WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.660 I invite you to take your copy of God's Word and join me in John chapter 13. 00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:08.859 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.759 I've made this case in a broadest of sense in an introduction. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:38.880 We've talked about it in brief each week leading up to now. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:42.120 For the sake of time, I'm trying not to repeat myself over and over again. 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:49.140 But your elders think that we are already living in the midst of a time of soft totalitarianism, 00:00:49.260 --> 00:00:54.359 a culture that expresses us to get on board with its directives, its truths, 00:00:54.359 --> 00:01:01.179 and that it's going to find us increasingly uncomfortable living in the days in which we live, 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:08.039 particularly concerning issues of sexuality, gender, gender roles, etc. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:10.659 I think you know what I'm talking about, 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:15.439 and this won't be the only assault against the church in the coming years. 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:20.980 If you are new to this study, I think you'll be well served going back and listening to the recordings of it. 00:01:21.039 --> 00:01:23.299 Those should be available on our website. 00:01:23.299 --> 00:01:27.159 We're glad to have you catch up to where we are in our thinking together. 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:29.859 But each week I've begun with three prerequisite statements. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:31.179 I think that they need to be repeated. 00:01:31.759 --> 00:01:36.319 Once again, as I've already stated, sermon series are not our normal practice. 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:41.079 We typically preach verse-by-verse expositional sermons. 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:44.759 This means that we take, for the main point or points of the sermon, 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:47.259 the main point or points of the text. 00:01:47.420 --> 00:01:52.200 And it helps us to avoid error, to just walk through a text together. 00:01:53.299 --> 00:01:58.959 I think men who are being really honest with themselves know that they're given to error. 00:01:59.239 --> 00:02:05.640 It's altogether possible to come up with ideas and be thinking off in a direction that's not biblical. 00:02:05.939 --> 00:02:10.039 And so it's good for us just to walk through the text together. 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:14.539 So that's what we do as a general habit, as a health for the church. 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:18.280 But from time to time, it's helpful to think about something topically, 00:02:18.359 --> 00:02:21.399 to have some thoughts and to look to the scripture for it. 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:25.419 But it's altogether possible to read what we want to into a text. 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:27.340 And so I just want to caution you. 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:29.359 Anytime you're hearing topical preaching, 00:02:30.060 --> 00:02:31.919 anytime you're hearing preaching at all, be discerning, 00:02:32.019 --> 00:02:34.840 but especially when you're hearing topical preaching. 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:38.719 Secondly, I'm not trying to be an alarmist, 00:02:39.060 --> 00:02:41.800 but we do think that there's some work to be done here. 00:02:42.939 --> 00:02:46.340 Back when we originally preached just a single sermon on this, 00:02:46.640 --> 00:02:49.719 it actually felt a little alarmist at that time, 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:54.400 and much less so now, just a few months later. 00:02:55.379 --> 00:02:56.599 But we love you. 00:02:57.140 --> 00:02:58.719 We want your good. 00:02:58.819 --> 00:03:00.599 We want the glory of God in our church. 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:06.120 And so we believe this is important for us to be doing this work of thinking about these things together. 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:10.000 And then lastly, the week that we're able to spend on this, 00:03:10.699 --> 00:03:13.759 frankly, the amount of time I'm comfortable spending to topical preaching, 00:03:13.939 --> 00:03:15.359 is not nearly enough. 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:17.319 And so we need to be talking about this, 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:18.699 pressing at each other's thinking, 00:03:19.299 --> 00:03:20.479 working on it together, 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:22.060 ask questions, 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:23.139 go to the Word. 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:27.000 This is not the last time we need to hear this 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:30.060 and be exhorted in these directions. 00:03:31.580 --> 00:03:33.580 So how do we build a resilient church culture? 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:35.360 We've covered a number of things. 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:36.900 We've said that it's going to be a work. 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:39.680 We're going to have to be the secondary means 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.080 in God's primary work in our lives. 00:03:42.580 --> 00:03:44.300 We're going to have to be a strong church. 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:47.920 We're going to have to stand against the tide of soft totalitarianism. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.460 It's going to be destruction. 00:03:49.659 --> 00:03:53.420 It's going to have to be ingrained in who we are. 00:03:53.419 --> 00:03:57.539 We've already talked about our need to define and hold 00:03:57.539 --> 00:04:00.780 to the clear mission of the church. 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:04.159 The church's mission is to make disciples 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.419 and then as members of the church to be disciples 00:04:07.419 --> 00:04:10.119 in the places that God sends us. 00:04:10.179 --> 00:04:13.259 And we've talked about our need to do robust theology, 00:04:13.839 --> 00:04:16.939 knowing what God has commanded and what He has promised, 00:04:17.379 --> 00:04:20.480 and carefully doing the work of theological triage 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:22.980 in order to maintain unity in the church, 00:04:23.420 --> 00:04:26.020 for the sake of standing firm and unified 00:04:26.020 --> 00:04:28.620 on matters of first importance. 00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:32.620 I think the enemy would do a good work, 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:35.680 and I mean that from his perspective in the church, 00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:39.540 to get us highly distracted from matters of first importance, 00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:42.780 that we would turn and devour one another. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:46.860 Last week we considered our need to know accurate histories 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:50.340 so that we will have knowledge of how we arrived at where we are, 00:04:50.339 --> 00:04:54.979 and especially how God orchestrated that arrival. 00:04:55.899 --> 00:04:58.000 And today we are going to consider the church's need 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.560 to practice sacrificial hospitality. 00:05:03.159 --> 00:05:06.319 I have not said to this date in our study, 00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:07.620 but I want you all to know 00:05:07.620 --> 00:05:10.779 that these five things that your elders believe 00:05:10.779 --> 00:05:13.899 that we need to be working on are not foreign to you. 00:05:13.899 --> 00:05:16.819 We've already been working on these things 00:05:16.819 --> 00:05:20.419 because they are entirely biblical things. 00:05:20.939 --> 00:05:24.399 And isn't it wonderful when you submit yourself to God's Word 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:27.179 how He will work out the details? 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:31.799 We don't have to come with some brilliant sociological perspective 00:05:31.799 --> 00:05:35.859 and be extremely aware of all of the things going on around us 00:05:35.859 --> 00:05:36.979 to just pick up the Word 00:05:36.979 --> 00:05:41.259 and do the things that the Word has commanded us to do. 00:05:41.259 --> 00:05:42.579 And so I'm grateful for that, 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:46.379 that we've already been about these kinds of things. 00:05:46.379 --> 00:05:50.920 But we do think we'll have to do them all the more. 00:05:52.180 --> 00:05:55.759 The particular activity of sacrificial hospitality, 00:05:56.620 --> 00:06:00.180 broadly speaking, you all excel at. 00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:03.899 And so don't hear this as a rebuke of any kind, 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:07.000 but as an encouragement to press on. 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:11.259 Keep loving one another sacrificially. 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:14.000 So the word hospitality, 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:16.240 and I do promise we're getting to our text, 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:17.500 but there's a lot of setup here. 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:21.120 The word hospitality in the English Standard Version 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:22.639 translation of the New Testament 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:26.360 appears four times in the noun form, hospitality, 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:31.399 and two times in the adjective form, hospitable. 