WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.679 Good morning, Watermark. The scripture today comes from 1 Corinthians 1, verses 10-17. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:10.160 Please follow along on your bulletin or on the screen. 00:00:11.200 --> 00:00:13.780 Starting from verse 10, we read, 00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:18.740 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:23.559 that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, 00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:27.820 but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:35.100 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:44.340 What I mean is that each one of you says, I follow Paul, or I follow Apollos, or I follow Cephas, or I follow Christ. 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:49.219 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:52.039 Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:57.700 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius. 00:00:58.219 --> 00:01:01.439 So that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:05.099 I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:09.260 Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. 00:01:10.519 --> 00:01:14.260 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel. 00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:23.200 This is the word of God. 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:25.420 Great. Thanks, Iris. 00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:28.219 Let's pray together as we come to this passage. 00:01:28.980 --> 00:01:35.980 Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, as we sang this morning, God, come and be the center. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:38.100 God, be the center of our church. 00:01:38.700 --> 00:01:40.320 Be the center of our lives. 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:43.560 God, we want the foundation of this church. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:46.840 We want the essence and the center of Watermark to be you, God. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:48.600 Your word and your gospel. 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:53.640 And so I pray as we look at your word and try and make sense of it, won't you speak to us, God? 00:01:53.679 --> 00:01:55.119 Won't you speak to each one of us? 00:01:55.500 --> 00:01:59.099 For those that have been at Watermark for many years and for those that maybe it's their first time, 00:01:59.699 --> 00:02:04.399 God, we pray that you, the living God, will speak to us. 00:02:05.099 --> 00:02:05.959 Show us yourself. 00:02:06.199 --> 00:02:08.219 Reveal more of yourself to us, we pray. 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:10.259 In your great and wonderful name. 00:02:11.079 --> 00:02:11.439 Amen. 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:11.599 Amen. 00:02:13.859 --> 00:02:16.939 I want to start off with a confession. 00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:22.520 And I've confessed this sin to some of you before, so some of you may know the story. 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:27.740 Our family has been in Watermark or has been in Hong Kong six and a half years. 00:02:28.500 --> 00:02:34.419 And we came here six and a half years ago to join Watermark Church, for me to join the start here. 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:37.319 And it has been a wonderful six and a half years. 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:38.979 It has really been great. 00:02:38.979 --> 00:02:42.619 And the very best thing about it has been Watermark Church. 00:02:43.060 --> 00:02:46.219 This family has been a real family to our little family. 00:02:46.799 --> 00:02:48.159 And we have loved it. 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:54.159 But when we moved to Hong Kong six and a half years ago, I was 33 years old at the time. 00:02:56.179 --> 00:03:00.560 Which means I was fairly young to be leading a church. 00:03:00.780 --> 00:03:03.339 Not young anymore, but once upon a time I was very young. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:09.560 And when I stepped into this role, I guess as senior pastor at Watermark, I was very young. 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:10.719 I was very inexperienced. 00:03:11.159 --> 00:03:12.259 But I was also very insecure. 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:16.900 I didn't really know what I was doing about anything. 00:03:17.020 --> 00:03:17.860 I didn't know how to preach. 00:03:17.920 --> 00:03:18.740 I didn't know how to lead. 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:20.240 I didn't really know anything. 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:23.080 And you may question whether I know anything at the moment. 00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:24.740 That's a conversation we can have later. 00:03:24.900 --> 00:03:27.099 But at the time, I certainly didn't know anything. 00:03:27.099 --> 00:03:30.539 And I think in my heart, I was very aware of it. 00:03:31.539 --> 00:03:33.000 And so I was very insecure. 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:38.579 Each Sunday, I was convinced the only people that were going to be here was the band, the staff, and the elders. 00:03:38.699 --> 00:03:39.859 Because they kind of had to be here. 00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:41.879 And I was convinced no one else was going to be here. 00:03:41.939 --> 00:03:46.219 And so if you've been here for six and a half, seven years, you are amazingly gracious. 00:03:47.139 --> 00:03:49.340 But here's the question. 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:51.120 What do insecure people do? 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:57.000 Insecure people tend to struggle to see the good in others. 00:03:57.980 --> 00:04:02.439 Because if you see the good in others, then that just exasperates your deficiencies, right? 00:04:02.939 --> 00:04:07.620 Insecure people criticize others who see things differently from themselves. 00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:11.120 Insecure people tend to get into tribes. 00:04:11.900 --> 00:04:14.020 They find people that think similarly to themselves. 00:04:14.540 --> 00:04:20.079 And then they and their tribes criticize others who think differently as a way of boosting their own self-esteem 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:23.099 and make themselves think good about themselves. 00:04:24.219 --> 00:04:27.180 Insecure people keep on telling themselves that they are right. 00:04:27.300 --> 00:04:28.279 They see the truth. 00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:30.180 And everybody else is wrong. 00:04:31.019 --> 00:04:33.779 And so in order to feel better about myself and my obvious faults, 00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:39.699 one of the things I would sometimes find myself doing is I would listen to sermons from other churches 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:42.159 and then I would scoff at them. 00:04:43.099 --> 00:04:45.299 And I would privately think things like, 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:47.860 Oh my goodness, they are not gospel-centered at all. 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:50.340 That is not an expositional sermon. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:52.500 They didn't even get to Jesus. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:55.439 And all sorts of other ridiculous things. 00:04:55.980 --> 00:04:59.720 Now, it's one thing for someone to do that privately, 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:01.980 to listen to something and privately think, 00:05:02.460 --> 00:05:04.100 Hmm, I'm not so sure if I agree with it. 00:05:04.500 --> 00:05:06.900 But insecure people don't just like to think it privately. 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:10.199 They've got to tell other people to make themselves look good. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:15.519 And so I would find myself talking about other churches and other pastors. 00:05:16.339 --> 00:05:22.060 And I would do that in order to boost and bolster my own insecurities and fears. 00:05:22.939 --> 00:05:24.279 And so sometimes I would say, you know, 00:05:24.699 --> 00:05:26.399 That church is not very gospel-centered. 00:05:27.039 --> 00:05:29.199 That church doesn't preach expositional sermons. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:35.180 And one day I found myself talking to two people saying these very humble words. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:38.500 I listened to Pastor So-and-So sermon, 00:05:38.860 --> 00:05:41.319 and it was one of the worst sermons I've ever listened to. 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:49.219 That coming from a 33-year-old self-congratulatory schmuck 00:05:49.219 --> 00:05:52.120 who didn't actually know anything at all. 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:55.340 And actually, if I'm honest, now in retrospect, 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:58.780 Pastor So-and-So is actually a really good man. 00:05:58.899 --> 00:06:00.980 And he's actually done a great job here in Hong Kong. 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:04.379 Now, I'll tell you how the story ends a little bit later. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:06.639 But, friends, do you know why this, 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:08.899 if you're new to Watermark, you might be a bit freaked out 00:06:08.899 --> 00:06:09.759 and never want to come back. 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:10.240 That's okay. 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:12.720 But, friends, here's my question. 00:06:12.840 --> 00:06:15.579 Do you know why there's so much division and conflict in churches? 00:06:16.579 --> 00:06:19.899 Do you know why churches, there's fighting and there's disagreements? 00:06:19.899 --> 00:06:23.239 Why do churches and denominations not get along 00:06:23.239 --> 00:06:26.159 and churches bad-mouth one another? 00:06:27.299 --> 00:06:30.739 I think the reason is because fear and insecurity 00:06:30.739 --> 00:06:32.859 and pride and self-centeredness 00:06:32.859 --> 00:06:36.179 is such a real part of our human hearts 00:06:36.179 --> 00:06:38.659 and church leaders as well. 00:06:38.719 --> 00:06:42.060 And we find it so much easier to retreat into our own little tribe 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:44.579 and to find people that maybe agree with us 00:06:44.579 --> 00:06:49.179 and we, together, find joy in criticizing the church down the road 00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:50.439 or the pastor down the road 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:52.800 or that group and that people down the road. 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:56.579 And so that's something of what we see in the book of 1 Corinthians. 00:06:56.780 --> 00:06:58.939 And so we're going to look at 1 Corinthians. 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:01.360 If you're new, we are preaching through this book of the Bible 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:02.540 over the next couple of months. 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:06.579 And in the city of Corinth, the church there, 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:09.420 the church is a small church, maybe 30 or 40 people, 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:11.920 but there are factions, there are groups, there are divisions. 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:13.500 There's this group of people 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:15.519 and they don't get along with that group of people. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:19.060 And there's lots of division and faction going along in the church. