WEBVTT

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 Ephesians chapter 6 verses 1 to 4, children and parents.

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 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

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 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise,

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 that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.

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 Fathers, do not exasperate your children.

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 Instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

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 Thank you very much.

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 Thanks, Ralph.

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 Sorry, I'll just get myself adjusted here.

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 Thank you.

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 Thank you.

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 Thank you.

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 Thank you.

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 Okay, good morning, everyone.

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 Today, I want us to look at the topic of, well, in particular children, but also parents in the church.

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 And many of us this morning fall into the category of being a parent, and so I want to speak to you especially.

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 And some of us fall into the category of children.

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 I want to speak to you especially as well.

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 Some are children here legally, because, well, you're under 18, so you're a child.

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 And some are here as children practically.

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 So, okay, you've gotten over 18, but mom and dad are still paying most of the bills.

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 And you haven't quite reached full independence yet, have you?

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 Okay, so whether you're a legal child or a functional child, listen up this morning.

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 Now, if you're not a child or a parent, I know what you're already thinking.

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 Well, please don't think that you have a sermon-free Sunday ahead where the old lights can switch off and you can start staring at the ceiling.

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 Because I want us all to see, and I hope this is what we see, that discussions around children and parents, what we're going to look at this morning,

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 even though we're talking about children and parents in a physical family, we're doing so in the context of another family.

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 And the context of that other family is the church, a spiritual family, which we are all part of,

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 regardless of our status as a parent or a child or anything like that.

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 So this sermon is for all of us as the church, as God's people.

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 But let's come back to parents and children.

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 Why are you here with family this morning?

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 Have you ever sat down as a family and had that conversation?

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 Why do we go to church?

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 For parents, it might be as simple as this, and this is just one option.

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 You come to church.

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 Your children are going to come to church.

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 You see value in the church providing a stabilizing influence on your child's life,

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 and that's going to equip them into the future and somehow help them in the long term to have a successful and a happy and a well-adjusted life.

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 So you're here as parents.

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 Your children are going to come, and you see benefit to that.

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 And if you're here as a child, well, then, you know, it's very possible that you're only here because it's expected.

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 Maybe you're just here out of habit.

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 It's grand, but really it's a bit samey each week.

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 I've recounted the bricks behind the preacher's head a hundred times, and, you know, they haven't changed in all that time.

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 It's not something I look forward to.

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 You know, none of my friends are here.

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 It's just a bit of a, I don't know.

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 I'm sure I'm here anyway.

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 Now, don't misunderstand me when I say that about parents and motivation and children and motivation.

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 It's great, and it's good that you are here this morning for whatever reason.

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 There is genuinely no better place to be on a Sunday than gathering here as a church that is being built by Jesus.

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 But let's consider what it means to be here as children in the church,

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 and let us consider what it means to be here as parents in the church.

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 Is it possible that we can shape our understanding and motivation this morning by using the Word of God,

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 that sharp sword that divides to the very heart of the issue,

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 so that we can take the Word of God and take children and parents and bring the Word to bear on it and learn from the Bible?

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 Then, as we come as a child or as we come as a parent, we're coming together, together in God's community,

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 not just out of habit or expectation or compulsion,

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 but we will want to come because of the irresistible call of God on our lives,

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 to be in fellowship with Him and to be in fellowship with other believers.

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 And then that burden and guilt that comes from those faulty ideas of church attendance

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 can be replaced by the big picture of God's kingdom.

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 And, you know, that's where I want to be, and I hope it's where you want to be this morning as well.

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 The first thing is that I think our vision is really quite dull.

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 For many reasons, you know, we like verses in the Bible like Ephesians chapter 6, verses 1 to 4,

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 and we are going to focus on these verses this morning.

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 The verses, as you look at them in your Bible, they're short, direct.

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 You know, here are some things for children.

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 We move on.

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 Verse 4, here are some things for fathers.

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 Mr. Preacher, we say, just give me a few stories to help me understand.

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 Give me a few extra applications to think about.

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 So I read these verses, help me understand, and give me a few stories, a few applications,

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 and maybe even encourage me to practice them this week.

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 And that's often how we come to our Bibles and maybe come on a Sunday.

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 We want the Bible to function like a kind of a look-up manual for life.

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 So it kind of goes like this.

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 Well, career, career.

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 I should look at my Bible.

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 So we try and find some verses on work, and that's it.

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 We dip in and find those verses about work.

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 And we want to tune up our marriage.

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 You know, we feel that tension.

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 And, well, the Bible, it's a marriage manual.

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 You know, I can find some verses.

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 Actually, if I look back at the end of chapter 5,

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 wives and husbands, some good verses, maybe they'll come in handy someday.

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 I must remember that, Ephesians 5, marriage.

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 Children and how to raise them.

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 Well, there are verses for that, aren't they?

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 We have some in front of us.

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 But instead of doing that, if we take the time, like we're doing now,

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 and we read the Bible as it is,

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 as the Word of God to us as believers,

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 I think we quickly find out that it's not really a parenting manual after all.

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 It's not really functioning as a marriage manual after all.

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 You see the Bible.

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 The Bible, if it's a manual at all,

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 it's a manual on how to know God.

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 That's what the Bible is primarily.

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 So as we open it up and look for verses about children,

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 if we want to think about children and parenting,

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 I want us to remember two things.

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 And the first thing is that,

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 actually there aren't that many verses directly about children at all.

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 In the New Testament letters,

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 there are just two passages, I think,

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 and I'm open to correction,

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 that are directed to children.

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 So there's the one that we've read in Ephesians,

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 these couple of verses here, in Ephesians chapter 6,

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 and there's nearly identical words in Colossians chapter 3,

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 also written by the Apostle Paul,

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 so the same author.

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 And he has similar things to say in both places.

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 So the Bible has very little,

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 in terms of direct commands,

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 about living as Christian children.

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 So the Bible has very little direct commands,

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 directed to Christian children.

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 There's maybe less than five in total in the New Testament.

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 And the second thing I want us to notice,

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 as we go about trying to look at children and parenting the Bible,

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 is that if we take that approach of just looking at those verses,

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 we're going to really miss what God is saying to children,

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 if we just focus on those verses.

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 In our eagerness to want to make life simple and easy,

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 we just miss the point.

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 You see, the most amazing thing about Ephesians chapter 6,

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 and these verses 1 to 4,

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 is the context in which Paul is addressing children.

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 You see, Paul's letter is written to believers in the church,

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 and we see that right from the beginning.

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 Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 1.

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 If you turn back to the start of Ephesians,

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 you'll see that.

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 Paul is very good at introducing himself,

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 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

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 to the saints in Ephesus,

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 the faithful in Christ Jesus.

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 Saints, or holy ones,

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 or those that have been called out of darkness

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 and called into the light.

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 That's who Paul is writing to.

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 So when Paul turns then,

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 if we get to chapter 6 and verse 1,

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 and he says,

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 children,

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 obey your parents in the Lord,

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 for this is right,

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 the children that he's speaking to here

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 are part of that group.

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 From chapter 1 and verse 1,

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 it's the same group.

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 It's the saints in Ephesus.

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 Believers.

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 Children are part of the church.

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 Children are there as believers,

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 as those who have been born again,

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 as those that are able to sit in the congregation

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 and have a letter from the apostle Paul

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 read out to them,

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 a letter that applies to them

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 from chapter 1, verse 1,

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 all the way through to chapter 6 and verse 24.

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 And then when we hit 6, 1,

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 and he speaks to children,

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 it's in that big context.

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 It's not that everything else that's gone before

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 and everything else that goes after

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 doesn't apply to children in the church.

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 Not at all.

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 All of it applies.

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 You see, as I said,

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 I think our hearts are quite dull at times,

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 and our vision is quite dull.

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 We want this book to function like a rule book,

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 to sort our lives out.

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 That's our tendency, isn't it,

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 in our hearts.

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 We like the law.

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 We like the rules

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 that we can measure ourselves again.

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 And the Lord instead offers us

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 this amazing book,

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 a book that's full of poetry,

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 a book that's full of history

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 and prophecy, music,

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 proverbs,

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 and instruction,

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 so that we can know God

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 in ways that we would never know Him

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 if it was just a manual.

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 Imagine if it was just a book

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 of things to do.

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 Would we know the Lord?

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 No, but it's the way

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 all those passages interact

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 and the richness

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 and the depth

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 of what God has given us.

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 So let's expand some of our horizons

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 this morning

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 and consider children

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 by seeing what the church is.

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 And there's a number of things

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 I just want to look at from Ephesians.

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 Believing children

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 are included in God's new people.

