WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.940 Good morning. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:12.820 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the assistant pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian 00:00:12.820 --> 00:00:16.219 Church, and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:21.400 A special welcome if you are new or visiting with us. 00:00:22.140 --> 00:00:23.300 We're glad you're here. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:29.019 And we are glad you're here not because we are trying to fill seats, but because we're 00:00:29.019 --> 00:00:33.679 following after Jesus, and we're following after him together as one community. 00:00:34.259 --> 00:00:39.280 And we're convinced that there's no one so good that they don't need God's grace, and 00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:41.539 no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:48.519 And so God has something to say to everyone, and everyone needs to hear what God has to 00:00:48.519 --> 00:00:48.760 say. 00:00:49.939 --> 00:00:54.280 Whether you're someone who's called yourself a Christian your entire life, or if you're 00:00:54.280 --> 00:00:55.939 someone who doesn't call yourself a Christian. 00:00:55.939 --> 00:01:00.039 Maybe you have doubts or questions or objections to Christianity. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:04.780 God is going to speak to all of those things in his word, and so that's why we open up his 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:07.159 word every Sunday, so that we can hear from him. 00:01:08.099 --> 00:01:12.539 If you've been with us the last several months, you know that we just finished a series in 00:01:12.539 --> 00:01:13.140 the book of Ruth. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:17.299 And now today we're going to be starting a series on the book of Philippians. 00:01:18.019 --> 00:01:19.539 And Philippians is a letter. 00:01:19.540 --> 00:01:25.400 It's a letter that's written to a church very much like our church. 00:01:26.080 --> 00:01:30.420 We're going to see at the very beginning that this is a church that has saints, and it has 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:33.280 deacons, and it has elders, just like us. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:37.640 And it's a letter written to a city very much like our city. 00:01:38.940 --> 00:01:44.940 Philippi was a prominent and major city in Macedonia, just north of Greece, but it was also 00:01:44.939 --> 00:01:45.859 a military city. 00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:48.599 It was a military city because of its history. 00:01:48.780 --> 00:01:52.019 It was a military city because many military families would settle there. 00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:56.459 But most importantly, it was a military city because the Roman government had declared 00:01:56.459 --> 00:01:57.739 it to be a Roman colony. 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:02.000 And so that meant that if you were a Roman citizen and a soldier, you could get special tax 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:02.479 benefits. 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:07.400 And so, of course, as you know, if there's a tax incentive, people are going to move in. 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:12.159 And so there's a great incentive for Roman citizens and for military families to be a part 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:13.740 of the city of Philippi. 00:02:14.780 --> 00:02:18.579 And this church that was much like ours and a city that's much like ours had struggles 00:02:18.579 --> 00:02:25.159 that were much like ours because they lived in a culture that worshipped the emperor rather 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:25.659 than Jesus. 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:30.840 And this was actually heightened by the fact that they were a Roman colony. 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:32.539 They experienced this at a greater intensity. 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:37.120 They were a church that, while they were working together, they sometimes struggled to figure out 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:37.740 how to do that. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:41.400 We're going to see that the church in Philippi had trouble with unity. 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:45.639 People had very different ideas, perhaps, of what their ministry needed to look like 00:02:45.639 --> 00:02:46.020 together. 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:49.199 And so Paul has to address that as well. 00:02:51.620 --> 00:02:56.960 And it's to a group of people who are trying to hold fast to the gospel in the midst of people, 00:02:57.079 --> 00:02:59.000 other teachers who are teaching them something false. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:04.659 And the author, Paul, is writing to this church that he founded. 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:05.800 It's a church that he started. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:10.539 And this church had been around for about 10 years at the time that he wrote the letter. 00:03:10.539 --> 00:03:15.780 We've been around about 20 years, so twice as long, but this still wasn't a very old church. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:21.219 And it was a church planter, a missionary, writing back to people he loved. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:27.299 Writing about how they should handle all the difficulties that were in front of them. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:30.620 And by the way, when Paul writes this, he's in prison. 00:03:32.359 --> 00:03:33.819 He's in prison in Rome. 00:03:33.819 --> 00:03:37.120 And he writes to a city, Philippi. 00:03:37.180 --> 00:03:40.379 If you remember the story of Acts, it's a city where he was in prison. 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:46.280 Remember in Acts 16, it was when Paul converted the Philippian jailer and his family. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:50.639 So he's writing from a prison to a city where he was in prison. 00:03:52.900 --> 00:03:57.340 And yet, while he's in prison, he finds tremendous thanksgiving and joy. 00:03:57.340 --> 00:04:01.659 And so our question this morning is, how exactly does Paul do that? 00:04:02.700 --> 00:04:08.039 How does he find joy and thanksgiving in prison, in difficult circumstances, 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:13.060 when both himself and the people he's writing to are facing tremendous opposition? 00:04:13.980 --> 00:04:17.540 So that's our question as we come to the letter to the Philippians. 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:20.319 Remember that this is God's word. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:26.120 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold. 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:31.920 And that it is sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:34.180 And so we're going to turn to it now. 00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:36.560 We're in Philippians chapter 1, starting at verse 1. 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:37.539 Please read with me. 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:41.240 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, 00:04:42.039 --> 00:04:45.459 to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, 00:04:46.039 --> 00:04:48.019 with the overseers and deacons, 00:04:48.019 --> 00:04:52.779 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:54.099 --> 00:04:56.699 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 00:04:57.019 --> 00:05:00.019 always, in every prayer of mine, for you all, 00:05:00.359 --> 00:05:03.399 making my prayer with joy, verse 5, 00:05:04.139 --> 00:05:08.339 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 00:05:09.259 --> 00:05:13.399 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you 00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:16.599 will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:20.720 Please pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:23.700 Dear Father in heaven, 00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:28.680 we thank you that you remember that we are just dust. 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:32.020 You know that we're feeble and frail. 00:05:32.140 --> 00:05:39.320 You know that we need to hear your word just as much as the church in Philippi did in the first century. 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:45.819 That as we live in America, we need to know what you had to tell to those who lived under the Roman Empire. 00:05:46.719 --> 00:05:48.279 And so we ask that you would do that. 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:51.980 That you would open our ears and our eyes. 00:05:52.680 --> 00:05:54.040 That you'd soften our hearts. 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:58.579 That you'd help us to understand everything that you've written to us. 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:01.579 We ask all these things in the name of your Son. 00:06:01.579 --> 00:06:03.019 Amen. 00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:09.259 If you were watching the news early this year, 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:13.740 you might have seen that there was a record that was set. 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:16.039 And this was a record that was broken. 00:06:16.159 --> 00:06:17.019 It had been set for, 00:06:17.719 --> 00:06:20.759 it had not been broken for I think about maybe 10 or 20 years. 00:06:20.799 --> 00:06:26.979 And it was the record for the highest enrollment for a class at Yale University. 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:31.040 This was just a normal class. 00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:32.939 Wasn't advertised. 00:06:33.300 --> 00:06:35.259 But as students found out about it, 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:36.480 word of mouth began to spread. 00:06:36.620 --> 00:06:38.620 And so they started telling each other and registering. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:39.640 And before they knew it, 00:06:39.700 --> 00:06:42.340 there were almost 1,200 students registered for it. 00:06:43.180 --> 00:06:46.700 And the previous record, I believe, was for about 1,050. 00:06:46.700 --> 00:06:50.759 So this was about 150 more students than registered for any class 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:52.980 in the over 300-year history of Yale. 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:57.480 And it was so large that they had to find a new lecture hall. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:59.939 They had to set up TVs and videos 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:02.540 so that people could sit in various places and listen to the lecturer. 00:07:02.660 --> 00:07:04.740 They had to modify homework requirements 00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:07.500 so that they could actually give grades to 1,200 students. 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:12.080 If you heard about this, you know what the class is about. 00:07:13.080 --> 00:07:15.840 It was a class on happiness. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:23.399 And so what Yale students were more interested in than anything else, 00:07:23.779 --> 00:07:25.599 what they were eager to know about, 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:27.939 was how can we be happy? 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:35.779 And that's the question that many of us are asking as well, right? 00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:37.399 That's the question our culture is asking. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:38.979 How can we be happy? 00:07:38.980 --> 00:07:45.100 What can we do to escape the feelings that we have, perhaps, of loneliness, 00:07:45.700 --> 00:07:46.980 lack of satisfaction? 