WEBVTT

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 Morning, everyone. Good to see us all. We're continuing and going back to the book of Acts.

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 Just to recap, if you've been in and out over the summer, we've been doing this series on apologetics,

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 which is just to answer some of the hard questions that we have, whether it's about science or suffering

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 or the purpose and meaning of life, all these kind of things. And so we're going to put a pause there.

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 Let me just tell you, just to reiterate again, the purpose of that series was not so that you

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 could be better at arguing with other people about the faith. That is not what it is, because you can

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 be the best at arguing and actually win them over intellectually or to the point where you just beat

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 them into submission with your words and you're like, okay, I've won. You still can't win their hearts.

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 You still can't win their souls. In fact, it's not you who does win any of their hearts and souls.

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 It's God. The whole point, I think, at least my heart for that series was just to encourage you

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 that when you're faced with some of these doubts about purpose and meaning, when you're faced with

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 some of these questions in your head about, well, what about science or what about suffering,

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 that you would be like, oh, actually, there was an answer to that. I don't remember it because I

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 wasn't fully paying attention, but there was an answer to that that I can now go back to Spotify

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 and find the answers to or go to Google or AI. Our faith is question-proof. We may not know all

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 the answers, but God is bigger than our questions. Just because we can't answer them doesn't mean that

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 God doesn't exist, was really the point of that series. We're going to go back to the book of Acts now

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 because whilst we have all those questions, actually, and we're equipped and we have all the intellectual

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 knowledge we need, if we just sit on the couch and we don't go out and we don't actually go and scatter,

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 it all is still meaningless. So we're going to go back in the book of Acts where we see these people

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 basically catch fire and then start spreading to the point where now that we're here in Hong Kong

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 hearing about the same message that those people took from those days. And so just to give you a recap of the

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 book of Acts, it's just, we only got up to chapter five. Okay, so the first chapter is the first flying man.

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 You see Jesus ascending and saying, I'll be back. And then he says, but I will pour out my spirit onto you

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 and you need to take that. You can't just stay in one place. You have to go. You have to go to the ends of the earth.

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 But for now, go to Jerusalem. For now, go to that Jerusalem, to the place that you know, and wait for me there.

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 Can you imagine just a man flying into the sky and says, I'll be back. Go to Jerusalem. Wait for me there.

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 You would be just as shocked as they were. And so they got back to Jerusalem, didn't know what to do.

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 Couldn't go back home because of what they just saw. So they're like, well, let's just go pray.

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 So they found an upper room and they went to pray and they prayed for 10 days straight, 10 day prayer meeting.

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 And then the Holy Spirit descends on them. And that is Acts chapter two.

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 Pentecost comes. They start speaking in tongues. Peter, the impulsive coward, violent Peter,

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 stands up filled with the spirit and gives the sermon of his life.

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 The kerygma, the gospel, talking about Jesus. Jesus's life, Jesus's death, and Jesus's resurrection.

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 And what happens? The people are filled with the spirit. They are cut to the heart. Acts chapter two, verse 37.

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 They are cut to the heart and they go, well, what must we do? What must we do to be saved?

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 And so he says, well, be baptized, repent, and you'll receive the forgiveness of sins.

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 And from that moment on, you will be a new community. And then Acts two, 42 to 47 is the new community

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 where there's a field of reverence and awe. They're devoting themselves to just fellowship,

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 breaking bread, communion, prayer. And then they see just, they just, they have glad and generous hearts.

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 The Lord adds to the number. The church grows from 120 to 3,000. Just think of a logistical nightmare

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 that would be. But here it is. It grows. Chapter three, they go out and they see people who are in

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 need. The lame beggar is healed. They heal him, but they get in trouble for healing him. So Acts chapter

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 four, they're dragged into court. They're dragged in front of the Sanhedrin. Why did you heal this guy?

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 Who are you? I said, who are we listening to? We're not scared of you. We just followed a guy who told us

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 he would die and come back again. And he did exactly just that. We're going to follow him.

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 Now we're going to respect you and you can do whatever you want to us, but you can't touch us

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 really because of that guy. And then the community continues to grow. And then it grows and they get

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 more and more generous. There's no one in need, remember? And then of course, there's the first death.

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 A couple who had spiritual pride, who wanted to be seen as people who were holy, who were good. And

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 so they saw other people giving generously. So they decided, hey, I want to give generously,

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 but I want to appear to be more generous than I actually was. So here I am. Because actually,

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 in some ways, I don't blame them. They didn't have to do any of that stuff. So they did it. They just

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 held a little bit back. And my question I remember was, hey, it's not about what you're giving already.

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 It's actually about what you're still holding back. That's the key. God doesn't care about how much

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 you're actually giving. He's looking at your heart and going, well, is there something that you're

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 still holding back from me? And sadly, they meet a very drastic end because at that point,

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 the integrity of the church, the purity of the church was so important. Can you imagine starting

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 a church at that moment on a lie? We wouldn't be here, if we're honest. So they take the hit.

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 And that's when we move to Acts chapter 6. We don't know the time difference between Acts chapter 5 and 6,

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 but it's probably a while. And what we see then is actually the church growing even more.

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 And that's when some of the problems are coming. So we're going to go through that. We're only going

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 to be doing seven verses. It's not just going to be me talking. I'm going to invite a friend up to

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 talk as well. But I truly believe in these seven verses, we'll find out a little bit about church,

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 a little bit about us, a little bit about God, and actually a little bit about our church,

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 not just the gathering here. If you look at the full name of the gathering,

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 it is the English Gathering of Kongfuk Church, which is part of EFCC, Evangelical Free Church of China.

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 That's why we're called just the gathering, because our full name is very long.

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 But we're part of a wider church. So I want to take this chance actually to talk to you a little

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 bit about that today as well. But before all of that, can we have the word of God to be ministering

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 to us? I'm going to invite Andy to come up and speak and share from the word of God.

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 But I'm only joking, just reading. Can I invite you to stand for the word?

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 It's okay, they're all friends.

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 Now in these days, when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists

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 arose against the Hebrews because their windows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

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 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said,

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 It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

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 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit

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 and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and

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 to the ministry of the word. And what they said pleased the whole gathering. And they chose Stephen,

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 a man full of faith, and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor,

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 and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas, a proselyte of Antioch. And they sat before the apostles,

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 and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase,

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 and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. And a great many of the priests

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 become obedient to the faith.

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 Thank you.

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 This is the word of God. Can we give him a round of applause? Take a seat, please. Take a seat.

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 Oh, that's so good. Some of those names. Some of those. Sounds like you're reading a different

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 kind of Italian spaghettis and pastors. So I'm only going to do seven verses. I'm just going to go

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 through verse by verse. You see chapter six, verse one here. Again, if you have your Bible,

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 please just keep it open so you can see where I am in the sermon. That's helpful. And as I've told

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 you many times before, I don't believe in the app. I only believe in the physical word of God. So,

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 and if you want one, it's at the back over there. And if you don't have one at home, then

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 if you take it, no one will notice. This is okay. Now, in these days, when the disciples were

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 increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows

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 were being neglected in the daily distribution. Isn't that just the purpose of the church,

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 that the church would grow? We've all known churches, actually, we hear about churches that

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 are dwindling and kind of dying and aging. But the whole purpose of the church is that it grows.

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 It's not always the case. And God does allow certain churches to die. I take great comfort

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 and great trepidation in thinking that actually all the churches in the book of Revelation,

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 they're not around anymore. They're just a pile of rocks. And Jesus says, if you're not doing

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 what you're going to do, which is to the church of Ephesus, he says, you're not loving anymore. I'm

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 going to cancel you out. I'm going to close you down. So Jesus isn't afraid to close churches down.

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 But this one is growing because the purpose of the church is to not just gather, but to scatter,

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 to actually bring people in, to invite friends in, to actually share the gospel with them. If you're

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 just here week in, week out, just doing your thing, then you've missed the point of church.

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 That's the whole point of what it's trying to say here. But then there's a problem.

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 There's a complaint. There's the Hellenists. The Hellenists are basically the Greek speaking Jews.

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 They probably came to Jerusalem during Pentecost to worship and filled with the Holy Spirit and

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 became Christians. But so these were the Jewish diaspora almost who speak Greek. I don't know.

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 I mean, they are equivalent, you know, Asian Americans or Australian born Chinese or British

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 born Chinese. And they're all called back to the homeland. And so it's that kind of group of people.

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 And so it's those people who were there. And of course, they are the minority.

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 And so you see that. And they arose against the Hebrews who were the ones who were Hebrew

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 speaking Jews, those who were from Jerusalem, the OGs of the group of the people. And so

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 there was a complaint against these, between these two groups of people because their widows

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 were being neglected in the daily distribution. So there were a group of people, the needy,

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 the widows who weren't getting the food that they needed. And then I stopped there. I go,

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 wait a minute. It was only in chapter four where there was no one in need.

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 Where everything was good. We're all sharing. I'm going to buy, sell my house and I'm going to give

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 you all my money. And John C is going to give me his Tesla. And it's going to be a great,

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 wonderful time that we get to share all these different things together. And yet two chapters

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 later, there's a group that don't get food. I'm careful not to kind of romanticize the churches

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 in the Bible because they're still filled with people. And where there are people, there is

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 selfishness. And so it doesn't take long. And so I'd encourage you, if you're sat here going,

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 oh, this, my church isn't this church. Well, this church wasn't that great either because it was

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 filled with people. And the church isn't really just about how great the people are. It's about how

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 great God is. And so you see this group of widows, Greek speaking ones. And now the problem here is

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 there was an economic disparity. There were the rich and the poor, which is a normal thing. It was

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 around when Jesus was around. The church of Philippi had a businesswoman and then had a slave girl.

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 Paul talks to the church in Corinth and saying, you guys are having communion, but you guys are

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 having caviar and you guys are having Samsung or no food at all. There's a difference. This isn't how

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 it's supposed to be. We're supposed to love one another together. And yet you see here,

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 there is a problem. And of course, that is just simply just difference.

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 We're just surrounded by people who are different to us. The root of it, of course, is simply

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 selfishness. Just on a side note there, the church is supposed to look after those who are in need.

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 Even in the Old Testament, the prophets would say, would actually gauge a group of people's

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 relationship to God by how much they are caring for the poor. Okay? That's how they would gauge.

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 And so the church has to have a role to play where we're actually serving those who are in need.

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 Now, here's the first critical point that comes out for me as I sit around looking at all of us here,

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 English speaking Chinese in Anmuti in Hong Kong. Are there people in need here? Yes, there are.

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 Are we helping them as much as we can?

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 I wish we were.

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 But that's where I also want to talk about the wider church. That there are things that are going on that we should hear about.

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 There are things that you and I could be doing. More things that we could be doing.

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 The ministry

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 of the Word fuels the ministry of tables.

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 When we minister to people through the Word,

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 it also has to bless their lives as well.

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 Francis Chan says this,

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 If we only preach the gospel without caring for the poor,

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 we fail.

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 If we only care for the poor without preaching the gospel,

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 we fail.

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 Jesus did both.

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 And so

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 must we.

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 But maybe just to kind of jump

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 to their defense, this church, and give them the benefit of the doubt,

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 there was another problem, just language.

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 You know, these guys speak Greek.

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 And these guys speak Hebrew.

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 And so

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 somewhere along the line, it might not have been

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 overt racism and discrimination.

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 It was simply just, well,

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 hey, I'm making an announcement.

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 I'm shouting out loud.

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 Hey, there's going to be food over here in Hebrew.

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 And the ones who are speaking Greek just don't hear it.

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 They don't understand it.

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 So they don't know what's happening.

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 We're part of a wider church.

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 And I sit in some meetings with my

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 Cantonese and Mandarin counterparts.

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 And sometimes in those meetings, they're in Chinese.

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 And I'll be honest, sometimes it just flies over my head.

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 I don't know what they're saying.

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 My Chinese is limited to 打拳天 Chinese.

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 Like, you know,

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 雨打火, 宿地名, 宿辰, those are fine.

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 But you start talking in Christianese, Chinese lingo,

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 or just watching the news, it's over my head.

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 So I can imagine maybe there's certain situations here

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 where there is food being distributed and announced,

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 and the Greek-speaking ones just don't hear,

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 or they just don't understand it.

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 So that might actually be a problem.

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 Or there might just even be a cultural problem as well,

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 because they're just different.

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 I keep saying this.

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 The irony of me here being a Chinese guy

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 standing in Hong Kong,

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 speaking to a group of people in English,

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 we're just, we're in a really interesting space.

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 And there's language and cultural divides

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 and generational divides.

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 There are so many different divides.

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 There are so many reasons

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 why we shouldn't be part of the same church together.

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 And yet here it is.

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 My problem is,

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 I'm going to try and defend all of those things,

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 but honestly, there are sometimes also no excuses,

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 because we, even in this very niche community,

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 we still like to hang out with people just like ourselves.

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 Correct?

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 If we say that actually you're the,

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 you're basically an average of the five people

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 you spend the most time with.

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 Have a think now,

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 who the five people are.

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 In this church,

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 the people that, okay,

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 we're not supposed to have favorites,

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 but let's say if I just asked you,

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 who are your favorite people in church?

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 Just three.

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 Like, just don't even,

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 don't even,

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 you don't need to share it.

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 The first few minds are popping up right now in your head.

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 And then I asked you the second question,

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 which is,

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 how similar are they to you?

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 The answer is,

00:15:22.239 --> 00:15:23.839
 probably quite similar.

00:15:24.859 --> 00:15:26.259
 If we're being very honest.

00:15:27.339 --> 00:15:27.859
 Why?

00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:30.839
 Because we naturally go towards the people who understand us.

00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:34.339
 We naturally go towards the people who empathize with us,

00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:36.879
 who we can talk and have conversation with.

00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:40.319
 So even in a group like this,

00:15:40.359 --> 00:15:41.539
 where we are already niche,

00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:44.000
 there are still people that we like to hang out with more.

00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:49.139
 So I don't think it's not as big a surprise that we're here right now.

00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.179
 The problem here is this.

00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:52.220
 Why aren't you hanging out with any people who are different to you?

00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:54.139
 You really should.

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:57.879
 I learned so much from hanging out with people who are different to me,

00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:59.480
 who are much older than I,

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:01.100
 who I don't agree with,

00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:01.639
 with everything.

00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:03.460
 And yet,

00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:05.139
 there's something that I can learn from them.

00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:06.600
 So if you're just averaging,

00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:09.139
 if you look at the average five people that you hang out with,

00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:10.679
 and they are all quite similar to you,

00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:12.379
 my encouragement to you is find someone else.

00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:14.179
 Find someone's different.

00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.299
 Find someone who doesn't speak the same language as you do.

00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.659
 And you learn something.

00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:23.039
 I was really inspired by a conversation I had last Sunday with Ebenezer.

00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:24.620
 Because I was like,

00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.139
 he's like,

00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:27.379
 the Western world and the,

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:28.980
 just in the Eastern world,

00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.559
 the way they,

00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.720
 the way they think,

00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:31.720
 not even just communicate,

00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:32.539
 the way they think,

00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.559
 the values that they have,

00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:35.860
 that sometimes those values they're not even aware of,

00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.340
 is just so different.

00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:39.460
 I wish people would see that.

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:44.000
 We need to spend time with those who are not the same as us.

00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:46.080
 I also think we are a special group.

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.820
 I think we're a special group because,

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.200
 no one,

00:16:51.040 --> 00:16:52.040
 like with us Chinese,

00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:52.620
 especially,

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:54.740
 those who are third culture kids,

00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:56.000
 who can be a bit of both,

00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:58.120
 we have a fantastic opportunity.

00:16:58.300 --> 00:17:00.240
 And I think the Hellenistic Jews would have had the same.

00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.160
 So they were Jews,

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:02.240
 but they've gone to a foreign land.

00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:03.019
 They can speak Greek.

00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:04.700
 They can probably speak a little bit of Hebrew.

00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:07.839
 That's the perfect group of people to be the bridge.

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:13.539
 That's the perfect group of people who can understand both sides.

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:14.940
 I think we,

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.940
 I think there are people sat here in this room,

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.160
 who have the ability,

00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.240
 and the capacity,

00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:21.599
 and the calling to actually stand in the middle.

00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:23.879
 Maybe not even just between two groups of people.

00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:25.259
 Maybe even between three.

00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:27.460
 Because you can speak all three different languages.

00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:32.799
 The Lord calls us to be people who stand in the gap.

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:37.039
 And so maybe as you evaluate who your five people are,

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:37.859
 maybe just see,

00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:38.019
 okay,

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:39.180
 what kind of person are you?

