WEBVTT

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 What a joy it is to be gathering together in worship today.

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 It's good to be back at church with my church family.

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! Catherine and I and several others from the church and a couple other churches had the opportunity to travel to Greece

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 and retrace the footsteps of Paul on part of his second missionary journey.

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 It was fascinating.

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 We got to go to places like where Lydia was baptized, the first convert in Europe.

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 We got to go to Philippi, see the jail where Paul was imprisoned at.

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 We got to go to Corinth.

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 We got to go to Ephesus, Patmos, all these different places.

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 And one of the things that we kept talking about over and over again as we made our way through

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 was the fact that Paul had an unstoppable message and a bold faith.

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 And with an unstoppable message, the gospel, and a bold faith of taking and making sure that he proclaimed this message everywhere he went,

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 God was able to turn the world upside down.

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 He was able to move and work in mighty ways.

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 And one of the things that we're talking about today and want to focus on is that we have an unstoppable message.

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 We still have the same gospel message that we get to proclaim today.

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 And God has called us to live this out with a bold faith.

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 And while the unstoppable message has not changed,

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 what we need to focus on many times is having this bold faith that shares this message to those who need to hear it.

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 And one of the ways that we get to see this encouraged in our life is when we have fellowship with other believers.

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 When we have this spiritual fellowship that not only gives us an example to follow,

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 but also encourages us along the way to live out our faith,

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 to live out this message to this life that God has called us to live.

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 And so for the next two weeks, we're going to be looking at another component of our discipleship pathway.

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 And the truth that we're going to be considering this week and next week is the fact that disciples show.

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 We've already talked about the fact that all disciples know.

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 They all know some things.

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 They know who God is.

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 They know who we are in light of who God is.

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 And they know that the only way to receive salvation,

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 the only way to be safe, to have that relationship with God restored,

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 is through faith in Christ Jesus.

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 So in short, all disciples know the gospel.

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 In addition to this, we've talked about the fact that all disciples grow.

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 They grow in this relationship.

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 It's not something where we stay stagnant.

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 It's not something where we come to faith in Christ and then never do anything with it.

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 But we're growing in this relationship.

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 And so for these first two components,

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 I feel that we can all understand and appreciate the fact that these are characteristics of all disciples.

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 But also, in addition to this,

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 we're going to be moving into a couple things over the next four weeks

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 that are sometimes a little harder to wrap our minds around the fact

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 that they are prevalent or that should be prevalent in all disciples.

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 And so as we begin to look at the fact that all disciples show and all disciples go,

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 sometimes it gets a little more challenging to realize that this is for all of us.

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 You see, with the fact that disciples know and grow,

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 that's something that many times we think we can do by ourselves.

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 It's a personal relationship with the Lord.

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 It's a personal commitment to read the Bible,

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 to pray, to give generously,

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 to do all of these things.

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 We feel that we can do this on our own.

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 But all of a sudden, as we think about showing and going,

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 then all of a sudden we realize that this is something that we're to do within community.

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 This is something that we are to do with other people.

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 And so sometimes it gets a little more challenging for us to wrap our minds around that.

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 But we must understand the fact that all disciples of Jesus,

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 not just pastors or missionaries,

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 but all disciples of Jesus show and go.

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 Now, I want us to consider the fact that disciples show in two regards this morning and next week.

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 As disciples of Jesus, we're not only commanded to show others what Christ has done for us,

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 we are to be shown by others as well.

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 And so think of it like this.

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 We are to see and we are to show.

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 We are to see and we are to be seen.

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 We are to show and we are to be shown this message.

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 This week, our focus is going to be on seeing,

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 on the fact that we as disciples should be looking to others' lives,

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 having someone to invest in our life.

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 And to help us understand the necessity of looking to godly examples,

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 I want to invite you to open with me to the book of Philippians.

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 Philippians chapter 3.

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 We're going to start in verse 17 and work our way through chapter 4, verse 1.

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 It's just a few verses of scripture here,

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 but in these few verses, what we see is a necessity to look to godly examples.

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 And so if you have a copy of God's Word,

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 I want to invite you to follow along as I read,

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 starting in Philippians chapter 3, verse 17.

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 It says this,

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 Brothers,

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 Now from this passage,

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 there are a few observations that we can make when it comes to discipleship

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 and the fact that all disciples should be showing and be shown some things.

