WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.219 It's good to be able to pray like a Christian. 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:11.759 I have to begin today with an apology. 00:00:13.980 --> 00:00:19.100 Last Sunday at the 915 service, I used an analogy in my sermon. 00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:23.879 And afterwards, as the rest of the service was going on, 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:29.320 I really felt in my spirit that I had not told the story correctly. 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:34.840 And I might have given some people the complete opposite impression from what I had intended. 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:40.899 And so I apologize for my lack of clarity in expression. 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:46.679 One of the things that you folks could pray for me is please pray that as I read God's Word, 00:00:46.980 --> 00:00:50.379 that I will be able to see God's Word with increasing clarity. 00:00:50.879 --> 00:00:53.859 And with, of course, increasing clarity, increasing humility. 00:00:53.859 --> 00:00:58.579 And that I be able to speak clearly here in the congregation. 00:01:00.060 --> 00:01:04.879 One of the stories or one of the analogies which people use against Christians, 00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:09.400 because Christians believe what Jesus says in John 14.6. 00:01:09.579 --> 00:01:11.560 Jesus in John 14.6 says, 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:14.280 I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:01:14.540 --> 00:01:16.840 No one comes to the Father but through me. 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:21.260 And we Christians are ones who believe that. 00:01:21.260 --> 00:01:24.260 And we are learning to believe it. 00:01:24.880 --> 00:01:27.380 Or should believe it if we haven't believed it yet. 00:01:27.600 --> 00:01:29.359 We might feel uncomfortable with that. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:30.660 But it's what Jesus teaches. 00:01:31.160 --> 00:01:32.840 And Jesus teaches the truth. 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:37.540 But in our culture, it's very common to think that there are many ways to God 00:01:37.540 --> 00:01:38.460 and that they're all equal. 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:39.460 They're all equal. 00:01:39.459 --> 00:01:44.459 And so, in fact, a story which is often told against us, 00:01:45.119 --> 00:01:48.059 you know, if I was to say I believe, you know, what Jesus teaches, 00:01:48.199 --> 00:01:49.699 that he is the way, the truth, and the life. 00:01:49.780 --> 00:01:51.319 No one comes to the Father but through me. 00:01:51.759 --> 00:01:54.699 People will tell us, you know, human beings are like blind men 00:01:54.699 --> 00:01:57.199 coming to meet an elephant for the first time. 00:01:57.739 --> 00:01:59.819 And human beings are like blind men. 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:01.280 They've been blind all of their life. 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:04.040 And they meet an elephant for the first time. 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:08.400 And so one person touches the elephant's tail and says, 00:02:08.640 --> 00:02:14.639 oh, you know, God is, you know, the beast that I'm, you know, 00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:16.520 what I'm touching is like a snake. 00:02:16.939 --> 00:02:19.300 It's, you know, it's short and it's wiggly. 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:22.740 And then somebody else touches the trunk of the elephant 00:02:22.740 --> 00:02:25.620 and comes up with some ideas to what the beast is. 00:02:25.699 --> 00:02:29.460 And other creatures touch the leg and come up with an idea 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:30.520 about what the creature is. 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:32.920 And then others touch its big tummy 00:02:32.920 --> 00:02:37.500 and come up with an idea of what the creature is. 00:02:37.980 --> 00:02:40.000 And the person telling this story says, you know, 00:02:40.020 --> 00:02:42.060 and that just goes to show all of them get the thing 00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:43.719 completely and utterly wrong. 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:48.120 They just have their limited little experience of the elephant 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:52.320 and they get the, what, they just miss what the elephant really is 00:02:52.320 --> 00:02:55.420 because they just extrapolate from their little experience. 00:02:55.700 --> 00:02:58.860 And therefore, George, to say that Jesus is the way 00:02:58.860 --> 00:03:00.300 and the truth and the life is just showing 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:02.760 that you're blind and you're only touching one part of the elephant. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:08.120 Now, the problem with that analogy is that the analogy actually, 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:10.580 that little story proves the opposite 00:03:10.580 --> 00:03:13.840 of what the person telling the story thinks it proves 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:17.420 because the person telling the story knows that it's an elephant. 00:03:17.419 --> 00:03:23.919 You see, they're trying to say that all of our knowledge of God is partial, 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:26.759 that all of our experience of God is partial, 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:32.379 and that our problem is that we extrapolate from that which is partial and unknown 00:03:32.379 --> 00:03:35.139 to think that we know what the complete and perfect is. 00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:40.159 But the analogy only works because the person telling the analogy knows that it's an elephant, 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:47.439 that in fact, the person is smuggling into the story really, ultimately, 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:51.359 an arrogant claim to have perfect knowledge of God. 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:54.979 In fact, you see, often in life, 00:03:55.799 --> 00:03:59.779 attempts to show that belief in God is foolish ends up being foolish itself. 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:03.039 You make an absolute claim that all things are relative. 00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:07.520 You know, you make an absolute claim that all truth is partial. 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:10.939 And in this particular case, you make an absolute claim 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:13.860 that nobody knows absolutely about what God is really like. 00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:16.519 And in contrast to the elephant story, 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:18.860 the Christian way is actually very humble 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:22.680 because Christians should be the first ones to acknowledge 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:25.259 that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:28.139 A Christian should be the first to acknowledge that 00:04:28.139 --> 00:04:32.279 I don't know anything about God because of my particular wisdom 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:33.259 or my particular... 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:35.039 I'm not particularly special. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:36.219 I'm not particularly wise. 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:37.599 I'm not particularly learned. 00:04:38.719 --> 00:04:40.959 We Christians are ones who say, 00:04:42.159 --> 00:04:43.579 you know, in fact, I agree with you. 00:04:43.699 --> 00:04:47.560 If God, in fact, hasn't taken the initiative to make himself known, 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:48.939 we can know nothing. 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:52.079 And the Christian claim is the humble claim 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:53.659 that God loved us, 00:04:53.660 --> 00:04:56.640 and God has spoken and made clear to us 00:04:56.640 --> 00:04:58.080 the way to himself. 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:01.200 And all I can do is pass on to you 00:05:01.200 --> 00:05:02.560 what God has said. 00:05:02.960 --> 00:05:05.540 And God's truth is not some private revelation 00:05:05.540 --> 00:05:08.540 that has come to me as if I am some type of special seer, 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:11.100 but it is something which is public. 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:13.180 Jesus' ministry was public. 00:05:13.760 --> 00:05:15.100 The word of God is public. 00:05:15.400 --> 00:05:19.980 And our great opportunity is in humility 00:05:19.980 --> 00:05:22.680 to share what God has spoken, 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:25.079 not bringing attention to ourselves, 00:05:25.379 --> 00:05:28.360 but to Christ the Savior and to his word. 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:34.100 Now, that's what I should have tried to say last week. 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:35.920 Some of you are probably scratching your head, 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:37.660 can't even remember the elephant story. 00:05:37.740 --> 00:05:38.319 That's fine. 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:42.980 Supposedly, we only remember 10% of what we hear. 00:05:43.259 --> 00:05:45.699 So someday I'm going to preach the same sermon 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:47.300 10 Sundays in a row. 00:05:48.020 --> 00:05:49.960 And that way, by the end of the 10 Sundays, 00:05:50.020 --> 00:05:51.080 we've all heard it once. 00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:53.660 And it's saving you a little bit of work. 00:05:53.660 --> 00:05:54.060 No. 00:05:55.020 --> 00:05:57.700 The other thing, another brief little caveat, 00:05:58.040 --> 00:06:00.939 if someday we get that big screen up here 00:06:00.939 --> 00:06:02.420 and, you know, the fancy projector, 00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:07.120 there'll be a little parishioner's advisory notice 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:09.480 that would come up at this point in time. 00:06:09.580 --> 00:06:10.720 You know, I'd like to have that 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:11.860 so that if I preach on hell, 00:06:11.940 --> 00:06:13.280 there's a little advisory notice. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:15.140 And, you know, you preach on sex, 00:06:15.220 --> 00:06:16.379 there's an advisory notice. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:17.920 And when you preach on money, 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:19.320 there's an advisory notice. 00:06:19.319 --> 00:06:21.599 And the text today touches on money. 00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:26.399 And so I want to say this to those of us, 00:06:26.740 --> 00:06:29.379 those of you who are here who are our guests. 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:34.819 If you are here today as our guest 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:36.659 and you're a spiritual seeker 00:06:36.659 --> 00:06:39.800 and you have not yet come to give your life to Jesus, 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:41.819 then I want you to know 00:06:41.819 --> 00:06:45.680 that you should not put a single penny on the plate. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:49.560 Like, I want to be as serious about that as I possibly can. 00:06:49.660 --> 00:06:52.740 I don't want you to put even a penny on the plate 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:54.720 when the plate goes around. 00:06:54.840 --> 00:06:56.040 The plate is for Christians. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:06:57.759 You're our guests. 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:01.000 You are a guest who is a spiritual seeker 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:02.620 and we don't want you to put any money on the plate. 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:03.879 In fact, we want you to go downstairs 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:06.379 and have four cups of coffee all on us 00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:09.199 and have extra cookies all on us 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:11.120 because you are our guest. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:16.399 And we don't want you to put any money on the plate. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:20.819 So, Paul today in 1 Corinthians 9, 00:07:20.899 --> 00:07:24.160 and you might want to turn in your Bibles to page 992. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:27.060 Page 992. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:31.399 And you'll notice today that my... 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:33.360 Today I'm going to be using the... 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:36.740 Today's New International Version. 00:07:36.740 --> 00:07:40.240 It's the latest version of the Bible that I'm using 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:41.980 for my personal devotions. 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:43.500 And so I'm going to be quoting from that. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:45.560 You might notice some differences in the words, 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.680 but we'll be looking at 1 Corinthians 9. 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:53.319 And Paul today is going to be setting forward to us 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:56.280 a spiritual principle that I have to confess 00:07:56.280 --> 00:07:58.180 I feel uncomfortable talking about. 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:02.759 Jill and I have joked about how it's hard to talk about money 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:04.900 when it maybe potentially touches yourself. 00:08:04.899 --> 00:08:07.579 Like in an ideal world, you know, 00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:10.939 I would go around trying to raise money for other people 00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:13.379 and other people would go around raising money for the church 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:15.339 and then we could sort of do it with a clean conscience 00:08:15.339 --> 00:08:18.560 or at least not feel any type of embarrassment about it. 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:25.699 But Paul here talks about the Christians having an obligation 00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:30.060 to financially support gospel ministry at home and abroad. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:33.899 The thing which sort of motivates this text, 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:36.039 if we don't understand this spiritual principle, 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:37.679 we won't understand the text. 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:42.279 And Paul spends 14 verses trying to drive home 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:45.059 using analogies from nature, 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:47.459 using analogies from just, you know, 00:08:47.779 --> 00:08:49.559 sort of speak men and women of the world 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:51.179 who know how the world works 00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:54.840 and, you know, what makes things work in the real world. 00:08:55.439 --> 00:08:57.360 And even using scripture, 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:01.100 he spends 14 verses to try to drive home 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:03.460 a particular spiritual principle 00:09:03.460 --> 00:09:06.519 that Christians have an obligation 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:11.019 to financially support gospel ministry 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:12.480 at home and abroad. 00:09:13.540 --> 00:09:14.740 A couple of weeks ago, 00:09:14.800 --> 00:09:16.340 Bill Clinton spoke in Ottawa. 00:09:17.040 --> 00:09:18.560 And I can't remember now, 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:20.820 was it $100,000 or $150,000 00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:23.180 he got paid for his short little speech? 00:09:24.180 --> 00:09:26.019 Either one was way too much. 00:09:26.019 --> 00:09:29.340 But he got paid $100,000 or $150,000 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:30.720 for a short speech. 00:09:31.259 --> 00:09:32.279 And the place was packed. 00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:35.759 People paid from $2,000 each. 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:36.740 Actually, in most cases, 00:09:36.819 --> 00:09:39.439 it was probably their company paid. 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:42.299 But, or somebody paid between $2,000. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:44.539 I think the cheapest tickets were $140. 00:09:45.079 --> 00:09:46.059 I might be wrong about that. 00:09:46.079 --> 00:09:47.480 I might have even been higher than that. 00:09:47.899 --> 00:09:49.220 And you got to hear Lance Armstrong 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:50.500 and a few other people. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:53.039 But the big draw was to hear Bill Clinton. 00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:55.259 And I believe he got paid. 00:09:55.320 --> 00:09:56.320 I know it was six figures. 00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:57.120 I just can't remember 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:59.559 if it was $100,000 or $150,000. 00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:02.779 And the thing which amazes me 00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:04.440 is that people would pay that much money 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:05.539 to go hear Bill Clinton. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:07.799 And I'm not saying anything about my politics. 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:09.779 I can tell you right now, 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:11.460 none of the party leaders in Canada 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:12.799 would I pay that money for, 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:15.440 nor any current president or past president 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:17.139 would I pay so much money 00:10:17.139 --> 00:10:18.299 to go hear them speak. 00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:21.559 And it just amazes me 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:23.319 that people were just, 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:25.579 they would so much want to hear Clinton 00:10:25.579 --> 00:10:27.399 that they would pay that amount of money 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:29.539 and that he could, with a straight face, 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:33.279 ask for $150,000 plus expenses and get it. 00:10:34.199 --> 00:10:37.399 Paul here, in the first 14 verses of chapter 9, 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.219 he's not saying that he's like Bill Clinton. 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:42.899 He's not saying, you know, 00:10:43.099 --> 00:10:45.519 it would be like me going somewhere in the States 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:45.939 and said, you know, 00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:47.839 if you only knew how great a speaker I was, 00:10:48.299 --> 00:10:50.620 you would pay $2,000 to come hear me 00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:52.159 and give me $150,000. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:55.939 Paul isn't trying to puff himself up 00:10:55.939 --> 00:10:58.740 and make it look like he should be getting money. 00:10:58.859 --> 00:11:00.439 It's in fact completely opposite. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:02.099 It's not at all like Bill Clinton. 00:11:02.359 --> 00:11:04.979 It's more like Paul is saying 00:11:04.979 --> 00:11:07.399 that a Christian has a financial, 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:09.279 has an obligation, 00:11:09.439 --> 00:11:11.439 a spiritual obligation 00:11:11.439 --> 00:11:14.059 to financially support gospel ministry 00:11:14.059 --> 00:11:14.859 at home and abroad. 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:18.419 It's in a sense more like me with my children 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:20.180 or you with your children, 00:11:20.300 --> 00:11:21.680 those of you who have children, 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:23.279 that of course, 00:11:23.899 --> 00:11:26.759 a mother or father has obligations 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:30.220 to provide for their children. 