WEBVTT

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 Okay, folks, well, great to be together this morning.

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 Let me just add my welcome.

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 My name's Graham.

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 I'm the pastor here at the church.

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 And let me encourage you to have that passage

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 in 2 Corinthians 8 open in front of you today.

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 What a passage this is.

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 And I really hope this thrills us as a local church

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 as we get into God's word again today.

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 But let's pray as we come to this passage.

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 Father, thank you for this new day.

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 Thank you for the gospel that we celebrate this morning,

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 that Jesus came, he lived, he died.

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 For our sins, he rose, he lives, he is at your right hand.

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 And so it's to him that we look today.

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 And we just pray that we would grow this morning

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 in our insight and in our understanding

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 and in our love for him,

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 all stemming from him who loved us

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 and who gave himself for us.

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 So Father, thrill our hearts this morning.

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 Help us leave with a greater picture of who you are.

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 And this is our prayer that we make confidently

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 in Jesus's name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So I've got an American friend called Randall.

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 What an American name that is, right?

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 Randall.

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 Randall, before retiring, was a pastor

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 on the west coast of the United States.

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 And Randall once told me the story

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 about an older man in his congregation who died.

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 And one day, a number of months later,

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 Randall's phone goes.

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 And it's the lawyer for the man who's just died.

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 And he tells Randall that the man had left the church

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 a sum in the region of $100,000 in his will.

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 Now, Randall was, as you can imagine,

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 so incredibly thankful for the man's generosity.

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 What an incredible heart that is.

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 But sometime later,

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 Randall was walking through the local hospital.

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 And he, as the story goes,

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 he notices this man's name on the wall

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 amongst the list of names

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 of the hospital's major benefactors.

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 And it turned out that this man

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 had also left the local hospital a donation in his will,

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 a sum in the region of $10 million.

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 And here's what Randall realized in that moment.

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 And here's what he relayed to me.

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 Here was his line.

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 He realized in that moment

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 that the local hospital had pitched this man

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 a better vision of what to do with his money

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 after he died than he had as his local pastor.

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 And here's the two morals of the story.

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 Number one, what grabs the heart opens the wallet.

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 Right?

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 Remember that?

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 Take that all the way through

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 with this sermon this morning.

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 What grabs the heart opens the wallet.

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 And it's true for every single one of us here today.

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 No matter what you think about the God of the Bible,

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 no matter what has brought you here today,

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 all of us, what grabs the heart opens the wallet.

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 Have you ever thought about the fact

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 that what we do with our money

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 and what we don't do with our money

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 preaches visible sermons to the world around us

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 about the things that we love most?

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 You ever thought about that?

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 It's why people are happily paying £600

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 for a platinum ticket to go and see ACDC at Murrayfield

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 when they come in August.

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 It's why, if you're a Fulham fan,

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 you will happily pay £3,000 for an adult season ticket

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 to go to Craven Cottage for the year

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 and see 19 Premier League games

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 that only last 90 minutes.

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 That doesn't even include your halftime pie,

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 which I don't imagine in Fulham is cheap.

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 And here's my favourite.

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 It's why Carl Lagerfield,

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 the fashion designer for the House of Chanel,

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 when he died,

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 he left lots of money to his cat, Chupette.

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 And if you're on the ball,

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 you'll know that Chupette now has her own maids,

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 diamond necklaces,

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 and she even has her own Instagram account.

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 Our wallets follow what we worship.

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 And here's the moral of the story number two.

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 If that thing that grabs our hearts

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 is the gospel,

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 just imagine the kingdom possibilities.

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 And that's what the next few weeks are going to be,

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 just allowing God through his words

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 to grip our hearts with a vision

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 for radical generosity.

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 So come with me to 2 Corinthians A

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 and let's meet a church

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 who have been completely gripped

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 by this vision.

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 This is not a random blog post on giving

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 that Paul has dropped into the middle of his letter.

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 So often I think when I used to read

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 2 Corinthians 8 and 9,

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 that's what I used to think it was,

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 like he couldn't think of anything else to say.

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 So he thought,

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 why not do my sermon on giving?

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 If you look at verse 19,

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 Paul's talking about an offering.

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 Do you see it there?

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 In the text, verse 19,

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 he's talking about an offering.

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 Verse 3,

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 he calls it a service

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 to the Lord's people.

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 Do you see it?

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 So God has put something big

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 on Paul's hearts.

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 Now here is the thing

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 that's going on in the background here

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 of 2 Corinthians 8 and 9.

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 Paul has been collecting money

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 from all these churches

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 that he's planted,

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 or God through him has planted,

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 around what is modern day Turkey and Greece.

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 He's been gathering money

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 to support the Jewish Christians

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 back in Jerusalem

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 who are going through

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 some severe persecution

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 and trials.

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 If you want to get this

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 a modern day equivalent,

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 maybe think of this

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 like a first century equivalent

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 of a just giving page.

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 Okay, that's what Paul's doing here.

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 And he's not primarily interested

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 in the figure

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 of this collection.

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 This isn't Red Nose Day.

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 This is not Lenny Henry

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 with his totalizer.

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 What he's really concerned about,

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 his heart,

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 is in the thing

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 that this collection represents.

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 Now if he can get

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 Gentile Christians,

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 so Gentile,

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 just that word meaning non-Jew,

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 if he can get Gentile Christians

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 to show unity

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 and concern for

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 Jewish Christians

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 over the other side

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 of the sea,

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 what a witness

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 to the watching world

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 of the unity

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 that Jesus has created

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 between people

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 from all over the world

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 who follow him.

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 Right?

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 Different generations,

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 different ethnicities,

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 different social classes,

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 the vast majority

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 of whom

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 all across the world

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 will never meet each other.

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 And yet,

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 because of their faith

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 in Jesus,

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 they are united together

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 as a family.

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 Do you not know

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 one of the most special things

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 if you've ever had

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 that experience?

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 Remember before we came

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 to Brunsfield,

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 Alex and I spent

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 five months in Malawi

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 meeting people there

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 who are just so different

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 from me

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 in so many different levels

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 and yet instantly

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 you've got the biggest thing

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 in your life in common with.

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 It's incredible.

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 This is really special.

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 And maybe it counters

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 the accusations

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 of the false teachers

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 who are saying

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 that not only is Paul

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 unimpressive,

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 but the message

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 that he preaches

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 is actually divisive.

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 So if Paul can pull this off,

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 if he can get people

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 over on one side

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 of the world

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 to care about

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 the welfare of people

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 on the other side

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 of the world

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 because of their

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 common faith in Jesus,

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 then this is going to be

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 a massive win

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 for the gospel

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 and its credibility

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 in the eyes

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 of the watching world.

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 What seems to have happened

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 in the background

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 is that the Corinthians

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 had initially bought

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 into this ethos

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 of the collection.

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 However,

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 on the passing of time,

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 that enthusiasm

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 to be part of this giving

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 had just fizzled out

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 and Paul wants them

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 to get back in the game.

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 How is he going to do that?

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 Well, come with me

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 to verse nine.

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 What is the motivation

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 for giving?

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 And we're going to camp out

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 here for a little bit

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 because really this is

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 the motivation

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 and the bedrock

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 for everything

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 that follows

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 over the next chapter

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 and a half.

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 How can a church

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 cultivate

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 a culture

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 of generosity?

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 That's our question.

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 The only thing

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 that's going to work

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 is when God's people

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 capture a renewed sense

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 of who God is.

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 Are you ready for this?

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 A little stretch

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 as we hang out

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 in verse nine?

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 Here's the stretch.

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 Our God, friends,

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 is Trinity.

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 You take in the panoramic view

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 of the Bible,

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 you find here is a God

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 who has eternally existed

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 as Father,

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 Son,

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 and Holy Spirit.

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 He is one God,

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 three persons.

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 Why is that important?

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 We'll come to the opening pages

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 of the Bible

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 and you find that

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 because God has eternally existed

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 as Father,

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 Son,

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 and Spirit,

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 He is a God

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 who gives.

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 Opening pages of the Bible,

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 this God longs

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 to give life.

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 Here is a God

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 who's so radically different

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 from anything

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 that our finite minds

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 can comprehend

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 or concoct.

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 Here is a God

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 who is a giving God.

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 He longs to give life.

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 In particular,

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 here is,

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 as we get into the story

00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:52.480
 of the Bible,

00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:54.559
 here is a Father

00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:56.159
 who longs

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 to give

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 His Son.

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 Do you see it in verse 9?

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 The index of how much

00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:03.879
 the Father loves us

00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:05.700
 is how much He gave

00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:06.500
 to accomplish

00:10:06.500 --> 00:10:07.419
 our salvation.

00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:08.559
 If ever you're in doubt

00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:09.980
 as to whether God

00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:11.320
 the Father loves me,

00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:12.259
 we just look at

00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:13.620
 what He gave.