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 There's lots of images

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 to describe the church,

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 and there's no one image

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 that captures everything.

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 But one of the images

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 that Paul uses

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 to help us understand the church

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 is that of

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 a new people of God

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 or a new person of God.

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 He tells us that those

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 who were previously

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 outside of God's plan,

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 they are the Gentiles,

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 those who were uncircumcised.

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 And to be a Gentile

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 basically meant

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 that you weren't a Jew.

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 So there was one national group

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 called the Jews

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 who were circumcised.

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 And in every other nation

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 in the world,

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 I assume all of us here,

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 and nations all over the world,

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 all of those other people

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 were considered Gentiles.

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 And they were, in a sense,

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 outside of God's plan,

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 or it looked like

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 they were outside of God's plan.

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 But those who were

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 previously outside,

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 because of the coming of Jesus,

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 have been included

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 in God's people.

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 And that means

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 some radical changes

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 for the people of God

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 in the New Testament.

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 And we see that

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 in chapter 2.

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 So if you could turn

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 to chapter 2

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 in your Bibles,

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 I think it'll be a help.

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 Chapter 2,

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 and reading

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 verse 11.

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 Therefore,

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 remember that formally,

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 you who were Gentiles

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 by birth

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 and called uncircumcised

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 by those who call themselves

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 a circumcision,

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 that done in the body

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 by the hands of men,

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 remember that that time

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 you were separate from Israel,

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 separate from Christ,

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 excluded from citizenship

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 in Israel,

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 and foreigners

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 to the covenants

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 of the promise

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 without hope

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 and without God

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 in the world.

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 And this is the big but.

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 But now,

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 in Christ Jesus,

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 you who once far away

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 have been brought near

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 through the blood of Christ.

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 For he himself

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 is our peace

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 who has made

00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:15.759
 the two one.

00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:17.259
 You see that?

00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:18.220
 Who has made the two one

00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:19.399
 and destroyed the barrier,

00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:20.600
 the dividing line

00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:20.779
 of,

00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:21.720
 dividing wall

00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.379
 of hostility

00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.679
 by abolishing

00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:24.399
 in his flesh

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:25.019
 the law

00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:25.899
 with its commandments

00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.940
 and regulations.

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:29.279
 And this is the key bit.

00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:30.319
 His purpose

00:13:30.319 --> 00:13:31.439
 was to create himself

00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:33.199
 one new man

00:13:33.199 --> 00:13:34.500
 out of the two,

00:13:35.059 --> 00:13:36.100
 thus making peace,

00:13:36.579 --> 00:13:37.799
 and in this one body

00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:39.220
 to reconcile both of them

00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:39.679
 to God

00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:40.480
 through the cross

00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.079
 by which he put to death

00:13:42.079 --> 00:13:43.480
 their hostility.

00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.379
 So you see,

00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.100
 we have Jews

00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:47.199
 who believed in Jesus

00:13:47.199 --> 00:13:49.039
 and we have Gentiles

00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:50.079
 who believed in Jesus.

00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:52.100
 And they've come together

00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:54.559
 and they are God's new one man

00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:56.279
 or God's new people.

00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:59.699
 And we need to remember that

00:13:59.699 --> 00:14:01.419
 so when we come to Ephesians

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.399
 chapter 6 verse 1

00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:02.860
 and we read

00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:03.539
 children,

00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:04.860
 obey your parents

00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:05.299
 and the Lord

00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.059
 for this is right,

00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:07.799
 that Paul is writing

00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:09.039
 to believe in children.

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.659
 And Paul sees children

00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:11.159
 in the church

00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:12.500
 as part of this new man.

00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:14.179
 It is a new humanity

00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:14.819
 that's made up

00:14:14.819 --> 00:14:15.699
 of young and old

00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:17.559
 who have been reconciled

00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:18.039
 together

00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:19.439
 regardless of age

00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:20.399
 if they believe

00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:21.720
 through Jesus' death.

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:23.419
 So as we gather,

00:14:23.579 --> 00:14:24.939
 as we gather as adults,

00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:26.259
 as we gather as children,

00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:26.759
 as children,

00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.539
 we're gathering

00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:31.439
 as God's new people.

00:14:33.079 --> 00:14:33.559
 You see,

00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:34.620
 Jesus in his death

00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:35.259
 has torn down

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.179
 all kinds of barriers.

00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:37.159
 We see here

00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:37.860
 that he's torn down

00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:38.659
 barriers between

00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:40.039
 the Jews

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:41.360
 and the Gentiles,

00:14:41.459 --> 00:14:42.459
 those who are on the inside

00:14:42.459 --> 00:14:43.019
 and those who are

00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:43.639
 on the outside.

00:14:45.459 --> 00:14:46.179
 Jesus' death

00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:47.480
 tears down barriers

00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:49.159
 between men and women,

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.799
 between races,

00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:52.059
 between gender,

00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:53.079
 between status

00:14:53.079 --> 00:14:53.799
 and community.

00:14:54.579 --> 00:14:55.679
 Tears down barriers,

00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:56.120
 I believe,

00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.259
 of age as well

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.739
 between an adult

00:14:58.739 --> 00:14:59.319
 and a child.

00:14:59.459 --> 00:15:01.259
 This is not a community

00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:02.939
 that you were born

00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:04.159
 physically into.

00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:06.479
 You don't inherit traits.

00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:07.399
 We don't inherit

00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.899
 the name Christian

00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:10.559
 because of our parents.

00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:11.199
 You know,

00:15:11.219 --> 00:15:12.259
 we named our son,

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:12.939
 our eldest son,

00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:13.500
 Christopher.

00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:15.279
 And that means

00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:16.219
 one who carries

00:15:16.219 --> 00:15:17.639
 Christ in his heart.

00:15:17.839 --> 00:15:18.559
 So, you know,

00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:20.079
 that sounds great.

00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:21.479
 But in naming him

00:15:21.479 --> 00:15:21.939
 Christopher,

00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:23.800
 it didn't make him

00:15:23.800 --> 00:15:25.280
 carry Christ in his heart.

00:15:25.380 --> 00:15:26.200
 You understand that.

00:15:26.260 --> 00:15:26.540
 It doesn't,

00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:27.120
 just because we gave him

00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:27.500
 the name,

00:15:27.780 --> 00:15:28.640
 doesn't mean that

00:15:28.640 --> 00:15:29.900
 changed him fundamentally.

00:15:30.300 --> 00:15:31.200
 But it is our hope

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:31.780
 for our son

00:15:31.780 --> 00:15:32.700
 that as he grows

00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:33.760
 and as he learns

00:15:33.760 --> 00:15:34.720
 he puts his trust

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.180
 in Jesus

00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:36.120
 so his name

00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:36.900
 would become true

00:15:36.900 --> 00:15:37.360
 eventually

00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.620
 that he would be

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.980
 one who carries Christ.

00:15:40.140 --> 00:15:41.720
 But it doesn't

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.420
 function like that.

00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:44.360
 We don't bequeath

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.060
 our belief

00:15:45.060 --> 00:15:45.940
 to our children.

00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:47.220
 No,

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:48.160
 this is a community,

00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:48.800
 the church,

00:15:48.920 --> 00:15:49.560
 that you are born

00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:51.259
 spiritually into.

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.980
 The new people of God

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.800
 means that children

00:15:53.800 --> 00:15:55.700
 are here as believers

00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:57.720
 in their own right.

00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.080
 Children are here

00:15:59.080 --> 00:15:59.720
 as believers

00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:00.779
 on the same footing

00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:02.160
 as adults

00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:03.519
 because of their trust

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.940
 in Jesus.

00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:07.120
 The second thing

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:07.660
 we want to see

00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:08.440
 from Ephesians

00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:10.200
 is that of

00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:11.360
 the growing

00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:12.540
 in the body of Christ.

00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.519
 Children are part

00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.540
 of the body of Christ.

00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:17.019
 Our connection

00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:17.879
 to Christ

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.759
 is such that Paul

00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:20.019
 can talk about

00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:21.120
 us being the body

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.679
 of Christ

00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:23.399
 and we need to be

00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:23.980
 careful here

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.480
 in our heads

00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.100
 the kind of image

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:25.460
 we have.

00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.699
 It doesn't mean

00:16:26.699 --> 00:16:28.439
 that Christ needs us

00:16:28.439 --> 00:16:29.360
 in order in some way

00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:30.139
 to be complete

00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:31.720
 that apart from his body

00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:32.919
 Christ is somehow

00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:34.259
 less than God.