00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:41.160
 What ingredients are you made of?

00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:44.779
 And maybe there's something that the Lord needs you to do to be in the gap there.

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.440
 I think there is a good opportunity.

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.700
 So that's the problem.

00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:48.500
 Verse two,

00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:51.160
 and the 12 summoned the full number of the disciples and said,

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:55.019
 it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:56.960
 I love this.

00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.019
 I always say,

00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:58.660
 when in doubt,

00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.139
 gather,

00:17:59.259 --> 00:17:59.920
 just get together.

00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:00.980
 Or when in conflict,

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:01.660
 communicate.

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:01.740
 Okay,

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:03.500
 just let's talk this through.

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.400
 Not passive aggressively.

00:18:06.340 --> 00:18:07.720
 Let's talk this through clearly.

00:18:08.040 --> 00:18:09.740
 And so they get everyone involved.

00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:12.600
 They get those who are in charge of distributing the food.

00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:13.880
 They get all the disciples involved and say,

00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:14.019
 hey,

00:18:14.060 --> 00:18:14.220
 okay,

00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:14.820
 there's a problem.

00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:17.440
 These ladies aren't getting any food.

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.680
 We need to figure out how to do it.

00:18:18.800 --> 00:18:19.660
 But here's the problem.

00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:21.460
 We're too busy standing up here,

00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:23.200
 just preaching the word of God.

00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:24.680
 We need help,

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.700
 is what they're saying.

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:28.259
 This is what they're not saying.

00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:32.779
 That the person preaching is more important than the person serving tables.

00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:34.259
 That is not what they are saying.

00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:35.519
 They are saying,

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:37.120
 this is what we're supposed to do.

00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.860
 We need someone to help us do this.

00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:40.980
 That is just as important.

00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:44.819
 You are just as important as the person stood here preaching.

00:18:45.419 --> 00:18:51.759
 You need to know that because often we confuse that and we think the church and everything should go through one person.

00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.579
 That's not the case.

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:54.619
 He's saying,

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:57.559
 preaching of the word of God is the most important,

00:18:57.779 --> 00:19:01.139
 but the person doing it isn't more important than the person serving tables.

00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:03.559
 Are you able to grasp that difference with me?

00:19:03.919 --> 00:19:04.879
 It's very important.

00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:07.519
 Because if you think I'm more important than you,

00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.659
 you won't be doing what God's asking you to do.

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.220
 The mission statement,

00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:13.000
 second one is,

00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:13.980
 what are your gifts?

00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:15.059
 What are you called to do?

00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.180
 You must be doing something.

00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:17.460
 You're not here just to sit.

00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:19.599
 But,

00:19:20.120 --> 00:19:22.539
 preaching the word of God is very important

00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:25.640
 because one of the other problems that we have in churches,

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.740
 often we run programs,

00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.539
 we do lots of things,

00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:29.680
 we get very busy and we miss the gospel altogether.

00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:32.680
 And people can walk through our churches

00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:34.539
 and go through our programs and our weeks

00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:35.839
 and do all the fun things that we do,

00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:36.960
 which are all great things,

00:19:37.360 --> 00:19:38.860
 but they don't encounter the gospel.

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:40.240
 They're not grasped by the gospel.

00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.799
 So,

00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:44.440
 preaching the word is the most important.

00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.960
 And the other thing is,

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:47.940
 the church is obligated to care for people,

00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:49.000
 to scatter,

00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:50.079
 to spread the good news,

00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:53.220
 and to also care for the needs of people.

00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:53.900
 Because otherwise,

00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:54.519
 they could have said,

00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:55.079
 wait,

00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.160
 we're hearing complaints

00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:58.920
 that some ladies aren't getting food.

00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.180
 Well,

00:19:59.259 --> 00:19:59.539
 actually,

00:19:59.620 --> 00:19:59.920
 the church,

00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:00.680
 we're not supposed to just,

00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:02.180
 we're not a restaurant,

00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.559
 so they can go find their own food.

00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:03.859
 That's not,

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.640
 they didn't say that.

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.040
 They said,

00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:06.800
 there's people in need.

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.120
 We need to look after them.

00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:10.620
 So,

00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.540
 my question for us is,

00:20:11.860 --> 00:20:12.900
 do we go out of our way

00:20:12.900 --> 00:20:14.540
 to spend time with people who we don't know,

00:20:14.780 --> 00:20:15.900
 who aren't the same as us,

00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:17.320
 and do we go out of our way

00:20:17.320 --> 00:20:18.700
 to help those who are in need?

00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.580
 And sometimes,

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:21.200
 that looks deeply uncomfortable.

00:20:22.340 --> 00:20:24.320
 That looks like hanging out with people

00:20:24.320 --> 00:20:25.180
 who are in deep need,

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.580
 and you,

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:26.980
 you could have gone to watch a movie,

00:20:27.100 --> 00:20:27.560
 but you didn't.

00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:29.160
 You decided to stay and hang out with them

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:30.040
 until late in the evening.

00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:33.800
 Just to be a friend.

00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:35.399
 Just to keep them company.

00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:38.099
 That's what being the church is.

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:38.779
 Now,

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:41.279
 this goes into the topic of the church here.

00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:42.879
 We've been here.

00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:43.519
 Agnes,

00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:45.279
 how long have we been in this place for?

00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:45.980
 Two years?

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:49.119
 We've been in this place for two years,

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.500
 and of course,

00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:52.000
 we keep knocking out down different walls

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.279
 just to make a little bit more space

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.480
 and installing fans

00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:56.099
 so you don't all faint during the summer.

00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.980
 But I look at this,

00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:00.819
 and I have to say,

00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:02.000
 I have a little bit of comfort.

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.099
 Why?

00:21:03.419 --> 00:21:05.199
 Because I know that our church is growing,

00:21:05.439 --> 00:21:07.059
 and I know that we have lots of problems.

00:21:07.699 --> 00:21:09.259
 I know there are people here who come in

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:11.179
 who don't even get spoken to at all.

00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:13.319
 You don't even get anyone smiling at you,

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.179
 and then you walk out.

00:21:14.719 --> 00:21:15.659
 And that breaks my heart,

00:21:15.719 --> 00:21:16.039
 because I'm like,

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:17.299
 that's not what it's supposed to be.

00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:20.799
 But I also get there's just a lot of people here.

00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:22.799
 I do get that.

00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.980
 And we're trying to find ways to,

00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:25.639
 well,

00:21:26.179 --> 00:21:26.819
 clearly,

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.059
 we're not above breaking walls,

00:21:28.139 --> 00:21:28.639
 and we're not here to,

00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:29.879
 we're looking,

00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:30.920
 and I'm going to invite someone else

00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:32.000
 and blame it all on him in a minute

00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.640
 and have him explain to us

00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:34.240
 why we're still here.

00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.780
 But it's a problem for me

00:21:37.780 --> 00:21:38.980
 because I know there are people here

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.940
 who you've been coming

00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:41.080
 and you want to be in a life group,

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:41.500
 and you're like,

00:21:41.520 --> 00:21:42.280
 I just don't know how,

00:21:42.540 --> 00:21:43.660
 seems a little bit cliquey,

00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:45.840
 I don't even know how to get into it.

00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:46.779
 And I'm like,

00:21:46.820 --> 00:21:47.500
 that's not the heart.

00:21:47.560 --> 00:21:48.320
 I can assure you,

00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:49.100
 that's not the heart.

00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:51.360
 We are not just a church

00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:53.240
 for young working professionals

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.100
 who are cool.

00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:55.779
 Otherwise,

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:56.880
 Nathan wouldn't be here.

00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:01.400
 We welcome all.

00:22:06.560 --> 00:22:08.040
 But I don't know how to do it sometimes,

00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.779
 because there's just too many people.

00:22:10.800 --> 00:22:10.940
 You know,

00:22:11.040 --> 00:22:11.660
 you walk in,

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.500
 and I see you,

00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:13.080
 you're a new face.

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:13.980
 And I think I was telling Shigala

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.379
 the other day,

00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.799
 I have this weird ability

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.819
 where when I'm on a Sunday,

00:22:17.939 --> 00:22:18.439
 I actually know

00:22:18.439 --> 00:22:19.079
 who's come to church

00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:19.599
 and who hasn't.

00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:22.319
 Often because I have the opportunity

00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:23.359
 to stare at you all

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.099
 for 40 minutes

00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:24.839
 and see who's sleeping

00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.359
 and who's not.

00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.480
 But somehow,

00:22:27.639 --> 00:22:28.619
 I just kind of seem to know

00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:29.500
 because I see in your face.

00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.659
 And sometimes I see you

00:22:30.659 --> 00:22:30.899
 and I'm like,

00:22:30.939 --> 00:22:31.559
 oh, I see you.

00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:33.339
 But by the time service finishes,

00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:34.319
 you've gone

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.879
 because it's too overwhelming.

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.659
 So you have to go

00:22:36.659 --> 00:22:38.299
 and there's no one you speak to.

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:38.819
 And I'm like,

00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:40.099
 I wish I could speak to you.

00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.159
 And I know that for some reason,

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.000
 the Chinese culture

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.900
 we have seemed to have

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:45.099
 more introverts than extroverts.

00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:47.420
 So all of this is just terrifying,

00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:48.839
 which is why we came up

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:50.660
 with the WhatsApp QR code.

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:50.980
 It's like,

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.160
 okay,

00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.180
 if it's too hard for you

00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:52.920
 to say hello here,

00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:53.779
 that's okay.

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.839
 Please WhatsApp us

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:56.099
 and we'll talk,

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:57.700
 we'll have an introverted conversation.

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:58.940
 But eventually,

00:22:59.059 --> 00:22:59.740
 we have to meet each other

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.339
 face to face

00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:01.200
 because we're the gathering.

00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:02.160
 You don't come to the gathering

00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:02.960
 and you don't gather.

00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:03.279
 That's,

00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:04.440
 go find another church.

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:07.539
 But I feel how hard it is.

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.680
 I get it.

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.620
 I'm going to point out Caleb

00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:11.840
 because it's just to embarrass him.

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.880
 Caleb came,

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.200
 he landed in Hong Kong

00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.039
 a week and a half ago

00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.440
 and last week he came to church

00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:17.440
 for the very first time

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.799
 and didn't know anyone.

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.200
 Now,

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.059
 all of you have been there

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.460
 at some point.

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.700
 You all came for the first time

00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.259
 at some point.

00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:23.920
 Apart from Hank.

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.900
 Hank built this whole place

00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.440
 and he's been around

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.059
 for a hundred years.

00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:27.059
 But,

00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:32.159
 you feel that.

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.319
 And Caleb,

00:23:33.399 --> 00:23:34.039
 after the service,

00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.480
 I know I'm embarrassing you here,

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.200
 I'm not really sorry.

00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:38.059
 And he just came right up

00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:38.319
 and he said,

00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:38.480
 hey,

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.139
 it's my first time.

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.480
 I was like,

00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:40.819
 oh,

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.419
 thank goodness for you

00:23:42.419 --> 00:23:43.059
 that you would come

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.599
 and speak to me

00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.799
 because if you had just drifted off,

00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:45.799
 I wouldn't be able

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.339
 to get to know you.

00:23:46.379 --> 00:23:47.079
 I wouldn't find out

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.779
 that actually he's

00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.579
 going to be teaching

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.299
 in my kids' school

00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.960
 that actually he went

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.679
 to the same church

00:23:50.679 --> 00:23:52.059
 as Gabe in Toronto

00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.539
 and I'm like,

00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:52.819
 oh,

00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:53.919
 that is so cool.

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.720
 Please come back.

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.440
 Please have lunch.

00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.100
 And we got to know each other

00:23:58.100 --> 00:23:58.539
 and you got to know

00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.079
 different people.

00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.180
 But I'll tell you,

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:01.339
 I do not underestimate

00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:02.779
 how hard it is

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.860
 for someone to walk

00:24:03.860 --> 00:24:05.620
 into a room like this

00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:07.660
 and say hello

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.620
 to someone you don't know.

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.460
 Can we make that the norm?

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.140
 Can we try to?

00:24:12.600 --> 00:24:13.440
 Can we try and say,

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:13.640
 hey,

00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.180
 how are you?

00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:14.799
 What's your name?

00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:16.059
 You look different to me.

00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:17.100
 You sound different to me.

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:19.160
 I'd like to get to know you

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:21.319
 because you can see

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.539
 it is so hard.

00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:24.220
 It is so hard to do that.

00:24:24.620 --> 00:24:24.880
 Anyway,

00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:26.020
 there's a problem.

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.660
 They can't be the ones

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.120
 that do it.

00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:28.940
 So verse three,

00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:30.380
 they say this,

00:24:31.320 --> 00:24:32.340
 therefore,

00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:32.900
 brothers,

00:24:33.020 --> 00:24:34.120
 pick out from among you

00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:35.440
 seven men of good repute,

00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.600
 full of the spirit

00:24:36.600 --> 00:24:37.320
 and of wisdom,

00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.760
 whom we will appoint

00:24:38.760 --> 00:24:40.300
 to this duty.

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:42.860
 Can you point,

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:44.020
 can you bring out

00:24:44.020 --> 00:24:44.820
 seven people

00:24:44.820 --> 00:24:46.020
 who are actually

00:24:46.020 --> 00:24:46.800
 already serving,

00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.980
 who have a good reputation,

00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.280
 so they're not shady at all.

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.540
 They are known people.

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.960
 Can you have them come out

00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:52.960
 so that they can help

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.940
 distribute the food,

00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:56.879
 help to serve the food?

00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:59.039
 And that is the beginning

00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:00.460
 of the word deacon.

00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:01.960
 Now,

00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.480
 our church,

00:25:02.659 --> 00:25:04.659
 we have a board of deacons

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:06.059
 who are here to serve.

00:25:07.399 --> 00:25:08.319
 They may not be the ones

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:09.519
 ministering and preaching

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.159
 the word of God

00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:10.539
 week in,

00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:10.960
 week out,

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.559
 but my goodness,

00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.599
 they spend a lot of time

00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:14.399
 serving in many different ways.

00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:15.980
 Now,

00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:17.299
 this isn't the official start.

00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:18.000
 It wasn't saying,

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.480
 Stephen,

00:25:18.659 --> 00:25:20.039
 from this moment forth,

00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:21.299
 you shall be called

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.180
 Deacon Stephen.

00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:22.819
 It wasn't that.

00:25:23.159 --> 00:25:23.480
 In fact,

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.639
 the term was just used

00:25:24.639 --> 00:25:26.079
 to describe someone

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.899
 who is serving.

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.159
 I think the actual

00:25:28.159 --> 00:25:29.639
 deacon name title

00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:30.460
 came later.

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.500
 This was just Stephen

00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.759
 and a group of other guys

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:35.139
 who were of good repute

00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:35.960
 and were filled

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.720
 with the Holy Spirit

00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.799
 who were chosen

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:39.059
 to come and actually

00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:39.839
 help out.

00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:40.519
 And who did they pick?

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.700
 They picked seven guys

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.619
 who had Greek names.

00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:43.639
 Why?

00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.919
 Because that was the need.

00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.879
 Greek-speaking widows

00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:47.520
 didn't get food.

00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.360
 Let's get the guys

00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:48.780
 that are in

00:25:48.780 --> 00:25:49.900
 so who can understand

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.480
 the announcements

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.620
 and who can speak to them

00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:52.400
 and so they can know

00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:53.440
 what their needs are

00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.580
 and that they can then

00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:56.020
 serve these widows.

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.660
 Isn't that just good to hear?

00:25:59.800 --> 00:26:00.740
 And it's interesting.

00:26:01.300 --> 00:26:02.200
 What they didn't say

00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:03.260
 was can we pick

00:26:03.260 --> 00:26:04.320
 seven people

00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:06.580
 who are quick thinkers,

00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.960
 are fast on their feet

00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:09.080
 and good with their hands

00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:10.400
 and hold plates really well.

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.840
 It wasn't a competence test.

00:26:13.760 --> 00:26:15.120
 It was a character test.

00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:16.759
 In Young Life,

00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:18.219
 when we look for people

00:26:18.219 --> 00:26:18.899
 and hire for people,

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.199
 we often go with the four Cs.

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.419
 Do you remember

00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:21.359
 what the four Cs are, Gabs?

00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:23.659
 No?

00:26:24.459 --> 00:26:25.579
 First, no.

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.459
 That's why he's not working

00:26:27.459 --> 00:26:28.059
 with Young Life anymore.

00:26:30.959 --> 00:26:31.879
 Do you remember, JJ?

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.279
 Huh?

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.439
 No, the four Cs

00:26:35.439 --> 00:26:37.459
 of a potential candidate.

