WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, St. Paul's. It's great to connect in with you again, even if it is

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 once again on the live stream. We are, I think I've lost count. We're Groundhog Day, I think

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 nine weeks into this lockdown. And over the course of this time, our connection really

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 has been a digital connection. Although there was a great joy yesterday when my family and

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 I, we went for a walk and we ran into another St. Paul's family yesterday. It was just a

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 joy to see faces in such close proximity. This season that we're in is an awkward and a difficult

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 season, and yet it's also a season that we can get comfortable with as well. This technology

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 that we have utilizing over these weeks are an enormous blessing for us to be able to stay

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 connected in some way. And yet this is not the future of the church. Some are arguing this

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 could be the future of the church, this blessing that we're in. And I want to argue it's not

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 the future of the church. It's not a substitution for the church. In fact, in her sobering book,

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 Alone Together, Sherry Turkle from Massachusetts Institute of Technology writes,

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 Digital connections may offer the illusion of companionship, but without the demands of friendship.

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 Our networked life allows us to hide from each other, even as we are tethered to each other,

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 alone together. That's a great description of our digital age. And the danger of thinking

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 that checking into a live stream once a week is in fact church, that I've done church,

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 or that in fact this could be the future of the church. I'm convinced that like nothing else in

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 our culture, the church has got something very significant to offer our society, and right now

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 offer our society, and beyond this lockdown. This passage that we are launching into today,

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 in Acts 20, says a lot about the significance of the church, the church who we are at St. Paul's,

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 and increasingly church that we seek to be at St. Paul's. So having been separated and locked down

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 for eight, nine weeks, or whatever it's been, and there'll be another month or more before we

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 gathered together again. It could be, in fact, just before Christmas. This message, I think, today is a

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 really helpful message as a reminder message, as a refocusing message, as a let me check my priorities

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 message. What we have here in Acts 20 is truth, change lies because of truth,

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 and the deep relationships that truth can form amongst us. So let's jump into Acts 20 and see

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 that in action. If you've got the St. Paul's app, it'd be great if you could open up there,

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 and you'll notice that I've got three points. I want to highlight three characteristics of the church

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 for all people. And you'll notice that those three headings are three of our seven core values here at

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 St. Paul's. Bible-saturated, humble authenticity, and treasuring Jesus together. So let's jump straight

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 into this. This is a passage that is often used as a job description for ministers. That is, Paul is

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 addressing the elders of the Ephesian church here. However, what is particularly, particularly crucial

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 at this point in Acts, in the development of Acts, is that this passage in Acts 20 is the only speech

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 in the whole of Acts that's given directly to Christians. So this is not just a message for church

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 leaders, although it's got something quite significant about that and what gospel ministry looks like,

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 but it's a message for all of us, all Christians. So let's jump straight in. Paul spent three years

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 building the church at Ephesus. In verses 18 to 24, he summarizes his ministry to the church,

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 and we read part of that summary in verses 20 and 21, and they kind of want to focus on this one just

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 for a bit. You know that I've not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you

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 but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks

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 that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. So Paul says here,

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 I have preached and I have taught in Ephesus. That is the essence of the church's purpose in the

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 world captivated right there. That is what the church has, the Christian church has, it has a body of

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 content that must be communicated. Our purpose is to convey truth to the world. Paul has preached

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 and he has taught and he has propagated and defended and guarded a body of truth for three years in Ephesus.

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 And this is the job that he now hands down to the elders at Ephesus. And not just to them, but to the church

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 down through the centuries. So this is important. This is really crucial.

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 The reason why it's crucial is that if you want to know who I am, you can't just believe anything that

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 you want about me if you want to know who I am. You know, if someone comes up to me and says,

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 Steve, you know, you know, I just really like to think of you as a Colombian coffee merchant based out

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 of Dubai who does salsa dancing as a hobby. I just, that's what I want to, I just envisage you as being that.

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 Now, I do like my coffee. I'd admit that. Salsa dancing, another thing altogether.

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 And it is, it is a free country. And so you can believe that about me if you like, and no one's going to

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 arrest you for that. But it's not the truth. It's not who I am. If you want to know someone,

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 you need to know what is true about them. And what you know to be true about them is what they

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 communicate to you about them. What is the evidence? And it's the same as God. You can't just believe

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 anything you want about him if you want to know him. Let me go one step further and say, you need to

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 know him if you want to know yourself. That's the difference. You can know anything you want about

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 me, make up anything you like about me, but it will have very little impact on you. Not so with God.

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 God. If you want to know about yourself, you must know God as he is. You see, our modern world says

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 that, well, you know, Steve, you're just a body. You're nothing more than a physical being. There's

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 no soul. There's no spirit. You're just a physical being. And the Bible says, well, actually, you're much

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 more complex than that. You are soul and body. Our modern world says that I'm a product of an

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 evolutionary process. I am a product of biology. I'm a DNA, genes, culture, environment, all those

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 kind of things. The Bible says, actually, it's even more complex than that because you are made

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 in the image of a creator God. And the reality is both accounts of those, both accounts claim to be true,

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 true, but they both can't be right. One form of truth actually has to be wrong.

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 We need to know the truth if we are to truly know who we are. You see, Christianity declares

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 that the Bible's account of who we are and who God is, is true. The Bible, therefore, must be

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 central to the church. It must be preached. It must be taught. It must be defended. It must be guarded.

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 And Paul also modeled here how we should do this when he says to the elders,

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 you know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you.

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 There's two things here. He says, without hesitation and what was helpful.

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 Paul didn't, in other words, shrink back. He had no hesitation. He did not shrink back. He wasn't

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 afraid. Biblical truth will always offend somebody somewhere.

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 But the Christian must lift up the message of the Bible and not shrink back from it when it offends.

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 But it's also crucial that we must mix boldness with helpfulness. It's not just boldness. It's not just,

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 you know, just coming out there and declaring the truth and I don't care what anyone's offended by it.

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 It's also a helpfulness. Notice how Paul speaks with helpfulness in verse 32.

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 That is, truth is never something that we believe for its own sake.

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 Truth should never lead us to a position of pride where we communicate and we behave and we think

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 that we are better than other people. Truth is a means to an end. Truth is food for your heart.

