WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.800 Good morning. Thank you. Thank you, Juju. Yeah, join us for the Christmas open house. We've got lots of different fun things planned and you can drop by for as much as little as you want to. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:22.800 So for one final time, I'm going to recap what the series that we've been through, which is one Thessalonians. You can read the account of the star of this church in Acts 17. 00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:29.820 Paul goes and starts this church. The reason why I was really compelled by it was because it's probably around the same size and same age as what we are. 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:36.039 And so as I was looking through this, I thought, oh, this will be really fun to see. And so Paul starts this church in Acts 17. 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:46.820 But then he meets some jealous Jews and these jealous Jews run him out of town and they chase all the people that are involved with Paul to the point where Jason, a guy who welcomed Paul in, also gets confronted as well. 00:00:46.820 --> 00:00:55.200 And so Paul leaves and then he leaves and he really misses this church because he was like, I spent some good time with you guys. I wonder how you're doing. I miss you. I love you. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:01:00.200 And so he writes this letter. And actually, there was a part of me that wanted to just actually read out the whole letter. 00:01:00.500 --> 00:01:03.719 But I realize we have some of the different things. So we're going to want to refrain from that. 00:01:03.960 --> 00:01:10.820 But I do highly recommend it. Actually, if you're interested, when you go home, just to read through one epistle all in one go. 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:14.879 It sounds daunting, but it's actually usually only about 10 to 13 minutes. 00:01:15.339 --> 00:01:20.559 And so you would imagine a group like this in a room, maybe around this size. 00:01:20.859 --> 00:01:25.559 And then someone would deliver a letter and they'll be like, this is from Paul. 00:01:25.939 --> 00:01:28.939 Let us listen to what he has to say to us. 00:01:29.119 --> 00:01:32.699 And basically, the sermon would be someone reading the whole letter out. 00:01:32.759 --> 00:01:34.500 But we're not going to quite do that today. 00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:36.159 But I'll give you a quick recap. 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:38.819 In chapter one, he says, guys, I miss you. 00:01:39.219 --> 00:01:41.939 I am so proud of who you are. 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:43.980 You are a model church. Remember that? 00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:46.560 This will be the last time I rewind this for you. 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:50.060 You're a model church. People are hearing about you all in Asia. 00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:56.560 And then I ask the question, which is, hey, if someone modeled their lives after you, would they look more like Christ? 00:01:57.140 --> 00:02:03.439 If people modeled what we were doing here in this church, would it be a church that would they look more like Christ? 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:04.859 That's the question that they had. 00:02:05.039 --> 00:02:05.859 That's the question that we had. 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:08.740 Are we a model church or rather what is a model church? 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:12.500 It seems here 1 Thessalonians 1 says that this is the model church. 00:02:12.620 --> 00:02:16.400 They have this labor of love, this work of faith and the steadfastness of hope. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:22.099 And then he goes into chapter 2 and he goes, hey, I know that people are talking smack about me. 00:02:22.259 --> 00:02:27.419 I know that people are trying to twist you to basically discard everything that I've taught you. 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:28.639 You know who I am. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:31.919 You know that I spent those years with you and you know my motives. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:35.579 And remember I got my friends around me, the accountability guys that I have. 00:02:35.619 --> 00:02:37.079 And I asked you, hey, who's your support? 00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:39.159 Who are the people who ask you the tough questions? 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:44.259 And then chapter 3, he goes on and says, hey, you gathered around here. 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:49.879 What you've decided to do, the life you've chosen to live, the Christ you've chosen to follow, 00:02:50.819 --> 00:02:54.359 isn't going to lead to a smooth health and wealth kind of life. 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:55.619 It's going to be hard. 00:02:56.199 --> 00:02:59.719 People are going to look at you and mistreat you because of who you follow. 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:02.800 And then chapter 4, he really goes into it. 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:05.419 He says, hey, because you're following him, your life must change. 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:06.900 And he talks about sex. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:09.979 And he says, some of you here have been living in a different way. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:12.400 But now because you're following Jesus, there is a new way. 00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:14.240 And that way means you must change. 00:03:15.060 --> 00:03:16.740 And so we talked about what that even means. 00:03:17.099 --> 00:03:18.460 Talked about our sexual formation. 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:22.560 And then he moves into chapter 4 and he says, hey, I know that some of you are asking questions 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:26.259 because people are dying, as we all do and as we all will. 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:29.960 And then he's saying, hey, don't grieve as those who have no hope. 00:03:30.659 --> 00:03:32.080 We have a hope because why? 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:34.319 We believe that Jesus came and he died. 00:03:34.539 --> 00:03:36.039 But more importantly, he rose again. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:38.680 That is of first importance in 1 Corinthians 15. 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:41.819 And then he moves and goes, hey, let me, whilst I'm talking about death, 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:43.180 let me talk to you about the end times. 00:03:43.580 --> 00:03:44.740 The day of the Lord that's coming. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:47.500 Actually, you don't know when that day is coming. 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:48.819 And that's okay. 00:03:48.939 --> 00:03:50.680 But you should be prepared. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:51.659 The way you live. 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:55.659 The day of the Lord, when he comes, should surprise you intellectually. 00:03:55.860 --> 00:03:56.560 Like, oh, it's happening. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:03:58.500 But it shouldn't surprise you ethically. 00:03:58.819 --> 00:04:02.240 That actually the way you've been living is in preparation of him coming anyway. 00:04:02.979 --> 00:04:04.719 And then he moves into this final chapter. 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:08.400 Well, the final bit, which is basically just the final remarks. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:10.439 And this is where we're going to wrap up. 00:04:11.259 --> 00:04:13.960 Thank you so much for protecting me in case I'm going to be tripping. 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:16.720 Juju is such a servant heart. 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:17.720 Juju is such a person. 00:04:20.460 --> 00:04:22.020 And so he reaches the final bit. 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:23.840 And it's the final part of it. 00:04:23.900 --> 00:04:27.540 And I'm going to, I'm actually going to invite Kyle to come up to, to read it for us. 00:04:27.580 --> 00:04:28.400 And as is our custom. 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:32.020 And I'll say this and I'll keep saying this all the time. 00:04:32.700 --> 00:04:34.760 This book is all that matters. 00:04:34.960 --> 00:04:36.980 Because this book has the words of life. 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:38.520 It doesn't really matter what I say. 00:04:38.700 --> 00:04:42.320 But if you look at what this book says, it will tell you everything you need to know. 00:04:42.700 --> 00:04:42.960 Okay. 00:04:43.020 --> 00:04:44.140 So that's super important. 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:47.519 And a special shout out to Kyle, because I know there's a couple of young people. 00:04:47.599 --> 00:04:51.459 Because I talk a lot of smack about using your app for your Bible. 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:55.300 Because your Bible is so much, it cannot be contained by a smartphone. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:58.579 So I encourage all of us to get an actual real Bible. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:04:59.199 Okay. 00:04:59.259 --> 00:05:03.079 So all of us who are half Christians who use the app, it doesn't count. 00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:03.419 Okay. 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:04.399 It doesn't count. 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:06.159 So you need one of these paper things. 00:05:06.500 --> 00:05:11.939 And our brother here, Kyle, is now formally and officially saved because he bought himself a Bible. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:15.120 So we're going to invite, I'm only joking, by the way, if you're here for the first time. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:16.799 That's not how you are saved. 00:05:17.039 --> 00:05:17.339 But okay. 00:05:17.719 --> 00:05:21.699 But he's going to read to us the words of God. 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:23.439 So can I invite us to stand for the word of God? 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:31.819 Father, we stand because we are in reverence and in awe of your words. 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:33.500 Lord, we are here for you. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.980 And so we ask that these words would penetrate the very depths of our soul. 00:05:39.659 --> 00:05:43.860 And as we finish this letter to the Thessalonians, we ask that you would speak to us. 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:45.240 And so we thank you. 