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:51.439 How can we escape the idea that maybe what we're doing isn't worthwhile? 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:53.879 How can we escape pain? 00:07:54.000 --> 00:08:00.180 How can we instead feel at peace, at rest? 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:04.439 So on the one hand, it's an alluring question, right? 00:08:04.459 --> 00:08:05.280 It's a tempting question. 00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:09.480 It's a reason why so many Yale students flock to take this class. 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:11.540 On the other hand, if you know much about happiness, 00:08:11.660 --> 00:08:12.819 you know that it's a cruel master. 00:08:14.579 --> 00:08:18.899 Because happiness is dependent on what we do and what other people do. 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:23.139 And not only is it dependent on what we do and what other people do, 00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:24.680 but it's dependent on our circumstances. 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:28.079 Some of you know from hard experiences 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:30.879 that you might not be able to achieve happiness right now. 00:08:31.539 --> 00:08:33.179 Because if it's based on circumstances, 00:08:33.319 --> 00:08:34.620 sometimes those are out of your control. 00:08:35.579 --> 00:08:38.360 And if it's based on what you do and what other people do, 00:08:39.179 --> 00:08:40.220 sometimes it's not enough. 00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:47.360 Paul here in this letter that he's writing to Philippians is in prison. 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:51.500 He's in circumstances that would preclude happiness for him. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:57.100 And he's writing to people who perhaps can't have happiness at that time either. 00:08:57.100 --> 00:08:58.800 They're in the midst of conflict, 00:08:58.920 --> 00:09:01.379 both from outside of themselves, inside of themselves, 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:04.920 opposition all around them. 00:09:05.980 --> 00:09:08.399 And so what does Paul find instead? 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:11.180 Instead of happiness, 00:09:11.340 --> 00:09:13.620 he finds what Christians throughout the ages have found. 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:16.040 He finds thanksgiving and joy. 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:19.500 And so as I said at the beginning, 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:20.580 we're going to be asking this question, 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:24.720 how does Paul find thanksgiving and joy in prison? 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:29.940 What does he give thanks for? 00:09:30.420 --> 00:09:31.700 And why is he joyful? 00:09:33.340 --> 00:09:35.120 If you're familiar with Paul's letters, 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:37.080 you know that the beginning of his letters 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:39.160 often functioned kind of like a movie trailer. 00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:42.000 You know that if you go to see a movie in the theaters, 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:44.060 you're going to spend probably the first half hour or so, 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:45.379 at least it feels that long, right? 00:09:45.800 --> 00:09:47.800 Watching trailers of movies that are going to come, 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:49.939 and you find out about plot points, 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:53.000 reasons you should come and see the next movie, 00:09:53.099 --> 00:09:57.259 perhaps the main conflict that you're going to hear resolved. 00:09:58.459 --> 00:10:01.259 And so you get an overall idea of what the movie is going to be about. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:04.339 And Paul does that in every one of his letters. 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:05.959 Every single letter that Paul writes, 00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:07.519 he has a trailer at the very beginning. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:11.600 And this trailer helps us get a glimpse of all the different scenes, 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:15.439 helps us understand and see and anticipate what's about to come. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:17.899 And he does this here in the chapter of Philippians. 00:10:17.939 --> 00:10:19.480 By the way, it makes it really hard to preach. 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:21.460 It's easy to preach one scene. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:23.059 When you have ten scenes in a trailer, 00:10:23.179 --> 00:10:24.360 you think, what am I supposed to, you know, 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.480 what are we supposed to do with this? 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:28.360 And yet Paul gives us the key. 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:30.600 He gives us the key in his thanksgiving and joy, 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:32.360 and we see it in verse 5. 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:34.480 Gives us this important word, because. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:38.659 Why is it that in verse 3 he thanks God? 00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:42.519 And why in verse 4 is it always with joy? 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:45.340 Well, we find out that because in verse 5, 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:48.680 it's because of your partnership in the gospel 00:10:48.680 --> 00:10:51.519 from the first day until now. 00:10:52.899 --> 00:10:56.019 Paul's joy in his thanksgiving comes from this one thing, 00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:57.659 this simple thing. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:11:01.560 And this is going to be what's going to be given to us 00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:02.879 in the rest of the book of Philippians. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.799 It's partnership in the gospel. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:08.019 And so this morning we're simply going to take a look at that. 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:11.559 What does Paul tell us here about the gospel? 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:15.259 And what does he tell us about partnership? 00:11:16.580 --> 00:11:18.620 And what in the world do partnership in the gospel 00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:20.159 have to do with each other? 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:22.899 First, let's look at the gospel. 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:25.039 It starts out in the very first verse. 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:25.539 He tells us, 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:27.879 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:30.139 to all the saints in Christ Jesus. 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:33.159 And so the gospel, if it's about nothing else, 00:11:33.179 --> 00:11:34.139 is about a man. 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:36.639 It's a man named Christ Jesus. 00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:40.580 And this man is someone that Paul follows. 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:42.379 He's a real man. 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:45.639 He lived in time and space and history. 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:47.100 He was a Jewish man. 00:11:47.439 --> 00:11:48.340 He was born. 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:50.240 He grew up. 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:51.419 He was a baby. 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:52.679 He was a toddler. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:53.759 He was a child. 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:56.120 He worked with his father. 00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:57.259 They were builders. 00:11:57.720 --> 00:12:00.419 We're not sure if they were carpenters or stone builders, 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:01.759 but he worked with his hands. 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:04.279 And yet there was something different about this man, 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:04.980 Jesus Christ. 00:12:06.319 --> 00:12:07.879 And that is his name wasn't just Jesus, 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:08.639 but it was Christ. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.159 And Christ means anointed one. 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:12.960 And he was the anointed one that was the fulfillment 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:14.720 of all the Old Testament prophecies 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:17.139 about someone who would come and save God's people. 00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:19.799 And so he wasn't just a carpenter 00:12:19.799 --> 00:12:20.759 who worked with his father, 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:23.980 but he was also a savior who died, 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:27.559 that he had three years of ministry on this earth, 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:29.340 preaching and teaching about the fact 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:32.580 that we need reconciliation with God, 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:36.679 that God is pouring out his wrath on mankind. 00:12:37.539 --> 00:12:39.179 He's pouring out his wrath 00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:42.319 because of the ways that we have sinned against him. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:44.039 He's pouring out his wrath 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:45.480 because of the way we treat each other, 00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:47.740 pushing each other down 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:49.000 rather than lifting each other up. 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:50.779 He's pouring out his wrath 00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:53.500 for the ways that we have trashed the earth 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.840 that he gave us to take care of. 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:56.960 He's pouring out his wrath 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:58.899 for all the reasons that we have failed 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:00.419 to do what we should have. 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:03.340 And yet we see here in verses one and two, 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:05.600 it's Christ Jesus that Paul puts his hope in 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:07.039 because Christ Jesus is the one 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:08.960 that came and took God's wrath. 00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:11.220 He was willing for God's wrath 00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:12.960 to be poured out on him 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:16.080 so that it would not have to be poured out on us. 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:19.100 And so if anything, 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:21.660 the gospel here that Paul takes joy in 00:13:21.660 --> 00:13:23.200 is the gospel that he tells us about 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:24.540 in verses one and two. 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:26.700 It's the gospel of Christ Jesus. 