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 It is food for your soul. It is food for your character. All lack of health in our hearts and our

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 souls and our character is because truth is not dwelling in us richly. That is, the truth in that instance

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 is not helpful. If we lack courage, if we lack love, if we lack joy, if we lack peace, hope, patience,

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 it is because we are not dwelling on the truth and applying it to our lives. We're not driving it down

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 in our hearts, into our being so that it transforms us from the inside out. How do we do that?

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 How do we drive it down? We do it together. Paul preaches and teaches without hesitation and helpfully,

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 he says here both publicly, like I'm doing now, sort of publicly, like I'm doing now,

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 but also from house to house is what he says. The truth is not just to be proclaimed and conveyed

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 and protected and guarded like I might be doing right now, but also in small groups and in personal

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 one-to-one relationships. Now, I want to push something really crucial here right now.

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 So if you'll just sort of flag it off, I want you to hear this one.

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 Just turning up to a live stream once a week and listening to a sermon like this

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 will never be enough truth for it to produce health in your soul and in your heart and in your life.

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 Once a week live stream will not be enough.

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 Sometimes our sermons here at St. Paul's are okay.

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 Sometimes they are blisteringly good.

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 Sometimes, eh, they miss the mark.

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 But even if every single Sunday they were blisteringly good and you walked away with tears

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 and you felt convicted and you spent an hour or so in prayer just applying it to you,

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 it still wouldn't be enough.

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 It still would not be enough.

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 Where truth really gets applied in our lives, where it really gets driven down into our hearts

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 is when we study, when we linger over, when we have conversations and accountability with others,

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 when someone brings a word of truth to my life and helps me to see how it connects.

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 It takes close personal relationships, house to house.

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 Now, I acknowledge there's restrictions at the moment, but take the point.

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 Close personal relationships in Christian community where we discover the truth and we apply the truth in our lives.

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 A crucial part of that community we see here in this passage are leaders.

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 Leaders who take us on the journey of truth, helping us discover the truth and keep us accountable to the truth.

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 Paul has a word here for the leaders in verse 28.

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 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.

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 Be shepherds of the church of God, which he brought, bought with his own blood.

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 In every church community, some people are appointed as shepherds.

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 Shepherds are still sheep, but they have a responsibility to lead the sheep.

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 They have an authority here as overseers of the flock.

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 They oversee the flock by bringing the word of God to them.

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 That is, the word of the chief shepherd to the sheep.

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 That is, they preach and they teach God's word.

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 They bring the word of God and they apply it into our lives, corporately and individually.

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 Let me just go on a little bit of a side point to this, which I think is also quite helpful.

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 In our individualistic West, there are way too many people who identify themselves as Christian.

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 And because they've got access to Christian bookshops,

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 they prefer to do their own work of biblical interpretation and application

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 and create their own faith journey.

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 That is, they prefer to do it by themselves.

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 That is not God's design.

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 It's not God's design.

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 He gives us shepherds and he gives us each other.

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 For truth to make a difference in our life,

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 it must be disseminated within a Christian community.

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 It must be pushed into our hearts in community.

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 And so if I might just plug here,

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 if you've not joined a community group yet,

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 right now is a brilliant season for you

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 because I'm concerned the longer this goes on,

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 the more individual our journey becomes.

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 Contact the church office,

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 contact James Barnett,

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 get into a community group now.

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 Also,

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 I want to ask,

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 have you had the opportunity to share what God is teaching you

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 in your engagement in God's word

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 with someone else during this lockdown?

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 We continue to encourage,

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 as I do here now,

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 for you to pick up your Bible in personal devotional life

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 and share it with someone else,

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 what God is doing with you right now.

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 Why not, in fact,

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 do that as a community group this week?

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 Maybe just drop the study that you got planned

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 and just share with one another

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 what God is teaching you through his word.

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 Secondly,

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 what we see here about the sort of church you want to be

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 is humbly authentic.

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 The shepherd here is not just to bring the word of God

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 to the flock.

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 Paul says that they must also live it out.

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 The shepherd's life is to be on display

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 that they themselves are under the chief shepherd,

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 that they are being transformed.

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 By the word of God.

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 Primarily, the shepherd leads with humility,

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 compassion, passion, grace, integrity.

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 In verse 24,

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 we see Paul's own vision of his life

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 since he met Jesus.

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 He says,

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 I consider my life worth nothing to me

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 if only I might finish the race

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 and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me,

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 the task of testifying

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 to the gospel of God's grace.

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 So Paul sees here

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 that he's given the task of testifying

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 to God's grace

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 because that is something that he has experienced

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 in his own life.

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 Something that transformed his own life.

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 See,

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 this is the Paul

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 who once described himself

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 as the chief of all sinners.

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 a blasphemer,

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 a persecutor of the Lord Jesus

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 and his church.

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 He consented to the murder,

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 to the beatings

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 and the false imprisonment of Christians.

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 And the gospel of God's grace

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 helped him see

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 that he was off the spectrum,

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 more wicked and sinful

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 than he could ever possibly imagine.

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 Paul,

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 Paul,

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 the religious man,

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 was self-righteous.

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 And the gospel helped him to see

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 that in fact he was covered in shame and guilt.

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 The good news tells us

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 the worst possible news

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 about ourselves.

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 Oh,

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 but when we grasp that news,

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 when we understand

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 how sinful we are

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 and we believe that reality,

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 that truth

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 and do what verse 21 says

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 and turn to God

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 and repentance

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 and have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 that's the moment

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 we receive the best possible news.

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 Because of what Jesus has done for us

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 in dying on the cross,

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 we have God's love,

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 we have God's regard,

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 God's life.

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 And it's in no way

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 subject to our own performance

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 in life.

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 In Jesus,

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 God loves us

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 as much right now

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 as he will love us

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 a billion years from now.

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 And that means that in Jesus,

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 finally,

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 because of the security

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 and the love

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 that we have in Jesus,

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 the acceptance

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 we have in Jesus,

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 finally,

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 the mask

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 can come off.

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 We don't need

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 to pretend anymore.