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:22.000 And so the Apostle Paul writes this letter to him 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:23.399 and he wants to address it. 00:07:23.479 --> 00:07:24.839 And so he does three things. 00:07:24.979 --> 00:07:26.479 And again, I'm sorry, I don't have slides, 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:28.319 but he makes an appeal. 00:07:29.419 --> 00:07:31.399 Second, he exposes the problem. 00:07:32.039 --> 00:07:33.939 And then thirdly, he gives a prescription. 00:07:34.159 --> 00:07:36.240 He gives a solution, an answer to their problem. 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:37.199 So let's look at the first one. 00:07:37.299 --> 00:07:41.459 He makes an appeal and he appeals for unity and agreement. 00:07:41.659 --> 00:07:43.180 Look at what he says here in verse 10. 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:44.259 He says, 00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:46.199 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.319 by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:50.180 that all of you agree 00:07:50.180 --> 00:07:53.120 and that there be no more divisions amongst you, 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:55.620 but that you be knighted in the same heart 00:07:55.620 --> 00:07:56.800 and the same judgment. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:07:59.540 Okay, so this is Paul's appeal. 00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:01.639 Now remember, last week he said, 00:08:01.960 --> 00:08:04.079 he said Jesus is the head of the church. 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:05.840 Jesus is the one who's leading the church. 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:07.899 Jesus is at work in the church. 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:10.780 But just because Christ is at work in the church 00:08:10.779 --> 00:08:13.439 doesn't mean that everybody else doesn't do anything. 00:08:14.059 --> 00:08:15.799 He says, Christ is at work. 00:08:15.919 --> 00:08:18.459 He's given you gifts to grow you and sustain you 00:08:18.459 --> 00:08:19.439 and carry you to the end. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:21.219 But you've got to also do something. 00:08:21.799 --> 00:08:23.179 And what do they need to do? 00:08:23.679 --> 00:08:25.339 They need to be in agreement. 00:08:25.479 --> 00:08:26.419 They need to come together. 00:08:26.559 --> 00:08:28.299 They need to put away their factions 00:08:28.299 --> 00:08:29.979 and mend their splits 00:08:29.979 --> 00:08:31.339 and deal with the ruptures 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:32.699 and be united. 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:36.240 And this is not just a superficial unity like, 00:08:36.820 --> 00:08:38.220 hey, let's all wear blue clothing 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:39.960 or let's all, you know, you like tennis, 00:08:40.060 --> 00:08:40.780 I like tennis. 00:08:41.160 --> 00:08:43.680 This is a deep-seated, profound unity. 00:08:44.340 --> 00:08:46.820 He says, be united in the same mind, 00:08:47.220 --> 00:08:48.120 the same judgment. 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:49.860 Another translation says, 00:08:50.300 --> 00:08:51.780 be of the same convictions. 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:52.340 In other words, 00:08:52.700 --> 00:08:55.520 the deep-seated foundation of this church 00:08:55.520 --> 00:08:57.580 come together and be one. 00:08:57.580 --> 00:09:01.620 Now, this is obviously not suggesting 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:04.580 that churches should just be uniform, right? 00:09:04.980 --> 00:09:06.780 We should all just be the same culture. 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:09.480 We should all just look, address, and act 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:11.000 and talk exactly the same. 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:12.540 That's not a good idea at all. 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:15.240 One of the things we love about Watermark 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:17.180 is the diverse cultures and ethnicities 00:09:17.180 --> 00:09:18.320 and languages and people 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:19.340 from all over the place. 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:21.460 And one of the things that's beautiful about that 00:09:21.460 --> 00:09:22.980 is it's a picture of heaven. 00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:24.920 Heaven's going to be like that one day. 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:27.560 And so diversity is not the issue. 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:28.259 Paul's not saying, 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:29.300 let's just be uniform. 00:09:30.040 --> 00:09:30.480 He's saying, 00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:31.900 in our diversity, 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:33.440 let's be united. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:34.500 Let's be of the same heart, 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:35.360 the same mind. 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:38.160 And so Paul appeals for unity. 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:40.220 But now, 00:09:40.340 --> 00:09:41.860 why is there division in the church? 00:09:41.920 --> 00:09:43.080 What's going on here? 00:09:43.900 --> 00:09:45.780 Well, the problem is pride 00:09:45.780 --> 00:09:48.379 and selfishness in the people. 00:09:49.300 --> 00:09:51.139 Pride and selfishness are leading to division. 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:53.160 Look at verse 11 and 12 with me. 00:09:53.300 --> 00:09:53.600 He says, 00:09:54.300 --> 00:09:55.860 For it has been reported to me 00:09:55.860 --> 00:09:57.200 by Chloe's people, 00:09:57.580 --> 00:09:59.440 Chloe is obviously someone in the church, 00:09:59.540 --> 00:09:59.980 someone current, 00:10:00.300 --> 00:10:01.900 that there's quarreling amongst you, 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:02.540 my brothers. 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:03.139 Okay? 00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:03.379 So, 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:05.360 it's not just different points of view 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:06.759 or different personal preferences. 00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:08.180 There's antagonism. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:09.300 There's rivalry. 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:10.379 The one translation says, 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:11.720 there's rivalry amongst you. 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:13.480 There's not just different opinions. 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:15.780 They are competing against each other. 00:10:16.300 --> 00:10:17.200 They are in opposition. 00:10:17.560 --> 00:10:18.020 Verse 12. 00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:20.600 For what I mean is that each one of you says, 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:21.779 I follow Paul. 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:22.939 I follow Apollos. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:24.019 I follow Cephas. 00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:25.240 I follow Christ. 00:10:26.179 --> 00:10:26.559 So, 00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:27.079 there's division. 00:10:27.220 --> 00:10:27.679 There's camps. 00:10:27.939 --> 00:10:29.379 There's all these little groups 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:30.480 that follow different people. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:32.919 But that just seems really strange. 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:33.159 I mean, 00:10:33.199 --> 00:10:34.240 why were they doing that? 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:34.639 I mean, 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:35.639 imagine that in Watermark, 00:10:35.699 --> 00:10:35.899 right? 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:37.460 I follow Alan. 00:10:37.659 --> 00:10:39.019 And I'm Jeremy's man. 00:10:39.079 --> 00:10:39.939 And I like Neil. 00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:40.779 He's my guy, 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:41.120 right? 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:42.579 That would just be weird. 00:10:43.220 --> 00:10:43.320 So, 00:10:43.400 --> 00:10:44.600 what's going on here? 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:46.000 Well, 00:10:46.020 --> 00:10:46.280 remember, 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:49.180 the city of Corinth was in Greece. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:52.360 But it was also part of the Roman Empire. 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:52.600 So, 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:55.240 there's this influx of Greek and Roman cultures. 00:10:55.940 --> 00:10:59.240 One of the pervading things about Roman culture in that day 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:01.200 is the idea of patronage. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:01.759 Okay? 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:05.200 Patronage is when you have a wealthy, 00:11:05.800 --> 00:11:06.360 sophisticated, 00:11:06.780 --> 00:11:08.200 maybe upper class person. 00:11:08.280 --> 00:11:09.280 They're called a patron. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:11.360 And if you unite yourself 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:13.180 or attach yourself to that person, 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:14.580 you serve them, 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:16.220 you vote for them in elections, 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:17.279 you give them loyalty. 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:18.940 You can enter this, 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:21.220 what's called a patron-client relationship. 00:11:21.419 --> 00:11:22.539 And you become the client, 00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:23.419 they become the patron. 00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:24.899 And you support them 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:26.200 and you're loyal towards them. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:29.580 And they offer you access to privileges. 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:32.440 They give you status in society. 00:11:32.680 --> 00:11:34.039 You can kind of follow them. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:36.639 You get buried in their family's grave spot. 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:39.180 You kind of join their family in a way. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:40.100 And so, 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:41.279 in Roman culture, 00:11:41.379 --> 00:11:42.240 there are all these patrons 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:43.279 and all the other people 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:44.759 are trying to unite themselves 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:45.680 to wealthy, 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:46.519 sophisticated, 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:47.759 upper class people 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:49.960 as a way of elevating their own status. 00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:52.540 Elevating their own value 00:11:52.540 --> 00:11:54.420 and being praiseworthy in society. 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:56.700 Becoming more powerful and respected. 00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:59.659 And that's what seems to be going on here. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:00.300 So, 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:01.220 there are all these members 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:02.399 in the church 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:03.700 and they are acting 00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:05.500 just like the culture of their day. 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:06.340 And so, 00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:07.080 one guy says, 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:08.200 I follow Paul. 00:12:08.300 --> 00:12:09.060 He's my patron. 00:12:09.160 --> 00:12:09.879 He's my guy. 00:12:10.420 --> 00:12:11.080 And who's Paul? 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:12.720 He's the guy who started the church. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:15.100 He's the guy who maybe led many of them to Christ. 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:16.460 But others are saying, 00:12:16.520 --> 00:12:16.720 no, no, 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:17.900 I like Apollos. 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:18.720 He's my guy. 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:19.540 Well, 00:12:19.560 --> 00:12:20.300 who's Apollos? 00:12:20.940 --> 00:12:21.120 Well, 00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:23.080 Apollos is probably someone who's Greek. 00:12:23.800 --> 00:12:23.980 And, 00:12:24.020 --> 00:12:25.620 in the book of Acts, 00:12:25.680 --> 00:12:27.400 it tells us that he went to Corinth. 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:28.580 He spent a lot of time there. 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:30.720 But the book of Acts also tells us 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:33.420 he was a very eloquent speaker. 00:12:33.900 --> 00:12:35.360 He was a very powerful speaker. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:37.100 He was a natural orator. 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:39.740 And if you remember anything about Greek culture, 00:12:40.160 --> 00:12:41.700 remember Greeks loved philosophy 00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:42.540 and oratory 00:12:42.540 --> 00:12:43.639 and public speaking. 00:12:44.280 --> 00:12:44.820 And that's why 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:46.280 Greek philosophers like 00:12:46.280 --> 00:12:48.220 Aristotle and Plato 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:49.600 and Socrates, 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:50.700 all these famous philosophers, 00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:52.040 they loved public speaking. 00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:52.700 They loved debate. 00:12:52.700 --> 00:12:53.540 They loved oratory. 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:54.440 And so, 00:12:54.660 --> 00:12:55.180 these guys, 00:12:55.400 --> 00:12:56.800 they meet Apollos 00:12:56.800 --> 00:12:57.960 and he's a public speaker. 00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:59.180 He's very good. 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.420 He's very sophisticated. 00:13:01.060 --> 00:13:01.379 And they say, 00:13:01.400 --> 00:13:01.840 Apollos, 00:13:01.920 --> 00:13:02.660 he's our guy. 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:04.220 And they align themselves with him. 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.500 And then the others, 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:05.860 they'll say, 00:13:05.920 --> 00:13:06.200 no, no, 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:06.680 Cephas, 00:13:06.800 --> 00:13:07.519 he's our guy. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.259 Cephas is the Aramaic name for Peter, 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:11.360 the disciple of Jesus. 00:13:11.900 --> 00:13:12.920 And why did they like him? 00:13:13.400 --> 00:13:13.620 Well, 00:13:13.660 --> 00:13:15.879 maybe because he was one of the original 12. 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:16.820 As they say, 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:16.940 well, 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:17.300 you know, 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.440 Paul wasn't one of the 12. 00:13:18.560 --> 00:13:19.639 Apollos wasn't one of the 12. 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:20.240 But Cephas, 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:21.740 he's one of Jesus' disciples. 00:13:22.280 --> 00:13:22.440 So, 00:13:22.540 --> 00:13:23.220 he's our guy. 00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:24.320 But also, 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:24.780 Peter, 00:13:24.920 --> 00:13:25.259 remember, 00:13:25.420 --> 00:13:26.960 he was the apostle to the Jews. 00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:27.600 And Peter, 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:29.840 Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:30.639 And so, 00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:32.040 maybe there's some Jews in the congregation. 00:13:32.560 --> 00:13:34.300 And they get around Cephas, 00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:35.639 and they go and have lunch at his house. 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:37.639 And they go and hang out with him. 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:39.879 But then the last one's a bit tricky. 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:41.320 Because look at what the last one says. 00:13:41.680 --> 00:13:42.519 Some people say, 00:13:42.920 --> 00:13:43.100 oh, 00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:44.180 we follow Jesus. 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:45.440 We follow the Christ. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:46.639 And you think, 00:13:46.680 --> 00:13:46.759 well, 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:47.980 that's not a bad thing. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:50.180 That's surely what we want everyone to say, 00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:50.500 right? 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:51.940 If you've been a watermark, 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:54.500 that's what we should all be saying. 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:56.100 We follow Christ. 00:13:56.100 --> 00:13:57.100 Jesus, 00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:59.379 this is Jesus' church. 00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:00.460 What's wrong with saying? 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.300 We follow Jesus. 00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:03.700 But the problem is, 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.100 that actually, 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:05.740 they weren't all following Jesus. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.040 They weren't at all. 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:09.580 The problem is, 00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:12.060 that they've turned Jesus into their patron. 00:14:12.560 --> 00:14:13.440 Their kind of leader, 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:15.500 with which to bolster themselves. 00:14:16.560 --> 00:14:17.600 Jesus had just become, 00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:19.300 one of many of their patrons, 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:20.120 one of their leaders. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:21.480 Just one of a choice, 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.500 of a whole bunch of people. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.919 And so, 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.299 even this faction, 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:25.779 the church, 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:27.340 they weren't really following Jesus. 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:28.580 They were just using him, 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:30.740 for their own selfish ambition. 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:32.620 Their own selfish gain. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:33.799 You see, 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.100 if they really were following Christ, 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:35.779 what would they do? 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.360 They wouldn't get in a faction, 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:37.580 say, 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:38.659 we're the Jesus people. 00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:41.159 They would cross over the aisle, 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:42.139 to others and say, 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:43.200 hey guys, 00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:44.740 Christ is the center of this church. 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:46.240 Let's be united together, 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:46.899 around Jesus. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.600 But what are they doing? 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.580 They've aligned themselves, 00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:50.060 to Jesus, 00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:50.780 as a way of, 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.320 growing their own status. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.780 Elevating themselves. 00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:54.940 Jesus has become, 00:14:55.060 --> 00:14:56.220 just another patron, 00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:57.600 not their king, 00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.280 and their master. 00:14:59.420 --> 00:14:59.940 You see friends, 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:01.620 Jesus had become, 00:15:01.800 --> 00:15:02.700 just another part, 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:04.320 of the organizational charge, 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:05.020 of this church. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.020 So you've got Peter, 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:06.840 and you've got Paul, 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:07.700 and you've got Apollos, 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.480 and you've got Jesus. 00:15:09.160 --> 00:15:10.220 Just another piece, 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:10.940 of the puzzle. 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:12.720 And so maybe like us, 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.100 at Watermark, 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:13.480 you might say, 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.000 okay we've got, 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.759 we've got mission, 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.580 and evangelism. 00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:16.560 Okay that's one piece, 00:15:16.660 --> 00:15:17.060 of the pie. 00:15:17.400 --> 00:15:18.300 And we've got kids, 00:15:18.400 --> 00:15:18.680 and youth. 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:19.500 That's another piece, 00:15:19.579 --> 00:15:19.919 of the pie. 