WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 Thank you very much, Keita, and let me add my welcome. If you've not met me yet, my name's 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:10.839 Archie. I'm the pastor in training here. It's great to be with you this morning. If you have 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:15.380 spent any time with me at all, if you do know me, even just a five-minute conversation, you probably 00:00:15.380 --> 00:00:21.660 know that I play a little bit of rugby. I used to play really quite a lot of rugby. In fact, I was 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:29.219 pretty obsessed. I was obsessed with being the best rugby player I could possibly be. 00:00:30.339 --> 00:00:36.579 And I would literally spend hours watching other people play rugby. I'd find the best 00:00:36.579 --> 00:00:42.039 players in the world in my position, and I would study what they do. I'd watch them and re-watch them 00:00:42.039 --> 00:00:47.900 really closely. And do you know, I think we do that in life, don't we? We might not do it as 00:00:47.900 --> 00:00:55.320 obsessively as that or as intentionally as that, but in all sorts of ways and in all areas of life, 00:00:55.320 --> 00:01:03.500 I think. At work, as we seek to further our career. Maybe it's just a sibling or a parent that 00:01:03.500 --> 00:01:08.680 we've always looked up to. Maybe at university, there's someone on your course who just seems to 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:18.200 be smashing it. In all sorts of areas of life, we look for people to watch. We look for examples to 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:25.200 follow, for people to emulate. And I think that can be a really good thing, but it doesn't 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:30.820 always go so well, does it? For many of us, I'm sure you'll be able to think back to school days. 00:01:30.819 --> 00:01:36.459 I'm sure this isn't just me at school. A couple of guys and girls, I think, in most schools, 00:01:36.559 --> 00:01:43.159 in most years, people that everyone is watching, the popular kids. Thing is, one of the reasons, 00:01:43.559 --> 00:01:47.839 certainly at my school, the reason that I thought they were so cool is because of their disregard 00:01:47.839 --> 00:01:53.939 for the rules. And so following their example, tempting though it might be to want to be in with 00:01:53.939 --> 00:02:01.959 the popular kids, was only ever going to get me into trouble. Who we're watching, the examples that 00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:08.659 we follow in life, the role models that we choose, are just so important. It's important for our life 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:14.860 generally, but I think we see in our passage this morning that it's especially important for us in 00:02:14.860 --> 00:02:22.620 our Christian lives as a church. We're in this letter from Paul to Timothy. Timothy's in Ephesus, 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:28.180 and as we've seen over the last few weeks, this letter is a sort of blueprint, a sort of manual 00:02:28.180 --> 00:02:34.460 for how to get the church back on track. And those verses we looked at last week in chapter 3, 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:40.140 verses 14 and 15, really, I think, give us a purpose for why Paul is writing. It says this, 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:45.000 so that Timothy would know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:49.819 which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:57.139 In other words, this manual for getting the church back on track is all about people who live in a 00:02:57.139 --> 00:03:04.579 certain way and a people who uphold the truth. And that's no different in this morning's passage. 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:12.419 See in verse 12, have a look at verse 12 of chapter 4, Paul wants Timothy to set an example 00:03:12.419 --> 00:03:20.239 for the believers to be the sort of person that believers might follow. But maybe you noticed, 00:03:20.379 --> 00:03:24.719 as Cater read for us, there are two sorts of people that we might follow, aren't there, in this passage, 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:31.679 two sorts of people that we might be watching. Because there are also those hypocrites teaching lies, 00:03:31.799 --> 00:03:36.759 lies that are contrary to the gospel. We're going to call those guys the pretenders. 00:03:36.759 --> 00:03:44.099 And then we could also be watching Timothy or those like Timothy, whose lives and beliefs are rooted in 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:48.259 the truth of the gospel. For want of a better word, we're going to call them the professionals. 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:56.979 So who are we watching? We can watch and follow pretenders, or we can watch and follow the professionals. 00:03:56.979 --> 00:04:07.500 So who are these pretenders? Have a look at verse 1 with me. The Spirit clearly says that in later times, 00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:15.060 some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. And when this 00:04:15.060 --> 00:04:20.659 verse says later times, that's just the time after Jesus's death and resurrection, after the coming 00:04:20.659 --> 00:04:26.199 of the Holy Spirit. So it's Paul's time, it's Timothy's time, but it's also our time. 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:31.599 And in that time, see what the verse says, there will be those that the Spirit clearly says, I think 00:04:31.599 --> 00:04:36.519 that's just, could be a number of things, a prophetic word given by one of the early believers, 00:04:36.699 --> 00:04:42.159 maybe something God had revealed to Paul. It could just be Paul referencing Jesus's words. It doesn't 00:04:42.159 --> 00:04:48.959 really matter which. The point is that God is saying that in that time, there will be those who are 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:55.939 going to follow, we see that in verse 1, follow deceiving spirits, spirits that lie, things taught 00:04:55.939 --> 00:05:04.180 by demons. And so with that in mind, when we read in verse 2, that such teachings come through 00:05:04.180 --> 00:05:11.939 hypocritical liars, we know that though these pretenders are human, we know that the real problem, 00:05:12.379 --> 00:05:19.079 the deception being taught, it has its origin in spiritual evil. And that's the same today with 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:25.300 anything that is taught that's contrary to the gospel. But do notice that these pretenders themselves 00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:34.740 are hypocrites. In other words, they say and teach one thing, but they do another. Hypocrites that in the 00:05:34.740 --> 00:05:42.939 rest of verse 2, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. These pretenders' consciences then 00:05:42.939 --> 00:05:51.180 have been desensitized to sin. They no longer feel the weight of what they do. And so they're able to 00:05:51.180 --> 00:06:00.939 teach and say one thing, but do another. And what is it then that they are teaching? Well, have a look at 00:06:00.939 --> 00:06:11.800 verse 3. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods. Here I think are two of our 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:21.600 most basic desires as human beings. Sexual intimacy in marriage and satisfying our hunger with food. 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:31.139 And these pretenders seem to be claiming that to be properly spiritual, to be a real Christian, 00:06:32.340 --> 00:06:39.639 you've got to abstain from those things. Now it might be appropriate for a believer to fast or to 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:44.680 remain single for a time. Indeed, Paul elsewhere commends both of those things, doesn't he? 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:52.419 But the key here is that these pretenders forbid and order this sort of abstinence, as if to say, 00:06:52.579 --> 00:06:59.639 without it, you're not a true believer. This sort of teaching, Paul says, is contrary to the gospel, 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:05.500 so contrary to the gospel that back in verse 1, did you notice this? To follow it is to abandon 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:14.680 the faith. Why is that? Well, because I think in the rest of verse 3 and 4, we see that these things 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:22.879 were created by God. They are good things created to be received with thanksgiving. So just while we're 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:30.879 on this specific sort of false teaching that we see here, it's worth seeing this. I think this is true, 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:38.839 that people often think of the Christian life as sort of joyless, not just outside the church, but in the 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:48.360 church too, as restrictive, as marked by abstaining from certain pleasures. Friends, we've got to see 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:55.300 that pleasure is a good thing, that the desire for sex, the desire to enjoy food, these are good 00:07:55.300 --> 00:08:03.960 gifts from God. And so to really enjoy pleasure for all that it's worth, first we've got to recognize 00:08:03.960 --> 00:08:10.900 that it is a good gift from God, and therefore not something simply to run away from. But more than 00:08:10.900 --> 00:08:20.000 that, because these things are, in verse 5, consecrated, which just means made holy, by the word of God and 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:28.100 prayer. And so it's not the case that indulging our desires in whatever way we please is going to bring 00:08:28.100 --> 00:08:37.019 us lasting and satisfying pleasure. But it is the case that somehow our desires can be made holy, 00:08:37.539 --> 00:08:45.580 and therefore truly bring lasting pleasure, truly bring lasting satisfaction. C.S. Lewis helpfully says 00:08:45.580 --> 00:08:52.639 in the screw tape letters, he's writing there from the perspective of a demon, advising a junior demon 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:57.400 on how to handle his human. It's obviously allegorical, but he says there here, 00:08:58.180 --> 00:09:06.460 never forget that when we, that is the demons, are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and normal 00:09:06.460 --> 00:09:14.020 and satisfying form, we are in a sense on the enemies, that's God for them, we are on the enemy's 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:24.340 ground. In other words, God intends pleasures to be enjoyed in healthy, normal and satisfying ways. 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:32.399 Gifts like marriage and food can be really enjoyed when they're enjoyed according to the blueprint of 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:41.240 God's word, the patterns for life found in the Bible, healthy, normal and satisfying patterns for life. 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:48.159 And then when God's word isn't so clear on one issue or another, though I think very often it is clear, 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:55.580 we can pray. Do you see that in verse 5? And then rely on a clear Christian conscience, 00:09:56.299 --> 00:10:02.659 as opposed to the sort of seared conscience of the hypocritical pretender. There's lots we could say 00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:07.580 about Christian conscience, but I think it's enough to say for now that we know them, 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:14.560 we can't use it as an excuse to disobey what is clear in God's word. And I think it's also worth 00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:19.600 saying that when two faithful Christians come to different conclusions about something in their 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:24.520 conscience, and we see this elsewhere in the New Testament, the Bible is really clear that it's 00:10:24.520 --> 00:10:30.500 important that we accommodate one another's views with love, without causing one another to stumble 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:37.860 and go against our own conscience. So that I think is the specific false teaching that we see here. 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:44.879 But the principle is bigger than that. Let me try and illustrate. I wonder if you remember the Nokia 3310. 