00:06:31.399 --> 00:06:37.599 In Romans 12, 13, we are told to seek to show hospitality. 00:06:38.659 --> 00:06:41.519 And in Hebrews 13 and verse 2, 00:06:42.359 --> 00:06:45.099 the author of Hebrews exhorts us to not neglect 00:06:45.099 --> 00:06:47.779 to show hospitality to strangers, 00:06:48.359 --> 00:06:53.039 for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 00:06:53.539 --> 00:06:58.439 I'm thankful that ESV left the word unawares in there for us. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:03.339 Likely, the author of Hebrews is referring to Abraham's hospitality in Genesis 18 00:07:03.339 --> 00:07:07.480 and Lot's hospitality in Genesis 19, 00:07:07.899 --> 00:07:11.379 both instances where angels were unknowingly hosted, 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:14.399 or they were hosted unawares, 00:07:15.159 --> 00:07:18.600 and as we'll see later, of great importance, 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:22.240 their feet were washed as part of that hospitality. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:27.220 One of the prerequisites to enroll a widow in the care of the church 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:30.259 recorded in 1 Timothy chapter 5 and verse 10 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:33.960 is that she has shown hospitality 00:07:33.960 --> 00:07:37.519 and has washed the feet of the saints. 00:07:38.540 --> 00:07:41.319 And in 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 9, 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:45.160 we are instructed to show hospitality to one another 00:07:45.160 --> 00:07:47.680 without grumbling. 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:53.680 So a heartfelt, unbegrudging display of hospitality. 00:07:54.660 --> 00:07:57.639 Then in 1 Timothy 3.2 and Titus 1.8, 00:07:57.800 --> 00:08:01.199 Paul states that a character requirement for an elder 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:03.680 is that he is hospitable, 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:07.680 gives leadership in this kind of welcoming. 00:08:09.340 --> 00:08:15.660 Hospitality in the Greek literally means friendship to the stranger. 00:08:15.660 --> 00:08:20.480 It's a compound word and it means friendship to the stranger. 00:08:21.880 --> 00:08:27.380 Hospitality seeks to welcome in those who may not feel welcome otherwise 00:08:27.380 --> 00:08:30.980 and give them a sense of belonging. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:36.019 And I say that our hospitality will need to be sacrificial 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:39.860 because sometimes loving people in this way will be easy. 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:42.580 You may find that you easily connect with someone, 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:48.220 you may have similar likes and dislikes or just easily get along. 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:52.700 But often loving people in this way will be hard. 00:08:53.540 --> 00:08:56.379 It requires sacrifice on your part. 00:08:56.780 --> 00:09:00.259 It's not always so easy to get along with people 00:09:00.259 --> 00:09:02.400 and to show them love. 00:09:02.900 --> 00:09:05.520 As a very minor example of this, 00:09:05.560 --> 00:09:08.120 and please hear this as a minor example, 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:10.680 Clay Naylor is one of my best friends. 00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:14.759 And when we first met, we had very little in common. 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:18.439 It's been growing, I think, as I've become more manly. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:22.399 But when I first met Clay, I didn't hunt. 00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:24.639 I rock climbed and whitewater paddled. 00:09:24.979 --> 00:09:26.779 And Clay was a hunter to the core. 00:09:27.219 --> 00:09:29.559 Drove a big Chevy truck with pipes. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:34.620 I was uninterested in things like that. 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:37.820 He wore big belt buckles. 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:39.700 I think he's still got some big belt buckles. 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:41.720 I think he's wearing cowboy boots this morning. 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:44.580 I've never owned a pair of cowboy boots. 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:47.879 But we had the Lord Jesus in common, right? 00:09:48.060 --> 00:09:49.860 And that was enough to unite us together. 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:54.419 And of course, we've become really dear friends across much time. 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:58.240 We're going to have to be able to give of ourselves 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:02.680 for the sake of others in a hospitable way. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:07.320 So let's look at our Lord's example to make this point further. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:09.560 It's John chapter 13. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:13.820 I'll begin reading in verse 1, and I'll read through verse 17. 00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:16.399 Before I read, let me remind you, beloved, 00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:18.240 that this is God's word to us, 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:21.440 written for his glory and our good. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:24.220 And so we would do well to listen to it 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:27.760 in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:10:29.640 --> 00:10:31.820 Now, before the feast of the Passover, 00:10:32.760 --> 00:10:34.860 when Jesus knew that his hour had come 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:37.180 to depart out of this world to the Father, 00:10:38.180 --> 00:10:40.780 having loved his own who were in the world, 00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:43.920 he loved them to the end. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:47.300 And I want to read that to you again. 00:10:47.299 --> 00:10:52.299 That last little phrase has struck me again and again this week. 00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:55.939 Now, before the feast of the Passover, 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:58.879 this is his last meal with his disciples, 00:10:59.839 --> 00:11:01.939 when Jesus knew that his hour had come 00:11:01.939 --> 00:11:04.279 to depart out of this world to the Father, 00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:07.859 having loved his own who were in the world, 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:10.719 he loved them to the end. 00:11:11.719 --> 00:11:15.979 Gave of himself all the way to the point of death. 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:17.480 What a precious phrase that is. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:19.840 He loved them to the end. 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:21.720 During supper, 00:11:22.300 --> 00:11:24.639 when the devil had already put into the heart 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:27.539 of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.940 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands 00:11:31.940 --> 00:11:35.639 and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.560 rose from supper. 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:40.500 He laid aside his outer garments 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:43.639 and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:46.460 Then he poured water into a basin 00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:48.720 and began to wash the disciples' feet 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:51.399 and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:54.600 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:56.539 Lord, do you wash my feet? 00:11:57.340 --> 00:11:58.360 Jesus answered him, 00:11:58.419 --> 00:12:00.559 What I am doing you do not understand now, 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:02.899 but afterward you will understand. 00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:04.779 Peter said to him, 00:12:05.019 --> 00:12:06.659 You shall never wash my feet. 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:08.419 Jesus answered him, 00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:10.080 If I do not wash you, 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:12.139 you have no share with me. 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:14.240 Simon Peter said to him, 00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:15.740 Lord, not my feet only, 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:18.899 but also my hands and my head. 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:20.819 Jesus said to him, 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:23.159 The one who has bathed does not need to wash 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:24.279 except for his feet, 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:25.919 but is completely clean. 00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:27.699 And you are clean, 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:29.699 but not every one of you. 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:32.600 So he takes a metaphor that's both physical 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:33.360 and he makes it spiritual 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:34.659 and goes back to it being physical 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:36.159 and back to spiritual once again. 