WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.160
 Thanks very much, Ben. Good morning, everyone. It's lovely to see so many here in the church

00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:08.540
 and to know there are lots more watching on the live stream or listening to the recording.

00:00:09.060 --> 00:00:13.000
 You will find it helpful if you're trying to follow me. If you have a Bible in front of you,

00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:19.859
 open to 2 Corinthians 10, or if you can get it on your phone. If you were here last Sunday,

00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:25.000
 you may remember that during the service, I gave an update on our church's finances

00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:29.120
 and encourage everyone to think about their giving to the Lord's work here.

00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:33.140
 Thank you. A number of people have responded positively to that. Really grateful.

00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:37.000
 If you still want to give, there is information in the foyer.

00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:42.200
 But I want you to imagine just now, if last week, having asked for your money,

00:00:42.820 --> 00:00:50.799
 I stood up this morning and said, you think you're good Christians, but actually you're really unspiritual.

00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:58.040
 You're self-satisfied, you're proud of yourselves, and you're a bunch of troublemakers.

00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:02.420
 And unless you change pretty quickly, I'm going to get tough with you.

00:01:03.339 --> 00:01:08.760
 Now, imagine if I said that, you might say, well, if he's looking for our money, he can forget it now.

00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:13.379
 There's no need to insult us. Now, let's be clear, I'm not going to do that.

00:01:13.379 --> 00:01:18.339
 But it is very much what Paul does in 2 Corinthians.

00:01:19.299 --> 00:01:23.199
 Last week, we were looking at chapter 9, before that chapter 8 with Graham,

00:01:23.759 --> 00:01:31.879
 and Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to give to help the churches in Judea during a time of famine.

00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:37.599
 And then in chapter 10, there's a really dramatic change of tone.

00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:43.739
 And Paul starts by saying, well, you think I'm timid when I'm with you and both when I'm in writing.

00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:50.060
 Just wait till I come. If you haven't sorted yourselves out, you'll see how tough I can be.

00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.280
 There really is a strong change in the letter.

00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:56.259
 And we might ask, well, why is that?

00:01:56.260 --> 00:02:02.460
 Why does Paul go from being very ingratiating, if that's right words, to the Corinthians,

00:02:02.960 --> 00:02:08.879
 to suddenly slamming them and saying he's going to come and to condemn those who oppose him?

00:02:09.819 --> 00:02:15.939
 One quite attractive theory of that is perhaps Paul wrote 2 Corinthians,

00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:20.640
 having a good report from Titus about what is happening in the church at Corinth.

00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:24.919
 And perhaps when he was writing the first part of the letter,

00:02:25.419 --> 00:02:30.339
 he received more word from Corinth that said, actually, Titus was maybe a bit premature.

00:02:30.979 --> 00:02:33.519
 There are still huge problems in the church.

00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:38.959
 And at that point, he thought, well, I'm going to need to change a bit and be a bit tougher with them.

00:02:39.939 --> 00:02:45.759
 It's possible that's what was the case, but I don't think we need to assume it was something like that.

00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:51.120
 If we look a little bit differently at 2 Corinthians, I think there is a natural flow to it.

00:02:51.899 --> 00:02:55.719
 So the first seven chapters are largely looking backwards.

00:02:56.659 --> 00:02:58.579
 There have been big problems in the church.

00:02:58.719 --> 00:02:59.699
 We'll come back to them.

00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:05.859
 Paul had written to the church and told them they needed to sort themselves out.

00:03:06.519 --> 00:03:10.919
 Titus was able to come back and say, yes, they have largely repented of what they've done.

00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:12.879
 And Paul was really encouraged.

00:03:13.339 --> 00:03:16.839
 And the first seven chapters, on the whole, are quite upbeat.

00:03:17.019 --> 00:03:19.839
 And Paul talks about everything that we have in Lord Jesus.

00:03:20.279 --> 00:03:24.259
 He talks about the future, a glory for the Christians that awaits us.

00:03:24.659 --> 00:03:32.319
 And it's a rejoicing by Paul that the Corinthians have repented, or most of them at least have.

00:03:32.359 --> 00:03:33.759
 That was looking backwards.

00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:37.359
 Chapter 8 and 9 were more looking at the present.

00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:42.220
 So I was saying to the Corinthians, if you really have changed, and I believe you have,

00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:49.920
 why don't you demonstrate that through your generosity to Christians elsewhere who are going through a time of great difficulty?

00:03:50.160 --> 00:03:52.280
 Now is your chance to do that.

00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:56.220
 And Paul expresses confidence that indeed they will.

00:03:57.380 --> 00:04:01.120
 And then in chapters 10 through 13, he is looking forward.

00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:04.700
 He's thinking, I'm going to be visiting Corinth again.

00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:08.620
 And when I do, I want to make sure the church is in good shape.

00:04:09.180 --> 00:04:14.379
 I don't want to be going there and having to judge them and to put things right.

00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:21.139
 And chapters 10 to 13 are Paul preparing the way in advance and saying to the Christians in Corinth,

00:04:21.139 --> 00:04:25.879
 if you can sort things out, it will be a good visit that I'll come with.

00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:31.539
 If you're still following those who oppose me and are not preaching the right message,

00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:35.759
 well, then I'm going to have to come and be tough and sort things out.

00:04:36.459 --> 00:04:43.399
 So although the juxtaposition of chapters 9 and 10 might slightly jar us in 21st century Scotland,

00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:44.800
 there is a logic to them.

00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:50.660
 And I think in first century Greece, they wouldn't have come across in quite the same way.

00:04:51.340 --> 00:04:54.620
 But we definitely are now in a different part of the letter.

00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:00.139
 And for the next four chapters, Paul is going to be defending himself.

00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:05.639
 He's going to be defending himself against those who say he's not really a true apostle,

00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:07.740
 that the people shouldn't follow him.

00:05:08.080 --> 00:05:12.680
 And he's going to be saying to the church, they have to get rid of these people.

00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:15.759
 And he uses lots of different ways of doing that.

00:05:15.840 --> 00:05:17.740
 There's quite a lot of irony in the chapters.

00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:20.720
 You may notice he go through a little bit of sarcasm.

00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:23.699
 And Paul uses the word boast a lot.

00:05:23.840 --> 00:05:25.259
 You'll see this in today's passage.

00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:27.860
 And we get again and again as we go through.

00:05:28.660 --> 00:05:31.740
 Said with some embarrassment, Paul doesn't want to boast,

00:05:31.860 --> 00:05:36.079
 but feels that he needs to just to highlight how much better he is

00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:39.460
 than these people who are opposing him.

00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:47.419
 Let's just take a minute before we dig into the passage to remind ourselves of who it is that Paul's talking about.

00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:54.259
 They're probably Jews encouraging the Corinthians to follow more of the Jewish religion

00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:59.039
 rather than just rely on faith in Jesus alone for their salvation.

00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:04.700
 They were people who came with oratory, who had a bit of presence to them,

00:06:05.140 --> 00:06:12.340
 and who came to the church expecting to be supported financially by it and to be looked up to in it.

00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:16.480
 They would talk of mystical experiences they had of the Lord.

00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:19.340
 They would try to show works of power, miracles,

00:06:19.780 --> 00:06:25.259
 and they would present themselves as what Paul will call in a couple of chapters later, super apostles.

00:06:25.259 --> 00:06:27.639
 We are the real deal.

00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:30.159
 We are the people who are really spiritual.

00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:32.639
 You need to follow us.

00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:35.019
 And they looked at Paul and said,

00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:36.159
 he's a little man.

00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:37.319
 He's not very imposing.

00:06:37.459 --> 00:06:38.879
 He's not the greatest of speakers.

00:06:39.379 --> 00:06:40.879
 He even is a manual laborer.

00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:42.180
 He makes tents for a living.

00:06:42.659 --> 00:06:44.319
 Why should people listen to him?

00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:48.399
 We are much more positive in our preaching,

00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:51.259
 and we are the ones that you should follow.

00:06:51.259 --> 00:06:51.779
 Follow.

00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:54.420
 But crucially for Paul,

00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:57.639
 they weren't bringing the right gospel to the church.

00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:59.800
 They weren't building the church up.

00:06:59.899 --> 00:07:01.560
 They were just there for their own good,

00:07:01.719 --> 00:07:03.699
 so that people would think a lot of them,

00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:05.459
 and would give them lots of money.

00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:10.300
 They didn't have any real interest in the Christians in Corinth.

00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:15.259
 And so Paul in these chapters will defend himself against a number of accusations.

00:07:16.099 --> 00:07:18.060
 I'll just give an idea of where we're going this morning.

00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:23.079
 There are a couple of particular criticisms that Paul deals with.

00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:26.300
 The chapter divides itself quite neatly into two sections,

00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:27.480
 from verse 1 to 11,

00:07:27.660 --> 00:07:30.079
 and then from verse 12 to verse 18.

00:07:30.819 --> 00:07:32.000
 And in the first section,

00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:34.579
 the people who oppose Paul are saying,

00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:36.259
 he's bold when he writes.

00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:39.740
 He's willing to have a go at us in writing.

00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:41.639
 When he's actually with us,

00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:42.519
 he's very timid.

00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:46.439
 He doesn't follow up what he says he will when he's writing.