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 The first observation that we made from this passage is this,

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 Disciples see the example of godly believers.

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 The importance of disciples seeing the example of godly believers.

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 Brothers, this passage right here says,

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 Brothers, join in imitating me.

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 Where we first, when we first read this,

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 it kind of sounds a little arrogant of what Paul is saying, right?

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 He says,

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 Be like me.

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 Imitate me.

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 I can only imagine

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 if I go into staff meeting on Tuesday

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 and I tell the rest of the staff,

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 I said,

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 All right, guys,

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 I want you to imitate me.

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 They'll start laughing at me like,

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 Yeah, right.

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 We're not doing that.

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 But Paul here,

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 he's saying,

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 Imitate me.

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 But it's not in an arrogant sense.

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 It's not in a,

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 Hey,

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 to be exactly like me.

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 It's what he's saying is,

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 Follow my example in looking to Christ.

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 Follow my example in keeping Christ at the center of everything.

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 And if you look back at the chapters leading up to this in Philippians,

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 you will see this example that Paul is saying to imitate him.

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 The example of putting no confidence in the flesh.

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 No confidence in our works.

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 Paul's already told him,

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 He says,

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 Look,

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 If anybody has confidence in the flesh,

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 in their works to gain salvation,

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 it's me.

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 And he says,

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 But I don't put any confidence in that.

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 And so he's saying,

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 Follow my example in this.

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 Follow the example of realizing we are all a work in progress.

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 Follow the example of forgetting what's behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

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 Follow his example of keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

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 Follow his example in being consumed by one thing.

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 Jesus Christ and him crucified.

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 Paul is saying,

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 Follow my example in these things.

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 He realizes he's not a perfect example.

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 In fact,

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 that is one of the ways that we can relate to him and follow his lead.

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 We realize that we are all works in progress.

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 We all have much that needs to change in our lives,

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 to be molded and informed,

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 to look more and more like Jesus Christ.

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 But what he's saying is,

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 Follow this example.

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 Follow the example.

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 In a sense,

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 This is discipleship.

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 Having people in your life that you can look up to,

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 that will mentor you,

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 that you can follow their example,

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 to have someone more mature in your life,

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 that you can see how they live out their faith

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 and be inspired to do the same.

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 We need examples in our lives.

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 We need people that we can look to,

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 that we can see how they're living their life out.

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 Many have said much of the Christian life

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 is far easier caught than taught.

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 In other words,

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 much of the Christian life,

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 we figure out and we learn

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 by looking to other people's lives.

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 Yes, we hear the words.

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 Yes, we hear what we should be doing.

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 But much of the Christian life

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 is following the example of others

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 who have gone before us.

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 who are more mature in this world.

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 We need to see those examples in our lives.

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 Several,

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 and this is something that we all need to understand

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 because when we look to people's lives,

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 when we look to those godly lives,

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 it illustrates for us sound teaching.

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 Several of you have mentioned

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 that I'm running up quite the tab

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 with my kids right now

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 using them in sermon illustrations.

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 For those that you don't know,

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 every time I use one of my kids

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 and a message,

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 I have to pay them $5.

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 And so let's just hypothetically speak here

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 and just say,

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 just imagine I had a child

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 that is learning how to drive right now.

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 So just, I mean,

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 nobody in particular,

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 but just imagine

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 that I have a child

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 who's learning how to drive right now.

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 And what has been interesting

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 is to see how he pays attention

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 to how Catherine and I drive

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 much more than he used to.

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 We are,

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 or him or her,

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 whichever child it is.

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 But,

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 but,

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 but he's paying attention

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 to how we are driving.

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 And so when,

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 when we tell him things,

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 when we say,

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 hey,

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 you need to make sure

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 you stop completely right here.

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 You need to make sure

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 you don't go up to speed limit.

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 You need to make sure

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 you look both ways.

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 You need,

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 he's now applying

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 those same things to us

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 and making sure

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 that we do those same things

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 that we're telling him to.

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 And it's trickling down

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 to his other siblings.

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 And it's not just with,

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 with Catherine and I.

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 I was riding with Charlotte

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 the other day

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 and she told me,

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 she goes,

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 you know,

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 sometimes Mimi drives

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 a little fast.

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 And I said,

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 oh really?