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:29.560 We continue to find out more about it 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:31.060 in verse two 00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:33.180 because he tells us grace to you and peace. 00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:35.520 This grace is a reminder 00:13:35.520 --> 00:13:37.520 that the gospel is something that we don't deserve. 00:13:38.660 --> 00:13:40.140 Grace is an undeserved gift 00:13:40.140 --> 00:13:42.040 and so Paul is reminding us 00:13:42.040 --> 00:13:44.160 not just from verse one of Christ Jesus, 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:45.579 but verse two, what he did, 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:48.159 that he took the punishment that we deserved 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:51.399 so that we don't have to take it. 00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:53.919 That's the grace. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:56.319 So we see Jesus Christ in verse one. 00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:58.319 We see our need for him in verse two, 00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.279 that we need his grace. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:01.600 And we also see what he gives to us in verse two. 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:02.939 He doesn't just give us grace, 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.819 he gives us peace. 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:07.000 And so that when we have this grace, 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.879 when Christ gives us his righteousness 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:11.480 because he lived a perfect life, 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.720 and when he takes our judgment 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:15.820 because he suffered the punishment that we should, 00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:17.180 we have peace with God. 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:20.120 We have peace because 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.159 despite what happens in our circumstances 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:25.539 and despite what we do and other people do, 00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:28.000 we cannot lose God's grace. 00:14:29.060 --> 00:14:32.300 We cannot lose the most important thing that we have. 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:35.139 And so there's something unshakable 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:37.100 and that's where this peace comes from. 00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:39.779 The peace is the result of the grace. 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:42.379 And so we can see this outline here 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:43.620 at the very beginning of the letter. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.579 They're servants of Christ Jesus. 00:14:46.199 --> 00:14:47.939 He's the one who came and died. 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:50.019 But unlike any other man who died, 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:51.419 he rose again from the dead. 00:14:52.839 --> 00:14:54.000 It was an act of grace. 00:14:54.579 --> 00:14:56.519 And that grace gives us peace. 00:14:58.459 --> 00:15:00.959 But that's not the end of the story of the gospel 00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:03.720 and it's not the last thing that Paul has to tell us here. 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:10.480 Because we find out more about this partnership in verse 6. 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:13.060 And I'm sure of this, 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:15.639 that he who began a good work in you 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:17.019 will bring it to completion 00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:19.240 at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:21.379 In other words, 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:24.080 the gospel is not just a one-time act 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:25.840 that happened in Christ's death and resurrection, 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:27.580 but it is something that is ongoing. 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.980 It is a work. 00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:31.180 It is something that's happening even now. 00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:33.899 And so for those who have put their faith 00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:35.920 and their hope and their trust in Jesus, 00:15:36.019 --> 00:15:38.820 they've accepted his punishment on their behalf. 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:42.740 He is at work in their lives right now. 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:46.360 He's doing something. 00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:49.500 That the gospel is not just static but dynamic. 00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:52.899 It's at work and it's active and it's alive. 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:56.299 If you attend our Explore class this weekend 00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:58.360 and you decide you want to pursue membership in the church, 00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.220 we're going to ask you, 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:00.699 how did you become a Christian? 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:05.259 But an equally valid question might be, 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.819 how are you becoming a Christian? 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:11.120 How has God been at work in your life even now? 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:13.379 What is he doing? 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.699 Because the gospel is not just something 00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:17.279 in the past historically. 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:20.120 And it's not just something in the past in our lives, 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:22.439 but it's something that God is doing even now. 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:28.539 Some of you know that my car got wrecked 00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:29.819 in the first hailstorm. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:32.039 I got both my windshields knocked. 00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:34.539 I was not hiding under the wing of the church. 00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:36.819 I got both my windshields knocked out. 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:39.039 I had to have my roof replaced and my hood replaced. 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.459 It's actually still in the shop, 00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.779 so I'm driving this little Mini Cooper, 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.720 which is fun. 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.059 I just hope I don't get in a wreck 00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:46.439 because I don't think I'll win, 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:48.419 especially if someone has one of those bumper hoods 00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:48.740 in the front. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:51.980 But I do feel like I'm driving a go-kart sometimes. 00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:56.199 Which, you know, it has its ups and downs. 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:59.319 But my car's been in a shop for a month. 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.779 And I've had a great experience with the shop, 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:04.119 mostly except they don't always tell me what's going on, 00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:05.000 and so I have to call them. 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:07.980 And I call them probably about once a week, 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:09.119 and I'll say, what's going on? 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:11.219 What's happened? 00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.359 Where are we with the car? 00:17:12.419 --> 00:17:13.059 And so they'll tell me, 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:15.039 okay, well, we've replaced the hood, 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:15.979 and we've replaced the top, 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:17.679 but we have to send it to get its paint done now. 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:19.659 And the most recent thing was, 00:17:19.739 --> 00:17:20.719 okay, we've had the paint done, 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.159 but we have to have all the windows replaced, 00:17:22.239 --> 00:17:23.099 and it's a holiday weekend, 00:17:23.219 --> 00:17:24.479 so it's probably not going to happen, 00:17:24.899 --> 00:17:26.659 so you're probably going to be driving a go-kart 00:17:26.659 --> 00:17:27.479 for a little bit longer. 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:31.000 But there's this ongoing work. 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:35.140 It's not just the story of how I turned my car in 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:35.920 at the body shop. 00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:39.180 If I were going to tell you about the work 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:40.259 that's being done on my car, 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:41.120 that wouldn't be enough, 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:44.180 because it's something that's ongoing. 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:47.420 It's something that's happening little by little. 00:17:48.860 --> 00:17:50.160 And so if you're a Christian today, 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.279 my question for you is this. 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.339 If you call yourself a Christian, 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:54.620 how is God at work in your life? 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:59.179 If you look back over the past year 00:17:59.179 --> 00:18:00.879 or two years or five years, 00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:03.199 how have you seen God at work 00:18:03.199 --> 00:18:05.799 to bring you more love, joy, peace, patience, 00:18:05.959 --> 00:18:08.819 kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:13.319 Because Paul tells us that that's what the gospel does. 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:16.359 If the gospel is at work in our lives, 00:18:16.419 --> 00:18:17.839 then it is at work. 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:21.139 One of my favorite, by the way, 00:18:21.199 --> 00:18:22.259 today's C.S. Lewis Day. 00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:24.199 I have two C.S. Lewis books with me. 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.840 I'm going to read you some quotes from both of them. 00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:28.440 C.S. Lewis gives a great illustration of this 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.680 in his book, Mere Christianity. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:31.580 He says, 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:34.460 I find I must borrow yet another parable from George MacDonald. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:37.419 Imagine yourself as a living house. 00:18:38.199 --> 00:18:40.019 God comes in to rebuild that house. 