00:17:28.899 --> 00:17:30.839
 is that every human being

00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:32.139
 is open

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:33.879
 to these realities

00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:36.379
 and spiritual realities

00:17:36.379 --> 00:17:37.279
 which are far,

00:17:37.439 --> 00:17:38.500
 far bigger than us.

00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:41.099
 that there's in a sense

00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:42.460
 within every human being

00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.380
 whether it's denied

00:17:43.380 --> 00:17:44.880
 or whether it's

00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.200
 pursued in wrong ways

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.680
 that in fact

00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.759
 we open up to,

00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:48.559
 there's an openness

00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:50.079
 in every human being

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:52.099
 to these spiritual principles

00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:52.859
 and realities

00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:54.059
 which are just vastly

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:54.920
 bigger than us.

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.099
 You see,

00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:56.960
 one of the reasons

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.240
 why Christians reject

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.680
 almost all of the ethics

00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.799
 that you'd have described

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.519
 in the Citizen

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:03.539
 and the National Post

00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:04.720
 and they're all basically

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.579
 utilitarian,

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:07.019
 some type of utilitarian

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:08.700
 measuring,

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.299
 you know,

00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.740
 pleasure and pain

00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:11.359
 and harm

00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:12.240
 and lack of harm

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:12.779
 that's caused

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.579
 to other human beings

00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.059
 physically,

00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:15.160
 it completely and utterly

00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:15.900
 denies,

00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.220
 completely and utterly

00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.200
 evades the fact

00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:18.940
 that human beings

00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.720
 are fundamentally

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.379
 open to spiritual realities

00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:22.240
 which are vastly

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.139
 bigger than them

00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:25.559
 and that can be

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.539
 pursued wrongly

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.500
 and can be damaged

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.440
 and can be

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.339
 just completely

00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:30.579
 and utterly wrecked.

00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:31.619
 And at the same time

00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:33.220
 human beings

00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.599
 are not funnels,

00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:35.819
 the narrow part

00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:36.279
 at the bottom

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:36.919
 just opening up

00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:37.839
 to the spiritual thing

00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:38.799
 but the fact of the matter

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.059
 is that beneath us

00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:41.220
 we are completely

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:41.939
 and utterly rooted

00:18:41.939 --> 00:18:42.700
 in creation.

00:18:43.399 --> 00:18:45.359
 That there is in fact

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.559
 something within us

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:48.819
 which is akin to

00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:49.579
 the rocks

00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:50.240
 and the trees

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:50.919
 and the wind

00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:53.359
 and that some of us

00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.139
 as we get older

00:18:54.139 --> 00:18:55.019
 we become aware

00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.639
 of the fact

00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:56.480
 that gosh,

00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:56.700
 you know,

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.339
 that nose

00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:58.500
 has been handed down

00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:00.339
 from father to son

00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.359
 to father to son

00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.240
 for generations,

00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:02.759
 you know,

00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:03.579
 and the eyebrows

00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.399
 or other types

00:19:04.399 --> 00:19:04.779
 of things

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.119
 and that we're

00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:05.599
 part of this

00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:07.419
 huge genetic

00:19:07.419 --> 00:19:08.379
 and physical

00:19:08.379 --> 00:19:09.879
 bigness

00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:11.619
 and this text

00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.259
 sort of points

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.639
 to that

00:19:12.639 --> 00:19:13.319
 with something.

00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:15.539
 1 Corinthians 10

00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.379
 verse 14

00:19:16.379 --> 00:19:17.879
 Oh, just one other thing.

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.000
 Therefore, my beloved,

00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.579
 flee from idolatry.

00:19:20.639 --> 00:19:21.699
 There's two great messages

00:19:21.699 --> 00:19:22.659
 in 1 Corinthians,

00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.659
 two things that we are

00:19:23.659 --> 00:19:24.579
 to flee from.