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 We don't need

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 to hide

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 our failings

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 and our flaws.

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 That's what the truth

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 does for you

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 in your life.

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 It transforms

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 your character.

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 We don't need

00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:25.699
 to be anxious

00:20:25.699 --> 00:20:26.899
 about people noticing

00:20:26.899 --> 00:20:28.519
 that we are anxious.

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:30.579
 we don't need

00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.160
 to pretend

00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:31.980
 that we've got

00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.799
 this lockdown

00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.920
 all sorted.

00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:37.680
 Our social media

00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:39.059
 posts can reveal

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.940
 that, in fact,

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.920
 I actually do

00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:42.200
 have bad hair days.

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:44.240
 Not me,

00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:45.299
 they're all the same,

00:20:45.379 --> 00:20:46.799
 but we do have

00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.740
 bad hair days.

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:50.440
 Our Facebook posts

00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.220
 can reveal

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:51.779
 to the world

00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.579
 that I am

00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:53.900
 just as ordinary

00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:55.720
 as every other

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.759
 parent.

00:20:58.280 --> 00:20:58.960
 My house

00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.759
 is just as big

00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.280
 of a mess.

00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:01.680
 My kids

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.640
 actually don't

00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.320
 have fun

00:21:03.320 --> 00:21:04.620
 every single day.

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.580
 I'm not the parent

00:21:06.580 --> 00:21:08.040
 who programs

00:21:08.040 --> 00:21:09.360
 good things

00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:09.800
 for them

00:21:09.800 --> 00:21:10.600
 every day.

00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.759
 This is so

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.759
 counter-cultural

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.340
 to the digital age

00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:15.940
 in which we live

00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.460
 and the culture

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.000
 that we live in

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.400
 in Sydney.

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:19.660
 Our society

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.860
 values

00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:21.780
 power,

00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.860
 success,

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:23.880
 competence,

00:21:24.540 --> 00:21:25.240
 strength,

00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:26.620
 progress.

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.620
 Our culture

00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:31.580
 values us

00:21:31.580 --> 00:21:32.460
 being on top

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.120
 of everything.

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.780
 We don't talk

00:21:35.780 --> 00:21:36.519
 about the hard

00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.100
 things.

00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.280
 And so that

00:21:40.280 --> 00:21:41.259
 means very rarely

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:41.980
 do we ever

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:43.040
 feel deep inside

00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:43.680
 of us that we

00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:44.940
 ever measure

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.380
 up.

00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:47.100
 we are

00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:48.000
 always

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.880
 insecure.

00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.600
 And you

00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:52.120
 don't need to

00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:52.520
 go much

00:21:52.520 --> 00:21:52.980
 further than

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.560
 your Instagram

00:21:53.560 --> 00:21:54.920
 account and

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.260
 your other

00:21:55.260 --> 00:21:55.880
 social media

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:56.800
 to realise

00:21:56.800 --> 00:21:58.060
 other people's

00:21:58.060 --> 00:21:59.060
 lives always

00:21:59.060 --> 00:21:59.640
 appear to be

00:21:59.640 --> 00:21:59.960
 better than

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.240
 mine.

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.300
 But in the

00:22:03.300 --> 00:22:03.660
 gospel,

00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.940
 in Jesus,

00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:06.600
 we have the

00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:07.620
 praise of the

00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:08.360
 praiseworthy.

00:22:10.320 --> 00:22:11.060
 Not the

00:22:11.060 --> 00:22:12.000
 praise of a

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.460
 thousand Facebook

00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:13.900
 friends,

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.360
 but the

00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:15.360
 praise of the

00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.179
 praiseworthy.

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.199
 We can be

00:22:19.199 --> 00:22:20.139
 real with

00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.479
 him,

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.019
 authentic.

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.879
 The gospel

00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:24.699
 both brings

00:22:24.699 --> 00:22:25.479
 us to our

00:22:25.479 --> 00:22:26.539
 lowest point,

00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:27.699
 but it also

00:22:27.699 --> 00:22:28.799
 fills us up

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.339
 in a way that

00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:29.699
 we never

00:22:29.699 --> 00:22:30.159
 could be.

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.099
 It changes

00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:32.619
 us.

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.119
 And Paul

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.939
 reveals here

00:22:35.939 --> 00:22:36.719
 the authentic

00:22:36.719 --> 00:22:37.619
 gospel-shaped

00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:38.379
 life in verse

00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:38.899
 18.

00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:40.039
 You know

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.839
 how I lived

00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.699
 the whole time

00:22:41.699 --> 00:22:42.539
 I was with you.

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.659
 I served the

00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:44.159
 Lord with

00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:45.240
 great humility

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.080
 and we

00:22:46.080 --> 00:22:46.940
 tears,

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:49.080
 although I

00:22:49.080 --> 00:22:49.660
 was severely

00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:50.500
 tested by the

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:50.920
 plot of the

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.240
 Jews.

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:52.860
 In other

00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.220
 words, what

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.660
 Paul says

00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:54.900
 here, this

00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:56.160
 truth of the

00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:57.320
 gospel transformed

00:22:57.320 --> 00:22:58.120
 my life.

00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:58.199
 life.

00:23:00.739 --> 00:23:01.139
 And my

00:23:01.139 --> 00:23:01.759
 life was on

00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.659
 display and

00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:03.599
 it revealed

00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:05.079
 the good

00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:05.599
 news of the

00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:06.079
 gospel of

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.839
 Jesus Christ.

00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:08.079
 All parts

00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:08.359
 of his

00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:08.819
 life were

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.359
 on display.

00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.319
 Humility,

00:23:10.919 --> 00:23:11.299
 honesty,

00:23:11.679 --> 00:23:12.139
 industry,

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.099
 hard work,

00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:14.259
 meeting needs

00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.699
 and generosity

00:23:15.699 --> 00:23:16.679
 were just some

00:23:16.679 --> 00:23:16.919
 of the

00:23:16.919 --> 00:23:17.779
 characteristics of

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.279
 his life.

00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:18.319
 life.

00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.099
 If I can

00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:24.559
 push this

00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.019
 point a

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.319
 little bit

00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:25.660
 further.