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:44.379 At first, perhaps, you can understand what he is doing. 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:46.559 He is getting the drains right 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:48.759 and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:51.599 You knew that those jobs needed doing, 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.839 and so you are not surprised. 00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:57.059 But presently, he starts knocking the house about 00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:59.240 in a way that hurts abominably 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:00.919 and does not seem to make sense. 00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:03.059 What on earth is he up to? 00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:06.399 The explanation is that he is building 00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:07.839 quite a different house 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:09.500 from the one you thought of. 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:12.659 Throwing out a new wing here, 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:15.179 putting on an extra floor there, 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:17.500 running up towers, making courtyards. 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:20.599 You thought you were going to be made 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:22.500 into a decent little cottage. 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:25.440 But he is building a palace. 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:28.180 He intends to come 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:30.319 and live in it himself. 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:36.079 So how does Paul find joy 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:37.920 and thanksgiving in prison? 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.400 First, it's because he knows 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:42.579 that God is at work. 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.339 Despite the circumstances, 00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:47.880 despite what he does 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:48.940 and what other people do, 00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:52.880 God is still working in his house. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:56.740 Still rebuilding and renewing. 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:01.240 And he, we see in verse 6, 00:20:01.320 --> 00:20:03.220 is bringing it to completion. 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.120 One day I'm actually going to be able 00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:08.039 to pick my car up. 00:20:10.080 --> 00:20:11.059 And it's going to look, 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.340 hopefully, almost like new. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.240 Right? 00:20:15.580 --> 00:20:17.980 It's going to be brought to completion. 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.100 So that's the work 00:20:20.100 --> 00:20:22.140 that God is doing as well. 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.740 But that's not all we see in verse 6 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.460 because we're told 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.380 that it's going to be brought 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:28.279 to completion when? 00:20:28.820 --> 00:20:30.720 At the day of Jesus Christ. 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:33.059 Now this day of Jesus Christ 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.480 was something that's an idea 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.779 we learned about in the Old Testament. 00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:36.539 In the Old Testament, 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:38.120 it was known as the day of the Lord. 00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:40.200 And the day of the Lord 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.559 was that great day 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:43.059 when God was going to come 00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:45.059 and bring all judgment 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:46.160 and all justice. 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.860 It was the day 00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:49.420 when everything that was wrong 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.680 was going to be made right 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:52.940 and everything would be restored. 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:57.259 That there is a day that is set. 00:20:57.540 --> 00:20:58.720 And so that Jesus doesn't just 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.660 have a first coming, 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:01.180 he has a second coming. 00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.500 We find out about, 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.300 in the Gospels, 00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.680 in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.060 about Jesus' first coming. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.519 And Jesus' first coming 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:10.040 has an emphasis on salvation. 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:12.180 Has an emphasis on his death 00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:12.660 and resurrection. 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:14.660 But it has judgment as well. 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.279 It's not just salvation. 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:19.120 It emphasizes salvation, 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:20.460 but it also includes judgment. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:23.300 Jesus' second coming 00:21:23.300 --> 00:21:25.660 is going to emphasize judgment, 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.840 but includes salvation. 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:30.680 And so we're mistaken 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:33.279 if we look at a few cherry-picked stories 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.120 from the Gospels 00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:35.400 and say things like, 00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:36.040 well, Jesus, 00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.300 he would never judge anyone. 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:40.539 I can't imagine Jesus 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:42.519 disagreeing with anyone's lifestyle. 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:44.519 I mean, look at this one story 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.559 that I picked from the Gospels 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.599 in which he affirmed someone. 00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:50.379 We have to take Jesus 00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:52.700 not only as the suffering servant, 00:21:53.419 --> 00:21:54.919 but as the one who comes 00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:56.680 in Revelation at the very end 00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:59.240 and he's riding a horse 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:01.740 and he's splattered with blood. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.480 But this time he's not splattered 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.359 with his own blood. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:07.879 He's splattered with the blood 00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:08.819 of his enemies. 00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:11.379 Because when he comes 00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:12.399 to bring justice 00:22:12.399 --> 00:22:13.599 on the final day, 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:15.659 it has to include judgment. 00:22:17.979 --> 00:22:18.859 And so remember I said 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.539 if you're a Christian, 00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.679 if you call yourself a Christian, 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.519 you have to ask, 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.339 how has God been at work 00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:23.959 in my life? 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:26.959 If you don't call yourself 00:22:26.959 --> 00:22:27.459 a Christian, 00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:29.539 you have to think 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:31.419 about the day of Jesus Christ. 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:33.900 Because there is going 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:34.680 to come a day 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:36.080 when God is going 00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:38.220 to pour out his wrath 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:40.240 fully and finally 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:40.820 on the earth. 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.880 And those who trust in Christ, 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.080 who have faith in Christ, 00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:48.320 will be saved through that 00:22:48.320 --> 00:22:49.380 because Christ has taken 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:50.400 the wrath for them. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:52.200 But those who have not 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.980 will not. 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:56.839 And so those of you 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:57.599 who have questions 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.240 and doubts 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.779 and objections 00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.640 about Christianity, 00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:05.519 there's a day of judgment 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.200 that is coming. 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:06.920 There's the day 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:07.759 of Jesus Christ. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.500 And there's only going 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.240 to be one question 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:11.720 that matters 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.480 and that's whether you 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.740 have trusted in the gospel. 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.519 If you have, 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.680 what verse 2 tells us, 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.779 if you have grace 00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:17.680 and peace 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:19.500 from our Lord 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:19.940 and Savior, 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.759 Jesus Christ. 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.879 It says, 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:22.400 grace to you 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:22.700 and peace 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.759 from God our Father 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:25.319 and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:26.759 So do you have 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.220 that grace 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:27.839 and that peace? 