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.599
 We are to flee

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.519
 from porneia

00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:27.699
 which is

00:19:27.699 --> 00:19:29.460
 anything which departs

00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.319
 from faithfulness

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:31.639
 and heterosexual marriage

00:19:31.639 --> 00:19:32.819
 or sexual abstinence

00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:33.460
 and singleness.

00:19:33.919 --> 00:19:34.679
 We are to flee

00:19:34.679 --> 00:19:35.359
 from anything

00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.079
 that takes us

00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:36.519
 from that

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.779
 and we are to flee

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.859
 from idolatry.

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:40.119
 It's the two great messages

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:40.839
 of fleeing

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.819
 in the book

00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.700
 of 1 Corinthians

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:43.960
 and this text

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.099
 begins with one of those

00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:45.879
 flee,

00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.740
 flee from idolatry.

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.740
 I speak to you

00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.799
 as wise men and women,

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.759
 judge for yourselves

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.500
 what I say.

00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:53.019
 The cup of blessing

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.879
 which we bless,

00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:55.119
 is it not

00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:56.819
 the koinonia

00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:58.439
 of the blood

00:19:58.439 --> 00:19:59.059
 of Christ?

00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:01.299
 The bread which we break,

00:20:01.419 --> 00:20:01.940
 is it not

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:03.379
 the koinonia

00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.700
 of the body

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.279
 of Christ?

00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:06.339
 For we,

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:06.859
 being many,

00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.659
 are one bread

00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.799
 and one body,

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.599
 for we all,

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.679
 and here the word

00:20:10.679 --> 00:20:11.299
 isn't koinonia,

00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.619
 I'm going to say koinonia,

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.559
 but it's a synonym

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.399
 for koinonia,

00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:15.639
 for we are all

00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:16.599
 koinonia

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:18.019
 of that one bread.

00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:18.940
 Observe Israel

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.779
 after the flesh.

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.799
 Are not those

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.279
 who eat of the sacrifices

00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:24.059
 koinonia

00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:25.039
 of the altar?

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.659
 What am I saying then?

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.279
 That an idol

00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:27.859
 is anything

00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:28.839
 or what is offered

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.319
 to idols

00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:29.839
 is anything,

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:30.819
 but I say

00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.439
 that the things

00:20:31.439 --> 00:20:32.319
 which the Gentiles

00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:32.979
 sacrifice,

00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:33.759
 they sacrifice

00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.539
 to demons

00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:36.039
 and not to God,

00:20:36.419 --> 00:20:37.439
 and I do not want

00:20:37.439 --> 00:20:38.159
 you to have

00:20:38.159 --> 00:20:39.179
 koinonia

00:20:39.179 --> 00:20:40.359
 with demons.

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.919
 You cannot drink

00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:42.839
 the cup of the Lord

00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:43.819
 and the cup of demons.

00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.919
 You cannot

00:20:44.919 --> 00:20:45.759
 koinonia

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:47.299
 of the Lord's table

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.599
 and of the table

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.299
 of demons,

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.459
 or do we provoke

00:20:50.459 --> 00:20:51.479
 the Lord to jealousy?

00:20:51.879 --> 00:20:52.679
 Are we stronger

00:20:52.679 --> 00:20:53.159
 than he?

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:54.340
 You see,

00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:56.820
 this on one level

00:20:56.820 --> 00:20:58.180
 says that this ability

00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:59.320
 of koinonia,

00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:00.660
 that in a sense,

00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.400
 it's talking about

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.600
 something which is human.

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.400
 On one level,

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.300
 it's something human,

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:05.940
 which is that,

00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:06.519
 you know,

00:21:06.560 --> 00:21:07.200
 that's why I was saying

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:07.680
 about there's,

00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.140
 in a sense,

00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:09.340
 out of the top of us

00:21:09.340 --> 00:21:10.460
 that there's this ability

00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:11.740
 to participate in

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.640
 and be influenced

00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:13.920
 by spiritual realities

00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:15.000
 that are bigger than us.