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.519
 This is a great show

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.139
 for Young Life staff,

00:26:39.179 --> 00:26:39.439
 by the way.

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:41.539
 Christian.

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:42.900
 Christian.

00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:43.440
 No!

00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.140
 I mean, yes.

00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:46.860
 I mean, yes.

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:48.200
 That is a prerequisite.

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:49.980
 Calling.

00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:50.539
 Thank you.

00:26:50.600 --> 00:26:51.440
 It's slowly coming back.

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.900
 Calling is the first one.

00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:54.220
 I've often said,

00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:55.059
 don't go into ministry

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.759
 because you're going in

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.120
 for the money

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.700
 because you've just made

00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.440
 the terrible decision

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.100
 in your life.

00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.960
 That is not why you do it.

00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.480
 You go there

00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.620
 because God has called you to.

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.840
 That is, that's it.

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.820
 Because it's way harder

00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:04.480
 than you ever thought

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:04.900
 it would be.

00:27:05.320 --> 00:27:05.860
 So you only,

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:07.860
 because calling is the thing

00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:08.880
 that you're going to hold on to,

00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:09.460
 is the pillow

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.460
 that you're going to hold on to

00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.500
 when you're crying at night time.

00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:12.760
 Calling.

00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.660
 Aaron, can you help me out here?

00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:16.400
 Competency.

00:27:16.600 --> 00:27:17.540
 So that is one of them.

00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:19.120
 We're not going to pick someone

00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:20.020
 who is going to be terrible

00:27:20.020 --> 00:27:20.520
 at the job

00:27:20.520 --> 00:27:21.620
 because that doesn't serve them

00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.600
 and it doesn't serve the people

00:27:22.600 --> 00:27:23.420
 they're trying to serve.

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:25.460
 So calling and competency.

00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:27.060
 Another one is chemistry.

00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:29.500
 People just want to be around you.

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.080
 They need to be,

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.060
 they need to like you.

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.340
 If you're a complete jerk,

00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:33.140
 we're not going to hire you

00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:33.820
 if we're honest

00:27:33.820 --> 00:27:35.100
 because that just doesn't work.

00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:37.200
 And the final one

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.360
 is character.

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:40.400
 Yeah, character.

00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:42.160
 Because you need to be just,

00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.840
 and I often said this,

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.820
 it's not about gifting.

00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:48.300
 It's not about being so good

00:27:48.300 --> 00:27:48.960
 at doing something

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.640
 so you can do it.

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.140
 Here's the problem

00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:50.760
 with church though.

00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.880
 We have needs.

00:27:52.320 --> 00:27:53.740
 We have music team needs.

00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:55.020
 We're stuck with Paul

00:27:55.020 --> 00:27:56.520
 leading us on worship every week.

00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.380
 We need someone

00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:58.700
 who can play the guitar properly.

00:27:59.320 --> 00:28:00.660
 You can play the guitar properly.

00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:01.700
 You're barely Christian.

00:28:02.040 --> 00:28:02.800
 Why don't you do it?

00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:04.639
 That's not what we need to do.

00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:08.099
 We look at the person's heart.

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.680
 We look at the person's character

00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.119
 and go,

00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:12.619
 is that person a man

00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.559
 of good repute

00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:15.039
 filled with the spirit?

00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:17.359
 But there is such a temptation

00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.240
 just to put people

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.259
 who are good at things

00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.899
 into places

00:28:19.899 --> 00:28:20.799
 just to do things.

00:28:22.139 --> 00:28:23.379
 And the cheesy quote goes,

00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.059
 we put people

00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:25.159
 into places

00:28:25.159 --> 00:28:26.519
 where their gifting takes them

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.139
 but their character

00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:27.879
 cannot keep them.

00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:30.120
 And then that's destructive.

00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:32.120
 And then we see things

00:28:32.120 --> 00:28:33.000
 falling apart

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:34.200
 and we wonder why.

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.420
 For deacons,

00:28:36.040 --> 00:28:36.980
 the apostle Paul later

00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.960
 in 1 Timothy 3

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.620
 has a list,

00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:39.300
 has a CV,

00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.520
 has a job description.

00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:41.980
 So later when I invite Tony up,

00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:43.500
 you can just evaluate him

00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.220
 and judge him

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:45.320
 on that list,

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.260
 1 Timothy 3.

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.820
 The problem is

00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:50.520
 we often in the church,

00:28:50.600 --> 00:28:51.280
 we look for people

00:28:51.280 --> 00:28:52.080
 who are smart,

00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:52.920
 accomplished,

00:28:53.340 --> 00:28:53.600
 gifted,

00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:54.660
 and we put them

00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:55.700
 into positions of leadership

00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.700
 but we don't check

00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.960
 1 Timothy 3

00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:59.019
 and then we wonder

00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:00.000
 why our churches

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.640
 are falling apart.

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:04.039
 We have to have people

00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:04.920
 who are godly,

00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:06.140
 men and women

00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:07.120
 who are serving.

00:29:07.340 --> 00:29:07.860
 There's no point

00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:09.759
 having an amazing musician

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.660
 like Paul

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:12.440
 but if he doesn't even come,

00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.259
 he only comes to church

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.319
 25% of the time

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.440
 then I'm not going to have him

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.420
 just play that one week

00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.620
 because that's not

00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:18.519
 what we're looking for.

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.340
 It doesn't matter

00:29:20.340 --> 00:29:20.900
 if you have someone

00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:22.039
 who's really good at speaking

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.819
 and they're not willing

00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:23.600
 to stack chairs

00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:24.220
 after service,

00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.880
 that's no good either.

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.759
 Never trust anyone

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.340
 who's not willing

00:29:28.340 --> 00:29:29.019
 to stack chairs.

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:32.000
 I am so,

00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:33.200
 so serious.

00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:35.440
 We grew up in a church

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.140
 where there was no one,

00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:37.100
 the pastor is basically

00:29:37.100 --> 00:29:37.519
 the pastor,

00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.080
 the janitor,

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.039
 the administrator,

00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:39.860
 the treasurer,

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.220
 everything.

00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:42.039
 And every Sunday morning

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.200
 he'd do the chairs

00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:44.319
 and clean up afterwards

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:46.100
 and then we come to Hong Kong

00:29:46.100 --> 00:29:47.460
 where we have a team

00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.620
 that we've hired

00:29:48.620 --> 00:29:49.720
 to do those things

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.920
 or at least on the other side.

00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:51.960
 If you've not been

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.420
 to the other side,

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.279
 it's a wonderful church.

00:29:53.580 --> 00:29:54.460
 We're in a gold building

00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.000
 over there

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.980
 with tons of people

00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.720
 who are hired

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.880
 to kind of look after us

00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:59.440
 and they're great people

00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.680
 but the danger is

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:02.420
 we just get them

00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.539
 to do everything

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:04.660
 and all the responsibility

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.599
 goes away from us.

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.539
 So when we started

00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.119
 this place,

00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:07.759
 they were like,

00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.519
 do we need to send

00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.599
 side staff to come over

00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.480
 to help you set up

00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:10.920
 the chairs?

00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.400
 I said,

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.400
 absolutely not.

00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:14.039
 Don't deprive us

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:15.319
 of the gift of service.

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.099
 Don't deprive us

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.599
 of the chance

00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.440
 to be able to serve

00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.220
 other people.

00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.279
 So worship starts

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:21.880
 at 10 a.m.

00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.700
 when the life groups

00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.339
 take turns

00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:25.480
 and I'm like,

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.220
 I watch everyone

00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:26.759
 do the chairs

00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.659
 and for some reason

00:30:27.659 --> 00:30:28.519
 it's the same every week

00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.859
 but it looks equally

00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:30.819
 confusing every week.

00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.539
 But I'm like,

00:30:34.679 --> 00:30:35.359
 that's worship.

00:30:36.919 --> 00:30:37.679
 That's worship.

00:30:39.139 --> 00:30:39.559
 Actually,

00:30:39.699 --> 00:30:40.480
 Mel's one of my favorites

00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.740
 because she's really

00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.459
 serious about it

00:30:42.459 --> 00:30:42.839
 and she's like

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:43.399
 putting the chairs

00:30:43.399 --> 00:30:44.079
 in the right places

00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:44.899
 and I'm like,

00:30:44.959 --> 00:30:45.879
 that's so good

00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:47.179
 seeing someone worship

00:30:47.179 --> 00:30:49.299
 through setting up chairs.

00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:51.279
 Please don't deprive us

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.879
 of that gift.

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:53.420
 And then

00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:54.900
 verse 4,

00:30:55.320 --> 00:30:55.880
 chapter 6,

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.280
 verse 4,

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.020
 he says this,

00:30:57.780 --> 00:30:59.160
 but we will devote

00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:00.520
 ourselves to prayer

00:31:00.520 --> 00:31:01.600
 and to the ministry

00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:02.620
 of the word.

00:31:03.860 --> 00:31:04.860
 If I look

00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:05.960
 at a modern day

00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.860
 pastor's schedule

00:31:06.860 --> 00:31:09.620
 and I did a survey

00:31:09.620 --> 00:31:10.700
 on where they spend

00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.460
 most of their time,

00:31:12.360 --> 00:31:13.540
 it'll be with deep,

00:31:13.820 --> 00:31:14.360
 great sadness

00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:15.220
 that we'll say

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.720
 not much of it

00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.320
 is to do

00:31:17.320 --> 00:31:18.160
 with ministering

00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.540
 the word.

00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:20.559
 The pressure

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.240
 on a modern day

00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.139
 pastor is huge.

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:24.019
 If you look at

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:25.079
 the book of Ephesians

00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:26.119
 and the fivefold offices

00:31:26.119 --> 00:31:26.859
 and all the different

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:27.920
 roles that are played

00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.460
 in the church,

00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.019
 there's an apostle,

00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:29.539
 there's a prophet,

00:31:29.639 --> 00:31:30.420
 there's an administrator,

00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.259
 there's all these

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.680
 other things

00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.740
 and yet in the church

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.720
 we only hire pastors.

00:31:34.819 --> 00:31:35.460
 And so the pastor

00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:36.539
 is asked to be

00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.200
 your math tutor

00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:37.759
 for your kid

00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.680
 and also asked

00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.299
 to be your marriage

00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.299
 counselor because you guys

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:40.700
 are going through

00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.200
 a tough thing

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:42.079
 and is asked to be

00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:42.819
 the one who's going

00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:43.359
 to help you

00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:45.000
 take you to the doctors

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.379
 as well.

00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:46.060
 And suddenly

00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:47.080
 the pastors

00:31:47.080 --> 00:31:47.960
 are doing so many

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:48.640
 other things

00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.400
 and we wonder

00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:50.320
 why they're burning out.

00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:52.340
 And then we wonder

00:31:52.340 --> 00:31:53.600
 why the flock

00:31:53.600 --> 00:31:54.280
 is not healthy

00:31:54.280 --> 00:31:56.360
 because the pastor

00:31:56.360 --> 00:31:56.860
 is not doing

00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:57.740
 what he's supposed

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:57.960
 to do

00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:58.740
 or she's supposed

00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.100
 to do.

00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.320
 What it's supposed

00:32:02.320 --> 00:32:02.760
 to be

00:32:02.760 --> 00:32:03.660
 is there are people

00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:04.260
 who are doing

00:32:04.260 --> 00:32:05.280
 different things.

00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:05.940
 So let me just

00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:06.900
 side note here

00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:08.480
 don't put all your

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.720
 expectations on our pastors.

00:32:10.100 --> 00:32:10.640
 Don't put your

00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:11.420
 expectations on me.

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.480
 I can guarantee you

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.680
 I will disappoint you

00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.320
 at some point.

00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:18.440
 But also

00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:19.500
 if you're sat there

00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.160
 going man

00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:21.060
 James is really

00:32:21.060 --> 00:32:22.240
 hopeless at that

00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:23.000
 but wait

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.720
 that's my gifting.

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.960
 Then please don't

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.540
 just sit there

00:32:25.540 --> 00:32:25.860
 and go

00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:26.840
 he sucks

00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:27.320
 at that.

00:32:28.520 --> 00:32:29.380
 Come and help.

00:32:31.520 --> 00:32:32.280
 My job

00:32:32.280 --> 00:32:33.300
 my commitment

00:32:33.300 --> 00:32:33.680
 to you

00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.460
 is to be devoted

00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.160
 to the ministry

00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:35.640
 of the word

00:32:35.640 --> 00:32:36.260
 and to praying

00:32:36.260 --> 00:32:36.880
 for all of you

00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:37.820
 and to caring

00:32:37.820 --> 00:32:38.260
 for you.

00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:40.220
 All the other things

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.780
 I'm going to need

00:32:40.780 --> 00:32:41.280
 your help in.

00:32:41.800 --> 00:32:42.800
 Again mission statement

00:32:42.800 --> 00:32:43.120
 two.

00:32:43.540 --> 00:32:43.860
 It's also

00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:44.840
 1 Corinthians 12.

00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.740
 Everyone has

00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.500
 a different part

00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:46.939
 to play.

00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:49.939
 If you're not

00:32:49.939 --> 00:32:50.659
 playing the part

00:32:50.659 --> 00:32:51.539
 you're missing out.

00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.240
 And you might say

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.179
 oh but I'm so busy

00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:54.799
 I'm too tired.

00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:55.879
 Do you know

00:32:55.879 --> 00:32:56.599
 my work is just

00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:58.559
 and I'll say this

00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.559
 I know it's hard

00:32:59.559 --> 00:32:59.959
 but you know

00:32:59.959 --> 00:33:00.859
 if you don't do it

00:33:00.859 --> 00:33:01.720
 I know it's hard

00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.099
 and I get

00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:02.839
 Hong Kong schedules

00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:03.619
 especially

00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:04.859
 that's tricky.

00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:05.759
 That's tricky.

00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:07.239
 But if you don't do it

00:33:07.239 --> 00:33:08.199
 actually you deprive

00:33:08.199 --> 00:33:09.500
 yourself of the one

00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:10.379
 place where you can

00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:11.319
 be filled with life.

00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:13.379
 Because it is better

00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:15.399
 to give than to receive.

00:33:16.659 --> 00:33:17.039
 Try.

00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:19.359
 Do whatever it is

00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:20.059
 that you can do.

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.619
 I was talking to Julian

00:33:21.619 --> 00:33:22.299
 about this and

00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:23.819
 Julian currently is

00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:25.099
 climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

00:33:25.099 --> 00:33:26.879
 I didn't know

00:33:26.879 --> 00:33:27.199
 there was no

00:33:27.199 --> 00:33:27.699
 height restriction

00:33:27.699 --> 00:33:29.339
 so you can climb it.

00:33:30.719 --> 00:33:31.740
 So he's climbing it

00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.019
 right now

00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:32.339
 and actually

00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:32.919
 bless him

00:33:32.919 --> 00:33:33.699
 I love him so much.

00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:35.099
 One thing that he's doing

00:33:35.099 --> 00:33:37.399
 he's in the field of law

00:33:37.399 --> 00:33:38.519
 just like Nathan here is

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.179
 in Hong Kong

00:33:39.179 --> 00:33:40.399
 and super busy

00:33:40.399 --> 00:33:40.959
 and he's like

00:33:40.959 --> 00:33:42.619
 James I so want

00:33:42.619 --> 00:33:43.339
 to do this

00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:45.099
 and do this reading plan

00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:46.419
 and go and serve here

00:33:46.419 --> 00:33:47.559
 and do this and that

00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:49.419
 but I'm coming home

00:33:49.419 --> 00:33:49.859
 at 10

00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:51.179
 and I'm doing emails

00:33:51.179 --> 00:33:51.839
 until 1.

00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:52.759
 I just

00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:53.919
 I want to

00:33:53.919 --> 00:33:54.659
 but I can't

00:33:54.659 --> 00:33:56.099
 and I say

00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:57.039
 there is so much grace.

00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.379
 If you have little

00:33:58.379 --> 00:33:59.199
 just do little.

00:33:59.879 --> 00:34:00.919
 If you have more

00:34:00.919 --> 00:34:01.859
 do more.

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:03.759
 The key is

00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.500
 don't hold back

00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:04.919
 from him

00:34:04.919 --> 00:34:06.679
 and in giving

00:34:06.679 --> 00:34:07.619
 you will receive.