00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:28.899
 If

00:23:28.899 --> 00:23:30.420
 Christ-centered

00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:30.859
 biblical

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.639
 saturation,

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.399
 if the

00:23:33.399 --> 00:23:34.339
 truth of

00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:35.160
 the gospel

00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:37.619
 is something

00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:38.099
 that we

00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:39.119
 declare that

00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.240
 we are as

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:40.619
 a church,

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:40.899
 that we

00:23:40.899 --> 00:23:41.480
 hold to as

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.000
 a church,

00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:43.720
 it must

00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:45.059
 show itself

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:47.220
 in gospel

00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:48.220
 transformation

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.139
 in life.

00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.419
 If it

00:23:52.419 --> 00:23:53.200
 does not,

00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.359
 we have

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.480
 missed the

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:55.919
 truth.

00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:58.480
 Biblical

00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:00.099
 truth must

00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:01.679
 lead to

00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:02.359
 authentic

00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.379
 humility.

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.480
 Or we

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.019
 need to go

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.480
 back and

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.039
 revisit the

00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.359
 truth.

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:11.059
 This is so

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:12.000
 crucial for

00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.279
 us as we

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:13.980
 reflect on

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:14.619
 God's agenda

00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:14.939
 for the

00:24:14.939 --> 00:24:15.379
 gospel to

00:24:15.379 --> 00:24:16.039
 go out to

00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:16.859
 the ends

00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:17.119
 of the

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.539
 world as

00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:17.779
 we go

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.019
 through

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.599
 Acts and

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:19.379
 mission

00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:19.879
 month.

00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:22.779
 Paul often

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.299
 talked of

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:23.979
 his weakness

00:24:23.979 --> 00:24:24.459
 and his

00:24:24.459 --> 00:24:25.079
 hardship in

00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:25.759
 ministry as

00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.099
 he does

00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.459
 here.

00:24:27.739 --> 00:24:28.500
 Paul was

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.079
 often

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.979
 overwhelmed

00:24:29.979 --> 00:24:30.819
 in ministry.

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.899
 He often

00:24:31.899 --> 00:24:32.939
 had tears,

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.139
 but in

00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:34.639
 Paul's

00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.179
 weakness,

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:35.879
 others

00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.599
 experienced

00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.119
 the power

00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.659
 of God

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.299
 at work.

00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:41.579
 A

00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.059
 pastor,

00:24:43.199 --> 00:24:43.439
 a

00:24:43.439 --> 00:24:43.839
 preacher,

00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.299
 a

00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:45.779
 counselor,

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.599
 a friend,

00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.319
 a youth

00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:47.679
 leader,

00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:48.919
 who is

00:24:48.919 --> 00:24:49.559
 weak

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:52.559
 and not

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.199
 altogether,

00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.239
 who is

00:24:55.239 --> 00:24:56.119
 clearly humbled

00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:56.579
 by the

00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.000
 gospel,

00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:59.179
 moved by

00:24:59.179 --> 00:24:59.779
 the gospel,

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:01.439
 will

00:25:01.439 --> 00:25:02.579
 authentically

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.939
 reveal a

00:25:03.939 --> 00:25:04.459
 crucified

00:25:04.459 --> 00:25:05.479
 savior to

00:25:05.479 --> 00:25:05.959
 the world.

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:09.460
 a person

00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:09.960
 who is

00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:10.840
 trembling

00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:12.220
 and feeling

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:12.940
 inadequate,

00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:14.180
 but filled

00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.860
 with love

00:25:14.860 --> 00:25:15.700
 and humility

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:17.180
 will show

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.299
 a crucified

00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:20.079
 savior to

00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.940
 another better

00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.440
 than a

00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:21.960
 polished,

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:23.259
 altogether

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.579
 biblical and

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.000
 theological

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:25.460
 scholar.

00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:29.299
 Unless the

00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:30.440
 gospel transforms

00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.220
 our identity

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.420
 humility and

00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.400
 humbles us,

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.440
 then and

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.720
 only then,

00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:39.220
 then and

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.980
 only then,

00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.799
 will people

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.440
 want to

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.160
 come into

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.960
 this community

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:43.860
 and embrace

00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.480
 the truth.

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.500
 Only then.

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:46.559
 Only then.

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:52.359
 if I may

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:52.839
 push it

00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.679
 harder around

00:25:53.679 --> 00:25:53.980
 the other

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.299
 way,

00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:56.279
 I care

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.099
 very little

00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:57.899
 about your

00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.440
 grasp of

00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:58.919
 the Bible

00:25:58.919 --> 00:26:00.339
 if there's

00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:00.960
 no transformation

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.539
 of life.

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:06.980
 We want

00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.379
 to be a

00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:07.859
 church that

00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:08.480
 doesn't shrink

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:08.940
 back from

00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.519
 the truth,

00:26:10.419 --> 00:26:11.159
 want to be a

00:26:11.159 --> 00:26:11.619
 church that

00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:12.319
 is sure

00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:12.879
 about the

00:26:12.879 --> 00:26:13.299
 truth,

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:13.940
 want to be a

00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.279
 church that

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:14.960
 is growing

00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.519
 in the

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:15.980
 truth,

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.019
 we're going

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.279
 to be a

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:17.700
 church that

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.119
 is so

00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:18.639
 keen to

00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:19.259
 proclaim the

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.740
 truth,

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.379
 and yet a

00:26:21.379 --> 00:26:22.159
 church that

00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:22.619
 is so

00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.039
 humbled,

00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:24.599
 so

00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.759
 transformed of

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.440
 character that

00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.440
 the skeptic,

00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:28.960
 the doubter,

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.779
 the unbeliever

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:33.039
 will experience

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:34.200
 such grace

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:35.200
 and humility

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:37.259
 and warmth

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.119
 amongst us

00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:39.220
 that the

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.679
 person who

00:26:39.679 --> 00:26:40.259
 walks in with

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.179
 another idea

00:26:41.179 --> 00:26:42.339
 is not going

00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:43.119
 to experience

00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:43.559
 them being

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.659
 shut down.

00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:48.379
 that's the

00:26:48.379 --> 00:26:48.679
 church I

00:26:48.679 --> 00:26:48.879
 want to

00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:49.079
 be.