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:51.240 It was a famously reliable mobile phone. It didn't look like much. It was a bit of a brick, in fact. 00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:59.639 But it did the job. I never had a Nokia 3310. Instead, I was sold by the advertising. I had a Nokia 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:04.720 Engage. I don't know if anyone remembers one of those. It's quite niche. But it was a phone, but also 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:11.159 sort of a handheld games console. And it looked really flashy. The adverts for it were brilliant. 00:11:11.940 --> 00:11:17.419 And so I just had to have it. And yet within weeks of having it, it became clear that it wasn't really 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:22.299 capable of making phone calls. The speaker was rubbish. And it was even pretty difficult to send 00:11:22.299 --> 00:11:28.120 a text because the buttons were tiny. And I think in a similar sort of way, the bigger principle in this 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:35.360 passage is that attempts to manufacture a spiritual relationship with God that requires more than what 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:44.079 Jesus has already done, selling us flashy looking extras. If you follow Graham, our pastor on social 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:49.540 media, you may have seen that recently he shared this quote from Mark Dever, who's a pastor over in 00:11:49.540 --> 00:11:57.480 Washington, D.C. Mark Dever said this, the problem, of course, is that human beings have always proven to 00:11:57.480 --> 00:12:05.700 be unreliable guides for inventing ways to approach God. And I think that's true for what the pretenders are 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:12.960 teaching here in Ephesus. But this human attempt to approach God is also the primary way, I think, that the 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:19.139 gospel has always been distorted and is distorted today. How appropriate then that today is 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:28.940 Reformation Day. And it was 504 years ago today that this truth was recovered. The good news of 00:12:28.940 --> 00:12:38.120 justification by faith alone in Christ alone, through free grace alone. It's what we believe. 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:47.539 So who are we watching? Who are we following? It's just so important that we're aware of these 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:54.039 sorts of pretenders, both in the church and outside. And we'll know them by what they teach. 00:12:54.440 --> 00:13:01.940 As we ask, are they claiming a sort of more complete spiritual reality? Are they offering salvation by any 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:09.720 means other than Jesus himself or additional to Jesus himself? But we will also know them by their 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:16.760 lives? Because the pretenders in this letter are hypocrites. Their lives don't match that spiritual 00:13:16.760 --> 00:13:22.860 reality that they claim. And this, I think, is where it's so important to be following those that we can 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:30.080 really know. We'll return to this later. But to be able to see whether their lives bear fruit that is 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:37.240 good or fruit that is rotten, if they truly bear the characteristics that we saw outlined in chapter 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:44.240 three just two weeks ago. Well, that's the pretenders. But what about the professionals? What about 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:50.220 Timothy? Remember again, in verse 12, Paul wants him to set an example for the believers. 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:58.320 Paul wants him to be the sort of man who, when people watch, when people follow him, they see the gospel. 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:04.920 So how does that work? Well, have a look at verse 16 with me. I think it gives us two helpful 00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:14.840 categories as we think about this. It says, watch your life and doctrine closely. In other words, 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:21.379 pay careful attention, Timothy, to the way that you live, your actions and your character, 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:29.320 and pay careful attention to your doctrine, your beliefs, your teaching. And we'll see both of 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:35.299 those as we walk through the second half of this passage together. Beginning in verse six, 00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:42.220 have a look at that. If you point these things out, notice that's a phrase repeated in verse 11 and 00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:49.019 then in a slightly different way in verse 16. So what are these things, these matters? Well, 00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:56.379 I think the rest of verse six tells us, if you point out these things, you will be a good minister of 00:14:56.379 --> 00:15:02.460 Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:10.439 In other words, Timothy's doctrine, what he believes and what he teaches is to be three things, 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:19.200 rooted in Christ Jesus and what he has done, rooted in truth and rooted in the teaching that he himself 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:26.220 has followed, the teaching of the apostles, the teaching of Paul. And so in verse seven, he is to 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:32.860 have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales. That is, I think, just the false teaching 00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:43.139 of the pretenders. Instead, still in verse seven, train yourself to be godly. What does it mean to be 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:50.600 godly? I think simply to be nourished on the truth of the faith and good teaching. That is, to be 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:58.060 constantly reminded of the glorious truth of the gospel. The truth that though we don't measure up, 00:15:58.059 --> 00:16:05.719 that though we are naturally rebelling against God, he has made a way for us to know him by becoming 00:16:05.719 --> 00:16:13.619 flesh in the man Jesus and dying in our place to offer us, freely offer us grace. This is what it 00:16:13.619 --> 00:16:22.699 means to be godly, to live a life that reflects that glorious truth. Not to be perfect, but to live 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:29.460 reliant on what Jesus has done. Do you see how different that is to hypocritical pretenders setting 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:39.580 up barriers to entry for the faith? But notice that this requires training to remain faithful to Jesus, 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:46.280 to grow in faithfulness. And we know that this is true in other areas of life, don't we? If we want to 00:16:46.280 --> 00:16:52.640 be a musician, we know that we have to practice and keep on practicing, stay in practice. If you want to be a 00:16:52.639 --> 00:17:01.460 runner, you have to train and keep training. So Timothy is going to have to train to work at godliness. 