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:20.359 And we've got, 00:15:20.359 --> 00:15:21.339 discipleship, 00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:21.859 and CG, 00:15:22.099 --> 00:15:23.000 and we've got preaching, 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.779 and we've got community groups, 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:25.659 and then we've got, 00:15:25.719 --> 00:15:27.399 we've got Jesus over here, 00:15:27.579 --> 00:15:28.219 and we've got, 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:29.879 some other thing over here. 00:15:30.099 --> 00:15:30.979 And Jesus becomes, 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.000 just one piece, 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.579 of the pie. 00:15:33.079 --> 00:15:34.059 We do many things, 00:15:34.099 --> 00:15:34.459 as a church. 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:35.439 We do social justice, 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:36.339 yeah that's important. 00:15:36.819 --> 00:15:37.620 We look after the poor, 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:38.259 and the marginalized, 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.879 and we want to follow Jesus. 00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:41.419 He's one of many things, 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:41.879 that we do. 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.639 And what Paul, 00:15:43.719 --> 00:15:44.419 is saying here, 00:15:44.579 --> 00:15:45.419 is that if Christ, 00:15:45.479 --> 00:15:46.620 is just one piece, 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.039 of the puzzle, 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.219 one slice of the pie, 00:15:48.920 --> 00:15:49.980 not the center, 00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:51.480 oh there's trouble. 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:53.220 There's going to be division. 00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:54.620 Because what happens, 00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.420 when these people say, 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.560 no no social justice, 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:57.660 that's what we've really, 00:15:57.800 --> 00:15:58.460 got to focus on. 00:15:58.820 --> 00:15:59.379 And someone else, 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.399 there's no community groups, 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.279 that's what we've got, 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:01.940 to focus on. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:02.800 Someone else, 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.680 there's no Bible handling, 00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:05.220 that's the most important thing. 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:06.560 And Jesus says, 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.480 actually unless, 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:08.540 I'm at the center, 00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:09.340 empowering, 00:16:09.540 --> 00:16:10.259 and animating, 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.560 and renewing, 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.980 every other section, 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:14.100 what you're going to do, 00:16:14.160 --> 00:16:14.899 is these sections, 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:15.560 are going to become, 00:16:15.560 --> 00:16:16.560 fractures. 00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:17.139 They're going to become, 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:18.100 a cause for division. 00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.059 They're going to, 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:19.679 you're going to fight, 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:20.559 against each other. 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:21.759 Friends, 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:22.480 Jesus had become, 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.519 just another patron, 00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:24.659 another one, 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.659 to align themselves with, 00:16:25.699 --> 00:16:26.980 to advance their own status, 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:27.740 their position, 00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:29.159 their commercial interests. 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:30.519 But Jesus doesn't want, 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.120 to be a patron, 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.199 he wants to be our savior. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:34.019 He wants to be the king. 00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:35.379 He wants to be the one, 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:35.879 that we all, 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:37.080 bow down before. 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:39.039 Jesus isn't someone, 00:16:39.179 --> 00:16:40.299 you simply serve, 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:40.980 like a patron, 00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:42.039 and then get something, 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:42.679 in return. 00:16:43.059 --> 00:16:43.759 Quid for quo, 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:46.039 I'll give you Jesus, 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:46.919 something you give me. 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.039 Jesus says, 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:49.279 I am the king, 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:50.960 I am the lord, 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.620 I am the master, 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:53.740 around which, 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.360 everything else, 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.100 orientates itself. 00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.120 Jesus says, 00:16:59.159 --> 00:16:59.919 this is my church, 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.519 I purchased her, 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:02.019 with my blood. 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.740 I sanctified them, 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.579 I made them holy. 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:07.680 See friends, 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.900 what divided these Christians, 00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:09.539 wasn't, 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:11.200 theological conviction, 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:11.920 wasn't like, 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.500 some people said, 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.000 these guys preach the gospel, 00:17:14.100 --> 00:17:14.980 these guys do something else. 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:15.680 Sometimes, 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.140 sometimes as Christians, 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.060 you might need to divide, 00:17:18.120 --> 00:17:18.779 along those lines. 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.539 If somebody is preaching, 00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:21.279 or teaching something, 00:17:21.360 --> 00:17:22.560 that is against the bible, 00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:23.980 or making God out, 00:17:24.060 --> 00:17:24.620 to do something, 00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:25.160 that is not, 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:26.080 or say something is not, 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:27.759 sometimes you might need to say, 00:17:27.840 --> 00:17:28.340 do you know what, 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:30.279 I can't agree with that, 00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.840 and I can't go with you on that. 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.560 But that's not the issue here, 00:17:33.620 --> 00:17:34.259 because Peter, 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:34.860 and Paul, 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.539 and Apollos, 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:36.019 and Jesus, 00:17:36.120 --> 00:17:37.240 all preach the same gospel. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.539 They all said, 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:39.519 there's one name, 00:17:39.560 --> 00:17:40.740 under which man can be saved. 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:42.640 You can only be saved, 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.940 by coming to Jesus. 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.799 They all agreed, 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.740 that Christ is our only hope, 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.859 in life and in death. 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.140 That only by putting, 00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:51.839 all of your hope in Christ, 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:52.539 can you be saved. 00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.779 They agreed with that. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:56.319 But what divided these people, 00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:58.279 was the individual factions. 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.359 What divided the Christians, 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:02.200 was not doctrinal convictions, 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:04.539 but sidelining Jesus, 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:06.279 to just one of many good, 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.299 and important things, 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:09.220 rather than being the center, 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.960 that empowers everything. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:12.640 Friends, 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.759 when Christ Jesus, 00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:15.240 is not Lord of everything, 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:17.299 other competing voices, 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.640 come up, 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:20.319 and start dividing, 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:20.900 and fighting, 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.819 over what is the most important thing. 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.039 Now, 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:24.740 friends, 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.160 in Hong Kong, 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.220 we don't have many fights, 00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.000 over church leaders. 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:27.480 Fortunately, 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.360 I think that's a great thing, 00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:28.860 about Hong Kong. 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:29.519 You know, 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.579 we don't have many people here, 00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:30.779 saying, 00:18:30.860 --> 00:18:31.400 are you Baptist, 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.380 are you Presbyterian? 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:32.759 Oh, 00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:33.680 I can't believe it. 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:34.120 Or, 00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:35.220 are you Tim Keller's guy? 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.480 Are you Andy Stanley's guy? 