00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.359
 So

00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:52.779
 finally,

00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.599
 I'm

00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.299
 convinced that

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:55.819
 when we

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.179
 have a

00:26:56.179 --> 00:26:56.440
 biblical

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:58.700
 truth that

00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.460
 matches a

00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.079
 real genuine

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.839
 change in

00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.359
 character,

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:03.079
 development of

00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:04.759
 humility in

00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.539
 the individual,

00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.899
 we will see

00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:07.919
 deep relational

00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:08.659
 ties.

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.059
 We will

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.779
 treasure Jesus

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.179
 together.

00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:13.920
 one of the

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.400
 things that

00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:15.220
 builds friendships

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.060
 and community

00:27:16.060 --> 00:27:17.460
 is common

00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:18.460
 beliefs and

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:18.980
 convictions.

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.560
 But you

00:27:20.560 --> 00:27:21.480
 also can't

00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.180
 have genuine

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.060
 friendships and

00:27:23.060 --> 00:27:24.519
 community without

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.720
 humility and

00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:27.660
 vulnerability and

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:29.460
 transparency and

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.640
 sharing of the

00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.720
 real you,

00:27:32.320 --> 00:27:32.960
 your real

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.519
 struggles,

00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.140
 your real

00:27:34.140 --> 00:27:34.920
 hurts.

00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:38.240
 No community

00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.940
 can be built

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:41.519
 if everyone is

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.440
 just revealing

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:44.200
 the airbrushed

00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:45.319
 versions of

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:45.920
 themselves.

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.019
 Multiple

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.700
 times people

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.279
 have asked me

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.680
 in the last

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.460
 number of

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:50.779
 weeks,

00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:51.259
 say,

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.500
 how are you

00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:51.980
 getting on?

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.920
 My default

00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:56.039
 thing is I'm

00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.440
 okay.

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.460
 You know,

00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.460
 a little hard

00:27:59.460 --> 00:27:59.720
 but I'm

00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.000
 okay.

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:00.839
 The reality

00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:02.819
 is I am

00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.920
 okay but it's

00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.500
 significantly

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.180
 harder than

00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:05.400
 that.

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.579
 I have moments

00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:07.240
 where I am

00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:07.619
 deep.

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.519
 I've got moments

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:08.920
 where I'm

00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:09.460
 feeling I'm

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.059
 languishing,

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.420
 that I'm

00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:10.759
 unsure.

00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.460
 I am

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.519
 struggling on

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.200
 so many

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.900
 days to

00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:15.200
 concentrate on

00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.559
 anything.

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.779
 This sermon

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:18.480
 took me most

00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.180
 of last week

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.759
 to write.

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:21.220
 That is highly

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.200
 unusual for me.

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.000
 This is a

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.660
 struggle we're

00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.440
 in right now.

00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:29.619
 And to be

00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:30.220
 honest with you,

00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.440
 I'm even

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.039
 finding it hard

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.420
 to pray.

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:37.680
 when we have

00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.300
 truth and

00:28:38.300 --> 00:28:38.800
 humility,

00:28:38.800 --> 00:28:40.300
 then we have

00:28:40.300 --> 00:28:40.940
 the ingredients

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.720
 of authentic

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.880
 deep relationships.

00:28:43.820 --> 00:28:44.560
 At the end

00:28:44.560 --> 00:28:45.220
 of this chapter

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:46.580
 and the beginning

00:28:46.580 --> 00:28:47.340
 of the next

00:28:47.340 --> 00:28:47.860
 chapter,

00:28:48.060 --> 00:28:49.060
 I think is

00:28:49.060 --> 00:28:49.820
 quite moving.

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:50.860
 Have a look at

00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:51.800
 verse 36 with

00:28:51.800 --> 00:28:52.019
 me.

00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:53.560
 When Paul had

00:28:53.560 --> 00:28:54.539
 finished speaking,

00:28:55.300 --> 00:28:55.900
 he knelt

00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:57.420
 down with all

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.160
 of them and

00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:58.680
 prayed.

00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:00.259
 they all

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:01.779
 wept as

00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.740
 they embraced

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.480
 him and

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.200
 kissed him.

00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.400
 And then at the

00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:05.860
 beginning of the

00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:06.440
 next chapter,

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:07.779
 after we had

00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.880
 torn ourselves

00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.720
 away from

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.060
 them,

00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:11.519
 we put out

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:11.980
 to sea.

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.740
 Now that

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.779
 is genuine,

00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.120
 deep

00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.100
 relationship.

00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.500
 They had to

00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.400
 tear

00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:21.840
 themselves away

00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:22.279
 from each

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:22.519
 other.

00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.359
 people

00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:23.519
 together.

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.319
 These are

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:25.559
 not

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.359
 acquaintances.

00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.400
 This is not

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.259
 Paul and his

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.139
 parish council.

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:32.299
 These are not

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:33.379
 associates here.

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.359
 They prayed,

00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.079
 they wept,

00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:35.920
 they embraced,

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.660
 they kissed,

00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.299
 they had to

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.400
 tear each

00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.059
 other from

00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:39.480
 each other

00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:39.859
 away from

00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.240
 each other.

00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:41.359
 This is

00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:42.000
 deep

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.599
 relationship

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:43.279
 that is

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.000
 based on

00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.079
 truth that

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.779
 has changed

00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.539
 them all.

00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:48.819
 The Ephesian

00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.420
 elders are

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:49.759
 European,

00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:50.599
 Paul is

00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:51.200
 Middle Eastern

00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:51.900
 and there

00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.360
 is a

00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:53.200
 unity here

00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:53.940
 stronger than

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.280
 their own

00:29:54.280 --> 00:29:54.820
 cultures.

00:29:57.080 --> 00:29:57.980
 Notice here

00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:58.320
 that they

00:29:58.320 --> 00:29:59.180
 knelt down

00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.800
 and they

00:29:59.800 --> 00:30:00.340
 prayed.

00:30:01.280 --> 00:30:01.660
 What does

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.220
 that mean?

00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.640
 We are

00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:04.180
 together

00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:05.540
 focusing

00:30:05.540 --> 00:30:07.080
 on another.