00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:51.480
 He is really not a person who has great confidence in himself,

00:07:51.899 --> 00:07:54.360
 or who's someone that you should listen to.

00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:56.980
 Paul responds to that in these verses.

00:07:58.060 --> 00:08:00.019
 And then verses 12 through to 18,

00:08:00.459 --> 00:08:01.660
 the people are saying,

00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:04.360
 well, he's not got any commendation with them.

00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:06.439
 We come with our letters,

00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:08.040
 saying how great we are,

00:08:08.100 --> 00:08:09.839
 and all the wonderful things we've done.

00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:12.060
 Where does Paul have that?

00:08:13.019 --> 00:08:14.780
 And so Paul has to deal with that

00:08:14.780 --> 00:08:16.800
 in the second part of the chapter.

00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:20.379
 Now, below that, there are a number of sub-themes.

00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:22.379
 Now, the questions here aren't quite too clear-cut,

00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:25.079
 but let me just suggest the kind of things

00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:27.519
 that the people might have been saying.

00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:29.379
 So they were saying,

00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:30.579
 Paul's worldly.

00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:32.460
 He's not spiritual.

00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.460
 We are super-Christians.

00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:35.720
 We are super-apostles.

00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:37.399
 Paul's not like that.

00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:40.940
 He just doesn't have the spiritual power that we do.

00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:43.960
 They also question Paul's authority.

00:08:44.820 --> 00:08:45.440
 They're saying,

00:08:45.560 --> 00:08:47.820
 Paul's constantly criticising you.

00:08:48.180 --> 00:08:49.220
 He's putting you down.

00:08:49.300 --> 00:08:52.420
 What kind of authority does he have to do that?

00:08:53.420 --> 00:08:54.680
 And then they're saying,

00:08:54.940 --> 00:08:56.900
 he's encroaching on our patch.

00:08:57.200 --> 00:08:58.880
 We are the people in Corinth now.

00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:01.220
 What right has Paul got to come

00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:03.520
 and to tell you what to do?

00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:05.780
 And it's that kind of criticism

00:09:05.780 --> 00:09:08.180
 that we'll be thinking about.

00:09:08.179 --> 00:09:10.599
 Paul, though, turns it around

00:09:10.599 --> 00:09:13.899
 and he presents things much more positively.

00:09:14.039 --> 00:09:15.479
 And I want to focus more this morning

00:09:15.479 --> 00:09:16.559
 rather than the criticism

00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:20.500
 on the priorities that Paul presents to us.

00:09:21.339 --> 00:09:23.639
 So when they talk about him being hard

00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:24.620
 or being soft,

00:09:25.099 --> 00:09:25.639
 Paul says,

00:09:25.859 --> 00:09:27.620
 I want to appeal to you

00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:30.439
 with the gentleness of Christ.

00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:33.620
 When they say that they're spiritual

00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:34.600
 and he's worldly,

00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:35.740
 Paul says,

00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:36.980
 what I really want

00:09:36.980 --> 00:09:40.120
 is to have the mind of Christ.

00:09:40.900 --> 00:09:42.560
 When they say he's only interested

00:09:42.560 --> 00:09:43.600
 in criticising,

00:09:43.900 --> 00:09:45.660
 that he's not really helping the church,

00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:46.660
 Paul says,

00:09:46.780 --> 00:09:48.840
 my concern is the body of Christ

00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:49.860
 in building up,

00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:51.760
 not in bringing down.

00:09:52.900 --> 00:09:54.760
 When they say he's got no commendation,

00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:56.280
 he didn't come with all these letters,

00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:57.299
 Paul says,

00:09:57.379 --> 00:09:58.899
 what really matters to me

00:09:58.899 --> 00:10:00.720
 is the commendation of Christ,

00:10:00.819 --> 00:10:02.939
 that the Lord Jesus is happy

00:10:02.939 --> 00:10:04.500
 with what I do.

00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:06.639
 And when the question is right

00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:08.480
 to encroach on where they are,

00:10:08.899 --> 00:10:09.500
 Paul says,

00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:10.759
 I was sent to you

00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:12.339
 with the gospel of Christ

00:10:12.339 --> 00:10:15.480
 and that is what I'm going to bring to you.

00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:17.059
 So that's where we're going.

00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:18.939
 We'll briefly talk about each of these

00:10:18.939 --> 00:10:20.259
 and then at the end,

00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:21.839
 we'll pull it together.

00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:25.420
 So let's begin

00:10:25.420 --> 00:10:28.000
 with the Corinthians saying about Paul

00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:31.639
 that he's timid when he's with them,

00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:33.899
 but he's bold when he writes to them

00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:35.620
 and Paul countering that.

00:10:36.340 --> 00:10:37.639
 So this little picture

00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:38.700
 I put up on the screen

00:10:38.700 --> 00:10:40.160
 is a brief summary

00:10:40.160 --> 00:10:42.460
 of Paul's dealings with the Corinthians.

00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:44.240
 So his first visit

00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:45.560
 we read about in the book of Acts.

00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:46.340
 He went to Corinth

00:10:46.340 --> 00:10:47.519
 after he'd been to Athens

00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:50.420
 and he had a fairly difficult time there,

00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:52.319
 but he established a church.

00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:54.139
 He established a church

00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:55.259
 that really flourished.

00:10:55.839 --> 00:10:57.240
 It was supremely gifted.

00:10:57.459 --> 00:10:58.979
 They had lots of spiritual gifts

00:10:58.979 --> 00:11:00.779
 and they were able to grow

00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:02.099
 and to develop.

00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:05.219
 But they also developed lots of issues.

00:11:05.339 --> 00:11:06.319
 That was 1 Corinthians.

00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:07.979
 Paul's first letter is in our Bible

00:11:07.979 --> 00:11:09.939
 is about lots of issues

00:11:09.939 --> 00:11:10.919
 that Corinthians had

00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:12.240
 because they just thought

00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:13.759
 a little too much of themselves

00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:15.339
 and they didn't deal

00:11:15.339 --> 00:11:16.980
 with some of the sin and issues

00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:19.059
 that they had in the church.

00:11:19.059 --> 00:11:21.819
 So 1 Corinthians is in our Bible.

00:11:23.359 --> 00:11:24.939
 Paul then found that things were going

00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:26.459
 or heard that things were getting worse

00:11:26.459 --> 00:11:26.979
 in Corinth

00:11:26.979 --> 00:11:29.239
 and he went back again.

00:11:29.699 --> 00:11:30.819
 What's sometimes called

00:11:30.819 --> 00:11:32.219
 his painful visit.

00:11:32.939 --> 00:11:34.439
 He went and essentially

00:11:34.439 --> 00:11:36.719
 he was rejected by the church.

00:11:37.239 --> 00:11:38.839
 These people who'd come in

00:11:38.839 --> 00:11:40.739
 and were trying to present themselves

00:11:40.739 --> 00:11:42.579
 as superior to Paul

00:11:42.579 --> 00:11:44.159
 had wormed their way in

00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:46.219
 and they had taken a lot of control

00:11:46.219 --> 00:11:47.559
 within the church.

00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:50.339
 And Paul then had a very difficult

00:11:50.339 --> 00:11:51.459
 decision to make.

00:11:51.979 --> 00:11:52.639
 He could have been

00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:53.779
 very confrontational.

00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:55.459
 He could have said

00:11:55.459 --> 00:11:56.539
 no they're all wrong

00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:58.379
 and I'm the true apostle

00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:00.319
 and you've got to listen to me

00:12:00.319 --> 00:12:02.519
 and got into a bit of a slanging match.

00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:05.559
 But he decided not to do that.

00:12:06.179 --> 00:12:07.579
 Out of love and consideration

00:12:07.579 --> 00:12:08.419
 for the church

00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:10.759
 he didn't want to split it completely.

00:12:11.239 --> 00:12:12.659
 He decided at that point

00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:14.599
 not to bring judgment on them

00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:16.820
 but to leave fairly quietly.

00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:19.500
 But what he did after that

00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:20.440
 was he wrote them

00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:21.139
 what's known as

00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:22.300
 his severe letter.

00:12:22.420 --> 00:12:23.500
 Now that's not in our Bible

00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:25.519
 but it's referred to

00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:26.899
 in 2 Corinthians.

00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:29.200
 What he didn't feel able

00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:29.980
 to say to them

00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:31.100
 face to face

00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:32.500
 he put in a letter

00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.940
 and sent to them

00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:35.540
 via Titus.

00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:37.279
 And that's why the Corinthians

00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:37.720
 are saying

00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:38.960
 or those who've come to Corinth

00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:39.519
 are saying

00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:41.019
 he's bold when he writes

00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.059
 and he's timid

00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:42.980
 when he's with us.

00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:44.220
 It was Paul

00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:45.100
 out of consideration

00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:45.960
 for the church

00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:47.199
 not wanting to split it

00:12:47.199 --> 00:12:48.600
 by getting to a slanging match

00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:49.399
 with them

00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.559
 but to write them

00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:51.699
 his considered views

00:12:51.699 --> 00:12:53.840
 and warnings

00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:55.360
 of what might happen

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.919
 if they didn't change.

00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:58.639
 So that last letter

00:12:58.639 --> 00:12:59.019
 as I said

00:12:59.019 --> 00:13:00.159
 was sent with Titus.