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:30.940 If you don't, 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.619 it doesn't matter 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:32.779 how happy you are 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:35.839 because your circumstances 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:37.539 will dramatically change 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.539 on that day. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.299 And so God 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.339 is calling you 00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:44.140 to follow after him. 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.339 He's calling you 00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:46.220 to put your trust 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.200 and your faith in him 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:47.980 and to choose 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.839 that joy 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.799 and that thanksgiving 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.160 above. 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:52.180 any happiness. 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.700 That's what he's calling us to. 00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:58.059 And so there's encouragement 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.680 for Christians. 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.180 God is bringing 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:00.759 a good work 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.740 to completion in you. 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:03.299 He's at work even now. 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.759 And there's a challenge 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.319 for those of us 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.299 who do not call ourselves 00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:06.759 Christians 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.920 that there's going 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.599 to come a day 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:09.759 when Jesus not only 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.819 fulfills his first coming 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.920 but has a second coming 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:14.039 and he's going to judge 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.000 the earth. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:21.019 And so Paul gives 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.519 thanksgiving 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.359 for the gospel 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:24.579 but he doesn't just 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.240 give thanksgiving 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.519 for the gospel. 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.740 Remember in verse 5 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.660 it's partnership 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.740 in the gospel. 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.980 And we see that partnership 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.039 all throughout this passage 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.559 as well 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.180 and we're going to see it 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:34.660 actually throughout 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.579 the whole book. 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.839 This is a book 00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:37.559 about partnership 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.180 in the gospel. 00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:40.259 It's a letter 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.080 written by a man 00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:41.900 who loves 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:43.299 these people at Philippi. 00:24:43.820 --> 00:24:44.259 Some of them 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:44.960 came to Christ 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.000 because of his teaching 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:48.060 and they love him. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:50.019 They've been supporting him 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:52.220 financially for years. 00:24:52.320 --> 00:24:52.900 They've been praying 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.700 for him for years. 00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.900 And so he starts out 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.500 with a partnership. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.160 Verse 1 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.840 he says not just Paul 00:24:57.840 --> 00:24:59.120 but Paul and Timothy. 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:01.180 Now we find out later 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:01.820 that Paul 00:25:01.820 --> 00:25:02.700 as we read this letter 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:03.620 it's going to become clear 00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:04.259 that only Paul 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:04.900 is writing it. 00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.620 So he just puts 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.500 Timothy's name 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.100 at the beginning 00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:10.980 and so what does 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:11.500 that tell us? 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.419 Well he values 00:25:12.419 --> 00:25:13.539 Timothy's partnership 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.379 so much. 00:25:16.219 --> 00:25:17.179 Paul is not interested 00:25:17.179 --> 00:25:18.179 in his own name. 00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:18.980 He's not interested 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.579 in being 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:21.159 a personality 00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:22.119 driven apostle 00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:24.000 but he's interested 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.639 in partnering 00:25:24.639 --> 00:25:25.779 with whoever he can. 00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:27.240 Timothy's his partner 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.939 and so he wants 00:25:27.939 --> 00:25:28.939 to bring Timothy in. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.899 But it goes on 00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:31.419 in verse 1 00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:32.699 it's addressed to people 00:25:32.699 --> 00:25:33.799 it's addressed to the saints 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.599 who are at Philippi 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.539 with the overseers 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.339 and deacons. 00:25:36.459 --> 00:25:37.079 Overseers here 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.759 is a fancy word 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.160 for elder 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:39.279 so he's just 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:40.019 distinguishing 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.599 the different categories 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:41.859 here. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.339 There are congregants 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:44.000 there's elders 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.799 there's deacons. 00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:45.940 As an aside 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.839 this is why we have 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.480 that kind of structure 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.640 here at Cheyenne Mountain 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:50.000 because we want to be 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.119 faithful to what God 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.700 has given us 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.220 in his word. 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.299 And so here's a question 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.759 for you. 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.240 Let's have a thought 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.119 experiment for a second. 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:58.740 Let's say Paul 00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.680 was still alive 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:02.740 and he wrote a letter 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:05.920 to Colorado Springs. 00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.960 Would you receive 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.560 that letter? 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.160 Would you be one 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.779 of the recipients? 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:21.160 Only if you're part 00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:21.740 of the church. 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:26.779 Paul only writes 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.779 letters to churches 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:29.480 and leaders of churches. 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.880 Paul is not 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:32.539 writing letters 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:34.660 to the people 00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.579 in Philippi 00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:36.779 who all have 00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.880 their own faith journey 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:39.259 that involves Jesus. 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.859 He's writing it 00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:42.519 to a church. 00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:43.400 He's writing it 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.099 to these believers 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.940 who are together 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.980 working as partners 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.640 for the gospel. 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:52.020 And so we can't have 00:26:52.020 --> 00:26:53.480 one without the other. 00:26:54.120 --> 00:26:55.140 We can't have 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:55.780 the gospel 00:26:55.780 --> 00:26:56.940 without a partnership 00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.780 with other believers. 00:26:59.820 --> 00:27:00.720 Those are things 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.380 to go together. 00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:05.060 And so if you 00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:05.980 are not part 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.500 of a church 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:08.220 I would encourage 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:09.100 you to join one. 