00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.740
 They have

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.140
 God in

00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:11.460
 common.

00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.200
 C.S.

00:30:15.280 --> 00:30:15.519
 Lewis

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:17.060
 writes in

00:30:17.060 --> 00:30:17.720
 his book

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.380
 The Four

00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:18.920
 Loves

00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:20.680
 that friendship

00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:22.060
 is not

00:30:22.060 --> 00:30:23.259
 absorbed in

00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:23.580
 the other

00:30:23.580 --> 00:30:24.440
 person like

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.039
 a romantic

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:26.180
 love is.

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.440
 He says

00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.519
 friendship is

00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.580
 focused on

00:30:29.580 --> 00:30:30.279
 a common

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.060
 point of

00:30:31.060 --> 00:30:31.700
 interest.

00:30:32.820 --> 00:30:33.380
 The same

00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:33.960
 thing

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:35.820
 awes them,

00:30:36.580 --> 00:30:37.180
 attracts

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:37.580
 them,

00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:39.140
 grips them,

00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:40.539
 motivates

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.100
 them.

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.920
 You start

00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.500
 there at that

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.019
 foot and

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:45.500
 then you

00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.600
 over time

00:30:46.600 --> 00:30:47.940
 build in

00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:48.440
 relationship

00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:48.900
 with each

00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.140
 other.

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.880
 These guys

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.680
 kneel and

00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.500
 they pray to

00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.100
 their common

00:30:54.100 --> 00:30:55.160
 fixed point,

00:30:56.580 --> 00:30:56.920
 Jesus.

00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.100
 They are

00:30:59.100 --> 00:30:59.740
 treasuring

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.779
 Jesus

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:02.620
 together and

00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:03.259
 as they do

00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:03.860
 that they've

00:31:03.860 --> 00:31:04.660
 built this

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.360
 relationship,

00:31:06.320 --> 00:31:07.039
 this deep

00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.559
 connection.

00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:09.960
 Let me just

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:12.100
 say that

00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:12.779
 any two

00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:13.320
 people,

00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:15.879
 any two

00:31:15.879 --> 00:31:17.599
 people who

00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:18.220
 kneel to

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.779
 Jesus,

00:31:19.659 --> 00:31:20.179
 who have

00:31:20.179 --> 00:31:20.899
 experienced

00:31:20.899 --> 00:31:21.720
 his grace,

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.059
 any two

00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:25.539
 people can

00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:26.099
 have that

00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:26.539
 depth of

00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:27.079
 relationship.

00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:29.659
 He who

00:31:29.659 --> 00:31:30.259
 binds us

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:30.980
 together is

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.559
 greater than

00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:32.220
 anything that

00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:33.099
 separates us.

00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:34.460
 This is

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.139
 reflected in

00:31:35.139 --> 00:31:35.619
 the spread of

00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:36.019
 the Christian

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.839
 faith across

00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:37.279
 the globe

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:37.779
 over the past

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.659
 2,000 years

00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:39.240
 as I've said

00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:39.960
 before earlier

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.619
 in this series.

00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:41.759
 The Christian

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.379
 faith is the

00:31:42.379 --> 00:31:43.039
 most culturally

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.759
 and racially

00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:45.079
 diverse religion

00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:46.099
 by far of

00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:46.779
 any other

00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.419
 world religion.

00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.179
 It changes

00:31:49.179 --> 00:31:49.779
 peoples.

00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:51.899
 It unites

00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:52.879
 peoples like

00:31:52.879 --> 00:31:53.919
 no other

00:31:53.919 --> 00:31:54.599
 religion or

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.239
 philosophy of

00:31:55.239 --> 00:31:55.639
 life.

00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:58.879
 That's so

00:31:58.879 --> 00:31:59.539
 drastically

00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:00.439
 different than

00:32:00.439 --> 00:32:01.079
 the society

00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:01.539
 in which we

00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:01.899
 live.

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.619
 Most people

00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:03.199
 hang out with

00:32:03.199 --> 00:32:03.659
 people who

00:32:03.659 --> 00:32:04.079
 are like

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.359
 them.

00:32:06.419 --> 00:32:07.099
 Developing

00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:07.739
 deep,

00:32:08.159 --> 00:32:08.759
 relational,

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.619
 cross-cultural

00:32:09.619 --> 00:32:10.599
 barriers is

00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:11.799
 extremely

00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:12.399
 difficult.

00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:17.839
 What is so

00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:18.559
 unique about

00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.179
 the gospel

00:32:19.179 --> 00:32:20.480
 is that it

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.459
 exposes who

00:32:21.459 --> 00:32:22.039
 you are.

00:32:22.699 --> 00:32:23.659
 It changes

00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:23.899
 you.

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.439
 It humbles

00:32:24.439 --> 00:32:25.059
 you in such

00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.119
 a way that

00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:26.899
 you can build

00:32:26.899 --> 00:32:27.719
 relationships with

00:32:27.719 --> 00:32:29.579
 people who

00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:30.259
 you would not

00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.000
 normally be

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.659
 able to.

00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:33.659
 Nothing

00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:35.659
 else in

00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.339
 this world

00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:36.980
 has power

00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:37.299
 to do

00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:37.559
 that.

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:39.980
 Jesus

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:41.140
 Christ has

00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:42.759
 destroyed the

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.860
 dividing barriers

00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:44.319
 of his

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:45.539
 hostility and

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.259
 binds us

00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:47.200
 together into

00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:48.880
 deep unity.

00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:50.539
 Not just a

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:52.319
 truce between

00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:52.860
 people.

00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.440
 More than

00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.099
 just getting

00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:55.660
 along,

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:56.960
 deep,

00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:58.039
 deep

00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:58.759
 friendship.

00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:00.460
 Now of

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:00.980
 course we must

00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.640
 work at it.

00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:02.960
 We must choose

00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.440
 to do it and

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.640
 keep looking to

00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:05.539
 the gospel as

00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:06.120
 we do it.