00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:15.840
 He gave His Son

00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.080
 and the Son

00:10:17.080 --> 00:10:18.639
 gave His life

00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:19.679
 on the cross

00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:20.580
 to save us

00:10:20.580 --> 00:10:21.360
 from the penalty

00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:23.540
 for our sins.

00:10:24.820 --> 00:10:26.280
 And the Son rose

00:10:26.280 --> 00:10:26.960
 and the Father

00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:27.639
 and the Son

00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:28.960
 give the Spirit.

00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:31.080
 And the Spirit,

00:10:31.300 --> 00:10:32.460
 He opened our eyes

00:10:32.460 --> 00:10:33.920
 to the work of the Son.

00:10:34.340 --> 00:10:35.420
 Remember chapter 4,

00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:36.180
 verse 6,

00:10:36.520 --> 00:10:38.240
 He shone into our hearts

00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:39.360
 to give us light

00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:40.440
 and life.

00:10:40.520 --> 00:10:41.580
 The only reason

00:10:41.580 --> 00:10:42.660
 that there's a gospel,

00:10:42.800 --> 00:10:43.420
 the only reason

00:10:43.420 --> 00:10:44.160
 that we're here

00:10:44.160 --> 00:10:44.800
 this morning

00:10:44.800 --> 00:10:46.400
 is because God exists

00:10:46.400 --> 00:10:47.360
 as Father,

00:10:47.680 --> 00:10:47.920
 Son,

00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:48.500
 in Spirit.

00:10:48.599 --> 00:10:49.539
 The only reason

00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:51.399
 is because this God

00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:52.539
 is a giving God.

00:10:52.659 --> 00:10:53.139
 You got it?

00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:54.459
 Stretch.

00:10:57.819 --> 00:10:58.620
 And Paul's particularly

00:10:58.620 --> 00:10:59.439
 talking in verse 9

00:10:59.439 --> 00:11:00.139
 about the gospel.

00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:01.419
 Look at it here.

00:11:01.579 --> 00:11:02.919
 He that was rich,

00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:03.500
 and he's talking

00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.099
 about Jesus,

00:11:05.099 --> 00:11:06.279
 he that was rich

00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:08.000
 became poor.

00:11:08.099 --> 00:11:08.899
 Now take that in.

00:11:09.599 --> 00:11:10.679
 Our hearts need that

00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:11.299
 this morning.

00:11:11.299 --> 00:11:12.219
 Jesus,

00:11:12.439 --> 00:11:13.679
 the one who inhabited

00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.839
 heaven's glory.

00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:18.519
 He left it.

00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:19.519
 He came down

00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:20.599
 and he stepped down

00:11:20.599 --> 00:11:22.120
 into our world,

00:11:23.099 --> 00:11:24.559
 into our mess,

00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:26.399
 into our brokenness,

00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:28.459
 into our sin.

00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.500
 Christmas time,

00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:31.240
 he stepped into poverty

00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.419
 and scandal

00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:34.019
 in Bethlehem.

00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:34.779
 His life,

00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:36.000
 he gives himself

00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:37.719
 to serve the lowly

00:11:37.719 --> 00:11:39.519
 and the outcast.

00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:40.459
 And his death,

00:11:40.460 --> 00:11:41.600
 he gave himself

00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:43.300
 even to the most

00:11:43.300 --> 00:11:44.620
 humiliating place

00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:45.480
 over to death

00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.120
 on a Roman cross.

00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:49.540
 He that was rich

00:11:49.540 --> 00:11:51.300
 became poor.

00:11:51.420 --> 00:11:51.720
 Why?

00:11:54.400 --> 00:11:56.139
 So that we who are poor

00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:58.660
 through what he has done

00:11:58.660 --> 00:11:59.519
 for us

00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.080
 might become rich.

00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:04.220
 He's talking

00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:06.540
 materially here.

00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:07.120
 He's talking

00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:08.759
 spiritually.

00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:09.820
 Now the rhythm

00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:10.639
 of verse 9,

00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:12.639
 it's got a rhythm

00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:13.020
 to it,

00:12:13.040 --> 00:12:13.460
 doesn't it?

00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:14.259
 He that was rich

00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:14.920
 became poor

00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:16.500
 so that we who are poor

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:17.280
 might become rich.

00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:18.420
 The rhythm of it

00:12:18.420 --> 00:12:19.600
 tells you that he wants

00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.840
 people to remember it.

00:12:23.400 --> 00:12:24.580
 More than remember it,

00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:24.860
 though,

00:12:25.540 --> 00:12:26.600
 he wants us

00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:27.840
 to cherish it.

00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:29.280
 And these words

00:12:29.280 --> 00:12:30.340
 have been the anthem

00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:31.040
 of the church

00:12:31.040 --> 00:12:32.019
 down the generations,

00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:32.840
 have they not?

00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:33.860
 Some of us will remember

00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:34.680
 that old hymn,

00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:36.540
 Thou who was rich

00:12:36.540 --> 00:12:37.960
 beyond all splendor,

00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:39.440
 all for love's sake

00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:41.920
 becameth poor.

00:12:43.780 --> 00:12:45.120
 Darkness to light,

00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:46.940
 guilty to acquitted,

00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:49.560
 orphans to children.

00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:50.759
 That word rich,

00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:53.439
 it needs to grab

00:12:53.439 --> 00:12:55.259
 our affections

00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:56.319
 today.

00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:57.399
 That God

00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:58.639
 has given us

00:12:58.639 --> 00:12:59.559
 every

00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:00.799
 spiritual

00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:01.559
 blessing

00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:03.299
 in Christ.

00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:05.759
 This is not

00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.019
 he that was rich

00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:07.799
 became poor

00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:08.419
 so that we

00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:09.019
 who are poor

00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:09.819
 might get in.

00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:11.659
 No,

00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:12.639
 we have been given

00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:14.019
 every spiritual

00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:14.600
 blessing

00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:16.100
 in Jesus

00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:16.639
 this morning.

00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:17.220
 We are,

00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:18.360
 no matter what

00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.000
 your material

00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:19.819
 circumstances

00:13:19.819 --> 00:13:20.500
 are saying,

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:22.439
 you are in Christ

00:13:22.439 --> 00:13:23.019
 if your faith

00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.480
 is in him,

00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:25.080
 you are rich

00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:25.600
 beyond your

00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:26.519
 wildest imagination,

00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:27.500
 spiritually speaking.

00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:30.460
 Now have you

00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:30.899
 ever heard that

00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:31.340
 phrase,

00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:32.700
 I'm trying not

00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:33.200
 to look at anyone

00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:33.659
 when I'm saying

00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:34.019
 this,

00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.000
 board of London,

00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:36.720
 board of life.

00:13:38.319 --> 00:13:39.080
 You heard it?

00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:40.220
 Board of London,

00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:40.819
 board of life.

00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.779
 Love it in Fife,

00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.279
 they have that

00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:44.259
 board of London links,

00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:44.960
 board of Fife,

00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:45.539
 love it.

00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:46.580
 Board of London,

00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:47.419
 board of life.

00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.720
 But we talk about

00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.439
 things like that,

00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:49.860
 don't we?

00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:51.840
 As if there are

00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:52.840
 places on this

00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:53.439
 earth that can

00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:54.279
 provide endless

00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:55.240
 fascination

00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:56.639
 and fun.

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.340
 And all you need

00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:57.740
 to do,

00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:58.399
 looking at no one

00:13:58.399 --> 00:13:58.960
 in particular,

00:13:59.299 --> 00:13:59.919
 all you need to do

00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.460
 is spend more than

00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:01.319
 five minutes on the

00:14:01.319 --> 00:14:02.120
 tube down in London

00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:02.679
 and look at the

00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:03.480
 faces of the people

00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:04.100
 and that bubble

00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:04.779
 is instantly

00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:05.500
 burst for you,

00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:05.740
 right?

00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:08.799
 But that word

00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:09.159
 rich,

00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:10.200
 when Paul uses it

00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:10.580
 here,

00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:13.179
 means,

00:14:13.299 --> 00:14:13.659
 dear friends,

00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:14.460
 that truly there

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:15.200
 is an endless

00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:17.299
 ocean of depths,

00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:18.299
 of wonder and

00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.699
 glory when we

00:14:19.699 --> 00:14:20.479
 bask in what

00:14:20.479 --> 00:14:21.219
 Jesus has done

00:14:21.219 --> 00:14:21.740
 for us.

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:23.919
 In the words of

00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:24.620
 C.S. Lewis,

00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.579
 we are people

00:14:25.579 --> 00:14:26.959
 who are far

00:14:26.959 --> 00:14:28.139
 too easily

00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:28.879
 pleased.

00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:31.899
 We are,

00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:32.459
 by nature,

00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:33.579
 inward-focused

00:14:33.579 --> 00:14:34.059
 people.