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:38.519 Verse 11, 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:41.740 For he knew who was to betray him. 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:43.339 That was why he said, 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:45.399 Not all of you are clean. 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:47.639 When he had washed their feet 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:49.000 and put on his outer garments 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:50.159 and resumed his place, 00:12:50.219 --> 00:12:51.100 he said to them, 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:54.179 Do you understand what I have done to you? 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.919 You call me teacher and Lord, 00:12:57.059 --> 00:12:58.120 and you are right, 00:12:58.219 --> 00:12:59.539 for so I am. 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:02.059 If I then, your Lord and teacher, 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.159 have washed your feet, 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:06.199 you also ought to wash one another's feet. 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:08.319 For I have given you an example 00:13:08.319 --> 00:13:10.059 that you also should do 00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:12.000 just as I have done to you. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.639 Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:17.319 a servant is not greater than his master, 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.759 nor is a messenger greater 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:20.579 than the one who sent him. 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:22.899 If you know these things, 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:25.860 blessed are you if you do them. 00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:29.759 This is just an astounding text, right? 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.639 What an amazing picture 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:34.059 on this last night before 00:13:34.059 --> 00:13:36.639 the suffering crucifixion 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:37.699 of our Lord and Savior, 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:38.659 Jesus Christ. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:42.679 Jesus washed their feet. 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:46.059 It's our first observation from this text. 00:13:46.179 --> 00:13:48.759 Jesus washed their feet. 00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:51.899 This was a job that was reserved 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:55.740 for the very lowliest of servant. 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:59.039 In this day, people wore sandals, 00:13:59.039 --> 00:13:59.839 I think you know, 00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:02.699 and it was a dusty and dry place. 00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:04.879 And probably in our day, 00:14:04.939 --> 00:14:06.500 we're more aware of what sandal wearing 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.240 does to feet 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:09.759 than maybe in some decades past. 00:14:10.439 --> 00:14:11.399 If you wear sandals, 00:14:11.439 --> 00:14:12.259 your feet get sweaty, 00:14:12.819 --> 00:14:14.019 and dirt sticks to your feet, 00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:15.639 and it gets more sweaty, 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.139 and you end up with kind of a 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:18.959 smelly paste on your feet. 00:14:20.339 --> 00:14:21.339 And so people would come, 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:21.939 washed, 00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:23.500 to somebody's home for dinner, 00:14:24.339 --> 00:14:25.579 and the way they were welcomed 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:27.080 into the home as a servant 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:28.840 would wash their feet, 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:30.660 get them totally clean. 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:32.220 They reclined at table, 00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:34.200 and feet were more prominent 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:35.520 in the eating of meals 00:14:35.520 --> 00:14:36.960 in this day 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:37.660 because of the way 00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:38.720 that they reclined 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:40.340 at table. 00:14:41.040 --> 00:14:42.600 So Jesus makes himself 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:43.639 the lowliest 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:45.600 of the household 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:47.740 to set an example for them. 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:48.900 Now note, 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:50.360 they are already reclining at table. 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:51.960 Their feet have already been washed. 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:54.360 They didn't have the actual need 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:55.899 to be washed at this point. 00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:58.200 So he's doing it figuratively 00:14:58.200 --> 00:14:59.180 to show us 00:14:59.180 --> 00:15:00.720 what must be done, 00:15:00.800 --> 00:15:01.840 the way in which 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.320 we ought to serve 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.680 one another. 00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:06.980 It takes great humility 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.919 to serve other people 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:09.259 in this way. 00:15:09.800 --> 00:15:11.240 I don't think we're meant today 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:13.360 to literally wash people's feet. 00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:14.779 Perhaps they need that, 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:15.720 and maybe that was a way 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:16.600 that you could serve them. 00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:17.960 But more regularly, 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:19.139 in other ways, 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:21.539 will we serve others. 00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:23.219 to recognize 00:15:23.219 --> 00:15:24.659 that we are meant 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:25.719 to be servants 00:15:25.719 --> 00:15:26.919 of all. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:30.059 Jesus said in Matthew 20, 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:32.259 verse 25 and following, 00:15:33.059 --> 00:15:34.599 You know that the rulers 00:15:34.599 --> 00:15:35.579 of the Gentiles 00:15:35.579 --> 00:15:36.959 lord it over them, 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.759 and their great ones 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:40.779 exercise authority over them. 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:43.360 It shall not be so 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:44.980 among you. 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:47.000 But whoever will be great 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.519 among you 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:49.019 must be your servant, 00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:50.460 and whoever will be 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.379 first among you 00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:53.039 must be your slave, 00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:55.360 even as the Son of Man 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:57.799 came not to be served, 00:15:58.319 --> 00:15:59.439 but to serve 00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:00.939 and to give his life 00:16:00.939 --> 00:16:02.559 as a ransom for many. 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:04.399 The greatest, 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:05.840 the highest example 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:07.460 of Jesus' service to us 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:08.139 was that he gave 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:09.899 his very life for us. 00:16:10.579 --> 00:16:11.639 But also don't miss 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:13.059 that he served, right? 00:16:13.199 --> 00:16:13.960 Here he is, 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:16.840 washing the disciples' feet. 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:19.240 And so in the kingdom of God, 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:21.460 the first will be last, 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:24.440 and the last will be first. 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:26.460 And we live in an age 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.680 where dynamic 00:16:27.680 --> 00:16:29.080 and big leadership 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:31.019 is very admired. 00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:32.940 And the type of leadership 00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:33.780 that Jesus seems 00:16:33.780 --> 00:16:34.540 to be blessing here 00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:35.420 is the type of leadership 00:16:35.420 --> 00:16:36.840 that is meek, 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:38.519 and it is humble, 00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:41.400 and it is service-oriented. 