WEBVTT 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:05.700 We're just going to put up the question again that we asked right at the beginning. 00:00:08.859 --> 00:00:18.280 Jesus is, what would you say? Something as we respond to, as people ask us the question about 00:00:18.280 --> 00:00:25.980 who Jesus is, says something, must say something about our lifestyle. Our lifestyle that we live 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:37.820 every day, 24-7, as Christians. I love the 1960s Disney version of Mary Poppins, the one with Julie 00:00:37.820 --> 00:00:44.799 Andrews, and I think it started, I just loved the film, and I loved the bit where she produces, 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:52.760 she meets the two children and produces a tape measure, and she says, if you remember, 00:00:52.759 --> 00:01:03.859 Michael, extremely stubborn and superstitious, sorry, suspicious. Jane, rather inclined to be 00:01:03.859 --> 00:01:13.739 giggly and not put things away. Michael then asks, what about you? She measures herself and she said, 00:01:13.739 --> 00:01:18.339 Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way. 00:01:21.459 --> 00:01:28.399 What would that tape measure say about us if we measured ourselves in a Jesus culture and our 00:01:28.399 --> 00:01:34.739 lifestyle? Or more importantly, what is Jesus saying to us about our lifestyle as followers of him? 00:01:34.739 --> 00:01:42.259 Although never perfect, we are confident, and we should be confident as Christians together, 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:50.199 living a life worthy of that calling as disciples of Jesus. And as our home group notes say for this 00:01:50.199 --> 00:01:55.379 week, if you're in a home group, a Christian lifestyle reflects the victory that Christ has 00:01:55.379 --> 00:02:03.079 already won on the cross on our behalf. There is no aspect of our personal family and community life 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:13.539 and relationships that won't be changed by engaging with a Christian lifestyle. Amen. There is nothing 00:02:13.539 --> 00:02:20.000 that won't be changed by living a Christian lifestyle. Is that true for our discipleship? 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:28.919 As people often say, it's about doing life with Jesus. And you only get to know somebody by doing life 00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:35.899 with them. Believe you me, Mandy's been married to me for 40 years next year. She will definitely tell you 00:02:35.899 --> 00:02:48.019 about doing life with me. We need to know Jesus well. We do life 24-7. Paul, in verse 2 of this morning's 00:02:48.019 --> 00:02:55.839 readings, encourages us to have confidence in the saving work of Jesus. And because of that, we raise our sights 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:04.800 higher, higher and higher. We are in a relationship and we expect more on both sides. We come with an 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:10.580 expectation of all that Jesus has done and will do for us. Some people struggle with the word 00:03:10.580 --> 00:03:17.840 discipleship. Maybe I can understand that. Perhaps a better word is apprenticeship. And doing an apprenticeship, 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:27.159 you watch, you learn, you learn and you grow from the craftsperson that is teaching you day by day, 00:03:27.939 --> 00:03:34.740 mentoring you. In the Anglican Ordinal, it speaks of stirring up the gifts. A good mentor, a good person 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:41.259 who leads you in apprenticeship, stirs up the gifts that are in you, sees the potential and wants to get 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:47.919 that from you. That is Jesus. That is our lifestyle. That is what we do. And in order to be an apprentice, 00:03:48.099 --> 00:03:54.000 there are things that we need to learn and do, gifts and skills, and that will become second nature. 00:03:54.539 --> 00:04:00.539 Some of them will be new. And that's the beauty and excitement of apprenticeship. There are also things 00:04:00.539 --> 00:04:08.959 that are unhelpful because things that is Paul has told us need to be put to death. Now that sounds 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:15.760 quite dramatic, doesn't it, needs to be put to death. But you notice he didn't say, 00:04:16.660 --> 00:04:24.720 put to one side. He didn't say, oh, put it on the back burner. He didn't say, put it off until another 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:33.139 day. Put those things to death. Paul is deliberate in saying something about our nature and our character 00:04:33.139 --> 00:04:38.540 that gets in the way of the fullness of that relationship with him and living that lifestyle. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:50.079 And things that are tending to squash our confidence. And he lists them. Sexual immorality, 00:04:51.740 --> 00:04:58.179 impurity, lust, evil, desires, greed, which is idolatry. 00:04:58.180 --> 00:05:05.579 Last week, it's good advice if we're living the lifestyle. Because if you were here last week, 00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:14.240 our next slide, you will realize that those things, that if Jesus is my lifestyle, it brings freedom. 00:05:15.019 --> 00:05:25.139 Freedom from that thing that we can get caught up in, which is deceptive ideas that lead to disordered 00:05:25.139 --> 00:05:30.120 desires in the flesh, desires in the flesh, desires in the flesh, that are normalized in a sinful society 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:37.479 in the world. And there are those things that we look at, that are deceptive ideas that we all know. 00:05:38.659 --> 00:05:44.759 There may be addictions that people have in various degrees that we have. So, you know, gambling, 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:52.199 pornography, no major things, but the other things in life that get in the way that are deceptive ideas 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:57.920 that are fed to us, that lead to disorders, desires in the flesh, that are normalized, 00:05:58.819 --> 00:06:05.699 that sadly are so normalized in our society. And again, Paul says that because of these things, 00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:12.500 that the wrath of God is coming. Jesus died for our sins, but that doesn't mean we have to keep 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:19.339 committing those sins. He steps in and assists us in our lifestyle with each other, 00:06:19.339 --> 00:06:24.279 to help each other to have that freedom that only he can bring. 