00:34:07.859 --> 00:34:09.059
 That's how you get fed

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:10.279
 and that's how you get filled

00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:11.059
 and it's funny

00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:12.139
 as soon as they assigned

00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:13.159
 other people to do it

00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:14.059
 verse 5

00:34:14.059 --> 00:34:15.840
 the whole gathering

00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:16.460
 is pleased

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:18.440
 and so everyone's happy

00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:18.940
 because everyone's

00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:19.619
 doing their role

00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.519
 instead of

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.759
 10% of the people

00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:22.760
 doing 90%

00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:23.240
 of the work

00:34:23.240 --> 00:34:24.140
 and 90%

00:34:24.140 --> 00:34:24.500
 of people

00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.140
 being unhappy

00:34:25.140 --> 00:34:26.300
 now we're starting

00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:26.880
 to distribute

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.420
 the work

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.080
 in the right way

00:34:28.080 --> 00:34:29.260
 and everyone's happy

00:34:29.260 --> 00:34:30.060
 isn't that amazing?

00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.540
 Can't wait

00:34:31.540 --> 00:34:31.920
 to the day

00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:32.580
 where we can say

00:34:32.580 --> 00:34:33.280
 and the whole

00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.420
 and it pleased

00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:35.200
 the whole gathering

00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:35.800
 because everyone's

00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:36.320
 doing what they're

00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:36.900
 supposed to do.

00:34:37.560 --> 00:34:38.320
 That's the dream.

00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:39.580
 That's the vision

00:34:39.580 --> 00:34:41.080
 and so they bring

00:34:41.080 --> 00:34:42.180
 these guys out

00:34:42.180 --> 00:34:43.260
 I'm not going

00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:43.880
 to read their names

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:45.940
 these

00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:47.100
 then they set

00:34:47.100 --> 00:34:47.620
 and they laid

00:34:47.620 --> 00:34:48.200
 hands on them

00:34:48.200 --> 00:34:49.880
 they laid hands on them

00:34:49.880 --> 00:34:50.280
 this wasn't

00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:51.100
 hey can you help

00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:52.279
 there's a bunch

00:34:52.279 --> 00:34:52.960
 of hungry people

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.539
 can you help

00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.480
 go now

00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.000
 feed them

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:55.940
 no it's

00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:57.059
 hey this may look

00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:58.000
 like feeding people

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:59.219
 physical food

00:34:59.219 --> 00:35:00.440
 but this is so much

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:00.940
 more than that

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:02.079
 so they commission

00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:02.539
 them and lay

00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:03.199
 their hands on them

00:35:03.199 --> 00:35:04.099
 and give the favor

00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:04.559
 of God

00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.179
 and the power

00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:05.480
 of God

00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:05.940
 onto them

00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:07.360
 because even you

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:09.019
 feeding those widows

00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:10.339
 even you stacking

00:35:10.339 --> 00:35:11.039
 these chairs

00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:12.480
 is an act of worship

00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.159
 and is filled

00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:13.880
 with the spirit

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.199
 moving

00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:15.980
 that's it

00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:17.880
 there is no task

00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:18.780
 that is too small

00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:19.639
 for God to use

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:22.199
 there are not only

00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:23.139
 three jobs

00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:24.159
 in the whole of the church

00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:24.880
 whether it's preaching

00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.699
 or leading worship

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:26.639
 and welcome team

00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:27.780
 there are way more things

00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:28.400
 that we can do

00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:28.980
 to serve

00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:31.719
 and they are all

00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:32.400
 supernatural

00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:33.519
 they are all

00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:34.380
 spiritual

00:35:34.380 --> 00:35:35.840
 and then what

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.500
 the word of God

00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.659
 it continued to increase

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.760
 and the number of disciples

00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:39.320
 multiplied

00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:40.719
 not that Stephen

00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:41.420
 then became

00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:42.900
 not that Stephen

00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:44.280
 then hit a million followers

00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.380
 not that then the hype

00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:45.980
 around him

00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:46.880
 got bigger and bigger

00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:47.680
 or the disciples

00:35:47.680 --> 00:35:48.440
 got bigger and bigger

00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:49.060
 it's funny

00:35:49.060 --> 00:35:50.160
 you look at the book of Acts

00:35:50.160 --> 00:35:51.080
 those 12

00:35:51.080 --> 00:35:52.340
 their mentions

00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:53.240
 get less and less

00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:55.480
 because it's not about them

00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:56.420
 it's about the spirit

00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:56.800
 of God

00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:57.400
 moving

00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.540
 and the word of God

00:35:58.540 --> 00:35:59.100
 spreading

00:35:59.100 --> 00:36:00.820
 and so we see that now

00:36:00.820 --> 00:36:01.519
 anyway

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.360
 that's me talking

00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:03.000
 for now

00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.880
 I want to invite you

00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:05.420
 invite Tony up

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:06.740
 to interview him

00:36:06.740 --> 00:36:07.240
 a little bit

00:36:07.240 --> 00:36:08.019
 because Tony

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:09.160
 is one of our deacons

00:36:09.160 --> 00:36:10.140
 here in the church

00:36:10.140 --> 00:36:11.000
 and so can we give

00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:11.640
 a round of applause

00:36:11.640 --> 00:36:12.240
 to Tony

00:36:12.240 --> 00:36:12.940
 to come up

00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:18.780
 I think Nathan's

00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:19.420
 going to grab another one

00:36:19.420 --> 00:36:19.619
 for us

00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:20.780
 so this is Tony

00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:21.559
 Tony how long

00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:22.519
 have you been a deacon

00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:23.460
 at this church for

00:36:23.460 --> 00:36:25.619
 I started when I was 32

00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:27.340
 so I think this is

00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:28.019
 coming up to be

00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:28.720
 my 30th

00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:30.300
 30 years

00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:31.780
 of being a deacon

00:36:31.780 --> 00:36:33.179
 can you raise your hand

00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:33.659
 if you are

00:36:33.659 --> 00:36:34.720
 under 30 years old

00:36:34.720 --> 00:36:37.059
 okay

00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:40.940
 he's been

00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:42.280
 he's been being a deacon

00:36:42.280 --> 00:36:44.780
 more than many of you

00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:45.320
 have been alive

00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:47.740
 that's how faithful

00:36:47.740 --> 00:36:48.720
 this man have been

00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:49.860
 and it's not just him

00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:50.940
 I didn't know Agnes

00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:51.500
 was going to be here

00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:51.820
 this Sunday

00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.340
 because I would have

00:36:52.340 --> 00:36:52.880
 dragged her up

00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:54.460
 and of course

00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:55.420
 Hank over there

00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:56.440
 has been a deacon

00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:57.040
 how long have you been

00:36:57.040 --> 00:36:57.740
 a deacon for Hank?

00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:00.100
 15 years

00:37:00.100 --> 00:37:01.120
 so you're like a youth

00:37:01.120 --> 00:37:01.860
 compared to Tony

00:37:01.860 --> 00:37:04.019
 so my jokes of our age

00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:04.720
 should go to this guy

00:37:04.720 --> 00:37:05.240
 over here

00:37:05.240 --> 00:37:07.820
 the deacon I wanted

00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:08.260
 to bring up

00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:09.180
 was actually Adrian

00:37:09.180 --> 00:37:11.400
 wife of Rocky

00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:13.200
 and she of course

00:37:13.200 --> 00:37:15.400
 is on the more

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:15.940
 youthful side

00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:16.519
 compared to

00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:17.780
 the three musketeers

00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:18.599
 that I just mentioned

00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:20.460
 just to show you

00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:20.820
 that there's

00:37:20.820 --> 00:37:22.260
 but these are the

00:37:22.260 --> 00:37:22.740
 four deacons

00:37:22.740 --> 00:37:23.360
 that we have here

00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:24.059
 in the English gathering

00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:25.000
 they are part of

00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:25.800
 a wider church

00:37:25.800 --> 00:37:26.960
 deacons board

00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:27.720
 that I want to

00:37:27.720 --> 00:37:28.820
 just talk a little bit

00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:29.079
 about

00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:29.920
 but maybe the first

00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:30.480
 question for you

00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:30.700
 is

00:37:30.700 --> 00:37:32.700
 what made you say

00:37:32.700 --> 00:37:33.599
 yes to being a deacon

00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.360
 the first time

00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:35.320
 and why do you

00:37:35.320 --> 00:37:36.180
 keep saying yes

00:37:36.180 --> 00:37:37.019
 to being a deacon

00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:38.480
 for the 32nd year?

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:41.059
 before I forgot

00:37:41.059 --> 00:37:41.780
 let me just

00:37:41.780 --> 00:37:43.360
 debunk a myth

00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:44.960
 that often

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.679
 was associated

00:37:45.679 --> 00:37:46.159
 with deacon

00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:47.960
 deacons don't get paid

00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:49.300
 so that was

00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:50.059
 that was the

00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:51.719
 somehow the question

00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:52.460
 that always pops

00:37:52.460 --> 00:37:53.240
 in people's mind

00:37:53.240 --> 00:37:53.780
 and say hey

00:37:53.780 --> 00:37:54.159
 you know

00:37:54.159 --> 00:37:55.760
 are you getting paid

00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:56.400
 so that's not

00:37:56.400 --> 00:37:57.139
 the motivation

00:37:57.139 --> 00:37:57.840
 to say yes

00:37:57.840 --> 00:37:59.059
 well

00:37:59.059 --> 00:38:00.340
 if that doesn't

00:38:00.340 --> 00:38:00.719
 convince you

00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:01.019
 I don't know

00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:01.300
 why will

00:38:01.300 --> 00:38:01.679
 we'll take

00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:02.159
 applications

00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:02.679
 for deacons

00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:03.119
 just at the

00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:03.960
 right over there

00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:05.400
 you do not get paid

00:38:05.400 --> 00:38:06.019
 will you reiterate

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:07.559
 in fact

00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:08.460
 in the early stages

00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:09.059
 we're the ones

00:38:09.059 --> 00:38:09.519
 that actually

00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:10.579
 have to

00:38:10.579 --> 00:38:12.179
 to give more

00:38:12.179 --> 00:38:13.139
 just when

00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:13.880
 we're running

00:38:13.880 --> 00:38:14.420
 out of cash

00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:16.840
 why did I say yes

00:38:16.840 --> 00:38:17.719
 I think it was

00:38:17.719 --> 00:38:18.159
 just a

00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:19.739
 very short history

00:38:19.739 --> 00:38:21.980
 I

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:23.199
 came to

00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:23.780
 Kongfok

00:38:23.780 --> 00:38:25.079
 in

00:38:25.079 --> 00:38:25.460
 80

00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:26.519
 at

00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:27.619
 year of 84

00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:28.599
 when this started