00:13:00.439 --> 00:13:01.679
 The church responded

00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:02.460
 well to it

00:13:02.460 --> 00:13:03.379
 didn't become perfect

00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:04.019
 by any means

00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:05.079
 responded well

00:13:05.079 --> 00:13:06.579
 and Titus came back

00:13:06.579 --> 00:13:07.500
 with the good report

00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:09.079
 and that's when Paul

00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:10.580
 wrote 2 Corinthians.

00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:11.820
 And as I said

00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:12.420
 he looks forward

00:13:12.420 --> 00:13:13.860
 in that to his third visit

00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:15.000
 and hopes that

00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:15.660
 that will be

00:13:15.660 --> 00:13:17.100
 more positive.

00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:19.780
 So if we go back

00:13:19.780 --> 00:13:20.660
 to our thing

00:13:20.660 --> 00:13:21.759
 about Paul's priorities

00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:23.139
 what do we learn

00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:24.020
 then in these

00:13:24.020 --> 00:13:24.940
 opening verses

00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.780
 about Paul's

00:13:26.780 --> 00:13:27.560
 approach?

00:13:28.400 --> 00:13:29.500
 Paul almost says

00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:30.200
 in these verses

00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:31.300
 I'm going to do

00:13:31.300 --> 00:13:31.920
 the opposite

00:13:31.920 --> 00:13:32.980
 of what you said

00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:33.440
 I'd do.

00:13:34.160 --> 00:13:34.740
 You said

00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:35.540
 I would be bold

00:13:35.540 --> 00:13:36.140
 in writing

00:13:36.140 --> 00:13:37.860
 and I would be timid

00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:38.900
 when I come to you

00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:40.840
 actually in my writing

00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:42.139
 I'm going to be gentle

00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:43.519
 I'm going to plead

00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:43.899
 with you

00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:44.659
 I'm not going

00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:45.579
 to force you

00:13:45.579 --> 00:13:47.500
 but if you don't change

00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:48.500
 when I come to you

00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:49.679
 things will be

00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:51.379
 very different.

00:13:52.659 --> 00:13:53.720
 Paul wanted

00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:54.399
 them to change

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.079
 he was desperate

00:13:55.079 --> 00:13:56.240
 for them to change

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:57.379
 without him having

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:57.959
 to come

00:13:57.959 --> 00:13:59.860
 and to force it

00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.879
 on them.

00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:02.819
 And he says

00:14:02.819 --> 00:14:04.980
 in verse 1

00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:06.059
 by the humility

00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:07.179
 and gentleness

00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:07.959
 of Christ

00:14:07.959 --> 00:14:09.419
 I appeal

00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:10.539
 to you.

00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:12.839
 Very measured

00:14:12.839 --> 00:14:13.819
 very calm

00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:14.779
 but also

00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:16.159
 very compelling.

00:14:17.459 --> 00:14:18.199
 And he says

00:14:18.199 --> 00:14:19.199
 in doing this

00:14:19.199 --> 00:14:20.319
 I'm following

00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:21.059
 the example

00:14:21.059 --> 00:14:22.639
 of Jesus.

00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:24.439
 Now of course

00:14:24.439 --> 00:14:24.919
 we know

00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:25.639
 if we read

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.299
 the gospels

00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:27.179
 that Jesus says

00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:28.159
 Matthew chapter 11

00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:28.919
 take my yoke

00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:29.639
 upon you

00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:31.279
 and learn from me

00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:32.819
 for I am gentle

00:14:32.819 --> 00:14:33.539
 and humble

00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.199
 in heart

00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:35.259
 and you will

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.180
 find rest

00:14:36.180 --> 00:14:37.440
 for your souls.

00:14:37.560 --> 00:14:38.660
 And in some ways

00:14:38.660 --> 00:14:39.620
 that is exactly

00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.520
 what Paul is trying

00:14:40.520 --> 00:14:41.280
 to do here

00:14:41.280 --> 00:14:42.400
 being humble

00:14:42.400 --> 00:14:43.520
 and gentle

00:14:43.520 --> 00:14:44.720
 but enabling

00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:45.600
 the Corinthians

00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:46.740
 to learn

00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:47.740
 from him.

00:14:48.800 --> 00:14:49.259
 But I think

00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:49.879
 it's maybe a bit

00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:50.580
 more in what

00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:51.379
 Paul says

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.480
 than that.

00:14:53.060 --> 00:14:53.879
 If we think

00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:54.640
 back to the life

00:14:54.640 --> 00:14:55.140
 of Jesus

00:14:55.140 --> 00:14:56.480
 now Jesus

00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.720
 could be very firm

00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:58.540
 when he chose

00:14:58.540 --> 00:14:58.940
 to be.

00:14:59.420 --> 00:14:59.860
 When it was

00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.700
 the money changes

00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:01.379
 in the temple

00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:02.480
 or when it was

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.779
 exposing the hypocrisy

00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.799
 of the Pharisees

00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:06.120
 Jesus didn't

00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:07.240
 hold back.

00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:09.039
 But when he came

00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:09.419
 to earth

00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:10.299
 the first time

00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:11.539
 he didn't come

00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.659
 in judgment.

00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:14.779
 John 3 17 says

00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:15.860
 God did not send

00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.240
 his son

00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:16.879
 to condemn

00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.480
 the world

00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:18.939
 but to save

00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:19.539
 the world

00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:20.620
 through him.

00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.360
 He gave plenty

00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:23.320
 of opportunities

00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:23.899
 for people

00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:24.580
 to repent

00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:25.480
 and change

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.120
 their ways.

00:15:26.820 --> 00:15:27.779
 But when ultimately

00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:28.659
 he was rejected

00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.799
 by his own people

00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:31.019
 when he was nailed

00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:31.879
 to the cross

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.019
 he didn't bring

00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:34.019
 down condemnation

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:34.579
 and judgment

00:15:34.579 --> 00:15:35.240
 on them

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.079
 he says

00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:37.360
 Father forgive them

00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.519
 for they don't

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:40.039
 know what they do.

00:15:40.579 --> 00:15:41.460
 His first coming

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:43.379
 was not to judge.

00:15:43.939 --> 00:15:44.279
 And similarly

00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:44.939
 Paul's saying

00:15:44.939 --> 00:15:45.899
 when I came first

00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:46.419
 and found all

00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:47.199
 these problems

00:15:47.199 --> 00:15:48.259
 I didn't come

00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:48.799
 in judgment

00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.079
 I came to give

00:15:50.079 --> 00:15:50.779
 you a chance

00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.879
 to change.

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.579
 Over the last

00:15:53.579 --> 00:15:54.519
 2,000 years

00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:55.000
 we've lived

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:55.500
 in a period

00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.539
 of God's grace.

00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:57.860
 And we have

00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:58.559
 God's word

00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:59.559
 that tells us

00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.559
 about how

00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.019
 our God

00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.319
 is

00:16:01.319 --> 00:16:01.859
 about his

00:16:01.859 --> 00:16:02.279
 holiness

00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:03.419
 and also

00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:04.019
 about his

00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:04.479
 love

00:16:04.479 --> 00:16:05.379
 and that

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.019
 urges us

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:06.599
 to repent

00:16:06.599 --> 00:16:07.819
 and to turn

00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:08.500
 away

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:09.639
 from our sins.

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.079
 And many

00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:10.599
 millions

00:16:10.599 --> 00:16:11.399
 over the years

00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.339
 have done

00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:12.739
 that

00:16:12.739 --> 00:16:13.500
 and come

00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.099
 to faith

00:16:14.099 --> 00:16:15.079
 in Jesus.

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.559
 But there

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.079
 are warnings

00:16:17.079 --> 00:16:17.819
 in the Bible

00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:18.500
 about what

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:18.979
 happens

00:16:18.979 --> 00:16:20.059
 if we don't

00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:20.519
 do it

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.559
 just like

00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:22.439
 Paul does

00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:23.179
 in his

00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:23.619
 letter

00:16:23.619 --> 00:16:24.439
 here.

00:16:25.339 --> 00:16:25.579
 And when

00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:26.159
 Jesus comes

00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:26.719
 again for

00:16:26.719 --> 00:16:27.179
 the second

00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:27.519
 time

00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:27.819
 we don't

00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:28.119
 know when

00:16:28.119 --> 00:16:28.659
 that will be

00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:29.059
 could be

00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:29.599
 very soon

00:16:29.599 --> 00:16:30.339
 when Jesus

00:16:30.339 --> 00:16:31.059
 comes again

00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:31.479
 for the

00:16:31.479 --> 00:16:32.259
 second time

00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:33.459
 he won't

00:16:33.459 --> 00:16:33.899
 be coming

00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:34.759
 to save

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.179
 the world

00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:35.779
 to take

00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:36.259
 the sins

00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:36.739
 of the world

00:16:36.739 --> 00:16:37.339
 as he did

00:16:37.339 --> 00:16:38.219
 when he died

00:16:38.219 --> 00:16:39.000
 on the cross.

00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:40.399
 Rather he'll

00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:40.859
 be coming

00:16:40.859 --> 00:16:41.559
 so that people

00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:42.379
 can be divided

00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:42.919
 into two

00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:43.359
 groups.

