WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.919 Well, good morning, everyone. It's lovely to see you. My name is Graham. I'm the pastor 00:00:04.919 --> 00:00:09.019 here of the church. It's been wonderful to meet some new folks this morning. You are 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:15.740 so welcome with us. Let me encourage you to grab a Bible. Come with me to Acts 14. And 00:00:15.740 --> 00:00:21.160 let's pray just as we begin. This is the most important thing we do today. We ask that the 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:27.359 God whose word this is would speak to us this morning and change us. So let me pray. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.240 Paul would write this, I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:49.379 and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death and so somehow attaining 00:00:49.379 --> 00:00:54.719 to the resurrection from the dead. And so, Father, it's our prayer simply this morning 00:00:54.719 --> 00:01:01.719 that you would help us to know something more of the glory of your son, Jesus. Whoever 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:06.760 we are, whatever we think of him today, oh, gracious God, would you help us see something 00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:13.180 more of how just brilliant he is. And this is our prayer in Jesus' worthy and in his precious 00:01:13.180 --> 00:01:14.379 name. Amen. 00:01:14.379 --> 00:01:21.979 Amen. Right. A new story you might have missed a few weeks ago. 107 years after it sank, did 00:01:21.979 --> 00:01:30.560 you see this? A group of scientists in the Antarctic found the Endurance. So the Endurance, the ship 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:36.879 that Ernest Shackleton and his men, they took to the Antarctic. And the ship that was, eventually 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:44.319 it was crushed by the ice. And there they found it at the bottom of the Weddell Sea in pretty 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:52.199 good nick for something that's 107 years old. Here's the interesting thing I found. If you 00:01:52.199 --> 00:01:58.539 don't know this, the story of the Endurance isn't like the story of the Titanic. Do you 00:01:58.539 --> 00:02:05.000 know the Titanic, right? 16 lifeboats they had on that thing, which was less than half of 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:08.620 the number they needed for the amount of people that were on that boat. Because they thought, 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:12.780 well, we don't need that number of lifeboats. It's just taking up weights, taking up space. 00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:19.500 What do you mean this thing's going to sink? No one saw that iceberg coming. Flip it around, 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:24.039 the Endurance. You signed up to go on the Endurance. This is the kind of thing that was pretty much 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:31.280 guaranteed to happen. What do you mean there's ice? Everybody knew there was ice. In fact, the 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:37.080 story goes that to recruit people to come and join them, Shackleton placed an advert in the Times that 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:44.680 read, men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, 00:02:45.819 --> 00:02:54.860 constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success. So his approach, 00:02:54.860 --> 00:03:02.960 if you're going to come with me, let me tell you about the reality. Here's the thing, way before 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:12.360 Shackleton did it, Jesus did it. You want to follow me? You need to die to yourself, you need to take up 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:22.140 your cross, and you need to follow after me. And here's the paradoxical thing you realize as you come to 00:03:22.139 --> 00:03:35.179 Jesus. Death is the way to life. That to follow him, to die to yourself, to find your all in all in him 00:03:35.179 --> 00:03:43.099 is the place where life and meaning is to be found. In what the Bible describes, Paul read the words at 00:03:43.099 --> 00:03:50.759 the start there from a man who says, I've found everything because I've found Jesus Christ. Die to live. 00:03:52.139 --> 00:03:57.539 You want to follow me? That is the reality. That's how it's going to go for you. My life's going to end 00:03:57.539 --> 00:04:04.000 on the cross. That is how your earthly life is going to go as well. That's the shape of it. And following 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:10.239 in the footsteps of Jesus, Paul and Barnabas in our passage today are going to play the exact same game. 00:04:11.839 --> 00:04:17.879 Now to get what's going on here, let me get my geek on. We need to get back in the map, 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:26.560 okay, back in the map and see where we are, where they're going. So having sailed from Paphos, found 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:33.519 it in the map, Cyprus there, sailed from Paphos, they've docked at Perga. They've traveled to Pisidian 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:42.459 Antioch. Well, this week, verse 1 of chapter 14, they get to the city called Iconium. Then verse 8, 00:04:42.459 --> 00:04:50.399 they flee to Lystra. And then verse 8, sorry, verse 20, they eventually get to a city called 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:55.519 Darby. And yet, despite all the troubles that they experience in these places that we'll come 00:04:55.519 --> 00:05:01.500 on to see in a minute, despite all these troubles, do you see verse 21, they go on a return tour. 00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:10.620 They go back again. They want to see how those who have believed the gospel in these places, 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:19.139 how they are doing. Because they know it's going to be hard. And they love these people. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:23.439 They really, really love these people. In fact, Paul, you read Galatians. This is the region, 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:29.060 Galatia. You read Galatians, which is the letter to these people. Paul talks about his concern for 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:34.439 them. He says, I'm in the pains of childbirth as I think about you, right? I really care. 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:41.300 I really care. I want to know how you're doing. Because it's been hard in all these places, 00:05:41.420 --> 00:05:46.480 right? It's not been exactly Prince Ali from Aladdin's street parade as they've waltzed in 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:51.079 there with the gospel, has it? Right? People have not been celebrating from the side, cheering, 00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:58.759 chucking confetti, tell us again, tell us again. It's been the exact opposite as the muse of the risen 00:05:58.759 --> 00:06:05.439 Jesus hits these places. And these disciples, I imagine, are no doubt asking themselves, because 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:11.039 remember, they've stayed behind. They haven't moved on. They've stayed. Those are the words that Chris 00:06:11.039 --> 00:06:16.439 Martin and Copeland wrote all those years ago. Nobody said it would be easy, but nobody said it would be 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:26.240 this hard. So what is Paul and Barnabas' pastoral heart in all this? What do they want to see? 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:33.660 What do they want for the people they love? Verse 22. What's the purpose? It's to strengthen 00:06:33.660 --> 00:06:42.579 and encourage the disciples to remain true to the faith. That's what they're doing. 00:06:43.540 --> 00:06:48.860 What are they saying? Take it, Luke, summarizing the kind of substance of their message, 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:55.660 that we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. Now here's the reality. Sorry, 00:06:55.660 --> 00:07:01.160 here is with that reality. Here is where I hope and I pray that this connects with us this morning. 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:11.160 If you're here today, and maybe at the back of your mind, you've given up on Jesus. 00:07:12.940 --> 00:07:19.540 Or you might be here, but you've long ago checked out of Hotel Jesus, because following him is just 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:27.640 getting really, really hard. I want you to see in this passage that Jesus is worth it. 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:35.900 Maybe you're here, you don't know Jesus. I want you to see that this Jesus is worth it. 00:07:37.460 --> 00:07:40.580 And here's what I want you to do as we think corporately about this. And again, I hope this 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:44.419 is where this lands. Just have a wee glance to your right and to your left. 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:52.959 And see this whole strengthening and encouraging thing. Love for brothers and sisters in the church. 00:07:54.539 --> 00:07:58.039 I take it that's to be the aim of the game for us as we move forward as a community. 00:07:59.099 --> 00:08:03.139 Even now that we plant that seed up top, it's where we're going to end. I'm surprised, okay? 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:06.120 Who here needs strengthened and encouraged? 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:11.439 Who here do you need to put your arm around this morning? God's Spirit laying them on your heart 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:16.680 and saying, I want to get alongside because I know that life is really hard right now. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:24.259 Here's the reality, says Paul and Barnabas. This is what to expect. I think there's four things that 00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:29.120 Paul and Barnabas in this passage look brings out that they experienced as they traveled around 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:34.159 living and speaking for Jesus in these cities. And I take it these four things are the realities for 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:38.579 the disciples as they stay behind. And I take it they're going to be the reality for the disciples 00:08:38.579 --> 00:08:47.079 of Jesus ever since, right? We're going to rattle through these. But here's the question. Is Jesus 00:08:47.079 --> 00:08:54.839 worth it? Firstly, verse 2 of chapter 14, here's the reality. People will turn it down. 00:08:56.539 --> 00:09:00.559 So in Iconium, follow with me because this is really exciting, right? There's a reason that a man 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:05.299 called Luke has taken the time to write down this narrative that we 2,000 odd years later would have 00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:10.839 this in our language, which is pretty cool when you think about it, isn't it? So in Iconium, they go to 00:09:10.839 --> 00:09:19.419 the synagogue, chapter 14. And despite the signs which confirmed their message, and Luke there so tightly 00:09:19.419 --> 00:09:25.859 brings those things together, the Jews just didn't want to know. So do you see the language there at 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:32.840 verse 2? It's really strong. The people they stirred up, what does Luke say? What did they do? They poisoned 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:40.060 their minds. So there's an iron curtain, if you like, in the hearts and the minds of some of the Jews, and not 00:09:40.060 --> 00:09:47.519 just the Jews, but some of the Gentiles, just non-Jews, who hear this message about Jesus as well. You know, we 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:53.480 walk around our community in Libertine, signs up everywhere, no ballgames here, right? You know that kind of thing, 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:57.940 no ballgames here. You go to farms where the farmers say, get off my land, the big sign, right? 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:03.320 Just don't come near me. You're not having your antics here. That's the reaction, isn't it? 