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:33.139 Like, you know, 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:35.120 a little baby comes into the world, 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:36.820 you don't just start instantly saying, 00:11:36.920 --> 00:11:38.560 well, I'm going to loan you the money, Johnny. 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:41.360 You don't know this, 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:41.720 but you know, 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:42.340 when you're 18, 00:11:42.420 --> 00:11:43.440 I'm going to give you a bill. 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:44.500 And you know, 00:11:44.540 --> 00:11:45.800 you get a little palm pilot 00:11:45.800 --> 00:11:47.580 and every time you give them some formula, 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:48.759 you make a little record 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:50.360 and then at 18, 00:11:50.540 --> 00:11:51.420 you give them the bill 00:11:51.420 --> 00:11:52.200 and you expect, 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:52.500 you know, 00:11:52.540 --> 00:11:53.160 you say, 00:11:53.300 --> 00:11:53.519 you know, 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:55.220 I've been pretty generous with the interest, 00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:56.279 you know, 00:11:56.300 --> 00:11:57.200 only 2% 00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:58.660 and it's been compounding 00:11:58.660 --> 00:11:59.560 for all these years 00:11:59.560 --> 00:12:00.639 and this is what you owe 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:02.019 and we'll keep running the tab 00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:03.700 until you've paid me back. 00:12:03.800 --> 00:12:03.920 You know, 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:05.240 that's not how it works 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:06.860 with a parent with their children. 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:07.620 Of course, 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.980 a parent with children, 00:12:10.139 --> 00:12:10.340 you know, 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:12.040 I wish I had far more money 00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:13.759 to shower my kids with gifts, 00:12:14.060 --> 00:12:14.779 you know, 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:16.340 and of course, 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:17.240 it's my obligation 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:18.660 to provide for my children 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:21.419 financially 00:12:21.419 --> 00:12:22.259 and Paul, 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:22.799 in a sense, 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:23.339 is saying 00:12:23.339 --> 00:12:24.899 it's that type 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:26.179 of an obligation 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:27.779 which a Christian has 00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:30.059 to financially support 00:12:30.059 --> 00:12:31.559 gospel ministry. 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:33.339 Let's just look at the end 00:12:33.339 --> 00:12:34.480 of verse 14 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:39.079 is on 1 Corinthians 9, 14. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.179 That's sort of the end 00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:41.679 of those first 14 verses. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:42.399 It's, in a sense, 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:44.139 the concluding part 00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:46.139 of his trying to argue this case 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:48.139 of the spiritual principle 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:48.879 of Christians 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.059 having an obligation 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:51.419 to financially support 00:12:51.419 --> 00:12:52.360 gospel ministry 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.600 at home and abroad. 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:54.539 He says, 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:55.399 in the same way, 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:57.279 the Lord has commanded 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:59.460 that those who preach 00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.100 the gospel 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:01.740 should receive their living 00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:03.000 from the gospel. 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.699 And in a sense, 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:05.279 the command 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:06.600 is to the congregation. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.399 Paul is saying, 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:08.860 in a sense, 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:09.519 if you understood 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.799 the Lord's command, 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.860 you would understand 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:12.360 that you have 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.899 a financial obligation. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:15.460 That's what command means, 00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:17.700 to financially provide 00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:19.180 for me as I preach 00:13:19.180 --> 00:13:19.900 the gospel. 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:21.320 In the same way, 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:22.160 the Lord has commanded 00:13:22.160 --> 00:13:23.080 that those who preach 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:24.300 the gospel should receive 00:13:24.300 --> 00:13:25.600 their living from the gospel. 00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:27.080 But then look at verse 15. 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:28.879 But I have not used 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.660 any of these rights, 00:13:31.280 --> 00:13:32.740 and I am not writing this 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:33.520 in the hope 00:13:33.520 --> 00:13:34.660 that you will do 00:13:34.660 --> 00:13:36.020 such things for me, 00:13:36.400 --> 00:13:37.720 for I would rather die 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:38.580 than allow anyone 00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:40.940 to deprive me 00:13:40.940 --> 00:13:41.780 of this boast. 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:44.360 The commentaries tell us 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:45.339 that in Greek, 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:48.179 almost always this text 00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:49.559 is not translated properly 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:50.839 because in verse 15, 00:13:50.959 --> 00:13:51.759 Paul is overcome 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.519 with emotion, 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:53.839 and he begins 00:13:53.839 --> 00:13:54.879 to speak a sentence, 00:13:55.079 --> 00:13:55.959 and he breaks off 00:13:55.959 --> 00:13:56.659 the sentence 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:57.679 right in the middle 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.100 and moves to 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:00.120 a different sentence. 00:14:00.339 --> 00:14:00.980 That he's, in a sense, 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:02.339 overcome with emotion 00:14:02.339 --> 00:14:03.879 on this particular point. 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:06.620 And so Paul moves 00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:08.039 from teaching this first, 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:09.659 or reminding the congregation 00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:11.439 of this first spiritual principle, 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:13.539 and now he, in a sense, 00:14:13.579 --> 00:14:14.179 is returning 00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:15.459 to his overall theme. 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:16.620 Those of you 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.539 who were here last week 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:18.159 remember that 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:20.600 in 1 Corinthians 8, 9, and 10, 00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:21.579 Paul is dealing 00:14:21.579 --> 00:14:22.939 on one level 00:14:22.939 --> 00:14:23.600 with the issue 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.620 of certain Christians 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.319 who think they're 00:14:25.319 --> 00:14:26.299 so spiritual 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:28.299 and so elite 00:14:28.299 --> 00:14:30.079 that one of the things 00:14:30.079 --> 00:14:30.579 that they do 00:14:30.579 --> 00:14:31.120 is they can go 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:32.399 to the temple of Aphrodite 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:33.659 or the temple of Zeus 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:35.039 or the temple of Apollos, 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:37.579 and they can have 00:14:37.579 --> 00:14:39.579 their animal sacrifice there, 00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:40.279 and they can eat 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:41.299 with the other people 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:42.779 and lounge around 00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:43.339 and just, 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:45.159 and they say to Paul, 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:46.600 some of you remember Paul, 00:14:46.719 --> 00:14:47.240 we all know 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:48.299 that it's just a stone, 00:14:48.839 --> 00:14:49.500 that it's not just 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:50.419 a bunch of bricks, 00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:51.659 that there's no real idols, 00:14:51.839 --> 00:14:52.740 and that we are free 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:53.379 in Christ 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:55.059 and that we can do this. 