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 She said,

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 yes,

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 sometimes Mimi drives

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 a little fast,

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 but she told me

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 that it's okay

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 to go five miles an hour

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 over the speed limit.

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 I said,

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 oh,

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 she did.

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 Okay,

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 well thank you Mimi.

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 Thankfully,

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 my mother-in-law

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 is at the Methodist church

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 and as long as

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 all of you agree

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 to keep that story here,

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 it will never make

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 its way there.

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 But,

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 what I've found

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 is that so many times

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 what we do

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 leaves a far more

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 lasting impact

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 than what we say.

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 And so,

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 we've got to have people

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 in our lives

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 that we can look to

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 at how they're living

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 their life.

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 We can look to their life

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 and say,

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 hey,

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 they've got their eyes

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 fixed on Jesus.

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 They're following Jesus.

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 They're trying to follow him

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 with their lives.

00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:39.179
 Jerry Bridges,

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 in a book

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 that I would highly recommend

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 called Growing Your Faith,

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 he says this

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 about the importance

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 of fellowship

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 and having the example

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 of others to follow.

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 He says this,

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 he says,

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 none of us

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 have the spiritual

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 wherewithal

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 to go it alone

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 in our Christian lives.

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 Spiritual fellowship

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 is not a luxury

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 but a necessity

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 vital to our spiritual

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 growth and health.

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 Biblical fellowship

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 involves both

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 a sharing together

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 of our common life

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 in Christ

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 and sharing

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 with one another

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 what God

00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:19.279
 has given to us.

00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:20.360
 He says,

00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.060
 one of the most

00:13:21.060 --> 00:13:22.120
 important things

00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:23.100
 we can share

00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:24.700
 with one another

00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:26.580
 is the spiritual truth

00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:27.460
 that God

00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:28.899
 has been teaching us

00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:30.600
 which might be

00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:31.899
 of great help

00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:33.120
 to fellow believers.

00:13:34.800 --> 00:13:35.419
 He says,

00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:36.180
 none of us

00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:37.580
 are meant to do this alone.

00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.100
 None of us

00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:40.320
 are meant to go this alone

00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:40.840
 and try to

00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:42.019
 just pave the way

00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:42.300
 ourselves

00:13:42.300 --> 00:13:43.419
 but we are to have

00:13:43.419 --> 00:13:44.340
 this community,

00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:46.000
 have this fellowship

00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.920
 with other believers

00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:48.659
 to live this life out.

00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:50.360
 we need the example

00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:51.059
 of others

00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:52.500
 in our lives.

00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:53.679
 It's obvious

00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:54.279
 when we look

00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:54.899
 at our children

00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.000
 and realize

00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:56.899
 that they need

00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.699
 these examples

00:13:57.699 --> 00:13:58.519
 in their lives.

00:13:58.879 --> 00:13:59.879
 They need parents

00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:01.000
 that model for them

00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:01.539
 what it means

00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:02.639
 to follow Jesus.

00:14:03.459 --> 00:14:04.379
 In fact,

00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:05.659
 as parents,

00:14:05.939 --> 00:14:07.279
 we are our kids

00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:08.779
 primary example

00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.419
 in this.

00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.059
 It's wonderful

00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:12.199
 to bring them

00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:12.819
 to church.

00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:14.199
 It's wonderful

00:14:14.199 --> 00:14:15.240
 to encourage them

00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.480
 to go to youth camp.

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.560
 It's wonderful

00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:18.920
 to encourage them

00:14:18.920 --> 00:14:20.379
 to go on a mission trip

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:22.039
 but they need something

00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:24.019
 that is far more impactful

00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:25.220
 than these things.

00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:27.300
 They need parents

00:14:27.300 --> 00:14:28.620
 that day in

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.659
 and day out

00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:30.580
 show them

00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:32.039
 what it looks like

00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:33.180
 to follow Jesus.

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.580
 They need parents

00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:35.120
 who not only

00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.220
 make sacrifices

00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:37.120
 to follow Jesus

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.860
 but teach them

00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:39.860
 the importance

00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:40.580
 of making

00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:41.659
 those sacrifices.

00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:43.300
 But here's the thing.

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:45.120
 It's really easy

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.060
 for us to see

00:14:46.060 --> 00:14:46.860
 this connection

00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:47.500
 with children.

00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:49.320
 It's really easy

00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:50.139
 for us to see

00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:50.860
 this connection

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.940
 with being

00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:52.560
 this is something

00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:53.220
 that is important

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:54.299
 to teach our children.