00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:30.960
 and then I left

00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:32.599
 for

00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:33.719
 living in the

00:38:33.719 --> 00:38:34.119
 US

00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:36.500
 in 89

00:38:36.500 --> 00:38:37.279
 I think

00:38:37.279 --> 00:38:37.619
 yeah

00:38:37.619 --> 00:38:38.159
 and then I came

00:38:38.159 --> 00:38:38.980
 back in 92

00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:40.759
 came back in 92

00:38:40.759 --> 00:38:42.039
 that was when

00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:42.679
 I was 32

00:38:42.679 --> 00:38:44.799
 and

00:38:44.799 --> 00:38:45.819
 Kongfok

00:38:45.819 --> 00:38:46.199
 has

00:38:46.199 --> 00:38:47.639
 split up

00:38:47.639 --> 00:38:48.799
 I think that was

00:38:48.799 --> 00:38:49.319
 the right word

00:38:49.319 --> 00:38:50.500
 into three churches

00:38:50.500 --> 00:38:51.599
 and

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.299
 so the

00:38:52.299 --> 00:38:53.339
 amazing works

00:38:53.339 --> 00:38:53.759
 of God

00:38:53.759 --> 00:38:55.179
 was in play

00:38:55.179 --> 00:38:56.159
 and we

00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:57.460
 we now have

00:38:57.460 --> 00:38:58.420
 Kongfok

00:38:58.420 --> 00:38:59.579
 Tongfok

00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:01.940
 in Tonghawan

00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:02.460
 and then

00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:02.960
 Jinfok

00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:03.799
 in Jinshaji

00:39:03.800 --> 00:39:04.519
 so the three

00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:05.680
 suddenly

00:39:05.680 --> 00:39:06.440
 got

00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:08.180
 inspired people

00:39:08.180 --> 00:39:09.440
 I think there was

00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:09.940
 a little bit of

00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:10.840
 argument in the

00:39:10.840 --> 00:39:11.160
 background

00:39:11.160 --> 00:39:12.340
 so

00:39:12.340 --> 00:39:13.580
 the church

00:39:13.580 --> 00:39:14.000
 got split

00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:14.620
 into three

00:39:14.620 --> 00:39:16.400
 all my friends

00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:17.400
 and people

00:39:17.400 --> 00:39:18.160
 that are like

00:39:18.160 --> 00:39:18.560
 me

00:39:18.560 --> 00:39:19.280
 actually

00:39:19.280 --> 00:39:20.060
 early 30s

00:39:20.060 --> 00:39:20.420
 by the way

00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:21.000
 so if you're sat

00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:21.440
 here in your

00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:22.080
 early 30s

00:39:22.080 --> 00:39:22.860
 that was

00:39:22.860 --> 00:39:23.140
 Tony

00:39:23.140 --> 00:39:24.360
 it looks like

00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:24.680
 it was a long

00:39:24.680 --> 00:39:25.080
 time ago

00:39:25.080 --> 00:39:25.880
 but I just

00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:26.440
 want to relate

00:39:26.440 --> 00:39:26.800
 to you

00:39:26.800 --> 00:39:27.900
 this is you

00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:28.340
 this could be

00:39:28.340 --> 00:39:28.580
 you

00:39:28.580 --> 00:39:29.220
 so I left

00:39:29.220 --> 00:39:29.960
 for three years

00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:30.580
 and then I

00:39:30.580 --> 00:39:31.080
 came back

00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:31.719
 with the

00:39:31.719 --> 00:39:32.019
 family

00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:33.559
 and all my

00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:33.980
 friends were

00:39:33.980 --> 00:39:34.460
 in Tongfok

00:39:34.460 --> 00:39:35.519
 so the

00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:36.340
 natural thing

00:39:36.340 --> 00:39:37.099
 to do

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:38.759
 was to join

00:39:38.759 --> 00:39:39.279
 my friends

00:39:39.279 --> 00:39:39.860
 in Tongfok

00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:40.259
 right

00:39:40.259 --> 00:39:41.279
 and then somehow

00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:42.039
 I had a

00:39:42.039 --> 00:39:42.599
 lunch with

00:39:42.599 --> 00:39:43.099
 another

00:39:43.099 --> 00:39:45.599
 sister in

00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:45.940
 Christ

00:39:45.940 --> 00:39:47.259
 and she

00:39:47.259 --> 00:39:47.579
 said

00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:47.880
 look

00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:48.880
 and I was

00:39:48.880 --> 00:39:49.319
 sharing

00:39:49.319 --> 00:39:49.619
 I was like

00:39:49.619 --> 00:39:50.079
 you know

00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:51.819
 I didn't know

00:39:51.819 --> 00:39:52.299
 what happened

00:39:52.299 --> 00:39:53.480
 suddenly all my

00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:53.940
 friends got

00:39:53.940 --> 00:39:54.340
 split into

00:39:54.340 --> 00:39:54.940
 three churches

00:39:54.940 --> 00:39:57.059
 and I didn't

00:39:57.059 --> 00:39:57.460
 know what to

00:39:57.460 --> 00:39:58.119
 do and I

00:39:58.119 --> 00:39:58.700
 need to go

00:39:58.700 --> 00:39:59.720
 maybe pick

00:39:59.720 --> 00:40:00.599
 one out of

00:40:00.599 --> 00:40:00.940
 the three

00:40:00.940 --> 00:40:02.700
 and somehow

00:40:02.700 --> 00:40:03.059
 through the

00:40:03.059 --> 00:40:03.559
 conversations

00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:04.119
 he said

00:40:04.119 --> 00:40:05.000
 well so

00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:06.059
 which church

00:40:06.059 --> 00:40:06.579
 do you think

00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:07.220
 needed you

00:40:07.220 --> 00:40:07.599
 most

00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:09.820
 and not

00:40:09.820 --> 00:40:10.400
 in a

00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:11.280
 kind of

00:40:11.280 --> 00:40:11.800
 condescending

00:40:11.800 --> 00:40:12.119
 way but

00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:12.480
 it was just

00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:13.159
 saying okay

00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:14.340
 you pick a

00:40:14.340 --> 00:40:14.820
 church not

00:40:14.820 --> 00:40:15.380
 because you're

00:40:15.380 --> 00:40:16.119
 comfortable with

00:40:16.119 --> 00:40:17.280
 people or

00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:18.500
 because you

00:40:18.500 --> 00:40:18.780
 know it's

00:40:18.780 --> 00:40:19.380
 close to you

00:40:19.380 --> 00:40:20.300
 and all of

00:40:20.300 --> 00:40:20.519
 that

00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:22.280
 you may want

00:40:22.280 --> 00:40:22.659
 to pick a

00:40:22.659 --> 00:40:23.220
 church that

00:40:23.219 --> 00:40:24.959
 can benefit

00:40:24.959 --> 00:40:25.579
 from your

00:40:25.579 --> 00:40:26.500
 presence and

00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:26.939
 that you'll be

00:40:26.939 --> 00:40:27.219
 able to

00:40:27.219 --> 00:40:28.079
 contribute and

00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:28.759
 all of that

00:40:28.759 --> 00:40:29.319
 so that was

00:40:29.319 --> 00:40:29.959
 the reason why

00:40:29.959 --> 00:40:30.399
 I stayed

00:40:30.399 --> 00:40:33.219
 and they

00:40:33.219 --> 00:40:34.099
 needed a lot

00:40:34.099 --> 00:40:34.599
 of people to

00:40:34.599 --> 00:40:35.079
 help because

00:40:35.079 --> 00:40:36.579
 our lead

00:40:36.579 --> 00:40:37.199
 pastor went

00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:37.699
 to Tongfolk

00:40:37.699 --> 00:40:38.619
 Peter

00:40:38.619 --> 00:40:40.659
 most of the

00:40:40.659 --> 00:40:41.619
 other deacons

00:40:41.619 --> 00:40:42.199
 the senior

00:40:42.199 --> 00:40:42.859
 ones also

00:40:42.859 --> 00:40:43.739
 you know

00:40:43.739 --> 00:40:44.599
 got kind

00:40:44.599 --> 00:40:44.919
 of split

00:40:44.919 --> 00:40:45.500
 so there

00:40:45.500 --> 00:40:46.339
 was a big

00:40:46.339 --> 00:40:47.639
 void in

00:40:47.639 --> 00:40:47.980
 terms of

00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:48.599
 leadership and

00:40:48.599 --> 00:40:49.199
 I said yes

00:40:49.199 --> 00:40:49.879
 and say okay

00:40:49.879 --> 00:40:50.399
 although if I

00:40:50.399 --> 00:40:51.500
 have no idea

00:40:51.500 --> 00:40:51.919
 I was the

00:40:51.919 --> 00:40:52.519
 youngest guy

00:40:52.519 --> 00:40:52.959
 I have no

00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:53.360
 idea what

00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:53.940
 to do but

00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:55.559
 I'm happy

00:40:55.559 --> 00:40:56.539
 and willing

00:40:56.539 --> 00:40:57.039
 to try

00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:57.699
 yeah wow

00:40:57.699 --> 00:40:58.340
 and I for

00:40:58.340 --> 00:40:58.900
 one I'm super

00:40:58.900 --> 00:40:59.460
 glad that you

00:40:59.460 --> 00:40:59.880
 said yes

00:40:59.880 --> 00:41:00.760
 that time

00:41:00.760 --> 00:41:01.619
 and the church

00:41:01.619 --> 00:41:02.099
 you've seen

00:41:02.099 --> 00:41:02.780
 you've overseen

00:41:02.780 --> 00:41:03.320
 the church in

00:41:03.320 --> 00:41:03.820
 so many

00:41:03.820 --> 00:41:04.740
 different ways

00:41:04.740 --> 00:41:05.220
 and of course

00:41:05.220 --> 00:41:05.740
 so yeah

00:41:05.740 --> 00:41:07.079
 I did my

00:41:07.079 --> 00:41:07.820
 fair share

00:41:07.820 --> 00:41:08.159
 of stacking

00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:08.539
 chairs

00:41:08.539 --> 00:41:09.199
 you did your

00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:09.519
 fair share

00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:09.780
 of stacking

00:41:09.780 --> 00:41:10.059
 chairs

00:41:10.059 --> 00:41:11.260
 I love to

00:41:11.260 --> 00:41:11.740
 cook for my

00:41:11.740 --> 00:41:12.380
 family so I

00:41:12.380 --> 00:41:12.920
 think I had

00:41:12.920 --> 00:41:14.440
 that attribute

00:41:14.440 --> 00:41:15.220
 of serving

00:41:15.220 --> 00:41:15.539
 food

00:41:15.539 --> 00:41:16.280
 yeah so

00:41:16.280 --> 00:41:17.800
 that's what

00:41:17.800 --> 00:41:18.460
 qualifies you

00:41:18.460 --> 00:41:18.699
 to be

00:41:18.699 --> 00:41:19.260
 yeah and

00:41:19.260 --> 00:41:19.619
 then

00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:22.420
 when you

00:41:22.420 --> 00:41:23.859
 are part

00:41:23.859 --> 00:41:24.719
 of a

00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:25.819
 family

00:41:25.819 --> 00:41:26.339
 you know

00:41:26.339 --> 00:41:26.940
 church is a

00:41:26.940 --> 00:41:27.259
 family

00:41:27.259 --> 00:41:28.880
 and you see

00:41:28.880 --> 00:41:29.559
 all the ups

00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:30.000
 and downs

00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:30.940
 of how family

00:41:30.940 --> 00:41:31.920
 grew and how

00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:32.400
 they argue

00:41:32.400 --> 00:41:32.719
 with each

00:41:32.719 --> 00:41:33.440
 other and

00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:34.319
 all of that

00:41:34.319 --> 00:41:37.159
 that's how

00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:37.859
 I felt

00:41:37.859 --> 00:41:39.420
 I was

00:41:39.420 --> 00:41:40.739
 very very

00:41:40.739 --> 00:41:41.179
 much

00:41:41.179 --> 00:41:42.940
 close to

00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:43.599
 God and

00:41:43.599 --> 00:41:44.460
 although I

00:41:44.460 --> 00:41:45.119
 still don't

00:41:45.119 --> 00:41:45.779
 know what

00:41:45.779 --> 00:41:46.599
 he wanted me

00:41:46.599 --> 00:41:46.960
 to do

00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:47.380
 on a daily

00:41:47.380 --> 00:41:47.739
 basis

00:41:47.739 --> 00:41:49.079
 but I

00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:49.460
 felt like

00:41:49.460 --> 00:41:50.219
 I'm close

00:41:50.219 --> 00:41:50.599
 to him

00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:51.360
 and I

00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:51.980
 felt that

00:41:51.980 --> 00:41:52.819
 through church

00:41:52.819 --> 00:41:53.639
 I'm able

00:41:53.639 --> 00:41:54.159
 to do at

00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:54.940
 least part

00:41:54.940 --> 00:41:55.619
 of the plan

00:41:55.619 --> 00:41:55.960
 and the

00:41:55.960 --> 00:41:57.179
 purpose that

00:41:57.179 --> 00:41:57.480
 he's given

00:41:57.480 --> 00:41:57.719
 me

00:41:57.719 --> 00:41:58.719
 and this is

00:41:58.719 --> 00:41:59.139
 not just

00:41:59.139 --> 00:41:59.400
 for the

00:41:59.400 --> 00:41:59.819
 English side

00:41:59.819 --> 00:42:00.199
 by the way

00:42:00.199 --> 00:42:00.559
 again I'll

00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:00.960
 say this

00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:01.360
 is just

00:42:01.360 --> 00:42:01.980
 there's a

00:42:01.980 --> 00:42:02.759
 much bigger

00:42:02.759 --> 00:42:03.559
 side behind

00:42:03.559 --> 00:42:04.059
 us which

00:42:04.059 --> 00:42:04.299
 is the

00:42:04.299 --> 00:42:04.599
 Chinese

00:42:04.599 --> 00:42:04.940
 church

00:42:04.940 --> 00:42:05.559
 and often

00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:05.980
 I get

00:42:05.980 --> 00:42:06.460
 asked by

00:42:06.460 --> 00:42:06.960
 my friends

00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:07.500
 at international

00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:07.799
 church

00:42:07.799 --> 00:42:08.279
 why are you

00:42:08.279 --> 00:42:08.579
 still at

00:42:08.579 --> 00:42:08.960
 a Chinese

00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:09.279
 church

00:42:09.279 --> 00:42:09.480
 they're

00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:09.579
 just

00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:10.079
 archaic

00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:10.440
 and red

00:42:10.440 --> 00:42:10.719
 tape

00:42:10.719 --> 00:42:12.199
 and conservative

00:42:12.199 --> 00:42:12.719
 and old

00:42:12.719 --> 00:42:13.000
 fashioned

00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:13.339
 and all

00:42:13.339 --> 00:42:13.819