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:47.620 Our ears and our hearts are open. 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:56.519 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:59.959 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. 00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:02.139 Be at peace among yourselves. 00:06:02.899 --> 00:06:05.939 And we urge you, brothers, admonish and idle. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:07.639 Encourage the faint-hearted. 00:06:08.340 --> 00:06:08.959 Help the weak. 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:10.480 Be patient with them all. 00:06:11.220 --> 00:06:14.240 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:17.900 but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:19.939 Rejoice always. 00:06:20.340 --> 00:06:21.280 Pray without ceasing. 00:06:21.960 --> 00:06:23.480 Give thanks to all circumstances, 00:06:23.900 --> 00:06:26.780 for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 00:06:27.400 --> 00:06:28.620 Do not quench the spirit. 00:06:29.280 --> 00:06:31.960 Do not despise prophecies, but test everything. 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:34.019 Hold fast what is good. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:36.860 Abstain from every form of evil. 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:41.160 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:47.880 and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:48.540 --> 00:06:50.439 He who calls you is faithful. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:52.080 He will surely do it. 00:06:52.760 --> 00:06:54.340 Brothers, pray for us. 00:06:54.940 --> 00:06:56.860 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:02.440 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 00:07:02.900 --> 00:07:05.440 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 00:07:06.940 --> 00:07:08.140 This is the word of the Lord. 00:07:08.620 --> 00:07:09.220 Please take a seat. 00:07:09.340 --> 00:07:09.860 Thank you, Kyle. 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:15.900 Kyle also has little sticky notes in his Bible already that help him find the chapters. 00:07:16.080 --> 00:07:17.379 So shout out to Kyle. 00:07:17.740 --> 00:07:20.900 I also forgot one last bit, and the construction, the drills reminded me of it. 00:07:21.220 --> 00:07:23.639 When we talked last week about the day of the Lord, 00:07:23.939 --> 00:07:26.379 when he comes back to make all things new, I talked about heaven. 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:28.520 Maybe we have a misconception what heaven is, 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:31.699 which is just this complete blank space with clouds and with harps. 00:07:31.860 --> 00:07:32.900 But it isn't that. 00:07:33.400 --> 00:07:37.080 It is a city garden where he's made all things new, 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:42.979 and all the good things that we experience here on earth are now multiplied to infinite measure. 00:07:42.980 --> 00:07:47.200 And it will be this city garden that he's building that we read in Revelation 21. 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:53.400 And as you hear the drilling that is so just symptomatic of being in Hong Kong, 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:55.819 whether you are in a restaurant or a cinema or a spa, 00:07:57.060 --> 00:07:59.660 and I'm reminding myself, God, you are making all things new. 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:01.759 This world is continually under construction. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:05.920 So I encourage you as you listen to me and you hear that drill that God is, 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:06.659 Jesus is working. 00:08:06.819 --> 00:08:09.399 Jesus is working, and he's doing something very, very special. 00:08:09.899 --> 00:08:13.379 If I was to sum up the whole letter, he's basically saying, 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:17.599 guys, live with eternity in mind. 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:19.699 Live with eternity in mind. 00:08:19.779 --> 00:08:22.740 Keep your eyes on eternity. 00:08:23.099 --> 00:08:25.860 One of my favorite songs is a song by Phil Wickham called You're Beautiful. 00:08:25.860 --> 00:08:29.980 And that final verse is, when we arrive at eternity's shore. 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:34.519 Actually, when we had the people getting baptized a few weeks ago at Repulse, 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:40.720 every time I go, I look at the shore, I'm like, that is eternity, and that is beautiful. 00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:43.740 And would we keep that in mind as we live today? 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:48.580 As we look to that day, can we live accordingly in the right way today? 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:50.940 Jonathan Edwards was the one who said, who prayed, 00:08:51.060 --> 00:08:54.620 Lord, can you burn eternity into my eyelids? 00:08:54.620 --> 00:08:58.659 Yes, which sounds a little bit graphic, but I love it. 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:02.720 Can we just see eternity in everything? 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:05.899 And C.S. Lewis has this quote that I also love, 00:09:06.019 --> 00:09:08.539 and we always have at least one C.S. Lewis quote every sermon. 00:09:08.940 --> 00:09:12.840 If you read history, you'll find that the Christians who did the most for this present world 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:15.480 were precisely those who thought most of the next. 00:09:16.139 --> 00:09:18.980 It is since Christians have largely ceased to think about the other world 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:21.159 that they have become so ineffective in this one. 00:09:21.419 --> 00:09:23.299 Oh, ouch. 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:29.039 There's this quote which is, hey, can we be heavenly minded and earthly good? 00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:33.379 Because some people we know may be very heavenly minded, but they're not very earthly good. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:38.259 But the truth is that statement is incorrect, because if you are heavenly minded, then you must be earthly good. 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:40.820 You must be of some use to this world here. 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:41.879 Because that's the point. 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:43.899 Because you live with eternity in mind. 00:09:43.899 --> 00:09:47.120 Everything you do, every single action that you have, every single thing that you say, 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:50.000 is seeking to point people to him. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:52.579 And at this point, I actually want to bring up two friends. 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:55.100 One friend has been with us at the beginning of the gathering, 00:09:55.980 --> 00:10:00.139 and it's Shigala, who's just been such a key part of this family here. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:02.959 And there's another friend who I literally met about 90 minutes ago. 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:05.940 And so I'm going to invite Shigala and Chris up, 00:10:06.180 --> 00:10:11.560 because I think they've got something really special to share when it comes to this angle of kind of living with eternity in mind. 00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:12.519 Can we give them a round of applause? 00:10:13.160 --> 00:10:15.060 Can we also, Uday, Uday, can we grab that other mic? 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:16.500 Thank you. 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:46.500 Thank you. 00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:59.220 And I think that's kind of the reason, a little bit of why you got involved. 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:01.559 And I wanted to bring you up to ask you one question, which is, 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:08.679 what did God stir in your heart that caused you to want to bring CS to Hong Kong, 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:11.259 so that your family here can hear a little bit more about it? 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:13.000 Hi, everyone. 00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:14.299 My name's Shigala. 00:11:14.299 --> 00:11:20.039 So the heart to start CS is very core to my testimony. 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:24.819 Three years ago, I wasn't a Christian, and I wasn't a surfer. 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:30.959 I encountered God and the ocean, and it was just really beautiful, 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:35.339 like just seeing him out, just seeing the face of the wave, 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.859 experiencing sunshine hitting the face of the wave, 00:11:39.859 --> 00:11:43.079 and just like that bringing me back to the beginning of Genesis, 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:45.660 the Holy Spirit hovering over the body of water. 00:11:47.400 --> 00:11:53.480 That just put me in awe and like so in praise of what God's done for us here. 00:11:53.480 --> 00:12:01.060 And my heart is that I just want to share this, the joy of surfing in the ocean with everyone. 00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:05.700 Yeah, that's the core. 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:11.700 Yeah, and actually, talk to us a little bit more about your heart as you go out there, 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:14.920 and as you're doing Surf Club and all these other things that are happening. 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:19.319 What's your prayer for the specific people that kind of join you guys on this journey? 00:12:19.719 --> 00:12:23.759 My prayer is that actually at the beach community, 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:29.939 sometimes they're out there not to learn how to surf, but also they're seeking for answers. 00:12:29.940 --> 00:12:34.620 They may be encountering mental health struggles. 00:12:36.680 --> 00:12:39.580 My prayer is that we're out there as surfers, 00:12:39.660 --> 00:12:42.340 so we're able to point them towards God 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:47.740 and to let them know that God was always here in the past, present, and the future, 00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:50.940 and that we'll walk with them. 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:53.440 Can you share one final question? 00:12:53.540 --> 00:12:53.780 I promise. 