WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:04.560 Good, well good morning folks, it's lovely to see you today. Thank you so much for coming. 00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:11.540 Let me encourage you to turn back to 1st Timothy chapter 5 and the first few bit of chapter 6 is where we'll be today. 00:00:11.620 --> 00:00:15.200 As you're turning there, let me just encourage you to come along tonight. 00:00:15.339 --> 00:00:18.620 So I'll mention the evening service which is at half past six. 00:00:19.900 --> 00:00:22.839 Just every now and often we do something a little bit different in the evening. 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:29.000 So we're just going to do a three-part series, in fact four-part series I think, up until Christmas in the evenings. 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:35.159 And it's just going to be in the Psalms and it's going to be called, What Would God Say to the Dot Dot Dot? 00:00:35.740 --> 00:00:40.100 And we're going to just think about some of the things that affect us as we see them in the Psalms. 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:48.600 So we're going to think about things like depression and anxiety and grief and how those things impact us. 00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:50.359 And it's one of the wonderful things about the Bible. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:54.539 I think somebody once called it the most real book that ever has existed. 00:00:54.859 --> 00:00:56.740 And I think that's true what you see in the Psalms. 00:00:56.740 --> 00:00:59.140 So we're just going to be doing that in the evening, slightly different. 00:00:59.940 --> 00:01:05.200 But maybe just in response to everything that Esther's been saying, we thought that would be good for us as a church family to do that. 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:10.040 So that's going to be this evening and over the next four evenings. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:11.700 So please come out at half past six tonight. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:13.620 It would be lovely to see you. 00:01:13.719 --> 00:01:16.320 So 1 Timothy chapter 5 in front of us. 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:23.959 If you were here last week, you'll remember this call that Paul made to Timothy, this young pastor in Ephesus. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:33.959 He had to realize and start cultivating this community of honor as it existed in the church family amongst the different relationships between them. 00:01:34.399 --> 00:01:39.439 So if you remember, if you come with me to the opening verses of chapter 5, this is what he's to see. 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:42.159 He's to look at the older men in the church as fathers. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:45.319 He's to look at the older women in the church as mothers. 00:01:46.060 --> 00:01:48.480 He's to look at the younger women in the church as sisters. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:54.239 And presumably there as well, he's to look at the younger men as brothers. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:02:05.000 And so what you've got there is this community of honor that should exist amongst the relationships of the people in the church that Timothy is being called to realize and cultivate. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:10.099 And so that theme of honor runs right the way through this section that we're going to look at today. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:13.299 This community of honor that is the church. 00:02:13.300 --> 00:02:25.340 And I reckon that God this morning, as we look at what we're going to look at, is going to put his finger on something that I think all of us find naturally very hard to do. 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:31.500 And it's got all to do with how we instinctively respond to our leaders. 00:02:32.860 --> 00:02:33.000 Right? 00:02:33.140 --> 00:02:39.180 Those, if you want to extend it just a little bit, those who are in authority over us in our life. 00:02:39.180 --> 00:02:45.680 So if you want to think about your school, think about your teachers, your head teacher maybe in particular. 00:02:46.599 --> 00:02:48.319 You think about our politicians. 00:02:48.580 --> 00:02:52.879 You think about the people who are in maybe authority of us in the workplace. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:56.700 If you think about those relationships in your life, here's a question for you. 00:02:56.819 --> 00:02:59.560 What do you think comes more naturally to each of us? 00:03:00.420 --> 00:03:03.360 Is it honor or is it dishonor? 00:03:04.580 --> 00:03:04.819 Right? 00:03:04.900 --> 00:03:07.340 Is it respect or is it disrespect? 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:10.640 What do you think comes more naturally to us? 00:03:11.819 --> 00:03:16.159 Now maybe just to illustrate the point, let me tell you about something that happened to me I remember at university. 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:16.659 Okay? 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:21.439 I remember going to visit the bathroom, went to wash my hands, went to dry my hands. 00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:28.000 Now remember those kind of hair dryers that you press, the kind of old-fashioned ones that have the big button right on the front. 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:29.719 You're meant to hit it and it's meant to blow at you. 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:29.960 Okay? 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:39.020 So I went to hit the button and somebody had graffitied on it and it simply said, press here for a message from the prime minister. 00:03:39.020 --> 00:03:41.900 Let you work it out. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:42.159 Okay? 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:45.020 Press here for a message from the prime minister. 00:03:45.160 --> 00:03:47.379 Now that was circa 2004. 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.180 So you can probably work out who the prime minister was of our country then. 00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:52.000 But here's the thing. 00:03:53.040 --> 00:03:58.820 While the person who's in Downing Street will change as the years go on. 00:03:58.819 --> 00:04:02.919 See the joke about hot air coming from their mouths. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:05.680 It will be told for many years to come. 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:08.439 And I guarantee that will never go out of fashion. 