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:10.440 No ballgames here, no gospel spreading here. Let me just say, it's a hugely discouraging thing, 00:10:10.500 --> 00:10:19.080 is it not, when that happens. When somebody that you care deeply about, your friends, your family, 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:28.480 they just don't want to know. Your children, your parents, they've just decided to walk away, 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:36.139 not up for it anymore. I know for so many of you, and you've told me this, that one of the most 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:42.040 special times for you pre-COVID was meeting with others in this church family who feel that pain 00:10:42.040 --> 00:10:49.000 for friends, for children, for family who've walked away, and how you got together. You shared 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:57.000 how you're feeling about that, and you just prayed. How special that was, some of you told me. I take 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:01.919 it we want to be about that as a church. See these little cards about people to pray for? That's the 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:10.679 hope of this. Praying for people that we love. Let's do more of that. Notice the encouragement to keep you 00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:18.699 going. A great number of the Jews and Greeks believed. So gospel goes out. Again, we've seen 00:11:18.699 --> 00:11:24.059 it. Hunger, hostility. You know, most encouraging story I heard this week. It's part of Passion for 00:11:24.059 --> 00:11:29.439 Life. It's our friends down the road at Cornerstone. They had an evening at the Black Ivy over there. I 00:11:29.439 --> 00:11:35.139 know some of you love that place, okay, the Black Ivy. And they just called it Think and Drink. So I think 00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:39.819 it was 25, 30 people just turned up with their friends. Half from the church just brought some friends. 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:45.679 And the subtext was, it's just a chance to talk about life, right? So somebody from the church 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:51.120 stands up and says, here's the question for tonight. Are we better off today without religion? 00:11:51.459 --> 00:11:57.539 Sits down. You know, just that kind of small question to kick off. They're talking for hours, 00:11:57.639 --> 00:12:02.739 people. Just talking, talking, listening, listening. And after the evening, almost every single person 00:12:02.739 --> 00:12:09.519 that came said, when are we doing the next one? It's cool, isn't it? Just because we encounter 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:13.379 hard soil in our lives. Let's never think that the hunger is not out there. 00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:21.500 And so do not be discouraged. But we've got to see the reality that people will turn it down. 00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:28.500 Secondly, what's going on? People will stir it up. Because what did the Jews do? Verse 5, 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:36.919 they hatched plans to kill, to ill-treat. They plotted. That's the word. They plotted. Now, 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:46.980 in the Bible, that is Psalm 2 language. Psalm 2, the Psalmist. Why do the nations rage, right? 00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:52.080 Why do the peoples plot in vain? Against whom? Against the Lord and against His anointed. 00:12:52.080 --> 00:13:00.220 Why do people rebel against Him? His King. You see, that's who people are plotting against. 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:07.300 Now, we might not face plotting as we live our lives for Jesus in this country. But we do so well 00:13:07.300 --> 00:13:13.960 to remember that for countless brothers and sisters across the globe, this really is a daily reality. 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:23.360 that people will stir it up. False accusations will come. It's a reality. Thirdly, people will get it 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:30.460 wrong. So verse 8, Paul and Barnabas are smuggled out of Iconium and they travel to this city called 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:37.180 Lystra. You following with me? They're in Lystra. Now, the Lystraans are a... I think that's how you say it. 00:13:37.180 --> 00:13:43.340 I've just called them that. The Lystraans are a different group of people to the people who live in Iconium. 00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:50.600 Now, track with me. We're not told. What's not there? A synagogue is not there. No mention of a 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:56.759 synagogue. So the locals seem to be a lot more superstitious as they... do they live their lives. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:14:03.980 And so Paul goes in and as he's speaking, and in a remarkably similar fashion to Peter as he healed 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:12.019 the lame man in Jerusalem back in chapter 3, Paul heals this lame man in Lystra. And this man begins to 00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:18.439 walk. Again, God confirming the message that Paul and Barnabas are proclaiming. And check out the 00:14:18.439 --> 00:14:26.220 reaction of the locals in this scene. They don't think this is the work of the Greek gods they 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:33.100 worship. Nor do they think that those gods have come to visit them. They think that Paul and Barnabas 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:42.159 are those gods. All gets a bit comical, doesn't it? But pause for a second here. Paul and Barnabas, 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:49.879 had they so wanted... I was thinking about it this week. Could have so easily just chucked it and become 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:59.259 local celebs. And not just local celebs. They could have been local deities. Guests of honor at every 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:04.399 party. Never paying for a drink again. Everybody wants to be not just your mate, but everybody 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:10.819 wants to worship you. If you're on the ball, it's the kind of thing that Herod's just done. 