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:57.740 Okay, Shigala also said that she gets so nervous about being kind of in front of people talking, 00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:59.480 so maybe just a round of applause. 00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:00.580 She's been so good so far. 00:13:03.560 --> 00:13:07.120 You shared with me yesterday about one event that happened for you 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:08.720 that kind of really pushed you over the edge. 00:13:08.820 --> 00:13:12.000 You're like, okay, I have to do this, and it was talking to your friend. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:15.379 Would you mind sharing a little bit of that story for us? 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:17.960 Yeah, this is a really close friend of mine. 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:19.039 Her name is Michelle. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:24.200 She doesn't know Christ yet, but her mom is with the Lord in heaven now. 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:30.080 Her mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year. 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:35.020 I think she passed around beginning December, so that was a year ago. 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:39.200 And she invited her whole family in the shawl, 00:13:39.520 --> 00:13:43.800 and she delivered a very powerful message. 00:13:44.780 --> 00:13:47.400 And that just touched my heart so much. 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:54.220 She shared that there was only two of her last breaths on her deathbed. 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:56.980 She shared two truths that just cut my heart. 00:13:57.579 --> 00:14:01.179 And one is to love people like Jesus does. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:05.559 And two is to share the gospel with everyone. 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:14.239 And also, I just think it's so beautiful how God breathed life into us, 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:16.439 that life of breath. 00:14:17.579 --> 00:14:24.339 And Michelle's mom, she used that last few breaths to exalt God. 00:14:25.719 --> 00:14:30.059 And we know where she is, but that's just the beauty. 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:36.539 That's the difference between us made in his image and animals, 00:14:36.819 --> 00:14:42.000 that we're able to praise God for the journey that he sent us. 00:14:43.339 --> 00:14:46.479 And that's the moment that inspired you to, 00:14:46.619 --> 00:14:48.899 hey, I want to bring Christian service to Hong Kong, 00:14:48.979 --> 00:14:51.939 and I want to spread the gospel in the way that God has placed on my heart. 00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:54.959 Yeah, those two truths, that just was the final push. 00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:57.539 And that just happened a year ago. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.119 Incredible. 00:14:58.339 --> 00:14:58.859 Thank you, Shigala. 00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.980 Can we give her a round of applause? 00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:00.700 Thank you. 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.360 You can take a seat. 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:05.700 And even when she talks about the animals, 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:09.180 from that talk last week, it's kind of like, actually, us humans, 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:12.039 there's something built in us that just has eternity. 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:13.639 We just crave it. 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:16.399 We have a desire for something outside of this world. 00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:17.700 It's Ecclesiastes 3. 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:20.899 He planted eternity into the heart of man. 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:23.740 And the beauty of what we do, why we don't grieve without hope, 00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:27.480 is because when her friend's mom breathed her last, 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:30.120 we actually know that it wasn't her last. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.480 Essentially, it was her first. 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:36.120 And the moment she breathed her last on earth is the moment she breathed her first on heaven. 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:38.100 And it was the eternity that awaits her. 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:39.100 And so that's beautiful here. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:43.320 And so I want to move on to talking a little bit more about CS. 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:43.440 Yes. 00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:46.300 Well, can you introduce yourself, Chris? 00:15:46.660 --> 00:15:46.879 Sure. 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:51.360 First, I'll just say, I have a paper Bible. 00:15:53.640 --> 00:15:57.860 But I had very limited carry-on luggage weight. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:15:59.960 So I was like, yeah, sorry. 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:02.320 Going to have to leave you home this time. 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:06.420 So it didn't make you a luggage then, I guess. 00:16:06.800 --> 00:16:06.980 No. 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.500 Not your top five. 00:16:08.540 --> 00:16:09.280 Yeah, not top five. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.260 All right, okay. 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.539 Deodorant was more important. 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:12.899 The deodorant stick. 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:13.480 We are grateful. 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:13.960 Yeah. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:19.360 Yeah, very cool to be here. 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:23.139 And worship, so great. 00:16:23.319 --> 00:16:27.659 Just really felt the Lord's presence here in this place. 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:30.200 And yeah, just so encouraged to be here. 00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:32.240 My name is Chris Chon. 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.559 I'm Korean American. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:36.279 And so I grew up in the States. 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:40.659 I've worked with Youth With A Mission for the last 20 years, YWAM. 00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:43.620 And 17 years of that have been in Taiwan. 00:16:44.699 --> 00:16:51.480 And it was 14 years ago that the Lord had called me to reach surfers. 00:16:52.199 --> 00:16:56.039 Which is, yeah, it's not something that I actually thought that I would be doing. 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:58.019 I grew up as a surfer in California. 00:16:58.779 --> 00:16:59.899 Surfed most of my life. 00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:03.019 I never thought of doing it as a ministry. 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:10.400 And so that's kind of, yeah, for the last 14 years since the Lord gave me this call, that's what I've been doing. 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:17.460 And actually, I'm going to ask him more about his journey to becoming kind of serving in this Christian Surfers International. 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:22.519 But as we're listening to this, what I encourage you to do is, many of you may not be surfers here. 00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:24.119 But there is your equivalent. 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:29.219 There is something that the Lord has placed in your life that actually would be the equivalent of surfing for you. 00:17:29.679 --> 00:17:35.339 Because actually what we're going to hear is just this incredible story of obedience and creativity almost in terms of how you got to where you were. 00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:39.500 Because you shared with me on the phone yesterday, actually, that that wasn't always your plan. 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:46.679 So talk us through a little bit about how you ended up having not done what you were planning to do. 00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:47.139 Okay, cool. 00:17:47.239 --> 00:17:48.799 Yeah, just a nutshell version. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:53.919 I was living in Hawaii at the time and just got married. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:58.200 My wife's also a Korean-American, not a surfer. 00:17:58.659 --> 00:18:01.259 And we both felt a call to move to China. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:06.299 And so we were committed to going to China to help start a new YWAM base over there. 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:15.299 And on the airplane, so we were going to Taiwan first to do like a three-month Bible course and then going to go to China. 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:19.960 And on the airplane, I said this prayer to God. 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:25.039 And just back story, like surfing was a huge part of my life. 00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:27.019 I mean, it was like a bit of an idol. 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:30.859 And there were times where, you know, I've been convicted many times on it. 00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:36.399 And a thing for surfers is like it's really like an identity thing. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.480 Like no one says I'm a basketballer. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.319 Maybe you say I'm a baller. 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:43.019 I don't know if that's a good connotation. 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:46.599 But we're proud to say like we're surfers. 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:48.299 This is like a prideful thing. 00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:54.259 On that plane, I said, God, I'm going to be a missionary in China. 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:59.119 And I was like, if I never surf again, it's okay. 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:03.720 So you can have it because this is not what life is about. 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:07.859 And so it was on that plane ride where I just, I let it go. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.839 You know, this huge thing in my life. 