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:09.720 And so for us, it's not that we become Christians and boom, we're perfect just like that. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:17.720 And it's not that we need to be perfect in order to become Christians or to serve in church or even to 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:26.120 lead in church. But we've got to be committed to training in godliness. Training that is rooted in 00:17:26.120 --> 00:17:33.039 Christ Jesus, in truth and the apostles' teaching that is rooted in God's word. That's why we have 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:38.579 the Bible open at everything that we do as a church. On a Sunday morning, I mean, what are we doing even 00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:47.179 right now, if not training in godliness? Reminding ourselves of the gospel of Jesus Christ. At midweek, 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:53.960 small groups, at prayer meetings. It's why we're committed to training ministry trainees, because 00:17:53.960 --> 00:18:00.720 we recognize the value in setting aside time to train towards godliness. It's why you've decided to 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:06.899 take me on as your pastor in training, so that I might follow godly examples and become an example 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:14.940 of godliness, that we might grow together and multiply. This is the sort of training that 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:21.620 Timothy was to be involved in. And you see, it's contrasted in verse 8 with physical training. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:29.360 Why? Because though physical training is of some value, godliness has value for all things, 00:18:29.840 --> 00:18:35.420 both for the present life and the life to come. Probably, I think this is just a reference back to 00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:43.259 verse 3, where we said that abstinence from marriage or certain foods, self-discipline may have some value. 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:51.360 Indeed, physical training, whether in the gym or going for a run or whatever it is, has some value in this life. 00:18:52.860 --> 00:19:01.220 But godliness, hope in the living God, holds eternal value. Maybe you're here this morning and you're 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:06.500 not a Christian. A question for you then, what do you value? 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:14.819 The things that you value in this life, they might be really good things. 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:18.799 They might be things really worth valuing. 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:25.120 But how does their promise compare to the offer of eternal life? 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:31.179 Because this is the offer of the gospel. Not that you have to do anything to earn it. 00:19:31.179 --> 00:19:36.619 No amount of abstinence, no human attempt to achieve or to prove. 00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:41.759 But rather, our hope as Christians is in the living God, 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:49.000 who, have a look at verse 10, is the saviour of all people and especially those who believe. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:53.799 That's not to say that all people will receive eternal life. 00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:57.680 Of course it's not. That would contradict everything else that Paul says. 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:04.720 But I think for God to be the saviour of all people simply means that all people enjoy the benefits of his goodness 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:08.279 in this life as the sun shines on us all. 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:12.400 We all enjoy the gift of life and everything that comes with it. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:19.740 But also, I think in the sense here that the offer of eternal life does really have the power to save. 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:22.580 And it's offered freely to anyone. 00:20:23.280 --> 00:20:24.640 A freely offered gift. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.380 So again, no human attempt to approach God can work. 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:31.780 Instead, he has approached us. 00:20:32.280 --> 00:20:37.000 Come to us in the person of Jesus and he freely offers eternal life. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:40.920 If we will only receive that offer and believe in him. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:48.040 So we have these two tightly connected ways in which Timothy is to be an example. 00:20:49.340 --> 00:20:51.940 In life and in doctrine. 00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:54.160 Summarized, I think, in verses 12 and 13. 00:20:54.340 --> 00:20:55.780 In verse 12, his life. 00:20:56.800 --> 00:20:59.200 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, 00:20:59.340 --> 00:21:07.620 but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:11.699 Be an example of the gospel in the way that you live. 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:14.579 And verse 13, his doctrine. 00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:20.779 Until I come, devote yourself to public reading of scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 00:21:20.979 --> 00:21:28.119 Be an example in your doctrine, in your sharing of the truth through reading scripture, preaching and teaching. 