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:20.240 A few chapters earlier where the locals heard King Herod speak and to kind of... to get on his good side, 00:15:20.319 --> 00:15:24.240 I take it. What did they say? These are not the words of a man. These are the words of a god. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:29.039 And Herod is just sitting there lapping it up. What does God do? God strikes them down. 00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:31.320 Because there's only one true God. 00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:36.720 Are these guys going to do the same? Not a chance. 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:42.960 Why are you doing this? That's the question. Verse 15. Why are you doing this? 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:50.299 So they're asking people lovingly, I take it. Why are you doing this? Compassion for people. Why are 00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:56.719 you doing this? Let me just ask you just... Come off the road just a little bit. Let me just think 00:15:56.719 --> 00:16:00.979 in your life. Let me just ask you the things that you're plowing yourself into just now. 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:08.959 Right? Your job prospects. You're getting on the property. You know, all these things that we 00:16:08.959 --> 00:16:14.419 plow ourselves into. Let me just ask you just straight from this passage. Why are you doing it? 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:25.740 Because these things we think give us a sense to and purpose for our lives. Why are we doing it? 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:32.599 Stop worshiping these worthless things is what Paul and Barnabas say. These things that... 00:16:32.599 --> 00:16:40.980 These idols that will not hold the weight of our lives. If they go wrong, the whole game is off in 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:47.279 our lives. This God won't do that. Some of you might have seen that interview that Jim Carrey did 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:53.120 this week commenting on that Will Smith, Chris Rock thing. And about how... I don't know if you 00:16:53.120 --> 00:17:00.980 noticed this. He said, as he watched it, he said, I was just a number of... one of a number of people 00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:06.819 who started asking. This whole Hollywood pretense, this whole glitz and glamour, this whole heart that 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:12.220 wants to be seen and known in the right circles. And it might not be Hollywood, but if you bring 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:18.839 it down, do we not all want that? What did he say as we watched it? He said, I just looked 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:29.059 at it and realized it was spineless. It was empty. Stop worshiping these worthless things. 00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:35.419 Not bad things, so much of what we do, but it's not the ultimate thing. 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:43.059 And help them to help them understand in this city. I guess it's really interesting. Where does... 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:49.799 Where do Paul and Barnabas take them? They take them to creation. They trace it right back. 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:54.980 This God made the heavens and the earth. Do you see the phrase there? He has not left himself without 00:17:54.980 --> 00:18:01.059 testimony. In other words, you can look up and you can... in your logic, you can say, how did this get 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:08.960 here? How did the food on my plate get to be here? We didn't pick it up from Tesco. Tesco picked it up 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:13.000 and you trace it all the way back. Where do we trace it? We trace it to our creator. That's what 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:20.120 they're saying. Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made. 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:24.460 I see the stars. I hear the rolling thunder. Thy power throughout the universe 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:29.539 displayed. This is what they're saying. Would you look up and would you see the God who created all things? 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:37.480 This God who's kind. The rain, the crops, the seasons. Where did they come from? Do you see how that's a 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:48.059 wonderful evangelistic example of meeting people where they are at? What do these people understand? 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:55.279 What do my friends... what lingo do they speak? What are the things that they're chasing in their hearts? 00:18:55.339 --> 00:19:01.960 How do they operate? What do they love? You ever done that today? What is it? So much of the things that 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:09.299 people are chasing, happiness, purpose, identity, justice. And as a Christian, we can come at these 00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:15.940 things. We can connect saying, I understand you're longing for these things. But ultimately, as a 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:20.519 Christian, I don't just believe Jesus has got something to say about these things. I believe 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:26.419 that Jesus is the ultimate answer and the ultimate substance to these things. The one that said, 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:31.779 I've come that they may have life and life to all the fool. That doesn't sound like an unhappy life to me. 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:44.359 But despite all of that, verse 18, the people were still set on giving glory to the creature 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:53.399 and the things that made sense to them rather than stopping and thinking before recognizing and honoring 00:19:53.399 --> 00:19:59.639 the God who made all things. You see how people... and that's the thing, isn't it? We're all worshipers. 