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:58.559 And so in 1 Corinthians 8, 9, and 10, 00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.860 Paul is trying 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.879 to chip away 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:02.620 not only with the issue 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.559 but with the underlying 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:05.039 spiritual issues 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:06.179 which the Corinthians 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:07.039 should understand. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:07.379 You see, 00:15:07.579 --> 00:15:09.740 Paul could just say no. 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:11.500 He could just say, 00:15:11.579 --> 00:15:12.099 okay, dudes, 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:13.079 the answer is no. 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.079 Don't do it anymore. 00:15:14.579 --> 00:15:15.259 Next topic. 00:15:15.459 --> 00:15:16.199 He could do that. 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:16.860 But Paul 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:18.279 isn't just wanting to give you 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:19.740 a simple yes or no answer. 00:15:19.839 --> 00:15:21.019 He's trying to spiritually 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:23.059 form the Christians 00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:24.740 and the Christian community 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.299 in Corinth. 00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:26.860 So last week, 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:28.079 we saw how Paul 00:15:28.079 --> 00:15:28.699 said, 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:28.860 yeah, 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:29.919 the answer is no, 00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:31.659 and one of the reasons 00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.639 the answer is no 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.219 is because 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:34.560 we have an obligation 00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:36.000 to not do anything 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.700 that will obscure 00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:38.940 the gospel message. 00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:40.279 And the other thing 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:40.600 he said, 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.240 the other reason 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:41.759 it's no 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.360 is that because 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.580 we have an obligation 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.360 of love 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.540 towards those 00:15:45.540 --> 00:15:46.460 who are weak. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:48.160 And in fact, 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:50.519 super spiritual Corinthians, 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:51.899 the entire way 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.540 that you should be 00:15:52.540 --> 00:15:53.639 motivating your life 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.379 is thinking 00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:56.460 not what can I do 00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.660 because I am free, 00:15:58.060 --> 00:15:59.180 but how can I use 00:15:59.180 --> 00:15:59.920 my freedom 00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:02.080 to build other people up? 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:03.620 That's what should be 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.680 going through your mind. 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.080 And now Paul, 00:16:06.560 --> 00:16:08.340 teaching this spiritual principle, 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.240 reminding them 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.420 of the spiritual principle 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:11.740 of a Christian's obligation 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:13.100 to financially support 00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:13.960 gospel ministry 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:14.820 at home and abroad, 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:16.480 he now teaches them 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.460 an even deeper 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.700 spiritual principle 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:19.420 of purpose. 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:20.680 He says, 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:21.560 you know what, 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.060 I had this, 00:16:22.280 --> 00:16:23.900 you guys should be paying me, 00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:25.020 I have worked for free 00:16:25.020 --> 00:16:25.940 here. 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.320 Why have I worked 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:28.200 for free in Corinth? 00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:29.420 Why when I was there 00:16:29.420 --> 00:16:30.759 did I work for completely 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.680 and utterly free 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:33.179 and not even ask 00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:34.159 once for a penny, 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:35.339 even after I had formed 00:16:35.339 --> 00:16:35.899 the church? 00:16:36.459 --> 00:16:37.219 He said, 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:38.259 it's because we are 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:39.379 to be proactive 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:41.219 in sacrificing 00:16:41.219 --> 00:16:42.839 our rights and freedoms 00:16:42.839 --> 00:16:44.859 and even our money 00:16:44.859 --> 00:16:47.159 to further the proclamation 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:48.079 of the gospel. 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:50.059 We are to be proactive 00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:51.159 in sacrificing 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:52.059 our rights, 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.299 our freedoms, 00:16:53.579 --> 00:16:55.259 and even our money 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.439 to further 00:16:56.439 --> 00:16:57.620 the proclamation 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.459 of the gospel. 00:16:58.460 --> 00:17:00.480 money gets 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.240 our attention. 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.100 Okay, 00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:03.740 money gets 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.380 our attention. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.120 You know, 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.000 it's easy 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.039 for the spiritual life 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:08.500 to be about 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.519 warm fuzzies, 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.160 it's easy 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:11.319 about the spiritual life 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:13.039 to be our comfort zone, 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.019 it's easy 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.259 for our spiritual life 00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:15.860 to, you know, 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.880 that what we seek 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.819 in our spiritual life 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:18.620 is I just want to go 00:17:18.620 --> 00:17:19.559 where I am blessed, 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:20.519 I want to go 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.620 where I am fed, 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.500 I want to go 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.539 where I am filled, 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.120 I want to go 00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:25.120 where I am accepted, 00:17:25.399 --> 00:17:25.959 I want to go 00:17:25.959 --> 00:17:26.779 where I can get, 00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:27.419 I can get, 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.059 I can get, 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:28.659 I can get, 00:17:28.719 --> 00:17:29.299 I can get, 00:17:29.439 --> 00:17:30.219 and it's very, 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:30.919 very possible 00:17:30.919 --> 00:17:32.259 for the spiritual life 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.259 to descend 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.319 into a series 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.819 of warm fuzzies. 