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:33.979 And if Timothy is going to be an example in life and in doctrine, 00:21:33.979 --> 00:21:38.479 then to do so we'll be not neglecting his gift in verse 14. 00:21:39.219 --> 00:21:44.819 Probably here, I think, referring specifically to the gifts of leadership given to Timothy, 00:21:45.199 --> 00:21:51.479 the confirmation of which has come both by God through prophecy and through the church, through its elders. 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:56.140 And I think that certainly suggests that we're speaking specifically about Timothy's leadership here. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:22:00.839 But it could just as easily be referring to the gift of the Holy Spirit more generally, right? 00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:06.759 The gift that Timothy received, that we all receive upon becoming Christians. 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:12.660 The gift that enables each of us to carry out the various ministries that we're involved in. 00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:17.480 See, this is why I was quite unsure of calling these guys the professionals. 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:23.559 Because it's not that ministry is reserved to be this kind of example. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:26.579 It's not reserved for those in paid ministry, not at all. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:33.140 We've all been uniquely gifted to be able to contribute to the life of this church together. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:40.319 Even in this morning's service, we've seen with so many different folks involved, both up here and backstage too. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:51.639 Maybe you're great with children, or a skilled administrator, or good at making coffee, or a devoted prayer warrior, or a brilliant encourager. 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:54.019 We have all of these people in this room today. 00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:56.839 The list is endless and we all have a part to play. 00:22:57.339 --> 00:23:03.019 Not just to keep the church functioning, but this is much more important than that. 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:08.139 Back in verse 10, Paul says that is why we labor and strive. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.400 Why? Why did Paul labor and strive? 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:23.299 Well, it's because they know that it is in using the gifts that God has given us to serve one another that helps us remain faithful and helps us grow in faithfulness together. 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:28.319 Indeed, in verse 16, see how our passage ends. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:37.359 If Timothy watches his life and doctrine closely, he will save both himself and his hearers. 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:46.960 He and they will persevere in faithfulness to the end if he perseveres in life and in doctrine, serving one another. 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:53.159 Two final lines of application to tie this all together then for us as we come into land. 00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:55.519 Firstly, who are you watching? 00:23:55.519 --> 00:24:04.759 I think we can be so grateful here at Brunsfield that we have a team of elders that meet those qualifications from chapter three, 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:09.079 who are examples to us both in life and in doctrine. 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:12.000 Would we watch them? Would we pray for them? 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:20.720 It can be tempting, I think, to take our Christian role models from outside of the church more than from in our own local church. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:27.620 And don't get me wrong. There are lots of wonderful Christian examples for us, both today and through history. 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:35.120 But would we look first to the leaders that we have been given by God here in our own local church in Brunsfield? 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:41.180 And of course, we might not just be watching the leaders, but we might be watching other members of our church, 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:46.839 following the example of godly brothers and sisters as we seek to serve one another. 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:53.439 In all of this, though, and especially if we are watching outside of the church, 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:58.519 will we be carefully asking, do I know the fruit of this person's life? 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.359 Do I really know them? 00:25:00.899 --> 00:25:02.980 This is the benefit of being in the church. 00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:05.659 And is their doctrine true? 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:08.720 Are they pointing me to Jesus, 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:12.699 to justification by faith alone in Christ alone, 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:15.200 by free grace alone? 00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:20.960 And ultimately, of course, for each of us, then, would we be watching him? 00:25:22.360 --> 00:25:23.799 Would we be watching Jesus? 00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:27.019 As we seek him out in the pages of Scripture, 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:31.000 would we see there the ultimate example of godliness to follow? 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:34.220 And would we watch and follow him closely? 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:37.000 So who are you watching? 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:40.799 But of course, it's worth asking ourselves, too, 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:42.779 who is watching you? 00:25:44.620 --> 00:25:47.839 Because in a sense, we're all watching each other, aren't we, in the church? 