00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:44.479
 Those who

00:16:44.479 --> 00:16:45.019
 have trusted

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:45.439
 Jesus

00:16:45.439 --> 00:16:45.839
 who have

00:16:45.839 --> 00:16:46.319
 obeyed

00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:46.699
 what he

00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:47.119
 said

00:16:47.119 --> 00:16:47.619
 who have

00:16:47.619 --> 00:16:48.139
 their faith

00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:48.719
 in him

00:16:48.719 --> 00:16:49.479
 and not

00:16:49.479 --> 00:16:50.199
 in themselves

00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:51.419
 and those

00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:51.959
 who have

00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:52.799
 rejected

00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:53.319
 Jesus.

00:16:54.119 --> 00:16:54.579
 And those

00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:54.759
 who have

00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.419
 rejected him

00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:55.799
 will be

00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:56.239
 judged

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.039
 and will

00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.379
 be

00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.379
 eternally

00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:59.399
 condemned.

00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:00.639
 That's a

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.379
 really solemn

00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:01.720
 thought.

00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:02.019
 It's one

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:02.480
 perhaps we

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:02.960
 don't talk

00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:03.879
 about often

00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.960
 enough in

00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.400
 church.

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.480
 There's a

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:06.779
 judgment

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.980
 coming and

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:08.480
 we all

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:08.980
 need to

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.680
 make sure

00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.359
 that our

00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:10.880
 trust is

00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:11.380
 in Jesus

00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.440
 so that we

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:12.980
 can escape

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.640
 that judgment

00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:14.180
 and have

00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.400
 eternal life

00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:16.319
 through him.

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:17.759
 Maybe I

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.240
 could echo

00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:18.940
 Paul's

00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.299
 words.

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:20.740
 By the

00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.240
 humility

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:22.480
 and gentleness

00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.180
 of Christ

00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:24.660
 I appeal

00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.099
 to you to

00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:25.680
 make sure

00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.039
 that you

00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:26.560
 are right

00:17:26.560 --> 00:17:27.200
 with God

00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:28.180
 through faith

00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:28.620
 in Jesus

00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.100
 so that

00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:29.539
 when he

00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:30.120
 returns

00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:31.039
 you will

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.740
 be saved

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.860
 and not

00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:33.820
 condemned.

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.480
 Something there

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.299
 for everyone

00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:35.779
 to think

00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.000
 about.

00:17:36.100 --> 00:17:36.360
 And if we

00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:37.360
 are Christians

00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:37.820
 if we are

00:17:37.820 --> 00:17:38.600
 following Jesus

00:17:38.600 --> 00:17:39.500
 to reflect

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.000
 on that

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.360
 and to

00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:40.779
 think how

00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:41.240
 we can

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.039
 help others

00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:42.900
 to understand

00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:43.860
 their need

00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:44.620
 of the

00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.220
 Lord Jesus.

00:17:46.100 --> 00:17:46.580
 That is

00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.580
 the gentleness

00:17:47.580 --> 00:17:48.299
 of Christ

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.160
 that Paul

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:49.840
 displays.

00:17:51.100 --> 00:17:51.560
 The second

00:17:51.560 --> 00:17:51.920
 thing we want

00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:52.400
 to think about

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:52.840
 is the

00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:53.500
 mind of

00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:53.840
 Christ.

00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.080
 We're

00:17:54.080 --> 00:17:54.480
 looking at

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.259
 verses 3

00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:55.920
 to 6

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.460
 here.

00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:57.980
 And the

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.559
 accusation

00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:58.900
 that's been

00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.500
 made against

00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.339
 Paul is

00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:00.680
 at the

00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:01.000
 end of

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.579
 verse 2

00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:01.880
 where he

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:02.319
 talks about

00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:02.940
 people who

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:03.920
 think that

00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:04.339
 we live

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:04.779
 by the

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.319
 standards

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.360
 of this

00:18:06.360 --> 00:18:07.019
 world.

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.299
 I think

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:08.819
 what they're

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.660
 saying here

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:11.039
 is that

00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.019
 they are

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.700
 strong

00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:13.319
 Christians

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:13.880
 full of

00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:14.240
 the Holy

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:14.680
 Spirit

00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:15.620
 and they

00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:16.000
 are able

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.420
 to say

00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:16.940
 exactly

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.440
 what they

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:17.839
 think

00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.640
 and to

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.039
 teach the

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.339
 people

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:19.920
 in exactly

00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.440
 the way

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.480
 they want.

00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:22.680
 Paul

00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.640
 lives by

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.080
 a different

00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:24.660
 standard.

00:18:25.320 --> 00:18:25.920
 He's not

00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.800
 got the

00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:28.220
 spiritual courage

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:28.759
 and the

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.620
 spiritual ability

00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:30.820
 to deal

00:18:30.820 --> 00:18:31.920
 with problems

00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:33.060
 face to face.

00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:33.820
 He has to

00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:34.519
 try and do it

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:34.940
 in writing.

00:18:35.060 --> 00:18:35.580
 That's a very

00:18:35.580 --> 00:18:36.519
 worldly way

00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.060
 of looking at

00:18:37.060 --> 00:18:37.539
 things,

00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.620
 they say.

00:18:39.820 --> 00:18:40.519
 Paul says

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.580
 not at all.

00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:43.019
 What is

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.880
 key here

00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:44.759
 is that we're

00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.240
 in a battle.

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:45.759
 The language

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.220
 of verses

00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:47.119
 3-5

00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:47.839
 is very

00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:48.339
 much the

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:48.879
 language

00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:49.559
 of

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.299
 warfare.

00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:51.640
 Paul says

00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.220
 I'm fighting

00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:52.779
 a battle,

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.259
 I'm going

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:53.740
 to win

00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.480
 that battle

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.519
 and in

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:55.900
 particular

00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.539
 he says

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.319
 the battle

00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:57.980
 is for

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.960
 the mind,

00:18:59.279 --> 00:18:59.779
 to have

00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:00.480
 the mind

00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.319
 of

00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:02.240
 Christ.

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.200
 Verse 5

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.579
 he says

00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.079
 we take

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:05.480
 captive

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.440
 every thought

00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:07.379
 to make

00:19:07.379 --> 00:19:07.700
 it

00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:08.539
 obedient

00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:09.480
 to

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:10.379
 Christ.

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.819
 That's a

00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.420
 great theme

00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:12.960
 as we go

00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.460
 through the

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.160
 New Testament.

00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.680
 that the

00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:16.380
 battle in

00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:17.160
 our lives

00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:17.980
 is very

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:18.680
 largely a

00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.340
 battle for

00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:20.300
 our minds.

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.180
 Paul writes

00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:22.660
 in Romans

00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.080
 12,

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.519
 do not

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.180
 conform to

00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:24.680
 the pattern

00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.120
 of this

00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:25.560
 world

00:19:25.560 --> 00:19:26.700
 but be

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.480
 transformed

00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.340
 by the

00:19:28.340 --> 00:19:28.800
 renewing

00:19:28.800 --> 00:19:29.100
 of your

00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:29.400
 mind

00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:29.840
 then you

00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:30.080
 will be

00:19:30.080 --> 00:19:30.420
 able to

00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:30.940
 test and

00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:31.320
 approve

00:19:31.320 --> 00:19:32.360
 what God's

00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:32.900
 good will

00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.300
 is.

00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:34.580
 His good

00:19:34.580 --> 00:19:35.480
 pleasing

00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:37.200
 and perfect

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:38.180
 will.

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.620
 Above

00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:40.500
 anything else

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.120
 in our

00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:41.560
 lives,

00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:42.700
 if we are

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:43.140
 Christians,

00:19:43.320 --> 00:19:43.820
 if we know

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.579
 Jesus as

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.059
 saviour,

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.200
 we need

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:46.980
 to seek

00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.339
 to have

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:47.879
 the mind

00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.519
 of Christ

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.539
 to be

00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.099
 filled with

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:50.639
 thoughts of

00:19:50.639 --> 00:19:51.179
 him and

00:19:51.179 --> 00:19:51.579
 of his

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.200
 standards

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.019
 and to

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.500
 live by

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:54.480
 these and

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.259
 not the

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.679
 world's

00:19:55.679 --> 00:19:56.220
 standards.

00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.259
 That's just

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:57.980
 what I've

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.419
 been doing.

00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:58.819
 You may

00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.299
 accuse me

00:19:59.299 --> 00:19:59.579
 of being

00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.059
 worldly.

00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.079
 I've been

00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.879
 trying with

00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:02.439
 love and

00:20:02.439 --> 00:20:03.379
 with gentleness

00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.379
 to help you

00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:04.740
 to get in

00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.119
 the right

00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:05.579
 path.

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.980
 But I

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.259
 have the

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:07.639
 mind of

00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.220
 Christ and

00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:08.519
 if you

00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:08.980
 don't,

00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:09.859
 then there

00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.379
 will be

00:20:10.379 --> 00:20:11.379
 consequences.

00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:12.879
 Paul says

00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:13.339
 in Colossians

00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:14.019
 chapter 3,

00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:14.659
 set your

00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:15.339
 mind on

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.240
 things above,

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.579
 not on

00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.500
 earthly

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.059
 things.

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.099
 Can I

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.619
 challenge us

00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:21.179
 this morning?