00:14:34.199 --> 00:14:34.740
 We throw out

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.399
 the boomerang

00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:36.299
 of praise because

00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:37.539
 we're praise-hungry

00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.439
 creatures we long

00:14:38.439 --> 00:14:38.919
 to worship.

00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:39.979
 We throw out

00:14:39.979 --> 00:14:40.519
 the boomerang

00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:40.879
 and it just

00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.599
 comes straight

00:14:41.599 --> 00:14:42.939
 back to us.

00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:43.399
 When it comes

00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:44.399
 to loving ourselves,

00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.319
 the Bible assumes

00:14:45.319 --> 00:14:45.779
 that we are

00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:46.720
 doing just fine.

00:14:48.459 --> 00:14:49.220
 But when God

00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.079
 saves us and

00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:50.620
 he puts his

00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.579
 spirit in us,

00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:52.480
 he begins that

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.419
 grand and

00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:54.519
 gradual process

00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:55.600
 of turning us

00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:56.519
 from the

00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.319
 inward-looking

00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:58.679
 self to the

00:14:58.679 --> 00:14:59.559
 outward-looking

00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:00.240
 self so that

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:00.980
 we begin to

00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:01.939
 reflect more

00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:03.500
 of his heart.

00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:04.139
 We are not

00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:05.379
 designed to

00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:06.039
 look inward.

00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:07.120
 We are designed

00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:08.960
 to look outwards,

00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:10.240
 not self-serving.

00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:11.419
 We are designed

00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:12.059
 to be as we

00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:12.799
 reflect the heart

00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:13.340
 of God,

00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:15.100
 self-giving

00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.340
 people who

00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.560
 love our

00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:18.200
 neighbour as

00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:19.500
 ourselves and

00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:20.180
 love the Lord

00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:21.519
 our God with

00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.080
 all our heart,

00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:22.899
 soul, mind

00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:23.759
 and strength.

00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.860
 He turns us

00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:25.220
 outward.

00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.220
 He turns us

00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:27.139
 into give

00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.720
 people who

00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:28.780
 long to give

00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:29.580
 this God,

00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:30.540
 this holy

00:15:30.540 --> 00:15:31.240
 God praise.

00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.460
 Now what does

00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.080
 Paul want for

00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:36.660
 this church in

00:15:36.660 --> 00:15:37.040
 Corinth?

00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.820
 See verse 9.

00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:38.420
 He wants them

00:15:38.420 --> 00:15:39.300
 to excel,

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.120
 not in the

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:41.639
 act.

00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:43.559
 He wants

00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:43.879
 them to

00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.319
 excel.

00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:44.840
 Notice the

00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:45.199
 language,

00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:45.600
 he's picked

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.019
 it very

00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:46.500
 carefully,

00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:47.960
 in the

00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:48.679
 grace of

00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:48.980
 giving.

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:50.799
 In other

00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:51.100
 words, this

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:51.360
 is not

00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:51.919
 something we

00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.679
 have to

00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:54.759
 do because

00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.340
 God is this

00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:55.799
 kind of God.

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.199
 It's something

00:15:56.199 --> 00:15:57.439
 that we get

00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:57.860
 to do.

00:15:59.120 --> 00:15:59.559
 And when a

00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.259
 church gets a

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:00.740
 heart for

00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.399
 generosity,

00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:01.980
 what a

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:03.480
 special spirit

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:05.220
 inspired thing

00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:05.919
 it is.

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.639
 Can I suggest

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.179
 that there is

00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:08.299
 no more

00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:09.259
 wonderful community

00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.200
 to be part of

00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:10.520
 than a

00:16:10.520 --> 00:16:10.960
 church who

00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.680
 has grasped

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:12.420
 God's grace.

00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:13.080
 It's got

00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:13.640
 under their

00:16:13.640 --> 00:16:14.500
 skin and

00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:14.879
 they turn

00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:15.480
 outward and

00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:16.000
 just want to

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.360
 give away

00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:16.820
 praise.

00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:19.240
 And so here's

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.000
 two things that

00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.680
 happen to a

00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.280
 church when the

00:16:21.280 --> 00:16:21.980
 gospel gets

00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:22.460
 into our

00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.000
 blood steam

00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.660
 real quick.

00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.240
 Firstly, the

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:26.140
 gospel creates

00:16:26.140 --> 00:16:26.900
 in us a big

00:16:26.900 --> 00:16:27.460
 heart for

00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.160
 places and

00:16:28.160 --> 00:16:28.500
 people.

00:16:30.180 --> 00:16:31.240
 So as far as

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:31.980
 churches being

00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:32.660
 gripped by the

00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:33.280
 gospel go,

00:16:33.420 --> 00:16:34.020
 come with me to

00:16:34.020 --> 00:16:34.540
 verse 1.

00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.120
 Here it is,

00:16:36.160 --> 00:16:36.720
 says Paul,

00:16:36.900 --> 00:16:37.680
 exhibit A.

00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:39.779
 Paul says

00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:40.159
 verse 1,

00:16:40.199 --> 00:16:40.419
 do you see

00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:40.500
 them?

00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:40.899
 Let me tell

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.279
 you about the

00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:42.259
 believers in

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.679
 Macedonia.

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:44.939
 Do you see

00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:45.120
 it?

00:16:45.239 --> 00:16:46.099
 So Corinth,

00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:46.579
 remember the

00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:48.659
 map, was in

00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:49.359
 this region to

00:16:49.359 --> 00:16:50.139
 the south

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.500
 called Achaia

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:53.459
 and Macedonia

00:16:53.459 --> 00:16:54.359
 is that area

00:16:54.359 --> 00:16:55.339
 to the north.

00:16:55.459 --> 00:16:55.899
 So when he

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:57.479
 says Macedonia

00:16:57.479 --> 00:16:58.579
 here, this is

00:16:58.579 --> 00:16:59.819
 an umbrella term

00:16:59.819 --> 00:17:00.559
 for the churches

00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:01.919
 in Thessalonica,

00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:02.899
 Berea and

00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:03.519
 Philippi.

00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.779
 churches who

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.160
 are going

00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:07.920
 through, do

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.639
 you see it,

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.500
 a period of

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.619
 severe trial

00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:12.400
 and extreme

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.440
 poverty and

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.079
 yet here is

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.639
 the amazing

00:17:14.639 --> 00:17:15.139
 thing.

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.299
 They jump at

00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.680
 the chance of

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.559
 joining in this

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.639
 collection for

00:17:20.639 --> 00:17:21.819
 saints, brothers

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.240
 and sisters,

00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:22.779
 the other side

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.160
 of the world

00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:23.920
 who are also

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:24.799
 going through a

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.500
 really hard

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:25.960
 time.

00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:26.700
 Do you see

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.240
 what he says?

00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:27.980
 They urgently

00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.960
 pleaded with

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.319
 us to let

00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.079
 them play a

00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:31.319
 part.

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:31.799
 They wanted

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.700
 in on this.

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.359
 And this is

00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:34.960
 the opposite

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.019
 of what so

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.359
 naturally comes

00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:38.119
 to us all,

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.720
 is it not?

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.480
 Listen, our

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.000
 kids at home,

00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:40.539
 they have a

00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.420
 sweetie drawer

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:42.779
 in the bottom

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.539
 shelf of the

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.099
 cupboard in the

00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:44.460
 kitchen.

00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:45.879
 See, occasionally

00:17:45.879 --> 00:17:46.519
 when it's been

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.220
 topped up,

00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:47.900
 they've hit the

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.619
 jackpot, the

00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:49.440
 stocks are high,

00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:50.539
 they'll occasionally

00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.359
 offer me a

00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:51.960
 squashy or

00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:52.379
 something.

00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:54.460
 But see,

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:54.819
 when those

00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.819
 supplies are low,

00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:57.759
 it's a totally

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.639
 different story.

00:17:59.319 --> 00:17:59.480
 Right?

00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.379
 It's what we all

00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:00.920
 do, isn't it,

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:01.619
 with our things.

00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:02.559
 But imagine

00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.359
 the scenario

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.159
 whereby they

00:18:04.159 --> 00:18:04.979
 actually begged

00:18:04.979 --> 00:18:06.299
 me to accept

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.059
 their sweets.

00:18:07.179 --> 00:18:07.779
 They came to

00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:08.079
 me, they

00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:08.679
 longed that I

00:18:08.679 --> 00:18:09.159
 would have

00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:10.039
 them, even

00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:10.539
 when they

00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.159
 had next to

00:18:11.159 --> 00:18:11.399
 none.

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:14.159
 It just flips

00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:14.799
 the way that we

00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.859
 naturally think.

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.899
 So when Paul

00:18:17.899 --> 00:18:18.740
 says they gave

00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.619
 beyond what

00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:20.240
 they were able,

00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:21.139
 they earnestly

00:18:21.139 --> 00:18:22.019
 begged us to be

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.659
 part of this,

00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.279
 that's what he's

00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:23.619
 saying.

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.759
 It speaks of

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.139
 what?