00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:05.560 The question is just, what are we worshiping? And Paul and Barnabas come in and say, do you see 00:20:05.560 --> 00:20:14.440 how you're worshiping in the wrong direction? People will get it wrong. And fourthly, I take it people 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:20.180 will take it out. Verse 19. As you have some of the Jews who plotted and didn't get the job done, 00:20:20.340 --> 00:20:27.100 they come all the way over from Antioch and Iconium, which is some trek if you do the geography on it. 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:35.159 Verse 19. And they stoned Paul and dragged him outside. And what did they think? They thought 00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:40.079 he was dead, which describes to us, doesn't it, just how hard a beating they gave him. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:47.019 And again, this is a reality for brothers and sisters all over the world, all over the world. And 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:51.419 people in this room will have stories about people they know who've gone through things like this. 00:20:51.420 --> 00:21:00.680 And here's what I love, though. What happens? The disciples gather around Paul, which I take 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:08.080 it is just their way of saying, we're standing with you. And what does Paul do? 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:14.859 He gets up and he goes back into the city. 00:21:19.139 --> 00:21:23.639 Oh, people will turn it down. People will stir it up. People will get it wrong. People 00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:30.359 will take it out. And that's the reality for following this Jesus and living for him and 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:37.119 speaking for him. Now, if any of that is clicking with where you're at today, and I pray that God's 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:40.439 spirit, as the word goes forth, it does. Here's what I want you to see. 00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:50.239 The shape of whose life are we resembling as we experience those things. 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:55.379 The one who said to his disciples in Matthew 16, 00:21:57.259 --> 00:22:02.000 we're going back to the city. We're going back to Jerusalem. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:07.079 But Jesus, why are we going there? Those guys want to kill you. 00:22:07.900 --> 00:22:08.980 Do you not know who's there? 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:12.019 But I'm going back to the city 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:15.519 to lay my life down on the cross. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:17.759 Like Jesus. 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:20.700 People turned it down, turned him down. 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:22.720 Jesus' people stirred it up. 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.799 Jesus' people got it wrong. 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:27.460 Jesus' people most certainly took it out. 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:30.160 It's the things we're going to be thinking about as we move towards Easter. 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:35.000 The innocent Jesus treated in the place of the guilty. 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:36.039 Why? 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:43.720 Because of his heart to win his people for himself. 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:48.319 And so if you're experiencing any of these things that we've mentioned here, 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:50.939 even if it's in the smallest way, 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:55.500 know that your life is resembling 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:59.939 the cross-shaped pattern of your king. 00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:06.220 And from four things the disciples will experience, 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:08.759 I just want us to see, as we work towards a close, 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:11.700 five words that he gives them at the end 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:14.500 to keep them going. 00:23:15.620 --> 00:23:17.019 Through many hardships, 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:22.299 we enter the kingdom of God. 00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:26.340 And that's what's ahead of us. 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:29.960 You see, Paul and Barnabas, 00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:32.160 do you see their pastoral heart in this? 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:35.100 We want you to keep going. 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.900 We love you so much. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:40.059 Our concern we have for you. 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:44.519 That you would keep on going with this, Jesus? 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:48.180 I take it this is why, verse 23, 00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:49.259 they appoint elders. 00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:50.980 I found this a huge challenge this week, 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:53.279 and to the fellow elders, church leaders out there, 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.559 feel the weight of this. 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:58.080 I take it that's why they appoint leaders in the churches, 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.019 verse 23, 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:01.660 who will keep doing this work 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:03.819 long after Paul and Barnabas are gone. 00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:07.620 It's a challenge, isn't it, to elders? 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.000 What is the role, as it's described here? 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:11.940 That we will give ourselves 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:14.460 to serving Jesus' people. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:18.180 That we will be those who strengthen 00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:20.920 and encourage those who are struggling 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:22.799 to keep on going in the faith. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:26.740 That's the job. 00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:30.159 And I take it that part of the job as well 00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:33.799 is to equip others to join us in this task. 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:36.339 We should be doing this to one another. 00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:39.919 And look around again at the start. 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:40.579 Look to your right. 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.680 Look to your left. 00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:44.539 Who needs us to gather around them today? 00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.919 Who needs us to stand and say, 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.299 we're with you today. 00:24:49.399 --> 00:24:50.259 We know it's difficult. 00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:51.399 We know what you're going through. 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.320 We're with you. 00:24:53.280 --> 00:24:55.820 Who needs to be strengthened? 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:58.600 Who needs to be encouraged? 00:24:59.360 --> 00:25:00.740 Who needs to be loved? 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.720 Who needs to be cherished? 00:25:07.340 --> 00:25:09.280 Notice what happens when Paul and Barnabas, 00:25:09.340 --> 00:25:10.240 when they complete their work 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.440 and they get back to Antioch. 00:25:11.840 --> 00:25:13.160 Notice they're sending church, 00:25:13.280 --> 00:25:14.620 verse 27 and 28. 00:25:15.060 --> 00:25:16.180 It's the flip side of this. 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:18.720 They gather the church. 00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:20.060 They report what God's done. 00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:21.960 But what happens at verse 28? 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:28.039 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples. 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:29.720 Now, can I make an educated guess 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.779 as to what they were doing, 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:32.360 what happened in that long time? 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:35.920 I take it the same strengthening 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:38.060 and encouraging work that Paul and Barnabas 00:25:38.060 --> 00:25:39.680 had been pouring out to others. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:42.500 They go back to their church 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:45.279 and the church did it for them. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.900 Don't have time on this today, right? 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:49.759 But all sorts of links there 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:53.160 about how we treat and love our missionaries. 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.820 Don't have time to do that. 00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:56.039 You can talk about it in your home group. 00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:57.880 But it's thinking about how we can strengthen 00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:59.580 and encourage those who we send out. 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:03.259 But who needs it in their life just now? 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.539 Strengthening and encouraging. 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:07.759 I've got to wrap it up. 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.700 Just as we close, 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:11.839 let me tell you about someone who I remember 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:15.339 when I first came to Brunsfield 10 or so years ago. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:16.539 Some of you remember this. 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:19.019 One of my first Sundays here, 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:21.119 and I'll try and keep this as generic as possible 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.420 given that this is online 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:24.000 and you shouldn't understand it, okay? 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:27.079 Three Asian girls 00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:30.680 who were in Edinburgh for a short period of time 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:32.339 right here got baptized. 00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:34.139 Some of you will remember that, right? 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:36.800 It was one of the most joyous Sundays I can remember. 00:26:38.560 --> 00:26:39.360 Standing up and saying, 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.320 we want to follow Jesus. 00:26:40.560 --> 00:26:41.720 I remember speaking to John 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:43.160 who was the pastor before me 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:43.920 who I worked with. 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.620 He's a good friend. 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.280 Asking him, 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.780 tell me how it happened. 00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:48.060 Tell me what happened. 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.180 Right? 