00:17:36.439 --> 00:17:37.139 In a sense, 00:17:37.219 --> 00:17:38.079 it's an inexpensive 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:39.599 form of Prozac 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:41.199 that you can just 00:17:41.199 --> 00:17:41.919 sort of come 00:17:41.919 --> 00:17:42.399 into the room, 00:17:42.439 --> 00:17:42.959 I can come 00:17:42.959 --> 00:17:43.379 into the room, 00:17:43.439 --> 00:17:43.899 I just want 00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:44.559 to be blessed, 00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:45.019 I just want 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:45.959 to be blissed, 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:46.859 I just want 00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:47.539 to receive, 00:17:48.439 --> 00:17:49.839 and I just want 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:50.519 to be free, 00:17:50.719 --> 00:17:51.139 and I just want 00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:52.039 to be left alone, 00:17:52.219 --> 00:17:52.659 and I just want 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:53.919 to do my own thing, 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.140 and what could 00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:56.320 be possibly wrong 00:17:56.320 --> 00:17:57.640 with that? 00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:58.400 You know, 00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:00.039 for us who like 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.960 contemporary music, 00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:01.580 it might be, 00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:01.720 you know, 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.440 we want the band 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:03.620 to be a better band, 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:04.220 you know, 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.180 and if you're people 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:07.240 who like the 11 o'clock 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:07.700 service, 00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:09.640 the complaint would be, 00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:10.200 you know, 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:10.860 all I want, 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.220 George, 00:18:11.320 --> 00:18:11.580 is just, 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:11.980 you know, 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.320 it used to be 00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:12.779 when people 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.759 complain about children, 00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:14.259 I just want 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.300 an hour of peace 00:18:15.300 --> 00:18:15.820 and quiet 00:18:15.820 --> 00:18:16.860 on a Sunday morning, 00:18:17.320 --> 00:18:19.240 and I don't like it 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.840 when kids make noises 00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:21.700 and bother me, 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:22.600 I just want an hour 00:18:22.600 --> 00:18:23.700 of peace and quiet, 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:23.980 you know, 00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:24.539 what's wrong 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:25.100 with that? 00:18:25.580 --> 00:18:27.039 A few spiritual 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:28.360 and uplifting thoughts. 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:32.019 Money gets our attention, 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:34.819 and so Paul is saying, 00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:35.140 listen, 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:36.200 I'm not just talking 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:36.860 about doing 00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:37.840 something emotional, 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:38.880 in a sense, 00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.700 Paul is saying, 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.600 I sacrificed, 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:42.819 I mean, 00:18:42.840 --> 00:18:43.799 in today's dollars, 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.220 you know, 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:44.819 he had a ministry 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.500 for two years 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.019 in Corinth, 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:46.900 he said, 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.039 I gave up 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:49.200 $150,000, 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.799 I gave up 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.740 $200,000, 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.160 you know, 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:52.840 whatever you think 00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:54.039 the appropriate pay 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:54.500 would be, 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.720 $120,000, 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.319 I gave up 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.440 $120,000 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.759 because I believe 00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.539 this is important. 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.420 Whoa, 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:03.840 that's a lot 00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:04.279 of money. 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:06.640 Okay, 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.420 I'm not just talking 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.620 spiritual stuff, 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.100 folks, 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.559 I'm saying, 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.620 I gave up 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:12.319 six figures. 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:16.480 I was at a church 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.339 in, 00:19:17.639 --> 00:19:18.359 now this guy 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:18.960 had some other 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:19.819 sources of money, 00:19:19.919 --> 00:19:21.099 but I was at a church 00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:22.179 a couple of years ago, 00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:23.839 and they wanted 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.299 to go into 00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:25.500 a building campaign, 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:28.700 and the minister said, 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:29.639 you know, 00:19:29.679 --> 00:19:30.480 I've talked this over 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.179 with my wife, 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:31.960 I really believe 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.700 this is important 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.419 for the church, 00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:34.779 and I want to share 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.079 with you, 00:19:35.179 --> 00:19:36.939 for the next three years, 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.439 while we're in 00:19:38.439 --> 00:19:39.539 this building campaign, 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.939 for the next three years, 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.220 I am giving up 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.940 my salary. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:45.319 That got 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.400 everybody's attention. 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:48.480 Now, 00:19:48.620 --> 00:19:49.519 he had some 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.440 other source of money, 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.039 he wasn't going 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.839 to just live on, 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.559 you know, 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.539 Kraft dinner 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.259 and crackers 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:56.100 for the next three years, 00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:57.339 but saying he was 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:57.799 going to give up 00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:58.279 his salary 00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.360 for the next three years 00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.059 because he really 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.640 believed in this, 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:01.299 that got everybody's 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:01.740 attention. 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.319 So Paul uses 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:04.039 an analogy 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.100 that gets 00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:06.559 people's attention, 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.259 doesn't matter 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.400 what culture you're in, 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:08.900 doesn't matter 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.519 what it is, 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.880 giving up money 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:12.300 gets our attention. 00:20:13.020 --> 00:20:13.740 And Paul 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.680 is saying 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.680 that we are to be, 00:20:15.760 --> 00:20:15.900 you know, 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.840 you're concerned 00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:17.720 about your freedom, 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.360 you're concerned 00:20:18.360 --> 00:20:19.300 about what you can do, 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:19.780 you're concerned 00:20:19.780 --> 00:20:20.700 about your friends. 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:21.700 In fact, 00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:22.260 folks, 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.260 we are to be 00:20:23.260 --> 00:20:23.920 proactive 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:25.360 in sacrificing 00:20:25.360 --> 00:20:26.400 our rights, 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.740 proactive 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.820 in sacrificing 00:20:28.820 --> 00:20:29.600 our freedoms, 00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:31.080 proactive 00:20:31.080 --> 00:20:31.740 in even 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.640 sacrificing 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.480 our money 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.620 to further 00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:35.720 the proclamation 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.980 of the gospel. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:38.799 Paul had discerned 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.640 that in Corinth 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:41.019 money 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:41.839 would have been 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.380 a barrier 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:43.599 and so he 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:43.980 didn't want 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.220 any. 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.819 He had discerned 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.519 that in Corinth 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.259 money was going 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:48.920 to be a really, 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:49.259 really, 00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:50.200 really big issue 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.079 so he didn't 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.620 want any. 00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:54.279 I spoke 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.099 at Ottawa 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:56.339 U Christian Fellowship 00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:57.240 on Thursday night. 00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:59.319 That's where 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:01.220 Jill from the band, 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.759 Jill from the band, 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.120 she's the 00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:04.559 intervarsity 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.380 staff worker there. 00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:08.240 It would be wrong 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.900 for her to get 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:10.120 money from the 00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:10.720 people that she 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.620 ministers to there. 00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:13.180 It would be wrong 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:14.120 for her to do that. 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.300 It would be a barrier 00:21:15.300 --> 00:21:16.040 to the gospel. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.960 Katrin from our 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.500 congregation 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.400 ministers to the 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:19.660 poor. 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.360 It would be wrong 00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:22.240 for her to try 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.840 to get money 00:21:22.840 --> 00:21:23.580 from them, 00:21:24.040 --> 00:21:24.620 even though they 00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:25.400 have a spiritual 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.160 obligation. 00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:28.480 They are to win 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.480 them for Christ 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.800 and money would 00:21:30.800 --> 00:21:31.480 be a barrier. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.180 That's why it's 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.280 important for people 00:21:34.280 --> 00:21:34.940 like us 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:36.660 to think of 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.640 ways and to 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.600 be financially 00:21:38.600 --> 00:21:39.600 generous so we 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:40.700 can provide 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:42.039 money in these 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.259 particular ministries 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:43.860 so that the 00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:44.660 gospel message 00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.340 will not be 00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:45.620 hindered. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:46.640 It's why I 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.259 shared with you 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:47.900 folks that if 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.519 you're here and 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:49.200 you're a spiritual 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:49.940 seeker, you're 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.559 our guest. 00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:51.600 You're not a 00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:52.519 revenue source. 00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:54.160 In fact, to 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:54.860 emphasize that we 00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:55.340 don't want you to 00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:55.960 put a penny in 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.080 here. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:56.620 In fact, if for 00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:57.019 the next, it 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.700 takes you five 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.559 years of spiritual 00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.340 seeking and you 00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:00.000 come here, I 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.400 don't want you to 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.559 ever put any 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.039 money in the 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:03.039 plate because the 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:04.299 plate is for 00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:04.899 people who 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:05.220 have given 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.919 their lives to 00:22:05.919 --> 00:22:06.639 Jesus Christ. 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.159 That's what the 00:22:08.159 --> 00:22:08.779 plate is for. 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.619 It's one of the 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.879 reasons, folks, why 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:13.440 every church that 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.460 I've been in, I've 00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:16.639 stopped yard 00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:18.279 sales and 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.759 cranberry fairs and 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.539 stuff like that 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.279 because I don't 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.059 believe that the 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:23.039 community should be 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.440 supporting St. 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.039 Albans. 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:26.799 people who 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:28.339 have a yard sale 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:28.879 or a rummage 00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.399 sale, it should 00:22:29.399 --> 00:22:29.920 be to raise 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:30.460 money for 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.159 missions or 00:22:31.159 --> 00:22:31.879 something like 00:22:31.879 --> 00:22:32.180 that. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.839 It should be to 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.440 give to the 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:34.799 poor. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:35.799 It should be for 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:36.539 something like 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.019 that, but it 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.700 shouldn't be to 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.440 keep our doors 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.740 open because the 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:41.099 plate is for 00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:41.659 Christians. 00:22:42.399 --> 00:22:42.859 And we should 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.599 not look at the 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.159 world as a 00:22:44.159 --> 00:22:45.000 revenue source. 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.200 We should look at 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.980 the world in 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.440 terms of how can 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.279 we share the 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.799 gospel and how 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.920 can we move 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:53.279 barriers that 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.420 hinder the 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:55.420 proclamation of 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:56.380 the gospel and 00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:57.220 people coming to 00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:57.720 know Jesus 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.200 Christ. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.860 Paul is in 00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:03.539 effect teaching 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.380 us to use our 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:05.480 freedom to 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.960 enter into the 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:08.420 big purpose, 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:09.940 big purposes 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.140 which come from 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:12.360 God, which are 00:23:12.360 --> 00:23:13.880 to give shape to 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.620 our lives. 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.720 We are to use 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.560 our freedom to 00:23:17.560 --> 00:23:18.500 enter into the 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.840 big purposes of 00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:21.019 God, which are 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:22.300 to shape our 00:23:22.300 --> 00:23:22.740 life. 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:22.859 life. 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.799 And then 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.660 finally in this 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.539 text, Paul 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.319 talks about yet 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:28.240 another spiritual 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.319 principle, another 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.319 deep spiritual 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.099 principle of 00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.559 purpose. 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:32.980 And it is to 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.640 pray that our 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.559 church is never 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.579 without people who 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:37.339 will cross cultural 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:39.400 divides to speak 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:40.059 the gospel. 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.380 Pray that our 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.180 church is never 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:43.160 without people who 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:44.839 will cross cultural 00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:46.400 divides to speak 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.019 the gospel. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.440 Look at verse 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.120 22. 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:51.359 Actually, we'll 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:51.819 look at verse 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:53.279 19, this last 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.279 spiritual principle 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:54.939 in the text. 00:23:55.679 --> 00:23:56.419 Though I am free 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.279 and belong to no 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.039 one, I have made 00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:59.240 myself a slave to 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.619 everyone to win as 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.579 many as possible. 00:24:01.699 --> 00:24:02.399 To the Jews, I 00:24:02.399 --> 00:24:03.919 became like a Jew to 00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:04.539 win the Jews. 00:24:04.939 --> 00:24:05.619 To those under the 00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:06.459 law, I became like 00:24:06.459 --> 00:24:07.139 one under the law, 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.199 though I myself am 00:24:08.199 --> 00:24:09.000 not under the law. 00:24:09.379 --> 00:24:10.519 So as to win those 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.619 under the law, to 00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:12.719 those not having the 00:24:12.719 --> 00:24:13.959 law, I became like 00:24:13.959 --> 00:24:14.919 one not having the 00:24:14.919 --> 00:24:15.099 law. 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.559 Though I am not free 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:18.059 from God's law, but 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:19.240 I'm under Christ's law. 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:20.779 So as to win those 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:22.120 not having the law. 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.579 To the weak, I 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:25.120 became weak to win 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:25.620 the weak. 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:26.900 Here's the thing. 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.519 I have become all 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:30.299 things to all people 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.660 so that by all 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:33.579 possible means I 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.599 might save some. 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.620 I do all this for 00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:37.299 the sake of the 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.099 gospel that I might 00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.599 share in its 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.000 blessings. 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.400 Verse 22 again. 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.140 To the weak, I 00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:42.240 became weak to win 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:42.660 the weak. 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:44.059 I have become all 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:45.259 things to all people 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.500 so that by all 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:48.180 possible means I 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:49.160 might save some. 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:51.700 Hudson Taylor in the 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:53.099 19th century caused 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.519 a huge scandal. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.339 He felt called to 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.220 bring the gospel to 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:57.819 the Chinese. 00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.700 And he went to 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.140 China. 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:01.960 And earlier 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.980 missionaries had 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.400 lived like Englishmen 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.779 or like Americans 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.940 in China. 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.500 And Hudson Taylor 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.180 went there and 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:10.200 quickly realized that 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:10.740 he had to do 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.559 something different. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.120 So he grew his 00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:14.740 hair long and he 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.400 put it in a 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.680 ponytail so he 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.259 would look like 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:18.220 Chinese men of the 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.539 time. 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.600 And he wore 00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:21.360 Chinese dress and 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:22.299 he ate Chinese 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.740 meals and he 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.940 crossed the 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.880 cultural divide. 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.620 It wasn't just 00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:27.200 enough that he 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.079 had left England 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:29.539 to go to China to 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.380 share the gospel. 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.819 But he didn't want 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.600 to have people 00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:33.600 become English. 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:35.259 He wanted to have 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:36.240 people come to 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.700 Christ. 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.740 And so because he 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.500 wanted people to 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.460 come to Christ, he 00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.759 realized that he'd 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.660 come all the way 00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.559 from England to 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.000 China. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.259 But on one level 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:46.079 he hadn't yet 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.039 come to China. 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.440 And so he grew 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.960 his hair long, he 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:50.539 learned the 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.559 language, he 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:53.200 dressed Chinese, he 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:54.900 ate Chinese, and he 00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:56.039 shared the gospel in 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.460 Chinese. 