WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.679 So Ephesians 4, where we are this morning, the first 16 verses, begins with an exhortation 00:00:04.679 --> 00:00:09.240 in the light of who we are as God's church, and again, it's a very big we, it's us as 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:14.560 a body, it's not just take it home individual, this is me, this is us as a body, and for 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:17.960 us here, the body of Christ who meet here at St. Paul's. 00:00:19.100 --> 00:00:24.960 And it begins with an exhortation to walk in a way which is worthy of what we have received. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:36.219 So the church is the expression of this brand new humanity created in Christ, and Ephesians 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:44.420 4 begins by exhorting us to be that humanity in the relationships that we have with one 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:44.780 another. 00:00:46.439 --> 00:00:54.579 And so the very first words, or verse 2 says, so be completely humble and gentle, be patient, 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.660 bearing with one another in love. 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:03.899 So I'll say it again, be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another 00:01:03.899 --> 00:01:04.719 in love. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.620 We could spend a lot of time on this and we're not going to, but humility was something which 00:01:10.620 --> 00:01:13.719 was just a shameful thing in Greek culture. 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:18.960 We are called to humility because it is something that Christ has modelled for us. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:25.399 In Mark chapter 10 verse 45, Jesus said, for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, 00:01:25.579 --> 00:01:29.199 but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:37.179 And so when he says humble and gentle and bearing with one another in love, he is calling us to 00:01:37.179 --> 00:01:40.399 things that Christ himself has modelled for us beforehand. 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:43.959 I had a delightful time in my small group the other night. 00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:45.439 I've asked for permission to share this. 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:51.939 Cecilia was there and she told us the story of last Sunday at the international service, 00:01:52.059 --> 00:01:52.959 11.30am. 00:01:54.199 --> 00:01:59.619 And it was a pretty special and important occasion for that congregation because it really was, 00:02:00.479 --> 00:02:06.919 I think in Cecilia's words, it was the last meeting of hope in a sense before we go into 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:12.879 our new, you know what I mean, hope as in big H hope, hope, not small H hope. 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:17.360 And she said it was a bit of a circus. 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:19.900 I don't think she used that word, but it was a bit of a circus. 00:02:20.099 --> 00:02:24.120 Brian was running from Cantonese to international and between the two preaching. 00:02:25.020 --> 00:02:27.080 They were doing things that were out of order. 00:02:28.099 --> 00:02:31.500 They were stopped for a while in the middle with nothing to do while they waited for him 00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:32.560 to come back and preach. 00:02:33.139 --> 00:02:36.080 And then at the end, both congregations solved the communion problem. 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:39.580 Well, I might not have got this in order, but near enough, they solved the communion problem 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:42.760 by coming into here, into this building and having communion together. 00:02:46.700 --> 00:02:48.680 And I said, sounds a bit chaotic. 00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:51.840 And I asked if people were offended. 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:54.180 And she said, no, we laughed. 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:56.140 We laughed. 00:02:56.139 --> 00:03:01.639 And I actually think that's an example of bearing with one another in love, showing gentleness 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:07.539 and patience with complete humility, being able to laugh at ourselves and laugh at the 00:03:07.539 --> 00:03:09.259 mistakes that we make sometimes. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:11.339 Now, it can save a lot of angst. 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:17.060 You know, you know, it happens something goes wrong, we miss something, we don't do something 00:03:17.060 --> 00:03:20.599 quite right, and then we've got our knickers in a knot and we're saying it shouldn't be like 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:22.239 this and no, no, no, no, no. 00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:27.560 Sometimes it's just good to laugh, to bear with one another in love. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:34.819 We are called to a particular quality of relationships and our worthiness in Christ will be seen in 00:03:34.819 --> 00:03:38.159 the way that we relate to one another in church. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:42.340 I had a moment of huge encouragement a few years ago. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:45.219 I was down at Lane Cove National Park in the conference centre there. 00:03:45.219 --> 00:03:50.580 It was our Western Region Ministry Conference and a man came up behind and put his hands 00:03:50.580 --> 00:03:54.139 on my shoulders from behind and he said, how's it going, my friend? 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:56.759 And I turned round, it was the Archbishop. 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:03.180 And one of the things I said to him, because it was where I was at at the time, I said to 00:04:03.180 --> 00:04:09.979 him, I feel like there are people in our congregation who push me around on the basis of who they 00:04:09.979 --> 00:04:13.819 are in their job and their workplace or how they are regarded in wider society. 00:04:13.819 --> 00:04:20.439 And I feel like they come into church and because of the significant places and positions they 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:24.899 have outside, they bring that sense of who they are into the church. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:30.300 And sometimes, perhaps without even meaning to, they push me and other people around. 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:38.600 And he said to me, I know exactly how you feel, my friend. 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:44.800 It was a moment of marvellous encouragement for me. 00:04:46.740 --> 00:04:51.340 Didn't have to solve the problem, but just to have somebody like that understand what 00:04:51.340 --> 00:04:53.620 it feels like to stand in the shoes. 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:59.840 See, this is not a place where we are to push one another around. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:06.199 We are called to walk in humility and service in the same way that Christ did. 00:05:07.739 --> 00:05:13.399 And I think a practical outcome of this is that we can enjoy each other and we can enjoy 00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:15.500 the relationships that God has given us. 00:05:17.139 --> 00:05:22.919 And so I think I want to say at the beginning of chapter 4, it's saying relationships are key 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:29.879 and the qualities with which we relate to each other undergird everything else that is said 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:31.699 throughout this passage. 00:05:34.020 --> 00:05:36.280 Pretty easy to summarise Ephesians 4. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:39.360 I'll do my glib summary and you can pull me up on details later. 00:05:41.020 --> 00:05:46.060 But I think it's saying as we walk worthy of Christ, there is a unity. 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:50.379 There is unity and there is also difference. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:55.000 And there's a God-given reason for both. 00:05:56.939 --> 00:06:02.759 And in this talk, I particularly want to get to God's reason for them both. 00:06:02.840 --> 00:06:08.319 So we'll go through both, reason for unity, reason for difference, but push beyond that 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:09.680 for the reason why. 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:14.060 You see unity which is expressed in verses 3 to 6. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:14.699 It says, 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:20.600 Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:26.980 There is one body and one spirit just as you were called to one hope when you were called. 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:37.680 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:43.379 And you start to see that when you talk about things like unity, we don't set the boundaries. 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:44.300 God does. 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:47.100 He defines it. 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:53.280 And if you pull out the elements of this, it talks about things like one body, verse 4, 00:06:53.379 --> 00:06:58.699 one spirit, verse 4, one hope, verse 4, one Lord, verse 5, one faith, verse 5, 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:01.460 one baptism, verse 5, one God and Father. 00:07:01.819 --> 00:07:03.540 He is everything, verse 6. 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:13.740 And if you extract a little bit from that, you actually see that our unity is built around who God is, himself. 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:21.220 One spirit, one Lord, one God and Father. 00:07:21.220 --> 00:07:27.420 So God is a God of relationship and God is a God who is in relationship. 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:35.660 And our unity, the body of Christ, we are a body created by Christ himself. 00:07:36.780 --> 00:07:41.940 We have a common hope and faith which he has brought to us. 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:47.180 So everything is of God in terms of unity. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:51.259 Who he is and what he has given to us. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:58.980 And the only thing that we do in terms of a unified response to what God has done is we get baptised. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:05.120 But even there, the proper understanding of baptism is it's God's work. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:11.579 He has inwardly brought us into his family through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, 00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:14.420 which is something which has happened inside us. 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:19.360 So our unity is all of God. 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:23.780 And we don't make the rules for unity, God does. 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:29.519 Now Christians sometimes seek unity with all sorts of people. 00:08:29.660 --> 00:08:34.980 And we could go into a long discourses and we could talk about denominations and other religions and all sorts of things. 00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:38.899 But let me say sometimes we even seek unity, say, with Muslims. 00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:40.800 And that doesn't matter if we want to be bad friends. 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:43.639 But we seek a unity with them, say on family issues. 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:46.620 I think there's a family day coming up at the moment. 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:48.879 Either this weekend or next weekend. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:53.659 And part of the unity around that day is a unity with Muslims. 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:58.860 And that is because we both have mutual concerns about gay marriage. 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:08.480 So we organise ourselves around the issue or denominational preference or whatever it is. 00:09:08.560 --> 00:09:11.360 That's one of the ways we seek unity. 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:27.759 That sort of unity does not glorify God if it downplays or minimises the exclusive lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:34.019 And so this passage says that Christian unity is found in God himself. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:41.220 And that means declaring him for who he is, Father, Lord and Holy Spirit. 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:44.100 Now there's difference. 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:50.879 And there's this list of gifts which begins at verse 7. 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:51.300 It says, 00:09:51.299 --> 00:10:08.919 What does he ascended mean except that he also descended to lower earthly regions? 00:10:09.699 --> 00:10:15.279 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens in order to fill the whole universe. 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:28.759 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of service, etc., etc. 00:10:28.839 --> 00:10:29.559 We'll come back there. 00:10:30.439 --> 00:10:32.159 So we've got a list of gifts here. 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:35.439 And I think four or five in particular are listed. 00:10:35.579 --> 00:10:36.299 We've got apostles. 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:37.220 We've got prophets. 00:10:37.439 --> 00:10:38.299 We've got evangelists. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:39.659 We've got pastors and teachers. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:41.480 Or we've got pastors and teachers. 00:10:41.579 --> 00:10:44.779 I mean pastors and teachers together or pastors and teachers separate. 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:45.740 It doesn't matter how you count. 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:49.360 It's not an exhausting list of gifts. 00:10:49.459 --> 00:10:59.279 You could go to other passages in the New Testament like Romans chapter 12 or 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and you could see other gifts which are named and which are listed. 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:07.500 So if you take a broad view of scripture, you find that the people of God have many different gifts which are given out by the Spirit of God. 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:15.419 And 1 Peter chapter 11 and 1 Peter chapter 12 and 1 Peter chapter 13 says each one should use whatever gift he has received in the service of others. 00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:22.600 So it's not an exhaustive list but it is a focused list. 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:27.560 it's a list of particular gifts 00:11:27.560 --> 00:11:30.120 which are expressed here 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:36.019 and these gifts are all about the ministry of God's word 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:41.980 there's a wonderful illustration which he throws into the text here 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:43.600 he talks about ascending and descending 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:44.639 going up and down 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:45.620 what's all this mean 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:47.420 talking about ascending on high 00:11:47.420 --> 00:11:48.879 leaving captives in his train 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:52.120 and what he's actually doing is quoting Psalm 68 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:54.139 and when he quotes a little bit of it 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:57.560 it's fair to presume that he's actually quoting 00:11:57.560 --> 00:12:01.220 perhaps the whole sense of what Psalm 68 is about 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:04.620 and Psalm 68 is a psalm 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:08.440 which apparently was used for worship by the Jewish people 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:10.720 in association with Pentecost 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:14.200 and Pentecost for them is different from Pentecost for us 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:16.460 because Pentecost for the Jews 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:21.120 was a time in particular when they would commemorate the giving of the law 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:25.120 so the picture here in Psalm 68 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:27.560 is an illustration from the Old Testament 00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:30.740 the Lord Almighty scatters the kings of the earth 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:31.600 in verse 14 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:33.200 he wipes everything away 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:36.580 and God comes from Sinai to the mountain 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:38.679 from which he where he chooses to reign 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:42.259 and there's this enormous display of God's majesty 00:12:42.259 --> 00:12:43.379 and God's strength 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:45.039 and God goes up on his mountain 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:47.799 mountain he carries his captives in train 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:53.519 and he begins to distribute the spoils of war to his followers 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:57.439 and God hands out 00:12:57.439 --> 00:12:59.539 what's he hand out on Mount Sinai to his followers? 00:13:00.599 --> 00:13:01.959 the law of God 00:13:01.959 --> 00:13:07.639 the means by which his people were to live in relationship with him 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:12.000 and so there's now this movement in the New Testament 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.360 in the way that Paul uses this psalm here 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.960 to explain what's going on here 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:17.139 it's as if 00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:20.019 it's almost a picture of Jesus now 00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:23.419 embodied in this image of ascending on high 00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:25.720 and carrying his captives with him 00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:26.879 and now passing out 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:29.860 distributing the gifts upon his peoples 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:32.059 giving us the gift 00:13:32.059 --> 00:13:33.799 the Holy Spirit into our heart 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:36.259 which helps us to understand the law of God 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.299 in fact I will put my 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:38.000 what is it? 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:38.879 Jeremiah 30 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:41.539 I will put a new heart 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:43.939 and I will write my law on their hearts 00:13:43.939 --> 00:13:46.179 and there's this image of God 00:13:46.179 --> 00:13:47.699 giving his law in the Old Testament 00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:50.159 and now Jesus giving his spirit in the New Testament 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:51.539 and helping us to embody 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:54.000 the law of God in our very being 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:58.359 there's also the pictures there 00:13:58.359 --> 00:14:00.620 of what we read in Philippians chapter 2 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.620 and places like that 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:03.099 the humiliation of Jesus 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:04.920 as the descending and the ascending 00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:07.860 and being exalted to the right hand of God on high 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:12.240 but I said before 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:15.139 that these gifts that Christ has distributed 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:20.139 these ones which are named in particular in Ephesians 4 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:22.259 are all about the ministry of God's word 00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:26.420 and the people who exercise this ministry 00:14:26.420 --> 00:14:27.259 so apostles 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:30.180 not just sent ones in a wide sense 00:14:30.180 --> 00:14:31.360 but in a narrow sense 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:33.039 they're the eyewitnesses 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:35.740 of the risen Lord Jesus Christ 00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:37.840 and they're the authors of the New Testament 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:40.700 and hence apostolic witness 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:41.740 