 these things

00:42:13.819 --> 00:42:14.699
 and I'll

00:42:14.699 --> 00:42:15.119
 say something

00:42:15.119 --> 00:42:15.659
 very simple

00:42:15.659 --> 00:42:15.899
 I'll say

00:42:15.899 --> 00:42:16.299
 but that's

00:42:16.299 --> 00:42:16.659
 just where

00:42:16.659 --> 00:42:17.339
 my family

00:42:17.339 --> 00:42:18.039
 is

00:42:18.039 --> 00:42:19.980
 I don't

00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:20.179
 think

00:42:20.179 --> 00:42:20.519
 Christina

00:42:20.519 --> 00:42:20.759
 and I

00:42:20.759 --> 00:42:20.960
 would have

00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:21.259
 survived

00:42:21.259 --> 00:42:21.679
 in Hong Kong

00:42:21.679 --> 00:42:22.299
 without Agnes

00:42:22.299 --> 00:42:22.939
 Tony and

00:42:22.939 --> 00:42:23.419
 Hank

00:42:23.419 --> 00:42:24.519
 that's it

00:42:24.519 --> 00:42:25.619
 there's not

00:42:25.619 --> 00:42:25.980
 really much

00:42:25.980 --> 00:42:26.259
 else

00:42:26.259 --> 00:42:27.259
 and actually

00:42:27.259 --> 00:42:28.139
 it looks

00:42:28.139 --> 00:42:29.079
 bad on the

00:42:29.079 --> 00:42:29.460
 outside

00:42:29.460 --> 00:42:30.099
 sometimes

00:42:30.099 --> 00:42:31.219
 when you

00:42:31.219 --> 00:42:31.559
 look at

00:42:31.559 --> 00:42:31.819
 people

00:42:31.819 --> 00:42:32.079
 and you're

00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:32.480
 like oh

00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:33.019
 just old

00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:33.239
 fashioned

00:42:33.239 --> 00:42:33.579
 Chinese

00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:33.879
 churches

00:42:33.879 --> 00:42:35.460
 these are

00:42:35.460 --> 00:42:35.639
 just

00:42:35.639 --> 00:42:36.519
 these people

00:42:36.519 --> 00:42:36.779
 are the

00:42:36.779 --> 00:42:37.319
 most selfless

00:42:37.319 --> 00:42:37.679
 faithful

00:42:37.679 --> 00:42:38.519
 people

00:42:38.519 --> 00:42:38.839
 that I've

00:42:38.839 --> 00:42:38.980
 met

00:42:38.980 --> 00:42:40.039
 and so

00:42:40.039 --> 00:42:40.439
 they are

00:42:40.439 --> 00:42:40.759
 here to

00:42:40.759 --> 00:42:41.000
 serve

00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:41.439
 and so

00:42:41.439 --> 00:42:42.139
 if anyone

00:42:42.139 --> 00:42:42.539
 ever thinks

00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:43.059
 oh is it

00:42:43.059 --> 00:42:43.739
 an evil

00:42:43.739 --> 00:42:44.339
 empire over

00:42:44.340 --> 00:42:44.660
 that no

00:42:44.660 --> 00:42:45.220
 it is not

00:42:45.220 --> 00:42:45.880
 an evil

00:42:45.880 --> 00:42:46.579
 empire

00:42:46.579 --> 00:42:48.620
 sometimes

00:42:48.620 --> 00:42:49.079
 it can

00:42:49.079 --> 00:42:49.600
 look scary

00:42:49.600 --> 00:42:50.440
 I'll tell

00:42:50.440 --> 00:42:50.700
 you now

00:42:50.700 --> 00:42:51.000
 Hank

00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:51.480
 does look

00:42:51.480 --> 00:42:51.960
 scary

00:42:51.960 --> 00:42:53.000
 he looks

00:42:53.000 --> 00:42:53.860
 hard on

00:42:53.860 --> 00:42:54.180
 the outside

00:42:54.180 --> 00:42:54.480
 but he

00:42:54.480 --> 00:42:54.860
 is so

00:42:54.860 --> 00:42:55.200
 soft

00:42:55.200 --> 00:42:56.160
 so soft

00:42:56.160 --> 00:42:56.519
 on the

00:42:56.519 --> 00:42:56.800
 inside

00:42:56.800 --> 00:42:58.480
 we need

00:42:58.480 --> 00:42:58.700
 to know

00:42:58.700 --> 00:42:58.820
 that

00:42:58.820 --> 00:42:58.980
 and I

00:42:58.980 --> 00:42:59.140
 wanted

00:42:59.140 --> 00:42:59.760
 the chance

00:42:59.760 --> 00:43:00.160
 to introduce

00:43:00.160 --> 00:43:00.300
 you

00:43:00.300 --> 00:43:00.900
 and actually

00:43:00.900 --> 00:43:01.260
 maybe we

00:43:01.260 --> 00:43:01.480
 only have

00:43:01.480 --> 00:43:01.780
 two or

00:43:01.780 --> 00:43:02.039
 three more

00:43:02.039 --> 00:43:02.240
 minutes

00:43:02.240 --> 00:43:02.559
 so maybe

00:43:02.559 --> 00:43:02.980
 the big

00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:03.380
 question I

00:43:03.380 --> 00:43:03.600
 have for

00:43:03.600 --> 00:43:03.800
 you is

00:43:03.800 --> 00:43:04.220
 what do

00:43:04.220 --> 00:43:05.000
 you wish

00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:06.480
 people here

00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:07.160
 would know

00:43:07.160 --> 00:43:08.180
 about the

00:43:08.180 --> 00:43:08.400
 wider

00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:08.800
 church

00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:12.720
 what do I

00:43:12.720 --> 00:43:13.059
 wish

00:43:13.059 --> 00:43:15.659
 I

00:43:15.659 --> 00:43:15.900
 want to

00:43:15.900 --> 00:43:16.320
 I want to

00:43:16.320 --> 00:43:16.519
 just

00:43:16.519 --> 00:43:17.599
 spend a

00:43:17.599 --> 00:43:18.079
 little time

00:43:18.079 --> 00:43:18.539
 on the

00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:18.960
 evolution

00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:19.460
 of church

00:43:19.460 --> 00:43:20.199
 so when

00:43:20.199 --> 00:43:20.719
 we started

00:43:20.719 --> 00:43:21.179
 a little

00:43:21.179 --> 00:43:21.539
 time

00:43:21.539 --> 00:43:22.099
 yes

00:43:22.099 --> 00:43:23.400
 in a

00:43:23.400 --> 00:43:23.599
 minute

00:43:23.599 --> 00:43:25.659
 so we

00:43:25.659 --> 00:43:26.159
 started out

00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:26.579
 about 40

00:43:26.579 --> 00:43:27.079
 years ago

00:43:27.079 --> 00:43:27.739
 and it

00:43:27.739 --> 00:43:28.860
 was as

00:43:28.860 --> 00:43:29.259
 big as

00:43:29.259 --> 00:43:29.659
 gathering

00:43:29.659 --> 00:43:30.659
 at the

00:43:30.659 --> 00:43:30.980
 time

00:43:30.980 --> 00:43:31.599
 and then

00:43:31.599 --> 00:43:31.880
 it grew

00:43:31.880 --> 00:43:32.219
 and grew

00:43:32.219 --> 00:43:32.619
 and grew

00:43:32.619 --> 00:43:34.159
 we now

00:43:34.159 --> 00:43:34.799
 have

00:43:34.799 --> 00:43:35.920
 three different

00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:36.799
 congregations

00:43:36.799 --> 00:43:37.320
 English

00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:37.900
 Mandarin

00:43:37.900 --> 00:43:39.139
 and Cantonese

00:43:39.139 --> 00:43:39.579
 Cantonese

00:43:39.579 --> 00:43:40.179
 being the

00:43:40.179 --> 00:43:41.239
 longest one

00:43:41.239 --> 00:43:42.299
 and obviously

00:43:42.299 --> 00:43:43.739
 the most

00:43:43.739 --> 00:43:44.119
 people

00:43:44.119 --> 00:43:45.139
 around

00:43:45.139 --> 00:43:46.059
 1500

00:43:46.059 --> 00:43:46.940
 I guess

00:43:46.940 --> 00:43:47.659
 so we

00:43:47.659 --> 00:43:48.000
 would do

00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:48.239
 that

00:43:48.239 --> 00:43:48.919
 1500

00:43:48.919 --> 00:43:49.519
 2000

00:43:49.519 --> 00:43:49.859
 if you

00:43:49.859 --> 00:43:50.219
 count all

00:43:50.219 --> 00:43:50.759
 the online

00:43:50.759 --> 00:43:51.960
 attendees

00:43:51.960 --> 00:43:53.839
 for church

00:43:53.839 --> 00:43:54.440
 so there's

00:43:54.440 --> 00:43:54.579
 a

00:43:54.579 --> 00:43:56.639
 evolution

00:43:56.639 --> 00:43:58.719
 of that

00:43:58.719 --> 00:44:00.480
 I want

00:44:00.480 --> 00:44:01.299
 this group

00:44:01.299 --> 00:44:01.819
 to

00:44:01.819 --> 00:44:03.199
 at least

00:44:03.199 --> 00:44:03.960
 appreciate

00:44:03.960 --> 00:44:04.719
 how God

00:44:04.719 --> 00:44:06.639
 puts in

00:44:06.639 --> 00:44:07.179
 all the

00:44:07.179 --> 00:44:07.599
 blessings

00:44:07.599 --> 00:44:08.159
 and the

00:44:08.159 --> 00:44:08.739
 support

00:44:08.739 --> 00:44:10.579
 where we

00:44:10.579 --> 00:44:11.199
 grew from

00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.779
 a church

00:44:11.779 --> 00:44:12.139
 of this

00:44:12.139 --> 00:44:12.539
 size

00:44:12.539 --> 00:44:13.039
 into

00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:13.839
 a church

00:44:13.839 --> 00:44:14.659
 of the

00:44:14.659 --> 00:44:14.900
 size

00:44:14.900 --> 00:44:15.699
 we are

00:44:15.699 --> 00:44:17.980
 and

00:44:17.980 --> 00:44:18.699
 I

00:44:18.699 --> 00:44:19.400
 had the

00:44:19.400 --> 00:44:20.299
 privilege

00:44:20.299 --> 00:44:20.579
 of

00:44:20.579 --> 00:44:22.299
 getting

00:44:22.299 --> 00:44:22.819
 the

00:44:22.819 --> 00:44:23.219
 English

00:44:23.219 --> 00:44:23.619
 ministry

00:44:23.619 --> 00:44:24.000
 started

00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:24.299
 seven

00:44:24.299 --> 00:44:24.559
 years

00:44:24.559 --> 00:44:24.819
 ago

00:44:24.819 --> 00:44:25.179
 so this

00:44:25.179 --> 00:44:25.480
 is like

00:44:25.480 --> 00:44:26.019
 2.0

00:44:26.019 --> 00:44:26.440
 gathering

00:44:26.440 --> 00:44:26.819
 it's

00:44:26.819 --> 00:44:27.420
 2.0

00:44:27.420 --> 00:44:27.679
 English

00:44:27.679 --> 00:44:28.079
 ministry

00:44:28.079 --> 00:44:29.179
 and so

00:44:29.179 --> 00:44:31.019
 I wish

00:44:31.019 --> 00:44:31.599
 that

00:44:31.599 --> 00:44:32.719
 the history

00:44:32.719 --> 00:44:34.319
 and all

00:44:34.319 --> 00:44:34.920
 the blessings

00:44:34.920 --> 00:44:35.420
 that God

00:44:35.420 --> 00:44:35.839
 has put

00:44:35.840 --> 00:44:36.720
 into the

00:44:36.720 --> 00:44:37.019
 Gong Fu

00:44:37.019 --> 00:44:37.740
 family

00:44:37.740 --> 00:44:40.760
 would

00:44:40.760 --> 00:44:41.220
 continue

00:44:41.220 --> 00:44:42.380
 continue to

00:44:42.380 --> 00:44:42.780
 flourish

00:44:42.780 --> 00:44:44.079
 in different

00:44:44.079 --> 00:44:44.860
 ways that

00:44:44.860 --> 00:44:45.860
 that's beyond

00:44:45.860 --> 00:44:47.059
 our imagination

00:44:47.059 --> 00:44:47.820
 and understanding

00:44:47.820 --> 00:44:49.600
 I wish

00:44:49.600 --> 00:44:50.420
 you all

00:44:50.420 --> 00:44:50.920
 knew

00:44:50.920 --> 00:44:51.360
 and

00:44:51.360 --> 00:44:52.780
 how all

00:44:52.780 --> 00:44:53.340
 the ups

00:44:53.340 --> 00:44:53.880
 and downs

00:44:53.880 --> 00:44:54.820
 I always say

00:44:54.820 --> 00:44:56.160
 to new

00:44:56.160 --> 00:44:56.960
 pastors and say

00:44:56.960 --> 00:44:57.620
 hey that's not

00:44:57.620 --> 00:44:58.059
 the worst

00:44:58.059 --> 00:44:58.880
 I have seen

00:44:58.880 --> 00:44:59.320
 worst

00:44:59.320 --> 00:45:00.360
 honestly

00:45:00.360 --> 00:45:01.100
 every time I

00:45:01.100 --> 00:45:01.620
 talk to Tony

00:45:01.620 --> 00:45:02.039
 it's kind of

00:45:02.039 --> 00:45:02.480
 like a therapy

00:45:02.480 --> 00:45:02.820
 session

00:45:02.820 --> 00:45:03.800
 and he's like

00:45:03.800 --> 00:45:04.660
 it could be

00:45:04.660 --> 00:45:04.880
 worse

00:45:04.880 --> 00:45:05.400
 it has been

00:45:05.400 --> 00:45:05.720
 worse

00:45:05.719 --> 00:45:06.919
 it has been

00:45:06.919 --> 00:45:07.619
 much worse

00:45:07.619 --> 00:45:09.659
 so when

00:45:09.659 --> 00:45:10.579
 God is

00:45:10.579 --> 00:45:12.819
 putting us

00:45:12.819 --> 00:45:13.719
 through these

00:45:13.719 --> 00:45:15.959
 trials and

00:45:15.959 --> 00:45:16.579
 tribulations

00:45:16.579 --> 00:45:17.480
 there is a

00:45:17.480 --> 00:45:17.759
 reason

00:45:17.759 --> 00:45:18.719
 right

00:45:18.719 --> 00:45:19.599
 and the

00:45:19.599 --> 00:45:20.079
 Bible says

00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:20.419
 that as

00:45:20.419 --> 00:45:20.599
 well

00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:22.179
 but it

00:45:22.179 --> 00:45:23.019
 is never

00:45:23.019 --> 00:45:25.879
 I mean

00:45:25.879 --> 00:45:27.139
 you would

00:45:27.139 --> 00:45:27.679
 feel that

00:45:27.679 --> 00:45:28.039
 he had

00:45:28.039 --> 00:45:28.279
 never

00:45:28.279 --> 00:45:28.639
 abandoned

00:45:28.639 --> 00:45:28.919
 us

00:45:28.919 --> 00:45:30.079
 and so

00:45:30.079 --> 00:45:30.839
 I think

00:45:30.839 --> 00:45:31.179
 gathering

00:45:31.179 --> 00:45:31.459
 is going

00:45:31.459 --> 00:45:31.719
 to go

00:45:31.719 --> 00:45:32.019
 through

00:45:32.019 --> 00:45:32.439
 some

00:45:32.439 --> 00:45:33.099
 hard times

00:45:33.099 --> 00:45:34.219
 you know

00:45:34.219 --> 00:45:34.619
 a very

00:45:34.619 --> 00:45:35.039
 jammed

00:45:35.039 --> 00:45:35.480
 place

00:45:35.480 --> 00:45:36.019
 and

00:45:36.019 --> 00:45:36.579
 Angus

00:45:36.579 --> 00:45:36.940
 is always

00:45:36.940 --> 00:45:37.619
 working on

00:45:37.619 --> 00:45:38.539
 air conditioning

00:45:38.539 --> 00:45:39.559
 and all of

00:45:39.559 --> 00:45:39.920
 that

00:45:39.920 --> 00:45:40.679
 and people

00:45:40.679 --> 00:45:41.360
 complain about

00:45:41.360 --> 00:45:41.900
 our screen

00:45:41.900 --> 00:45:43.639
 so

00:45:43.639 --> 00:45:45.119
 maybe there's a

00:45:45.119 --> 00:45:45.960
 reason why

00:45:45.960 --> 00:45:46.880
 God

00:45:46.880 --> 00:45:47.900
 want us to be

00:45:47.900 --> 00:45:48.179
 in the

00:45:48.179 --> 00:45:48.539
 cramped

00:45:48.539 --> 00:45:49.759
 area

00:45:49.759 --> 00:45:50.940
 so when we

00:45:50.940 --> 00:45:51.380
 do get a

00:45:51.380 --> 00:45:51.940
 bigger area

00:45:51.940 --> 00:45:53.239
 or like you

00:45:53.239 --> 00:45:53.519
 said

00:45:53.519 --> 00:45:55.099
 you know

00:45:55.099 --> 00:45:56.019
 there's a way

00:45:56.019 --> 00:45:57.039
 to evolve

00:45:57.039 --> 00:45:57.840
 and maybe

00:45:57.840 --> 00:45:58.380
 that's the

00:45:58.380 --> 00:45:59.019
 reason why

00:45:59.019 --> 00:45:59.860
 is there

00:45:59.860 --> 00:46:00.679
 so I wish

00:46:00.679 --> 00:46:01.719
 you all

00:46:01.719 --> 00:46:02.759
 can appreciate

00:46:02.759 --> 00:46:03.159
 that

00:46:03.159 --> 00:46:03.500
 and

00:46:03.500 --> 00:46:05.779
 help out

00:46:05.779 --> 00:46:07.099
 as James

00:46:07.099 --> 00:46:07.460
 has said

00:46:07.460 --> 00:46:08.379
 thank you

00:46:08.379 --> 00:46:08.599
 Tony

00:46:08.599 --> 00:46:09.019
 thank you

00:46:09.019 --> 00:46:09.460
 for all

00:46:09.460 --> 00:46:09.679
 that you

00:46:09.679 --> 00:46:09.819
 do

00:46:09.819 --> 00:46:10.039
 can we

00:46:10.039 --> 00:46:10.239
 give him

00:46:10.239 --> 00:46:10.440
 a round

00:46:10.440 --> 00:46:10.799
 of applause

00:46:10.799 --> 00:46:16.039
 maybe this

00:46:16.039 --> 00:46:16.339
 is a good

00:46:16.339 --> 00:46:16.799
 time to have

00:46:16.799 --> 00:46:17.319
 some practical

00:46:17.319 --> 00:46:18.239
 sharings

00:46:18.239 --> 00:46:19.059
 we are still

00:46:19.059 --> 00:46:19.619
 looking for a

00:46:19.619 --> 00:46:19.819
 place

00:46:19.819 --> 00:46:20.219
 Hank is

00:46:20.219 --> 00:46:20.419
 working

00:46:20.419 --> 00:46:21.739
 Tony's been

00:46:21.739 --> 00:46:22.319
 here for

00:46:22.319 --> 00:46:23.940
 so so long

00:46:23.940 --> 00:46:24.719
 Agnes