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:11.480
 What's

00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.360
 remarkable about

00:33:12.360 --> 00:33:13.180
 this passage,

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:13.980
 as many

00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:14.799
 commentators will

00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:15.579
 point out,

00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:17.039
 is that in

00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.559
 Luke chapter

00:33:17.559 --> 00:33:18.340
 9 we are

00:33:18.340 --> 00:33:19.079
 told that

00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:20.240
 Jesus resolutely

00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:21.120
 set his face to

00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:21.880
 go to Jerusalem.

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:21.940
 Jerusalem.

00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:25.080
 Jesus is the

00:33:25.080 --> 00:33:26.800
 power here for

00:33:26.800 --> 00:33:27.960
 us to build the

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.440
 church that we

00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:29.000
 need to be.

00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.520
 It's the gospel

00:33:30.520 --> 00:33:32.260
 is the power for

00:33:32.260 --> 00:33:33.240
 our friendships and

00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:34.180
 our relationships with

00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:34.600
 one another.

00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.900
 Jesus resolutely

00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.780
 set his face to

00:33:37.780 --> 00:33:38.280
 Jerusalem.

00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:39.620
 What is

00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.560
 remarkable in this

00:33:40.560 --> 00:33:41.940
 passage is that

00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:42.500
 Paul,

00:33:43.020 --> 00:33:43.500
 likewise,

00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:45.000
 will not be

00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.800
 distracted from

00:33:45.800 --> 00:33:46.300
 going to

00:33:46.300 --> 00:33:46.740
 Jerusalem.

00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:46.859
 Jerusalem.

00:33:49.319 --> 00:33:50.259
 Paul is

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:51.720
 called to

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.539
 Jerusalem by

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:52.960
 the Holy

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:54.539
 Spirit and

00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.599
 like Jesus he

00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.380
 knows full well

00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:57.160
 that he may die

00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:57.460
 there.

00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:00.839
 Paul is

00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:02.319
 clearly walking

00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.220
 in the footsteps

00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:03.779
 of his

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:06.240
 Saviour and

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:08.280
 yet the

00:34:08.280 --> 00:34:08.840
 difference is

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.440
 he's not

00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:11.539
 like Jesus.

00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:14.420
 Unlike

00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:14.980
 Jesus,

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:17.039
 as Paul

00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:17.780
 travels to

00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:18.320
 Jerusalem,

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:18.980
 he is

00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:20.000
 surrounded by

00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:21.380
 friends every

00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.059
 step of the

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:22.360
 way.

00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.780
 Everywhere Paul

00:34:24.780 --> 00:34:25.599
 goes on his

00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.000
 way to

00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.500
 Jerusalem,

00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.199
 he has

00:34:27.199 --> 00:34:27.740
 support,

00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:28.099
 he has

00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:28.760
 friends.

00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:31.059
 It's the

00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:31.599
 opposite of

00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:31.900
 Jesus.

00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:34.760
 On the

00:34:34.760 --> 00:34:35.240
 night of his

00:34:35.240 --> 00:34:35.719
 arrest,

00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:37.539
 the Lord

00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.240
 Jesus was

00:34:38.240 --> 00:34:39.240
 deeply distressed

00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:39.800
 in the Garden

00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:40.539
 of Gethsemane.

00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:43.119
 His friends

00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:43.599
 were there.

00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.960
 they were

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.500
 asleep.

00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.400
 In the

00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:50.139
 hour of

00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:50.940
 he described

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.299
 of his

00:34:51.299 --> 00:34:52.299
 greatest need,

00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:52.619
 they were

00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:55.319
 asleep and

00:34:55.319 --> 00:34:55.839
 they could

00:34:55.839 --> 00:34:56.920
 not even

00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:58.539
 kneel and

00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.079
 pray with

00:34:59.079 --> 00:34:59.360
 him.

00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:00.900
 Not even

00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.339
 for 10

00:35:01.339 --> 00:35:01.719
 minutes.

00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:05.239
 Jesus Christ

00:35:05.239 --> 00:35:05.819
 was abandoned

00:35:05.819 --> 00:35:06.400
 by his

00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:06.920
 friends,

00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.579
 but the

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:09.239
 ultimate blow

00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:10.219
 came when he

00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:11.000
 cries out from

00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:11.380
 the cross,

00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:11.900
 my God,

00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:12.420
 my God,

00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:12.780
 why have

00:35:12.780 --> 00:35:13.320
 you forsaken

00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:13.619
 me?

00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:15.860
 He was

00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:16.440
 all alone.

00:35:17.700 --> 00:35:19.280
 He felt a

00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:21.240
 disconnection,

00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.519
 a cosmic

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.820
 loneliness that

00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.720
 we would never

00:35:24.720 --> 00:35:25.440
 experience,

00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:27.119
 the worst

00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:29.019
 possible form

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:29.740
 of loneliness.

00:35:31.740 --> 00:35:32.480
 And he did

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.360
 that so that

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:33.880
 you and I

00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:34.240
 could be

00:35:34.240 --> 00:35:34.660
 friends,

00:35:34.660 --> 00:35:35.480
 not just

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.360
 with God,

00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.059
 but with

00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:37.599
 each other.

00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:40.659
 He took

00:35:40.659 --> 00:35:41.659
 all the

00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.079
 barriers

00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.579
 away.

00:35:44.279 --> 00:35:45.380
 This kind

00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:45.940
 of deep

00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:46.400
 relationship

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.059
 with God

00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:47.460
 and with

00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.019
 each other

00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:49.599
 is what

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:50.920
 every single

00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:51.659
 one of us

00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.079
 need.

00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.699
 And right

00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:57.159
 now we

00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:57.500
 should be

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.099
 feeling that

00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.880
 more and

00:35:58.880 --> 00:35:59.840
 more in

00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:00.400
 this lockdown.

00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:03.960
 yes,

00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:04.300
 we can

00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:04.820
 still have

00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:05.300
 it to a

00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:05.599
 degree,

00:36:05.740 --> 00:36:06.160
 this friendship

00:36:06.160 --> 00:36:06.539
 now.