00:06:27.679 --> 00:06:34.419 I sense that the sinful world, that's fine, thanks, I see that the sinful world, 00:06:35.099 --> 00:06:46.539 I feel sometimes is stealing some very rich words from us. One of those words is seeking to normalize 00:06:46.540 --> 00:06:54.360 what we do in a sinful society. And that word is tolerance. Brothers and sisters, I know we are 00:06:54.360 --> 00:07:00.660 encouraged to be tolerant, whatever that word truly means these days, because it seems to me that it's 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:08.900 become highly weighted towards turning a blind eye to sin, that which is wrong in the world. And when do we 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:14.719 challenge, what does tolerance, when does tolerance get in the way of a Jesus lifestyle? 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:19.679 So where do we have confidence to challenge that? 00:07:20.799 --> 00:07:26.759 Rather than to turn a blind eye, to put it on the back, where do we challenge those deceptive ideas 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:32.679 that lead others into disordered desires that then becomes normalized in a society 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:40.319 that we are encouraged to tolerate? And if we challenge them, then often we are accused of being 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:47.680 intolerant, because we have named it as the truth. Living a Jesus lifestyle isn't easy, 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:56.000 but we are given tools. We are given great tools. And on this Bible Sunday, we are given a fantastic tool. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:05.879 The tool that Jesus gave us, the disciples, the apprentices of the day, knew because they recorded 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:14.300 it. They recorded it for us. They gave it to us. It's the manual. It's where we turn to again and again 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:23.800 to set our compass right to live in a Jesus lifestyle. And the apprentices, the disciples on the day of 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:31.439 Pentecost, were given tools to use life in the power of the Spirit to live a Jesus lifestyle. 00:08:31.660 --> 00:08:37.340 Just like Jesus had been demonstrating to them, things like healing the sick, touching lepers, 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:45.779 feeding the poor, caring, calling people to follow him, showing love, extraordinary love in different ways. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:50.700 This is the Jesus lifestyle. This is what they were learning. And if you're an apprentice, 00:08:50.700 --> 00:09:01.120 the job your teacher is to do is to introduce you to the tools to use. And on the day of Pentecost, 00:09:01.660 --> 00:09:13.160 what fun, because he gave us, he gave his disciple the power tools. Imagine that. You know, you're an 00:09:13.160 --> 00:09:18.300 apprentice and you've been longing, you've been watching, and you're thinking, I've been using this, 00:09:18.299 --> 00:09:28.039 but now I get to plug in and use the power tools that's been given me in order to live a Jesus 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:36.659 lifestyle. Having said that, make sure you read the manual before you use the power tools. 00:09:37.699 --> 00:09:45.459 If you're anything like me, I won't ask for hands up. I just like to get the box open and get on and do it. 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:51.200 Never mind. And then I'll go back to the manual when Mandy tells me, are you sure that's supposed to go 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:59.060 like that? Read the manual. Everything is in the manual about how we use and how Jesus used the power 00:09:59.060 --> 00:10:06.160 tools, how we can use them, and that helps us to live this Christian lifestyle. It's Bible Sunday. We read 00:10:06.160 --> 00:10:13.000 about Jesus's lifestyle in the Bible, how he lived, how he worked, how he forgave, how he shared, 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:22.299 how he blessed. And it even says about what we should wear. You know, it's all in here. Fashion 00:10:22.299 --> 00:10:30.480 yourself like Jesus, Paul says. As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:37.840 compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. People may even comment on what you're 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:45.639 wearing. You know, it's often not the words. It's the way we live our lifestyle that people see 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:52.600 where we are coming from and who we belong to. I don't know whether, like me, you've been ever asked 00:10:52.600 --> 00:11:03.779 at work, oh, what did you do on Sunday? And you think, hmm, I went to church. And then we sort of 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:10.240 justify sometimes, sadly, why we went to church. Church is a lovely group of people. It's really 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:17.360 nice to go to, and we do this. Maybe we step back from that, and we say, what did you do on Sunday? 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:27.360 I went to Sunday because Jesus, I follow Jesus, and Jesus is. And that's what leads me to go to church, 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:33.080 and to be with my fellow Christians, and to be encouraged, and to bear with one another, 00:11:33.620 --> 00:11:40.340 and to forgive one another, as Paul encourages us. And the lifestyle guidance goes on. If any of you 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:48.720 has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you, you know, the church isn't immune 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:55.899 from being fractured through grievances, and we need to go back to the manual, back to the manual, 00:11:56.360 --> 00:12:03.879 back to the Jesus lifestyle, and forgive each other as the Lord forgave us. And over all these virtues, 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:14.059 it says, put on love, because people like that. People recognize love and care, which binds them 00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:20.939 all together in perfect unity. Believe me, life coaches will take thousands and thousands of pounds 00:12:20.939 --> 00:12:29.720 from you, I promise you, just to do exactly what the Bible tells us to do in a Jesus lifestyle. 