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.780 It doesn't have 00:27:10.780 --> 00:27:11.360 to be this church. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:11.860 It could be 00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:12.180 we're having 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.940 an explore class 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.500 this weekend. 00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:15.280 But join some church. 00:27:15.360 --> 00:27:16.080 There's a lot of churches 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:17.039 in Colorado Springs. 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:19.139 But find a partnership. 00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:20.099 Find people 00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.859 to partner with 00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:21.359 in the gospel 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.579 because that is what 00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:24.819 Paul gives joy for here. 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:27.039 He gives joy for people. 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.439 And oh by the way 00:27:28.439 --> 00:27:29.500 a lot of this letter 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.399 actually is not going 00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:31.299 to make sense 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.839 unless you're in the church. 00:27:33.199 --> 00:27:34.399 Because as we read along 00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:35.359 Paul's going to give 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:36.480 commands and orders 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.220 about how people 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.639 in the church 00:27:37.639 --> 00:27:38.559 should get along together. 00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:41.179 He's going to talk to them 00:27:41.179 --> 00:27:41.779 how they work 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:42.419 through conflict 00:27:42.419 --> 00:27:43.039 with each other. 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:46.059 He's going to present them 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.980 in chapter 2 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:48.200 with models 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.779 of people 00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.859 they can follow after. 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:51.039 People that they know 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.259 who are faithful Christians 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:53.339 that they can use 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:53.879 as examples. 00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:59.700 And so this partnership 00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.319 is something 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.099 that is integral 00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:02.000 to Paul's life. 00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:02.359 He doesn't 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.119 Paul doesn't have 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:03.599 a category 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.379 let's put it this way 00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:05.039 Paul does not have 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.519 a category 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.159 for a saint 00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:06.819 without a church. 00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.559 He doesn't have 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.039 a category 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.879 for a partnership 00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:10.659 without a gospel. 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:13.259 And so we see 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.720 it goes on 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.440 in verse 3 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:15.620 Paul loves 00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.220 these people. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:17.779 He thanks God 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.220 for them 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.819 always in every prayer 00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.640 of mine for you all 00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:21.480 making my prayer 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.200 with joy 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:23.480 because of your 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.480 partnership in the gospel 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.259 from the first day 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.819 until now. 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.940 And I am sure 00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.360 of this 00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:30.019 that he who began 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:30.960 a good work in you 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.880 will bring it to completion 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:33.160 at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.700 I don't want to spoil 00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:35.079 too much 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.759 but we're going to see 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.160 next week 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.120 that part of the reason 00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:38.380 Paul is so sure 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:40.380 that these are people 00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:41.000 for whom the work 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:41.740 is going to be brought 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.339 to a completion 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.220 is because they're people 00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:44.420 who are in the partnership. 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:45.900 They're people 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.880 who have served with him 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:47.759 in hard times 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.900 and good times. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.480 And so I said earlier 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.319 we can't have 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:54.359 the partnership 00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.140 without 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:56.059 excuse me 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.799 we can't have the gospel 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.539 without partnership. 00:28:59.140 --> 00:28:59.920 But there's also 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.640 a sense in which 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:01.500 we can't have 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.339 partnership 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:04.099 without the gospel. 00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.099 Remember 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.759 when we were 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.779 in Ruth chapter 3 00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.380 we talked about 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:08.779 the difference 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.440 between thick 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.359 and thin communities 00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:11.019 that there are 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:12.119 thick communities 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:12.979 that can help 00:29:12.979 --> 00:29:14.019 each other 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:15.159 even in the toughest times. 00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:16.539 And there are thin communities 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:16.939 the communities 00:29:16.939 --> 00:29:17.719 are real communities 00:29:17.719 --> 00:29:18.359 but they're based 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.779 around very superficial things. 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:20.959 And so people 00:29:20.959 --> 00:29:21.679 in a thin community 00:29:21.679 --> 00:29:22.599 might know your name 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:24.179 but they're probably 00:29:24.179 --> 00:29:24.939 not going to visit you 00:29:24.939 --> 00:29:25.479 in the hospital. 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:28.019 People in a thick community 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.899 they know your name 00:29:28.899 --> 00:29:29.959 they're going to sit with you 00:29:29.959 --> 00:29:31.659 when you have questions 00:29:31.659 --> 00:29:32.679 they're going to sit with you 00:29:32.679 --> 00:29:34.059 when you're rejoicing 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.959 and when you're in sorrow. 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.519 And you can have 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:37.919 partnerships 00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:38.919 about other things. 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:40.480 You can have 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:40.820 partnerships 00:29:40.820 --> 00:29:41.860 about cycling 00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:42.680 or about hiking 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.180 or about 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:45.240 a number of different 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.759 activities here in Colorado. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.580 And so I'm not going to say 00:29:49.580 --> 00:29:50.480 you can't have partnership 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.360 without the gospel. 00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:53.779 But the gospel 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.720 is the fullest 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.580 partnership. 00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.480 It's the partnership 00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.800 that holds together 00:29:59.800 --> 00:30:00.700 people who have 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.700 nothing else in common. 00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:03.080 It's the partnership 00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:04.060 that brings together 00:30:04.060 --> 00:30:04.960 different generations 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.320 and ethnicities. 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.320 It's the partnership 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:09.019 that's going to withstand 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:11.439 everything else. 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.419 You know you can have 00:30:12.419 --> 00:30:12.839 a partnership 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.659 around an activity 00:30:13.659 --> 00:30:14.240 or an interest 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.099 but what if you lose 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.599 your ability 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.240 to take part 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.779 in that activity? 