00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:36.240
 If it wasn't for us

00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:37.139
 well then Christ

00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:37.620
 would be going around

00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:39.439
 like a disembodied head

00:16:39.439 --> 00:16:40.299
 with no limbs

00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:41.039
 and no torso.

00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.439
 Rather to say

00:16:42.439 --> 00:16:43.579
 that we are his body

00:16:43.579 --> 00:16:44.579
 is that we are

00:16:44.579 --> 00:16:46.399
 united by faith

00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:47.620
 to Jesus

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.579
 and we become

00:16:48.579 --> 00:16:49.879
 like Jesus.

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.299
 And another way

00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:52.159
 that we are his body

00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.000
 is the idea

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.600
 of growing together.

00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.639
 So we are united

00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.139
 to Christ

00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:57.199
 we are like Christ

00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:57.899
 and therefore

00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.639
 are his body.

00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:00.139
 But I think

00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:00.679
 one of the most

00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:01.259
 helpful things

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:01.919
 again an image

00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:02.399
 of the church

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:02.899
 is that we are

00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:04.240
 growing together

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:06.339
 children and adults

00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:06.759
 alike.

00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:09.200
 There is one body

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.220
 and we see that

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:10.920
 in Ephesians

00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:12.139
 chapter 4

00:17:12.139 --> 00:17:12.839
 and we are going

00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:13.319
 to move a bit

00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:13.919
 around Ephesians

00:17:13.919 --> 00:17:15.019
 so it is good

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.460
 if you can keep

00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.179
 your Bibles open.

00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.899
 Ephesians chapter 4

00:17:17.899 --> 00:17:18.960
 you see there

00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:19.379
 at the start

00:17:19.379 --> 00:17:20.159
 of chapter 4

00:17:20.159 --> 00:17:21.319
 verse 4

00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:23.879
 there is one body

00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:25.599
 and one spirit.

00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:26.980
 And as you go

00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.579
 down through those

00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:28.179
 verses Paul

00:17:28.179 --> 00:17:28.799
 goes on to speak

00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:29.279
 of the gifts

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.079
 that God has given

00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:30.700
 to the church

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:32.019
 so that if we

00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:32.819
 come down

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.460
 let's see

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.220
 to Ephesians

00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:36.159
 chapter 4

00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:36.740
 verse 12

00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.139
 and he talks

00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:37.819
 about the gifts.

00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.000
 The gifts are given

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.339
 to prepare God's people

00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:41.439
 for works of service

00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:43.600
 so that the body

00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:44.519
 of Christ

00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.660
 may be built up

00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:47.140
 until we all

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:47.880
 reach unity

00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.720
 in the faith

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.580
 and in the knowledge

00:17:49.580 --> 00:17:50.559
 of the Son of God

00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:52.019
 and become mature

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:53.299
 attaining to the

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:53.960
 whole measure

00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.480
 of the fullness

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.140
 of Christ.

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.200
 And down to

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:57.080
 verse 15

00:17:57.080 --> 00:17:58.299
 chapter 4

00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.140
 instead

00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:00.360
 speaking the truth

00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:00.820
 in love

00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:02.240
 we will in all things

00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.640
 grow up into him

00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:04.559
 who is the head

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.299
 that is Christ

00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:06.259
 and from him

00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.000
 the whole body

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:08.440
 joined and held together

00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.680
 by every supporting

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.200
 ligament

00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:10.779
 grows

00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.920
 and builds itself

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.740
 up in love

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:14.180
 so as each

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.920
 part

00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:15.779
 does

00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.579
 its

00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:17.460
 work.

00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.079
 It's a beautiful

00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:19.940
 picture of the church

00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:21.160
 as a living organism

00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:22.180
 full of life

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:22.680
 as it grows

00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.440
 towards maturity.

00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:24.039
 Each member

00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:24.599
 of the body

00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:26.039
 has an important

00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.059
 part in supporting

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.660
 the others.

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.359
 Children

00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.639
 that love Jesus

00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:31.420
 I don't know if you've

00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:31.899
 thought about this

00:18:31.899 --> 00:18:32.819
 children that love Jesus

00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.460
 and know Jesus

00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.639
 have the spirit

00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:35.299
 of Christ

00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:36.839
 living in them

00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:38.139
 as much as

00:18:38.139 --> 00:18:39.720
 you as an adult

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.319
 as the spirit

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:40.819
 of Christ

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:42.339
 which means

00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:43.100
 that they display

00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:43.759
 the fruit

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.779
 of the spirit

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.779
 and I believe

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.579
 have gifts

00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:48.319
 from the spirit

00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:50.079
 gifts that are

00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:50.880
 given by the Holy

00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.880
 Spirit to children

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:53.079
 so they can help

00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:54.480
 build the body

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.299
 they are part of

00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:56.039
 this body building

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.480
 work

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.940
 so we need to

00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.819
 consider how

00:18:58.819 --> 00:19:00.380
 children can serve

00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:00.980
 and minister

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.779
 in this church

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.460
 in the church

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.079
 and in this church

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:03.660
 in particular

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.740
 and that's

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.440
 I don't have time

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.120
 to expound that

00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:06.740
 but it's a thought

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.380
 I want us to

00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:08.180
 take away this

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:08.799
 morning and

00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.920
 consider further

00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.019
 how can we

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.380
 actively include

00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:12.839
 our children

00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:14.039
 in this body

00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.339
 work

00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:15.620
 because these

00:19:15.620 --> 00:19:15.960
 verses

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.960
 it's important

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:19.519
 now

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.740
 finally

00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:21.880
 in this part

00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:24.559
 believing children