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:51.600 You might be, like we said, following the example of a godly brother or sister, 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:54.380 but who in the church is following your example? 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:59.259 And when they do, what do they see? 00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:03.500 A hypocritical pretender? 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:07.279 Or a grace-filled professional? 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:12.519 If you're a parent here today, you can't escape this. 00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:15.579 Your children are watching you. 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:18.420 And when they do, what do they see? 00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:23.339 Because for our children, the gospel is both caught and taught, 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:28.099 primarily at home, as parents live godly lives. 00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:32.839 Again, not to be perfect, but to live lives of honest repentance, 00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:35.679 lives of grace. 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:39.879 And as parents teach their children true doctrine, 00:26:40.959 --> 00:26:46.039 giving our children in this church every opportunity to catch and to hear the gospel. 00:26:47.419 --> 00:26:52.459 And finally, as a church together, there is a watching world. 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:58.160 You may have heard it said, preach the gospel and use words if necessary. 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:03.600 In other words, let yourself be known by your life of love, 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:05.259 and people will come to Jesus. 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:11.700 That's all fine and well, but I recently saw a quote from Ligon Duncan. 00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:13.019 He's another American pastor. 00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:13.840 He said this, 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:21.279 Saying preach the gospel and use words if necessary is like saying feed the hungry and use food if necessary. 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:24.339 And of course, in many ways, he's right. 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:27.339 Because it is God's word that transforms. 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:30.019 It's God's word that is the gospel. 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:35.759 And yet Paul says, watch your life and doctrine closely. 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:40.579 I cannot help but feel that to be an effective witness as a church, 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:43.559 to be a godly example to a watching world, 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:46.539 we have to be prepared to be both. 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:50.879 To live godly, honest, repentant lives, 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:54.859 lives that reflect the glorious truth of the gospel of grace. 00:27:54.859 --> 00:28:00.519 But we also have to be prepared to stand on and preach truth, 00:28:00.939 --> 00:28:01.879 that truth, 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:04.079 to a watching world. 00:28:05.659 --> 00:28:08.439 There are two types of example in this passage, 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:10.479 the pretenders and the professionals. 00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:13.399 So let's be asking, who are we watching? 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:16.759 And who is watching us? 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:20.099 Let me pray to close. 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:23.959 Heavenly Father, 00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.719 I pray that we would, 00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.619 each of us, 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:29.419 choose godly examples to follow. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:33.199 Would you put godly examples 00:28:33.199 --> 00:28:36.079 in our lives for us to do that, Lord? 00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:40.759 We pray for our elders and leaders here at Brunsfield, 00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:42.259 that they would be that 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:44.019 for each of us. 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.859 I pray that we would 00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:49.179 recognize pretenders. 00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:52.219 That we would know to avoid them 00:28:52.219 --> 00:28:53.279 and their teaching. 00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:57.000 And Lord, 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.740 would you by your spirit 00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:00.139 continue to grow us all 00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:01.740 into increasing godliness? 00:29:02.919 --> 00:29:04.240 Would we be examples 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.579 to one another 00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:07.259 as we serve here 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.839 in your church? 00:29:10.679 --> 00:29:12.299 And would we be together 00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.579 a godly example 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:15.059 to a watching world 00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.919 as we seek to live 00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:18.379 and preach the gospel 00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:19.099 of your son, 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:20.000 Jesus Christ? 00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.619 And it's in his name 00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.299 that we pray. 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:24.740 Amen. 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:38.359 Let's finish it at spotty risk.