00:21:15.540 --> 00:21:17.100
 And so it is possible

00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:17.740
 for us

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:19.600
 to have a communion

00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:20.460
 with things

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:21.560
 that are bigger than us

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.519
 and that are fallen

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.899
 and that are in rebellion

00:21:23.899 --> 00:21:24.919
 against God

00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:26.179
 and are in complete

00:21:26.179 --> 00:21:27.099
 and utter denial

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.960
 of the gospel.

00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:30.000
 And Christians

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.480
 are ones who have responded

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.879
 to the gospel message.

00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:35.019
 By responding

00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:36.099
 to the gospel message

00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.519
 are in a living relationship

00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.559
 with Almighty God.

00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:39.359
 There is now

00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:40.579
 a spiritual reality

00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:41.339
 which generates

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.480
 within us a common life.

00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.299
 There is a devotion

00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.240
 to koinonia,

00:21:44.899 --> 00:21:45.579
 is a devotion

00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:46.759
 to a common message,

00:21:46.899 --> 00:21:47.839
 a common mission,

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.000
 a common life,

00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:51.220
 and common boundaries

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.940
 all flowing

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:54.240
 from a living communion

00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.339
 with the living God,

00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.220
 the Father,

00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:56.799
 the Son,

00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:58.100
 and the Holy Spirit.

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.579
 There are things

00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.680
 that we can be open to.

00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.539
 There are things

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.900
 that can bring us together

00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:04.440
 which are in rebellion

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.400
 against God

00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:06.759
 and we are to have

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:08.160
 nothing to do with them.

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.500
 There are to be boundaries.

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.579
 The fact of the matter is

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.779
 that there are,

00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:15.120
 in the history of the church,

00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:15.880
 we can think of

00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:16.880
 countless things

00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.460
 that have brought

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.400
 Christians together.

00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.440
 They have been brought

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.780
 together by racism,

00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.700
 by prejudice,

00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.700
 by hatred,

00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:24.019
 by social class,

00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:25.060
 by elitism.

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.259
 They have been brought

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:28.720
 together by a despising

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.380
 of the poor

00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:30.400
 or a despising

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.060
 of the rich,

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.960
 by mere tastes

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.680
 in music

00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.560
 or mere tastes

00:22:34.560 --> 00:22:35.340
 in liturgy,

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.220
 by race,

00:22:36.340 --> 00:22:37.120
 by ethnicity,

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.460
 by war,

00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:40.200
 and by...

00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:41.240
 There have been

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.060
 many things

00:22:42.060 --> 00:22:42.560
 that have brought

00:22:42.560 --> 00:22:43.560
 Christians together.

00:22:44.540 --> 00:22:45.480
 Many things

00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:45.920
 that have brought

00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.759
 Christians together

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.960
 and we are not

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.160
 to be brought together

00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:50.380
 by these things.

00:22:50.840 --> 00:22:52.060
 We are to forsake

00:22:52.060 --> 00:22:52.720
 these things

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.640
 and forswear

00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.440
 these things

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:55.420
 that, in fact,

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.019
 the wonder of the gospel

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.840
 is that God invites us

00:22:58.840 --> 00:23:00.380
 regardless of our race,

00:23:00.580 --> 00:23:01.279
 our poverty,

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:01.980
 our wealth,

00:23:02.080 --> 00:23:02.880
 our education,

00:23:03.140 --> 00:23:03.700
 our gender,

00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:05.200
 our sexual orientation,

00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.700
 that Jesus comes

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.900
 to every human being

00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.620
 and invites us

00:23:08.620 --> 00:23:09.880
 to come to him

00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:11.900
 and he receives us

00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:12.840
 as his own

00:23:12.840 --> 00:23:14.759
 and that when he receives

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.800
 us as his own,

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.140
 we enter into this

00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.920
 living communion

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.600
 and fellowship

00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:19.720
 with Almighty God