00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:22.359
 What do

00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:23.439
 we do to

00:20:23.439 --> 00:20:24.019
 make sure

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.439
 that we

00:20:24.439 --> 00:20:25.279
 have the

00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.379
 mind of

00:20:26.379 --> 00:20:26.839
 Christ?

00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.220
 I suggest

00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:28.679
 the key

00:20:28.679 --> 00:20:29.199
 things in

00:20:29.199 --> 00:20:30.179
 that are

00:20:30.179 --> 00:20:30.759
 reading our

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.519
 Bibles and

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.439
 meditating on

00:20:32.439 --> 00:20:33.139
 God's Word

00:20:33.139 --> 00:20:34.179
 and spending

00:20:34.179 --> 00:20:34.759
 time in

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.220
 prayer,

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.319
 looking for

00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:37.079
 God's will

00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:37.959
 and his

00:20:37.959 --> 00:20:39.199
 guidance in

00:20:39.199 --> 00:20:39.879
 our lives.

00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:40.480
 If we're

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:40.940
 Christians,

00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:41.320
 if we're

00:20:41.320 --> 00:20:41.960
 followers of

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.280
 Jesus,

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.640
 very important

00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:44.000
 that we

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.300
 have the

00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:44.760
 mind of

00:20:44.760 --> 00:20:45.060
 Christ,

00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:45.360
 that we

00:20:45.360 --> 00:20:45.780
 look at

00:20:45.780 --> 00:20:46.780
 the world

00:20:46.780 --> 00:20:47.320
 from his

00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:47.960
 perspective,

00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:48.660
 not from

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.260
 the way

00:20:49.260 --> 00:20:49.760
 the world

00:20:49.760 --> 00:20:50.320
 looks at

00:20:50.320 --> 00:20:50.560
 it,

00:20:50.820 --> 00:20:51.200
 and we

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.640
 seek to

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.040
 be

00:20:52.040 --> 00:20:52.700
 obedient

00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.840
 to it.

00:20:55.280 --> 00:20:55.780
 Third

00:20:55.780 --> 00:20:56.040
 point,

00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:56.280
 then,

00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:57.120
 is on

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:57.860
 the body

00:20:57.860 --> 00:20:58.540
 of Christ.

00:20:59.420 --> 00:20:59.920
 So the

00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:01.000
 troublemakers

00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.740
 in Corinth

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.900
 seem to be

00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.340
 saying,

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.540
 Paul is

00:21:04.540 --> 00:21:05.060
 just someone

00:21:05.060 --> 00:21:05.880
 who criticizes

00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:06.660
 constantly,

00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.620
 but he's

00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:08.000
 not got

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.540
 the authority

00:21:08.540 --> 00:21:09.060
 to do

00:21:09.060 --> 00:21:09.320
 it,

00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:09.900
 and you

00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.500
 should just

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.500
 ignore him.

00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.259
 In fact,

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:12.800
 they seem to

00:21:12.800 --> 00:21:13.160
 be saying,

00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.000
 he may not

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.740
 even be a

00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.140
 Christian.

00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:16.440
 If he's

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:16.940
 not got

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:17.460
 the spirit

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.000
 of Jesus

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.420
 in him

00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:18.759
 the way

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:19.120
 that we

00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:19.440
 do,

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.220
 is he

00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:20.759
 really a

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.240
 Christian

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.420
 at all?

00:21:23.060 --> 00:21:23.700
 Apocryphals

00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.140
 that one

00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:24.900
 straight away,

00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:26.540
 that he's

00:21:26.540 --> 00:21:26.980
 saying they're

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.519
 judging by

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:27.920
 appearance,

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.279
 or maybe

00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.080
 it could

00:21:29.080 --> 00:21:29.440
 be better

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:29.960
 translated,

00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:30.460
 you're

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:30.940
 missing the

00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.480
 obvious.

00:21:32.340 --> 00:21:32.960
 If anyone's

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.680
 confident that

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.120
 they belong

00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:34.800
 to Christ,

00:21:35.320 --> 00:21:35.860
 they should

00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:36.360
 consider,

00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:36.799
 again,

00:21:36.879 --> 00:21:37.259
 that we

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:37.939
 belong to

00:21:37.939 --> 00:21:39.219
 Christ just

00:21:39.219 --> 00:21:39.759
 as much

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.619
 as they

00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:40.939
 do.

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:42.879
 The evidence

00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.419
 of belonging

00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:44.019
 to Christ

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.559
 is not

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.199
 having great

00:21:45.199 --> 00:21:46.000
 confidence in

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.719
 your speaking,

00:21:47.219 --> 00:21:47.839
 is not being

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.379
 able to do

00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:49.000
 things that

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.579
 other people

00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.399
 can't do,

00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.279
 not even

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:51.819
 being able to

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.359
 do miracles

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.079
 or whatever.

00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:55.139
 All of us

00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:55.719
 who have our

00:21:55.719 --> 00:21:56.299
 trust in

00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:56.619
 Jesus,

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.599
 we have

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:57.959
 Christ,

00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.699
 we are part

00:21:58.699 --> 00:21:59.359
 of the body

00:21:59.359 --> 00:21:59.979
 of Christ,

00:22:00.399 --> 00:22:01.159
 the church.

00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:02.199
 And Paul

00:22:02.199 --> 00:22:02.519
 says,

00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.279
 my aim

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.399
 is to build

00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.299
 up this

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:05.740
 church.

00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.039
 Paul

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.659
 had established

00:22:07.659 --> 00:22:08.219
 the church

00:22:08.219 --> 00:22:08.779
 in Corinth,

00:22:09.199 --> 00:22:09.879
 he loved

00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:10.079
 it,

00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:10.500
 he loved

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:10.979
 the people

00:22:10.979 --> 00:22:11.459
 in it,

00:22:11.719 --> 00:22:12.179
 and his

00:22:12.179 --> 00:22:13.059
 greatest desire

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.479
 was that

00:22:13.479 --> 00:22:13.899
 they should

00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:14.500
 obey the

00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.559
 Lord and

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.019
 that they

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.659
 should follow

00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:17.500
 him closely

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.599
 as they

00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.740
 grew in

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.319
 faith.

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:22.939
 Bodybuilding

00:22:22.939 --> 00:22:23.659
 can be

00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.039
 painful,

00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:24.319
 and I'm

00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:24.619
 not a

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.259
 bodybuilder,

00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:25.759
 but I know

00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.459
 people who do

00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:26.839
 it can be

00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.559
 quite a painful

00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.119
 and difficult

00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.859
 process,

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.839
 but at the

00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.299
 end of the

00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:30.539
 day,

00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.179
 they end up

00:22:31.179 --> 00:22:31.639
 stronger,

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.879
 they end up

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.340
 physically

00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:34.540
 in better

00:22:34.540 --> 00:22:35.020
 shape.

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.340
 I think Paul

00:22:36.340 --> 00:22:36.600
 is saying

00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:36.800
 here,

00:22:36.860 --> 00:22:37.060
 actually,

00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.680
 building the

00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.100
 body of

00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:38.640
 Christ at

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.240
 times can

00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.960
 be painful

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.760
 too.

00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.060
 It's not

00:22:42.060 --> 00:22:42.740
 all about

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.660
 just encouraging

00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.300
 each other

00:22:44.300 --> 00:22:44.720
 and saying

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.380
 how wonderful

00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:45.980
 we are

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:47.140
 and pointing

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.720
 to Jesus,

00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.540
 vital though

00:22:48.540 --> 00:22:49.140
 that is.

00:22:50.020 --> 00:22:50.920
 Sometimes in

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.580
 love we have

00:22:51.580 --> 00:22:52.100
 to correct

00:22:52.100 --> 00:22:52.640
 one another

00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.060
 if we're

00:22:53.060 --> 00:22:53.760
 going wrong,

00:22:54.020 --> 00:22:54.660
 or we have

00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.120
 to be willing

00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:56.080
 to accept

00:22:56.080 --> 00:22:56.660
 correction

00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:58.140
 if other

00:22:58.140 --> 00:22:59.040
 people have

00:22:59.040 --> 00:22:59.600
 seen things

00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:00.060
 in us

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:00.899
 and point

00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.419
 it out.

00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:02.539
 But the

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.079
 key thing

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.859
 is that

00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:04.720
 together we

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.379
 build up

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.059
 the body

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.700
 of Christ,

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.019
 that together

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.799
 we seek to

00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.259
 help one

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.859
 another to

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.279
 grow in

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:10.859
 our faith

00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.519
 and in

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:11.899
 our love

00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:12.220
 of the

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:12.779
 Lord Jesus

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.940
 and our

00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.899
 devotion to

00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:15.200
 him.

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:16.579
 You and

00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.440
 I are not

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:17.899
 apostles,

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.519
 far less

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.460
 super apostles,

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:20.759
 but all of

00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.099
 us have

00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:22.000
 spiritual gifts

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.500
 that God

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:22.980
 has given

00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.339
 us,

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.480
 and all of

00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.000
 us have a

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.299
 duty,

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.139
 a responsibility

00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:26.839
 if we are

00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:27.419
 Christians and

00:23:27.419 --> 00:23:27.879
 we are part

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.519
 of the church

00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.500
 to build

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.019
 one another

00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.920
 up and

00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.339
 to help

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:31.779
 us to

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.799
 grow in

00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.299
 our faith.