prophets 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:44.539 I take that to be the forth telling of God's word 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:45.759 it's the apt application 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:47.080 I think we do 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:48.860 prophecy happens in a formal sense 00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:51.740 I think it often happens in a very informal sense 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:53.940 so you're talking to a Christian brother or sister 00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:56.159 you're bringing the word of God to bear 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:58.220 you're referring to something that God's shown you 00:14:58.220 --> 00:15:01.180 and just in that moment God opens up for them 00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:02.980 something that you didn't even know about 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:07.100 where the word that you spoke actually bears on them 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:08.940 in a way which is really helpful to them 00:15:08.940 --> 00:15:10.080 in their life and their ministry 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.779 and their witness in that moment 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:14.200 it's like God speaks through that word 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:16.639 sometimes in a way that you never even anticipated 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.840 but it comes from the word of God being shared 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:21.620 and expressed between us 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:24.540 evangelists bringing the word of God to unbelievers 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.779 pastors and teachers 00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:29.419 certainly shepherds who watch over God's flock 00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:33.079 and who feed God's flock in teaching 00:15:33.079 --> 00:15:34.719 steady nutritional diet 00:15:34.719 --> 00:15:36.299 versus a memorable meal 00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:39.480 so you know sometimes we get a bit ho-hum about church 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:41.480 and I don't think you should get ho-hum about church 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:43.500 but you ask somebody 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.899 what was the last 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:48.039 what did you have for dinner last Monday night? 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:49.120 Can anybody tell me? 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:49.159 Can anybody tell me? 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.919 but I know one thing 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:58.539 you did all eat 00:15:58.539 --> 00:16:01.379 I presume it 00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.360 unless you were fasting 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:04.539 okay? 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:06.319 so we eat all the time 00:16:06.319 --> 00:16:06.779 don't we? 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.839 and it nourishes our body 00:16:08.839 --> 00:16:10.819 and we don't necessarily 00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:12.799 remember one moment from another 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:14.639 in a bigger or more astounding way 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.740 but we're doing something 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:18.000 that keeps us alive 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.539 and so it is in Christ 00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.480 with the word of God 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:24.460 occasionally we have a moment of great clarity in Revelation 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:25.200 where we go 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:25.700 wow 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:27.100 look what God's just taught me 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:29.720 but the more important thing is 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:32.460 that we be being fed constantly 00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:35.879 that we be taking a nutritional diet 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.340 from the word of God 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:38.460 and being fed 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:45.519 we've just named some pretty significant gifts 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.879 in terms of God's church 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.620 and we've named them 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.279 because it's what's named in this passage 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:53.699 and it's easy sometimes 00:16:53.699 --> 00:16:54.919 to look at gifts like that 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:55.500 and to stop 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.120 and to glory 00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:57.159 in the gifted one 00:16:57.159 --> 00:17:01.279 and that would be a huge mistake 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:03.379 because you get wrapped up 00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:04.779 in your own celebrity 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:06.680 or the celebrity gifted one 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.899 that our church happens to have 00:17:07.899 --> 00:17:09.799 or whoever we are 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:12.160 rather than being focused 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.920 on the work 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:16.099 that the gifts produce 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:19.319 one of the things 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.219 I find I have to do 00:17:20.219 --> 00:17:21.319 for myself in preaching 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:23.799 is that I won't be overly worried 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:25.000 about my performance 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.719 and sometimes I do 00:17:27.719 --> 00:17:30.359 and I pray 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:31.500 and ask that God 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.039 would help me 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.199 to focus on him 00:17:33.199 --> 00:17:35.119 and on his word 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:35.659 producing 00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:37.000 what he wants to bring about 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.039 in people's hearts 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:39.719 including the heart of me 00:17:39.719 --> 00:17:40.259 the preacher 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:43.619 see the gifts listed 00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:44.539 in Ephesians 4 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.339 about equipping 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:46.339 all of God's people 00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:47.039 for ministry 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:49.319 not everybody's got 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.379 the particular gifts 00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:52.920 I think there's a particular 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.319 centering around 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.519 the leadership at church 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.920 but it's not exclusive 00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.779 to the elders 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:59.960 some of us have 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:00.980 these gifts formally 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:02.980 others have them informally 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.799 some are recognised 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.420 some aren't 00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.019 they're recognised 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.619 through things 00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:07.099 like ordination 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:09.720 but whichever way 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.460 we've got them 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.059 they're not given 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:12.240 to us to glory in 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.680 they are given 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:15.039 to equip the people 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:15.519 of God 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.779 to do ministry 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:19.480 and that brings us 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.120 to the purpose 00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:20.859 of the difference 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.640 and it really is 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:23.180 just about a memory verse 00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:25.319 it's verse 11 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:26.279 through to 13 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:27.200 it was he 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:27.819 who gave 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.799 some to be apostles 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.500 some to be prophets 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:32.599 some to be evangelists 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:33.680 and some to be pastors 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.380 and teachers 00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:36.920 to prepare God's people 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:38.220 for works of service 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.839 so that the body 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.380 of Christ 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.360 may be built up 00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:43.259 until we all reach 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.400 unity in the faith 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:45.960 