00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:21.160
 and once that happens

00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.820
 there is a spiritual reality

00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:24.019
 which is to take place

00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.800
 in us,

00:23:25.080 --> 00:23:26.019
 which is to generate

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.900
 a common life

00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:28.440
 and that common life

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:30.340
 is to be marked

00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:31.680
 by all of a sudden

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:33.539
 the relativizing of race,

00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:35.560
 the relativizing of class,

00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:37.820
 the relativizing of education,

00:23:38.080 --> 00:23:39.720
 the relativizing of gender,

00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:41.259
 the relativizing of all

00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:42.060
 of these things

00:23:42.060 --> 00:23:42.580
 that there is,

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.039
 in a sense,

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:45.259
 a push past

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.599
 these boundaries

00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:50.220
 that are not to be things

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:51.099
 which unite us.

00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:53.500
 We are to be united

00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:56.599
 by the message of the gospel,

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:59.500
 by entrance into a common life

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.139
 with God

00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:02.180
 and so there are to be boundaries.

00:24:02.420 --> 00:24:03.619
 We are to forswear

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.680
 or forsake

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:06.779
 any type of communion

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:08.759
 that opens us up

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:11.299
 to that which is not God,

00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.319
 to that which is

00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:13.740
 in rebellion against God,

00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.879
 to that which is

00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:16.319
 antithetical to God

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.980
 or a denial to God

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:19.359
 or to the message

00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:20.480
 of the gospel,

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.779
 the mission

00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:23.859
 of Jesus Christ

00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:24.460
 in the world.

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:26.240
 We are to forswear that.

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.460
 One text,

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.500
 very briefly,

00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:30.559
 before we leave this,

00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:32.640
 it's in 1 John again,

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.819
 it's just after the part

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.240
 that we read

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.960
 at the very beginning,

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:37.980
 it's the other classic text

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.759
 on this.

00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.220
 1 John,

00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:42.480
 chapter 1,

00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:44.019
 and it's sort of the rest

00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.120
 of that first chapter.

00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:47.279
 If you're using your pew Bibles,

00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:51.380
 it's on page 1054.

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:54.860
 1054.

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.980
 And here we're looking

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:58.220
 at 1 John,

00:24:58.660 --> 00:25:00.100
 that's verse 6 and 7,

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:02.220
 but we'll begin reading

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.120
 at verse 5.

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.440
 Page 1054,

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.559
 1 John,

00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:06.220
 chapter 1,

00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:07.500
 verses 5 through 10.

00:25:08.120 --> 00:25:09.539
 This is the message

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:11.000
 which we have heard

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.720
 from him

00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:13.500
 and declare to you

00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:15.320
 that God is light

00:25:15.320 --> 00:25:16.440
 and in him

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:18.080
 is no darkness at all.

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.460
 If we say

00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.100
 that we have

00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:20.980
 koinonia

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.080
 with Jesus

00:25:22.080 --> 00:25:23.840
 and walk in darkness,

00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.100
 we lie

00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:26.140
 and do not practice

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:26.680
 the truth.

00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:28.059
 But if we walk

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.600
 in the light

00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:29.680
 as he is in the light,

00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.980
 we have koinonia

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.220
 with one another

00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.080
 and the blood

00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:33.960
 of Jesus Christ,

00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.460
 his son,

00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.240
 cleanses us

00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:35.960
 from all sin.

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.220
 If we say

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.200
 that we have no sin,

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.420
 we deceive ourselves

00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:40.480
 and the truth

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.220
 is not in us.

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.519
 If we confess

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.259
 our sins,

00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.440
 he is faithful

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.000
 and just

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.980
 to forgive us

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.519
 our sins

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.360
 and to cleanse us

00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:48.460
 from all unrighteousness.