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:37.500 And in conflict, 00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:38.480 we don't have much of that, 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.019 in Hong Kong. 00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:40.900 But we do have, 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.620 other things, 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.120 that become, 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:43.180 that are secondary, 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.900 that become primary. 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:46.759 And so we fight, 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.519 over things like, 00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:49.039 political ideology. 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:50.599 We fight, 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.259 over things like, 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.180 where do you send, 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.180 your kids to school? 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.920 Which company, 00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:55.740 do you work for? 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.339 What job, 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.059 do you have? 00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:01.740 Parenting methods. 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.240 And we can latch, 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.259 onto these causes, 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.660 and these causes, 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.400 and these names, 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:06.940 can become, 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:08.079 surrogate patrons. 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:10.240 Surrogate saviors, 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:12.120 things we put our hope in. 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:13.400 And friends, 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.660 when we put our hope in those things, 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:16.039 when we elevate ourselves, 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:16.839 using these things, 00:19:16.860 --> 00:19:17.599 to elevate ourselves, 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.599 and diminish Christ, 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:20.200 conflict ensues. 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:21.880 And so dear friends, 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:23.120 pride and selfishness, 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.200 are insidious problems, 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.579 because they blind us, 00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:26.519 to our foolishness, 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:28.599 and they separate friends, 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:29.099 and they, 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:31.240 they separate gospel communities. 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.059 And so once again, 00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:33.779 I confess, 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.579 I've done that. 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.159 I've done that. 00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:36.919 I've left pride, 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.619 and insecurity, 00:19:37.859 --> 00:19:38.359 and fear, 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.939 like something else, 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:41.159 become more important to me, 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.619 than Jesus. 00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:43.079 Do you know what was more important to me? 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.339 It was my own ego. 00:19:45.139 --> 00:19:46.199 It was my own security. 00:19:46.939 --> 00:19:48.039 It was my own need, 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:48.699 to look good, 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:50.019 and feel good about myself, 00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:51.259 in front of others. 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:53.319 When that became more important, 00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.099 to me than Jesus, 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:54.919 do you know what I did? 00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:56.839 I started alienating others, 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:58.359 pointing the fingers at others, 00:19:59.059 --> 00:19:59.619 criticizing, 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.279 and making conflict. 00:20:02.179 --> 00:20:03.679 And so what do these Corinthians need? 00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:05.579 What did I need? 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:07.139 What do we need? 00:20:07.959 --> 00:20:08.279 Well, 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:09.119 of the next few weeks, 00:20:09.239 --> 00:20:10.179 Paul is going to deal, 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.439 with the division in the church. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.319 And he's going to tackle, 00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:13.559 from a number of different angles. 00:20:13.699 --> 00:20:14.599 But here, 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.559 he kind of, 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:17.399 zeroes in on the heart of it. 00:20:17.439 --> 00:20:17.679 And he, 00:20:17.719 --> 00:20:18.979 he lays the foundation, 00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:19.759 for what he's going to, 00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:20.459 speak about, 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.299 over the next few weeks. 00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:22.219 And what Paul does here, 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:22.699 is he says, 00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:24.299 the most important thing, 00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:25.000 the prescription, 00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:26.439 the thing that we need, 00:20:26.699 --> 00:20:28.019 is to keep Christ, 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:28.819 at the center, 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:30.539 and to be united around Christ. 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.720 And there's a reason for this. 00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:33.119 Because Christ, 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.799 and the gospel, 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.740 are the only thing, 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.359 that can give us, 00:20:35.659 --> 00:20:36.319 the status, 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:37.500 and the security, 00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:38.939 and the identity, 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.579 that we really need. 00:20:41.159 --> 00:20:41.319 You see, 00:20:41.379 --> 00:20:42.460 when Christ is not center, 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.460 we look for something else, 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.279 to give us a status, 00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:44.899 an identity. 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.159 And then we've got to, 00:20:46.159 --> 00:20:47.079 compete with others. 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.759 But when Christ is the center, 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.939 can give me an identity, 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.519 a status, 00:20:50.619 --> 00:20:51.240 a security, 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.639 that allows me, 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.700 to reach out to others, 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.679 that disagree with me. 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.960 To reach across the aisle, 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:56.259 and say, 00:20:56.639 --> 00:20:57.119 hey Oscar, 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:58.200 maybe I disagree with you, 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.059 and some key things. 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.660 But you value Christ, 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.519 I value Christ, 00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:02.860 we can be united in this. 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:05.019 And so Paul reminds them of Christ. 00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:06.279 And so he gives them a prescription, 00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:08.740 that Christ stays center. 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:10.480 Look at verse 13. 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.580 He says, 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.600 is Christ divided? 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:13.640 In other words, 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:15.059 is Christ just a piece of the puzzle? 00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:17.140 Was Paul crucified for you? 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.559 Were you baptized, 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:19.460 in the name of Paul? 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:21.220 I thank God, 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:21.700 that I, 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:22.180 Paul, 00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:23.819 baptized none of you, 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.259 except Crispus and Gaius, 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.859 so that no one may say, 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:28.440 you were baptized in my name. 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:29.440 And then he says, 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:29.859 oh wait, 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.299 by the way, 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:30.759 I remember, 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:32.200 actually I did baptize, 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:33.759 also the household of Stephanas. 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:34.960 But beyond that, 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:36.039 I can't remember anything. 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.379 Paul's old, 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.099 he's lost his memory. 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.299 Verse 17, 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.420 for Christ, 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:41.660 did not send me, 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.819 to baptize people, 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:44.039 but to preach the gospel. 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.420 Not with words, 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:46.279 of eloquent wisdom, 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.940 lest the cross of Christ, 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.740 be emptied, 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:50.279 of its power. 