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.880
 need to keep

00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:26.440
 coming back

00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.000
 to the gospel

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.539
 message

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.779
 believing children

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:29.299
 and adults

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:30.819
 you see

00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:31.440
 the reason why

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.539
 we're part of the

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:32.779
 body

00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.079
 and the reason

00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:33.480
 why we're

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.220
 growing into

00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:35.039
 God's new people

00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.639
 is because we

00:19:35.639 --> 00:19:36.539
 believe the same

00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:37.019
 message

00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:37.960
 the same

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.639
 unique message

00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:39.059
 of Jesus

00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:39.460
 Christ

00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.559
 so our growth

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.139
 together as the

00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:41.879
 body of Christ

00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:43.059
 into the people

00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:43.559
 of God

00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.819
 is only because

00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.240
 we have been

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.000
 made alive

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.359
 in Christ

00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:47.980
 in the first

00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:48.480
 place

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.799
 children

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.639
 you are not

00:19:50.639 --> 00:19:51.279
 saved

00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:52.420
 and I have to

00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:53.259
 reinforce this

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.519
 again

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.559
 you are not

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.779
 saved by your

00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:57.099
 parents faith

00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:59.159
 children

00:19:59.159 --> 00:20:00.099
 you are not

00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:01.039
 saved by how

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.779
 well you obey

00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.259
 them in the

00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:02.579
 home

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.980
 children

00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:04.779
 you are not

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.839
 saved by your

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.160
 ability not

00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:08.000
 to fight with

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.360
 your brother

00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:08.940
 and sister

00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:10.120
 okay

00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:10.720
 they are not

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.299
 the things

00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:11.799
 that save

00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.039
 you

00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.920
 children

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:13.339
 you come

00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:13.839
 into the

00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.420
 family of

00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:14.740
 God

00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.660
 and the

00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:16.059
 body of

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.400
 Christ

00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:16.900
 because of

00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.400
 grace

00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.700
 because of

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:18.960
 grace

00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.680
 undeserved

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.400
 love that's

00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:20.900
 been shown

00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.400
 to you

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.279
 by your

00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:22.680
 heavenly

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.180
 father

00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:25.759
 I want to

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.599
 read a

00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.180
 slightly longer

00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:27.640
 section

00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.579
 Ephesians

00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:29.480
 chapter 2

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.539
 from verse 1

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:30.900
 if you'd like

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.420
 to turn there

00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:32.099
 just the 10

00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:32.700
 verses there

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:34.500
 and just

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:34.860
 for us to

00:20:34.860 --> 00:20:35.340
 take in the

00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.220
 sweep of

00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:36.500
 what it

00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:36.900
 means to

00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:37.319
 be born

00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:37.720
 again

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:39.279
 it's an

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.779
 old fashioned

00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.340
 phrase in

00:20:40.340 --> 00:20:40.720
 some ways

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.059
 and one that

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.720
 drops out of

00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.460
 usage sometimes

00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:42.940
 in Christian

00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.380
 circles

00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:45.100
 but it's a

00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:45.480
 good one

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.480
 to be born

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.019
 again for

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.539
 those that

00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.100
 know the

00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:49.759
 reality of

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.220
 what it is

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:50.960
 to be alive

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.620
 in Christ

00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.500
 I want you

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.080
 this morning

00:20:53.080 --> 00:20:53.759
 adult and

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.200
 child alike

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:55.000
 to be reminded

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.500
 of these

00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.000
 words to

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.680
 live again

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.019
 in the

00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.080
 truth that

00:20:58.080 --> 00:20:58.360
 you have

00:20:58.360 --> 00:20:58.900
 been shown

00:20:58.900 --> 00:21:01.080
 and if

00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:01.600
 these words

00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:02.319
 do not

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.439
 resonate with

00:21:03.439 --> 00:21:04.079
 your heart

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.240
 then I

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.579
 think you

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:06.919
 need to

00:21:06.919 --> 00:21:08.679
 ask am

00:21:08.679 --> 00:21:09.240
 I still

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.980
 dead in

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.379
 my own

00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:11.799
 sins

00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:13.279
 now this

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.859
 is serious

00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:15.740
 we're either

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:17.740
 alive or

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.259
 we're dead

00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:18.939
 this morning

00:21:18.939 --> 00:21:19.639
 to these

00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:20.039
 words

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:21.319
 so I

00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:21.579
 ask that

00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:21.859
 as the

00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:22.379
 word of

00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:22.639
 God

00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:24.139
 peels

00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:24.779
 back the

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.279
 layers of

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:25.879
 your life

00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:27.220
 ask yourself

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.500
 do these

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:27.899
 words of

00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:28.240
 scripture

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:28.980
 do they

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.380
 do they

00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:29.420
 do they

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:29.700
 do they

00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.140
 penetrate

00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:31.079
 and rest

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:32.259
 in my

00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:32.779
 heart

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:35.200
 or do

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.819
 they cause

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.500
 a stabbing

00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:36.799
 of my

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.380
 conscience

00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:39.420
 Ephesians

00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:40.059
 chapter 2

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.440
 and verse

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:40.700
 1

00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.279
 as for

00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:41.599
 you

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.420
 you were

00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:42.920
 dead in

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.059
 your

00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.700
 transgressions

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.200
 and sins

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.440
 in which

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:45.880
 you used

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.259
 to live

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:46.500
 when you

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.000
 followed the

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.380
 ways of

00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:47.819
 this world

00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.059
 and of

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:48.440
 the ruler

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:48.759
 of the

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:48.980
 kingdom

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.299
 of the

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:49.500
 air

00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.140
 the spirit

00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:50.519
 who is

00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:50.880
 now at

00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.240
 work

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.720
 in those

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:51.980
 who are

00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.640
 disobedient

00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:54.160
 all of

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:54.720
 us also

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.299
 lived among

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.599
 them at

00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.099
 one time

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:57.000
 gratifying

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.659
 the cravings

00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:57.879
 of our

00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:58.139
 sinful

00:21:58.139 --> 00:21:58.500
 nature

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.059
 and following

00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.759
 its desires

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.379
 and thoughts

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:01.579
 like the

00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.019
 rest we

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.339
 were by

00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:02.719
 nature

00:22:02.719 --> 00:22:03.219
 objects

00:22:03.219 --> 00:22:03.819
 of wrath

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:05.339
 but

00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.980
 because of

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.439
 his great

00:22:07.439 --> 00:22:07.819
 love for

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.019
 us

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.859
 God who

00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:09.740
 is rich

00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.379
 in mercy

00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:11.179
 made us

00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:12.039
 alive with

00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:12.639
 Christ

00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:13.359
 even when

00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:13.619
 we were

00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.179
 dead in

00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:14.879
 transgressions

00:22:14.879 --> 00:22:15.779
 it is by

00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.659
 grace you

00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:17.179
 have been

00:22:17.179 --> 00:22:17.759
 saved

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.799
 and God

00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.500
 raised us

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:19.879
 up with

00:22:19.879 --> 00:22:20.279
 Christ

00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.259
 and seated

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.699
 us with

00:22:21.699 --> 00:22:21.959
 him in

00:22:21.959 --> 00:22:22.519
 the heavenly

00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.059
 realms

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:24.019
 in Christ