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.539
 If we say

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.700
 that we have not sinned,

00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.559
 we make him a liar

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.579
 and his word

00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:52.599
 and his word

00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:53.379
 is not in us.

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.940
 Here we see

00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:55.579
 once again

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.879
 that we are not

00:25:56.879 --> 00:25:57.799
 to have koinonia

00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.679
 with darkness

00:25:58.679 --> 00:26:00.299
 but only with light.

00:26:00.679 --> 00:26:01.119
 We are not

00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:02.039
 to have koinonia

00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:04.119
 which proclaims

00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:05.779
 a false gospel

00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:07.460
 or an antithetical gospel.

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:09.079
 We are not

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:09.639
 to be united

00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:10.559
 by class

00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.720
 or by institution

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:13.399
 that koinonia

00:26:13.399 --> 00:26:14.399
 is responding.

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.799
 It develops

00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:16.619
 from responding

00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:17.960
 to the gospel message.

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.559
 It creates

00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.779
 a spiritual reality

00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:21.539
 which generates

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.440
 a common life

00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.400
 and there is

00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:23.960
 a devotion

00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:25.319
 to a common message,

00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.539
 a common mission,

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:28.039
 a common life,

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.660
 common boundaries

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:31.559
 all flowing

00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.579
 from a living communion

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:34.059
 with the living God,

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:34.980
 the Father,

00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:35.940
 the Son

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:37.140
 and the Holy Spirit.

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:38.900
 You know,

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.819
 one of the things

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.299
 which we have been

00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:41.700
 looking at

00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.700
 over the last few weeks

00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.940
 as we draw to a close

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:46.039
 is that the church

00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.960
 is learning

00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.600
 you know,

00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:49.240
 in Acts chapter 2

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.079
 verse 46

00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:51.079
 the church is learning

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.920
 to live large

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.700
 and live little.

00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:54.539
 Koinonia

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:56.120
 is what

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:57.259
 in a sense

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.880
 generates a desire

00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.640
 for Christians

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.819
 to live large.

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.059
 It's what

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:04.680
 generates Christians

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.380
 to say

00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:06.480
 I'm not supposed

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.220
 to be alone

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.680
 I should be part

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.380
 of a church.

00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:11.240
 It's what generates

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:11.860
 a desire

00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:13.220
 not only to be part

00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.160
 of a little church

00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.259
 here in the corner

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.279
 of King Edward and Daly

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.319
 but to also be

00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:18.480
 in some type

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.500
 of common life

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:21.019
 with other Christians

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.940
 in the denomination

00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:24.059
 and other Christians

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:26.000
 across denominational boundaries.

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.700
 Koinonia

00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.960
 is that mark

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:28.579
 of the church

00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:30.339
 that spiritual reality

00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.119
 which generates

00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:32.000
 this desire

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.519
 to live

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.660
 the Christian

00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:36.000
 life large

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:38.319
 and to think

00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:38.940
 big.

00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.639
 And it's also

00:27:40.639 --> 00:27:41.099
 that

00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:42.279
 which generates

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.119
 within a Christian

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:43.859
 the desire

00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:44.679
 of a church

00:27:44.679 --> 00:27:45.179
 and the desire

00:27:45.179 --> 00:27:45.740
 of a Christian

00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.240
 to learn

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.299
 how to live little.

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.639
 It's what

00:27:49.639 --> 00:27:51.199
 pushes us

00:27:51.199 --> 00:27:51.699
 to say

00:27:51.699 --> 00:27:53.179
 how can we

00:27:53.179 --> 00:27:54.199
 make our families

00:27:54.199 --> 00:27:54.859
 Christian?

00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.259
 How can we

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:57.199
 make our marriage

00:27:57.199 --> 00:27:57.719
 Christian?

00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:58.919
 How can we

00:27:58.919 --> 00:28:00.240
 find spiritual

00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.899
 friendship?