00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:33.879
 And sometimes

00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.400
 that can

00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.440
 mean saying

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.000
 things people

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.799
 don't necessarily

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.279
 want to

00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:37.619
 hear,

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.639
 but that God

00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:39.240
 would direct

00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:39.940
 us to help

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.599
 them to

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.839
 understand what

00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.400
 they need to

00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.460
 change in

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.660
 their lives.

00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:45.400
 We all have

00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:46.000
 the opportunity

00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:46.960
 to serve

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.660
 and to help

00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.639
 others on

00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.180
 our Christian

00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:50.599
 walk.

00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.440
 So that's

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:53.460
 the first half

00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:54.000
 of the chapter

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.599
 if you like,

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.599
 the overall

00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:55.900
 heading,

00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.539
 the gentleness

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.099
 of Christ,

00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:57.539
 but within

00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.259
 that the mind

00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:58.879
 of Christ

00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.980
 and the body

00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.599
 of Christ

00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.779
 are priorities

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.980
 for Paul.

00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:04.140
 For the second

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.519
 part of the

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:04.960
 chapter I

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.519
 want to take

00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.620
 the gospel

00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:07.120
 of Christ

00:24:07.120 --> 00:24:07.620
 first and

00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:07.920
 we'll come

00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.279
 back to

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.099
 the commendation

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.200
 of Christ

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:11.019
 later.

00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.539
 Paul was

00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.000
 commissioned

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.799
 by Jesus

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:16.059
 to go

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.660
 and to

00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.039
 take the

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.380
 gospel

00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:18.200
 to the

00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:18.880
 Gentiles.

00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.039
 There was

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.480
 later an

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:20.860
 agreement

00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.720
 between the

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.360
 leaders of

00:24:22.360 --> 00:24:22.740
 the early

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.240
 church

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.000
 that that

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.339
 is what

00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:24.720
 they would

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.019
 do.

00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:25.559
 Peter and

00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:25.799
 others

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:25.980
 would

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.440
 concentrate

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.059
 on taking

00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.539
 the gospel

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.019
 to the

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.440
 Jews.

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.399
 Paul would

00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:29.940
 concentrate

00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.960
 on taking

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.579
 the gospel

00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.399
 to the

00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:33.119
 Gentiles.

00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.000
 And as

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.419
 part of

00:24:34.419 --> 00:24:34.740
 that,

00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:35.619
 Paul had

00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:36.139
 come to

00:24:36.139 --> 00:24:36.480
 Corinth

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.700
 with the

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.059
 gospel

00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.659
 message.

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.940
 The people

00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.179
 who were

00:24:40.179 --> 00:24:40.859
 critical of

00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:41.179
 him had

00:24:41.179 --> 00:24:41.539
 come in

00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:42.000
 later.

00:24:42.419 --> 00:24:42.579
 They'd

00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:42.899
 kind of

00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:43.319
 ridden on

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:43.480
 his

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.039
 coattails

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.440
 and got

00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:44.899
 into the

00:24:44.899 --> 00:24:45.259
 church

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.139
 and led

00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:46.799
 it astray.

00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:48.000
 But Paul

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.419
 was the

00:24:48.419 --> 00:24:49.159
 one who

00:24:49.159 --> 00:24:49.359
 had

00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.299
 established,

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.000
 in human

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.359
 terms,

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.099
 established

00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:52.779
 the

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.240
 church.

00:24:53.959 --> 00:24:54.439
 So he

00:24:54.439 --> 00:24:54.719
 says,

00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:55.079
 quite

00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:55.699
 legitimately,

00:24:56.219 --> 00:24:56.759
 I can

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.399
 come and

00:24:57.399 --> 00:24:57.839
 I can

00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.639
 try to

00:24:58.639 --> 00:24:59.219
 tell it

00:24:59.219 --> 00:24:59.959
 where it's

00:24:59.959 --> 00:25:00.919
 going wrong.

00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:01.859
 I have

00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:02.459
 that authority,

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:02.819
 I've been

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.439
 given that

00:25:03.439 --> 00:25:04.879
 authority by

00:25:04.879 --> 00:25:05.419
 God,

00:25:05.679 --> 00:25:06.439
 and I am

00:25:06.439 --> 00:25:07.159
 going to

00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:08.099
 ensure that

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:08.500
 the church

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.119
 get back

00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:09.839
 on the

00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.619
 right lines.

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.899
 Paul wasn't

00:25:11.899 --> 00:25:12.899
 a fly-by-night

00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:13.279
 preacher,

00:25:13.419 --> 00:25:13.759
 come in

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.179
 today,

00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:15.799
 preach the

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.139
 word,

00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:16.799
 maybe get

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.500
 paid something

00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.319
 and then go

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.699
 on and do

00:25:18.699 --> 00:25:19.079
 something

00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:20.099
 somewhere else.

00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:21.139
 Although he

00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:21.379
 had a

00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:21.719
 wide

00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.519
 teaching

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.039
 ministry,

00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:23.440
 although he

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:23.839
 went all

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.220
 over the

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.759
 known world

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.279
 at that

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.720
 time,

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:26.660
 when he

00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.200
 established

00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.839
 a church,

00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:28.720
 Paul really

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.420
 wanted to

00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:30.019
 care for

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.839
 it and

00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:31.839
 to nurture

00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.940
 it and

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.279
 to give

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.180
 it opportunities

00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:35.299
 to grow

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.079
 and to

00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:36.559
 serve.

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:37.579
 You may

00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.000
 have noticed

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.380
 in the

00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:38.960
 chapter that

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.519
 Paul talks

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.019
 about going

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.519
 to the

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.140
 regions

00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:41.539
 beyond.

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.100
 Now regions

00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:42.500
 beyond in

00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:42.900
 that case

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.140
 would be

00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:43.660
 places like

00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:44.799
 Rome and

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.799
 Spain and

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.339
 other parts

00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:46.579
 of the

00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:47.259
 world which

00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:47.579
 hadn't

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.059
 necessarily

00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:48.740
 been reached

00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.420
 with the

00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:49.799
 gospel.

00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:50.900
 And Paul

00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.380
 wants to

00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:52.040
 partner with

00:25:52.040 --> 00:25:52.220
 the

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.700
 Corinthian

00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.720
 church in

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.640
 going and

00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.420
 taking God's

00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.240
 word to

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.120
 these places.

00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.380
 They said,

00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.020
 I won't do

00:25:59.020 --> 00:26:00.300
 that until

00:26:00.300 --> 00:26:01.000
 the problems

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.800
 are resolved

00:26:01.800 --> 00:26:02.780
 in Corinth.

00:26:03.320 --> 00:26:03.860
 My first

00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:04.820
 priority is to

00:26:04.820 --> 00:26:05.440
 sort out the

00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.860
 issues in the

00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:07.480
 church that I

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.180
 established.

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.100
 Then with

00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:09.920
 your support,

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:11.000
 I can go

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.000
 and take the

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:13.240
 word elsewhere.

00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:15.240
 I think this

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.980
 illustrates for us

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.600
 two very

00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:17.840
 important areas

00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.759
 of gospel

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.220
 work.

00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.720
 On one

00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.559
 hand, all

00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.179
 Christians

00:26:22.179 --> 00:26:23.019
 should have a

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.000
 restless desire

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:25.119
 to tell others

00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:26.279
 the good news

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.379
 of the gospel.

00:26:27.939 --> 00:26:28.699
 To reach for

00:26:28.699 --> 00:26:29.439
 Christ, those

00:26:29.439 --> 00:26:30.139
 who haven't yet

00:26:30.139 --> 00:26:30.879
 been saved

00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:31.980
 and are heading

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.720
 for judgment

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:34.419
 unless they

00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:35.539
 repent and

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.299
 turn to Christ.

00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:37.019
 To die without

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.899
 Christ is to be

00:26:37.899 --> 00:26:38.579
 lost forever

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.759
 and we want to

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.379
 give everyone

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:41.599
 we can the

00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.919
 opportunity to

00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:44.379
 experience God's

00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:44.879
 salvation.

00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.020
 salvation.

00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:46.720
 But Paul

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.520
 reminds us the

00:26:47.520 --> 00:26:48.700
 gospel is not

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:50.120
 just about making

00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.820
 converts.

00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.660
 It's not enough,

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.260
 it's essential,

00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:54.240
 but it's not enough

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.160
 that people just

00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.000
 become Christians

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:57.060
 and then drift on

00:26:57.060 --> 00:26:57.640
 with their old

00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.800
 life and nothing

00:26:58.800 --> 00:26:59.300
 changes.

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.980
 Rather, the

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.920
 gospel is about

00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:03.520
 making disciples,

00:27:04.340 --> 00:27:05.060
 about people

00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:05.960
 coming to faith

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.460
 in the Lord

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.900
 Jesus and then

00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.820
 growing in him

00:27:08.820 --> 00:27:10.000
 and becoming

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.320
 more like Jesus

00:27:11.320 --> 00:27:12.740
 in their daily

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.260
 lives.

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.400
 And that's what

00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:15.060
 we're about as

00:27:15.060 --> 00:27:15.420
 a church.

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.040
 We want people

00:27:16.040 --> 00:27:16.800
 to come and

00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:17.840
 to trust in

00:27:17.840 --> 00:27:18.180
 the Lord

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.560
 Jesus.