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:10.459 Whoever's in charge. 00:04:11.219 --> 00:04:12.199 Because here's the thing. 00:04:12.299 --> 00:04:16.139 We live in a culture today, and you see this and recognize it in your own heart, 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:22.319 that our natural tendency is to dishonor those who are in authority over our lives. 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:22.920 Would that be true? 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:24.240 You know that in your own heart? 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:25.120 You know that temptation? 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:29.100 I remember there was a really popular band back in the day. 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:31.019 They were called Rage Against the Machine. 00:04:31.180 --> 00:04:31.899 Don't even remember them. 00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:33.199 Rage Against the Machine. 00:04:33.819 --> 00:04:36.879 And I just remember some of their songs, the titles of their songs, 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:38.160 were things like, I wrote them down. 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:40.160 Take the power back. 00:04:40.340 --> 00:04:41.199 Settle for nothing. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:42.220 These were the songs. 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:44.220 It was almost an anthem of a generation. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:48.620 Songs that could easily be the soundtrack of the human heart, could they not? 00:04:49.019 --> 00:04:50.439 That exists in all of us. 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:52.500 Rage Against the Machine. 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:53.780 Hate Authority. 00:04:53.779 --> 00:04:56.459 And if you want to trace that crack in their hearts back, 00:04:56.519 --> 00:04:58.699 you trace it all the way back to Genesis 3. 00:04:59.699 --> 00:05:01.559 Adam and Eve effectively saying, 00:05:01.719 --> 00:05:04.039 God, we don't want you in authority over us. 00:05:04.159 --> 00:05:07.359 We want to be in charge of our own lives. 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:10.119 Exists in all of our hearts. 00:05:10.179 --> 00:05:14.239 And that's the attitude I think that God would challenge in each of our hearts today. 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:17.659 Because as followers, as disciples of Jesus, 00:05:18.559 --> 00:05:20.299 friends, we're called to do it differently. 00:05:21.559 --> 00:05:22.639 Called to do it differently. 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:28.120 And be a community that's marked by radical honour. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:29.699 Radical honour. 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:31.500 And we thought about the widows last week. 00:05:31.599 --> 00:05:34.519 Those in our church family who are most in need. 00:05:35.419 --> 00:05:38.259 And Paul's called to honour those in our church family. 00:05:38.379 --> 00:05:38.819 Care for them. 00:05:38.919 --> 00:05:39.779 Esther was talking about it. 00:05:39.899 --> 00:05:40.339 Love them. 00:05:40.479 --> 00:05:41.039 Provide for them. 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:42.019 Those who are most in need. 00:05:42.019 --> 00:05:53.299 And we're going to see two more areas today in this passage that Paul probably knows are places where dishonour might so easily breed in this church. 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:57.220 So there are two particular temptations I think that they'll face. 00:05:58.020 --> 00:05:59.319 But if they can get it right. 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:01.879 They can kick it into gear. 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:12.319 It has such explosive potential to showcase the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the lives of human beings to the watching world. 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:18.279 Now there are two areas linked by that one word that we keep saying again and again in this section. 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:23.519 Verse 17 and verse of chapter 5 and verse 1 of chapter 6. 00:06:23.599 --> 00:06:24.079 Do you see it? 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:25.839 It's the word honour. 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:27.459 Honour. 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:29.459 It's the same word we saw last week with the widows. 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:29.980 Honour. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:31.199 Or respect. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:34.019 It's the same Greek word. 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:38.039 At its core it just means to place a value on something. 00:06:40.579 --> 00:06:41.659 Place a value on something. 00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:43.599 Now here's the first area then that he talks about. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:45.779 And we're in at verse 17 of chapter 5. 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:48.500 Where have they to place this honour? 00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:50.699 Well I think there's two messages here. 00:06:51.659 --> 00:06:52.159 Number one. 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:57.219 Timothy you've got to create a culture of honour in the church. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:58.519 Right? 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:05.719 And the focus here is how you view and treat the elders in this church. 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:06.060 Right? 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:09.319 Those men who are leading the congregation. 00:07:09.939 --> 00:07:15.500 And I think the word there it carries with it the connotation of someone who's older in age. 00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:17.259 I think that's what an elder would be. 00:07:17.419 --> 00:07:19.819 I don't know about a specific number. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:22.339 Again it might have been younger in this culture. 00:07:23.039 --> 00:07:24.680 But that's the connotation there. 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:28.980 And if that's the case do you see how it links back into the instruction at verse 1. 00:07:29.540 --> 00:07:32.680 How he's to honour older men and treat them as fathers. 00:07:33.459 --> 00:07:40.300 So this is a practical case of how that's going to work out in Timothy's life and in the lives of the people of the church. 