WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.780 Who are your role models? Who do you like to follow by example? 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:16.179 Maybe, like a lot of people, you've gone and learned a trade by going and being an apprentice to a skilled craftsperson. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:25.879 Or maybe you've learnt from somebody older and wiser who's experienced life already, so that your mistakes aren't the same mistakes that they made. 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:33.379 And as Christians, our main role is to be a disciple or an apprentice of Jesus. 00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:43.079 And the church is called to make disciples of Jesus from all nations, baptising them and teaching them to obey. 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:47.960 So this morning, we're going to look at the church unleashed as disciple. 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:52.480 So I want to say that question again. Who are you following? 00:00:52.479 --> 00:01:00.559 In 1 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul writes, follow my example as I follow Christ. 00:01:01.559 --> 00:01:03.179 They are really well known verses. 00:01:04.479 --> 00:01:11.699 And Paul always aimed to live his life as an example and often used his letters to encourage the new Christians in the churches that he planted. 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:20.120 This was so that they could see how the Christian life was lived through him. 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:27.280 But if we look at the chapter we've just looked at a minute ago in Acts 16, Paul goes a bit further here. 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:35.439 He was on his second missionary journey and he begins by revisiting the churches in modern day Turkey that he'd previously planted. 00:01:36.300 --> 00:01:43.280 He goes really to go and see what's going on, see how they're doing, to correct any errors that may have crept him with teaching and things. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:45.879 And he goes and teaches and encourages them. 00:01:46.579 --> 00:01:48.739 And then he comes to the town of Lystra. 00:01:50.739 --> 00:01:53.120 And this is where he meets Timothy. 00:01:54.500 --> 00:02:00.340 Timothy is a young man whose mum and dad are a mixed marriage. 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:05.200 His mum was Jewish and she'd become a Christian and his dad was a Greek. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:12.719 So the church seems to think really highly of Timothy and I think so does Paul. 00:02:13.219 --> 00:02:20.020 He sees Timothy as a future leader of the church, maybe even a successor to Paul. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.099 So what does Paul do? 00:02:23.539 --> 00:02:25.620 Well, just like Jesus, he makes him a disciple. 00:02:26.379 --> 00:02:28.819 He really says to him, come on, follow me. 00:02:29.259 --> 00:02:31.659 Come on my journey and be part of what I'm doing. 00:02:32.180 --> 00:02:33.659 Look, listen and learn. 00:02:33.659 --> 00:02:39.579 And from then on, Timothy becomes a significant part of Paul's life and his ministry. 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:47.259 In the letters that we see from St. Paul, Timothy is listed as co-author of six of them. 00:02:48.099 --> 00:02:53.539 And also, as you read through the Bible, there are instances and glimpses of him, 00:02:54.620 --> 00:02:59.180 sorry, Timothy going on missionary journeys himself, maybe as Paul's deputy. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:02.719 So he learnt from the master as the apprentice. 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:07.520 He followed Paul's example, just as Paul was following Christ. 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:17.780 And in the letters that Paul writes to Timothy in one and two, they're filled with lots of advice to the younger man as he takes on leadership roles within the church. 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:22.280 So, who are you following? 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:23.520 Have you got a Paul? 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:28.979 Who are the Christian men and women that you're looking to as an example? 00:03:29.580 --> 00:03:31.920 And whose teaching maybe are you learning from? 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:39.639 When you look around, are there anybody that's got similar gifts to yours that you might learn from them how to use them to serve Jesus? 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:44.839 And when we're doing this, we need wisdom to choose good role models. 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:48.479 And the previous chapter in Acts 15 tells us why. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:58.679 So in Acts 15, there was a dispute that the church was trying to intervene with and sort out. 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:12.560 The questions were being asked as to whether people needed to be circumcised and also stick to the Jewish dietary laws before that they could be welcomed into the church as Christians. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:19.500 This dispute had come about really because there was false teachers teaching unnecessary things. 00:04:20.259 --> 00:04:25.139 And people had been listening to them in Paul's absence and started to go down the wrong paths. 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:29.000 The church in the end decided that that was wrong. 00:04:30.180 --> 00:04:34.980 Sadly, there are many today around the world who claim to be Jesus followers. 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:41.920 But actually, some of what they say and actually what they do and act is quite dubious. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:43.259 So we must be wise. 00:04:44.379 --> 00:04:45.420 The Internet's full of it. 00:04:46.660 --> 00:04:52.200 The church is unleashed as disciples, as in multiple people following Jesus. 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:55.920 But also, as in the singular, one disciple. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:00.040 The church coming together, being unified collectively to follow Jesus. 00:05:01.460 --> 00:05:04.819 So together, just like the early church did in Acts 15, 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:07.120 we must discern the way to follow Jesus. 