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:20.159 And how do you resolve 00:30:20.159 --> 00:30:20.599 by the way 00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:21.299 this is going to get 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:21.799 to what we're going 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:22.339 to talk about 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:22.980 in Philippians 2 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.779 how do you resolve 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.500 disagreements? 00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:26.619 What if you have 00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:27.480 divisions about 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.659 how to understand 00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:29.359 that activity? 00:30:30.859 --> 00:30:31.919 That our partnership 00:30:31.919 --> 00:30:32.539 in other words 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:34.019 has to be about something. 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:37.639 We live in a lonely age 00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:38.139 in society 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:38.900 where people long 00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:39.559 for community 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.680 and yet they don't 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.440 know how to find it. 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.539 Now I promised you 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:45.559 two C.S. Lewis quotes 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.359 today and I'm going 00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:46.799 to make good 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:47.440 on my promise. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.799 So the next one 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.139 comes from 00:30:49.139 --> 00:30:49.920 The Four Loves 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:51.359 which is C.S. Lewis' 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.720 book about relationships 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:55.139 and he says this 00:30:55.140 --> 00:30:57.580 people who simply 00:30:57.580 --> 00:30:58.580 want friends 00:30:58.580 --> 00:31:00.820 can never make any. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.280 The very condition 00:31:03.280 --> 00:31:04.280 of having friends 00:31:04.280 --> 00:31:05.560 is that we should 00:31:05.560 --> 00:31:06.560 want something else 00:31:06.560 --> 00:31:07.500 besides friends. 00:31:08.580 --> 00:31:09.420 Where the truthful 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.480 answer to the question 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.440 do you see the same 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:12.160 truth would be 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:13.000 I see nothing 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:13.600 and I don't care 00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:14.160 about the truth. 00:31:14.600 --> 00:31:15.680 I only want a friend. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.120 No friendship 00:31:17.120 --> 00:31:17.880 can arise 00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:19.520 though affection 00:31:19.520 --> 00:31:20.220 of course may. 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:22.040 There would be nothing 00:31:22.040 --> 00:31:22.720 for the friendship 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.400 to be about 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:24.980 and friendship 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.240 must be about something 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.160 even if it were 00:31:27.160 --> 00:31:28.180 only an enthusiasm 00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:29.240 for dominoes 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.019 or white mice. 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:32.120 Those who have nothing 00:31:32.120 --> 00:31:33.400 can share nothing. 00:31:34.340 --> 00:31:35.400 Those who are going 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:36.240 nowhere can have 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.360 no fellow travelers. 00:31:38.540 --> 00:31:39.240 Let me read that 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.460 last sentence again. 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.140 Those who have nothing 00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:43.340 can share nothing. 00:31:44.060 --> 00:31:44.900 Those who are going 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:46.100 nowhere can have 00:31:46.100 --> 00:31:47.660 no fellow travelers. 00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.640 And so in other words 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.400 if you want 00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:52.900 deep and rich 00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:53.960 and lasting community 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:55.480 it has to be about 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.300 something much 00:31:56.300 --> 00:31:57.240 much greater 00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:58.320 than yourself. 00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.000 You know there's 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.620 something that I've 00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:05.200 been thinking about 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:05.759 a lot recently 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.320 and that is 00:32:06.320 --> 00:32:07.740 it's a little bit 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.200 strange. 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.220 It's a little bit 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:11.120 strange that I'm up 00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:11.680 here on a Sunday 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.120 morning 00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:13.720 preaching to you all. 00:32:15.300 --> 00:32:16.280 You know most of you 00:32:16.280 --> 00:32:16.840 many of you 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:17.660 have a military 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:18.080 background. 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:18.620 I've never been 00:32:18.620 --> 00:32:19.140 in the military. 00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:19.259 military. 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:22.220 Most of you are 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:23.300 married or have 00:32:23.300 --> 00:32:23.800 been married and 00:32:23.800 --> 00:32:24.220 I'm not. 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.740 I'm in my 20s 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.280 and most of you 00:32:28.280 --> 00:32:28.660 aren't. 00:32:33.020 --> 00:32:33.700 Most of you are in 00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:34.420 your 30s I know 00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:35.020 that's why it's funny. 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.120 There's a lot of 00:32:39.120 --> 00:32:40.060 places I could go in 00:32:40.060 --> 00:32:40.840 town where there are 00:32:40.840 --> 00:32:41.660 single people in their 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:42.140 20s. 00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:43.780 There are places this 00:32:43.780 --> 00:32:44.660 morning I could go 00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:47.540 and you might say 00:32:47.540 --> 00:32:48.000 well you're here 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.660 because you have a 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.060 job right. 00:32:49.120 --> 00:32:49.440 There are other 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.240 jobs I could find. 00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:53.040 There's work for 00:32:53.040 --> 00:32:53.380 those who are 00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:53.960 willing to work. 00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:57.019 So why am I here 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:59.759 with you all? 00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:03.019 I'm here with you 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.560 all because I want 00:33:03.560 --> 00:33:03.940 the treasure. 00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:07.279 I want the treasure 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:08.080 and I'm willing to 00:33:08.080 --> 00:33:08.880 walk with anyone 00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:09.540 who's going to walk 00:33:09.540 --> 00:33:10.160 there with me. 00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:12.860 And we're here 00:33:12.860 --> 00:33:14.060 together as one 00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:15.059 community following 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.839 Jesus together. 00:33:17.419 --> 00:33:18.639 And so whoever is 00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:19.500 going to walk 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.619 towards Jesus with 00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:22.559 me who's willing 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.460 to help me in that 00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:24.339 and go with me in 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:26.480 that let's come 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.099 let's go. 00:33:29.179 --> 00:33:30.299 And that's Paul's 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:31.240 feeling here about 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.839 these people. 00:33:32.200 --> 00:33:33.000 That's why he finds 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:34.079 joy in thanksgiving 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:35.139 not just in God's 00:33:35.139 --> 00:33:36.079 work not just in the 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.240 gospel but in the 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:37.740 partnership. 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.700 And so that we can 00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:42.599 save each other not 00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:43.359 just that the gospel 00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:44.039 brings it to us 00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:45.240 us joy but that we 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:46.279 bring joy to each 00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.180 other as we pursue 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:48.059 the gospel together. 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.279 That's what's going 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.099 to hold us together 00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:50.720 as a community. 00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:51.379 That's what's going 00:33:51.379 --> 00:33:52.059 to keep us. 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:53.599 That's also what's 00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:54.819 going to actually 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:56.359 result in us finding 00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:57.299 the gospel and 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.240 sticking with it and 00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:58.859 being brought to 00:33:58.859 --> 00:34:00.240 completion at that 00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:00.819 last day. 