and in the knowledge 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:47.019 of the son of God 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:48.600 and become mature 00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:50.460 attaining to the whole 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.759 measure of the fullness 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.420 of Christ 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:53.860 I don't know if you can see it 00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:54.880 I think standing 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:55.460 in the shoes 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:57.180 of an ordained minister 00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:58.140 which is what I am 00:18:58.140 --> 00:19:00.339 I think I have felt 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:00.839 the pressure 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:02.039 over many years 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:03.319 to be everything 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:03.940 to everybody 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:07.420 to be the all conquering 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.559 super gifted one 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:11.580 and it's a distortion 00:19:11.580 --> 00:19:12.700 of what the passage 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.360 is teaching 00:19:13.360 --> 00:19:17.059 we don't have to excel 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:17.960 in things that God 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:19.019 hasn't gifted us in 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:21.580 we don't employ people 00:19:21.580 --> 00:19:22.340 to do the work 00:19:22.340 --> 00:19:22.880 of ministry 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:24.220 on behalf of the congregation 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.580 we work with one another 00:19:25.580 --> 00:19:26.240 in Christ 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:29.400 I felt the tension 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.320 sometimes between 00:19:30.320 --> 00:19:31.580 doing and equipping 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:34.319 there are certain things 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.079 I think I know 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:35.639 for myself 00:19:35.639 --> 00:19:36.579 that I do well 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:39.019 I think I know 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.939 there is a strength 00:19:39.939 --> 00:19:40.460 for me 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.159 in terms of 00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:41.899 visiting people 00:19:41.899 --> 00:19:42.699 and particularly 00:19:42.699 --> 00:19:43.779 people in crisis 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:45.659 it's something 00:19:45.659 --> 00:19:46.679 I have experience 00:19:46.679 --> 00:19:47.339 in 00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:49.079 something I'm gifted in 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:53.019 but if I just 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.699 leave it as 00:19:53.699 --> 00:19:54.579 me the person 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.179 who goes out 00:19:55.179 --> 00:19:56.059 and visits everybody 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.939 and holds hands 00:19:56.939 --> 00:19:57.720 and meets people 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.399 in crisis 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:01.300 the ministry 00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:01.860 will stop 00:20:01.860 --> 00:20:02.620 when I stop 00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:06.740 so one of the things 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.820 that I have to learn 00:20:07.820 --> 00:20:09.060 and I want to learn 00:20:09.060 --> 00:20:10.920 and I want you to pray 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.780 for me in this 00:20:11.780 --> 00:20:13.840 is I want to learn 00:20:13.840 --> 00:20:15.480 how to multiply 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.340 myself 00:20:16.340 --> 00:20:17.900 with some of the things 00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:19.000 that God has given me 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:22.160 I want to learn 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:23.040 how to teach 00:20:23.040 --> 00:20:23.820 and equip 00:20:23.820 --> 00:20:25.720 other people of God 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:28.019 with some of the things 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:29.319 that God has taught me 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:31.640 and the end result 00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.519 I hope will be 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.720 a whole body of people 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.339 who can do it 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.019 better than me 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.400 and who discover 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.299 the gifts that God 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.819 has given them 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.400 in the process 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.279 so I want to train 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.120 a team of people 00:20:40.120 --> 00:20:41.579 who are able 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.200 to represent 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:43.039 Christ 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:44.059 in situations 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:45.339 of great human need 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:47.160 I'd like to feel 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:48.480 like our community 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.319 group pastors 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.480 are equipped like that 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:52.220 that whether they do 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.059 all the work or not 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:54.059 that's another question 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:55.379 but that they lead a body 00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:56.139 in terms of their 00:20:56.139 --> 00:20:57.019 community group 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:59.419 who really does care 00:20:59.419 --> 00:21:00.740 for one another 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:04.359 and in crisis moments 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:05.200 in life 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:08.359 but not just holding hands 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:09.480 and saying how sorry 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.139 I am 00:21:10.139 --> 00:21:11.099 and emphasising 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:12.379 which is all part of it 00:21:12.379 --> 00:21:14.799 but it's also about 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:16.179 bringing the word of God 00:21:16.179 --> 00:21:19.299 to people's life situations 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:21.159 so for me 00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:21.940 when I go and see 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:22.839 somebody in hospital 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:23.959 or go and visit 00:21:23.959 --> 00:21:25.240 somebody who's just died 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:26.119 or not the person 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:26.500 who's died 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.019 but the family 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.480 of the person 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.099 who's just died 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:29.220 I thought I'd better 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.039 be clear about that 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:32.079 I don't do resurrections 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.619 by the way 00:21:32.619 --> 00:21:35.240 but when I go 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.939 and see somebody 00:21:35.939 --> 00:21:36.659 like that 00:21:36.659 --> 00:21:39.779 without forcing myself 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:42.899 I am always looking 00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:43.899 for the opportunity 00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:46.439 to pray with the person 00:21:46.439 --> 00:21:48.119 and also 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:49.439 to read 00:21:49.439 --> 00:21:50.500 the word of God 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.279 or try to read 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.339 an appropriate passage 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:53.240 from the word of God 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.639 so I'm bringing 00:21:54.639 --> 00:21:55.339 the tools 00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:55.980 that Christ 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.920 has given us 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:58.379 to the situation 00:21:58.379 --> 00:21:59.639 as I seek 00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:00.660 to represent him 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:02.599 so I want us 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.119 to be better 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:04.279 than just nice visitors 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:04.920 I want us 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.579 to be people 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.680 who are able 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.319 to bring the word 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:07.619 of God 00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.359 to one another 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.519 in a way 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.279 that grows us 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:10.879 in Christ 00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:11.519 and helps us 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.359 to understand 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:13.700 what God's purposes 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.519 