00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:19.840
 But we also

00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:20.440
 want to see

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.259
 spiritual growth,

00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:22.259
 people developing

00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:23.640
 and flourishing

00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.820
 in their faith

00:27:24.820 --> 00:27:25.380
 as they draw

00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:26.180
 closer to the

00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:26.740
 Lord Jesus

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:28.240
 and as they

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.320
 serve him.

00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:30.940
 I think there's

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.320
 a slightly

00:27:31.320 --> 00:27:32.220
 sobering warning

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.120
 here as well

00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:34.080
 that maybe we

00:27:34.080 --> 00:27:34.460
 need to think

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:34.580
 about.

00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:35.040
 I'm not thinking

00:27:35.040 --> 00:27:35.500
 about anything

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.300
 particular when

00:27:36.300 --> 00:27:37.000
 I say this,

00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:38.140
 but there is a

00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:39.120
 danger in churches

00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:40.340
 that if there are

00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:41.700
 problems, if there

00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:42.440
 are people causing

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.400
 difficulties or

00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.140
 divisions or

00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:45.440
 troubles, that

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.100
 takes up an

00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:46.840
 awful lot of

00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:47.860
 the time of

00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.620
 church leadership

00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:50.460
 and it restricts

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.400
 the ability to

00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:52.500
 spread the gospel

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:54.720
 and to grow the

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:56.080
 work of Christ.

00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.680
 We all need to be

00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.560
 sure if we are a

00:27:58.560 --> 00:27:59.500
 member of a church

00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:01.240
 that we are people

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:02.120
 who are there for

00:28:02.120 --> 00:28:03.080
 the building up of

00:28:03.080 --> 00:28:04.380
 others and not

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:04.900
 for causing

00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:06.380
 trouble or to

00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:08.380
 reduce the time

00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:09.320
 that the leaders

00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:09.960
 of the church

00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:11.180
 have to reach

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:12.180
 out and to plan

00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:13.779
 ahead with the

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.200
 gospel.

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.640
 The final one

00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:17.279
 and then we'll

00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:17.740
 put things

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.060
 together.

00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:18.840
 The commendation

00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:19.279
 of Christ.

00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:19.740
 What was

00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.500
 happening here

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.440
 was that these

00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.060
 people had come

00:28:22.060 --> 00:28:23.160
 to Corinth with

00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:24.279
 letters saying

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.000
 how wonderful

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:26.000
 they were.

00:28:26.620 --> 00:28:27.320
 Paul says

00:28:27.320 --> 00:28:28.240
 actually they

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.900
 wrote the letters

00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:29.440
 themselves.

00:28:29.560 --> 00:28:30.100
 I don't think

00:28:30.100 --> 00:28:30.700
 each individual

00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.200
 probably wrote

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.480
 their own

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.240
 letter, but

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.840
 probably a group

00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:33.820
 of people and

00:28:33.820 --> 00:28:34.200
 they wrote

00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:35.100
 glowing reports

00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:36.100
 of each other.

00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.980
 They had very

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.799
 little value

00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.680
 because it was

00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.200
 only their

00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.500
 assessment and

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:41.980
 they were only

00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:42.919
 comparing people

00:28:42.919 --> 00:28:43.980
 with a small

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.700
 group.

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:45.960
 Might have looked

00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:47.299
 convincing, might

00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:48.559
 have looked as

00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.139
 if these were

00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:50.099
 good people and

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.619
 people you should

00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.299
 listen to.

00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.899
 In practice the

00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:53.940
 letters that they

00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.819
 brought were

00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:56.200
 worth almost

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:56.960
 nothing.

00:28:58.139 --> 00:28:58.980
 Back in chapter

00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.980
 three where Paul

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.899
 faced a similar

00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:02.099
 challenge about

00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:02.799
 his letter of

00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:04.200
 commendation, he

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.399
 said that actually

00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:06.720
 his letter was

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.379
 written on the

00:29:07.379 --> 00:29:07.819
 heart.

00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:09.519
 His letter was

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.179
 the church in

00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:10.559
 Corinth.

00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.159
 You only had to

00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:12.819
 look at what

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.480
 had happened in

00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.119
 the church, at

00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:14.799
 the change that

00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.299
 had been in

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.759
 people's lives, and

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.480
 you could see that

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.259
 the work that Paul

00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:18.899
 had done among

00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.759
 them was genuine,

00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:21.200
 that his gospel

00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:22.919
 really could bring

00:29:22.919 --> 00:29:23.720
 changes.

00:29:24.899 --> 00:29:25.819
 He doesn't repeat

00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:27.500
 that here, but he

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.579
 makes a vital point.

00:29:28.639 --> 00:29:29.179
 Right at the end

00:29:29.179 --> 00:29:29.659
 of the chapter,

00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:31.119
 verse 18, he

00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:31.379
 says,

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.379
 it is not the one

00:29:32.379 --> 00:29:33.159
 who commends

00:29:33.159 --> 00:29:34.059
 himself who is

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.740
 approved, but the

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.679
 one whom the

00:29:36.679 --> 00:29:37.119
 Lord

00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:39.259
 commends.

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:42.239
 Ultimately, when

00:29:42.239 --> 00:29:42.959
 we get praise from

00:29:42.959 --> 00:29:44.159
 others, we enjoy

00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:44.739
 it, let's face

00:29:44.739 --> 00:29:44.899
 it.

00:29:44.939 --> 00:29:45.579
 If someone comes

00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.199
 and says, you

00:29:46.199 --> 00:29:46.799
 did a really good

00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.679
 job on something,

00:29:47.979 --> 00:29:49.019
 that's good, and

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.659
 it gives us a

00:29:49.659 --> 00:29:50.079
 boost, and it's

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.619
 something that we

00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.719
 should do for one

00:29:51.719 --> 00:29:52.459
 another, encourage

00:29:52.459 --> 00:29:53.979
 each other as we

00:29:53.979 --> 00:29:55.059
 serve the Lord

00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:55.439
 Jesus.

00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:58.000
 But ultimately, the

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.079
 kind of commendation

00:29:59.079 --> 00:29:59.799
 that we get from

00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:01.579
 humans has limited

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.579
 value.

00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.639
 It will give us a

00:30:04.639 --> 00:30:05.179
 boost, it will

00:30:05.179 --> 00:30:05.919
 maybe help us,

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.500
 hopefully doesn't

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.100
 make us too

00:30:07.100 --> 00:30:08.460
 proud, but it's

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.320
 not what we

00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:10.180
 should be doing

00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:11.460
 things for.

00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.279
 Paul says what

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:15.180
 really matters is

00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:16.980
 the commendation of

00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.480
 Christ.

00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.320
 What really matters

00:30:19.320 --> 00:30:20.100
 is serving

00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:22.240
 faithfully so that

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.759
 when we face the

00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.740
 Lord Jesus and give

00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:26.220
 account for our

00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.500
 lives, he's able

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.440
 to say to us,

00:30:28.820 --> 00:30:30.320
 well done, good

00:30:30.320 --> 00:30:31.420
 and faithful

00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.420
 servant.

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.560
 And that is worth

00:30:33.560 --> 00:30:34.980
 so much more than

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:36.320
 any praise or

00:30:36.320 --> 00:30:37.779
 commendation we may

00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:39.160
 get from others.

00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:41.779
 Let's not look just

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.759
 at the things that

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:45.180
 we think will be

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:46.779
 popular with others

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.680
 that will make them

00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.880
 think highly of us.

00:30:49.320 --> 00:30:50.259
 In our service for

00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:51.180
 the Lord Jesus, let

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:52.200
 us do it for him,

00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:53.500
 and much of it may

00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:55.160
 be unseen, but he,

00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.220
 our Father, our

00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:57.400
 Heavenly Father, sees

00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:59.060
 what is done in

00:30:59.060 --> 00:31:00.620
 secret, and he will

00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:01.399
 reward us.

00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:02.759
 If we do things

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.739
 deliberately for the

00:31:03.739 --> 00:31:04.719
 praise of humans and

00:31:04.719 --> 00:31:06.099
 we get that, Jesus

00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:07.119
 tells us we'll have

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:08.699
 had our reward in

00:31:08.699 --> 00:31:10.519
 full at that point.

00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:12.219
 So let's serve with

00:31:12.219 --> 00:31:13.099
 the right motives, and

00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.939
 let's have all the

00:31:13.939 --> 00:31:15.719
 right priorities that

00:31:15.719 --> 00:31:17.039
 Paul talks about.

00:31:17.939 --> 00:31:18.819
 Now just very

00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.759
 quickly, let me bring

00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.479
 things together.

00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:23.419
 This is my favourite

00:31:23.419 --> 00:31:24.859
 book on 2 Corinthians,

00:31:24.959 --> 00:31:25.739
 written by Jonathan

00:31:25.739 --> 00:31:26.459
 Lamb, who's preached

00:31:26.459 --> 00:31:28.079
 several times at this

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:29.459
 church, and it's

00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:30.799
 called integrity.

00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.360
 It's not a

00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:33.180
 commentary as such.

00:31:33.340 --> 00:31:33.720
 Jonathan has

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.220
 written a great

00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:34.539
 commentary.