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.620 Notice secondly from the text, 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:47.139 Jesus did not only 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.019 wash the feet 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:50.259 of those who loved him. 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.179 Notice how John 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:53.080 sets the text up 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:54.080 in verse 2. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.460 He says, 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:57.399 to start this whole episode, 00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.080 during supper, 00:16:59.460 --> 00:16:59.980 when the devil 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.960 had already put it 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:01.679 into the heart 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:02.940 of Judas Iscariot, 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:03.899 Simon's son, 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.619 to betray him. 00:17:06.619 --> 00:17:08.539 He wants it to be clear to us, 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.880 the intention of 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:11.599 Judas' heart, 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.819 which Jesus would have been 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.539 aware of, 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.399 and we see some further 00:17:14.399 --> 00:17:15.339 evidence of that 00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.559 in the text 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:18.399 as the chapter goes on. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:20.539 He knew full well 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:22.759 what Judas was going to do, 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.259 and yet, 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.019 I believe, 00:17:24.159 --> 00:17:26.879 he washes Judas' feet. 00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:27.819 Verse 12 says, 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:29.119 when he had washed 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:31.399 their feet. 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:33.259 There's no reason to think 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.619 that he excluded him 00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:36.659 from this act of love 00:17:36.659 --> 00:17:38.420 and of service. 00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:40.920 We are so apt 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.460 to only serve others 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:44.539 when they receive it well, 00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:46.340 give us the acclaim 00:17:46.340 --> 00:17:47.220 that we want, 00:17:47.560 --> 00:17:47.759 right? 00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:49.640 When it makes us feel good 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.500 to serve, 00:17:51.080 --> 00:17:52.960 rather than us doing so 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.279 sacrificially 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.800 for their good, 00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:58.420 not necessarily for ours. 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.060 But Jesus did not only 00:18:00.060 --> 00:18:00.740 wash the feet 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.259 of those 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.680 who loved him. 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:05.080 Third observation, 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.600 Jesus washed their feet 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:08.700 to set for us 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:10.180 an example. 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:11.980 Let's not miss 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.900 verse 15. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:13.480 He says, 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.779 I did this 00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.840 so that you 00:18:15.840 --> 00:18:16.460 would do it 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.680 for one another, 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.299 so that you would 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.299 serve others 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.860 in this way. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:21.519 And I think 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:22.620 it's off of 00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:24.120 texts like 00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:25.060 Genesis 00:18:25.060 --> 00:18:26.240 that's being referred to 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.259 in Hebrews 13, 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.560 verse 2, 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.140 Genesis 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:31.740 chapters 18 and 19, 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:33.500 or 1 Timothy 5, 00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:33.980 10, 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:35.680 that this kind of service 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.960 was meant to be a thing 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:38.640 that we are to be doing 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:40.460 for one another. 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.740 We do this 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.519 and we're motivated 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.220 to do this 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:45.759 out of the hospitality 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:47.120 we've been shown 00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:48.140 by God 00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:49.940 in Christ. 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.940 All of us 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.940 wants cast off, 00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:53.759 all of us 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.980 wants not welcome 00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.960 because of our sin, 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.319 but in Christ, 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.480 God has welcomed us. 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:02.039 then He gives to us 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:03.440 this same work 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.160 to be done. 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:06.259 Paul wrote 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.720 in 2 Corinthians 5, 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:09.860 beginning in verse 14, 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:12.200 the love of Christ 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.539 controls us 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:15.120 because we have 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.660 concluded this, 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.579 that one has died 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.099 for all, 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:20.779 therefore all have died. 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:22.240 And He died for all 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.799 that those who live 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.420 might no longer 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.680 live for themselves, 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:27.580 but for Him 00:19:27.580 --> 00:19:29.019 who for their sake 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.539 died 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:31.140 and was raised. 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.039 From now on, 00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:33.400 therefore, 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.720 we regard no one 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:36.039 according to the flesh. 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.740 Even though we once 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.440 regarded Christ 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.180 according to the flesh, 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:40.320 we regard Him thus 00:19:40.320 --> 00:19:42.039 no longer. 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.200 Therefore, 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.440 if anyone is in Christ, 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.460 he is a new creation. 00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:48.519 The old has passed away, 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:49.060 behold, 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:49.779 the new 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.100 has come. 00:19:52.060 --> 00:19:53.460 All this is from God 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.440 who through Christ 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.680 reconciled us 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:56.380 to Himself 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:58.100 and gave us 00:19:58.100 --> 00:19:58.860 the ministry 00:19:58.860 --> 00:20:00.360 of reconciliation. 