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:13.539 And it was easy to do, you know, because it's like, hey, Jesus, it's yours anyway. 00:19:13.679 --> 00:19:19.539 So like, and so it was when I got to Taiwan that I discovered they were surfing there. 00:19:19.959 --> 00:19:22.679 And some friends of mine were like, hey, do you know you can surf here? 00:19:22.699 --> 00:19:23.740 And I was like, yeah, cool, whatever. 00:19:24.379 --> 00:19:26.339 And, but I said, well, I'll go check it out. 00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:33.319 And so I, during my Bible school that I was there, I would go surfing on, you know, some of the weekends. 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:39.500 And I just was researching if there's ministries reaching out to these people because I know there's surf ministries. 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:49.480 And, and, and it was on one week on a bus ride home after surfing that I prayed and I said, God, you need to send someone to reach these guys. 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:55.819 And immediately, like, I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me and I wasn't like a loud voice. 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.819 I mean, I didn't even know. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:02.519 It's always weird when you feel like you're hearing from the Lord, but I just heard, why don't you reach them? 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:06.220 And I said, no, I don't. 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:09.019 It's like, God, I don't want to do this. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:16.860 And I said, God, my heart is to go to China to go to like unreached people groups where like no one's hearing the gospel. 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:20.879 And immediately I heard the Holy Spirit again. 00:20:21.199 --> 00:20:24.179 And it's just like, they're like an unreached people group. 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:27.019 And then I just was like, wow. 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:29.759 I was like, well, I can't argue against that. 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:34.979 And, and my next prayer was like, God, you need to tell my wife about this. 00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:43.319 Amazingly, the Lord spoke to her and that's what really started our journey to reaching the surfing community. 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:50.059 And, and one of the main things was is like, um, and Taiwan is also a busy work culture there. 00:20:50.679 --> 00:20:59.619 And, and I, and I see like, okay, most guys, you know, work Monday through Friday, maybe Monday through Saturday, work hard and they get one day off. 00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:07.460 And if that's Sunday and you're a surfer and there's waves Sunday morning, you're not thinking about going to church. 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:09.620 They're like, I'm going to go surf. 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:19.200 And so they really are like this group of people that they're not going to go to church because like, that's the only precious time that they have. 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:24.160 And so that's where we feel the call that we're going out to them, you know, taking the gospel to them. 00:21:24.340 --> 00:21:24.519 So, yeah. 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.220 Thank you. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:32.660 And actually you guys are hanging around afterwards and look to anyone to, who's interested in hearing more about what they do. 00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:34.640 I think it is an incredible work there. 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:42.640 So please go and ask them, but maybe just one question, last question here for us to hear is how can we pray for what you're doing around Asia, actually? 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.800 Cause it's not just Taiwan anymore. 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:45.580 It's how can we pray for you? 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:46.279 Yeah, sure. 00:21:46.400 --> 00:22:02.300 So, um, so the organization that I also work with Christian surfers, I work as a East Asia regional coordinator, just overseeing, um, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, and the newest crew, Hong Kong. 00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:04.419 Which is awesome. 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:20.299 And I'll, I think Hong Kong surfers love surfing way more than I do because the journey we had to go on to go to Saikong Beach, that was officially the farthest I've ever carried a surfboard. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:23.119 Didn't think I was going to make it. 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:26.899 And there was amazing waves yesterday. 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.859 Like we, we scored big time. 00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:36.500 Um, and, uh, it's just really cool to, to see these guys out there too, with their friends that they've made in the water. 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:44.000 Um, but yeah, so with East Asia, it's kind of been, um, a newer thing that's happening. 00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:49.559 Um, so in the Philippines in the last year and a half, there's a new crew starting there. 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:55.179 Um, Korea, which is, uh, a new, just like surf scene blowing up over there. 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:57.319 They just started launched last year. 00:22:57.919 --> 00:23:03.960 And, um, Japan is, used to have a very large surf ministry there with Christian surfers. 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:06.259 Um, they have 3 million surfers in Japan. 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:13.359 It's the largest unreached, not just surfing community, but total like action sports community in the world. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:19.359 And they're doing a relaunch with, uh, and Shinsuke here is the national director there. 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.740 And they're awesome. 00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:26.059 And so, uh, in September, you probably heard, we all had a gathering in the Philippines. 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:33.139 And it was in this time being there that we all, a lot of us got to meet for the first time and just really bonded with each other. 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:40.059 And so a lot of what we're doing is we're just trying to connect with each other to encourage each other. 00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:45.779 Cause it's not easy to start pioneer a new ministry or nation on your own. 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:50.179 And it was definitely, I mean, the challenges, spiritual warfare, all those things, it's not easy. 00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:54.680 So we just try to go to each other's countries and encourage each other. 00:23:55.039 --> 00:24:02.000 And, but at the same time, and this is also within Christian surfers international, that there's a big push right now. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:14.019 And this is from our international director that by 2030, we're hoping to see Christian surfers spread into a hundred new nations with a thousand new missions started. 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:27.599 And when I look at the Asia region, um, many of you might know that in the last four years at Olympics and the Olympic surfing was, it's the first time surfing was added to the Olympics. 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:40.319 And now like surfing's just, um, popping up in all these countries that you never would have thought of like that you could surf there because people are trying to get like a national team together. 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:57.500 And this is, I think the strategy that God has showed me is that in a lot of these Asian countries that have good waves, they're either could be Muslim countries, uh, Hindu countries, Buddhist countries, not easy to access as a missionary. 00:24:58.599 --> 00:25:01.200 But with the surfboard, it's just like an open door. 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:03.740 Like we walk in with the board and they're like, welcome. 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:07.279 You know, um, it's awesome. 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:11.039 Um, and because it's such a tribal sport, it's an instant connection. 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:14.460 And it's through that, that we want to take the gospel to them. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:25.899 So, um, so yeah, I think for prayers is for our new crew, just in the kind of pioneering effort, just needing the encouragement, support, um, with that. 00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:28.399 And then also with these new places that we're looking at. 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:28.859 Yeah. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.200 Okay. 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.440 So. 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.279 Well, thank you. 00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:30.819 Uh, thank you. 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:32.160 Let's give him a round of applause. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.259 Thank you. 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.259 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.519 Thank you. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:40.319 I have two quick action points there for us before we really jump into the word here. 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:50.400 Number one, uh, ask the Lord, if actually you want to find out more about this ministry and what they're doing and how you can support them prayerfully and financially or whatever it is, uh, be thinking about that. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:53.420 Number two is what's your surfing equivalent? 00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:57.900 Cause I think there's something about when we talk about gathering and scattering a lot. 00:25:57.900 --> 00:26:08.620 And sometimes we have this conception that when we have to go scatter, it's to go to an unreached people group where we don't understand the language, just like a Korean American is thinking of going to China to reach people. 00:26:08.780 --> 00:26:12.300 And actually that is, that is the case for some people. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:18.600 For some people, it really is to go all the way to the Amazon forest or wherever, wherever it is to, to, to, to spread the gospel. 00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:24.659 But for a lot of us, we've found that actually short of doing that, there's actually some things that we can literally do right here. 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:37.559 But actually yours may not be as cool as a surfboard, but yours may be, well, actually, for example, I know this, those in dentistry, there's, there's a dental fellowship when there's in finances, there's things that are going on in whatever field that God has placed you in. 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:41.619 You have your equivalent to your surfboard. And the question is, are you using it? 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:48.740 Are you gathering? And then are you scattering to share the good news of Christ and to love Jesus as, as to love people as Jesus loves all of us? 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:52.119 That's the question. So those are the two things I would love for us to keep thinking about. 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:58.119 Paul here jumps into the final part of his letter. And my goodness, it's not like, Hey, there's actually one point I want you to focus on. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:01.740 If you remember what Kyle was reading, he just goes all into it. 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:05.119 And if you can just follow me as we go here, I'm just going to wrap us up. 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:07.619 He says this chapter five, verse 12. 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:18.239 He says, we ask you brothers to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:24.519 He's saying, Hey, I'm finishing this letter. Now I'm reaching my concluding point in this letter. 00:27:24.679 --> 00:27:27.399 So those of you who are falling asleep, hang in there. We're nearly done. 00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:32.659 And he's saying, love your leaders, love your leaders and respect your leaders. 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:38.340 And last week I shared a little bit about that, that everyone needs encouragement, that even leaders and pastors need encouragement. 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:41.880 And then I encourage you jokingly that you should text me and encourage me. 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:46.080 Thank you for all of those who did after the service, all three of you. 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:51.319 But you also did it after I'd asked you, so it kind of doesn't count. 00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:56.879 So anyway, I'm not asking right now, but if you want to encourage, you can. 00:27:58.740 --> 00:28:02.919 But what he's saying here is, appreciate your leaders. 00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:06.359 We're in a world now where good leadership is at a premium. 00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.759 And actually, your leaders are not perfect. 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:10.439 I for sure am not perfect. 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:14.500 But he's saying, appreciate your leaders because it is a hard job. 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:20.840 And I was sharing with someone more recently that as I've learned to be a leader, as a young leader, we have lots of things to learn. 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:26.299 I went from being sitting at the back of the room, like Jay White is now all cool with his long hair, 00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:31.200 and just chilling and just kind of just looking at the leader and going, oh, if I was there, 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:34.420 I would be doing a much better job than that leader there. 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:37.259 Because I know what's better, but I'm the cool one. 00:28:37.320 --> 00:28:41.519 I'm the hotshot, so I'm just going to sit at the back on the couch there with my girlfriend and my long hair. 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.460 I'm totally over his hair, by the way. 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.140 It's not a thing. 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:52.240 And then as I started to be given more things, I was like, oh, my goodness. 00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:54.320 It hurts to be a leader. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.600 There's a target on your back. 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:58.600 These arrows keep coming from all the different sides. 00:28:59.420 --> 00:29:01.840 Because leadership, leadership is hard. 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:03.819 Leadership is hard. 00:29:03.939 --> 00:29:05.439 And Paul's saying, hey, encourage these people. 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:08.359 Actually, I wanted to take this chance to honor some of the people here. 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:14.480 Actually, I don't think he's in the room right now, but it was Hank's 70th birthday this last week, 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.699 and we got to celebrate him. 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:19.599 And actually, I don't even know if you know who the leaders are in this church. 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.899 And I wanted to honor some of them. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:26.899 Hank is one of them, and he's been the chair of the deacons board for at least 120 years now, right, Tony? 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:32.220 And so he's been just a long-suffering servant of church. 00:29:33.300 --> 00:29:35.420 Actually, Tony, can I embarrass you and have you stand up? 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.800 We should give him a round of applause. 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:42.180 Tony here is one of our deacons. 00:29:42.540 --> 00:29:42.920 Thank you. 00:29:43.060 --> 00:29:45.600 And Agnes at the back over there as well in the famous show. 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.200 My goodness. 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:53.559 You know, we all have these conceptions of what a Chinese church is like, 00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:58.860 and you've got these kind of grumpy old Chinese people sat around at an executive table 00:29:58.860 --> 00:30:02.240 kind of making decisions that are completely distanced from humanity. 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.080 That is not true. 00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:04.180 My goodness. 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:09.519 These people, Hank, at least for our context here, Hank, Agnes, Tony, 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:13.380 they pour themselves out to the church. 00:30:14.340 --> 00:30:14.840 Oh, my goodness. 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:18.900 Deacons' meetings are long, which is something else. 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:19.780 They are long. 00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:21.700 That's a whole Saturday often gone. 00:30:22.800 --> 00:30:27.340 But their heart, their fierce love for God, their fierce love for people, 00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:31.300 I have just such tremendous love and respect for these people. 00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:34.720 There's someone else who I wanted to highlight here who actually isn't here right now 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:36.560 is my wife, Christina. 00:30:37.060 --> 00:30:39.980 You guys see me on the stage doing this little thing, 00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:44.560 but actually this wouldn't happen if it wasn't for her doing pretty much everything else. 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:50.679 She's teaching kids right now with Micah, our baby, strapped onto her, likely. 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:54.899 And she was at the ladies' luncheon yesterday, and she was doing Restore, the mental health. 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:56.200 She's just doing all these things. 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:59.399 And so many things that you don't see, that I see. 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:01.839 And some other people see, but actually you don't see. 00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:05.779 And so just honoring her, even though, you know, true to form, she's not here right now. 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:11.700 And people like Joe, Alex, who serve in so many different ways in the community and in worship, 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:14.519 there are leaders who are pouring themselves out. 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:16.559 I remember in Philippians, Paul says, 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:20.139 even if I am poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:22.019 I am glad and rejoice with you all. 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:24.319 Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me. 00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:27.879 He's saying, I'm pouring myself out and giving my life to all of you guys, 00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:29.119 and I am so happy about it. 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:31.799 I'm so happy about being busy and loving you. 00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:32.980 You should be glad too. 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:34.039 We get to do this together. 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:36.059 I think about Paul Roth, he's not here, 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:40.299 and he's been faithful in just serving in the worship team for years here. 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:43.019 And then yesterday, he turns up with Gabs and Julian, 00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:47.619 and they sing some Beyonce songs to the ladies. 00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:51.579 I never thought there'd be a day I'd see Paul sing Beyonce, 00:31:52.159 --> 00:31:54.339 and now I can't unsee it, and it's just there. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:57.339 But just the faithfulness of the leaders that we have here, 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:59.920 and Alex and Cara, and all your life group leaders, 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:02.159 all the people who welcome you into their homes, 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:04.360 I'll tell you this, they're not perfect. 