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:42.620 Honour those who are your elders. 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:45.240 Now why was this an issue in Ephesus? 00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:52.180 Well could it be that with all the false teaching that's going on about things to avoid. 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:56.100 And about super spirituality and how you reach it. 00:07:57.319 --> 00:08:01.680 Which presumably is by the way just why Timothy's encouraged there to take a little wine. 00:08:01.900 --> 00:08:04.139 I imagine if you just think that's a random verse chucked in there. 00:08:04.180 --> 00:08:04.759 I don't think it is. 00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:14.959 I think it's the false teachers have been teaching the fact that you can show your super spirituality by abstaining from taking certain created foods and drinks. 00:08:15.300 --> 00:08:16.779 I think Paul's saying that's nonsense. 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:23.300 And show them that you can do it in a way which glorifies God and maintains self-control. 00:08:23.420 --> 00:08:25.939 Just because it's created isn't why it's bad. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:26.899 I think that's what's going on there. 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:27.860 You can have that for free. 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:35.919 But could it be that the false teaching in this church and all the burdensome shenanigans that are going on at a leadership level. 00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:40.580 Could it just be the case that people in this church have just got sick of leaders. 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:42.700 Right. 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:43.820 Hot air. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:44.919 Elders. 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:46.240 Could it be that. 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:47.120 Simple as that. 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:49.480 Just got sick of it. 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:51.039 Right. 00:08:51.039 --> 00:09:03.199 Maybe those who could step up and be leaders in this church were staying well clear because of all the bad mouthing and all the unfair criticism that came with stepping up to leadership in Ephesus. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:04.519 Right. 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:05.099 You can imagine the thing. 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:06.919 We've got this phrase, don't we, in Scotland. 00:09:07.099 --> 00:09:07.899 And I hate it. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:10.559 We've got that phrase, tall poppy syndrome. 00:09:10.659 --> 00:09:11.240 You ever heard of that? 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:13.059 Tall poppy syndrome. 00:09:13.319 --> 00:09:20.480 So this idea of if one poppy just gets slightly above the rest, what we're going to do is we're going to take a sickle and cut it down. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:21.199 Right. 00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:23.279 It's what we do as a society. 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:27.819 And it's one of these things that's become really culturally acceptable that we do. 00:09:28.079 --> 00:09:28.219 Right. 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:30.360 Don't let somebody get too big for their boots. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:31.679 Don't let them get ahead of themselves. 00:09:32.219 --> 00:09:34.219 And if we do, we're going to bring them back down to size. 00:09:34.319 --> 00:09:35.839 It's what we do as a society. 00:09:36.079 --> 00:09:37.879 It's one of those culturally acceptable things. 00:09:37.959 --> 00:09:40.139 I think it's the most hideous thing in the human heart. 00:09:40.860 --> 00:09:41.659 I'm not saying that's true. 00:09:42.779 --> 00:09:46.639 That thing that exists inside of us that doesn't want other people to get it. 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:47.799 It's horrible. 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:51.379 Let me ask you, if you're a non-Christian here today, how do you explain that? 00:09:51.859 --> 00:09:53.259 Where does that come from? 00:09:54.219 --> 00:09:54.879 It's funny, isn't it? 00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:59.019 When Jesus would come along in the Gospels and say, it's out of the heart that the mouth speaks. 00:09:59.139 --> 00:10:02.399 Friends, what's going on in our hearts when we talk like that? 00:10:04.959 --> 00:10:10.339 They say, maybe there's an unhelpful culture of dishonoring your elders that's brewing in Ephesus. 00:10:10.340 --> 00:10:13.540 Now, here's the thing. 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:20.840 Churches up and down this land, this nation, friends, we long for, and I hope this is your prayer individually, 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:30.800 it's our prayer as a church, that churches up and down this land would be led by people who are burning hot in terms of their love for Jesus. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:38.120 And who are encouraged in their work and who are seeking him seriously in prayer. 00:10:38.199 --> 00:10:41.559 Now, let me just say, we all win when that happens. 00:10:42.199 --> 00:10:43.819 We all win when that happens. 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:48.819 We all want that to be true for our leaders up and down this country of the church of Jesus. 00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:52.079 That they would just be leading out of a zeal for him. 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:57.540 But here's the reality I think this passage also tells you about that job. 00:10:59.040 --> 00:11:02.160 It's a hard shift being an elder. 00:11:02.300 --> 00:11:04.580 It is a hard shift. 00:11:04.680 --> 00:11:08.300 I heard somebody once compare the role of an elders team to that of a football game. 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:14.460 22 people running around, killing themselves in the pitch while 50,000 people watch, shout and critique from the stands. 00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:16.600 Maybe a bit harsh, but you get what they're saying. 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:19.280 It's just a hard shift. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:22.600 And it's largely unseen work. 00:11:23.179 --> 00:11:26.579 And it's a never ending yet glorious task. 00:11:27.319 --> 00:11:33.839 And added to that, it is to step into the front line of the spiritual battle. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:40.939 And I certainly know it's my experience that in the hardest of times the devil would whisper in your ears, 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:43.240 is it really worth it? 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:47.879 I think of so many other things you could be doing with your time. 00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:50.179 Think about your free weeknights. 00:11:50.299 --> 00:11:53.399 Think about all this, the emotional energy you could be saving. 00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:55.399 Is it really worth it? 00:11:57.939 --> 00:12:00.500 Let's just get a little insight here into the life of an elder. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:02.379 I even feel awkward talking about it, if I'm honest. 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:04.580 But how do you do it? 00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:05.639 Let the text speak. 00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:07.899 How do you honor your elders, Timothy? 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:08.860 Here's what he says. 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:09.679 He says two things. 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:10.820 He says, provide for them. 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:11.879 You see it? 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:13.759 Provide for them. 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:17.960 The Old Testament principle there of not muzzling the ox as it's treading the grain. 00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:18.220 Right? 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:24.179 So you wouldn't set an animal to work and expect it to keep going in the field on an empty stomach. 00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:24.939 That's the principle. 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:26.259 You feed it. 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:34.360 And much more so with Christian leaders, especially those who work hard in terms of their preaching and teaching of the Bible. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:41.419 And I take it this is more than just simply financial remuneration for those who are set aside to do this role. 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:45.279 Or I imagine that that's perhaps what's going on in this double honor thing. 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:53.000 So the honor of being an elder, but maybe the added honor of being set aside financially to be able to do this with the best hours of your life. 00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:56.459 It's a holistic care. 00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:57.659 I think he's speaking about here. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.240 Encouragement for your leaders. 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:01.419 Holidays for your leaders. 00:13:01.699 --> 00:13:03.720 Prayer that goes on for your leaders. 00:13:03.819 --> 00:13:08.159 I must say last week somebody came up to me after the service and said, we never cease to pray for you as a team. 00:13:08.699 --> 00:13:10.000 Honestly, it made my week. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:22.360 As we want the leaders in churches up and down this land to be leading out of a love and a passionate zeal for Jesus and to be encouraged in their work as they do that. 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:27.320 So, Timothy, this culture you're creating in the church. 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:28.460 Love your leaders. 00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:31.500 Provide for your elders and protect them. 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:34.139 You know, maybe there was a lawsuit culture growing in Ephesus. 00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:38.000 You know, we talk about, my wife's a doctor, she laughs at this. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:39.799 And we talk about ambulance chasers. 00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:44.899 Okay, maybe in this culture, in Ephesus, it was elders chasers. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:45.539 I don't know. 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:46.779 Right? 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:49.620 People going out their way to bring allegations. 00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:56.539 And maybe that's why Paul says, make sure that any allegations against an elder can be substantiated. 00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:57.639 That there's something to it. 00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:58.720 That it's not just gossip. 00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:01.620 That two or three people can back up the same story. 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:02.679 I think that's what's going on there. 00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:04.580 Protect your leaders. 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:13.560 But on that note, do you see how Paul's very quick to tell Timothy not to hesitate to rebuke leaders who've gone rogue? 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:19.379 I take it in terms of their life and their doctrine. 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:27.820 Because if there's a serious allegation against an elder, even if there's the slightest whiff of truth coming from it, 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:31.860 there's any question marks, there's any even amber flags. 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:34.759 Timothy, you can't just sweep it under the carpet. 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:36.000 Don't do that. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:37.019 Never do that. 00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:37.700 You cannot. 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:38.860 You must not do that. 00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:43.899 You see how Paul tells him at verse 21, what does he tell him not to do? 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:47.059 Not to show, there's two words, favoritism. 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:50.559 And not to show partiality. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:15:02.039 No inner rings, no jobs for the boys, no secret handshakes which would cause you to overlook something serious that's going on in someone's life at a leadership level. 