00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.500
 Jesus

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.539
 in order

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:25.919
 that in

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.400
 the coming

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:26.740
 ages

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.560
 he might

00:22:27.560 --> 00:22:28.080
 show the

00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:29.019
 incomparable

00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:29.620
 riches of

00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:30.759
 his grace

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.259
 expressed in

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.759
 his kindness

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.340
 to us

00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:33.880
 in Christ

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.340
 Jesus

00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:36.620
 for it

00:22:36.620 --> 00:22:36.960
 is by

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.779
 grace you

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.400
 have been

00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:38.980
 saved

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.519
 through faith

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.360
 and it's

00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:41.759
 not from

00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.360
 yourselves

00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:43.840
 it is the

00:22:43.840 --> 00:22:44.200
 gift of

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:44.500
 God

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.420
 not by

00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.080
 works

00:22:46.080 --> 00:22:46.680
 so that

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.080
 no one

00:22:47.080 --> 00:22:47.720
 can boast

00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.779
 for we

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.340
 were God's

00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:49.900
 workmanship

00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:51.519
 created in

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.200
 Christ Jesus

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.840
 to do

00:22:52.840 --> 00:22:53.580
 good works

00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:55.400
 which God

00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:56.180
 prepared

00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:57.759
 in advance

00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.420
 for us

00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:58.880
 to do

00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:07.660
 finally

00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.880
 I want us

00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:09.540
 to come

00:23:09.540 --> 00:23:10.200
 back to

00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:10.640
 Ephesians

00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:11.420
 chapter 6

00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:12.000
 it might

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.460
 seem like a

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.080
 big detour

00:23:13.080 --> 00:23:14.540
 but I

00:23:14.540 --> 00:23:14.820
 think it's

00:23:14.820 --> 00:23:15.140
 absolutely

00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:15.680
 critical

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:17.019
 if we're

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:17.340
 going to

00:23:17.340 --> 00:23:17.660
 look at

00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:17.980
 verses

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.680
 like the

00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:18.980
 ones in

00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.320
 Ephesians

00:23:19.320 --> 00:23:19.940
 chapter 6

00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:20.280
 that we

00:23:20.280 --> 00:23:21.220
 look at

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.460
 that

00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.420
 those

00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:22.940
 ideas

00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.360
 of the

00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:23.779
 church

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.640
 and what

00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.220
 it means

00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:27.340
 firstly

00:23:27.340 --> 00:23:28.700
 I want

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:28.920
 to come

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.340
 back again

00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:29.740
 to those

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.940
 that don't

00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:31.279
 consider

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.720
 themselves

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.120
 children

00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:32.680
 or don't

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.000
 consider

00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.400
 themselves

00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:33.880
 parents

00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:34.819
 or think

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.360
 they're past

00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:36.039
 that stage

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.480
 please

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.539
 listen

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.360
 I think

00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:38.700
 one

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:40.079
 application

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.240
 one thing

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:41.640
 to take

00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.160
 on board

00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:43.120
 is that

00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:43.720
 you have

00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.140
 a role

00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:44.680
 to play

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.920
 you have

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.200
 a role

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:46.500
 to play

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.120
 as part

00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:47.460
 of the

00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:47.759
 new

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.140
 people

00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:48.700
 of God

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:50.420
 to be

00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:50.660
 a

00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.299
 spiritual

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:53.100
 parent

00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:54.720
 to others

00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.360
 and I hope

00:23:55.360 --> 00:23:55.660
 you see

00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:56.279
 that being

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:56.720
 part of

00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:57.080
 the community

00:23:57.080 --> 00:23:57.519
 of God

00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:00.279
 being a

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:00.539
 parent

00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:00.799
 and being

00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.200
 a child

00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:01.519
 and those

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:01.880
 things are

00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.360
 secondary

00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:02.920
 we have

00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.440
 a primary

00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:03.799
 role

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.400
 and we

00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:05.000
 can consider

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.400
 ourselves

00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.000
 as spiritual

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.560
 parents

00:24:06.560 --> 00:24:07.180
 to others

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.500
 and I

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:08.860
 believe

00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:09.500
 especially

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:09.900
 you can

00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:10.259
 be a

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.560
 spiritual

00:24:10.560 --> 00:24:10.940
 parent

00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:11.180
 to

00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:11.660
 children

00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:12.000
 in the

00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.360
 church

00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.779
 whether

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.180
 that's

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:14.860
 in direct

00:24:14.860 --> 00:24:15.420
 service

00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:15.940
 of something

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.259
 like

00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:17.039
 creche

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.460
 or Sunday

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:17.740
 school

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.180
 like what's

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:18.420
 happening

00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:18.720
 outside

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.160
 now

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:20.000
 or just

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.460
 by being

00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:20.920
 here each

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.240
 Sunday

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.580
 and offering

00:24:22.580 --> 00:24:23.259
 a kind

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:23.779
 word of

00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.360
 encouragement

00:24:24.360 --> 00:24:24.920
 to our

00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:25.279
 children

00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.039
 to our

00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:26.360
 kids

00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:26.840
 in the

00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:27.100
 church

00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:28.240
 I hope

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.500
 that you

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:28.940
 see from

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.340
 Ephesians

00:24:29.340 --> 00:24:29.740
 that your

00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.480
 role in

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:30.980
 the body

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.480
 in the

00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.060
 family

00:24:32.060 --> 00:24:32.779
 of God

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.980
 absolutely

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.700
 matters

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.240
 okay

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.680
 so as we

00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.120
 look now

00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.500
 just the

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:36.920
 children and

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.360
 parents in

00:24:37.360 --> 00:24:37.560
 particular

00:24:37.560 --> 00:24:38.060
 don't

00:24:38.060 --> 00:24:39.140
 don't think

00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:39.460
 it's not

00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:39.759
 for me

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.200
 it is

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:40.759
 all of it

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:40.980
 is in

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.160
 that

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.700
 context

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:43.940
 I

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.259
 trust

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:44.480
 it's

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:44.799
 plain

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.200
 and as

00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:45.559
 we come

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.220
 to chapter

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.660
 six and

00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.019
 verse one

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.320
 and read

00:24:47.320 --> 00:24:47.880
 children

00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.700
 obey your

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.200
 parents in

00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.480
 the Lord

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:49.820
 for this

00:24:49.820 --> 00:24:50.340
 is right

00:24:50.340 --> 00:24:51.299
 that Paul

00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:51.759
 is speaking

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.580
 directly to

00:24:52.580 --> 00:24:53.660
 children in

00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:54.019
 the church

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.340
 body

00:24:54.340 --> 00:24:55.880
 he expects

00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:56.480
 them to be

00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:56.720
 there

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.580
 he expects

00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:58.039
 the children

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.559
 to be in

00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:58.960
 church in

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.320
 Ephesus

00:24:59.320 --> 00:25:00.180
 hearing this

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:00.640
 letter read

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:00.820
 out

00:25:00.820 --> 00:25:01.860
 and these

00:25:01.860 --> 00:25:02.720
 children are

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.220
 believers

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:03.860
 and these

00:25:03.860 --> 00:25:04.480
 children are

00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.039
 part of the

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.460
 church

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.140
 in their

00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.860
 own right

00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:07.940
 all of

00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.240
 this

00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.920
 sections

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:10.380
 about

00:25:10.380 --> 00:25:11.039
 section

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.340
 about

00:25:11.340 --> 00:25:12.039
 relationships

00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.820
 so starting

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.599
 from the

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:13.960
 middle of

00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.519
 chapter five

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.039
 wives and

00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.419
 husbands

00:25:15.419 --> 00:25:16.000
 children and

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.240
 parents

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.740
 slaves and

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.059
 masters

00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.240
 all of this

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:18.639
 section is

00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:19.639
 about relationships