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.320 I know they're not perfect. 00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:06.360 They know they're not perfect. 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:08.220 Leadership is hard. 00:32:09.040 --> 00:32:09.680 But let's honor them. 00:32:10.340 --> 00:32:11.300 Let's give them grace. 00:32:11.340 --> 00:32:15.759 And if you see your leaders go through a really hard kind of session of discussion, 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.259 and you're looking at them going, 00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:18.259 they don't really know what they're doing, 00:32:18.320 --> 00:32:20.340 then pray for them and drop them a message in afterwards and say, 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:22.100 hey, I know that was hard for you. 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:23.500 I know that you don't know what you're doing, 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:25.279 but I just love that you're doing it. 00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:27.799 Rather you than me. 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:30.460 Whatever it is, be encouragement. 00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.859 And that's what Paul is saying here. 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:34.500 Just love your leaders, because leaders have lots of jobs to do. 00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:38.400 And you see here in verse 14, it says, 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:40.000 we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.759 encourage the faint-hearted, and help the weak. 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:45.180 This is part of what we do as a family. 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:46.079 Admonish the idle. 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.640 Admonish is a lost word. 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.259 It means rebuke. 00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.440 It means call them higher. 00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:50.779 You look at people who are lazy. 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:53.119 Remember, at this point, there were some people, 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.299 oh, Jesus is returning. 00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:54.940 Great. 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.859 I'm going to quit my job. 00:32:55.899 --> 00:32:56.740 I don't like my job anyway. 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:58.420 I'm going to quit my job, and I'm just going to wait. 00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:01.440 I'm going to go to the beach and hang out and wait for him to come. 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:04.139 And they're like, no, you've got to keep working. 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:07.240 And as church family, as church leaders, 00:33:07.399 --> 00:33:08.519 you've got to admonish the idle. 00:33:08.899 --> 00:33:10.799 You've also got to encourage the faint-hearted. 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.759 We know there are people. 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.480 We know ourselves. 00:33:12.599 --> 00:33:13.660 Sometimes we are faint-hearted. 00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:16.980 And we are, oh gosh, just dispirited, just discouraged. 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.519 We're just finding it hard. 00:33:19.139 --> 00:33:20.559 And can we encourage those people? 00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:21.779 And then can we help the weak? 00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:22.839 Those who can't be helped. 00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:24.299 Those who can't help themselves, sorry. 00:33:24.619 --> 00:33:26.819 Those who we look at and go, oh, if only you would do this. 00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:27.440 Well, they can't. 00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:28.059 That's the point. 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:30.139 If they could do it, they would have done it. 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.359 But they can't. 00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:34.819 And as a community, as leaders, can we help the weak? 00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.799 Now, here's the interesting thing. 00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:37.559 Admonish the idle. 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.460 Encourage the faint-hearted. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.139 And help the weak. 00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:41.839 The question that I have as I look at this is, well, 00:33:41.899 --> 00:33:45.539 how do you discern between who's idle, who's faint-hearted, 00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:47.019 and who's weak? 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:49.940 Because you know you have to treat them differently, right? 00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:53.160 That lazy person who actually could do it, they're just not doing it. 00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:54.720 How do you admonish them? 00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:57.339 The one who's faint-hearted, who could do it, and has done it, 00:33:57.379 --> 00:33:59.960 who is just going through a really rough season and is discouraged. 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.819 How do you help them? 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:04.099 And those who are completely helpless and have been helpless for a long time, 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:06.720 who can't pull themselves out of this rope, how can you help them? 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:09.099 All that tells me is this. 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:12.300 The only way to really do it is if you know each other. 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:14.139 If you know your people. 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:17.840 If there is a sensitivity to each other, when we ask each other, 00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:21.039 okay, if you know someone, you'll know when they are being idle. 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:22.840 You will know when they are being faint-hearted. 00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:24.280 And you will know when they are being weak. 00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.059 Well, when they are weak. 00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:26.480 Simply because you know them. 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:29.460 So, it's not a one-size-fits-all. 00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:31.740 But the call here really is, do we know each other? 00:34:32.379 --> 00:34:36.500 And can we encourage one another in the way that Christ encourages us? 00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.299 And it's interesting. 00:34:37.399 --> 00:34:40.079 He talks about those three things, and then he says, be patient with all. 00:34:41.459 --> 00:34:42.899 Now, this is the hard one for me. 00:34:42.979 --> 00:34:45.699 Because I find it very hard to be patient with those who are idle. 00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:46.839 Do you? 00:34:47.319 --> 00:34:48.059 Those lazy people? 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:49.119 I'm like, come on. 00:34:50.339 --> 00:34:51.839 But he says, be patient with the idle. 00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:54.000 Be patient with the faint-hearted. 00:34:54.859 --> 00:34:56.579 Be patient with the weak. 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:59.579 That word patience, the 1 Corinthians 13, be patient. 00:34:59.679 --> 00:35:00.399 Love is patient. 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:02.059 I don't know the rest, as I've joked before. 00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:04.500 Because I can never get past patience. 00:35:05.220 --> 00:35:08.440 Patience is slowing yourself down and going, you know what? 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:10.000 I know you can't run as fast as me. 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.639 That's okay. 00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:15.059 I'm going to slow myself down to be with you. 00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:17.619 Not out of pride, but out of love. 00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:20.320 Can we do those things? 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:24.840 We're going to have to fly through these, because he has about 11 points in this final few verses. 00:35:24.840 --> 00:35:30.539 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, and always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:35.120 So what he's really saying, if we just break it into two things, is love your leaders and love each other. 00:35:36.140 --> 00:35:42.360 Can you be a community where, hey, if someone does something wrong to you, who's had something done wrong to them before in their lives? 00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:42.880 Put your hand up. 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:44.519 Someone's wronged you in some way. 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:45.960 Three, four people. 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.280 Great. 00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:46.559 Four. 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:52.960 There is such a desire to then kind of do wrong back to them. 00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:53.500 Right? 00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:59.820 I was at a basketball coaching session watching the session, and kids were being kids, and they were kind of not listening to instructions. 00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:05.440 And then the coach said this one line that I've heard before as a kid on a basketball court, which is, you're wasting my time. 00:36:05.740 --> 00:36:06.700 I'll waste yours. 00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:13.000 Suicides, which is running the court countless times, and it's not fun at all. 00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:13.519 Right? 00:36:13.580 --> 00:36:14.039 We've heard that. 00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:15.220 Not if you've heard that before. 00:36:16.200 --> 00:36:18.600 And I was like, oh, I've heard that before. 00:36:18.720 --> 00:36:23.080 But then I took a pause and go, that's a really unbiblical statement. 