00:18:28.139 --> 00:18:28.679
 Loving

00:18:28.679 --> 00:18:30.099
 sacrifice.

00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.259
 sacrifice.

00:18:30.439 --> 00:18:31.799
 We care.

00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.379
 What a

00:18:34.379 --> 00:18:35.159
 description of

00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:35.699
 a church.

00:18:38.959 --> 00:18:39.740
 How does a

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.359
 church get to

00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:40.939
 be like that?

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.219
 Would you

00:18:41.219 --> 00:18:41.919
 not long

00:18:41.919 --> 00:18:43.079
 love to be

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:43.480
 part of a

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.139
 community like

00:18:44.139 --> 00:18:44.379
 that?

00:18:44.679 --> 00:18:45.500
 He tells us

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.339
 how it gets

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:46.759
 to be like

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:46.939
 that.

00:18:46.939 --> 00:18:48.319
 Verse 5,

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.339
 because they

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.199
 gave themselves

00:18:51.199 --> 00:18:51.980
 first of all

00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:52.740
 to the Lord,

00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.219
 and otherwise

00:18:53.219 --> 00:18:53.639
 they were

00:18:53.639 --> 00:18:54.519
 gripped by

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.119
 this God of

00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:55.500
 grace and

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:55.759
 what he's

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.059
 done for

00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:56.319
 them in

00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:56.599
 Jesus.

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.399
 And from

00:18:59.399 --> 00:18:59.839
 there, by

00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.299
 the will of

00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.119
 God, also

00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:01.679
 they bought

00:19:01.679 --> 00:19:03.460
 into this

00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:03.960
 collection.

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.779
 Here is a

00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.200
 deeply

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.399
 generous

00:19:07.399 --> 00:19:08.399
 church.

00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:08.859
 Now what

00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:09.159
 did they

00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:09.759
 hear there

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.480
 was over

00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.179
 in Jerusalem?

00:19:11.919 --> 00:19:12.879
 Verse 14,

00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:15.859
 they heard

00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:16.619
 there was

00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.899
 a need.

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.039
 Do you

00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.379
 see it?

00:19:20.419 --> 00:19:20.740
 And they

00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:21.579
 responded.

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:23.519
 And so

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.399
 Paul says,

00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:24.759
 cheeky

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.359
 chappy that he

00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:25.859
 is to the

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.439
 Corinthians.

00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.500
 So you

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:28.839
 kind of want

00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:29.159
 to follow

00:19:29.159 --> 00:19:29.839
 their example

00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.419
 as well.

00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.579
 Because you

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:33.899
 are going

00:19:33.899 --> 00:19:34.259
 through a

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.679
 spell of

00:19:34.679 --> 00:19:35.319
 plenty.

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.199
 Now remember

00:19:36.199 --> 00:19:36.619
 we said

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.379
 Corinth is

00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:38.699
 like Manhattan

00:19:38.699 --> 00:19:39.339
 and Benador

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:40.000
 rolled into

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.319
 one.

00:19:40.639 --> 00:19:41.119
 Here's the

00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:41.559
 Manhattan

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:41.899
 bit.

00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:43.579
 Corinth is

00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:44.099
 a place

00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:44.619
 because of

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:44.979
 where it

00:19:44.979 --> 00:19:46.419
 is on

00:19:46.419 --> 00:19:46.899
 the map.

00:19:47.479 --> 00:19:48.019
 This is a

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:48.559
 place where

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.419
 money is

00:19:49.419 --> 00:19:50.439
 easily made.

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:50.779
 Remember

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.519
 verse 10,

00:19:52.159 --> 00:19:52.619
 Paul says

00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:53.019
 that you

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.519
 had that

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.399
 desire last

00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:54.699
 year.

00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:55.099
 You're

00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:55.639
 plenty.

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:56.719
 You

00:19:56.719 --> 00:19:57.179
 long to

00:19:57.179 --> 00:19:57.539
 be part

00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:57.879
 of this

00:19:57.879 --> 00:19:58.919
 and be

00:19:58.919 --> 00:19:59.539
 part of

00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.279
 supplying

00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.319
 their

00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:01.719
 need.

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:02.299
 And Paul

00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:02.559
 is saying

00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:03.000
 you stop

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:03.439
 doing it.

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.039
 Go ahead

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.659
 and finish

00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:05.139
 what you

00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:05.659
 started.

00:20:06.459 --> 00:20:07.039
 You can

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.399
 argue that

00:20:07.399 --> 00:20:07.779
 this is one

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.019
 of the

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.719
 major themes

00:20:08.719 --> 00:20:09.119
 of this

00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:09.439
 letter.

00:20:09.439 --> 00:20:09.819
 He wants

00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:10.139
 them to

00:20:10.139 --> 00:20:10.859
 buy back

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.359
 into

00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.699
 this

00:20:12.699 --> 00:20:13.299
 collection.

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:14.699
 Because what

00:20:14.699 --> 00:20:15.119
 is God's

00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:15.479
 heart for

00:20:15.479 --> 00:20:15.919
 his people?

00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:16.439
 See verse

00:20:16.439 --> 00:20:17.459
 14 there?

00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.279
 It's

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.219
 equity

00:20:20.219 --> 00:20:22.659
 that all

00:20:22.659 --> 00:20:23.279
 his people

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:23.919
 are provided

00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.860
 for all

00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:25.340
 over the

00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:25.779
 world.

00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:27.380
 And that's

00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:27.920
 a principle

00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.519
 that's written

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.779
 into and

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.240
 woven all

00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:30.420
 the way

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:30.779
 through the

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.460
 fabric of

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:31.840
 the Old

00:20:31.840 --> 00:20:32.640
 Testament when

00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.140
 God tells

00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:33.460
 his people

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:33.720
 how he

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.100
 wants them

00:20:34.100 --> 00:20:34.539
 to live.

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.480
 Paul quotes

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:35.860
 there from

00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:37.160
 Exodus 16.

00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:39.200
 It's the

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:39.880
 episode where

00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:40.620
 God provided

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.400
 manna and

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.279
 quail daily

00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:42.980
 as his people

00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.500
 wandered in

00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.019
 the wilderness.

00:20:45.340 --> 00:20:45.920
 God's showing

00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.440
 and saying

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:46.759
 that I'm

00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:46.960
 going to

00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.539
 provide and

00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:47.800
 I'm going

00:20:47.800 --> 00:20:48.279
 to provide

00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.539
 for all

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:49.980
 of you.

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.799
 Friends,

00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.180
 the gospel

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:54.899
 creates a

00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:55.519
 big heart

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:57.059
 for places

00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:59.079
 and people

00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:00.139
 and secondly

00:21:00.139 --> 00:21:01.700
 it creates

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.279
 in us

00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:05.220
 a deep

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.960
 desire for

00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.500
 honour and

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.019
 service.

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.119
 And still

00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:09.659
 talking about

00:21:09.659 --> 00:21:10.420
 this collection

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:12.579
 once we

00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.180
 hit verse

00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:14.420
 16 down

00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:17.000
 Paul begins

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.720
 to talk

00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.619
 about people.

00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:19.339
 Do you see

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:19.599
 it?

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:20.719
 Why?

00:21:21.979 --> 00:21:22.599
 I take it

00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:22.879
 he wants

00:21:22.879 --> 00:21:23.079
 the

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:23.579
 Corinthians

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.159
 and everyone

00:21:24.159 --> 00:21:24.819
 else in

00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.519
 earshot of

00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.039
 this letter

00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:26.659
 to be

00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:27.879
 reassured

00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:29.679
 because this

00:21:29.679 --> 00:21:30.159
 is handling

00:21:30.159 --> 00:21:30.739
 money in

00:21:30.739 --> 00:21:31.339
 Old Testament

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:31.739
 times,

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:31.939
 right?

00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.299
 There's no

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.319
 bank transfers.

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:33.959
 You're physically

00:21:33.959 --> 00:21:34.500
 going around

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:34.919
 with this.

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.639
 He wants

00:21:35.639 --> 00:21:36.000
 them to be

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.739
 reassured that

00:21:36.739 --> 00:21:37.099
 the best

00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:37.539
 people are

00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:37.759
 on the

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.159
 case.

00:21:39.699 --> 00:21:40.439
 So often

00:21:40.439 --> 00:21:40.819
 when Paul

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.239
 does that

00:21:41.239 --> 00:21:41.539
 in his

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:41.899
 letters

00:21:41.899 --> 00:21:42.279
 here's a

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.939
 little tip

00:21:42.939 --> 00:21:43.359
 he's not

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.059
 name dropping

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.459
 like we

00:21:45.459 --> 00:21:45.879
 would do.

00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:48.579
 He's holding

00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.079
 up people

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.519
 as people

00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:49.759
 worth

00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.359
 emulating.

00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.439
 And up

00:21:52.439 --> 00:21:52.859
 pops our

00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.539
 friend Titus

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:53.799
 again.