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:52.440 What's Paul saying here? 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:53.759 He's saying, 00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:55.420 when I came to Corinth, 00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:58.140 I didn't try and set up a new group. 00:21:58.840 --> 00:21:59.720 I did come and say, 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.480 oh those guys, 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.340 don't know what they're talking about. 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.440 Come and follow me, 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:04.220 I know what's really going on. 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.700 Or that church down the road, 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.900 those Presbyterians, 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.460 can you believe? 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:07.620 No, 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:07.740 no, 00:22:07.860 --> 00:22:09.380 come let's go start our own church. 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.620 That's not what I did. 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.000 What I did was, 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:14.100 I came to call all people, 00:22:14.840 --> 00:22:15.279 Corinthians, 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.320 Greeks, 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.120 Romans, 00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.320 Filipinos, 00:22:18.820 --> 00:22:19.320 Africans, 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:20.380 Americans, 00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:21.019 Australians, 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:22.100 whatever you are, 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:22.699 black, 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.039 white, 00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:23.480 Chinese, 00:22:23.719 --> 00:22:24.839 all people. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:25.719 And I said, 00:22:25.899 --> 00:22:27.059 if you're a human being, 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:27.839 come, 00:22:27.939 --> 00:22:29.279 let's follow Jesus together. 00:22:30.179 --> 00:22:31.219 Don't follow me, 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.139 I'm Paul, 00:22:32.199 --> 00:22:32.599 I'm nothing, 00:22:32.699 --> 00:22:33.259 I'm a nobody. 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.740 Don't follow me, 00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:37.319 I'm just some idiot from Cape Town. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:37.919 No, 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.379 Jesus, 00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:41.299 he's the one that this church has to be built on. 00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:42.379 Don't follow Niels, 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.500 he's a smart guy, 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.379 he's from Netherlands, 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:46.299 this church can't be built on Niels. 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:46.899 No, 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.319 Jesus, 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:47.899 that's, 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.099 that's who we follow. 00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:51.599 Friends, 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:53.039 Christ is the savior, 00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:56.740 is the end of patronage and classism and social status. 00:22:57.259 --> 00:23:08.039 Because Christ alone can give us a status and an identity and a security that melts and dissolves the fractions and the divisions. 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:12.039 One of my heroes is a guy called Charles Spurgeon. 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.819 He's this very old British guy, 00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:15.039 he died, 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.039 I think 1890, 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.139 somewhere around there, 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.099 in London. 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.039 He was an amazing, 00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:20.759 amazing preacher. 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:21.759 And, 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:24.819 he started leading his church when he was 20 years old. 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.680 And, 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:31.299 the church grew rapidly and moved into this new venue called the Surrey Gardens, 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:32.059 I think it was called, 00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:34.039 seated about 5,000 people, 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.779 eventually outgrew that. 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:36.619 And so, 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:39.980 they built this building called the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:43.000 seated probably 7,000 or 8,000 people. 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.059 And so, 00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:45.240 Spurgeon's leading this church, 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:46.180 30 years old, 00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:46.759 you know, 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.039 like 10,000 people. 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:48.940 And, 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:52.220 on the day that they move into their new venue, 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:55.240 he preaches a sermon about the centrality of Christ. 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:55.420 And, 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:58.160 I want to read just a paragraph from his sermon. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:00.880 This is from 1860, 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.619 somewhere around there. 00:24:02.239 --> 00:24:03.339 I was meant to have this on the slide, 00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:03.819 but I apologize. 00:24:03.979 --> 00:24:04.959 You're going to have to just listen up. 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.279 He says, 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.799 I would propose, 00:24:06.959 --> 00:24:07.619 ladies and gentlemen, 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:11.500 that the subject of the ministry of this house, 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:11.939 in other words, 00:24:11.959 --> 00:24:12.500 this church, 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:15.159 as long as this platform shall stand, 00:24:15.619 --> 00:24:19.079 and as long as this church will be frequented by worshipers, 00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:24.399 the subject of the ministry of this house must be the person of Jesus Christ. 00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:27.379 I am not ashamed to call myself a Calvinist. 00:24:27.679 --> 00:24:30.099 I do not hesitate to take the name Baptist. 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:31.019 But, 00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:31.899 if I am asked, 00:24:32.139 --> 00:24:33.599 what is my creed? 00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:34.500 I reply, 00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:35.119 it is this, 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.319 it is Jesus, 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.599 Jesus Christ. 00:24:38.419 --> 00:24:39.279 My predecessor, 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.000 Dr. Gill, 00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:43.179 has left an admirable and excellent heritage in this church. 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:43.839 But, 00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:48.079 the legacy which I hope to leave forever is Christ, 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.480 Jesus Christ. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:52.179 He is the arm and the substance of the gospel. 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:54.299 He is himself all theology. 00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:57.939 He is the incarnation of every precious truth. 00:24:57.940 --> 00:25:00.200 Prince Spurgeon was right. 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:04.039 As long as this church is frequented by worshipers, 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:07.080 may the foundation be Christ and Christ alone. 00:25:07.860 --> 00:25:09.820 And that is what Paul is saying in Corinthians here. 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.259 Now, 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.460 Paul talks about baptism, 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:14.500 and in about 45 minutes of time, 00:25:14.580 --> 00:25:16.140 we are going to baptize a couple of people, 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.360 Jeremy and Jacka, 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.740 and Michael and Hannah. 00:25:19.340 --> 00:25:20.360 Why do we do that? 00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:22.139 Why do we baptize people? 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.899 What does it mean? 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.199 Well, 00:25:23.719 --> 00:25:25.000 Niels is going to do the baptisms, 00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:26.099 and you'll notice, 00:25:26.219 --> 00:25:27.539 what he's not going to say is, 00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:29.759 we baptize you in the name of Niels. 00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:31.679 He's not going to say, 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:34.319 we baptize you in the name of Watermark Church. 00:25:34.939 --> 00:25:37.439 If you've been baptized when you joined Watermark, 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.799 maybe at your previous church, 00:25:39.199 --> 00:25:40.179 and you moved to Hong Kong, 00:25:40.479 --> 00:25:43.619 we don't re-baptize you because you must be baptized in our name. 00:25:44.139 --> 00:25:44.319 No, 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:45.599 you were baptized in Christ's name, 00:25:45.659 --> 00:25:46.379 that's good enough. 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:49.360 What does baptism mean? 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.040 When Niels is baptized later, 00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:52.780 he's going to say something along these lines. 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.400 He's going to say, 00:25:53.800 --> 00:25:55.960 because of your faith in Christ, 00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:59.200 because you've repented of your sin and trusted in Jesus, 00:25:59.760 --> 00:26:01.780 we now baptize you in the name of the Father, 00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:02.360 the Son, 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.200 and the Holy Spirit. 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.440 And baptism is this, 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:08.380 it's this wonderful picture of people saying, 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:11.060 my old life that I lived for myself, 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:14.280 for status and identity and security and elevate myself, 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:16.819 now that I've been united to Christ, 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:19.119 I am united in His death. 