00:36:24.220 --> 00:36:29.360 Of course, I don't know if the coach is a Christian or not, but I was like, wow, but it's so ingrained in us. 00:36:29.820 --> 00:36:31.200 You waste my time, I waste yours. 00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:33.400 You say this to me, I'm going to say this to you. 00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:36.539 You're going to do this to me, then I'm going to do that to you. 00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:43.180 How many of us come from a workplace that has that kind of culture, where you are just kind of fighting? 00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:44.220 It's a dogfight every day. 00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:47.100 And he's saying, Christians, we do something differently. 00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:52.440 When someone wastes our time, we don't waste this. 00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:57.640 When someone says this to us, we don't fight back. 00:36:57.639 --> 00:36:59.819 It's the Jesus way. 00:37:00.699 --> 00:37:05.559 It's Jesus on the cross, getting nailed for the sins of many. 00:37:06.299 --> 00:37:10.219 And then he says, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:13.299 He loves the people that are killing him. 00:37:13.819 --> 00:37:14.960 It's the Jesus way. 00:37:15.179 --> 00:37:17.500 And my goodness, is it hard? 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:21.420 And what he's saying is, hey, I'm going to be with you guys soon. 00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:26.500 But right now, can you love your leaders, because they have a really hard job, and can you love each other? 00:37:28.360 --> 00:37:34.340 What he's saying here is, this spiritual life that you guys have committed to cannot be done on your own. 00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:36.720 Relationships are hard. 00:37:36.719 --> 00:37:39.659 But you must fight for it. 00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:41.859 You must make it work. 00:37:43.379 --> 00:37:45.480 Love one another as Christ has loved you. 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:49.159 John 13 is essentially, he's saying, stick together. 00:37:49.539 --> 00:37:52.619 Love that person that is super hard to love. 00:37:53.459 --> 00:37:55.199 There is no room for private spirituality. 00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:58.219 It is done together. 00:37:58.219 --> 00:38:04.939 And then he comes out with, I think, maybe the part of 1 Thessalonians 5 that is most famous, verse 16. 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:11.959 It says this, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God. 00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:16.239 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. 00:38:16.379 --> 00:38:22.039 What really it is, is pray now, give thanks now, and rejoice now. 00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:24.439 It's saying, choose to do all these things right now. 00:38:25.439 --> 00:38:26.579 Do them all the time. 00:38:26.579 --> 00:38:31.279 Your circumstances aren't good because you've just been mistreated on that business deal. 00:38:31.779 --> 00:38:34.400 And they've completely just pulled the rug from under you. 00:38:34.699 --> 00:38:35.679 But rejoice anyway. 00:38:35.799 --> 00:38:36.579 Give thanks anyway. 00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:39.239 What he's not saying is, hey, give thanks for everything. 00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:43.039 It's not like, God, thank you so much for the cancer that you just gave me. 00:38:43.420 --> 00:38:46.539 Thank you so much for the firing that you just did for my work. 00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:47.639 It isn't that. 00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:51.699 It's give thanks despite all these things. 00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:56.059 It's Romans 8, 28, knowing that, hey, God works for the good of those who love him. 00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:59.340 God, I don't like what's just happened. 00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:02.619 I don't like what is happening right now. 00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:06.880 But I'm giving thanks to you because I know you'll turn it for good. 00:39:06.880 --> 00:39:20.059 If I ask all of you, and I know this answer will be for all of you, think of a bad thing that has happened in your life in the past, where you look back on now and go, my goodness, I hated it during that time, but I'm so glad it happened. 00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:22.160 We all have it, right? 00:39:22.340 --> 00:39:23.140 Not if you do. 00:39:23.700 --> 00:39:27.079 That moment where you look back and go, that was such a crappy thing that happened. 00:39:27.079 --> 00:39:29.440 But my goodness, I'm so glad it happened. 00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:33.819 That's the perspective that he wants us to have. 00:39:34.239 --> 00:39:36.059 Give thanks in all circumstances. 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:36.559 Why? 00:39:36.659 --> 00:39:40.099 Because God will work for the good of those who love him. 00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:45.159 And then we go to a slightly, he's literally just dropping bombs, and they're not even massively coherent. 00:39:45.319 --> 00:39:46.079 He just keeps going. 00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:47.279 So we just have to keep following. 00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:50.640 Verse 19, it says this, do not quench the spirit. 00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:53.340 Do not despise prophecies, but test everything. 00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:54.400 Hold fast what is good. 00:39:55.960 --> 00:40:02.440 He jumps into another realm, which actually I think is a very important realm, which is the Holy Spirit is here. 00:40:03.540 --> 00:40:04.340 Jesus is working. 00:40:05.040 --> 00:40:07.700 He's sitting right here or right there. 00:40:08.080 --> 00:40:08.960 Do we acknowledge that? 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:11.660 And I've said this many times over the years. 00:40:12.060 --> 00:40:16.780 Is our church service more like a memorial service, or is it actually like that Jesus is actually here? 00:40:17.560 --> 00:40:24.640 So often we forget that Jesus is here, and we treat him as some great nice guy that lived 2,000 years ago, and here we're just here to remember him. 00:40:25.540 --> 00:40:25.880 No. 00:40:26.300 --> 00:40:27.300 He's right here. 00:40:27.400 --> 00:40:28.660 And what is he in here in the form of? 00:40:29.640 --> 00:40:30.460 This is the Holy Spirit. 00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:37.600 And what is happening here, maybe it's a little bit similar to 1 Corinthians, when Paul talks about it, to the church in Corinth. 00:40:37.600 --> 00:40:40.220 This is, hey, the Holy Spirit is here. 00:40:40.560 --> 00:40:41.200 It is working. 00:40:42.360 --> 00:40:44.680 There are some people that may be abusing it. 00:40:45.640 --> 00:40:47.220 There are some, and we may have been there. 00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:53.160 Been in churches where people have misused and abused prophecies, and sometimes we get scared. 00:40:53.540 --> 00:40:56.680 We've all met that person who says, oh, God told me to tell you this. 00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:57.800 Right? 00:40:58.040 --> 00:40:59.240 We've had that person before. 00:40:59.760 --> 00:41:03.960 And I always wonder, well, if God told you, can he just tell me himself? 00:41:04.220 --> 00:41:05.000 That would be nice. 00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:09.380 And we've all been in cases where we've had those misused. 00:41:09.880 --> 00:41:15.579 And maybe there were people in the church at this moment who were starting to get a little bit scared about those things and were completely blocking them out. 00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:25.440 But the truth is, my prayer is, I think there's a radical middle that we should aim for, which is we can be completely open to the Holy Spirit and what he's doing here. 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:31.840 But also not chase just the manifestations of the Spirit, but to be grounded. 00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:33.599 And he says, test everything. 00:41:33.940 --> 00:41:34.659 Test everything. 00:41:34.740 --> 00:41:35.300 What does that mean? 00:41:35.539 --> 00:41:41.340 When someone speaks to you and feels inspired by the Holy Spirit, receive it, but then test it. 00:41:41.519 --> 00:41:47.019 Don't just take their word and say, oh, God told me to go and stand at the corner of this road and stand there until something. 00:41:47.019 --> 00:41:48.340 Test it. 00:41:49.599 --> 00:41:54.539 Look at the word of God and go, is this in line with what he's saying? 00:41:55.940 --> 00:41:59.639 Is that person who's sharing this to me displaying the fruit of the Spirit themselves? 00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:01.840 That's important. 00:42:02.380 --> 00:42:07.960 Because when someone's declaring to speak on behalf of God, but they don't show any signs of the fruit of the Spirit, there is no love. 00:42:08.019 --> 00:42:08.519 There is no peace. 00:42:08.579 --> 00:42:09.000 There is no joy. 00:42:09.079 --> 00:42:09.519 There's patience. 00:42:09.880 --> 00:42:10.400 You're like, hmm. 00:42:11.320 --> 00:42:13.579 If the Holy Spirit is in you, why can't I see the fruit? 00:42:14.019 --> 00:42:14.739 That's what Jesus says. 00:42:14.759 --> 00:42:16.179 When you look at prophets, look at their fruit. 00:42:16.179 --> 00:42:17.259 See what it is. 00:42:17.799 --> 00:42:18.699 So test it. 00:42:19.179 --> 00:42:20.339 But don't despise it. 00:42:20.639 --> 00:42:21.879 Don't quench the Spirit. 00:42:22.500 --> 00:42:29.319 Because I think there are some churches in the world that have gone completely to this side where they're like, everything is God told me this and let's do it. 00:42:29.879 --> 00:42:31.460 And they've completely discarded this. 00:42:32.259 --> 00:42:33.679 I'm generalizing here, by the way. 00:42:34.099 --> 00:42:37.739 I think no church declares, hey, we're going to drop this and we're just going to go this way. 00:42:38.679 --> 00:42:39.879 And there's other churches like, you know what? 00:42:40.519 --> 00:42:41.419 You guys have gone cray cray. 00:42:41.819 --> 00:42:44.599 So we're going to go over here and not talk about the Holy Spirit at all. 00:42:44.599 --> 00:42:45.779 And we're just going to focus on this book. 00:42:45.839 --> 00:42:48.779 And the Holy Trinity is the Holy Father, Holy Son, and Holy Bible. 00:42:49.259 --> 00:42:50.000 And that's it. 00:42:51.179 --> 00:42:53.219 And completely neglects the Holy Spirit. 