00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:20.720
 within and

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.899
 transform because

00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:22.799
 of the church

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.279
 that's the

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.279
 primary context

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:26.679
 so yes

00:25:26.679 --> 00:25:27.659
 as I've said

00:25:27.659 --> 00:25:28.220
 Christ has

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.700
 made us all

00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.059
 one

00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:29.419
 the new

00:25:29.419 --> 00:25:29.919
 people of

00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:30.240
 God

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.939
 his body

00:25:30.939 --> 00:25:31.419
 the church

00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:31.779
 but that

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.339
 doesn't mean

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:32.679
 that the

00:25:32.679 --> 00:25:33.079
 structures

00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:33.779
 outside the

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.139
 church

00:25:34.139 --> 00:25:34.919
 have somehow

00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:35.519
 disbanded

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:35.779
 and there's

00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.220
 no longer

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.779
 children or

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.200
 parents

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.359
 and that all

00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:38.700
 are left

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.240
 are identical

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.220
 Lego versions

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.779
 of people

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.539
 in the church

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.099
 we're all

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.480
 the same

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.019
 that's not

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.640
 right

00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.160
 no

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:44.980
 husbands and

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.440
 wives are

00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.059
 still husbands

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.740
 and wives

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:48.079
 in the church

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:48.799
 children and

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.259
 parents are

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.039
 still children

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.559
 and parents

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.200
 in the church

00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:52.240
 and slaves

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.839
 and masters

00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.920
 or I guess

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.519
 more applicable

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.460
 to most of us

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.440
 the idea of

00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.220
 employers and

00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:57.660
 employees

00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:59.120
 are still

00:25:59.120 --> 00:25:59.819
 employers and

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.839
 employees in

00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.220
 the church

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.099
 and you know

00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.779
 are still slaves

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.240
 and masters

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:03.799
 in the church

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:05.360
 so I want to

00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:06.039
 see that Paul

00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:06.880
 is addressing

00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.620
 children and

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.980
 parents as

00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.860
 children and

00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:10.660
 parents within

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.700
 the context of

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.279
 this body

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.000
 the church

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.539
 community

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:15.620
 so Paul

00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:16.160
 can say

00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.620
 then in

00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:17.380
 chapter 6

00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:18.059
 and verse 1

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:19.420
 children obey

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:20.440
 your parents

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:22.420
 in the Lord

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.720
 you see

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.840
 obedience is to

00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:25.400
 be powered

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.900
 in children

00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:27.319
 that know

00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:27.559
 Jesus

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.400
 not by sheer

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:28.720
 will

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.420
 but they're

00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:30.920
 to have the

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.420
 help of the

00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.080
 Holy Spirit

00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:33.299
 because they

00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.299
 know Jesus

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:35.140
 themselves

00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:36.779
 because these

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.340
 children have

00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:38.180
 been born again

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:39.039
 they can obey

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.680
 their parents

00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.900
 now in the

00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:41.240
 Lord

00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.880
 children

00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:44.320
 do you know

00:26:44.320 --> 00:26:46.400
 Jesus as

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:46.920
 your Lord

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:49.019
 then you

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.440
 should obey

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:49.980
 your parents

00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.560
 in the Lord

00:26:50.560 --> 00:26:51.740
 for this

00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:53.220
 is right

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:54.700
 and that phrase

00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:55.100
 at the end

00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:55.539
 I think it gives

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.000
 us a sense

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.480
 that it's

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:56.840
 obvious

00:26:56.840 --> 00:26:57.620
 it's obvious

00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:58.220
 it's right

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.560
 the world

00:26:59.560 --> 00:26:59.940
 over

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.980
 even apart

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.460
 from the Bible

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:01.840
 even if you

00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:02.120
 didn't have

00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:02.519
 the Bible

00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.180
 even if you

00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.539
 didn't know

00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:03.860
 Jesus

00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:04.980
 we simply

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.480
 know that

00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.019
 being part

00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.340
 of this

00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:06.960
 creation

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.400
 part of

00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:07.780
 this world

00:27:07.780 --> 00:27:08.100
 that it

00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:08.700
 is right

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.280
 and proper

00:27:09.280 --> 00:27:10.700
 to obey

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.380
 our parents

00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:12.960
 but now

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.920
 now you

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.440
 can do it

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.040
 as a believer

00:27:15.040 --> 00:27:15.560
 in the life

00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:16.120
 of the church

00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:17.880
 as children

00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:18.400
 and parents

00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:18.720
 that are

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.900
 growing together

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:21.060
 in the body

00:27:21.060 --> 00:27:21.800
 do you see

00:27:21.800 --> 00:27:22.140
 that

00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:24.060
 your obedience

00:27:24.060 --> 00:27:25.120
 to your parents

00:27:25.120 --> 00:27:26.300
 is transformed

00:27:26.300 --> 00:27:28.360
 you grow

00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:28.700
 together

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.160
 in the same

00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:29.480
 body

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.840
 and the joy

00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:31.120
 of that

00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:31.660
 is someday

00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:33.420
 that you're

00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:33.640
 going to

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.100
 stand

00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:36.140
 maybe near

00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:36.700
 your parents

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.280
 before the

00:27:37.280 --> 00:27:37.540
 Lord

00:27:37.540 --> 00:27:38.840
 and at

00:27:38.840 --> 00:27:39.360
 that point

00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:40.620
 your identity

00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:41.060
 is not going

00:27:41.060 --> 00:27:41.360
 to be as

00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:41.880
 children and

00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:42.320
 parents

00:27:42.320 --> 00:27:42.660
 but it's

00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:42.820
 going to

00:27:42.820 --> 00:27:43.080
 be as

00:27:43.080 --> 00:27:43.500
 brothers

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.759
 and sisters

00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:46.320
 in Christ

00:27:46.320 --> 00:27:46.740
 isn't that

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.120
 amazing

00:27:47.120 --> 00:27:47.600
 and I think

00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:47.800
 of that

00:27:47.800 --> 00:27:48.440
 as parents

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.720
 you know

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.220
 we stand

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:50.480
 with our

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:50.740
 children

00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.060
 and they're

00:27:51.060 --> 00:27:51.520
 our children

00:27:51.520 --> 00:27:52.160
 but imagine

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:52.860
 standing with

00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:53.640
 them that

00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:53.920
 day

00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:55.060
 and there are

00:27:55.060 --> 00:27:55.640
 brothers or

00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.259
 fellow brothers

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.759
 and sisters

00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.259
 in Christ

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.840
 part of the

00:27:57.840 --> 00:27:58.240
 body that

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.880
 have grown up

00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.920
 in the body

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.280
 of Christ

00:28:00.280 --> 00:28:00.780
 the new

00:28:00.780 --> 00:28:01.640
 people of

00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:01.940
 God

00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.660
 that's the

00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:02.960
 kind of

00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.380
 vision that

00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:03.860
 we need to

00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.360
 keep in our

00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:04.740
 minds

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:07.019
 now children

00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.559
 you might ask

00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.200
 this question

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.000
 this may be

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:09.740
 more practical

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.220
 how long

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.559
 do I have

00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:10.980
 to obey

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.339
 for

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:12.880
 what are

00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.400
 the limits

00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:15.079
 well I think

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.500
 that's something

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:15.799
 that's going

00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.299
 to depend

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.400
 on culture

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:18.539
 and context

00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:19.660
 in Ireland

00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:21.019
 18

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.599
 21

00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:23.299
 legally it's

00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.599
 18

00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:24.339
 so when you're

00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:24.700
 18

00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.900
 parents can

00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.380
 kick you out

00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:27.759
 your parents

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.559
 are legally

00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.400
 responsible for

00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:29.740
 you and you

00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.200
 live under

00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:30.660
 their rule

00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.059
 at least

00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.759
 until 18

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.759
 and even

00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.259
 after that

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:33.700
 time as I

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.019
 said you

00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:34.539
 may remain

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.680
 dependent on

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.259
 your parents

00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:36.859
 so as you

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.159
 go through

00:28:37.159 --> 00:28:37.720
 college

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:39.039
 or maybe

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.319
 you're just

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:39.779
 trying to

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.099
 start to

00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:40.420
 find your

00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.039
 feet after

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.720
 school and

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.279
 work and

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:42.740
 you're still

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.139
 living at

00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:43.619
 home things

00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:43.980
 like that

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:47.039
 so it's

00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:48.059
 open and

00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:48.740
 I think you

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.259
 need wisdom

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:49.980
 as to how

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.480
 you obey

00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.039
 and particularly

00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:51.920
 after 18

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:53.799
 but and this

00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:54.240
 is partly

00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:54.740
 directed towards

00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.220
 parents there

00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:55.759
 should be an

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.740
 increasing sense

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.299
 of freedom

00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.200
 as you grow

00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:59.200
 up okay

00:28:59.200 --> 00:28:59.920
 parents we need

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.500
 to be aware

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:00.920
 of that

00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:02.279
 they're not

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.440
 for under

00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.779
 14 okay

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:06.360
 but the

00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:07.240
 basic call

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.580
 on your

00:29:07.580 --> 00:29:09.080
 life as a

00:29:09.080 --> 00:29:09.720
 believer in

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.340
 the church as

00:29:10.340 --> 00:29:11.019
 a child who

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:12.120
 believes towards

00:29:12.120 --> 00:29:13.060
 your parents

00:29:13.060 --> 00:29:14.779
 is to obey

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.820
 them okay

00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:17.039
 I'm not going to

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.779
 fudge that or

00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.860
 ignore that that's

00:29:18.860 --> 00:29:19.560
 that's what the

00:29:19.560 --> 00:29:20.320
 word says to you

00:29:20.320 --> 00:29:20.800
 this morning

00:29:20.800 --> 00:29:22.440
 but you are

00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.039
 equal with your

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:24.080
 parents in

00:29:24.080 --> 00:29:24.940
 Christ and you

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.519
 are equal in

00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.720
 the church yet

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.360
 God in his

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:29.019
 wisdom has

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.660
 your parents

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.359
 in a role

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:31.059
 of authority

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.139
 that provides

00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:32.900
 protection

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:34.619
 provides comfort

00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:35.720
 and provides

00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.480
 nurture for

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:38.299
 you that is

00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:39.180
 why Paul also

00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:39.720
 says that you're

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:41.279
 to honor your

00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:42.940
 parents and

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.519
 that is something

00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.039
 that stretches

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.859
 beyond 18

00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:45.720
 there's I don't

00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.160
 think there's an

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.700
 end in sight

00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:49.160
 there in doing

00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:50.200
 so he says that

00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:51.259
 it will go well

00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:52.139
 with you and

00:29:52.139 --> 00:29:52.759
 you may enjoy

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.660
 long life on

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.379
 the earth and

00:29:54.379 --> 00:29:55.859
 there's a there's

00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:56.839
 a general promise

00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.359
 there and I

00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:58.099
 think an indication

00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:59.719
 that it's right

00:29:59.719 --> 00:30:00.539
 for children to

00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:00.919
 honor their

00:30:00.919 --> 00:30:01.980
 parents for a

00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.339
 long time and

00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:03.899
 that that has a

00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:04.740
 benefit to those

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.639
 children to those

00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:06.659
 parents and I

00:30:06.659 --> 00:30:07.740
 believe society as

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:09.079
 a whole one of

00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:09.719
 the signs of the

00:30:09.719 --> 00:30:10.539
 end times Paul

00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.179
 says is that

00:30:11.179 --> 00:30:11.879
 children will

00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:13.139
 reject their

00:30:13.139 --> 00:30:14.199
 parents and not

00:30:14.199 --> 00:30:14.719
 be under their

00:30:14.719 --> 00:30:15.339
 authority and

00:30:15.339 --> 00:30:16.000
 that's a sign of

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.219
 things collapsing

00:30:17.219 --> 00:30:17.859
 and being wrong

00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:18.359
 so I think there

00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:19.980
 is a benefit to

00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.500
 children to

00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.119
 parents and to

00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:21.740
 society as a

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.599
 whole to see

00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.419
 children honor

00:30:23.419 --> 00:30:24.099
 their parents

00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:25.379
 throughout their

00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:25.799
 lives

00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:30.460
 now to

00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:31.039
 parents

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.259
 first for

00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:32.659
 children

00:30:32.659 --> 00:30:34.500
 I'm off the

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:34.859
 hook now

00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:36.519
 you can relax

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.599
 to parents and

00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:38.500
 especially fathers

00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:39.159
 now it does say

00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:40.599
 fathers but I

00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:41.279
 don't think it

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.940
 excludes mothers

00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.680
 there's some

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:45.119
 argument that the

00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.899
 word fathers here

00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:46.639
 functions similarly

00:30:46.639 --> 00:30:47.639
 to brothers in

00:30:47.639 --> 00:30:48.000
 the Bible

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.659
 sometimes you see

00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.159
 brothers and

00:30:49.159 --> 00:30:49.539
 actually means

00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:50.019
 brothers and

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:51.440
 sisters so this

00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.779
 is this I think

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.099
 can be more

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.799
 generally addressed

00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.839
 to parents but

00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:55.859
 especially fathers

00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:56.579
 and I think

00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.079
 that's fair

00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:58.579
 firstly what it

00:30:58.579 --> 00:31:00.399
 doesn't say it

00:31:00.399 --> 00:31:01.059
 doesn't say that

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.839
 you are to assert

00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:02.959
 your authority over

00:31:02.959 --> 00:31:03.859
 your children and

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.899
 make sure that they

00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:06.359
 obey you I've

00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:07.619
 looked I can't

00:31:07.619 --> 00:31:08.259
 find it in these

00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:10.339
 verses the command

00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:11.399
 is to children to

00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:13.119
 obey not fathers

00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:15.740
 to make them and

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.599
 this is the same

00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:17.980
 idea throughout this

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:19.279
 section for wives

00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:20.039
 and husbands and

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.740
 for slaves and

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:22.339
 masters those that

00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:23.139
 are in the position