00:46:24.719 --> 00:46:25.940
 incredible

00:46:25.940 --> 00:46:26.319
 woman

00:46:26.320 --> 00:46:27.620
 I'm fairly

00:46:27.620 --> 00:46:28.160
 certain that

00:46:28.160 --> 00:46:28.500
 she reads

00:46:28.500 --> 00:46:28.800
 the Bible

00:46:28.800 --> 00:46:29.140
 more than

00:46:29.140 --> 00:46:29.440
 I do

00:46:29.440 --> 00:46:31.100
 partly because

00:46:31.100 --> 00:46:31.440
 she signed

00:46:31.440 --> 00:46:31.720
 up to a

00:46:31.720 --> 00:46:32.120
 program that

00:46:32.120 --> 00:46:32.500
 forces her

00:46:32.500 --> 00:46:33.100
 to do it

00:46:33.100 --> 00:46:34.519
 but she

00:46:34.519 --> 00:46:34.920
 signed up

00:46:34.920 --> 00:46:35.280
 to it

00:46:35.280 --> 00:46:36.700
 and so I'm

00:46:36.700 --> 00:46:37.039
 pretty sure

00:46:37.039 --> 00:46:37.360
 she reads

00:46:37.360 --> 00:46:37.539
 the Bible

00:46:37.539 --> 00:46:37.820
 more than

00:46:37.820 --> 00:46:37.980
 I do

00:46:37.980 --> 00:46:38.900
 and I'm

00:46:38.900 --> 00:46:39.260
 pretty sure

00:46:39.260 --> 00:46:39.700
 Hank spends

00:46:39.700 --> 00:46:40.059
 more time

00:46:40.059 --> 00:46:40.380
 at church

00:46:40.380 --> 00:46:40.800
 than I do

00:46:40.800 --> 00:46:41.800
 and he

00:46:41.800 --> 00:46:42.240
 lives all

00:46:42.240 --> 00:46:42.400
 the way

00:46:42.400 --> 00:46:42.640
 out in

00:46:42.640 --> 00:46:42.960
 Saikong

00:46:42.960 --> 00:46:44.200
 and so he

00:46:44.200 --> 00:46:44.580
 comes out

00:46:44.580 --> 00:46:45.240
 and he's

00:46:45.240 --> 00:46:45.920
 the current

00:46:45.920 --> 00:46:46.380
 chair of the

00:46:46.380 --> 00:46:46.840
 deacons board

00:46:46.840 --> 00:46:47.960
 and so he's

00:46:47.960 --> 00:46:48.860
 doing a lot

00:46:48.860 --> 00:46:49.559
 of things

00:46:49.559 --> 00:46:50.840
 just a couple

00:46:50.840 --> 00:46:51.400
 notes on that

00:46:51.400 --> 00:46:51.700
 a couple

00:46:51.700 --> 00:46:52.180
 things that

00:46:52.180 --> 00:46:53.059
 are to do

00:46:53.059 --> 00:46:53.280
 with the

00:46:53.280 --> 00:46:53.500
 wider

00:46:53.500 --> 00:46:53.740
 church

00:46:53.740 --> 00:46:53.960
 that I

00:46:53.960 --> 00:46:54.440
 think this

00:46:54.440 --> 00:46:54.679
 is the

00:46:54.679 --> 00:46:55.000
 time to

00:46:55.000 --> 00:46:55.220
 at least

00:46:55.220 --> 00:46:55.460
 share

00:46:55.460 --> 00:46:55.740
 about

00:46:55.740 --> 00:46:56.659
 is that

00:46:56.659 --> 00:46:58.059
 the wider

00:46:58.059 --> 00:46:58.539
 church does

00:46:58.539 --> 00:46:58.740
 have

00:46:58.740 --> 00:46:59.139
 membership

00:46:59.139 --> 00:47:00.280
 Tony and

00:47:00.280 --> 00:47:00.639
 Hank are

00:47:00.639 --> 00:47:00.920
 the ones

00:47:00.920 --> 00:47:01.360
 who teach

00:47:01.360 --> 00:47:01.820
 the membership

00:47:01.820 --> 00:47:02.240
 class

00:47:02.240 --> 00:47:03.220
 designed

00:47:03.220 --> 00:47:03.599
 maybe

00:47:03.599 --> 00:47:04.179
 and for

00:47:04.179 --> 00:47:04.740
 many years

00:47:04.740 --> 00:47:05.079
 delivered

00:47:05.079 --> 00:47:06.200
 to a very

00:47:06.200 --> 00:47:06.619
 Chinese

00:47:06.619 --> 00:47:07.139
 context

00:47:07.139 --> 00:47:08.579
 but of

00:47:08.579 --> 00:47:08.800
 course

00:47:08.800 --> 00:47:09.519
 it's evolving

00:47:09.519 --> 00:47:09.860
 and it's

00:47:09.860 --> 00:47:10.159
 changing

00:47:10.159 --> 00:47:10.840
 because actually

00:47:10.840 --> 00:47:12.440
 we're members

00:47:12.440 --> 00:47:12.920
 of the same

00:47:12.920 --> 00:47:13.260
 church

00:47:13.260 --> 00:47:14.619
 I mean

00:47:14.619 --> 00:47:15.159
 if you go

00:47:15.159 --> 00:47:15.440
 over there

00:47:15.440 --> 00:47:15.760
 it does

00:47:15.760 --> 00:47:16.119
 look very

00:47:16.119 --> 00:47:16.400
 different

00:47:16.400 --> 00:47:17.119
 they have

00:47:17.119 --> 00:47:17.700
 more chairs

00:47:17.700 --> 00:47:18.300
 more space

00:47:18.300 --> 00:47:18.960
 more

00:47:18.960 --> 00:47:19.460
 it's just

00:47:19.460 --> 00:47:19.900
 better

00:47:19.900 --> 00:47:21.639
 but we are

00:47:21.639 --> 00:47:22.179
 members too

00:47:22.179 --> 00:47:23.519
 so what

00:47:23.519 --> 00:47:23.920
 we're trying

00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:24.240
 to figure

00:47:24.240 --> 00:47:24.480
 out

00:47:24.480 --> 00:47:24.860
 especially

00:47:24.860 --> 00:47:26.200
 as this

00:47:26.200 --> 00:47:26.840
 next season

00:47:26.840 --> 00:47:27.180
 of the

00:47:27.180 --> 00:47:27.380
 gathering

00:47:27.380 --> 00:47:27.680
 happens

00:47:27.680 --> 00:47:28.139
 is actually

00:47:28.139 --> 00:47:28.440
 if there

00:47:28.440 --> 00:47:28.780
 are those

00:47:28.780 --> 00:47:29.000
 of you

00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:29.340
 here who

00:47:29.340 --> 00:47:30.440
 really are

00:47:30.440 --> 00:47:30.860
 like this

00:47:30.860 --> 00:47:31.159
 is my

00:47:31.159 --> 00:47:31.420
 home

00:47:31.420 --> 00:47:33.059
 this is my

00:47:33.059 --> 00:47:33.300
 home

00:47:33.300 --> 00:47:34.360
 my point

00:47:34.360 --> 00:47:34.619
 to you

00:47:34.619 --> 00:47:34.940
 will be

00:47:34.940 --> 00:47:35.519
 well then

00:47:35.519 --> 00:47:36.000
 prove it

00:47:36.000 --> 00:47:36.599
 come and

00:47:36.599 --> 00:47:36.920
 join us

00:47:36.920 --> 00:47:37.260
 and become

00:47:37.260 --> 00:47:37.659
 a member

00:47:37.659 --> 00:47:38.820
 will it

00:47:38.820 --> 00:47:39.260
 always be

00:47:39.260 --> 00:47:39.519
 fun

00:47:39.519 --> 00:47:40.380
 no

00:47:40.380 --> 00:47:41.940
 I mean

00:47:41.940 --> 00:47:43.139
 the church

00:47:43.139 --> 00:47:43.619
 plants that

00:47:43.619 --> 00:47:43.920
 happened

00:47:43.920 --> 00:47:44.780
 most of the

00:47:44.780 --> 00:47:45.220
 church plants

00:47:45.220 --> 00:47:45.659
 happened around

00:47:45.659 --> 00:47:46.019
 Hong Kong

00:47:46.019 --> 00:47:46.420
 because of

00:47:46.420 --> 00:47:46.880
 church splits

00:47:46.880 --> 00:47:47.619
 because people

00:47:47.619 --> 00:47:48.180
 are arguing

00:47:48.180 --> 00:47:48.579
 and people

00:47:48.579 --> 00:47:49.000
 are selfish

00:47:49.000 --> 00:47:49.760
 that's how

00:47:49.760 --> 00:47:50.059
 it always

00:47:50.059 --> 00:47:50.619
 that's usually

00:47:50.619 --> 00:47:51.139
 how it happens

00:47:51.139 --> 00:47:52.039
 it's not easy

00:47:52.039 --> 00:47:53.039
 but that's

00:47:53.039 --> 00:47:53.420
 what when you

00:47:53.420 --> 00:47:54.219
 become a member

00:47:54.219 --> 00:47:54.679
 you're saying

00:47:54.679 --> 00:47:55.380
 okay but this

00:47:55.380 --> 00:47:55.820
 is just my

00:47:55.820 --> 00:47:56.139
 family

00:47:56.139 --> 00:47:57.500
 you know

00:47:57.500 --> 00:47:58.279
 all the part

00:47:58.279 --> 00:47:58.420
 of it

00:47:58.420 --> 00:47:58.940
 and I'm going

00:47:58.940 --> 00:47:59.300
 to sit in

00:47:59.300 --> 00:47:59.779
 some of these

00:47:59.779 --> 00:48:00.739
 meetings that

00:48:00.739 --> 00:48:01.059
 we have

00:48:01.059 --> 00:48:01.500
 and they're

00:48:01.500 --> 00:48:01.759
 going to be

00:48:01.759 --> 00:48:02.380
 in Cantonese

00:48:02.380 --> 00:48:02.960
 and translated

00:48:02.960 --> 00:48:03.460
 to Mandarin

00:48:03.460 --> 00:48:04.279
 but that's

00:48:04.279 --> 00:48:04.719
 part of it

00:48:04.719 --> 00:48:05.279
 you see the

00:48:05.279 --> 00:48:06.079
 Hellenistic Jews

00:48:06.079 --> 00:48:06.579
 and the Hebrew

00:48:06.579 --> 00:48:07.420
 speaking Jews

00:48:07.420 --> 00:48:09.099
 this is similar

00:48:09.099 --> 00:48:10.800
 just Chinese

00:48:10.800 --> 00:48:11.699
 people who speak

00:48:11.699 --> 00:48:12.380
 different languages

00:48:12.380 --> 00:48:13.099
 all getting

00:48:13.099 --> 00:48:13.420
 together

00:48:13.420 --> 00:48:14.159
 why because

00:48:14.159 --> 00:48:14.599
 of Jesus

00:48:14.599 --> 00:48:16.079
 because this is

00:48:16.079 --> 00:48:16.480
 the family

00:48:16.480 --> 00:48:16.960
 that he brought

00:48:16.960 --> 00:48:17.259
 us to

00:48:17.259 --> 00:48:18.019
 so if that's

00:48:18.019 --> 00:48:18.320
 something that

00:48:18.320 --> 00:48:18.659
 you're interested

00:48:18.659 --> 00:48:19.019
 in can you

00:48:19.019 --> 00:48:19.460
 come and talk

00:48:19.460 --> 00:48:19.719
 to me

00:48:19.719 --> 00:48:20.399
 can you

00:48:20.399 --> 00:48:20.679
 have the

00:48:20.679 --> 00:48:21.099
 courage of

00:48:21.099 --> 00:48:21.299
 Caleb

00:48:21.299 --> 00:48:21.579
 and just

00:48:21.579 --> 00:48:21.859
 walk up

00:48:21.859 --> 00:48:22.119
 to me

00:48:22.119 --> 00:48:22.399
 and go

00:48:22.399 --> 00:48:22.599
 hey

00:48:22.599 --> 00:48:23.739
 I think

00:48:23.739 --> 00:48:24.259
 this is

00:48:24.259 --> 00:48:24.519
 what I'd

00:48:24.519 --> 00:48:24.699
 like

00:48:24.699 --> 00:48:25.319
 and I know

00:48:25.319 --> 00:48:25.939
 I'm counting

00:48:25.939 --> 00:48:26.319
 the cost

00:48:26.319 --> 00:48:26.559
 I know

00:48:26.559 --> 00:48:26.859
 what this

00:48:26.859 --> 00:48:27.179
 is

00:48:27.179 --> 00:48:27.859
 actually you

00:48:27.859 --> 00:48:28.139
 don't know

00:48:28.139 --> 00:48:28.679
 yet right now

00:48:28.679 --> 00:48:29.059
 because I haven't

00:48:29.059 --> 00:48:29.419
 told you

00:48:29.419 --> 00:48:30.119
 but if you're

00:48:30.119 --> 00:48:30.980
 interested in

00:48:30.980 --> 00:48:31.419
 finding out

00:48:31.419 --> 00:48:31.879
 what the cost

00:48:31.879 --> 00:48:32.259
 of it is

00:48:32.259 --> 00:48:32.879
 then actually

00:48:32.879 --> 00:48:33.339
 come and find

00:48:33.339 --> 00:48:33.439
 me

00:48:33.439 --> 00:48:34.119
 not a monetary

00:48:34.119 --> 00:48:34.879
 cost by the way

00:48:34.879 --> 00:48:35.599
 it's going to

00:48:35.599 --> 00:48:36.039
 cost you your

00:48:36.039 --> 00:48:36.419
 life in a

00:48:36.419 --> 00:48:36.839
 different way

00:48:36.839 --> 00:48:38.699
 can you come

00:48:38.699 --> 00:48:39.199
 and find out

00:48:39.199 --> 00:48:39.919
 about it

00:48:39.919 --> 00:48:40.799
 maybe that

00:48:40.799 --> 00:48:41.779
 on another note

00:48:41.779 --> 00:48:42.139
 for me

00:48:42.139 --> 00:48:42.879
 is just to

00:48:42.879 --> 00:48:43.500
 share with you

00:48:43.500 --> 00:48:44.399
 actually this

00:48:44.399 --> 00:48:45.000
 is this

00:48:45.000 --> 00:48:45.839
 August is my

00:48:45.839 --> 00:48:46.519
 last month

00:48:46.519 --> 00:48:47.420
 as executive

00:48:47.420 --> 00:48:47.940
 director of

00:48:47.940 --> 00:48:48.300
 Young Life

00:48:48.300 --> 00:48:49.940
 I'm stepping

00:48:49.940 --> 00:48:50.300
 down

00:48:50.300 --> 00:48:51.539
 and from there

00:48:51.539 --> 00:48:52.239
 I'm coming

00:48:52.239 --> 00:48:52.780
 full time

00:48:52.780 --> 00:48:53.619
 to be at

00:48:53.619 --> 00:48:54.119
 Kong Fook

00:48:54.119 --> 00:48:54.539
 Church

00:48:54.539 --> 00:48:56.380
 so that's

00:48:56.380 --> 00:48:56.980
 part of the

00:48:56.980 --> 00:48:57.219
 thing

00:48:57.219 --> 00:49:01.199
 I don't know

00:49:01.199 --> 00:49:01.500
 it's worth

00:49:01.500 --> 00:49:02.159
 clapping about

00:49:02.159 --> 00:49:02.599
 but that's

00:49:02.599 --> 00:49:03.340
 definitely

00:49:03.340 --> 00:49:04.340
 it's happening

00:49:04.340 --> 00:49:04.900
 it's too late

00:49:04.900 --> 00:49:05.099
 now

00:49:05.099 --> 00:49:07.960
 I want to

00:49:07.960 --> 00:49:08.199
 tell you

00:49:08.199 --> 00:49:08.500
 what that

00:49:08.500 --> 00:49:09.179
 also means

00:49:09.179 --> 00:49:11.340
 I'm joining

00:49:11.340 --> 00:49:12.360
 everyone here

00:49:12.360 --> 00:49:12.719
 to just

00:49:12.719 --> 00:49:13.599
 spending all

00:49:13.599 --> 00:49:14.079
 the time

00:49:14.079 --> 00:49:15.239
 supporting

00:49:15.239 --> 00:49:15.940
 leading the

00:49:15.940 --> 00:49:16.340
 church here

00:49:16.340 --> 00:49:17.360
 but there's

00:49:17.360 --> 00:49:17.840
 also another

00:49:17.840 --> 00:49:18.380
 side in the

00:49:18.380 --> 00:49:18.640
 church

00:49:18.640 --> 00:49:19.320
 there's a

00:49:19.320 --> 00:49:19.680
 much bigger

00:49:19.680 --> 00:49:20.360
 side in the

00:49:20.360 --> 00:49:20.579
 church

00:49:20.579 --> 00:49:21.059
 that speaks

00:49:21.059 --> 00:49:21.579
 Cantonese

00:49:21.579 --> 00:49:23.260
 and there's

00:49:23.260 --> 00:49:24.000
 Explorers which

00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:24.519
 is the youth

00:49:24.519 --> 00:49:25.019
 ministry

00:49:25.019 --> 00:49:26.100
 there's RML

00:49:26.100 --> 00:49:26.760
 which is the

00:49:26.760 --> 00:49:27.320
 young adults

00:49:27.320 --> 00:49:27.860
 ministry

00:49:27.860 --> 00:49:28.880
 and there's

00:49:28.880 --> 00:49:29.539
 the children's

00:49:29.539 --> 00:49:30.300
 district which

00:49:30.300 --> 00:49:30.980
 is enormous

00:49:30.980 --> 00:49:32.640
 I want to be

00:49:32.640 --> 00:49:33.360
 helping oversee

00:49:33.360 --> 00:49:33.900
 those things

00:49:33.900 --> 00:49:34.120
 too

00:49:34.120 --> 00:49:35.260
 and so

00:49:35.260 --> 00:49:36.260
 pray for me

00:49:36.260 --> 00:49:37.620
 need your

00:49:37.620 --> 00:49:37.940
 prayers

00:49:37.940 --> 00:49:38.760
 pray for my

00:49:38.760 --> 00:49:39.320
 family even

00:49:39.320 --> 00:49:39.980
 more than

00:49:39.980 --> 00:49:40.400
 what you can

00:49:40.400 --> 00:49:40.840
 pray for me

00:49:40.840 --> 00:49:43.039
 and it's a

00:49:43.039 --> 00:49:43.280
 journey

00:49:43.280 --> 00:49:44.539
 and there are

00:49:44.539 --> 00:49:44.780
 going to be

00:49:44.780 --> 00:49:45.460
 no solutions

00:49:45.460 --> 00:49:46.360
 and it's

00:49:46.360 --> 00:49:46.740
 not going to

00:49:46.740 --> 00:49:46.960
 be an

00:49:46.960 --> 00:49:47.639
 overnight change

00:49:47.639 --> 00:49:48.179
 that suddenly

00:49:48.179 --> 00:49:48.720
 makes everything

00:49:48.720 --> 00:49:49.059
 better

00:49:49.059 --> 00:49:50.539
 but it's going

00:49:50.539 --> 00:49:51.280
 to be part of

00:49:51.280 --> 00:49:51.599
 this together

00:49:51.599 --> 00:49:52.139
 and finally

00:49:52.139 --> 00:49:53.340
 just if you're

00:49:53.340 --> 00:49:53.740
 thinking about

00:49:53.740 --> 00:49:54.220
 well how do I

00:49:54.220 --> 00:49:54.780
 give and how do I

00:49:54.780 --> 00:49:55.480
 scatter there's

00:49:55.480 --> 00:49:56.220
 stuff over there

00:49:56.220 --> 00:49:56.900
 there's plenty of

00:49:56.900 --> 00:49:57.539
 stuff over there

00:49:57.539 --> 00:49:59.159
 but there's also

00:49:59.159 --> 00:50:00.079
 KFCC the care

00:50:00.079 --> 00:50:00.800
 centre that Agnes

00:50:00.800 --> 00:50:01.440
 talked about a few

00:50:01.440 --> 00:50:02.340
 months ago in

00:50:02.340 --> 00:50:03.500
 Aberdeen not too

00:50:03.500 --> 00:50:04.000
 far from where

00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:05.360
 Kelly lives where