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:01.960 That is, 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:02.660 in Christ, 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.680 God was reconciling 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.519 the world to Himself, 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.420 not counting their 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.480 trespasses against them 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.640 and entrusting to us 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:08.400 the message 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:10.039 of reconciliation. 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.079 Because we've been 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:13.799 welcomed by God 00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.480 in Christ, 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:15.779 reconciled to Him 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.600 because of the death 00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:17.420 and life 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.200 of Jesus, 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:20.120 we've been given 00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:22.240 this same message. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.839 Therefore, 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:25.220 we are ambassadors 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.799 for Christ, 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:29.420 God making His appeal 00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:31.839 through us. 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.140 Ambassadors 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:35.019 sent into the world 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.339 to declare a message 00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:38.460 from our King. 00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:40.380 We implore you 00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:41.539 on behalf of Christ, 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.259 this is the message, 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:43.420 on behalf of Christ, 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:45.519 be reconciled 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:47.000 to God. 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.980 For our sake, 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.779 He made Him 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.859 to be sin 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:52.700 who knew no sin 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.720 so that in Him 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.639 we might become 00:20:54.639 --> 00:20:55.819 the righteousness 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:57.480 of God. 00:20:59.379 --> 00:21:00.299 If the church 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.480 is going to stand 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.279 against 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:03.680 the rising tide 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:05.079 of soft totalitarianism, 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:07.160 it will be true 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.440 as we spoke about 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.279 in the clear mission 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.740 of the church 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.399 that the church 00:21:10.399 --> 00:21:11.440 will advance 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.460 against the gates 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.480 of hell. 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:15.559 But the question is, 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.660 will this church 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:17.680 advance 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:19.120 against the gates 00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:19.500 of hell? 00:21:20.560 --> 00:21:21.440 If we will, 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:23.400 as a secondary means, 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:25.140 we'll have to be 00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:26.240 sacrificially 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.320 hospitable. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.700 We're going to have 00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:29.340 to involve 00:21:29.340 --> 00:21:30.340 ourselves 00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:31.880 in each other's lives 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:32.420 in a way 00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:33.360 that displays 00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.220 the love of Christ. 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:35.259 Again, 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.700 John chapter 13, 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.400 Jesus says, 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:37.940 they will know 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:39.040 you are my disciples 00:21:39.040 --> 00:21:39.780 by 00:21:39.780 --> 00:21:41.960 your theology, 00:21:42.560 --> 00:21:44.600 the way you come 00:21:44.600 --> 00:21:45.200 and sing, 00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:48.120 the times you gather, 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:49.100 the times you don't gather. 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.280 How will they know? 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.080 By your love 00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:54.340 for one another. 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.580 To be a compelling 00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:57.519 community together 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.420 because we love each other 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.019 and we show each other 00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:00.220 this kind of hospitality 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:01.620 will be something 00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:03.620 beautiful 00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:04.320 for those 00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:05.220 Christ is calling 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.460 to Himself. 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:08.059 and we will also 00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.799 have to display 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.279 this kind of 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.360 sacrificial hospitality 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:10.880 for those 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:12.200 outside the faith, 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:14.220 welcoming them in 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.900 that we might 00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:16.519 share this good news, 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.059 that we might 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.840 herald 00:22:17.840 --> 00:22:18.779 the gospel, 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:20.259 this ministry 00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.579 of reconciliation, 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.019 that we might get them 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:24.519 to sit long enough 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:26.079 to see displayed 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.840 before them 00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:27.440 the love 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.480 of Christ, 00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:29.440 that they might hear 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:30.860 and believe 00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:32.420 the gospel. 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.759 And a book 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.319 that I would commend 00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.279 to you entitled 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.099 The Gospel Comes 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:37.839 with a House Key 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.159 by Rosaria Butterfield. 00:22:39.939 --> 00:22:40.879 She wrote this, 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.099 radically 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:43.379 ordinary 00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:44.339 hospitality, 00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:45.779 I'm using the term 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.859 sacrificial instead, 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.259 radically ordinary 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:48.980 hospitality 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.740 characterizes 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.659 those who don't 00:22:51.659 --> 00:22:52.539 fuss over 00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.539 different world views 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.119 represented 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:55.240 at the dinner table. 