00:28:01.679 --> 00:28:02.579
 How can we

00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:03.419
 find those

00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:04.619
 little gatherings

00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:05.619
 where we gather

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.740
 together in prayer?

00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:07.379
 You know

00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.019
 maybe it's just

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.919
 you and some

00:28:08.919 --> 00:28:09.899
 people who all

00:28:09.899 --> 00:28:10.899
 work near each other

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.320
 who decide

00:28:11.320 --> 00:28:11.580
 you're going

00:28:11.580 --> 00:28:11.800
 to get

00:28:11.800 --> 00:28:12.480
 to work

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.060
 a few minutes

00:28:13.060 --> 00:28:13.380
 early

00:28:13.380 --> 00:28:14.280
 and spend

00:28:14.280 --> 00:28:15.100
 half an hour

00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:16.300
 in the cafeteria

00:28:16.300 --> 00:28:17.180
 over a cup of tea

00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.019
 and a cup of coffee

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.720
 and maybe share

00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.680
 one Bible verse

00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.420
 and share a couple

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:21.380
 of things in your life

00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:22.700
 and then quietly

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.460
 try to pray

00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.140
 or maybe it's

00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:24.860
 a more formal

00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:25.580
 Bible study

00:28:25.580 --> 00:28:26.420
 or a more formal

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.440
 teaching session

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.600
 but it's

00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:29.440
 koinonia

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:32.480
 this spiritual reality

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.220
 which generates

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.700
 a desire

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.620
 for a common life

00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:35.120
 the desire

00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:36.040
 for a common life

00:28:36.040 --> 00:28:36.800
 is both living

00:28:36.800 --> 00:28:37.460
 large

00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.880
 and living little

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:40.140
 it's that part

00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:40.640
 within us

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.180
 which says

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.340
 I need

00:28:42.340 --> 00:28:43.620
 Christian friends

00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:45.300
 I need a small

00:28:45.300 --> 00:28:46.220
 group where people

00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:47.200
 know my name

00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:49.700
 like I have to

00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.460
 confess to you

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:50.640
 you know

00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:50.940
 it's

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:52.440
 I have to confess

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:52.800
 that you know

00:28:52.800 --> 00:28:53.540
 over the last

00:28:53.540 --> 00:28:54.860
 it's funny

00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:55.160
 you know

00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:55.820
 on one level

00:28:55.820 --> 00:28:56.520
 I want to confess

00:28:56.520 --> 00:28:57.200
 and apologize

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:57.920
 to you folks

00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:58.840
 last time I talked