00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.139
 Do you see

00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:54.299
 him?

00:21:54.699 --> 00:21:55.379
 We met

00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:55.599
 him at

00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.379
 chapter 2.

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:56.819
 We met

00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.220
 him last

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.619
 week in

00:21:57.619 --> 00:21:58.299
 chapter 7.

00:21:58.379 --> 00:21:58.659
 What a

00:21:58.659 --> 00:21:58.960
 guy.

00:22:00.399 --> 00:22:00.799
 Notice

00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.740
 verse 16.

00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.179
 And is it

00:22:03.179 --> 00:22:03.539
 not so

00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.259
 refreshing when

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.059
 people compliment

00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.699
 others behind

00:22:05.699 --> 00:22:06.259
 their backs?

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:07.740
 Here's what

00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.159
 Paul says

00:22:08.159 --> 00:22:08.539
 at verse

00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.099
 16.

00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:10.419
 just like

00:22:10.419 --> 00:22:11.000
 God did

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.240
 with

00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.000
 Nehemiah

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.719
 all those

00:22:13.719 --> 00:22:14.779
 years before

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.579
 when Nehemiah

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.079
 was in

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.559
 Susa

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.279
 and God

00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.939
 stirred in

00:22:17.939 --> 00:22:18.240
 him a

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.759
 desire to

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.179
 go back

00:22:19.179 --> 00:22:19.559
 and help

00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:19.859
 God's

00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.299
 people in

00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:20.779
 Jerusalem.

00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:21.599
 Here is

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.079
 God doing

00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:22.740
 it again

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.559
 and he's

00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.219
 doing it

00:22:24.219 --> 00:22:24.879
 in the

00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:25.899
 heart of

00:22:25.899 --> 00:22:26.339
 Titus.

00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:26.839
 God has

00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.519
 put this

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:27.839
 where?

00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.699
 Into his

00:22:29.699 --> 00:22:30.039
 heart.

00:22:31.679 --> 00:22:32.219
 And Titus

00:22:32.219 --> 00:22:33.039
 is coming

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.679
 to Corinth

00:22:33.679 --> 00:22:34.119
 presumably

00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:34.859
 with this

00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:35.259
 collection

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.919
 money because

00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:36.699
 he too

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.880
 wants the

00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.440
 Corinthians

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.680
 to buy

00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.200
 into it

00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:40.700
 as well.

00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:42.660
 Now see

00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:42.980
 the two

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.240
 others

00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.640
 mentioned

00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:44.019
 here.

00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.380
 The first

00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:47.740
 brother

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.580
 verse 18.

00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:49.460
 Just see

00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.340
 how he

00:22:50.340 --> 00:22:50.840
 has spoken

00:22:50.840 --> 00:22:51.160
 about.

00:22:51.340 --> 00:22:51.539
 Of course

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:51.940
 brothers

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.299
 is just

00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:52.799
 that term

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.420
 for a

00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:54.180
 fellow

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.600
 Christian

00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:54.940
 man.

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:55.200
 That's

00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:55.420
 what that

00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:55.660
 term

00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:55.920
 means.

00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.200
 Verse

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.600
 18.

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:56.980
 He is

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.660
 praised

00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:58.720
 by all

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:58.880
 the

00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.340
 churches.

00:22:59.480 --> 00:22:59.960
 A man

00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:01.019
 of good

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.460
 standing.

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:01.740
 There's

00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:01.980
 brother

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.220
 number

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.600
 one.

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:03.720
 Verse

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.240
 22.

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:04.720
 Another

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.120
 brother.

00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:05.700
 How is he

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.180
 described?

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:07.799
 Great

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.120
 word if

00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:08.319
 you get

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:08.620
 this in

00:23:08.620 --> 00:23:08.960
 Scrabble

00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.220
 with a

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:09.400
 Z.

00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.319
 Zealous.

00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:12.840
 Now

00:23:12.840 --> 00:23:13.140
 people,

00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:13.319
 if you

00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:13.580
 read the

00:23:13.580 --> 00:23:14.059
 commentators,

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.259
 they've

00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:14.559
 got their

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.039
 thoughts on

00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:15.360
 who these

00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:16.000
 brothers were.

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.400
 Why are

00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:17.880
 they nameless?

00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.900
 I just

00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:19.539
 wonder if

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:19.880
 it's as

00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.400
 simple as

00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:20.740
 this.

00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.000
 The fact

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.279
 that they're

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.840
 not named

00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:24.120
 is the

00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:24.759
 whole point.

00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.380
 In a

00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:27.940
 city like

00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.440
 Corinth,

00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.120
 we've seen

00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:29.440
 this as

00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:29.600
 we've

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:29.840
 traveled

00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:30.279
 through this

00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:30.660
 letter,

00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:31.299
 we're

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.059
 chasing a

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:33.480
 name and

00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.680
 chasing fame

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:36.440
 is the

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:36.720
 name of

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:36.840
 the

00:23:36.840 --> 00:23:37.120
 game.

00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:38.799
 How

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.360
 refreshing

00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:39.960
 is it to

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.400
 read about

00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:41.000
 two men

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.420
 who don't

00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:41.960
 want any

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.220
 of the

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.660
 limelight?

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:46.480
 And he

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.140
 also talks

00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:47.680
 to see

00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:49.140
 about how

00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:49.640
 everything

00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.259
 that's being

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.740
 done is

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.380
 being done

00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.880
 above board

00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:54.000
 and he

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.680
 also talks

00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.120
 about how

00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:55.480
 everything

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.000
 that's being

00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.640
 done is

00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.060
 being done

00:23:57.060 --> 00:23:57.800
 with huge

00:23:57.800 --> 00:23:59.019
 enthusiasm

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.560
 and it's

00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.380
 all flowing

00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:00.940
 from this

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.779
 deep desire

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:03.480
 to help.

00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:06.480
 Verse 20,

00:24:06.540 --> 00:24:06.740
 what does

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.140
 Paul say?

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.519
 We want to

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.060
 avoid any

00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:08.880
 criticism.

00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:10.259
 So he's

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.540
 saying we're

00:24:10.540 --> 00:24:10.980
 going above

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.500
 and beyond

00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:12.019
 to do what

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.339
 is right

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:13.920
 in the

00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.779
 sight of

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.400
 the Lord

00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:16.079
 and just

00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.519
 notice what

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:16.879
 he says

00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:17.319
 next,

00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.960
 and of

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.359
 man.

00:24:20.099 --> 00:24:20.539
 So Paul

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.099
 cares about

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.619
 how God,

00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:21.900
 the all

00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.339
 seeing God

00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:22.900
 sees what's

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:23.299
 going on

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:23.519
 here.

00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.440
 He cares

00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:24.859
 about the

00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.359
 witness to

00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:25.819
 the watching

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.379
 world.

00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:27.279
 And it's

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:27.779
 true today

00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.059
 in our

00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:28.379
 culture,

00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:28.759
 isn't it

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.000
 friends,

00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:29.319
 that what

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.139
 really gets

00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:30.720
 us going

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.059
 as a

00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:33.200
 culture is

00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:33.680
 when people

00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.259
 are trusted

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.940
 with money

00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:36.299
 and then it

00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:36.859
 comes out,

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.379
 it's proven

00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:38.019
 to be true

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.359
 that they

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:39.180
 were dishonest

00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.579
 with that

00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:39.799
 money.

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.180
 You take

00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:40.639
 your pick

00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:41.079
 as you look

00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:41.299
 at the

00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:41.720
 headlines.

00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:43.619
 Can I

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:43.900
 say it's

00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.299
 why we

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:44.599
 as a

00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:44.879
 church,

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.460
 we take

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:45.700
 the

00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.240
 production

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.660
 of our

00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.099
 yearly

00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:47.859
 accounts

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:49.259
 really

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.920
 seriously.

00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.420
 It's why we

00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.039
 produce that

00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.559
 and make it

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.180
 known for

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.039
 absolutely

00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.599
 anybody,

00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.160
 anyone can

00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.619
 take that.

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.039
 It's why we

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.480
 take things

00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.420
 like safeguarding

00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.319
 really seriously

00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:57.700
 here.

00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:58.720
 Just want to be

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.539
 above board

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.019
 because we

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.579
 realise if it

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:00.980
 goes wrong

00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:01.379
 in these

00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:01.819
 areas,

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.240
 the witness

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.559
 to the

00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.160
 watching world

00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:04.460
 will be

00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:04.859
 seriously

00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.400
 damaged.