00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:57.259 The truly hospitable 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.299 aren't embarrassed 00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.179 to keep friendships 00:22:59.179 --> 00:23:00.399 with people 00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.960 who are different. 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:03.660 and she goes on 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:04.420 to make the case 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.100 that these friendships 00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:05.880 are formed 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.799 for the sake 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.980 of gospel 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.700 reconciliation, 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.180 right? 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.240 Not just for the friendship, 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.059 but to share 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:12.259 the good news 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.720 with people 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.600 who are dying 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:14.400 without 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.720 this gospel 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.400 of reconciliation. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.259 So practically, 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.240 this is going to take 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.299 different forms 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.259 to exercise 00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:23.740 hospitality, 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:24.259 right? 00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:24.799 We're going to have 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.579 to be hospitable 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.319 in our public 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.400 gathering together, 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.980 so come to our 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.860 public gatherings 00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:31.380 to serve 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:33.380 and not to be 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:35.060 served. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.420 So much conversation 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:38.580 about the church 00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.660 is what does it do 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.900 for me? 00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.480 We've all heard 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:42.920 the phrase, 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.920 I just wasn't getting 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.980 anything out of it. 00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:47.080 We ought to be 00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:48.040 asking the question, 00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:50.080 how can I be 00:23:50.080 --> 00:23:50.720 a blessing 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:52.140 to others? 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.480 I would suggest 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.300 to you that if you 00:23:55.300 --> 00:23:56.140 come to the public 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:56.900 gathering of the church 00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.820 with that question 00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:58.240 in mind, 00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:59.140 how might the Lord 00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:00.240 use me this morning? 00:24:00.560 --> 00:24:01.660 How might I bless 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.000 others? 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:03.200 How might I show 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.280 sacrificial hospitality 00:24:04.280 --> 00:24:05.380 to others 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:06.540 that in the process 00:24:06.540 --> 00:24:07.740 you will also be 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.540 blessed, 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:09.519 served? 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.240 Romans 12.10, 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:13.759 Paul says, 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:15.420 love one another 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.460 with brotherly 00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.140 affection. 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.019 Outdo 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.180 one another 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.320 in showing 00:24:21.320 --> 00:24:22.600 honor. 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.420 Can you imagine 00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:27.160 a church of people 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:27.700 and again you do 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.440 this in great measure 00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.460 but can you imagine 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:31.019 if every one of us 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.300 was seeking to 00:24:32.300 --> 00:24:33.080 out honor 00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:33.660 the other? 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:35.620 We're always going, 00:24:35.820 --> 00:24:36.160 no, no, no, 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:36.960 I got it. 00:24:37.060 --> 00:24:37.340 No, no, 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.160 let me jump in. 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:38.600 No, no, 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.640 I'll take the lesser 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:40.000 position. 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:40.880 You take the greater 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:41.279 position. 00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.820 Let me serve you 00:24:42.820 --> 00:24:45.340 again and again 00:24:45.340 --> 00:24:46.220 and again 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:47.560 and again. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:49.820 That would be a 00:24:49.820 --> 00:24:50.880 compelling community 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.560 of Christians, 00:24:51.800 --> 00:24:52.400 would it not? 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.880 a group of people 00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:54.800 who love each 00:24:54.800 --> 00:24:55.460 other in 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:57.140 this way. 00:24:57.780 --> 00:24:58.259 Come to our 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:58.980 public gatherings 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.060 to serve, 00:25:00.800 --> 00:25:02.019 not to be served. 00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:03.120 I think you'll 00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.640 find yourself 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.340 being served 00:25:04.340 --> 00:25:05.080 in the process. 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.259 Open up your 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.700 home 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:09.160 and spend 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:09.759 your resources. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.080 Hospitality 00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:13.140 will cost 00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:13.800 something, 00:25:14.080 --> 00:25:14.259 right? 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:15.120 It's expensive 00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:16.000 to feed people, 00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:17.360 especially as 00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:17.700 prices 00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:19.060 are rising. 00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:20.480 But all 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.240 that you have 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.299 is the Lord's 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.460 and you are 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.000 meant to be 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.779 a steward 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.359 of it, 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:27.140 not selfish 00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:28.740 with it. 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.279 I pray 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.940 for myself 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.539 and for all 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:32.799 of us 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.180 that we would 00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:34.000 have the mind 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.559 of Paul 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:35.000 as he wrote 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.759 in 2 Corinthians 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.880 chapter 12 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:37.960 and verse 15 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.819 where he said, 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.200 I will most 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:40.779 gladly 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:42.120 spend 00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:43.500 and be spent 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:45.240 for your souls. 