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:02.879 Here's the principle. 00:15:03.459 --> 00:15:06.219 Sin stinks in God's eyes. 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:16.539 And the repetitive thing that comes all the way through scripture, he particularly hates it in the lives of those who are meant to be caring for his people. 00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:19.779 It stinks in his eyes. 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:24.139 And friends, that's why I love that you're praying for us, friends. 00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:26.079 You need to keep us accountable as leaders as well. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:31.459 If you see something that's off in a leader's life that doesn't quite match up, you ought to tell us. 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.959 You've got responsibility. 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:36.699 Because this is how people get seriously hurt. 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:40.459 And this is how people lose confidence in the leaders of the church. 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:46.980 And let me just say, pastorally, maybe there's some of you here today who know the pain of this all too well. 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:52.019 And friends, if that's you here today, I'm so sorry that has been your experience. 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:58.220 This is how the gospel loses credibility in the eyes of the world. 00:15:58.379 --> 00:16:01.419 And let me just say, maybe you know some of this, maybe you don't. 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:05.799 But the evangelical world right now is awash with cases coming to light. 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.980 Leaders just failing. 00:16:09.699 --> 00:16:10.860 And things have been exposed. 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:13.240 And that's what, I take it, that's what God does. 00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:14.500 God will not be mocked. 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.440 Things will come to light. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:18.340 And his name will be honored. 00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:25.019 If there's stuff festering at a leadership level, friends, we need to root it out. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:31.100 Now, in the text, how can Timothy particularly guard against this? 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:34.560 One way that Paul mentions is at verse 22. 00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:39.560 And it's not to be hasty in appointing elders. 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:43.340 So don't be wowed by the new kid on the block. 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:46.200 Don't be, your life seems to have it together. 00:16:46.300 --> 00:16:47.860 Can you start a Monday kind of thing? 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:48.580 Don't do that. 00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:52.320 Pick elders whose lives have stood the test of time. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.100 And it just, this is again, it just, it just makes sense. 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:59.100 Paul's blend here of compassion and wisdom. 00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:03.820 It just makes sense that you would watch somebody over a course of time and see, 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.720 that's when you see their character. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:06.620 Right? 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:09.339 I don't know about you, but I do that all the time when I'm buying something on Amazon. 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:10.660 Right? 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:13.480 I look at how many stars the product has got. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:20.160 But more than that, I look for more than just the fact that a product has got more than four and a half stars. 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:24.339 I'm interested in the number of people that have given it four and a half stars. 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:26.140 I don't want something with five reviews. 00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:29.160 I want something that's got 500 reviews. 00:17:29.560 --> 00:17:30.520 Yeah, you do this as well? 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:34.420 Because it's a product that's lasted the length of time. 00:17:35.060 --> 00:17:37.580 That is still going strong six years later. 00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:38.820 It's not just got five reviews. 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:40.100 It's only been out for a month. 00:17:40.800 --> 00:17:41.700 You don't really know what's going to be. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:44.240 No, something that's lasted the length of time. 00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:47.240 How much more when it comes to appointing elders? 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:51.380 Friends, this is, in the generations to come, this is what to look for. 00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:54.680 Someone who's proven to you their love for the Lord Jesus. 00:17:55.080 --> 00:17:57.860 Somebody who you can say, we know that person. 00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:59.660 We've seen what they're made of. 00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:01.440 We've seen inside their homes. 00:18:01.560 --> 00:18:03.100 We've seen what makes them tick. 00:18:03.280 --> 00:18:04.400 We know their children. 00:18:04.600 --> 00:18:05.640 We know their faults. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.000 We know their struggles. 00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:08.580 But we know their gifts. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.840 And we know who they are. 00:18:10.080 --> 00:18:12.040 Those are the kind of people that you want to appoint. 00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:15.840 People who love the Lord and who love their church. 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:19.080 And in the hardest moments of our lives, they will be there. 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:23.639 It's got to be all about character. 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.480 Now, here's the thing. 