00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:08.780
 because Paul

00:25:08.780 --> 00:25:09.080
 knows,

00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:09.460
 let's say

00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.000
 for example

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.380
 that if

00:25:10.380 --> 00:25:13.500
 they leave

00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.160
 Corinth with

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.880
 300 denarii

00:25:15.880 --> 00:25:16.880
 and they

00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.380
 turn up in

00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:17.780
 Jerusalem

00:25:17.780 --> 00:25:18.500
 with 200

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.780
 denarii,

00:25:19.780 --> 00:25:20.200
 then the

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.840
 game's over

00:25:20.840 --> 00:25:21.360
 as far as

00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:21.960
 the credibility

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.660
 of the

00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.440
 gospel goes

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:23.780
 in the

00:25:23.780 --> 00:25:24.160
 eyes of

00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:24.300
 the

00:25:24.300 --> 00:25:24.600
 watching

00:25:24.600 --> 00:25:24.920
 world.

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:25.380
 So Paul

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:25.740
 is saying

00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.019
 that we're

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.240
 doing

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.740
 everything

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.400
 above board,

00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:28.060
 we're doing

00:25:28.060 --> 00:25:28.740
 everything to

00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.420
 be right in

00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:29.920
 the sight of

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.820
 God and

00:25:30.820 --> 00:25:31.259
 in the sight

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:31.640
 of man.

00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:31.940
 What a

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.220
 wonderful

00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:32.780
 lesson for

00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.119
 us in

00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:33.440
 life,

00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:34.579
 as

00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:34.960
 believers,

00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:35.299
 as we

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.759
 witness to

00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:35.899
 the

00:25:35.899 --> 00:25:36.200
 world.

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.399
 The

00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:38.700
 gospel

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.480
 creates in

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.779
 us to

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.119
 see a

00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:41.619
 big heart

00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:42.180
 for places

00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:42.799
 and people

00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.839
 and it

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.500
 creates in

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:44.899
 us a

00:25:44.899 --> 00:25:45.200
 deep

00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.500
 desire for

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:46.899
 honour

00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:48.220
 and service.

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:48.639
 And so

00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.299
 just as we

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.779
 begin to

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.220
 wrap this

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:50.579
 up this

00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:50.899
 morning,

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:53.059
 here's two

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.980
 questions as

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.579
 we begin to

00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.039
 think about

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.519
 maybe the

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:57.039
 real application

00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:57.619
 for this

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.220
 for us

00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:58.619
 today.

00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:58.980
 Let me

00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.319
 just give

00:25:59.319 --> 00:25:59.639
 you really

00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.180
 quickly a

00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.559
 what and

00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:00.920
 a where.

00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:02.180
 You ready

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.619
 for these?

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.200
 A what and

00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:03.480
 a where.

00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:03.799
 And this

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.119
 is going to

00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:04.420
 lead us

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.079
 really well

00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:05.599
 into next

00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:05.920
 week's

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.279
 chapter.

00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.180
 A what and

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:07.440
 a where.

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:07.899
 Here's the

00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:08.160
 what.

00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:09.099
 Really simply,

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.680
 what are our

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.039
 means?

00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:13.720
 Which is

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.299
 another way of

00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:14.839
 saying what

00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.279
 has God

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.039
 given us

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:18.359
 and how

00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:18.759
 can we

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.359
 use it

00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.660
 for His

00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.019
 glory?

00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.680
 This is not

00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.099
 about a

00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:24.599
 figure as

00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.059
 much as

00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.799
 it's about

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:27.559
 firstly the

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.899
 receptiveness of

00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:29.519
 our hearts.

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.099
 Notice what

00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:30.559
 he says,

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.240
 verse 12,

00:26:31.399 --> 00:26:31.960
 the word

00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:32.460
 beginning with

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.220
 W that he

00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:33.940
 uses there.

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.160
 He talks

00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:36.500
 about a

00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:36.980
 willingness.

00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.559
 Are we

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:40.880
 willing?

00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.259
 That's the

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.759
 question that

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.319
 Paul's asking.

00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:42.700
 Are you

00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:42.980
 willing,

00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.480
 Corinthians?

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.039
 Are you

00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.440
 willing?

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.819
 Every generation

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.519
 since you will

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:46.980
 read this.

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.220
 God calls us

00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:48.980
 to be faithful

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.819
 stewards with

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.259
 what He's

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.860
 given us.

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.160
 Whenever that

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.920
 is right now,

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.539
 He's called us

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.360
 to be faithful

00:26:54.360 --> 00:26:55.500
 stewards.

00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:56.819
 So friends,

00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.079
 are we

00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:57.360
 willing?

00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.299
 I say we're

00:26:59.299 --> 00:26:59.539
 going to be

00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.079
 thinking about

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.340
 giving next week

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:01.919
 a bit more.

00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:02.599
 I just

00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:02.939
 say as

00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:03.539
 somebody who's

00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:04.279
 just about

00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:05.019
 to hit 40,

00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.480
 I wish I'd

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:06.859
 put this

00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:07.319
 habit into

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.759
 my life

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.259
 earlier than

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:08.639
 I did.

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:09.759
 See,

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.000
 when I

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.639
 started earning

00:27:10.639 --> 00:27:10.959
 out of

00:27:10.959 --> 00:27:11.759
 university and

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.159
 I started

00:27:12.159 --> 00:27:13.119
 getting money

00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:13.579
 and all that

00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:13.779
 stuff,

00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.199
 not knowing

00:27:14.199 --> 00:27:14.679
 what to do

00:27:14.679 --> 00:27:14.919
 with it,

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.939
 I wish

00:27:15.939 --> 00:27:16.299
 someone had

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.819
 come along

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.779
 in my life

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.519
 earlier on

00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.159
 and said,

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.599
 it's all

00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.119
 God's.

00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:21.259
 God's.

00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:24.399
 Because if

00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:24.619
 you can

00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:25.039
 establish

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.519
 when you

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:25.779
 have a

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.119
 little,

00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.139
 it will

00:27:28.139 --> 00:27:28.659
 be part

00:27:28.659 --> 00:27:28.979
 of just

00:27:28.979 --> 00:27:29.459
 what you

00:27:29.459 --> 00:27:30.899
 do when

00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:31.539
 God entrusts

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:31.819
 you with

00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.099
 more.

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:33.839
 And you

00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.219
 might think,

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:34.519
 I've not

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:34.959
 got anything

00:27:34.959 --> 00:27:35.339
 just now.

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:35.779
 Maybe the

00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.239
 circumstances

00:27:36.239 --> 00:27:36.639
 of your

00:27:36.639 --> 00:27:37.039
 life are

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.559
 so that you

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:37.779
 think,

00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:38.359
 actually what

00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:38.639
 I can

00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:38.899
 give,

00:27:38.959 --> 00:27:39.139
 what I

00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:39.379
 can do

00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:39.679
 is really

00:27:39.679 --> 00:27:40.059
 small.

00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:40.719
 We all

00:27:40.719 --> 00:27:40.979
 go through

00:27:40.979 --> 00:27:41.539
 those phases.

00:27:42.179 --> 00:27:42.479
 God is

00:27:42.479 --> 00:27:43.039
 sovereign over

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.699
 the seasons.

00:27:44.679 --> 00:27:45.059
 But friends,

00:27:45.139 --> 00:27:45.819
 this principle,

00:27:45.959 --> 00:27:46.579
 this willingness

00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.099
 to give

00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:47.539
 God,

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.239
 to think

00:27:49.239 --> 00:27:49.579
 about everything

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.000
 that we have

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.459
 as God's,

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:50.819
 if you can

00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:51.240
 put it in

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.799
 your life

00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:53.400
 sooner rather

00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:53.920
 than later,

00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:54.539
 it will stand

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.059
 you in great

00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.400
 stead.

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.220
 What are

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:57.759
 our means?

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.100
 And it

00:27:59.100 --> 00:27:59.559
 takes us to

00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:00.079
 the second

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.539
 question,

00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.019
 which really

00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:01.380
 is going

00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:01.680
 to be a

00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.140
 bridge to

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:02.700
 next week.

00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:03.960
 Where is

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.420
 the need?

00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.600
 And how

00:28:06.600 --> 00:28:06.980
 can our

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:08.299
 means be

00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:08.920
 the answer

00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:09.400
 to that

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:09.740
 need?

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.259
 Two angles

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.759
 on this,

00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.299
 maybe think

00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:12.700
 about it,

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.019
 and you can

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.500
 just pray

00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.059
 about this

00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.539
 over the

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:15.960
 next week

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.279
 or so.

00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:16.799
 Think about

00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.200
 the need

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:17.819
 in here.

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.440
 I know we

00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:19.960
 heard at

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.420
 the age

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:21.080
 GM a few

00:28:21.080 --> 00:28:21.460
 weeks ago

00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:21.740
 about the

00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.420
 financial need

00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:22.700
 of the

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.120
 church.

00:28:23.800 --> 00:28:24.160
 We're going

00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:24.500
 to carve

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:24.800
 out some

00:28:24.800 --> 00:28:25.400
 time next

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:25.660
 Sunday

00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.160
 morning to

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:26.640
 hear more

00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.039
 about that

00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.759
 in detail,

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.440
 and you

00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:28.660
 can be

00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.200
 praying about

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:30.000
 that over

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.500
 the course

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:30.860
 of this

00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:31.200
 week.