are for us 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.940 in different situations 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.220 pray for me 00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:17.759 but see it 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.960 me doing it 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.000 one by one 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.460 or a wide body 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:22.100 of people 00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:23.100 multiplying 00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:24.440 the work of Christ 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.840 in our church family 00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:30.580 I think another thing 00:22:30.580 --> 00:22:31.080 that we have 00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:31.740 on our plate 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.700 and that is offered 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.100 to us 00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:34.340 let me read the verse again 00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:35.200 I think as you go 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:35.860 through that verse 00:22:35.860 --> 00:22:36.600 you see that it's 00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:37.820 to prepare God's people 00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:38.960 for works of service 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.759 the purpose of that 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.700 is that the whole body 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.539 will be built up 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:44.720 I think there's the notion 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.039 of qualitative growth 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.659 we've said that 00:22:46.659 --> 00:22:47.059 at the beginning 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.279 quality matters here 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.279 how we relate 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.359 to one another matters 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:51.819 it's really really clear 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:53.579 but I think you also 00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.259 ought to see 00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:55.259 that there's the idea 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:57.000 of quantitative growth 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.539 as well 00:22:57.539 --> 00:23:00.579 the New Testament church 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:02.139 was growing numerically 00:23:02.139 --> 00:23:03.399 it was growing 00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:04.000 in the word 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.720 it was growing 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.299 in number 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:06.200 it was growing 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:07.039 under the blessing 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.659 of God 00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:09.680 and so this notion 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:10.559 of the whole church 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.379 being built up 00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:12.180 by a whole body 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:12.640 of people 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.259 who are equipped 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.140 and their gifts 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:15.120 being exercised 00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:16.019 to grow the church 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:17.259 and multiply the church 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:18.980 I think carries with it 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:20.420 the notion 00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:21.420 of quantity 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.799 as well as quality 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:25.080 the quality 00:23:25.080 --> 00:23:25.779 seen in that 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.580 there's a maturity 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:27.980 which is being sought here 00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:29.460 and attaining 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.340 to the whole measure 00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:31.539 of the fullness of Christ 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.039 and you ask 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.880 well what does maturity 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:33.500 look like 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.400 and he tells us 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:34.980 in the passage 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.840 it's so that we're able 00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:36.640 to stand firm 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.900 we're not blown around 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.500 here and there 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.660 by every wind of doctrine 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.580 every craftiness 00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:42.599 of people scheming 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:44.539 every novelty 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.819 that somebody brings along 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:46.519 they're doing this 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.079 down the road 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.720 at that church 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.960 we ought to be like that too 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.699 no it's able to stand firm 00:23:50.699 --> 00:23:51.960 and feel like 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.639 what we're doing 00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:53.480 is substantial 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.799 and Christ honouring 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:56.039 without being taken 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.559 off track 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.259 at every point 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:58.059 with every person 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.980 who's got another new 00:23:58.980 --> 00:23:59.859 good idea 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.720 even though it might 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.359 be a good idea 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:04.339 and it also says 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:06.299 speaking truth 00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.079 in love 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:10.639 speaking truth 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:11.219 in love 00:24:11.219 --> 00:24:12.039 and I think I just 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.879 want to say to that 00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:15.599 I think what that is 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:16.639 I think it's being able 00:24:16.639 --> 00:24:17.279 to speak 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.259 directly 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.339 to one another 00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:21.740 but with 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.500 regard 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.319 to the other 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:26.339 so being able 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:26.859 to speak 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:28.599 very directly 00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:31.459 but with real regard 00:24:31.459 --> 00:24:32.740 for the person 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.759 that we're speaking 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.119 to 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:36.919 I think one of the 00:24:36.919 --> 00:24:37.740 things that we do 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.439 here and we do it 00:24:38.439 --> 00:24:39.139 in other places 00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:39.679 as well 00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:40.740 is that we use 00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:42.159 subtle messages 00:24:42.159 --> 00:24:43.899 don't use subtle 00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:44.819 messages with me 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.679 because I just don't 00:24:45.679 --> 00:24:46.399 get the subtlety 00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:46.980 sometimes 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:48.799 and you'll be 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.379 disappointed 00:24:49.379 --> 00:24:51.439 or we use 00:24:51.439 --> 00:24:52.379 a bleak talk 00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:54.399 we don't talk 00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:55.359 directly about 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.179 what's really going 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.820 on for us 00:24:56.820 --> 00:24:57.580 we shift 00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:58.600 and we move 00:24:58.600 --> 00:25:01.840 I think the truth 00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:02.220 in love 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.340 is a great word 00:25:03.340 --> 00:25:06.580 there is directness 00:25:06.580 --> 00:25:08.500 but there is also 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.000 love 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.560 had a friend 00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:12.620 sort of got a friend 00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:14.060 but a few years ago 00:25:14.060 --> 00:25:16.500 I was mentoring 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:16.920 him 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:18.620 and he was 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.759 theologically trained 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.539 and he was involved 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.140 