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.060 And he starts telling me 00:26:50.060 --> 00:26:50.780 about how they just, 00:26:51.280 --> 00:26:52.500 they got interested in Christianity, 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.300 interested in Jesus 00:26:53.300 --> 00:26:55.240 and they just started reading the Bible together 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.200 with John. 00:26:56.820 --> 00:26:59.020 And slowly as they started to meet Jesus 00:26:59.020 --> 00:27:00.560 as they met him in the Gospels, 00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:03.040 they started to click 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.299 what it was going to mean for them 00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:05.839 to follow him, right? 00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:07.019 In terms of their relationship 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.799 with their family, 00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:10.059 in terms of their job prospects, 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:11.399 what it was going to mean 00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:12.359 to go back 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:13.960 and to live for Jesus. 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:17.579 And so they read more and more about him 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.359 and the conversation 00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:20.639 kept circling back to this one question. 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.700 Can you guess what it is? 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:25.860 Is Jesus worth it? 00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:28.080 Is he worth it? 00:27:29.340 --> 00:27:30.019 It's another question 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:31.600 you're sitting here asking this morning 00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:32.240 as you think about 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.519 what tomorrow's going to hold. 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.059 Right? 00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:36.019 You're at school thinking 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:36.580 if you're going to go 00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.900 to the SU group tomorrow 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.740 or not at your school. 00:27:38.860 --> 00:27:40.140 Is Jesus worth it? 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.620 Go into your work. 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.539 Your colleague's going to ask you 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:44.120 what you did yesterday. 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:47.580 Is Jesus worth it? 00:27:48.080 --> 00:27:49.120 You go to school, 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:51.859 whatever it is that you do, 00:27:51.939 --> 00:27:52.739 you go to uni. 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.799 Pals ask you to experiment 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.799 with things that they're into 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.239 at the minute. 00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.079 Saying no, 00:27:58.199 --> 00:27:59.259 is Jesus worth it? 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.699 That relationship that you're in 00:28:00.699 --> 00:28:02.099 that's just not helpful. 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.039 Breaking it off, 00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:05.299 is Jesus worth it? 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.539 We could go on for ages, 00:28:06.739 --> 00:28:07.879 is Jesus worth it? 00:28:07.879 --> 00:28:08.879 Let me just say a side note 00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:09.979 to the parents this morning 00:28:09.979 --> 00:28:10.819 we've done this thing. 00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:12.619 The one thing we want for our kids 00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.639 more than anything else 00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:15.939 is that they'd look at us, 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:16.939 all our faults, 00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:17.839 all our failings, 00:28:17.919 --> 00:28:18.819 and they would conclude 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:20.819 that we lived a life 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.720 in front of them 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:24.000 that said Jesus was worth it. 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.399 It's what we want, 00:28:25.439 --> 00:28:25.899 is it not? 00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:28.119 Is Jesus worth it? 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.339 Anyway, 00:28:30.419 --> 00:28:31.059 John gets an email 00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.740 from one of the girls 00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:32.740 a few years later. 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.139 Just says, 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.919 my husband and I 00:28:35.919 --> 00:28:37.119 are going to Bible college, 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.740 going to be missionaries. 00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.539 End email. 00:28:41.899 --> 00:28:43.179 Is Jesus worth it? 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:46.279 Is it worth the many hardships 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.619 to enter the kingdom of God? 00:28:47.619 --> 00:28:49.119 Let her testimony. 00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:50.099 She's on the other side 00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.819 of the world now, 00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:52.339 living her life 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.219 for the glory of Jesus. 