00:50:05.360 --> 00:50:06.699
 we want to go

00:50:06.699 --> 00:50:07.579
 and support and

00:50:07.579 --> 00:50:08.760
 pour out to the

00:50:08.760 --> 00:50:09.820
 community and

00:50:09.820 --> 00:50:10.340
 actually that's a

00:50:10.340 --> 00:50:10.960
 church initiative

00:50:10.960 --> 00:50:12.119
 now we need

00:50:12.119 --> 00:50:12.760
 people who teach

00:50:12.760 --> 00:50:13.559
 English we need

00:50:13.559 --> 00:50:14.320
 physios that we

00:50:14.320 --> 00:50:14.880
 still need to talk

00:50:14.880 --> 00:50:16.079
 about we need

00:50:16.079 --> 00:50:16.800
 we need people

00:50:16.800 --> 00:50:17.160
 who are just

00:50:17.160 --> 00:50:17.579
 willing to come

00:50:17.579 --> 00:50:18.200
 and do different

00:50:18.200 --> 00:50:19.340
 classes with the

00:50:19.340 --> 00:50:20.200
 local people on

00:50:20.200 --> 00:50:21.380
 this in Aberdeen

00:50:21.380 --> 00:50:22.280
 and Wachohang area

00:50:22.280 --> 00:50:23.460
 so just interested

00:50:23.460 --> 00:50:24.800
 in that I'll tell

00:50:24.800 --> 00:50:25.820
 you this we're

00:50:25.820 --> 00:50:26.220
 going to try and

00:50:26.220 --> 00:50:26.800
 figure out something

00:50:26.800 --> 00:50:27.500
 we have lots of

00:50:27.500 --> 00:50:28.200
 different things

00:50:28.200 --> 00:50:28.840
 going on in

00:50:28.840 --> 00:50:30.400
 church there's a

00:50:30.400 --> 00:50:30.860
 group going to

00:50:30.860 --> 00:50:31.300
 the Congo

00:50:31.300 --> 00:50:32.539
 Erica and Aidan

00:50:32.539 --> 00:50:33.200
 and Godfrey you

00:50:33.200 --> 00:50:33.940
 guys and a few

00:50:33.940 --> 00:50:34.320
 others are going

00:50:34.320 --> 00:50:34.780
 to the Congo

00:50:34.780 --> 00:50:35.900
 there's the group

00:50:35.900 --> 00:50:36.280
 going to the

00:50:36.280 --> 00:50:37.220
 Philippines there's

00:50:37.220 --> 00:50:37.780
 a group that came

00:50:37.780 --> 00:50:38.119
 to the Young

00:50:38.119 --> 00:50:38.960
 Lives Teen Moms

00:50:38.960 --> 00:50:39.619
 Camp in June

00:50:39.619 --> 00:50:40.300
 there's a whole

00:50:40.300 --> 00:50:40.760
 group that came

00:50:40.760 --> 00:50:41.220
 to Young Life

00:50:41.220 --> 00:50:42.019
 Camp in July

00:50:42.019 --> 00:50:42.539
 that was super

00:50:42.539 --> 00:50:43.400
 fun there are

00:50:43.400 --> 00:50:44.000
 there's a whole

00:50:44.000 --> 00:50:44.460
 group that goes

00:50:44.460 --> 00:50:44.920
 on a Saturday

00:50:44.920 --> 00:50:46.240
 morning to go

00:50:46.240 --> 00:50:46.900
 and serve in a

00:50:46.900 --> 00:50:48.000
 prison things are

00:50:48.000 --> 00:50:49.320
 happening but I

00:50:49.320 --> 00:50:50.139
 know for sure there

00:50:50.139 --> 00:50:50.659
 are those of you

00:50:50.659 --> 00:50:51.220
 who are sat here

00:50:51.220 --> 00:50:52.179
 like yeah but I'm

00:50:52.179 --> 00:50:52.880
 not doing anything

00:50:52.880 --> 00:50:54.820
 well then join us

00:50:54.820 --> 00:50:56.519
 and maybe we need

00:50:56.519 --> 00:50:57.159
 to do better at

00:50:57.159 --> 00:50:57.679
 coming up with

00:50:57.679 --> 00:50:58.500
 church wide things

00:50:58.500 --> 00:50:59.159
 that maybe are

00:50:59.159 --> 00:50:59.960
 easier for you to

00:50:59.960 --> 00:51:00.480
 come and sign up

00:51:00.480 --> 00:51:01.199
 to just as a

00:51:01.199 --> 00:51:01.980
 starter so these

00:51:01.980 --> 00:51:02.340
 are the things

00:51:02.340 --> 00:51:03.139
 it's a bit of an

00:51:03.139 --> 00:51:04.659
 update in regards

00:51:04.659 --> 00:51:05.380
 to church and

00:51:05.380 --> 00:51:05.980
 membership and I

00:51:05.980 --> 00:51:07.039
 hope that you will

00:51:07.039 --> 00:51:07.679
 continue to pray

00:51:07.679 --> 00:51:08.900
 for us my

00:51:08.900 --> 00:51:09.599
 question is this and

00:51:09.599 --> 00:51:10.159
 this is where I'll

00:51:10.159 --> 00:51:11.599
 finish and I think

00:51:11.599 --> 00:51:12.179
 we might have time

00:51:12.179 --> 00:51:13.280
 Paul to finish

00:51:13.280 --> 00:51:13.679
 with the song

00:51:13.679 --> 00:51:16.619
 why did Jesus

00:51:16.619 --> 00:51:17.419
 put this passage

00:51:17.419 --> 00:51:18.819
 here why did the

00:51:18.819 --> 00:51:19.480
 Holy Spirit put

00:51:19.480 --> 00:51:20.079
 this passage in

00:51:20.079 --> 00:51:20.699
 Acts 6 here

00:51:20.699 --> 00:51:21.519
 talking about just

00:51:21.519 --> 00:51:22.159
 the needs there's

00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:22.879
 needs everywhere but

00:51:22.879 --> 00:51:24.579
 why did they show

00:51:24.579 --> 00:51:25.739
 this I think if we

00:51:25.739 --> 00:51:26.480
 use even borrow the

00:51:26.480 --> 00:51:27.879
 DBS Bible study

00:51:27.879 --> 00:51:28.679
 question methods

00:51:28.679 --> 00:51:29.639
 then he's trying to

00:51:29.639 --> 00:51:30.079
 show us different

00:51:30.079 --> 00:51:30.639
 things what's he

00:51:30.639 --> 00:51:31.219
 trying to show us

00:51:31.219 --> 00:51:32.259
 about people the

00:51:32.259 --> 00:51:32.940
 people are selfish

00:51:32.940 --> 00:51:34.980
 the people gravitate

00:51:34.980 --> 00:51:36.000
 towards people who

00:51:36.000 --> 00:51:36.699
 are just like them

00:51:36.699 --> 00:51:39.919
 but we should go

00:51:39.919 --> 00:51:40.619
 out of our comfort

00:51:40.619 --> 00:51:41.319
 zones and hang out

00:51:41.319 --> 00:51:41.739
 with people who

00:51:41.739 --> 00:51:42.500
 are not the same

00:51:42.500 --> 00:51:45.400
 that's what's he

00:51:45.400 --> 00:51:45.980
 trying to get us

00:51:45.980 --> 00:51:46.659
 to do he's trying

00:51:46.659 --> 00:51:47.460
 to mobilize us

00:51:47.460 --> 00:51:48.199
 so here's the

00:51:48.199 --> 00:51:48.840
 question what are

00:51:48.840 --> 00:51:49.380
 you doing to

00:51:49.380 --> 00:51:50.400
 serve what gifts

00:51:50.400 --> 00:51:51.199
 do you have or

00:51:51.199 --> 00:51:51.920
 what gifts do you

00:51:51.920 --> 00:51:52.579
 need to grow

00:51:52.579 --> 00:51:55.000
 because you you

00:51:55.000 --> 00:51:56.960
 actually have them

00:51:56.960 --> 00:51:57.559
 but maybe you

00:51:57.559 --> 00:51:58.079
 think oh but I'm

00:51:58.079 --> 00:51:58.559
 not good enough

00:51:58.559 --> 00:51:58.940
 but then I say

00:51:58.940 --> 00:51:59.659
 well let's grow it

00:51:59.659 --> 00:52:00.400
 together it's not

00:52:00.400 --> 00:52:00.900
 going to grow if

00:52:00.900 --> 00:52:01.280
 you're just by

00:52:01.280 --> 00:52:01.739
 sitting on the

00:52:01.739 --> 00:52:02.960
 couch you're

00:52:02.960 --> 00:52:03.320
 going to have to

00:52:03.320 --> 00:52:04.280
 try and practice

00:52:04.280 --> 00:52:05.900
 you should ask

00:52:05.900 --> 00:52:06.420
 Christina the

00:52:06.420 --> 00:52:06.940
 first time I

00:52:06.940 --> 00:52:07.840
 preached she said

00:52:07.840 --> 00:52:08.219
 oh she'll tell

00:52:08.219 --> 00:52:08.639
 you it was

00:52:08.639 --> 00:52:10.579
 terrible and now

00:52:10.579 --> 00:52:11.340
 it's just a little

00:52:11.340 --> 00:52:13.260
 less terrible but

00:52:13.260 --> 00:52:13.880
 you've got a gift

00:52:13.880 --> 00:52:14.400
 that you need to

00:52:14.400 --> 00:52:16.559
 grow so that's

00:52:16.559 --> 00:52:16.960
 what it's saying

00:52:16.960 --> 00:52:17.780
 and what does

00:52:17.780 --> 00:52:18.500
 this passage tell

00:52:18.500 --> 00:52:19.079
 us about God

00:52:19.079 --> 00:52:20.519
 that he cares for

00:52:20.519 --> 00:52:21.120
 those on the

00:52:21.120 --> 00:52:23.160
 fringe that there

00:52:23.160 --> 00:52:24.260
 is a dividing wall

00:52:24.260 --> 00:52:25.340
 of hostility as

00:52:25.340 --> 00:52:26.260
 though in Ephesians

00:52:26.260 --> 00:52:27.980
 2 and that we

00:52:27.980 --> 00:52:28.980
 remember that we

00:52:28.980 --> 00:52:29.900
 are one time was

00:52:29.900 --> 00:52:30.820
 separated from him

00:52:30.820 --> 00:52:32.120
 that we had no

00:52:32.120 --> 00:52:32.800
 hope and without

00:52:32.800 --> 00:52:34.280
 God but he became

00:52:34.280 --> 00:52:35.240
 peace to those who

00:52:35.240 --> 00:52:36.160
 were far off and

00:52:36.160 --> 00:52:36.720
 to those who are

00:52:36.720 --> 00:52:37.860
 near Jesus says to

00:52:37.860 --> 00:52:39.100
 both sides the rich

00:52:39.100 --> 00:52:40.260
 the poor the left

00:52:40.260 --> 00:52:41.100
 the right the

00:52:41.100 --> 00:52:41.860
 Hellenistic Jews

00:52:41.860 --> 00:52:42.320
 and the Hebrew

00:52:42.320 --> 00:52:43.160
 speaking Jews has

00:52:43.160 --> 00:52:44.220
 come to the

00:52:44.220 --> 00:52:46.000
 middle by my

00:52:46.000 --> 00:52:46.760
 blood you will be

00:52:46.760 --> 00:52:48.360
 united that the

00:52:48.360 --> 00:52:49.540
 wall that dividing

00:52:49.540 --> 00:52:50.680
 wall of hostility

00:52:50.680 --> 00:52:51.820
 will now be broken

00:52:51.820 --> 00:52:53.060
 down through my

00:52:53.060 --> 00:52:54.800
 body through the

00:52:54.800 --> 00:52:57.100
 cross the cross is

00:52:57.100 --> 00:52:57.600
 the thing that

00:52:57.600 --> 00:52:58.680
 unites us all

00:52:58.680 --> 00:52:59.660
 together it

00:52:59.660 --> 00:53:01.000
 reconciles us all

00:53:01.000 --> 00:53:01.960
 together the cross

00:53:01.960 --> 00:53:03.420
 tears down the

00:53:03.420 --> 00:53:03.940
 walls that are

00:53:03.940 --> 00:53:05.740
 between people the

00:53:05.740 --> 00:53:07.980
 cross causes to

00:53:07.980 --> 00:53:08.620
 work together the

00:53:08.620 --> 00:53:09.600
 cross is the one

00:53:09.599 --> 00:53:10.319
 that says there is

00:53:10.319 --> 00:53:11.719
 no insider outsider

00:53:11.719 --> 00:53:12.860
 anymore there is no

00:53:12.860 --> 00:53:13.759
 cool and uncool

00:53:13.759 --> 00:53:15.119
 anymore we all fall

00:53:15.119 --> 00:53:15.980
 short of the glory of

00:53:15.980 --> 00:53:16.960
 God but we are all

00:53:16.960 --> 00:53:18.259
 justified freely by

00:53:18.259 --> 00:53:19.559
 his grace as a

00:53:19.559 --> 00:53:20.639
 gift would you come

00:53:20.639 --> 00:53:22.039
 and be united with

00:53:22.039 --> 00:53:22.940
 the person sat next

00:53:22.940 --> 00:53:23.860
 to you even if they

00:53:23.860 --> 00:53:24.880
 are different why

00:53:24.880 --> 00:53:26.900
 because of the cross

00:53:26.900 --> 00:53:27.619
 I'll finish with this

00:53:27.619 --> 00:53:28.960
 quote N.T.

00:53:29.019 --> 00:53:30.079
 Wright says this in

00:53:30.079 --> 00:53:31.519
 Christ the middle

00:53:31.519 --> 00:53:33.139
 wall of partition is

00:53:33.139 --> 00:53:34.380
 torn down the

00:53:34.380 --> 00:53:35.400
 church that tolerates

00:53:35.400 --> 00:53:36.779
 ethnic or economic

00:53:36.779 --> 00:53:39.000
 barriers mocks the

00:53:39.000 --> 00:53:43.019
 cross let us be a

00:53:43.019 --> 00:53:43.760
 people that looks to

00:53:43.760 --> 00:53:47.219
 the other that is

00:53:47.219 --> 00:53:48.440
 all let's let's pray

00:53:48.440 --> 00:53:49.179
 and I'll invite Paul

00:53:49.179 --> 00:53:50.340
 to come up

00:53:50.340 --> 00:54:02.420
 Jesus we know that

00:54:02.420 --> 00:54:05.900
 you you said you

00:54:05.900 --> 00:54:06.659
 tear down the temple

00:54:06.659 --> 00:54:07.539
 and you rebuild it in

00:54:07.539 --> 00:54:11.579
 three days what we

00:54:11.579 --> 00:54:12.379
 didn't realize is the

00:54:12.379 --> 00:54:13.480
 temple would be in

00:54:13.480 --> 00:54:14.460
 us they would be here

00:54:14.460 --> 00:54:16.199
 dwelling among us that

00:54:16.199 --> 00:54:16.879
 you have made your

00:54:16.879 --> 00:54:18.179
 dwelling place in us

00:54:18.179 --> 00:54:19.839
 that you are now the

00:54:19.839 --> 00:54:21.440
 cornerstone you are the

00:54:21.440 --> 00:54:23.039
 head of this church and

00:54:23.039 --> 00:54:23.719
 you care for the

00:54:23.719 --> 00:54:26.940
 fringe you hate

00:54:26.940 --> 00:54:30.679
 division you care about

00:54:30.679 --> 00:54:31.699
 the needs of your

00:54:31.699 --> 00:54:35.679
 children and you call us

00:54:35.679 --> 00:54:37.839
 to serve just as the

00:54:37.839 --> 00:54:40.699
 first deacons did but

00:54:40.699 --> 00:54:42.000
 you don't tell us to do

00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:43.099
 anything that you weren't

00:54:43.099 --> 00:54:44.019
 willing to do yourself

00:54:44.019 --> 00:54:45.799
 you are the servant king

00:54:45.799 --> 00:54:51.480
 you came and not to be

00:54:51.480 --> 00:54:52.539
 served but to serve

00:54:52.539 --> 00:54:56.659
 so would your spirit guide us

00:54:56.659 --> 00:54:57.800
 now show us what it is that

00:54:57.800 --> 00:55:00.779
 we need to do not just

00:55:00.779 --> 00:55:02.460
 because we want to be good

00:55:02.460 --> 00:55:05.259
 people but we serve because

00:55:05.259 --> 00:55:06.739
 our king our lord our saviour

00:55:06.739 --> 00:55:11.380
 served and the ultimate act of

00:55:11.380 --> 00:55:12.519
 service the ultimate act of

00:55:12.519 --> 00:55:14.559
 love by giving us yourself

00:55:14.559 --> 00:55:16.300
 onto the cross and dying for us

00:55:16.300 --> 00:55:19.159
 breaking down every wall we

00:55:19.159 --> 00:55:23.139
 dare not mock the cross we

00:55:23.139 --> 00:55:25.239
 seek to only live appropriately

00:55:25.239 --> 00:55:28.399
 respond accordingly which is

00:55:28.399 --> 00:55:29.379
 radically which is

00:55:29.379 --> 00:55:33.940
 selflessly help us love the

00:55:33.940 --> 00:55:37.239
 other Jesus would you be the

00:55:37.239 --> 00:55:39.619
 center and the head of our

00:55:39.619 --> 00:55:39.920
 church

00:55:39.920 --> 00:55:50.880
 Jesus one day every knee will

00:55:50.880 --> 00:55:51.900
 bow and every tongue will

00:55:51.900 --> 00:55:53.400
 confess that you are lord

00:55:53.400 --> 00:55:57.360
 you are the saviour of the

00:55:57.360 --> 00:55:59.099
 world you are the head of this

00:55:59.099 --> 00:56:01.639
 church and it is all about you

00:56:01.639 --> 00:56:05.780
 it's not about what we can do or

00:56:05.780 --> 00:56:08.780
 will do it's about what you did

00:56:08.780 --> 00:56:13.580
 and who you are we make you the

00:56:13.580 --> 00:56:13.860
 center

00:56:13.860 --> 00:56:21.740
 thank you lord in your name we

00:56:21.740 --> 00:56:23.540
 pray amen