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:38.300 I had a guy that I was alongside for some time, and following a funeral of a person very close to him. 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:46.580 We spent weeks just talking, just meeting together. And I think it was about six weeks later, he said, 00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:54.740 when are you going to send me the invoice? I said, what do you mean an invoice? He said, well, 00:12:54.740 --> 00:13:00.100 you don't get the invoice for all the time you've spent. And I said, no, we don't do that. This is just 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:06.139 Jesus. This is a lifestyle. This is what we do. And he said, I think I need to get some money back 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:09.500 from my life coach, he said, because he's rubbish and you're good. 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:19.399 Paul preceded this, where he talked about our lifestyle, 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:26.720 of the things that have to die and the new lifestyle that has to take in us. He said, 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:33.259 you used to walk in these ways, the life you once lived. I can certainly put my hand up to that, 00:13:33.699 --> 00:13:40.819 a life that you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of such things like anger, rage, 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:47.939 malice, slander, filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:53.600 your own self with its practices and you have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the 00:13:53.600 --> 00:14:04.340 knowledge and image of its creator. Our life reflects Jesus. That's what people will notice. 00:14:05.940 --> 00:14:12.340 If asked about the one who we follow, what would you say? 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:17.080 Jesus is. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:26.000 As you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs of the 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:29.019 Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts, 00:14:31.920 --> 00:14:33.019 Jesus is. 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:37.840 There was a worship song by Delirious that used the line, 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:44.680 I'm not ashamed of the gospel. I'm not ashamed of the gospel. I'm not ashamed of the one I love. 00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:47.879 Jesus is. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:56.840 When Jesus is mentioned, we aren't ashamed about our lifestyle, about following him, of sharing the 00:14:56.840 --> 00:15:02.879 good news about his life, death and resurrection. Our lifestyle means that often we don't have to say 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:08.340 anything because we show it already with the way we've clothed it in our generosity and our sharing. 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:10.899 And people say, why do you do this? 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:15.139 You say, because Jesus is my lifestyle. 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:19.039 Jesus is my saviour. Jesus calls me to do this. 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:22.519 Jesus asks me because I'm in relationship and I want to do that. 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:25.679 Jesus is my everything. Jesus is my all in all. 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:30.120 It will be amazing the conversations that follows from that. 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:37.120 Our lifestyle means that we don't have to say anything because it is about the way we behave. 00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:40.000 Back in Victorian times, you may remember that. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:43.539 My children think I still live in a Victorian age. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:48.439 But as an apprentice, you reflected your employer. 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:56.700 And shop girls and shop boys were expected to ask with propriety and act in propriety 00:15:56.700 --> 00:16:02.120 and woe betide the apprentice who didn't meet the high standards expected by their employer. 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.940 We should be the same. 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:11.400 We want to reflect what King Jesus does for each and every one of us and for the world that he came to save. 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:14.960 Our culture is obsessed with lifestyle. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:16.720 I don't know whether you buy those magazines. 00:16:17.180 --> 00:16:22.560 Websites tell us what to wear, how to get fit, how to drive, how to make love. 00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:25.860 Everyone wants to tell us how to live our lives. 00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:27.500 The manual is here. 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:30.240 Jesus is our lifestyle. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:33.540 Jesus didn't leave us with a lifestyle magazine. 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:39.540 He gave himself and sent the Holy Spirit and his scripture for us. 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:44.700 He showed us how that we are God's chosen people. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:46.259 How to deal with anger. 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:47.840 How to deal with money. 00:16:48.540 --> 00:16:51.000 What to do when we're faced with difficult people. 00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:58.500 How to have simple, memorable and profound words that we need at the time and the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:01.759 Reaching into scripture to give people the truth. 