00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.000 Didn't know him 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.000 when she came to this city. 00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:56.259 Is Jesus worth it? 00:28:58.839 --> 00:28:59.199 Absolutely, 00:28:59.339 --> 00:28:59.939 he's worth it. 00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:01.659 If you want to explore that 00:29:01.659 --> 00:29:02.039 this morning, 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:04.059 if you want to get in touch 00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:04.799 and read the Bible, 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.119 it would be my delight 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:07.019 to do that with you. 00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:08.299 Is Jesus worth it? 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.319 Is the kingdom of God 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.379 worth the many hardships? 00:29:12.459 --> 00:29:12.819 Absolutely, 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.459 it is. 00:29:15.199 --> 00:29:15.919 So here's what I want us to do. 00:29:15.959 --> 00:29:16.659 I just want us to pray, 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.380 be really quiet. 00:29:19.300 --> 00:29:20.519 And I want you just to bring 00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:21.779 before the Lord 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:23.340 the hardships that are going on 00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:24.320 in your life just now. 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.660 Bring them to him 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:29.240 and I will close 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.560 in prayer. 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:33.179 to her. 00:29:33.179 --> 00:29:40.079 It's a very nice deal. 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:44.759 I want you to stop 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.220 moving to Pisces. 00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:46.240 It's a very nice day. 00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:47.819 I want you to keep 00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:48.200 ул'en in cash with you. 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:48.859 All right? 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.819 So 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.279 move into your life in the 00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:50.659 protection? 00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:51.799 I want you to hold 00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:51.940 in love. 00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:52.519 I want you to hold 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.000 yourself here. 00:29:53.000 --> 00:30:04.539 And so, Heavenly Father, I pray, 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:07.759 particularly for those who here are struggling, 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:13.059 that following Jesus is just really, really hard. 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:18.660 Maybe even questioning, is he worth following? 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:26.300 Father, I pray that you would help us to know how to respond to strengthening and courage. 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:30.500 Lord, I pray that you would put it in our hearts by your Holy Spirit, 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:35.019 that line of Paul that we thought about right at the start, 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:40.279 that to know him and the power of his resurrection, 00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:43.019 sharing and participating in his sufferings, 00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:46.060 that is where life is to be found. 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:51.159 Father, we just thank you for your love for us. 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:57.859 Oh, Lord, help us to have our eyes fixed on who Jesus is this morning. 00:30:58.480 --> 00:31:00.359 And it's in his worthy name we pray. 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:01.659 Amen. 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.000 Amen. 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:09.440 Well, we're just going to, before we move into a short time of communion, 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.779 we're just going to sing one song. 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:15.539 We're starting to sing this song that talks about 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:16.960 what it is to follow Jesus, 00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:19.559 to love his people, 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:22.279 and the fact that the shape of our lives, 00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:24.720 it is the cross before the crown. 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:26.559 So why don't we stand and sing this, 00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:28.039 just reflect on the words, 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:31.720 and then we'll come back and we'll remember the Lord together by taking communion. 00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:31.859 Amen. 00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:31.920 Amen. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:31.940 Amen. 00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:31.960 Amen. 00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:31.980 Amen. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.000 Amen. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:34.000 Amen. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.039 Amen. 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.079 Amen. 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:34.099 Amen. 00:31:34.099 --> 00:31:34.139 Amen. 00:31:34.139 --> 00:31:34.599 Amen. 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:34.639 Amen. 00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:34.680 Amen. 00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:35.200 Amen. 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:35.680 Amen. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:35.740 Amen. 00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:35.799 Amen. 00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:35.879 Amen.