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.759 Just a cultural observation. 00:18:26.399 --> 00:18:26.659 Do you know what? 00:18:26.659 --> 00:18:35.299 I found it really interesting watching the public's reaction when the news of Matt Hancock's affair hit the news back in June. 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:36.359 Do you remember that? 00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:37.460 If you were around at the time? 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:47.859 I remember being, I remember that it was strikingly clear that people that were commenting on it were way more concerned about his public failings. 00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:52.519 And that he'd broken social distancing rules. 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:57.039 Way more concerned about that than they were the fact about his private failings. 00:18:57.819 --> 00:19:03.059 In other words, if the guy can do the job, then we don't care what his life is like at home. 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:08.000 Friends, let me just say in the church, it's the other way around. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:11.200 You can be as gifted as you want up here. 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:15.299 You can be the most gifted musician, the most gifted Bible handler. 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:19.740 But if your life does not match up at home, you should not be up here. 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.400 You should not be an elder. 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.880 That is what Paul is saying here. 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:26.859 Someone who you know has stood the test of time. 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:31.119 Someone who you know loves the flock and who will give his life for the flock. 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:35.359 Look, my friends, how gloriously different is this going to look? 00:19:37.399 --> 00:19:41.639 People that we rub shoulders with every day, hugely skeptical of leaders. 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:48.299 I had a lady, we were coming back from holidays, sitting in a queue, trying to get through passport control. 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:51.079 Lady just standing there, spoke to her literally for a minute. 00:19:51.479 --> 00:19:53.439 And she gave me both barrels about Boris. 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:56.159 Just want to get home, please. 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:58.619 Give me both barrels about Boris. 00:19:58.879 --> 00:20:00.119 Hate the guy, hate the guy. 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:05.699 Like, friends, how different is it going to be if we as a church speak of our leaders in here? 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.779 And we say, yeah, they're not perfect, but you know what? 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.679 We're rooting for them. 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.199 And we love them. 00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:11.859 And you know what? 00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:12.419 They love us. 00:20:12.479 --> 00:20:14.239 How different is that going to look? 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:19.579 The way that we speak of one another than it is how our world relates to its leaders. 00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:25.799 Timothy's got to create a culture of honor in the church. 00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:33.779 And the second thing he's got to do, he's got to encourage others in the church to model a mindset of honor at work. 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:36.660 And with this, as we hit chapter six. 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:42.460 Now, remember, the word slavery probably jumped off the page to do there. 00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:49.819 Remember, slavery, as Paul talks about it here, isn't the same thing as kind of 18th, 19th century will before slavery. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:50.379 Right? 00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.079 The hideous thing. 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:53.000 It's a very different thing here. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:21:00.700 Paul's writing, at the time of his writing, you've got a whole Roman economy that's largely based on these kind of relationships. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:04.019 So you've got lawyers could be slaves. 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:06.059 Doctors could be slaves. 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:07.880 Sometimes they lived with their masters. 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:10.400 So it's not quite the same thing. 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:14.720 And it's certainly not the same thing what we would call today employment. 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:15.960 Right? 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.759 That kind of relationship. 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:21.000 But it's close enough that I think the principles that he talks about here are very much applicable. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:27.339 And this is another area that Paul knows people in this church could be tempted towards dishonor. 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.619 How does that work? 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:34.299 Well, perhaps it was Christian believers finding themselves working for a non-believing boss. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:34.640 Right? 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:36.759 Somebody who's hostile to the things of Jesus. 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:39.180 Thinking to themselves, why should I work hard for them? 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:47.940 Or could it be there's people in this church and you've got a slave and a master who are both Christians. 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:55.519 And the slave thinks to himself, well, listen, because we're kind of go to church together, we're kind of equal in the church. 00:21:55.840 --> 00:21:59.440 Maybe he'll cut me a little bit of slack and I can kind of slack off my duties. 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.500 It's those kind of things. 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.039 Right? 