00:05:07.840 --> 00:05:12.120 So if you're hearing things from people that sound a bit dodgy and you're wondering, 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:14.140 are they actually good role models to follow? 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:19.740 Perhaps it's something that doesn't sound right or you've seen something that you don't like the look of. 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:21.680 You need to talk to others. 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:25.240 Talk to other wise people around, maybe people in your small groups. 00:05:27.080 --> 00:05:31.180 So that together, we can pray and discern what is a good way for us to walk. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:34.060 And obviously, opinions may slightly vary. 00:05:34.060 --> 00:05:39.259 But I think that what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11 is a good starting point. 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:42.839 When he says, follow my example as I follow Christ, 00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:48.879 is the person that we're wanting to follow being like Christ? 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:50.160 Is he Christ-like? 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:55.139 Does what they say match up to what we read about Jesus in the Bible? 00:05:55.139 --> 00:05:59.740 And actually, does their life match up to what they say? 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:02.479 Have they got integrity there? 00:06:03.479 --> 00:06:04.620 No one's perfect. 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:08.539 So we never just blindly and unquestionably follow someone. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:12.979 But also, we never stop just listening completely to anything someone says, 00:06:13.300 --> 00:06:16.180 simply because something they said we're not sure about. 00:06:16.180 --> 00:06:19.079 But as I said, we don't follow blindly. 00:06:19.780 --> 00:06:21.360 We must all study the Bible. 00:06:21.699 --> 00:06:25.000 We must pray and we must discuss questions of faith with others. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:31.920 So when we're looking for role models, let's consciously choose the most godliest people we can. 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:38.079 Now, they don't have to be famous Christians that we've read lots of books about, 00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:41.639 or we've seen them on television or on Songs of Praise or whatever. 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:46.060 Look around more locally as well. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:47.199 Look around the church. 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:51.259 Look at the men and women of Christ that we've got here in our church family. 00:06:52.159 --> 00:06:55.819 There's always plenty of examples there of good role models to follow. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:01.620 And so for the second part of my talk, I've got another question to ask. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:09.919 So the second question, who's your Timothy or your Timothys? 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:16.920 We may well think, I can't have a Timothy because I haven't got enough experience, 00:07:17.640 --> 00:07:20.920 or I don't know enough, or I'm a new Christian, or I've not got the right giftings. 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:26.439 But like it or not, people, especially from outside the church, 00:07:26.660 --> 00:07:28.900 they're going to look at you if you proclaim that you're a Christian, 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:33.100 and they're going to see you as an example of what a Christian life is. 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:37.920 Also inside the church, our kids and youth especially, 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:43.460 are going to be hugely affected and influenced by yourselves, 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:45.720 and by growing up in this church. 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:49.819 They're really going to value those conversations they've made with other people 00:07:49.819 --> 00:07:50.759 other than their family. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:54.420 Those Christians here that take an interest in them, 00:07:54.819 --> 00:07:57.520 care about them, ask them how they're doing, and pray for them. 00:07:58.080 --> 00:08:00.340 They're going to remember that going into adulthood, 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.540 and that's probably the model of discipleship they'll take with them. 00:08:05.460 --> 00:08:07.819 People often say that they're only new Christians, 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:09.120 and they've got not much to offer. 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:13.280 And we all do grow and learn at different rates and paces, 00:08:13.460 --> 00:08:17.259 and it's probably, to be fair, not a good idea to throw a newbie Christian 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:20.040 into heading up Alpha or something straight away. 00:08:21.140 --> 00:08:25.580 But, if I'm honest, a lot of people that have said to me that they're new Christians 00:08:25.580 --> 00:08:29.200 have often been Christians at least as long as me, 00:08:29.420 --> 00:08:30.460 if not longer than me. 00:08:30.459 --> 00:08:34.419 They may feel hugely ill-equipped, but they can do it. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:35.159 You can do it. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:37.639 If we're honest and we think about it, 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:40.279 and we think about those people that have influenced ourselves, 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:43.860 have encouraged maybe our walk with God, 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:45.699 our faith over the years, 00:08:46.059 --> 00:08:51.360 I'm sure those people too felt hugely in-equipped to be an example also. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:54.720 So, let's be positive. 00:08:56.259 --> 00:09:01.759 Just as Paul discerned that Timothy could really benefit from being a disciple of his, 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:03.580 have a look. 