00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.380 I don't think 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:48.000 a single one 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.420 of us 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.799 on our deathbeds 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.539 or for the 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.859 eternity beyond 00:25:51.859 --> 00:25:52.399 will wish 00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:53.119 we just had 00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:54.000 a little more 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.019 for ourselves. 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.460 Who wish 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.500 we just spent 00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:59.220 more on us. 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:01.000 I think 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.559 that we will 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.000 regret 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.799 the things 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.059 we did 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:03.680 for ourselves 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.819 and we will 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.680 wish we had 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.440 been more 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.180 sacrificial 00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:07.980 for the sake 00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:09.379 of others. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.220 Store up 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.119 treasure 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.339 in heaven, 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:13.980 right? 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:14.920 Give of 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.619 yourself 00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:17.219 for the life 00:26:17.219 --> 00:26:18.599 to come. 00:26:20.979 --> 00:26:21.759 Charles Spurgeon 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.459 in a really 00:26:22.459 --> 00:26:23.099 wonderful address. 00:26:23.219 --> 00:26:23.559 This is the 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.339 quotation on your 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:24.939 bulletin 00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:26.439 this week. 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.959 I love that this 00:26:27.959 --> 00:26:28.879 quotation comes 00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:29.659 in a fairly 00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:31.319 strong and long 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.099 address where 00:26:32.099 --> 00:26:32.639 he's talking 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:34.000 about the 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:37.599 insufficiency 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.399 of his preaching. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:38.460 preaching. 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.720 And if you 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.040 know much 00:26:41.040 --> 00:26:41.580 about Spurgeon 00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:42.040 you'll know 00:26:42.040 --> 00:26:42.420 that even 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.040 in his day 00:26:43.040 --> 00:26:43.560 he was called 00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:43.940 the prince 00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.440 of preachers. 00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:44.840 He knew 00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:45.240 this about 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.680 himself. 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.480 People had 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:46.880 called him 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:47.420 the prince 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:49.180 of preachers. 00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:49.519 So in this 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.140 address he 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.700 suggests to 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.180 people that 00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:52.040 you could 00:26:52.040 --> 00:26:52.740 correct the 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:53.340 errors of my 00:26:53.340 --> 00:26:54.240 preaching if 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.519 you'll spend 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:54.980 time with 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:56.040 people and 00:26:56.040 --> 00:26:56.860 you'll ask 00:26:56.860 --> 00:26:57.140 them what 00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:57.560 they thought 00:26:57.560 --> 00:26:58.060 and answer 00:26:58.060 --> 00:26:58.759 their questions 00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.080 etc. 00:26:59.259 --> 00:26:59.640 So it's on 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.220 the heels 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:00.720 of this that 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.019 he said 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.380 this. 00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:02.440 Preaching 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.780 is important. 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.100 Public 00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:06.140 evangelism and 00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:07.560 exhortation is 00:27:07.560 --> 00:27:09.780 important but 00:27:09.780 --> 00:27:10.860 it's often our 00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:12.460 kindness and 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.420 personal relationships 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.560 that helps people 00:27:14.560 --> 00:27:15.759 cross the line 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:17.280 into faith. 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:20.180 Now Spurgeon 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:20.640 was a good 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:21.220 Calvinist. 00:27:22.540 --> 00:27:22.940 He wrote a 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.280 little book 00:27:23.280 --> 00:27:23.580 called The 00:27:23.580 --> 00:27:23.920 Defense of 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.540 Calvinism where 00:27:24.540 --> 00:27:24.880 he said 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:25.560 Calvinism is 00:27:25.560 --> 00:27:25.900 the first 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.259 sentence in 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.460 the book. 00:27:26.560 --> 00:27:27.220 Calvinism is 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.780 the gospel. 00:27:28.580 --> 00:27:29.600 He believed 00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:30.220 in first 00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.180 order causes 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.420 but also in 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.340 the second 00:27:33.340 --> 00:27:34.200 order causes 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.759 as well. 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.360 The Lord 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:37.039 uses preaching 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.740 and public 00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:38.819 evangelism and 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:40.240 exhortation but 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:42.159 often what 00:27:42.159 --> 00:27:42.659 Spurgeon is 00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:43.459 saying he 00:27:43.459 --> 00:27:44.059 uses our 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:45.079 kindness and 00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.139 our personal 00:27:46.139 --> 00:27:47.159 relationships to 00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:47.819 help people 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.419 cross the 00:27:48.419 --> 00:27:50.159 line into 00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:50.579 faith. 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.699 So we see 00:27:52.699 --> 00:27:53.500 in this text 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.639 Jesus giving 00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:55.659 us this 00:27:55.659 --> 00:27:56.579 example of 00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.299 sacrificial 00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:58.339 hospitality. 00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.039 Helping 00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.359 people, 00:27:59.699 --> 00:28:00.799 welcoming them 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.799 in that they 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.219 might be 00:28:02.219 --> 00:28:03.559 restored to 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:03.879 God. 