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:31.880
 But it's

00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:32.460
 more than

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:32.900
 just we

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:33.360
 want to

00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:34.420
 make ends

00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:35.220
 meet.

00:28:36.320 --> 00:28:36.860
 It is we

00:28:36.860 --> 00:28:37.720
 realize what

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.420
 God is doing

00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.060
 amongst us

00:28:39.060 --> 00:28:39.400
 here.

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.300
 Honestly,

00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.019
 being the

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.460
 pastor here

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:41.920
 for a number

00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:42.360
 of years,

00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:42.880
 and the

00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:43.840
 spiritual growth

00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:44.200
 that I'm

00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.940
 seeing amongst

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.640
 us is

00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:46.680
 wonderful.

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.299
 It's more

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:48.539
 than we

00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.039
 want to

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:50.100
 make ends

00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:50.360
 meet.

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:50.759
 It is

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.400
 actually how

00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:51.759
 can we

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.440
 take full

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.240
 advantage of

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:53.840
 the things

00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:54.360
 that God

00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:55.580
 has for

00:28:55.580 --> 00:28:55.779
 us,

00:28:55.820 --> 00:28:56.320
 those good

00:28:56.320 --> 00:28:56.779
 works that

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.000
 he has

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.519
 prepared in

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.080
 advance that

00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:58.420
 we can

00:28:58.420 --> 00:28:59.039
 walk in.

00:28:59.259 --> 00:28:59.680
 Can I give you

00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.220
 some thoughts?

00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:01.340
 We'd love to

00:29:01.340 --> 00:29:02.259
 be able to

00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:03.100
 invest more

00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:04.120
 in women's

00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:04.539
 ministry.

00:29:05.600 --> 00:29:06.120
 Right?

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:06.980
 We would

00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:08.320
 love to get

00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:08.840
 our trainee

00:29:08.840 --> 00:29:09.840
 program back up

00:29:09.840 --> 00:29:10.180
 and running

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.600
 again.

00:29:10.599 --> 00:29:12.359
 as we

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:12.959
 seek to

00:29:12.959 --> 00:29:13.519
 keep being

00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:14.199
 a training

00:29:14.199 --> 00:29:15.000
 and sending

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.379
 church.

00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:15.799
 And Al

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.399
 prayed for

00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:17.119
 Archie.

00:29:17.219 --> 00:29:17.619
 If you heard

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.119
 in the prayers

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.539
 at the beginning

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:18.980
 there's someone

00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:19.719
 who's going

00:29:19.719 --> 00:29:21.000
 to peoples

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.439
 that we have

00:29:21.439 --> 00:29:22.179
 sent to be a

00:29:22.179 --> 00:29:22.719
 blessing to

00:29:22.719 --> 00:29:23.319
 another church.

00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:23.699
 We don't want

00:29:23.699 --> 00:29:23.980
 to be a

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.419
 church that

00:29:24.419 --> 00:29:24.879
 hoards.

00:29:25.219 --> 00:29:25.459
 We want to

00:29:25.459 --> 00:29:25.919
 be a church

00:29:25.919 --> 00:29:26.539
 that gives.

00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:28.519
 In terms of

00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.179
 people wanting

00:29:29.179 --> 00:29:29.959
 to train for

00:29:29.959 --> 00:29:30.299
 ministry,

00:29:30.399 --> 00:29:30.699
 here's my

00:29:30.699 --> 00:29:31.240
 observation.

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.599
 See,

00:29:31.679 --> 00:29:32.199
 five years

00:29:32.199 --> 00:29:32.519
 ago,

00:29:32.939 --> 00:29:33.599
 I would say

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.059
 that we had

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.779
 the funds,

00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:35.819
 but there were

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.539
 no people

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.319
 coming forward

00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:37.740
 and saying,

00:29:37.959 --> 00:29:38.079
 actually,

00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:39.159
 when I think

00:29:39.159 --> 00:29:39.859
 about full-time

00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.359
 ministry,

00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.379
 God's not

00:29:41.379 --> 00:29:41.779
 put that

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.059
 in my

00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:42.399
 heart.

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:43.839
 We had

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.339
 the funds,

00:29:44.439 --> 00:29:44.679
 but not

00:29:44.679 --> 00:29:45.079
 the people.

00:29:45.179 --> 00:29:45.379
 Can I

00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:45.719
 just say

00:29:45.719 --> 00:29:46.059
 now,

00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:47.500
 it's

00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:47.899
 completely

00:29:47.899 --> 00:29:48.319
 flipped.

00:29:49.139 --> 00:29:49.559
 And it's

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.279
 wonderful to

00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:50.779
 hear some

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.019
 of you

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.619
 coming forward

00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:51.959
 and saying,

00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:52.500
 actually,

00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:53.480
 I would

00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:53.899
 love to

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.299
 consider

00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:54.939
 full-time

00:29:54.939 --> 00:29:56.059
 ministry.

00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:57.319
 Friends,

00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:57.859
 could you,

00:29:57.939 --> 00:29:58.279
 what God

00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:58.639
 has given

00:29:58.639 --> 00:29:58.819
 you,

00:29:58.899 --> 00:29:59.359
 could you

00:29:59.359 --> 00:29:59.719
 be an

00:29:59.719 --> 00:30:00.059
 answer

00:30:00.059 --> 00:30:00.759
 to that

00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.419
 need?

00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.139
 To see

00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:03.639
 more people

00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.059
 trained

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:05.159
 and sent.

00:30:05.219 --> 00:30:05.439
 But this

00:30:05.439 --> 00:30:05.859
 is bigger

00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.319
 than just

00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:06.619
 money,

00:30:06.719 --> 00:30:06.939
 you've got

00:30:06.939 --> 00:30:07.419
 to understand

00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:07.839
 that.

00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:09.919
 Let Titus

00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:10.740
 encourage you

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.180
 in prayer

00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:11.740
 this week.

00:30:11.820 --> 00:30:11.980
 Do you

00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.259
 see what

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:12.720
 he's saying?

00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:14.200
 Verse 16,

00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.680
 what is the

00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.259
 Lord laying

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:17.620
 on your

00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:17.960
 heart?

00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:19.980
 What is the

00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.240
 Lord,

00:30:20.300 --> 00:30:20.779
 has the

00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.380
 Lord put

00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:21.900
 in your

00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:22.259
 heart?

00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.080
 What are

00:30:24.080 --> 00:30:24.500
 the areas

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:24.860
 of our

00:30:24.860 --> 00:30:25.620
 country that

00:30:25.620 --> 00:30:25.980
 God is

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.440
 putting on

00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:27.019
 your heart?

00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.140
 What are

00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:28.960
 the projects

00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.560
 that God is

00:30:29.560 --> 00:30:30.039
 putting on

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.539
 your heart?

00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:30.860
 What are

00:30:30.860 --> 00:30:31.539
 the missions

00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.180
 opportunities

00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:32.700
 that God

00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:33.060
 is putting

00:30:33.060 --> 00:30:33.420
 on your

00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:33.779
 heart?

00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:34.440
 What are

00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.100
 the opportunities

00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:35.740
 that work

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:36.140
 that God

00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:36.539
 is putting

00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.500
 on your

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:37.940
 heart?

00:30:38.659 --> 00:30:38.940
 Friends,

00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:39.420
 where are

00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:39.819
 the needs?

00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:40.099
 What do

00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:40.420
 we look

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:40.720
 out and

00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:40.940
 see?

00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:42.319
 Where are

00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:42.700
 the needs?

00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:43.139
 What are

00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:43.659
 our means?

00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:45.259
 And where

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:45.599
 is the

00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:45.839
 need?

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.339
 And talking

00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:48.779
 of which,

00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.500
 just as we

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:51.279
 close, let

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.680
 me tell you

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:51.980
 about a

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.399
 lady who

00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:52.779
 used to be

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.079
 part of

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.480
 this church

00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:53.899
 family,

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.460
 some of us

00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:54.920
 will remember

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.159
 her,

00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.359
 called Rita.

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.339
 Now that's

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:57.960
 a generational

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.519
 name, isn't

00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:58.680
 it?

00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.099
 Rita.

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.720
 All I can

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.079
 tell you about

00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:01.700
 Rita, people

00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.159
 will remember

00:31:02.159 --> 00:31:02.559
 her, she

00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.059
 was the

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.819
 smallest lady

00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.200
 you'll ever

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:04.500
 meet,

00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:05.259
 with the

00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:05.799
 biggest heart

00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.220
 for God

00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:06.559
 I've ever

00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:06.859
 seen.

00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:08.240
 Right?

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.180
 And she

00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:09.919
 saw a need

00:31:09.919 --> 00:31:10.279
 in this

00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.799
 church.