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:07.060 If you're running a ministry in the church, 00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:09.180 if you've got a role in the church and you're running something, 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:11.060 who are you training up? 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:14.060 Who are you allowing to come alongside you and learn from you, 00:09:14.059 --> 00:09:18.139 so that maybe in a couple of years they can take that ministry role over from you? 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:23.439 If you've got a real gift of praying, praying of intercession, 00:09:23.579 --> 00:09:25.239 who are you training up to do that to? 00:09:27.099 --> 00:09:27.879 Have a think. 00:09:29.699 --> 00:09:32.059 But how can we set a good example? 00:09:33.319 --> 00:09:37.299 What I would say is that we don't have to have it all worked out and have it all together. 00:09:37.839 --> 00:09:42.059 We can just seek to follow the example of Jesus one step at a time, 00:09:42.059 --> 00:09:46.399 and we can get others to follow on behind us one step at a time, 00:09:46.479 --> 00:09:49.039 or even alongside us one step at a time. 00:09:49.439 --> 00:09:53.119 We can learn together how to follow Jesus as his disciple. 00:09:54.759 --> 00:10:00.119 So, we've been thinking so far about what it looks like to be a disciple individually, 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:05.219 but actually, what about the church collectively being a disciple? 00:10:05.939 --> 00:10:09.739 What would it look like for us as a community if we lived out this model? 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:15.259 Well, our core and leadership team is currently spending time praying and discussing 00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:19.460 what Christchurch may look like going forward into 2021 and beyond, 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:22.220 and hopefully post-COVID pandemic. 00:10:23.419 --> 00:10:26.639 It's not going to look the same as it did before, and it can't do. 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:30.440 So, I really encourage everyone at Christchurch, 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:35.340 take this opportunity to really pray and ask God what this may look like. 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:41.220 In terms of the details of how, where, and when we may meet, that's one thing, 00:10:41.560 --> 00:10:48.540 but also the bigger picture, the picture of what is this church going to look like as a disciple going forward. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:54.560 A community of disciples where we genuinely all contribute and we all learn from one another, 00:10:54.940 --> 00:11:00.920 and how the people of Clevedon will have their lives impacted and transformed because of it. 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:07.979 We may, in the past, have thought mainly church on a Sunday as being the main thing. 00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:12.219 Now, I don't know what things are going to look like, 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:15.399 but I do know that we're not going to be effective Christians 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:19.159 if we just come and attend and sit and listen to sermons. 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:23.959 There is, of course, a crucial place for sermons and talks. 00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:27.399 They help us all to grow in our faith and our understanding, 00:11:27.719 --> 00:11:31.319 to get to know the Bible more, to be encouraged and challenged, 00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:34.659 and to learn more about who God is and what he wants for us, 00:11:34.959 --> 00:11:37.799 a bit like the pit stop analogy used earlier today. 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:41.559 But we need to put this into practice together. 00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:44.919 We need to walk together, to follow one another, 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:48.199 so that together we can follow the example of Christ. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:52.219 The church has always been understood as a community of disciples, 00:11:52.659 --> 00:11:55.240 right from when Jesus said, go and make disciples, 00:11:55.719 --> 00:12:00.479 and also when Paul said, what I received from the Lord, I also passed on to you. 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:07.579 From then on, the faith has been handed down the generations. 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:12.299 We're called to receive the faith from those who have gone before us. 00:12:12.719 --> 00:12:13.879 It's our Christian heritage. 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:18.700 We are called to walk in their footsteps and to follow their example. 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:24.200 And then we are called to pass that on to the people that follow us 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:29.159 and encourage others to follow us as we follow the example of Christ, 00:12:29.580 --> 00:12:33.139 so that we can live out his purpose for our lives 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:36.480 and to equip us all to go out and live for Jesus. 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:39.580 Let's pray. 00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:39.600 Let's pray. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:48.340 Lord, help us to be disciples of you. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:54.420 Guide us by your Holy Spirit to think of the people that we can learn from 00:12:54.420 --> 00:12:58.500 and also the people that we can encourage on their Christian journey too 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:00.759 in the days and the weeks ahead. 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:08.639 Help me also to look for and have the qualities of integrity, humility and wisdom 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:11.600 to be a better follower of you. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:16.580 Help us as a church to be prayerful and unified, 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:21.000 to work collaboratively and to live to tell the good news of Jesus 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:27.919 so that we can make a difference to this town as we are unleashed as disciple. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.820 Amen.