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:24.580
 and I use this

00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:25.520
 word carefully and

00:31:25.520 --> 00:31:26.060
 don't misunderstand

00:31:26.060 --> 00:31:26.720
 me those in the

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.600
 position of submission

00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:28.580
 to good authority

00:31:28.580 --> 00:31:30.360
 are commanded to

00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:31.100
 live under that

00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:32.680
 authority but

00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:34.280
 husbands are not

00:31:34.280 --> 00:31:35.360
 commanded to lord it

00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:36.040
 over their wives

00:31:36.040 --> 00:31:37.500
 parents are not

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.500
 told to rule over

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.560
 their children and

00:31:39.560 --> 00:31:40.860
 masters are not

00:31:40.860 --> 00:31:41.920
 told to dominate

00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:43.420
 their slaves it's

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.200
 quite the opposite

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:45.120
 in all three cases

00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:46.060
 the exercise of

00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:46.920
 authority is to

00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:48.000
 serve and to love

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.840
 and to care and to

00:31:48.840 --> 00:31:49.860
 nurture there's no

00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:51.259
 sense in any of

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:51.880
 this wives and

00:31:51.880 --> 00:31:52.680
 husbands children

00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.380
 and parents slaves

00:31:53.380 --> 00:31:54.020
 and masters of

00:31:54.020 --> 00:31:55.520
 of domination and

00:31:55.520 --> 00:31:56.580
 forcing your will

00:31:56.580 --> 00:31:59.700
 upon another so

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:01.740
 fathers what does

00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:03.060
 it say if that's

00:32:03.060 --> 00:32:04.060
 not what it's not

00:32:04.060 --> 00:32:04.540
 what it doesn't say

00:32:04.540 --> 00:32:05.180
 what does it say

00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:07.000
 well I think

00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.500
 possibly the wisest

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.980
 few words that

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.960
 could be written on

00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:12.660
 this subject fathers

00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:14.000
 do not exasperate

00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:15.920
 your children do

00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:16.860
 not exasperate do

00:32:16.860 --> 00:32:18.800
 not embitter your

00:32:18.800 --> 00:32:19.440
 children I hope you

00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:20.560
 have a sense of what

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:23.099
 that means in

00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:24.240
 exasperation and

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:25.859
 bitter in all your

00:32:25.859 --> 00:32:26.639
 dealings with them

00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:27.899
 when they push you

00:32:27.899 --> 00:32:28.960
 right to the edge to

00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.379
 anger when they

00:32:30.379 --> 00:32:31.839
 disappoint you when

00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:33.740
 they when they hurt

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.679
 you and when when

00:32:34.679 --> 00:32:36.359
 things flare up you're

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:37.619
 not to respond with

00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.379
 bitterness and

00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:41.200
 impatience you're not

00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.000
 to make their hearts

00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:44.279
 hard are your

00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:45.579
 children displaying a

00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:48.379
 hard heart that

00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:50.200
 that could be down to

00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:52.480
 you in which case

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.300
 you're failing to

00:32:53.300 --> 00:32:55.300
 heed the word of

00:32:55.300 --> 00:32:56.960
 God you're failing to

00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:58.140
 heed the wisdom that

00:32:58.140 --> 00:33:00.640
 is here you want to

00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:01.180
 discipline your

00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:02.460
 children and that is

00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:04.200
 good and it's loving

00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:05.860
 to care for your

00:33:05.860 --> 00:33:06.600
 children in that way

00:33:06.600 --> 00:33:07.360
 to discipline them

00:33:07.360 --> 00:33:09.360
 but how can you

00:33:09.360 --> 00:33:10.620
 demonstrate discipline

00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.340
 to your son or

00:33:11.340 --> 00:33:12.720
 daughter daughter when

00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:14.380
 you lose the plot

00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:16.900
 when you fly off the

00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:18.760
 handle at the very

00:33:18.760 --> 00:33:20.680
 moment that you say

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.220
 that you were doing

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:21.640
 it for their

00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:22.980
 discipline have you

00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:23.660
 thought about that

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:25.360
 that's that's hard

00:33:25.360 --> 00:33:28.340
 stop think pray breathe

00:33:28.340 --> 00:33:30.620
 does your child really

00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:31.800
 need to be shouted at

00:33:31.800 --> 00:33:32.780
 because they spilt that

00:33:32.780 --> 00:33:34.540
 drink even if 30

00:33:34.540 --> 00:33:35.660
 seconds ago you told

00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:36.900
 them just just just

00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.760
 push it in a bit from

00:33:37.760 --> 00:33:38.480
 the edge of the table

00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:40.520
 love and then it

00:33:40.520 --> 00:33:41.640
 spills and and you

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:45.640
 know the reaction are

00:33:46.160 --> 00:33:47.240
 you showing any level

00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:48.580
 of discipline yourself

00:33:48.580 --> 00:33:50.080
 when you let loose

00:33:50.080 --> 00:33:51.940
 with that barrage of

00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:54.060
 shouts and commands

00:33:54.060 --> 00:33:57.759
 and I lay bare like

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.740
 this for my own sake

00:33:58.740 --> 00:34:02.060
 this morning I am often

00:34:02.060 --> 00:34:03.900
 harsh and often hard

00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:04.960
 with my own three

00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:07.640
 precious children oh

00:34:08.280 --> 00:34:09.380
 lord forgive me if I

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:11.720
 if I should ever embitter

00:34:11.720 --> 00:34:14.240
 my children fathers and

00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:15.340
 mothers do not

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.460
 exasperate your

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:18.360
 children for their

00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:19.800
 hard hearts will will

00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:20.880
 start to turn away from

00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:22.920
 you as a parent and

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:24.099
 even turn away from the

00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:26.099
 lord they might do

00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:27.019
 their duty till they're

00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:28.640
 18 they might stick

00:34:28.640 --> 00:34:29.599
 stick until then but

00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:31.059
 believe me if you have

00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:32.119
 embittered their hearts

00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:34.820
 then they will be gone in

00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:36.480
 an instant and it may be

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.640
 the hardest thing in the

00:34:37.640 --> 00:34:38.500
 world to mend that

00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:39.500
 bridge that has been

00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:41.880
 destroyed over years of

00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:45.320
 harshness but there is

00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:46.780
 hope even if you are in

00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:49.539
 that situation today thank

00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:50.320
 god that even in our

00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:51.559
 failures that he is the

00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:52.539
 god of the impossible

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:54.460
 because it's about new

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:56.800
 birth which is something

00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:58.500
 that the lord does the

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.659
 lord does in people's

00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:03.320
 hearts so how then should

00:35:03.320 --> 00:35:05.159
 you parent do not

00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:06.639
 exasperate your children

00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:08.139
 instead bring them up in

00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:08.799
 the training and

00:35:08.799 --> 00:35:09.779
 instruction of the lord

00:35:09.779 --> 00:35:11.739
 you do it with the same

00:35:11.739 --> 00:35:12.779
 love and grace that the

00:35:12.779 --> 00:35:14.019
 lord has shown you as he

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.879
 has brought you into

00:35:14.879 --> 00:35:16.519
 fellowship with jesus and

00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:18.719
 with his church you are to

00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:20.339
 to be a demonstration of

00:35:20.339 --> 00:35:22.179
 the fruit of the spirit and

00:35:22.179 --> 00:35:23.279
 that fruit that comes from

00:35:23.279 --> 00:35:24.519
 growing together with other

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:26.339
 believers in the church in

00:35:26.339 --> 00:35:26.960
 community

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:30.879
 teach your children by your

00:35:30.879 --> 00:35:32.579
 words teach your children by

00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:34.719
 your deeds what it means to

00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:37.859
 be a follower of jesus and a

00:35:37.859 --> 00:35:39.539
 faithful part of a church

00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:43.719
 community it's tender tender

00:35:44.319 --> 00:35:45.799
 training and instruction

00:35:45.799 --> 00:35:48.839
 that's called to here and as

00:35:48.839 --> 00:35:49.939
 your children begin to follow

00:35:49.939 --> 00:35:51.039
 jesus help them to see that

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:52.879
 their sin goes right down deep

00:35:52.879 --> 00:35:54.279
 into their hearts we want to

00:35:54.279 --> 00:35:55.959
 correct the behavior and that

00:35:55.959 --> 00:35:57.439
 is that is right to correct the

00:35:57.439 --> 00:35:58.959
 behavior but as they grow show

00:35:58.959 --> 00:36:03.199
 them the depth of their sin you

00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:04.879
 see jesus has caused them if