00:28:58.840 --> 00:28:59.340
 to the wardens

00:28:59.340 --> 00:28:59.660
 about it

00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.040
 said you know

00:29:00.040 --> 00:29:00.480
 George don't

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.240
 apologize for

00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:01.800
 these things

00:29:01.800 --> 00:29:02.120
 you know

00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:03.080
 part of what

00:29:03.080 --> 00:29:03.759
 God has called

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.120
 you to do

00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:04.520
 right now

00:29:04.520 --> 00:29:05.200
 is to be involved

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.620
 with some of

00:29:05.620 --> 00:29:06.340
 these big things

00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:06.700
 that are going

00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.060
 on in the

00:29:07.060 --> 00:29:07.920
 Anglican church

00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:09.380
 you know

00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:11.020
 and I just

00:29:11.020 --> 00:29:11.800
 I'm so grateful

00:29:11.800 --> 00:29:12.520
 that you folks

00:29:12.520 --> 00:29:13.340
 have blessed me

00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:14.500
 and released me

00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.240
 and you're patient

00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:15.820
 for me

00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:17.000
 as I spend time

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.460
 in some of

00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:17.840
 these things

00:29:17.840 --> 00:29:18.560
 with the continuing

00:29:18.560 --> 00:29:19.140
 crisis

00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:21.060
 but you know

00:29:21.060 --> 00:29:22.520
 we have to

00:29:22.520 --> 00:29:23.220
 get out of the

00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:23.600
 way

00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:25.300
 so Koinonia

00:29:25.300 --> 00:29:26.160
 can work

00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.580
 in your desire

00:29:27.580 --> 00:29:28.260
 to find

00:29:28.260 --> 00:29:29.600
 to live

00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:30.200
 the little

00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:31.000
 Christian life

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.460
 as well as

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:31.860
 the large

00:29:31.860 --> 00:29:32.640
 Christian life

00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:35.420
 and we have

00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:36.040
 different Bible

00:29:36.040 --> 00:29:36.740
 studies and groups

00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.340
 open that you

00:29:37.340 --> 00:29:38.000
 guys can come

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.600
 to but if you

00:29:38.600 --> 00:29:38.920
 say you know

00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.340
 George I don't

00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:40.019
 feel like coming

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.600
 downtown

00:29:40.600 --> 00:29:41.840
 I'd like to do

00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:42.340
 something in

00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:42.940
 Manor Park

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.259
 or I don't

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.620
 want to come

00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:43.960
 downtown

00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.420
 I want to do

00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:44.880
 something in

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.220
 Kanata

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.740
 or George

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:46.440
 I don't want

00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:46.779
 to do that

00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.220
 I want to get

00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:47.960
 something going

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:49.039
 right in the

00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:49.759
 center of Ottawa

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.360
 we're all going

00:29:50.360 --> 00:29:50.900
 to get together

00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:51.380
 a little bit

00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:51.960
 earlier at the

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.480
 Starbucks

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:54.259
 you just tell us

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.759
 and you come

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.779
 alongside with us

00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.720
 and you help us

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:58.200
 because in fact

00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:59.140
 the mark of the

00:29:59.140 --> 00:30:01.000
 church is not

00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.700
 only gathering

00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:03.000
 around apostolic

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.420
 teaching

00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:04.240
 it's not only

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.140
 gathering around

00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:05.740
 the Lord's

00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.200
 Supper and

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:07.039
 remembering Jesus'

00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:07.680
 death and

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.340
 resurrection upon

00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:09.859
 his resurrection

00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:10.919
 it's not only

00:30:10.919 --> 00:30:11.519
 the prayers

00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:12.720
 it is also

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.759
 koinonia

00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:15.279
 a spiritual

00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.179
 reality which

00:30:16.179 --> 00:30:16.859
 generates a

00:30:16.859 --> 00:30:17.699
 common life

00:30:17.699 --> 00:30:18.879
 this common

00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:19.759
 life is living

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.519
 large and

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.159
 living little

00:30:21.159 --> 00:30:22.119
 it is a

00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:23.059
 devotion to a

00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:23.939
 common message

00:30:23.939 --> 00:30:24.679
 a common

00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:25.179
 mission

00:30:25.179 --> 00:30:26.179
 a common

00:30:26.179 --> 00:30:26.599
 life

00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:27.459
 not that we

00:30:27.459 --> 00:30:27.839
 all live

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.419
 identical

00:30:28.419 --> 00:30:29.119
 not that we

00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:30.059
 become clones

00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.919
 but that in

00:30:30.919 --> 00:30:31.720
 our difference

00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:32.480
 in our

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.759
 idiosyncrasies

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.279
 in our

00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:34.859
 uniqueness

00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.799
 that we

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.439
 learn to

00:30:36.439 --> 00:30:37.199
 live a

00:30:37.199 --> 00:30:37.579
 life

00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:38.259
 common

00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:38.799
 and together

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.479
 with bonds

00:30:39.479 --> 00:30:40.179
 of affection

00:30:40.179 --> 00:30:42.259
 and with

00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:42.839
 friendship

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:44.179
 and with

00:30:44.179 --> 00:30:45.119
 helpfulness to

00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.519
 each other

00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:46.240
 and peaceableness