00:22:02.840 --> 00:22:06.539 Both temptations towards dishonoring that relationship. 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.660 And Paul says don't. 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:12.300 Model a mindset of honor at work. 00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:17.660 And here's what I want you to know, because I know many of us friends are in different jobs doing different things. 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:19.640 And some of us are finding it really hard. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:23.360 You've maybe been in the same place of work for years and years and years. 00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:25.120 And you think, is it really worth it? 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:26.900 Here's what I want you to see from this passage. 00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.060 Honoring. 00:22:30.040 --> 00:22:31.660 Modeling a mindset of honor at work. 00:22:32.600 --> 00:22:35.660 Showing honor, friends, will have an evangelistic impact. 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:35.740 Respect. 00:22:36.560 --> 00:22:37.500 That's what he's saying. 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:43.920 As you go to work tomorrow, God says your boss is fully worthy of full honor and respect. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.140 That doesn't mean you're a doormat. 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.279 Don't hear what I'm not saying. 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:50.560 It doesn't mean that you're there to two o'clock in the morning. 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:51.640 Don't hear what I'm not saying. 00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:57.759 But it does mean that our bosses, friends, they should see us as straight shooters. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:06.539 As people who will be reliable, honest, trustworthy, doing their best, showing. 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:10.539 And let me just say, showing honor to your boss will draw the questions. 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:13.000 Why do they do that? 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.240 What's going on? 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:19.740 Let me just say that the flip of the relationship is also true for Christian masters. 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:24.440 Someone who's doing some work for you temporarily. 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:26.480 Come to your home to do an odd job. 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:28.059 Friend, the way that we show honor. 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:31.039 And that kind of relationships matters as well. 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:35.079 I remember asking my friend if he knew of a good builder in the city. 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.839 And he gave me a guy's number. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.660 And he just said, you know what? 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.480 That guy loves working for Christians. 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:41.079 And you know why? 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:44.339 Because Christians pay on time. 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.660 But they don't have a good reputation to have. 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:53.060 Is that not how honor kind of just works itself out in daily relationships? 00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:56.860 That is a good reputation to have. 00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:00.220 And think about it as well. 00:24:00.300 --> 00:24:02.180 As a result of their common Christian faith, 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:06.620 if the world can see a slave serving a master, verse 2, even better. 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:12.519 And if they can see in turn a Christian master who is devoted to the welfare of their slaves. 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:16.880 As people view that working relationship, working out. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:21.340 Friends, what a powerful witness to the transforming power of Jesus in people's lives. 00:24:23.580 --> 00:24:32.260 The compelling witness of a community that is continually formed by the word of God. 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:36.740 A community where the gospel brings people together. 00:24:37.260 --> 00:24:43.780 And a community where Jesus is transforming people by his grace. 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:51.319 And so friends, as we wrap this up this morning, the challenge is to think about how we're known. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:54.680 How are we doing at showing honor to one another? 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:58.399 How are we doing at showing honor to those outside the church? 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:03.339 And just as we close, some of you might know there's a... 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:05.240 I listened to an interview recently. 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:07.099 A guy down south, down in... 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:08.399 I think he's Brighton, Eastbourne. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:10.619 He's an evangelist called Glenn Scrivener. 00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:12.559 And what he does, he just... 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:17.459 So often part of his job is just to go to different churches and do some training on evangelism. 00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:18.019 Right? 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:21.500 How people are going to witness for Jesus as they go out into the world. 00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:23.899 Now here's what he said he does with training. 00:25:24.939 --> 00:25:31.779 The first question he asks is never have you got a clear understanding on Christian apologetics. 00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:36.339 It's not have you mastered two ways to live. 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:41.119 It's not have you got a wonderful gospel articulation ready to go on your lips. 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.819 Friends, what he does is people get together. 