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:05.200 And 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.640 fourthly, 00:28:06.280 --> 00:28:07.660 Jesus gives 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:09.360 to us a 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:09.820 promise. 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.280 Verse 16 00:28:12.280 --> 00:28:12.900 he says, 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.040 Truly, 00:28:14.840 --> 00:28:15.120 truly, 00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:16.700 I say to 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:16.980 you. 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:17.920 Anytime 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.480 there's that 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.160 repetition in 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.320 Jesus, 00:28:19.320 --> 00:28:19.680 Jesus says 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.100 this again 00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:20.380 and again 00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:20.680 and again 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:20.980 throughout the 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.240 gospels, 00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:21.560 truly, 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:21.880 truly, 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.460 he's saying 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.280 not only 00:28:23.280 --> 00:28:23.920 truly but 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.320 really, 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:24.720 truly, 00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:25.100 he's 00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:25.680 emphasizing 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.160 it. 00:28:26.820 --> 00:28:27.540 The only 00:28:27.540 --> 00:28:27.900 time we 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:29.220 see a 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.720 triplicate 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.240 in the 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.660 entirety of 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:30.980 text is 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.380 holy, 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.020 holy, 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:32.780 holy, 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.519 right? 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.039 But here 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.579 Jesus will 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.200 go twice, 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:35.519 truly, 00:28:35.639 --> 00:28:35.859 truly, 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:36.299 right? 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:36.660 This is an 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.119 axiom. 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:37.799 This is a 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.220 thing to 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:38.639 hang your 00:28:38.639 --> 00:28:39.139 hat on. 00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:40.180 I say 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.599 to you, 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.500 a servant 00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:41.940 is not 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.379 greater than 00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:42.819 his master 00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.639 nor is 00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:44.180 a messenger 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:44.920 greater than 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.420 the one 00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.440 who sent 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:46.720 him, 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.200 right? 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.759 So if 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.019 you are 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.220 my 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.740 disciples, 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:49.759 right? 00:28:49.899 --> 00:28:50.379 If you 00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:50.920 know these 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:51.759 things, 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.079 blessed 00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.480 are you 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.660 if you 00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:56.119 do them, 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:56.920 right? 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.319 Set aside, 00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.859 happy are 00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.899 you if 00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:01.139 you do 00:29:01.139 --> 00:29:01.399 them. 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.660 And I 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.060 think that 00:29:03.060 --> 00:29:03.640 Jesus means 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.540 both in 00:29:04.540 --> 00:29:05.200 this life 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.060 and in 00:29:06.060 --> 00:29:06.540 the life 00:29:06.540 --> 00:29:07.500 to come, 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.460 that we 00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:08.940 would give 00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.580 of ourselves 00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:10.660 for the 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:12.500 sake of 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.460 others to 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:13.860 the glory 00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:14.960 of our 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:15.240 God. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:16.980 We say 00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.240 in our 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.019 house often, 00:29:18.540 --> 00:29:19.040 the life 00:29:19.040 --> 00:29:20.300 best lived 00:29:20.300 --> 00:29:21.540 is lived 00:29:21.540 --> 00:29:22.300 in service 00:29:22.300 --> 00:29:23.640 to others, 00:29:24.040 --> 00:29:24.300 right? 00:29:25.100 --> 00:29:25.519 So to the 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:25.980 degree that 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.280 when my 00:29:26.280 --> 00:29:26.680 boys are 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.019 acting 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:28.259 selfishly 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.820 toward one 00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:29.580 another or 00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:29.839 to their 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:30.579 parents or 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.039 to others, 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.539 I say, 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:31.919 boys, 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:32.460 the life 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.079 best lived 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.619 is, 00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.179 and I 00:29:34.179 --> 00:29:34.419 make them 00:29:34.419 --> 00:29:34.659 fill in 00:29:34.659 --> 00:29:35.039 the blank, 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:35.740 and they 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.079 know it 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:36.839 lived in 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.439 service to 00:29:37.439 --> 00:29:37.659 others. 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:37.899 And they 00:29:37.899 --> 00:29:38.319 often say 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.279 it begrudgingly, 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:39.740 but they 00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.119 know at 00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:41.099 least that 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.519 the life 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.199 best lived 00:29:42.199 --> 00:29:42.819 is lived 00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.720 in service 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:45.480 to others. 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:45.539 others. 00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:47.839 I will 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.819 most gladly 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:50.839 spend and 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.460 be spent 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.660 for your 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:52.980 souls. 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.620 Let that 00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:55.299 be true of 00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:55.700 each and 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.059 every one 00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:56.519 of us 00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:57.680 toward each 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.299 and every 00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:59.559 one of us. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:00.680 Let's pray 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:00.940 together.