00:42:54.460 --> 00:43:00.880 My prayer is, can we be somewhere where we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, but also know the word of God enough? 00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:08.500 Where when someone says something or we hear something, we can look back at this and go, is this actually true? 00:43:09.240 --> 00:43:09.940 I'll tell you this, though. 00:43:09.960 --> 00:43:14.220 There is one fear that I have is that we can do a whole church service without the Holy Spirit at all. 00:43:16.619 --> 00:43:18.780 Tozer has this quote that I want to read to you. 00:43:18.780 --> 00:43:27.660 And it says this, if the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95% of what we would do would go on exactly as it would be and no one would know the difference. 00:43:28.040 --> 00:43:34.920 If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95% of what they did would stop and everyone would know the difference. 00:43:37.060 --> 00:43:38.660 I'm just going to read that one more time. 00:43:40.019 --> 00:43:48.700 Tozer says this, if the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95% of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. 00:43:49.300 --> 00:43:57.019 If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95% of what they did would stop and everybody would know the difference. 00:43:58.460 --> 00:43:59.540 Isn't that scary? 00:44:00.519 --> 00:44:08.300 That we can go about and do a whole church service and completely ignore the Holy Spirit and maybe even not talk about Jesus. 00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:14.000 And we could almost get by with that and then happily at 1230 go and have lunch. 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:20.440 But if the New Testament church, if the early church didn't have the Holy Spirit, everyone would know something's wrong. 00:44:20.840 --> 00:44:24.039 How reliant are we on both the Word of God and the Spirit of God? 00:44:24.639 --> 00:44:26.059 I would love for it to be both. 00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:31.000 I would love for us to be a people who understand, who know and who love both. 00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:35.719 Because there is a self-sufficiency that comes when we don't rely on the Spirit. 00:44:35.719 --> 00:44:41.679 There is a pride that comes when we don't humble ourselves under the mighty hand and the Word of God. 00:44:42.559 --> 00:44:43.719 Can we do both? 00:44:43.759 --> 00:44:45.259 And this is where I will finish. 00:44:45.819 --> 00:44:51.719 This passage or this whole letter finishes with something that's very interesting and is littered with the Word Jesus. 00:44:51.719 --> 00:44:52.359 Jesus. 00:44:53.379 --> 00:44:54.279 And I'll just show you. 00:44:54.339 --> 00:44:54.919 Verse 19. 00:44:55.739 --> 00:44:56.219 It says. 00:44:58.480 --> 00:44:59.599 Sorry, verse 18. 00:44:59.699 --> 00:45:02.659 Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. 00:45:02.839 --> 00:45:04.779 Verse 19 says Jesus is in you. 00:45:05.039 --> 00:45:09.299 Verse 24 says he who calls you is faithful and he is coming back again. 00:45:09.359 --> 00:45:10.059 In verse 23. 00:45:10.980 --> 00:45:12.379 Actually, verse 24 is fascinating. 00:45:12.539 --> 00:45:13.919 He who calls you is faithful. 00:45:14.319 --> 00:45:15.859 He will surely do it. 00:45:16.039 --> 00:45:16.779 Verse 28. 00:45:17.739 --> 00:45:19.559 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 00:45:19.559 --> 00:45:20.980 That's how he finishes a lot of his letters. 00:45:21.719 --> 00:45:24.859 Front, center, left, right is Jesus. 00:45:26.039 --> 00:45:28.759 He is faithful and he will do it. 00:45:30.539 --> 00:45:32.199 Do we as a people know that? 00:45:32.719 --> 00:45:37.439 And this is probably my greatest fear and I hope it's the greatest fear of every pastor, 00:45:37.899 --> 00:45:43.759 which is let us not lead churches that have us at the center and not Jesus. 00:45:46.599 --> 00:45:49.459 And those of you who are in ministry, maybe you think, oh, this doesn't happen. 00:45:49.460 --> 00:45:54.320 But my goodness, sometimes there are church gatherings and church meetings that we can sit through. 00:45:55.099 --> 00:45:58.220 We can participate in that have no mention of Jesus at all. 00:45:58.860 --> 00:45:59.659 That scares me. 00:45:59.659 --> 00:46:12.799 If you come in here and all you got was Florence sang a few nice songs and James shared a few nice funny words and you left and you didn't meet Jesus and you didn't hear from Jesus. 00:46:13.799 --> 00:46:15.059 I will be I will be sad. 00:46:15.059 --> 00:46:17.059 I would have failed you. 00:46:18.559 --> 00:46:22.179 Jesus is front and center of everything that we do here. 00:46:22.860 --> 00:46:23.799 It has to be the case. 00:46:23.840 --> 00:46:24.699 There is no other way. 00:46:25.960 --> 00:46:26.739 Paul talks about this. 00:46:26.779 --> 00:46:28.380 He's the head and we're the body. 00:46:28.460 --> 00:46:31.920 Can you imagine a creature that doesn't have its head anymore? 00:46:32.239 --> 00:46:34.599 Can Jesus be the center of everything? 00:46:34.599 --> 00:46:37.039 Because when he is, then everything will go right. 00:46:37.119 --> 00:46:38.699 And when he isn't, everything will go wrong. 00:46:41.199 --> 00:46:43.819 There is no church that you walk into that will be perfect. 00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:46.360 Zero. 00:46:46.519 --> 00:46:54.779 And if there is one, Nikki Gumbel says this, if there is a church that you find that is perfect, it will cease to be perfect the moment you walk into it. 00:46:54.780 --> 00:46:58.100 You will bring your imperfection into that place. 00:47:00.640 --> 00:47:05.300 Actually, maybe it's a good time as we continue to learn how to grow, just like this church in Thessalonica. 00:47:06.700 --> 00:47:10.320 Can we just acknowledge and just be able to articulate that we are not a perfect church? 00:47:11.500 --> 00:47:14.840 There are groups here that maybe aren't studying the word as much as we want them to. 00:47:14.920 --> 00:47:17.800 There are some groups here that aren't socializing as much as we want them to. 00:47:17.860 --> 00:47:19.240 There are groups here that aren't discipling. 00:47:19.380 --> 00:47:20.660 There are leaders. 00:47:20.780 --> 00:47:22.740 There are people who aren't preaching the best sermons here. 00:47:24.780 --> 00:47:33.300 But if we could not rely on any of those things and we can look to the source of life, the author and perfecter of our faith, then we would be in a good place. 00:47:33.380 --> 00:47:35.620 Let us not even, let us not idolize surfing. 00:47:36.800 --> 00:47:39.360 Let us not idolize even community. 00:47:41.600 --> 00:47:43.920 Let us worship only him. 00:47:45.220 --> 00:47:47.980 Let us keep our eyes on just him. 00:47:50.019 --> 00:47:54.640 Dietrich Bonhoeffer says this, the person who is in love with their vision of community will destroy community. 00:47:54.780 --> 00:47:58.920 But the person who loves the people around them will create community everywhere they go. 00:48:02.200 --> 00:48:07.420 That person who loves people around them is really the person who loves God, who keeps their eyes on Jesus. 00:48:08.440 --> 00:48:10.480 And everything will work around them. 00:48:11.340 --> 00:48:12.800 So maybe that's just my final question. 00:48:13.060 --> 00:48:19.760 Beyond what you're doing in your life, beyond what you perceive church to be, beyond what you experience church to be, 00:48:19.760 --> 00:48:22.580 are you in love with Jesus? 00:48:23.280 --> 00:48:26.360 Is he the center of your whole being? 00:48:28.640 --> 00:48:30.460 Is he the center of this church? 00:48:30.820 --> 00:48:35.820 I encourage you, if you're a part of this church, if you're a part of this family, hold me accountable. 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:37.000 Hold your leaders accountable. 00:48:38.740 --> 00:48:41.680 Let's keep the main thing the main thing, and there's only really one main thing. 00:48:41.679 --> 00:48:46.039 You're really cool to hang out with, and it's fun. 00:48:46.119 --> 00:48:47.199 We should go bowling again. 00:48:48.339 --> 00:48:49.319 But where's Jesus in this? 00:48:49.940 --> 00:48:52.579 Can we draw each other to Jesus? 00:48:55.039 --> 00:48:55.679 Florence is going to... 00:48:56.440 --> 00:48:57.139 Actually, no. 00:48:57.639 --> 00:48:58.299 Oh, no, we've got time. 00:48:58.659 --> 00:48:58.960 You know what? 00:48:58.980 --> 00:49:00.059 I just glanced at your watch. 00:49:01.799 --> 00:49:04.219 This is about knowing your people. 00:49:04.319 --> 00:49:07.799 Florence has this thing where she's time challenged, punctuality challenged. 00:49:07.800 --> 00:49:15.800 So she's decided to fast-forward her watch 15 minutes so that she'll scare herself into turning up to events on time, which is hilarious. 00:49:16.640 --> 00:49:18.800 Anyway, I just looked at her watch, and I thought that we were really late. 00:49:18.840 --> 00:49:19.620 But we're not really late. 00:49:19.720 --> 00:49:20.140 We're okay. 00:49:25.860 --> 00:49:27.300 Anyway, detract from that completely. 00:49:29.460 --> 00:49:30.600 Henry and Owen ask this. 00:49:30.760 --> 00:49:33.280 Beyond the programs, are you in love with Jesus? 00:49:34.740 --> 00:49:37.460 Beyond the church services, are you in love with Jesus? 00:49:38.800 --> 00:49:49.300 As a church, beyond all the fun lights and even the songs, are you becoming more like Jesus, and are you loving him more and more? 00:49:49.400 --> 00:49:51.620 Is he the center of everything, your whole being? 00:49:52.519 --> 00:49:55.519 Let us be that people where he is in the center. 00:49:55.660 --> 00:49:58.660 Can I lead us in a prayer, and Florence is going to lead us in a final song. 00:49:58.660 --> 00:49:58.720 Amen. 00:50:07.800 --> 00:50:15.460 Maybe if I could just buy us one more moment. 00:50:15.560 --> 00:50:22.519 If there is anything in your heart, if there is something that you're holding on to, 00:50:24.800 --> 00:50:30.760 that you're like, that's my idol, that's my Jesus, and it's not really Jesus. 00:50:30.760 --> 00:50:36.480 Let us spend a moment just to repent of that. 00:50:41.040 --> 00:50:46.440 The beauty of the gospel, of grace itself, is that it's something that we don't deserve, 00:50:47.160 --> 00:50:48.780 and yet we receive it anyway. 00:50:50.380 --> 00:50:53.260 And that verse 24, he is faithful, he will surely do it. 00:50:53.260 --> 00:50:57.740 So can I invite you, if there is something in your heart that you're like, I must surrender, I must confess. 00:50:59.500 --> 00:51:04.320 Can I invite you just to open out your hands, just as a sign of surrender. 00:51:04.320 --> 00:51:23.820 Lord, we bring the things that we're holding on to, to you. 00:51:27.660 --> 00:51:28.960 There are times we have been idle. 00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:31.200 We have been faint-hearted. 00:51:32.340 --> 00:51:33.180 We have been weak. 00:51:34.320 --> 00:51:45.420 We surrender to you. 00:51:46.500 --> 00:51:48.240 We surrender our work to you. 00:51:49.460 --> 00:51:52.380 We surrender our hobbies to you. 00:51:54.160 --> 00:51:58.000 We surrender our church to you. 00:51:58.159 --> 00:52:20.659 Be the center.