00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.319
 She saw

00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:12.720
 that when

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.159
 we have

00:31:13.159 --> 00:31:13.519
 church

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.000
 lunches

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.619
 upstairs,

00:31:15.379 --> 00:31:15.779
 in the

00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.200
 upstairs

00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:16.639
 hall,

00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:17.740
 she saw

00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.460
 that sometimes

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:18.879
 an older

00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:19.480
 generation

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:19.919
 couldn't get

00:31:19.919 --> 00:31:20.299
 up those

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:20.720
 stairs to

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:21.180
 join in

00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:21.440
 everyone

00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:21.919
 else.

00:31:22.379 --> 00:31:22.879
 And she

00:31:22.879 --> 00:31:24.240
 saw that

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.599
 this was

00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.259
 creating a

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:25.859
 divide in

00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:26.460
 our church

00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:27.639
 between the

00:31:27.639 --> 00:31:28.039
 old and

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.460
 the young.

00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.139
 And she

00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:30.720
 wanted to

00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.000
 help.

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:31.480
 And so for

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.319
 her 90th

00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:32.759
 birthday,

00:31:33.379 --> 00:31:33.940
 we had it

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.200
 down at

00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:34.639
 Braith's

00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:35.399
 Hells Hotel,

00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:35.820
 if you go

00:31:35.820 --> 00:31:36.080
 out that

00:31:36.080 --> 00:31:36.320
 way.

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:37.580
 We had a

00:31:37.580 --> 00:31:38.200
 massive party,

00:31:38.300 --> 00:31:38.460
 she didn't

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.840
 want any

00:31:38.840 --> 00:31:39.200
 presents,

00:31:39.340 --> 00:31:39.980
 she encouraged

00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:40.540
 people to

00:31:40.540 --> 00:31:41.360
 give towards

00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:41.900
 the start

00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:42.560
 of a church

00:31:42.560 --> 00:31:43.780
 lift project.

00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.180
 And that

00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:45.960
 money there

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.380
 was the

00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:47.040
 seed fund

00:31:47.040 --> 00:31:48.280
 to the

00:31:48.280 --> 00:31:48.820
 lift that's

00:31:48.820 --> 00:31:49.240
 out there.

00:31:49.340 --> 00:31:49.680
 Now if you

00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:50.080
 go out that

00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:50.519
 door, if you

00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:50.900
 stay long

00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.240
 enough and

00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.640
 those doors

00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:51.980
 are locked,

00:31:52.040 --> 00:31:52.240
 you'll be

00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:52.580
 forced to

00:31:52.580 --> 00:31:52.940
 go out that

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:53.280
 side.

00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:54.080
 You'll see

00:31:54.080 --> 00:31:54.460
 the lift,

00:31:54.540 --> 00:31:55.019
 that was

00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.640
 Rita's

00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:56.820
 birthday money

00:31:56.820 --> 00:31:57.680
 that was the

00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.740
 seed fund for

00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.680
 that lift.

00:32:00.080 --> 00:32:00.480
 And she

00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.200
 died a matter

00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:01.780
 of weeks,

00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:02.320
 if I'm right,

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:02.920
 in my head,

00:32:03.040 --> 00:32:03.500
 a number of

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.320
 weeks after her

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:05.139
 90th birthday.

00:32:06.399 --> 00:32:06.819
 But friends,

00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:07.439
 what a legacy.

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.000
 She used her

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:11.879
 means and

00:32:11.879 --> 00:32:12.619
 she realised

00:32:12.619 --> 00:32:13.119
 there was a

00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:14.539
 need and

00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.159
 she put two

00:32:15.159 --> 00:32:15.460
 and two

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:15.919
 together.

00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:17.179
 And what a

00:32:17.179 --> 00:32:17.859
 blessing she

00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.359
 has been to

00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:18.740
 our church

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.159
 family.

00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.139
 Because what

00:32:21.139 --> 00:32:22.240
 grabs the

00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:24.240
 heart opens

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:25.679
 the wallet.

00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:27.920
 and so if,

00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:29.620
 friends, let

00:32:29.620 --> 00:32:29.960
 me encourage

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.220
 you, do

00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:30.680
 not leave

00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:31.140
 this morning

00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:31.640
 without doing

00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.299
 business with

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:32.740
 the Lord.

00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:34.360
 Cherish, if

00:32:34.360 --> 00:32:34.600
 you can

00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:35.299
 remember in

00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:35.799
 your head,

00:32:36.340 --> 00:32:37.100
 cherish that

00:32:37.100 --> 00:32:37.759
 verse that

00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.460
 he who was

00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:39.060
 rich became

00:32:39.060 --> 00:32:40.380
 poor so

00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:40.799
 that we

00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.299
 who are

00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:42.560
 poor might

00:32:42.560 --> 00:32:44.299
 become rich.

00:32:46.060 --> 00:32:46.759
 Let's pray

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:46.940
 then.

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.440
 Philippians

00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.160
 chapter 1

00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:48.740
 verse 9.

00:32:48.860 --> 00:32:49.380
 Paul writes

00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:49.799
 this,

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:50.779
 and this is

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:51.360
 my prayer,

00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:52.740
 that your

00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.240
 love may

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.019
 abound more

00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.639
 and more

00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:55.399
 in knowledge

00:32:55.399 --> 00:32:56.079
 and depth

00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:56.699
 of insight

00:32:56.699 --> 00:32:57.919
 so that you

00:32:57.919 --> 00:32:58.219
 may be able

00:32:58.219 --> 00:32:58.819
 to discern

00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.799
 what is best

00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.959
 and may be

00:33:00.959 --> 00:33:01.659
 pure and

00:33:01.659 --> 00:33:02.259
 blameless for

00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:02.719
 the day of

00:33:02.719 --> 00:33:03.119
 Christ,

00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:03.919
 filled with

00:33:03.919 --> 00:33:04.500
 the fruit

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.359
 of righteousness

00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:06.919
 that comes

00:33:06.919 --> 00:33:07.759
 through Jesus

00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.559
 Christ to the

00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:09.839
 glory and

00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:10.419
 praise of

00:33:10.419 --> 00:33:10.699
 God.

00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:11.159
 Lord, we

00:33:11.159 --> 00:33:11.619
 thank you

00:33:11.619 --> 00:33:12.039
 this morning

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:12.379
 that we

00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:13.159
 have savoured

00:33:13.159 --> 00:33:13.659
 the truth

00:33:13.659 --> 00:33:14.299
 that there

00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:14.899
 is simply

00:33:14.899 --> 00:33:15.479
 none that

00:33:15.479 --> 00:33:16.159
 compares to

00:33:16.159 --> 00:33:16.519
 you.

00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:17.719
 A God

00:33:17.719 --> 00:33:18.500
 beyond our

00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.259
 wildest

00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:20.059
 imaginations

00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.959
 or expectations.

00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.459
 Father, would

00:33:22.459 --> 00:33:23.039
 you thrill

00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.459
 us with

00:33:23.459 --> 00:33:24.000
 the gospel

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.699
 here today?

00:33:25.719 --> 00:33:26.139
 Lord, for

00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:26.619
 some of us

00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:27.199
 perhaps who

00:33:27.199 --> 00:33:27.779
 the fire in

00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.119
 our hearts

00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:28.459
 has gone

00:33:28.459 --> 00:33:29.279
 cold, may

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:29.939
 a fresh

00:33:29.939 --> 00:33:31.559
 sense of

00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.119
 your love

00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:32.699
 for us

00:33:32.699 --> 00:33:33.619
 come.

00:33:34.439 --> 00:33:34.859
 Lord, would

00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.319
 your spirit

00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:35.740
 be moving

00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.439
 amongst us

00:33:36.439 --> 00:33:36.959
 as we think

00:33:36.959 --> 00:33:37.539
 about our

00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.259
 means and

00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.679
 as we think

00:33:38.679 --> 00:33:39.659
 about needs

00:33:39.659 --> 00:33:40.419
 that exist.

00:33:40.939 --> 00:33:41.359
 Lord, may

00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:41.679
 we be

00:33:41.679 --> 00:33:42.899
 continued to

00:33:42.899 --> 00:33:43.599
 be a church

00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:44.479
 that is marked

00:33:44.479 --> 00:33:45.819
 by radical

00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:46.500
 generosity.

00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:48.099
 Father, thank

00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.779
 you that you

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.679
 are a radically

00:33:49.679 --> 00:33:51.339
 generous God.

00:33:51.419 --> 00:33:52.619
 And we pray

00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:53.159
 all of these

00:33:53.159 --> 00:33:53.759
 things in

00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:55.159
 Jesus' wonderful

00:33:55.159 --> 00:33:55.740
 and in his

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.439
 powerful name.

00:33:57.179 --> 00:33:57.500
 Amen.

00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:57.659
 Amen.

00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.659


00:33:57.659 --> 00:34:11.380
 Amen.

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.380


00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.380


00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.380


00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.380


00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.380


00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.380


00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.380


00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.380