00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:47.740 He says 10 minutes on the clock, turn to your neighbor, just the two of you. 00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:51.359 And all I want you to talk about is finish this sentence. 00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:54.279 The thing I love about Jesus is... 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:57.699 That's a conversation I'd love to hear. 00:25:58.519 --> 00:26:02.859 That's a conversation I'd encourage you to have with people after you finish. 00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:06.859 Isn't it not true so often, friends, that we overcomplicate evangelism? 00:26:07.879 --> 00:26:10.419 That we put so much pressure on ourselves to get it right. 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:16.099 What is evangelism if it's not just one beggar telling another beggar this is where you find bread? 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:19.319 The thing I love about Jesus is... 00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:23.599 Let me ask you, if you're a Christian here, what is it that first drew you to Jesus? 00:26:24.899 --> 00:26:25.500 Irresistible grace. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:26.559 I know, but you know what I mean. 00:26:26.659 --> 00:26:28.240 Okay, what first drew you to Jesus? 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:36.620 You know, for me, what it was, it was just reading through the Gospels and just seeing how Jesus treated people with honor. 00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:37.900 Yeah? 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.339 The woman at the well, John 4. 00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:44.480 The blind men on the way to Jerusalem. 00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:47.759 The woman caught in adultery. 00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:52.420 Tax collectors, fishermen, widows. 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:55.559 How he treated them with honor. 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:58.599 I was reading in my own times this morning, end of Matthew's Gospel. 00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.759 He goes to the cross. 00:27:00.179 --> 00:27:03.539 The one who deserved all honor, treated with dishonor. 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.839 They spat in his face. 00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.619 They slapped him. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.599 Put up false witnesses against him. 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:11.960 I could not get my head around the fact that the one who was perfect, sinless, 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:16.379 was the one who would give his lives for the people who deserved dishonor. 00:27:16.679 --> 00:27:17.980 And I saw myself there. 00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:19.240 I was a sinner. 00:27:19.419 --> 00:27:20.139 I was guilty. 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:21.259 I deserved dishonor. 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:23.740 And Jesus showed me honor and took my place. 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:29.120 Friends, the thing that drew me to Jesus is the fact that he showed honor. 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:35.220 And I take it that as we thought about this community of honor that we want to cultivate as a church, 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:42.859 I take it as disciples, his fingerprints, the fingerprints of the king of honor, 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:45.359 should be all over our relationships. 00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:48.220 So you see, we've seen that last week. 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.220 We've seen it this week. 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:55.559 The widows, our elders, and the people who we work for. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:28:01.400 Paul would say to Timothy in the church, cultivate a community of honor. 00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:04.680 Let me just close with this Mark Dever quote. 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.500 He said this, 00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:08.539 Christian proclamation might make the gospel audible, 00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:14.920 but Christians living together in local congregations make the gospel visible. 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:18.640 Friends, that's the call we've got as we finish this little section. 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:21.700 We've got two more to go in 1 Timothy, but as we finish this little section, 00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:25.839 cultivating a community that shows radical honor. 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.059 Let's pray. 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:27.119 Amen. 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:35.139 Father, we just thank you so much, Lord, for Jesus. 00:28:36.679 --> 00:28:39.619 And we thank you, Father, for the honor which he has shown us, 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:42.659 dying in our place on the cross for our sin, 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:45.559 taking the anger that we deserved on himself. 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:50.079 Father, thank you for the wonderful grace that you've shown us. 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:54.299 And so, Father, we pray that you would help us by your spirit 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:59.720 to be a community that outdoes one another in showing honor. 00:29:00.939 --> 00:29:03.039 Oh, Father, would you transform our hearts? 00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:05.720 Would you focus our minds? 00:29:06.159 --> 00:29:09.500 Would our community here at Brunsfield, 00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:11.859 would it exist for your glory? 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:14.720 And Father, we thank you so much for today. 00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:17.740 Thank you that you have heard us, Lord, 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:20.000 and you have spoken to us through your word. 00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:24.059 And so, Father, we just commit ourselves to you in Jesus' worthy 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:26.500 and in his precious name we pray. 00:29:27.199 --> 00:29:27.579 Amen.