00:17:02.180 --> 00:17:06.340 And as relevant and as challenging as that was today, as it was then, 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:09.240 it is as real as it is today. 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:12.940 Nothing changes for the apprentice. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:19.220 It's the lifestyle Jesus calls us to live, to give us confidence. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:21.480 That's why we pray in Jesus' name. 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:24.240 Do you want to live like Jesus? 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:27.099 Amen, says people. 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:29.180 We want to live like Jesus. 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:34.039 Do you want to live a transformed life in relationship with God as your Father, 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:40.779 Christ as your brother, the Holy Spirit, as our constant help and comforter 24-7? 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:48.599 Do you want your Christian faith to not just be part of your life, but to be your life? 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:59.920 If you're like me, you are probably saying yes, yes and yes. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:03.060 But we all know our frailty. 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:08.500 If you're like me, as you've said those, I want all those things while at the same time 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:14.060 remembering how often I've started down that road full of enthusiasm, full of passion, 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:17.860 full of vision, only to stumble and falter. 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:26.659 Maybe you've been disappointed by so many false starts towards living a truly transformed Christian life 00:18:26.659 --> 00:18:30.039 that you're beginning to think it isn't even possible. 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:37.979 Maybe the people that we spend time with think it isn't even possible because life has stepped in. 00:18:38.979 --> 00:18:45.439 The encouragement we have is Jesus, not only because I say so, but God says so, 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:51.100 that the key isn't some hidden formula, secret knowledge or mystical experience 00:18:51.100 --> 00:18:56.440 only available to some truly spiritual people, whoever they may be. 00:18:58.120 --> 00:19:01.720 It's for everyone who puts their trust in Jesus. 00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:07.559 Everyone who puts their trust in Jesus, no matter where we are. 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:11.940 The encouragement today and the encouragement for us all 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:17.420 and the confidence we have is Paul said to the Roman church, 00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:20.480 be transformed by the renewing of your mind 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:23.860 so that you may approve what the will of God is, 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:26.480 that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:31.900 You see, living Jesus' lifestyle means approving of what God approves of, 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:35.299 wanting what God wants, 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:41.400 calling good what God calls good. 00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:44.820 and being strong enough to stand when it isn't. 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:50.420 I think it was Francis Schaeffer that said, 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:55.299 sadly, people do do what they think. 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.259 We don't. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:03.400 We do as Jesus wants us to do because we live in that lifestyle. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:07.299 Give thanks that we are an apprenticeship course together. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:09.579 We're all at different stages. 00:20:10.399 --> 00:20:12.559 Nobody says that there's an ultimate God. 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.099 We are all apprentices. 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.779 We are all learning. 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:19.539 We are all learning and sharing and traveling together. 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:24.519 There is no gold medal only on that great day when we meet the Lord. 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:26.059 And as Paul says, 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:40.419 When people ask you about why you are a follower of Jesus after today, 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:41.419 you will say, 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:43.120 well, Jesus is. 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.940 Why do you go to church? 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.759 Maybe you say, 00:20:54.060 --> 00:20:56.740 I go to church because I'm a follower of Jesus. 00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:59.400 And Jesus is. 00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:05.640 People be encouraged in our apprenticeship together. 00:21:06.280 --> 00:21:08.920 As we not only on this Bible Sunday, 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:11.100 reach deep into God's word, 00:21:11.780 --> 00:21:13.500 but reach deep into Jesus 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:15.480 and do life with him 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:17.120 so that our church, 00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:18.140 our lives, 00:21:18.360 --> 00:21:18.940 our workplace, 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.000 our homes 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.720 may reflect a Jesus lifestyle 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.700 and all we do. 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.780 Amen. 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:26.779 Amen.