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.120
 It isn't a

00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:36.019
 commentary as such,

00:31:36.340 --> 00:31:37.340
 but it's taking the

00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:38.299
 theme of integrity,

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.259
 particularly integrity

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:41.079
 and leadership, and

00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:42.160
 exploring how that

00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:43.720
 is brought out in

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.900
 2 Corinthians.

00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:46.440
 And Jonathan

00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:47.960
 identifies three

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:49.660
 marks of integrity.

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:50.880
 I think there's

00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:51.539
 three marks that

00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.180
 Paul's bringing

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.799
 before us in our

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:55.440
 passage this morning.

00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:57.700
 The first of these

00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:59.019
 is sincerity.

00:32:00.080 --> 00:32:01.180
 It is about our

00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:02.140
 motivation.

00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.319
 Are we doing

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:05.480
 things to build up

00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:06.440
 the church and for

00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:07.279
 the benefit of

00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.900
 others, or are we

00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:10.039
 doing them for

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:10.620
 ourselves?

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.440
 Are we doing

00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:13.700
 things so that we

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:15.080
 win the praise of

00:32:15.080 --> 00:32:16.819
 humans, or are we

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:18.220
 doing things so that

00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:19.120
 we win the

00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:20.539
 commendation of

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:20.980
 God?

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.440
 Paul's motivation

00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:24.019
 were to develop the

00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:25.380
 mind and character of

00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:27.080
 Christ and to build

00:32:27.080 --> 00:32:28.620
 up the body of

00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:28.980
 Christ.

00:32:29.120 --> 00:32:30.200
 His motives were

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.300
 sincere.

00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:32.960
 The second part of

00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:34.180
 integrity is

00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:35.260
 consistency, what

00:32:35.260 --> 00:32:36.460
 Lamb calls living

00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:38.140
 life as a whole.

00:32:38.760 --> 00:32:39.380
 Paul's opponents

00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:40.100
 accused him of

00:32:40.100 --> 00:32:42.080
 inconsistency between

00:32:42.080 --> 00:32:43.580
 his writings and

00:32:43.580 --> 00:32:44.220
 his visits.

00:32:44.860 --> 00:32:45.420
 But Paul says,

00:32:45.540 --> 00:32:46.420
 no, in verse 11,

00:32:46.540 --> 00:32:47.200
 what we are in our

00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:47.980
 letters when we are

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:50.240
 absent, we will be in

00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.840
 our actions when we're

00:32:51.840 --> 00:32:52.220
 present.

00:32:53.120 --> 00:32:53.900
 Paul says, by

00:32:53.900 --> 00:32:55.060
 taking every thought

00:32:55.060 --> 00:32:56.600
 captive, he's able

00:32:56.600 --> 00:32:57.740
 constantly to be

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:59.540
 obedient to Christ and

00:32:59.540 --> 00:33:01.000
 to live a consistent

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.400
 Christian life.

00:33:03.100 --> 00:33:03.600
 And then the third

00:33:03.600 --> 00:33:04.560
 thing is reliability,

00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:06.040
 reflecting God's

00:33:06.040 --> 00:33:06.800
 faithfulness.

00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:07.580
 It would have been

00:33:07.580 --> 00:33:09.000
 very easy for Paul to

00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.980
 turn his back on the

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:11.220
 church in Corinth and

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.920
 to say, I'm having

00:33:11.920 --> 00:33:13.360
 nothing more to do

00:33:13.360 --> 00:33:13.660
 with it.

00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.400
 He could move on to

00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.720
 other churches that

00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.600
 might be a bit more

00:33:16.600 --> 00:33:18.080
 receptive to what he

00:33:18.080 --> 00:33:18.700
 had to say.

00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:20.380
 But no, he'd committed

00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:21.400
 himself to the church,

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.980
 to boarding it up, and

00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:24.440
 he was going to see

00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.339
 it through.

00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.880
 He was faithful not

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:28.120
 just to God, but to

00:33:28.120 --> 00:33:29.740
 the church as well, and

00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.779
 even willing to change

00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:32.980
 his plans to meet its

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.420
 needs.

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:35.220
 So can I challenge us?

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:36.200
 Are we people of

00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:36.980
 integrity, of

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:38.660
 sincerity, of

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:41.099
 consistency, of

00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:42.019
 reliability?

00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.839
 And let me end with

00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:45.960
 two American

00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.620
 presidents.

00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:49.360
 Barack Obama and

00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:50.099
 Jimmy Carter.

00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:51.720
 Whatever you think of

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.880
 their politics, I

00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:53.680
 think these two are

00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:55.620
 widely regarded as

00:33:55.620 --> 00:33:56.299
 men who had

00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:57.839
 integrity, who had

00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:58.680
 compassion.

00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:00.740
 As you probably know,

00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.799
 Jimmy Carter died

00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:02.660
 towards the end of

00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.240
 last year.

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.339
 He drove her 100.

00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:06.279
 And I think the best

00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:07.440
 tribute I saw to him

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.659
 came from Barack

00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:09.099
 Obama.

00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.300
 Obama's tribute

00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:12.480
 highlighted the fact

00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.280
 that Jimmy Carter

00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:14.039
 was a Christian,

00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:14.820
 indeed, that he

00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:15.340
 preached quite

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.860
 regularly in the

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:18.320
 Baptist church that

00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:19.000
 he attended.

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:20.780
 As an aside, Jimmy

00:34:20.780 --> 00:34:21.539
 Carter a few weeks

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.400
 ago won his fourth

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.800
 Grammy for some of

00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:24.579
 his sermons that he

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:25.860
 preached at that

00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.320
 church.

00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:28.699
 Barack Obama said

00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:30.519
 this about Carter.

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.900
 He believed some

00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:33.860
 things were more

00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:35.260
 important than

00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:35.900
 re-election.

00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:37.360
 Things like

00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:39.440
 integrity, respect,

00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:40.800
 and compassion.

00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.900
 Jimmy Carter

00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:43.760
 believed that we

00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:45.500
 are all created in

00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:46.219
 God's image.

00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:47.919
 He didn't just

00:34:47.919 --> 00:34:48.599
 profess these

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.099
 values.

00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:50.259
 He embodied

00:34:50.259 --> 00:34:50.619
 them.

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.679
 And in doing so,

00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:54.319
 he taught all of

00:34:54.319 --> 00:34:55.599
 us what it means

00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.519
 to live a life of

00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:58.159
 grace, dignity,

00:34:58.899 --> 00:35:00.319
 justice, and

00:35:00.319 --> 00:35:00.739
 service.

00:35:00.799 --> 00:35:01.579
 That's a wonderful

00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:03.039
 tribute, isn't it?

00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:05.319
 I wonder if it

00:35:05.319 --> 00:35:06.879
 could be said of

00:35:06.879 --> 00:35:07.279
 us.

00:35:08.019 --> 00:35:08.899
 Do we have

00:35:08.899 --> 00:35:10.919
 integrity in our

00:35:10.919 --> 00:35:11.379
 lives?

00:35:11.919 --> 00:35:12.959
 Are our priorities

00:35:12.959 --> 00:35:13.899
 the gentleness of

00:35:13.899 --> 00:35:14.919
 Christ, the mind of

00:35:14.919 --> 00:35:15.839
 Christ, the body of

00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:16.900
 Christ, the gospel of

00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:18.079
 Christ, and the

00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:18.840
 commendation of

00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.240
 Christ?

00:35:20.200 --> 00:35:21.039
 And I need to ask

00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:21.900
 the question again,

00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:23.160
 do we all have

00:35:23.160 --> 00:35:24.620
 Christ in our lives?

00:35:24.720 --> 00:35:26.300
 Is our faith in

00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:26.559
 him?

00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:28.579
 Let me pray, and

00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:29.260
 then we're going to

00:35:29.260 --> 00:35:29.880
 look at some

00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:30.380
 questions.

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.200
 Father, we thank you

00:35:32.200 --> 00:35:32.680
 for your word.

00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:33.680
 We thank you for the

00:35:33.680 --> 00:35:34.600
 power with which

00:35:34.600 --> 00:35:35.840
 Paul writes as he

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.680
 counters his

00:35:36.680 --> 00:35:37.420
 critics, but yet

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.380
 highlights to us

00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:39.620
 how we should live

00:35:39.620 --> 00:35:40.680
 our lives.

00:35:41.140 --> 00:35:41.920
 Help us to be

00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:42.640
 people who are

00:35:42.640 --> 00:35:43.700
 marked by our love

00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:44.579
 of the Lord Jesus

00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:45.739
 and our love

00:35:45.739 --> 00:35:46.440
 of the church.

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:47.960
 Help all of us

00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:49.319
 too to be sure

00:35:49.319 --> 00:35:50.179
 that our faith is

00:35:50.179 --> 00:35:51.619
 in Jesus, that we

00:35:51.619 --> 00:35:52.639
 are following him

00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:54.159
 and living for him.

00:35:54.779 --> 00:35:55.440
 Thank you for your

00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:56.179
 presence this morning,

00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:56.900
 we pray you'll be

00:35:56.900 --> 00:35:58.579
 with us now as we

00:35:58.579 --> 00:35:59.420
 continue together.

00:35:59.779 --> 00:36:00.840
 In Jesus' name.

00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:01.980
 Amen.

00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.079


00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:20.079
 I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think

00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:27.079
 I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think

00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:27.079


00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:27.079


00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:27.079