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.059
 It's why

00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.440
 I've got to

00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:08.980
 say this

00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:10.000
 digital church

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:10.720
 thing is

00:36:10.720 --> 00:36:11.500
 such a

00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.160
 blessing for

00:36:12.160 --> 00:36:12.639
 us in

00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:13.440
 this season,

00:36:14.180 --> 00:36:15.200
 but I

00:36:15.200 --> 00:36:16.139
 just need to

00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:16.599
 push this

00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:16.920
 point.

00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:17.360
 This is

00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:17.860
 nothing but

00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:18.360
 an emergency

00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:18.820
 measure.

00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:20.380
 This is a

00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:20.900
 stopgap

00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:21.220
 measure.

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:22.740
 This is not

00:36:22.740 --> 00:36:23.260
 the ultimate

00:36:23.260 --> 00:36:24.079
 way forward.

00:36:25.180 --> 00:36:26.059
 Face-to-face

00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:27.260
 gathering as

00:36:27.260 --> 00:36:27.980
 the people of

00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:29.940
 God is so

00:36:29.940 --> 00:36:30.800
 precious.

00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:33.320
 And you

00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:33.800
 need it.

00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.360
 You

00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:35.940
 absolutely

00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:36.679
 need it.

00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:39.260
 In order to

00:36:39.260 --> 00:36:40.179
 understand what

00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:40.860
 you have in

00:36:40.860 --> 00:36:41.639
 relationship with

00:36:41.639 --> 00:36:42.039
 Christ.

00:36:43.220 --> 00:36:43.800
 And yet we

00:36:43.800 --> 00:36:44.280
 still have the

00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:44.880
 opportunities to

00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:45.300
 build those

00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:46.139
 relationships now.

00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:47.619
 So can I

00:36:47.619 --> 00:36:49.119
 ask, what

00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:49.880
 is stopping

00:36:49.880 --> 00:36:50.700
 you jumping

00:36:50.700 --> 00:36:51.440
 straight on

00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:51.980
 after this

00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:52.800
 service into

00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:53.220
 the morning

00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:53.700
 tea over

00:36:53.700 --> 00:36:54.019
 Zoom?

00:36:57.820 --> 00:36:58.639
 I'm assuming

00:36:58.639 --> 00:36:59.179
 you don't have

00:36:59.179 --> 00:36:59.659
 anywhere else

00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:00.139
 to go.

00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:01.940
 What's

00:37:01.940 --> 00:37:02.500
 stopping that?

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.579
 Too busy?

00:37:05.719 --> 00:37:06.539
 Or are you

00:37:06.539 --> 00:37:07.039
 afraid?

00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:09.639
 Does the

00:37:09.639 --> 00:37:10.219
 gospel need to

00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:11.000
 transform you in

00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:11.539
 that part of

00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:11.960
 your life?

00:37:12.139 --> 00:37:12.559
 Are you

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.159
 afraid?

00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:14.319
 Afraid of a

00:37:14.319 --> 00:37:14.679
 lack of

00:37:14.679 --> 00:37:15.199
 privacy?

00:37:17.779 --> 00:37:18.500
 Afraid for

00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:19.219
 the real you

00:37:19.219 --> 00:37:20.239
 to be known?

00:37:21.759 --> 00:37:22.440
 Afraid of

00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:22.940
 accountability?

00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:27.139
 I just need to

00:37:27.139 --> 00:37:27.559
 push it.

00:37:27.559 --> 00:37:29.360
 Jesus died

00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:30.960
 alone so

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.500
 that we can

00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:32.099
 live together.

00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:34.239
 And I'm

00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:34.980
 going to say

00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.440
 I'm missing

00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:35.699
 you.

00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:37.219
 I'm missing

00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:38.019
 the togetherness.

00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:39.860
 We have

00:37:39.860 --> 00:37:40.619
 something very

00:37:40.619 --> 00:37:41.440
 significant to

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:41.980
 offer this

00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:42.360
 world.

00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:43.980
 We have

00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:44.619
 truth.

00:37:45.900 --> 00:37:46.380
 Truth.

00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:47.799
 We have a

00:37:47.799 --> 00:37:48.440
 gospel message

00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.340
 of hope.

00:37:50.900 --> 00:37:51.719
 Gospel message

00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:52.659
 of genuine

00:37:52.659 --> 00:37:53.860
 transformation of

00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:54.299
 life.

00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:56.019
 life and a

00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:56.740
 gospel message

00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:57.660
 that draws us

00:37:57.660 --> 00:37:58.780
 together into

00:37:58.780 --> 00:37:59.720
 deep fellowship

00:37:59.720 --> 00:38:00.539
 as we walk

00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:01.039
 this journey

00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:01.440
 together.

00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:04.380
 This is the

00:38:04.380 --> 00:38:05.019
 church that we

00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:05.880
 are at St.

00:38:05.900 --> 00:38:07.480
 Paul's and

00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:07.960
 this is the

00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:08.560
 church that we

00:38:08.560 --> 00:38:09.280
 will seek to

00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:10.280
 build at St.

00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:10.720
 Paul's.

00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:12.019
 God bless

00:38:12.019 --> 00:38:12.160
 you.

00:38:12.160 --> 00:38:12.220
 Amen.

00:38:12.220 --> 00:38:12.260
 Amen.

00:38:12.260 --> 00:38:12.320
 Amen.

00:38:12.320 --> 00:38:12.539
 Amen.

00:38:12.539 --> 00:38:14.340
 Amen.

00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:14.380
 Amen.

00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:14.440
 Amen.

00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:16.320
 Amen.

00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:16.580
 Amen.

00:38:16.580 --> 00:38:16.600
 Amen.

00:38:16.600 --> 00:38:18.600
 Amen.

00:38:18.600 --> 00:38:19.460
 Amen.

00:38:19.460 --> 00:38:20.500
 Amen.

00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:20.539
 Amen.

00:38:20.539 --> 00:38:20.560
 Amen.

00:38:20.560 --> 00:38:20.620
 Amen.

00:38:20.620 --> 00:38:21.539
 Amen.

00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:22.160
 Amen.

00:38:22.160 --> 00:38:22.560
 Amen.

00:38:22.560 --> 00:38:22.580
 Amen.

00:38:22.580 --> 00:38:23.680
 Amen.

00:38:23.680 --> 00:38:24.280
 Amen.