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.299 They go into the water, 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.220 it's like I'm buried, 00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:22.420 my old life is dead, 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:22.920 it's gone, 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.539 it's buried, 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:26.700 and I've been united with Christ in His resurrection. 00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:27.779 I'm a new person, 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:31.819 and that new person is centered on Christ. 00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:33.779 United in His death, 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:35.579 united in His resurrection, 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:37.619 now I get to live for Jesus. 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.059 Friends, 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:39.660 Tim Keller, 00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:41.460 Tyler Statton, 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.839 John Markoma, 00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:43.959 John Piper, 00:26:44.419 --> 00:26:45.079 Wong Yi, 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:45.659 or maybe, 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:46.279 let's say, 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:47.359 Warren Buffett, 00:26:47.679 --> 00:26:48.159 Jack Ma, 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.980 Stephen Curry, 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.359 great men, 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.819 and great women of God, 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.059 some of them, 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:53.859 maybe not all of them. 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.839 Friends, 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.199 they, 00:26:55.679 --> 00:26:56.599 some of them aren't Christians, 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:56.839 okay, 00:26:57.199 --> 00:26:58.299 your favorite business person, 00:26:58.379 --> 00:26:59.539 whoever your hero is, 00:27:00.919 --> 00:27:02.099 they didn't go to the cross for you, 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:04.139 they didn't die for you, 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:06.439 you can't be baptized in their name. 00:27:07.419 --> 00:27:09.039 You can't align yourself to them, 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:10.000 and be dead to sin, 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.959 and raised to Christ. 00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:13.319 You can't unite yourself to them, 00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:13.980 and you hope. 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.380 Friends, 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.019 Christ, 00:27:16.600 --> 00:27:17.180 Christ, 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.100 alone, 00:27:18.840 --> 00:27:19.860 Christ can do that, 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.660 and He does do that, 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.819 if we will receive Him, 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.819 if we will bank our lives in Him. 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:24.940 Friends, 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:26.460 if you'll receive Him as your Lord, 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:26.920 and master, 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.140 if you'll surrender to Him, 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.860 Christ will change you. 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.480 There's a power, 00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:32.880 verse 17 speaks about, 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.579 the cross has a power, 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:36.460 there's a power in believing in Christ, 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.759 that will change your life. 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:40.379 There's a power that will give you a new identity, 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.180 a new status, 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:42.619 a new security. 00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:44.940 Jesus will give you a peace, 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.460 that nothing in this world can give. 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.740 Jesus will give you a heart rest, 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:50.299 that nothing in this world will give. 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:52.400 Jesus will give you an identity, 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:54.579 that will allow you to cross over the aisle, 00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:56.400 to somebody else that's different from you, 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.379 and differs from you, 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.940 and will allow you to say, 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.720 we can still be friends. 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.700 Even though I differ with you, 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.279 and I disagree, 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.819 and even though we're so radically different, 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:06.039 if you want to follow Jesus, 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:06.859 now follow Jesus, 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:08.439 we can do that together. 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.579 Friends, 00:28:09.639 --> 00:28:11.579 I would propose that the subject of this church, 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.679 as long as this church will stand, 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:17.000 will not even be something like the gospel coalition, 00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.960 or gospel centered, 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.839 it'll be Jesus, 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.399 Jesus alone. 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:22.519 So, 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.519 how should we respond? 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.079 Well, 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:25.539 I've got two questions for us. 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:27.200 First one is this, 00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:30.539 is Christ Jesus precious to us this morning? 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.119 That's the question. 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:34.759 Is Christ Jesus precious to us? 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.900 And you can answer that in two ways. 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:36.740 Individually, 00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:38.119 is Christ precious to me, 00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:40.099 and to us as a church, 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:42.339 is Christ Jesus precious to us? 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.539 In fact, 00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:45.420 is he the most precious thing? 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:47.680 Because if Jesus is secondary, 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:49.660 or tertiary in our lives, 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:51.019 something else will be primary, 00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:53.140 and that thing will cause division, 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.799 and conflict, 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.039 and fighting. 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:56.980 And when somebody challenges that thing, 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:57.980 the thing that's primary, 00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.000 oh, 00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:01.279 fractions and division will arise. 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:02.900 Friends, 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:04.620 whatever is more precious to us than Jesus, 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.820 will end up dividing us. 00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:07.440 Here's the second question. 00:29:08.100 --> 00:29:10.040 Is there anybody in Christ's body, 00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:11.940 that we are tempted to look down upon, 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:13.500 or separate from, 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.620 or judge? 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:17.000 Is there anybody else in Christ's body, 00:29:17.080 --> 00:29:17.780 either in this church, 00:29:17.840 --> 00:29:19.100 or maybe a church down the road, 00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:21.360 that we're tempted to judge, 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.700 or look down upon, 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:25.600 or divide ourselves around, 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:27.759 or tempted to separate from? 00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:28.900 Friends, 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.160 remember, 00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:31.240 that person is a sinner saved by grace. 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.779 And so are you, 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.640 so am I. 00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:35.579 We're sinners saved by grace. 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:36.900 And therefore, 00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:39.180 we can meet each other across the hour. 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:42.740 I began the sermon telling a story, 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:44.579 about a time when my own insecurity, 00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.099 and pride, 00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:46.259 I was going around judging, 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:47.119 all sorts of people, 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:48.140 including other pastors, 00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:49.140 and other church leaders, 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.759 speaking about some of them, 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.779 behind their backs. 00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:54.819 I tell you that story, 00:29:54.879 --> 00:29:55.519 with deep shame. 00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:57.240 It's not a story of pride at all. 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.980 How did God change me? 00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.240 Well, 00:29:59.299 --> 00:30:00.220 He's still changing me, 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.640 but two things happen in particular. 00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:02.940 The one is, 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:04.420 Claire preached the gospel to me. 