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:05.019 I have been reading 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:06.200 through slowly the 00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:08.460 Hobbit which I think 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.579 I read at some point 00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:11.579 in my childhood but I 00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.179 hadn't read it in a 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:12.839 long time and I 00:34:12.839 --> 00:34:13.799 really wanted to and 00:34:13.799 --> 00:34:15.679 so I started I 00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:16.339 haven't quite finished 00:34:16.339 --> 00:34:17.659 yet but if you 00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:18.339 remember the very 00:34:18.339 --> 00:34:19.099 beginning we meet 00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:19.460 Bilbo. 00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:22.339 Bilbo is this Hobbit 00:34:22.339 --> 00:34:23.159 now he has some 00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:24.259 adventurous tendencies 00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:25.619 but he really just 00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.480 likes to stay at home. 00:34:27.339 --> 00:34:28.199 He wants his house to 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:29.000 be very orderly. 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:29.980 He wants everything to 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.799 be very predictable 00:34:30.799 --> 00:34:33.039 and then Gandalf comes 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:35.539 and visits him one day 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.079 and he hasn't seen 00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:37.159 Gandalf for a long time. 00:34:37.279 --> 00:34:37.899 Remember Gandalf's this 00:34:37.899 --> 00:34:38.179 wizard. 00:34:38.819 --> 00:34:39.599 Gandalf knocks on his 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:41.019 door and Bilbo's very 00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:41.759 put out by this. 00:34:41.839 --> 00:34:42.559 He doesn't really want 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.440 to see Gandalf but he's 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:44.279 trying to be polite. 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:47.299 So he lets Gandalf in 00:34:47.299 --> 00:34:48.559 and says okay I'll have 00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:49.360 tea with you tomorrow. 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.219 He invites him to tea 00:34:50.219 --> 00:34:52.039 and he thinks he's just 00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:52.940 inviting Gandalf. 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.960 What he doesn't know is 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.719 that Gandalf leaves a 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:56.519 mark on his door. 00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:59.299 And so the next day 00:34:59.299 --> 00:35:00.279 very early people start 00:35:00.279 --> 00:35:01.279 knocking on Bilbo's 00:35:01.279 --> 00:35:03.639 door and dwarves keep 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:04.539 coming in and he thinks 00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.279 okay I have a couple 00:35:05.279 --> 00:35:06.099 dwarves in my house. 00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:06.699 Well then there's two 00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:07.500 more dwarves until 00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:08.819 suddenly his whole house 00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:10.280 is filled with dwarves. 00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:10.940 They're eating all his 00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:11.720 food which he didn't 00:35:11.720 --> 00:35:12.220 want them to. 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:13.260 They're making a mess. 00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:14.580 He's trying to be polite 00:35:14.580 --> 00:35:15.420 and every time he offers 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.220 something to them they 00:35:16.220 --> 00:35:16.940 say yes. 00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:20.380 When they leave his 00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.580 house later they leave 00:35:21.580 --> 00:35:22.280 it in a mess. 00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:26.500 And Bilbo thinks that 00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:27.140 he could just have 00:35:27.140 --> 00:35:27.660 Gandalf. 00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:30.100 He could just invite 00:35:30.100 --> 00:35:30.940 Gandalf into his 00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.460 hobbit hole. 00:35:33.680 --> 00:35:34.660 But Gandalf doesn't 00:35:34.660 --> 00:35:35.240 come alone. 00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:41.459 we can't have God and 00:35:41.459 --> 00:35:43.439 his gospel without his 00:35:43.439 --> 00:35:44.219 people as well. 00:35:45.399 --> 00:35:46.679 We can't have the 00:35:46.679 --> 00:35:48.639 gospel without a 00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:49.139 partnership. 00:35:50.919 --> 00:35:52.799 If Bilbo wants Gandalf 00:35:52.799 --> 00:35:54.299 he has to let all the 00:35:54.299 --> 00:35:55.319 dwarves into his house 00:35:55.319 --> 00:35:55.779 as well. 00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.759 But that's not the end. 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.619 The dwarves then recruit 00:36:01.619 --> 00:36:02.239 him to go on this 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:03.059 adventure he doesn't 00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:04.219 necessarily want to go 00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:04.500 on. 00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:05.480 It requires him leaving 00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.199 his hobbit hole. 00:36:07.279 --> 00:36:08.079 They're going to go and 00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:09.659 get this treasure that a 00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:10.500 dragon has stolen. 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:13.039 So they finally convince 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:13.199 him. 00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:14.259 He goes along with them. 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:16.019 Along the journey Bilbo 00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:17.799 gets to face some of his 00:36:17.799 --> 00:36:18.459 own sin. 00:36:19.379 --> 00:36:20.039 He makes a lot of 00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.539 mistakes. 00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:22.199 At some points the 00:36:22.199 --> 00:36:22.779 dwarves are almost 00:36:22.779 --> 00:36:23.539 tempted to kick him 00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:23.779 out. 00:36:24.619 --> 00:36:25.159 They're not sure if he 00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:26.000 has the skills that they 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:26.899 really think he needs. 00:36:27.839 --> 00:36:28.699 Sometimes he's at the 00:36:28.699 --> 00:36:29.619 end of his wits with 00:36:29.619 --> 00:36:30.539 dwarves and yet they 00:36:30.539 --> 00:36:31.639 keep going together. 00:36:34.219 --> 00:36:35.599 Why do they keep 00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:36.739 walking along the path? 00:36:38.500 --> 00:36:41.059 It's because Bilbo and 00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:42.219 Gandalf and the dwarves 00:36:42.219 --> 00:36:44.419 are all seeking the 00:36:44.419 --> 00:36:45.699 treasure together. 00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:50.159 And they can't do it by 00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:50.639 themselves. 00:36:51.919 --> 00:36:53.299 The dwarves need someone 00:36:53.299 --> 00:36:54.699 small and little who can 00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:55.779 get into small places. 00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:59.059 And Bilbo needs companions 00:36:59.059 --> 00:37:00.299 who can save himself from 00:37:00.300 --> 00:37:01.200 his own stupidity. 00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:04.500 And it's only as they 00:37:04.500 --> 00:37:05.400 work together and they 00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:07.380 partner together for the 00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:09.240 treasure that they're able 00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:10.180 to make it to the end. 00:37:12.240 --> 00:37:13.340 And so brothers and 00:37:13.340 --> 00:37:16.440 sisters, God has given 00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:18.560 us his greatest treasure in 00:37:18.560 --> 00:37:19.000 the gospel. 00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:21.480 He's given us his greatest 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:23.340 treasure in his son, Jesus 00:37:23.340 --> 00:37:23.840 Christ. 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:23.920 Christ. 00:37:25.120 --> 00:37:29.240 And so he calls us not just 00:37:29.240 --> 00:37:31.460 to that gospel, but to a 00:37:31.460 --> 00:37:31.860 partnership. 00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:34.300 He calls us to walk 00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:36.200 towards it together with 00:37:36.200 --> 00:37:37.620 people we might not choose 00:37:37.620 --> 00:37:39.620 to walk with, people who 00:37:39.620 --> 00:37:40.420 are very different from 00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.480 ourselves, people who might 00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:43.220 feel like dwarves when we're 00:37:43.220 --> 00:37:44.519 hobbits, or hobbits when we're 00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:44.900 dwarves. 00:37:45.620 --> 00:37:46.780 But we stick together. 00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:47.200 Why? 00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.940 Because as we find out in 00:37:49.940 --> 00:37:52.600 verse 6, he who began a good 00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:54.420 work in you will bring it to 00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:56.519 completion at the day of 00:37:56.519 --> 00:37:57.139 Christ Jesus. 00:37:58.179 --> 00:37:59.199 Please pray with me. 00:38:00.819 --> 00:38:03.460 Dear Father in heaven, we 00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:04.559 thank you for the goodness of 00:38:04.559 --> 00:38:04.980 your word. 00:38:05.599 --> 00:38:06.759 We thank you for the 00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:09.579 provision of your son, that 00:38:09.579 --> 00:38:11.259 we can have grace and peace. 00:38:12.019 --> 00:38:12.860 And we thank you for the 00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:13.799 partnership that you have 00:38:13.799 --> 00:38:14.980 given us here at Cheyenne 00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:15.259 Mountain. 00:38:17.679 --> 00:38:19.159 We ask that you would stir it 00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:21.039 up in us, that we would seek 00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:22.420 and look to grow more and 00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:24.559 more as we see you working in 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:25.719 our lives and that we would 00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:26.719 partner together in it. 00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:28.860 We ask all these things in the 00:38:28.860 --> 00:38:29.539 name of your son. 00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:30.539 Amen.