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.439
 with common

00:30:47.439 --> 00:30:48.039
 boundaries

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.179
 all flowing

00:30:49.179 --> 00:30:49.839
 from a living

00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.379
 communion

00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:50.779
 with the

00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.379
 living God

00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:51.919
 the Father

00:30:51.919 --> 00:30:52.419
 the Son

00:30:52.419 --> 00:30:53.259
 and the Holy

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.740
 Spirit

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.980
 let us pray

00:30:54.980 --> 00:31:08.740
 Father we

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.099
 give you

00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:09.700
 thanks and

00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.120
 praise

00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:12.140
 that you

00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:12.480
 do not

00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:12.859
 want us

00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:13.420
 to all be

00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:13.960
 clones

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:15.500
 and all

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.539
 be uniform

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.319
 and identical

00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:18.559
 you don't

00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.079
 care if we

00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:19.259
 all

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:19.980
 in fact

00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:21.299
 Father we

00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.039
 probably

00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:23.240
 you know

00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.620
 given that

00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:23.940
 you've made

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.880
 every snowflake

00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:25.279
 different

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.960
 you would

00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:26.420
 probably be

00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:27.059
 offended if

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.299
 we all

00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:27.599
 dressed

00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:28.240
 identical

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.900
 or combed

00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.259
 our hair

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:30.720
 the same

00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.039
 way

00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:31.980
 we thank

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.400
 and praise

00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:32.880
 you Father

00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.220
 that you

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:33.859
 are a God

00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.339
 who loves

00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.039
 difference

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:36.440
 and loves

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.000
 uniqueness

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:39.180
 and Father

00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:39.799
 we thank

00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:40.299
 and praise

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:40.799
 you for

00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.240
 that

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:41.960
 and that

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:43.039
 you will

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.579
 keep us

00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:43.859
 in our

00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:44.339
 uniqueness

00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.720
 we thank

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.240
 you Father

00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:46.779
 at the same

00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.500
 time that

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.740
 the healing

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.359
 authority of

00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:49.720
 your Son

00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.079
 Jesus

00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.559
 and the

00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:50.819
 healing

00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.420
 authority of

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:51.779
 your Holy

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.200
 Spirit

00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:52.640
 will bring

00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:53.780
 healing to

00:31:53.780 --> 00:31:54.520
 brokenness

00:31:54.520 --> 00:31:55.620
 and darkness

00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:56.200
 and sin

00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:56.480
 in our

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.020
 lives

00:31:57.020 --> 00:31:58.180
 we thank

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:58.720
 and praise

00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.100
 you that

00:31:59.100 --> 00:31:59.560
 you lead

00:31:59.560 --> 00:32:00.160
 us to a

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.880
 common life

00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:01.480
 with others

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:01.820
 who are

00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:02.300
 different

00:32:02.300 --> 00:32:03.259
 but who

00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:03.759
 have also

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.259
 come to

00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:04.640
 your Son

00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:04.980
 Jesus

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.520
 Christ

00:32:05.520 --> 00:32:06.580
 Father may

00:32:06.580 --> 00:32:07.060
 your Holy

00:32:07.060 --> 00:32:07.360
 Spirit

00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:08.180
 fall afresh

00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:08.780
 upon this

00:32:08.780 --> 00:32:09.220
 church

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:10.360
 that

00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:11.100
 koinonia

00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:11.780
 might truly

00:32:11.780 --> 00:32:12.520
 mark us

00:32:12.520 --> 00:32:12.980
 and that

00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.320
 we might

00:32:13.320 --> 00:32:13.920
 live large

00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.300
 and live

00:32:14.300 --> 00:32:14.580
 little

00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:15.340
 for your

00:32:15.340 --> 00:32:15.700
 glory

00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.580
 in Jesus

00:32:16.580 --> 00:32:17.060
 name

00:32:17.060 --> 00:32:17.880
 Amen

00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:36.220
 and

00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:36.300
 glory