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:05.720 One day, 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.620 we were going for a walk. 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:09.059 We were on the morning trail, 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:09.900 at the peak, 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:11.059 towards the peak. 00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:13.200 And I was feeling very insecure, 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.220 and Claire said to me, 00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:15.099 you know, 00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.420 Kevin, 00:30:16.120 --> 00:30:17.680 you're the leader of Watermark Church, 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:19.120 not because you earned it, 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:20.680 or because you deserve it, 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.740 or because you're good, 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:23.500 or anything inside of you. 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:25.000 Because God, 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.039 by His grace, 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.140 chose you. 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.920 And that's the foundation. 00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:30.960 Do you see how that's the gospel? 00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:31.339 Friends, 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:32.220 how are we saved? 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.559 If you're a Christian, 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:35.579 it's not because you have anything you've done, 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.200 or deserved, 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:36.799 or achieved, 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:38.000 or good works in your heart. 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.440 It's because God, 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.180 by His grace, 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:41.279 somewhere in history, 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.000 chose you. 00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:43.880 And so Claire preached, 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:45.640 the same gospel that saved me, 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:46.319 she preached it, 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:47.480 and applied it to the heart, 00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.180 my calling. 00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.140 She said, 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.319 yeah, 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:50.259 you maybe aren't good. 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:51.099 Maybe you suck, 00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:52.039 and maybe you're not qualified. 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.099 But God, 00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:53.659 in His grace, 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.460 has chosen you. 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.119 And so be secure in that. 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.619 She preached the gospel to my heart. 00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:00.180 The second thing is, 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.019 one night, 00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:01.700 around that time, 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.680 I was reading a book called, 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.740 The Reformed Pastor, 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.639 by Richard Baxter. 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:06.659 It was written in 1656, 00:31:06.940 --> 00:31:07.960 almost 400 years ago. 00:31:08.659 --> 00:31:09.339 And in this book, 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.079 Richard Baxter, 00:31:10.639 --> 00:31:11.039 he says, 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:13.000 some ministers are so proud, 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.480 and so self-righteous, 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:16.259 that they talk about other pastors, 00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:17.759 and ministers behind their backs. 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.980 And as I read that, 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:22.599 it was like someone shot an arrow, 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.379 through my heart. 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.940 And I remember lying in bed, 00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:26.059 it was about 11 o'clock at night, 00:31:26.139 --> 00:31:26.920 and I sobbed, 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.579 and I sobbed, 00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.139 and I sobbed. 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.639 And I said, 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:29.940 God, 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.899 you've got to change me. 00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:33.159 And the next day, 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.339 I phoned this one pastor, 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:34.940 and I said, 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.559 we need to have lunch. 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.599 And I took him to lunch, 00:31:38.639 --> 00:31:40.279 and I confessed my sin to him, 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:40.740 and I said, 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:42.279 I am so sorry for what I've done. 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:44.660 This is how I've spoken about you. 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:46.220 Please forgive me. 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:47.559 And today, 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:49.240 that guy and I are friends. 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.859 We buy books for each other, 00:31:50.859 --> 00:31:51.900 and we have lunch together, 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.299 and we're friends. 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:54.500 Friends, 00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.620 that's what the gospel does. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:57.500 The gospel can take insecure, 00:31:59.140 --> 00:32:00.200 idiots like me, 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:02.200 and can start to change us, 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.680 can start to give us a security, 00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:05.039 an identity, 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:06.380 that can melt the division, 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.759 and the conflict in our hearts, 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.299 and can change us, 00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:10.400 and make us more like Christ. 00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:12.319 But what do we need to do? 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:14.559 We need to keep Christ at the center. 00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:16.460 We need to keep Jesus, 00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:17.279 first and foremost. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.500 We need to come surrender to him. 00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:20.599 We need, 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.460 as we sang earlier, 00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:21.859 Jesus, 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.220 may your name be louder. 00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:24.460 Jesus, 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:25.200 be the center, 00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:26.460 not only of our church, 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.059 but of our lives. 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.579 Let's pray together. 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:32.460 Father God, 00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:34.099 passages like this, 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:37.279 they expose our sin. 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:40.559 They expose what's really going in our hearts. 00:32:40.679 --> 00:32:40.899 God, 00:32:40.939 --> 00:32:42.639 and it's easy for us to look at the Corinthians, 00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:43.740 and scoff at them, 00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:45.339 and ridicule them. 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.579 God, 00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:49.500 if we have the eyes to see it, 00:32:50.439 --> 00:32:52.919 there's a lot more of the Corinthians inside of us, 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:55.180 than we like to admit. 00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:56.880 And so, 00:32:57.100 --> 00:32:58.539 holy and sovereign God, 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:02.700 the one who dwells in light eternal, 00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:05.200 and one who's inapproachable in your glory, 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:06.880 God, 00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:08.120 have mercy on us. 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.100 Have mercy on me. 00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:11.080 God, 00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:12.240 come and heal the divisions. 00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:12.539 Lord, 00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:13.840 if in our church, 00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.360 if in our hearts, 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:18.039 there is even a smidgen, 00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:20.019 a God of pride, 00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:21.799 and self-righteousness, 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:23.600 that causes us to look at others, 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:25.019 with any disdain, 00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:26.620 oh God, 00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.080 I pray, 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:28.279 come and forgive us, 00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:30.120 and then heal us, 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.940 and then change us. 00:33:32.920 --> 00:33:33.319 Jesus, 00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:34.400 we want to be like you. 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:36.759 We want the grace of God, 00:33:36.819 --> 00:33:37.640 that has changed us. 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:40.000 We want to be dispensers of that grace to others. 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:41.279 God, 00:33:41.360 --> 00:33:41.799 I pray, 00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:44.080 come and be the center of our church. 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:44.559 Jesus, 00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.299 be the center. 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.600 In your name I pray. 00:33:51.080 --> 00:33:51.519 Amen.