00:36:04.879 --> 00:36:05.939
 they are believers to be born

00:36:05.939 --> 00:36:07.719
 anew and they can become more

00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:08.960
 like jesus every day they can

00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:10.139
 deal with the issue of sin in

00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:12.299
 their hearts and god willing

00:36:12.299 --> 00:36:15.379
 with her helpless parents and if

00:36:15.379 --> 00:36:17.159
 your children don't follow jesus

00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:19.819
 pray on your knees for them that

00:36:19.819 --> 00:36:22.460
 the lord would save and keep them

00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:25.339
 and if they continue not to follow

00:36:25.339 --> 00:36:28.819
 through those early years i think

00:36:28.819 --> 00:36:30.259
 we need to try and hold these

00:36:30.260 --> 00:36:32.980
 verses and ensure that when they

00:36:32.980 --> 00:36:35.020
 hit 18 that they're not embittered

00:36:35.020 --> 00:36:36.880
 they're not bitter towards us and

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:38.820
 bitter towards the lord but that

00:36:38.820 --> 00:36:40.560
 they will keep honoring their

00:36:40.560 --> 00:36:42.420
 mother and father because they've

00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:44.120
 seen gentleness and they've seen

00:36:44.120 --> 00:36:47.140
 sacrifice each each and every day

00:36:47.140 --> 00:36:49.920
 it's hard we can't change our

00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:51.840
 children that's ultimately the

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:53.960
 lord's work but but we can seek to

00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:56.260
 raise them so that past 18 they we

00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:58.140
 have a relationship with them that

00:36:58.139 --> 00:37:02.719
 they're not so hardened i'm conscious

00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:04.299
 reading a section like this it kind

00:37:04.299 --> 00:37:07.019
 of maybe portrays a particular ideal

00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:09.379
 family you know mom dad children in

00:37:09.379 --> 00:37:10.739
 the church isn't that wonderful and

00:37:10.739 --> 00:37:13.980
 that's that's often not the case in

00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:16.219
 church life i know for for many

00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:18.759
 people here it's not that simple and

00:37:18.759 --> 00:37:20.139
 not that straightforward and there are

00:37:20.139 --> 00:37:22.779
 lots of things to think about and

00:37:22.779 --> 00:37:25.079
 applications and i can't cover them

00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:27.279
 all this morning i wish i could but

00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:28.640
 there's one that i do want to come

00:37:28.640 --> 00:37:31.080
 back to um in relation to children

00:37:31.080 --> 00:37:34.280
 what if my parents don't believe and

00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:37.320
 that's that situation i i found myself

00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:39.080
 in growing up through the life of the

00:37:39.080 --> 00:37:40.380
 church here and i know some people are

00:37:40.380 --> 00:37:41.680
 in that situation say if my parents

00:37:41.680 --> 00:37:44.019
 don't believe do i still need to obey

00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:46.900
 what are the limits of that obedience

00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:48.580
 if they tell me that i can't be

00:37:48.580 --> 00:37:51.580
 baptized as a believer they say you

00:37:51.580 --> 00:37:54.600
 can't go to church even can i disobey in

00:37:54.599 --> 00:37:57.360
 those cases well i think obedience to

00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:59.599
 parents even those that don't believe

00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:00.839
 even if your parents don't believe that

00:38:00.839 --> 00:38:03.239
 your obedience as a believer it is the

00:38:03.239 --> 00:38:05.579
 right thing to do the end of verse one as

00:38:05.579 --> 00:38:09.239
 we said for this is right it almost in a

00:38:09.239 --> 00:38:11.239
 sense apart from our identity in christ

00:38:11.239 --> 00:38:14.480
 it's just true in in the whole of

00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:17.659
 creation so it should be the rare

00:38:17.659 --> 00:38:19.639
 exception to disobey that's what i'm

00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:21.319
 ultimately saying it should be a rare

00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:24.039
 thing of course jesus taught us didn't

00:38:24.039 --> 00:38:25.980
 he that our our ultimate loyalty is to

00:38:25.980 --> 00:38:27.420
 the kingdom of god and that there are

00:38:27.420 --> 00:38:29.500
 times where we'll be in conflict with

00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:32.400
 family and parents so if your parents

00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:34.800
 forbid you from following jesus in your

00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:37.720
 heart and confessing jesus christ as

00:38:37.720 --> 00:38:40.200
 lord and savior then yes yes at that

00:38:40.200 --> 00:38:43.019
 point you you must disobey and you must

00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:46.120
 proclaim that you follow jesus but

00:38:46.120 --> 00:38:48.920
 baptism can wait until you're 18 being

00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:50.740
 able to take part fully in the life of

00:38:50.740 --> 00:38:53.960
 the church it might just need to take

00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:56.880
 more time to develop over a longer

00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:59.460
 period the lord knows your heart keep

00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:01.400
 your respect for your parents and show

00:39:01.400 --> 00:39:03.740
 them obedience and honesty as a forgiven

00:39:03.740 --> 00:39:08.340
 sinner the lord sees your struggle the

00:39:08.340 --> 00:39:09.659
 lord sees your struggle and more than

00:39:09.659 --> 00:39:12.180
 that he knew jesus knew what it was like

00:39:12.180 --> 00:39:14.039
 to be on this earth and at different

00:39:14.039 --> 00:39:17.139
 times to be estranged from his own mother

00:39:17.139 --> 00:39:19.460
 and brothers and family jesus knew that he

00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:22.259
 experienced that that tension between the

00:39:22.259 --> 00:39:23.779
 call of god and the kingdom of god and

00:39:23.779 --> 00:39:25.199
 the call of family and the kind of

00:39:25.199 --> 00:39:27.759
 pressures he was under in his society so

00:39:27.759 --> 00:39:31.000
 so so the lord knows the lord sees but i

00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:32.940
 believe the lord still calls us to obey

00:39:32.940 --> 00:39:38.139
 with those rare and few exceptions so just

00:39:38.799 --> 00:39:41.839
 to conclude let us let us all welcome our

00:39:41.839 --> 00:39:45.460
 believing children as part of the church let

00:39:45.460 --> 00:39:47.519
 us together disciple and encourage them as

00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:50.099
 people who who know the lord and love the

00:39:50.099 --> 00:39:54.019
 lord and for those children sit among us

00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:58.940
 that haven't yet expressed faith to see

00:39:58.940 --> 00:40:02.000
 them as people in need to see and hear the

00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:04.579
 gospel each and every week so that one day

00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:07.780
 those children as well may join us together

00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:11.780
 in the great multitude of forgiven sinners that

00:40:11.780 --> 00:40:15.960
 will worship the lamb let's pray for that right

00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:21.040
 now our father we we we we confess that our

00:40:21.040 --> 00:40:23.840
 our view of of you our view of the bible is

00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:27.040
 so low at times our vision is so dull and

00:40:27.040 --> 00:40:29.300
 lord jesus i just want to thank you for the

00:40:29.300 --> 00:40:31.980
 church and for the greatness of the church

00:40:31.980 --> 00:40:35.500
 your your great plan of redemption through your

00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:38.900
 body the church that there's no one word that

00:40:38.900 --> 00:40:40.980
 can describe it we we thank you that that we can

00:40:40.980 --> 00:40:45.059
 grow together as believers into the body of christ and be

00:40:45.059 --> 00:40:49.280
 this new people of god and i thank you that our

00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:52.900
 children the children in the church are as equal members of

00:40:52.900 --> 00:40:58.599
 that as as anyone else and father i pray for my own

00:40:58.599 --> 00:41:02.380
 children as they grow as they express faith in

00:41:02.380 --> 00:41:04.160
 different ways that i would continue i pray for

00:41:04.159 --> 00:41:08.460
 for for the other children in the church for the parents here who have children

00:41:08.460 --> 00:41:12.779
 who are maybe older who have who have left that that don't follow christ now

00:41:12.779 --> 00:41:19.619
 lord jesus in your great mercy grant them repentance and salvation that they

00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:21.659
 would they would bow their knee

00:41:21.659 --> 00:41:27.099
 and that they would remember the gospel that they have heard through many years

00:41:27.099 --> 00:41:36.039
 and come back and confess and come to you and father there is no greater desire for a parent and then to want

00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:40.639
 to stand with their children on that day before you as brothers and sisters in the lord

00:41:40.639 --> 00:41:46.639
 worshiping together and lord in your mercy be gracious make that real in the life of this church for the

00:41:46.639 --> 00:41:52.880
 children who are with us now and for those that have that have gone on lord that that don't follow you today

00:41:52.880 --> 00:42:00.599
 lord be merciful for your glory in jesus name amen amen