in the ministry 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:21.860 with his church 00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:22.700 and other places 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:24.279 and Kerry said 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.120 to me one day 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:27.459 in a really 00:25:27.459 --> 00:25:28.339 kind way 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.899 do you think 00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:30.559 he realises 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.239 that that bit 00:25:31.239 --> 00:25:31.679 of skin 00:25:31.679 --> 00:25:32.279 that hangs 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:33.339 off his nose 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:33.899 is actually 00:25:33.899 --> 00:25:34.939 really distracting 00:25:34.939 --> 00:25:38.319 nothing he had 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:39.059 control over 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:40.619 and it was said 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.179 by her 00:25:41.179 --> 00:25:42.099 with real concern 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.619 for him 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:44.159 because it did 00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:45.019 you'd be talking 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.939 to him face to face 00:25:45.939 --> 00:25:46.199 and it looked 00:25:46.199 --> 00:25:46.919 like a bit of boogie 00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:50.199 it's sort of hard 00:25:50.199 --> 00:25:51.119 to eyeball one another 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.579 when you've got it 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.619 coming off the Indian nose 00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:57.179 so how do you 00:25:57.179 --> 00:25:57.719 raise that 00:25:57.719 --> 00:25:58.379 with a person 00:25:58.379 --> 00:26:01.319 well I did get 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:01.879 the opportunity 00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.379 one day 00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:03.039 because we had 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:03.579 a one to one 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.239 relationship 00:26:04.239 --> 00:26:05.959 we love one another 00:26:05.959 --> 00:26:06.619 in Christ 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.339 I didn't 00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.099 dob my wife in 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.299 sorry I did 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.779 this morning 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:16.659 but just one to one 00:26:16.659 --> 00:26:17.939 in the context 00:26:17.939 --> 00:26:18.679 of relationship 00:26:18.679 --> 00:26:19.500 there wasn't 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.159 an opportunity 00:26:20.159 --> 00:26:20.679 one day 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.400 to say 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.460 I don't know 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:22.980 if you realise 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:23.500 that that bit 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:23.840 of skin 00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:24.400 sitting there 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:24.940 is a bit 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.560 of a distraction 00:26:25.560 --> 00:26:26.200 sometimes 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:26.720 and I'm wondering 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.400 is that something 00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:28.320 that you can 00:26:28.320 --> 00:26:29.000 dealt with 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.440 and the person 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.100 said straight off 00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:30.680 actually I'm going 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.299 to see the doctor 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.100 about it next week 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:32.940 he's going to 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.380 snip it off 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.279 and deal with it 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:39.080 that's a silly 00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:39.620 illustration 00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:40.279 in a way 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.860 but it's quite 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:42.940 hard to speak 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.840 directly to one 00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:44.140 another 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:45.100 sometimes about 00:26:45.100 --> 00:26:45.880 things that matter 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:47.759 and the qualification 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.720 which is here 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.360 in this passage 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.839 is that when 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:51.439 we do 00:26:51.439 --> 00:26:52.659 this is not 00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.159 where we put 00:26:53.159 --> 00:26:53.859 our boots on 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:54.459 and march in 00:26:54.459 --> 00:26:54.859 and thump 00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.419 one another 00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:56.679 it's done 00:26:56.679 --> 00:26:57.219 with a great 00:26:57.219 --> 00:26:58.099 deal of love 00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:58.819 it is done 00:26:58.819 --> 00:26:59.659 with regard 00:26:59.659 --> 00:27:00.639 to the other 00:27:00.639 --> 00:27:01.119 person 00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:02.719 there's a couple 00:27:02.719 --> 00:27:03.319 of other places 00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:04.019 I'd like to go 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.399 I'll go there 00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:04.959 very quickly 00:27:04.959 --> 00:27:05.539 I think Acts 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:05.979 of Service 00:27:05.979 --> 00:27:06.439 you know what 00:27:06.439 --> 00:27:06.979 Acts of Service 00:27:06.979 --> 00:27:07.719 is it's a sheet 00:27:07.719 --> 00:27:08.779 that we've distributed 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.879 in recent weeks 00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:11.779 and with the 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.459 congregational 00:27:12.459 --> 00:27:13.379 reconfiguration 00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:14.039 it's a place 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.619 where we're able 00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.179 to indicate 00:27:15.179 --> 00:27:15.939 some of the places 00:27:15.939 --> 00:27:17.000 where we might 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.979 serve one another 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:19.420 the whole notion 00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:19.940 of the Acts 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.420 of Service 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:20.700 sheet 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.259 it's weighted 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.120 towards building 00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:22.700 others up 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:24.000 it's carrying 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:24.440 the load 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.059 in terms of 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:25.500 our church 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:25.980 family 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.220 now you come 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.640 to a sheet 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:28.120 like that 00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:28.700 and it's really 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.640 easy to ask 00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:33.220 what do I want 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:33.539 to do 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:36.339 I wonder how 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:37.460 I can be used 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:37.980 in this church 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.200 family 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:38.940 moving more 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.480 broadly into 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:39.960 gifts at the 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.220 moment 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:41.960 but a better 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:42.759 question would 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.120 be 00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:44.759 what can I 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.480 do that 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.319 this church 00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:46.940 needs 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:49.840 what are 00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:50.460 the holes 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.860 where is 00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:52.320 a hole 00:27:52.320 --> 00:27:52.840 that I 00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:53.200 might be 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:53.559 able to 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:53.840 fill 00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:55.059 and exercise 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.680 ministry 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.519 for the 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:56.860 benefit 00:27:56.860 --> 00:27:57.580 of everyone 00:27:57.580 --> 00:27:58.299 you know 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:58.680 when you get 00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.019 a church 00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.400 and five 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:00.140 