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.500 And so Paul here is 00:25:58.500 --> 00:26:01.319 not saying that he's 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:02.660 saying, he's not 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.519 saying here that we 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.440 have to change the 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:04.839 message. 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.460 You know, he's not 00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.279 saying, gosh, you 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.359 know, the idea that 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:08.519 Jesus died for our 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.740 sins, that he is the 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:11.819 one who, you know, 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.779 who opened the door 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.819 to heaven, opened 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.539 the way to heaven, 00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:15.379 that he is the one 00:26:15.379 --> 00:26:16.700 who can, you know, 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:18.019 transport us to the 00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:19.259 Father's side, that, 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:20.960 you know, he bore our 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.579 sin and rebellion. 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.339 Paul isn't saying 00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:23.220 that's a complicated 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.099 message for the 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:25.439 world today, so go 00:26:25.439 --> 00:26:26.500 ahead and change it 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.639 and do whatever you 00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:28.179 want to have. 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.099 You know, Paul is 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:30.079 saying the message 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:30.960 doesn't change at 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.099 all. 00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:32.399 The gospel is 00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:33.099 unchanging. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.019 He's also saying, he's 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.720 not saying that we 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.480 should be immoral. 00:26:36.679 --> 00:26:37.419 He's not saying if you 00:26:37.419 --> 00:26:38.299 want to evangelize 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.299 bank robbers, start 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.259 robbing banks. 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.559 He's not saying 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.160 that at all. 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.539 He says, you don't 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:45.279 change the message, you 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:47.539 don't become immoral, but 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:49.119 listen, be willing to 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:50.180 change your location. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.660 Be willing to change 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.559 the way you dress. 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.440 Be willing to change 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.740 the type of music you 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.140 use. 00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:59.019 Be willing to learn a 00:26:59.019 --> 00:27:00.039 different language. 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:02.379 Be willing to change 00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:03.700 your hair. 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.579 You know, if some of us 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.680 feel an obligation, you 00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.759 know, if we feel a 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:09.079 calling to evangelize 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:11.000 goths, then you know 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:11.199 what? 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.119 We should look like a 00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:12.559 goth. 00:27:14.139 --> 00:27:15.339 Some of us might be 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.500 called to look like a 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.740 goth, to enter into that 00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:19.639 goth subculture so we 00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:20.720 can meet people and 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.659 befriend people and 00:27:21.659 --> 00:27:22.859 share the gospel with 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.019 them. 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.619 We don't sit in judgment 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:25.639 and say, look at those 00:27:25.639 --> 00:27:26.439 silly and ridiculous 00:27:26.439 --> 00:27:27.019 people. 00:27:27.139 --> 00:27:28.679 Look how they dress and 00:27:28.679 --> 00:27:29.879 look down our noses at 00:27:29.879 --> 00:27:30.159 people. 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.439 Anytime we look down our 00:27:31.439 --> 00:27:32.439 nose at a person like 00:27:32.439 --> 00:27:33.639 that, we are not speaking 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.919 as a disciple of Jesus 00:27:34.919 --> 00:27:35.500 Christ. 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.480 And we should pray that 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:39.259 we as a congregation are 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.799 never without people who 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:42.500 are willing to cross the 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:45.299 cultural divides to speak 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:45.960 the gospel. 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:47.519 The Christian faith is a 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:49.980 go-to faith, not a 00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:51.900 come-to religion. 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.740 Let's bow our heads in 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:53.980 prayer. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.900 Father, I confess before 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:06.920 you, I like being 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.540 comfortable. 00:28:08.300 --> 00:28:10.100 I confess before you, I 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:11.080 don't like making 00:28:11.080 --> 00:28:11.960 sacrifices. 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:14.360 Father, I confess before 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.840 you that I like comfort 00:28:15.840 --> 00:28:17.560 zones and I don't like to 00:28:17.560 --> 00:28:18.240 be stretched. 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.840 And I confess to you at 00:28:19.840 --> 00:28:21.120 the same time, Father, that 00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:22.280 I acknowledge that these 00:28:22.280 --> 00:28:23.620 things can become great 00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:27.240 sins in me and great 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:30.380 sources of rebellion 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:31.300 against you. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.800 Father, may your Holy 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:35.759 Spirit fall upon us afresh. 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:39.299 Fall upon us afresh so 00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:41.099 that we might know your 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.500 purpose for our lives. 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:45.299 Father, grant us a heart 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:46.599 for other people, a love 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.519 for other people, an 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.859 ability to pray for other 00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.299 people. 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:51.319 Grant us, Father, an 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:53.079 ability not only to make 00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.940 good money, but to be very, 00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:56.799 very generous in furthering 00:28:57.440 --> 00:29:00.079 gospel ministry and gospel 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:03.439 outreach, not only amongst 00:29:03.439 --> 00:29:04.740 our neighbors and those who 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.559 are our friends. 00:29:06.199 --> 00:29:07.599 Father, help us to pray for 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:07.899 them. 00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:10.099 But, Father, grant us a 00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:11.720 heart for those who are in 00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:13.159 different cultures that are 00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:14.799 across a divide from us. 00:29:14.919 --> 00:29:16.599 And, Father, show us the 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:18.599 ways that we can prayerfully 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:19.899 support and financially 00:29:19.899 --> 00:29:22.019 support and maybe even 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.899 physically go across those 00:29:23.899 --> 00:29:25.339 divides to share the gospel. 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:27.419 Father, give us such a heart. 00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:29.300 This we ask in the name of 00:29:29.300 --> 00:29:30.840 Jesus, your Son and our 00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:31.180 Savior. 00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.000 Amen.