concert pianists 00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:00.480 we haven't 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:00.900 got five 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:01.600 concert pianists 00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:01.980 but we do 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.480 have one 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.200 if we had 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:03.920 five concert 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.340 pianists 00:28:04.340 --> 00:28:04.680 we got a 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:04.940 problem 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.340 haven't we 00:28:05.340 --> 00:28:05.700 who gets 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.120 to play 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:08.240 how do you 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.580 work that 00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:08.900 out 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:11.460 well you've 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:11.740 got the 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.200 other sort 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:12.700 of person 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.080 and I've 00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:13.340 had to 00:28:13.340 --> 00:28:13.920 engage this 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:14.400 in ministry 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.140 many times 00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:15.420 and I'm 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:15.799 thinking of 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.400 other places 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:16.780 but a 00:28:16.780 --> 00:28:17.220 person who 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.680 is very 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.220 confident 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.800 about their 00:28:18.800 --> 00:28:19.460 own gifts 00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:21.180 and they're 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.840 not necessarily 00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:22.620 confirmed by 00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.000 others 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:25.200 and they 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:25.900 bring themselves 00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.340 forward and 00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:26.640 they say 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.160 why don't you 00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:27.560 use me 00:28:27.560 --> 00:28:28.080 this is my 00:28:28.080 --> 00:28:28.960 giftedness 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:30.759 and because 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.620 I'm a gatekeeper 00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:32.240 I guess in 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.800 terms of my 00:28:32.800 --> 00:28:33.340 role and my 00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:34.060 responsibilities 00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:34.860 within God's 00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.320 family I have 00:28:35.320 --> 00:28:35.740 to make a 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.340 call on it 00:28:36.340 --> 00:28:40.200 what do you 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:40.540 do with 00:28:40.540 --> 00:28:40.820 that 00:28:40.820 --> 00:28:43.480 great stress 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:43.980 in sorting 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.420 that out 00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:45.140 sometimes 00:28:45.140 --> 00:28:46.920 why aren't 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.440 you using 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:47.680 me 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:47.940 I can 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:48.240 remember 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.840 one parish 00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:49.180 I went 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:49.840 to a 00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:50.360 woman was 00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:51.360 on my 00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:51.920 doorstep 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.259 in the 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:52.820 first two 00:28:52.820 --> 00:28:53.580 weeks she 00:28:53.580 --> 00:28:54.120 wanted an 00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:54.420 appointment 00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:55.100 with me she 00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:55.840 wanted me to 00:28:55.840 --> 00:28:56.380 know that she 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:56.700 was the 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.780 parish evangelist 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:58.759 she was very 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.640 gifted and I 00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.400 needed to use 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:02.000 her and then 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:02.660 she was on my 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.420 door six weeks 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.180 later saying she 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.920 was leaving the 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.500 parish because 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.120 she wasn't 00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:06.780 using her 00:29:06.780 --> 00:29:08.840 let me tell you 00:29:08.840 --> 00:29:09.560 in that case it 00:29:09.560 --> 00:29:10.340 was probably a 00:29:10.340 --> 00:29:11.240 blessed departure 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:13.460 but it's not 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:14.299 easy to deal 00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:14.680 with 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:18.900 the other 00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:19.539 place I wanted 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.059 to go is 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.579 right at the 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.140 end and it's 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:21.980 coming back into 00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.559 our 2020 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.980 booklet and that 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.539 is the whole 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.319 notion of core 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.019 membership do you 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.859 understand what 00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:28.740 that means when 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.279 we talk about 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:30.039 core membership in 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:30.759 this church family 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.839 give us a hand if 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.319 you've got some 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:34.019 idea of what that 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.420 means 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:36.299 all right 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.339 staff have got an 00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.039 idea because we've 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.720 been working with it 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.180 for a while and 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:40.079 hopefully leaders are 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.740 picking it up and 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.279 owning it over 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:43.759 time but but core 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:45.079 membership the idea 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:46.039 of core membership 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:47.200 links into service 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.120 and service means 00:29:48.120 --> 00:29:50.180 using our gifts and 00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:51.079 being the person of 00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:51.720 God within our 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:53.620 church family it's 00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:54.519 pretty simple it's 00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.259 just saying to us 00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:56.339 all that we want the 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.299 church family to be 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:58.160 living a life of 00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:00.240 personal devotion we 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.039 want you to be reading 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:02.140 the scriptures we want 00:30:02.140 --> 00:30:03.799 you to be praying we 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.259 want you to be 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.120 nurturing your own 00:30:05.120 --> 00:30:08.620 soul in Christ it's 00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:09.519 why we've got things 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.579 like the life journal 00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.119 and we've been 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:12.220 encouraging to use it 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.480 this year if you're 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:14.359 not using one you 00:30:14.359 --> 00:30:15.220 haven't got one I'd 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.919 be really happy for 00:30:15.919 --> 00:30:16.699 you to take one free 00:30:16.699 --> 00:30:17.779 from the foyer I think 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.460 you're supposed to pay 00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:19.299 a few dollars but if 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.279 you take it and use it 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:21.039 that would be a great 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.619 consequence 00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:25.679 the second thing that 00:30:25.679 --> 00:30:26.720 is a church family in 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:27.279 terms of core 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.720 membership we live in 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.699 community Steve said 00:30:29.699 --> 00:30:30.519 it last night what he 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:31.439 asked of us last night 00:30:31.439 --> 00:30:33.259 he asked us to not 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.419 just think it's only 00:30:34.419 --> 00:30:36.419 church but to be 00:30:36.419 --> 00:30:38.399 devoted to it to come 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:40.259 regularly and to also 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:41.440 be part of a community 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.560 group because we know 00:30:42.560 --> 00:30:43.340 that you can't do 00:30:43.340 --> 00:30:44.380 everything on Sunday 00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:45.960 that we might do in a 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:47.000 smaller group in terms 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.220 of relationship with one 00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:49.480 another through the week 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:51.800 we're calling people to 00:30:51.800 --> 00:30:53.019 servant heartedness which 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:55.680 is taking responsibility 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.640 for a ministry I'm going 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.480 to use the words out of 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:58.460 here living a life of 00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.360 servant heartedness 00:30:59.360 --> 00:31:01.060 being personally involved 00:31:01.060 --> 00:31:03.100 in one ongoing ministry 00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:05.099 towards unbelievers 00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:06.480 according to one's 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:06.799 gifts 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:10.359 using the gifts that 00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:11.799 God has poured out on 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:13.859 you within this church 00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:14.299 family 00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:19.039 personally involved in 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:20.179 ongoing ministry to 00:31:20.179 --> 00:31:21.379 unbelievers so number 00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:22.659 four is living a life of 00:31:22.659 --> 00:31:24.019 local and global impact 00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:26.000 by personally being 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:27.319 involved in one ongoing 00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:28.099 ministry towards 00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.399 unbelievers 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:30.700 unbelievers 00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:33.180 and the last one is a 00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:34.160 life of generosity 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:36.280 and one of the measures 00:31:36.280 --> 00:31:37.140 of that within our 00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:38.259 church family is by 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.540 personally pledging to 00:31:39.540 --> 00:31:41.180 ministry here at St 00:31:41.180 --> 00:31:41.400 Paul's 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:49.620 putting our money where 00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.400 our mouth is 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:53.400 encouraging each other in 00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:55.040 Christ by being committed 00:31:55.040 --> 00:31:56.820 to the work that is done 00:31:56.820 --> 00:31:58.040 here which costs a lot of 00:31:58.040 --> 00:31:58.259 money 00:31:58.259 --> 00:32:04.460 now we could be legalists 00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:07.160 in any of those and we 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.980 could go through that and 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.839 just tick the box yeah 00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:10.200 had my quiet time been to 00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:11.200 church attended small 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.240 group did my thing for 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:13.920 kids church gave my money 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:16.400 boom I'm a core member 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:18.480 and I think I'm 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.720 I grappled with it this 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.879 week for myself because 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:22.539 parish council and staff 00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:25.440 pledged for 2012 at a 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.640 meeting last Monday night 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:29.040 and last year when I did it 00:32:29.040 --> 00:32:30.320 for the first time it was 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:31.620 sort of like it was a joy 00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:32.860 and it was a delight and 00:32:32.860 --> 00:32:33.960 it was an expression of 00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:35.420 commitment to St Paul's and 00:32:35.420 --> 00:32:36.280 it was part of the thing 00:32:36.280 --> 00:32:37.759 that we do corporately 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:39.700 joining together with one 00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:41.660 another in terms of the 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:43.100 ministry that we plan to do 00:32:43.100 --> 00:32:45.300 from here and I think I'd 00:32:45.300 --> 00:32:46.160 confess to you that the 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:47.100 other day I had to look at 00:32:47.100 --> 00:32:48.640 my own heart and think when 00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.940 I first came at it was more 00:32:49.940 --> 00:32:50.900 like ticking the box 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:54.920 doing my duty doing my job 00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:57.259 and I think in a sense had 00:32:57.259 --> 00:33:00.080 slipped back into legalism so 00:33:00.080 --> 00:33:00.860 there's a whole lot of 00:33:00.860 --> 00:33:02.120 things here which are really 00:33:02.120 --> 00:33:04.680 good things in terms of 00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:06.620 membership at St Paul's 00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:08.420 serving one another exercising 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:09.759 the ministries that God has 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:12.460 given to us but it's an 00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:14.860 ongoing challenge and to be 00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:16.759 transformed looking at our own 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:19.099 hearts are we just ticking the 00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:22.279 box or are we doing are we 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:25.180 delighting to treasure the 00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:31.759 Lord Jesus together I think I 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.839 just want to come to a finish 00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:35.119 by saying taking us back to the 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:36.400 verse and I'm wanting you to 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:37.819 think about our ministry team 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:41.680 it was he who gave some to be 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:43.019 apostles some to be prophets 00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:45.240 some to be evangelists some to be 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:47.920 pastors and teachers to prepare 00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:49.460 God's people for works of 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:51.700 service so that the body of 00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:53.960 Christ may be built up until we 00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:55.799 all reach unity in the faith and 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:57.019 in the knowledge of the Son of 00:33:57.019 --> 00:34:00.319 God and become mature attaining to 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:01.640 the whole measure of the fullness 00:34:01.640 --> 00:34:04.019 of Christ I think I just want to 00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:05.500 say to you please pray for us 00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:09.079 pray that if we are gifted with 00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:10.739 some of the gifts that God has 00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:12.260 given in particular for building 00:34:12.260 --> 00:34:14.460 his church as expressed here in 00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:18.059 Ephesians chapter 4 pray that we 00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:20.460 would use them to his glory pray 00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:23.280 that we wouldn't get cluttered by 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:25.420 expectations of a wide lot of 00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:27.059 other things that people often bring 00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:29.940 to us not so that those things 00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:32.880 aren't done but so that we be 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:34.940 properly preparing the people of 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:37.720 God so that the wide base would be 00:34:37.720 --> 00:34:40.340 covered with the exceedingly wide 00:34:40.340 --> 00:34:42.059 list of gifts which God has 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:44.360 distributed to all these people 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:45.739 Amen