00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:55.799
 But Paul

00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:57.759
 is not writing this

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:59.340
 to the children's ministry

00:14:59.340 --> 00:14:59.879
 at the church

00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:00.620
 of Philippi.

00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.120
 He's not writing

00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:02.620
 this letter

00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.980
 to the youth group

00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:04.580
 at the church

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.240
 of Philippi.

00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:06.799
 He's writing this letter

00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:07.659
 to the church

00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.539
 as a whole.

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.539
 He's saying

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.720
 we all need this

00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:11.500
 in our life.

00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:12.940
 We all need

00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:13.600
 the example

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.240
 of others

00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.019
 who are looking

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:15.680
 to Jesus

00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:16.800
 who are focused

00:15:16.800 --> 00:15:17.279
 on Him.

00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:18.920
 We need this example

00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:20.019
 in our lives.

00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:21.259
 We need

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.500
 this discipleship.

00:15:22.820 --> 00:15:23.420
 We need

00:15:23.420 --> 00:15:24.159
 this fellowship.

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.639
 We need this

00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.220
 as a part

00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:28.060
 of who we are.

00:15:28.420 --> 00:15:29.060
 He's writing

00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:30.259
 to the whole church.

00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:31.659
 We all need

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.279
 examples

00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:33.420
 to follow

00:15:33.420 --> 00:15:34.519
 in our lives.

00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:35.759
 That is why

00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.500
 the church

00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.940
 not this building

00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:39.560
 but this group

00:15:39.560 --> 00:15:40.340
 of believers

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.879
 is so important

00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:43.200
 so vital

00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.340
 in our Christian

00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:44.960
 walk.

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.419
 We have people

00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:47.559
 who are experiencing

00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:48.700
 the challenges

00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:49.340
 of life

00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:50.159
 like we are

00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.600
 and we can come

00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:52.799
 alongside each other

00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:54.019
 and do life

00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:54.799
 with one another.

00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:56.080
 We have those

00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:57.100
 who've gone before us

00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:58.019
 who've experienced

00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.960
 the difficulties

00:15:58.960 --> 00:15:59.919
 of this life

00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:00.939
 and we can go

00:16:00.939 --> 00:16:01.480
 to them

00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:02.179
 and say

00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:03.240
 is it worth it

00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:03.879
 and they will say

00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.240
 every single time

00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.320
 absolutely

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:07.460
 it is.

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.039
 So I want to ask you

00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:09.679
 do you have

00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:11.039
 godly examples

00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:11.799
 in your life

00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:13.000
 that you can look to

00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:14.000
 that you can

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.959
 look up to

00:16:14.959 --> 00:16:15.759
 those that aren't

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.620
 just voices

00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:18.399
 on a podcast

00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.980
 or people that you

00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:21.259
 watch on social media

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:22.919
 but people that you

00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:23.259
 know

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.519
 that you have

00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:25.860
 a relationship with

00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:27.399
 that you can call

00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.319
 that you can text

00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.179
 that you know

00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:29.899
 will be there

00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.639
 for you.

00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:31.659
 You see

00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:32.399
 we can get

00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:33.120
 a lot of great

00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:33.599
 you can get

00:16:33.599 --> 00:16:34.579
 far better teaching

00:16:34.579 --> 00:16:35.539
 online than you can

00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:36.039
 right here.

00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.860
 There's a lot

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.600
 there's some really

00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.120
 incredible gifted

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.259
 teachers out there

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:43.399
 but it's more than that

00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.340
 we need people

00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:45.519
 in our life

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.460
 that are going

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.320
 to do life

00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:47.960
 with us

00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:48.620
 that are going

00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.460
 to come alongside

00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.060
 us

00:16:50.060 --> 00:16:51.100
 that's not just

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.860
 something that we

00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:52.980
 we experience

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.639
 on a screen

00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:54.080
 but something

00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:54.820
 that we experience

00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.960
 with other believers.

00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:57.279
 You see

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:57.899
 in this

00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.940
 in this book

00:16:58.940 --> 00:17:01.120
 Paul has already

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.960
 spent time

00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.580
 with this church

00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.879
 in Philippi.

00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:04.720
 He's already

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.980
 built relationships

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.759
 with them

00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.680
 and that's why

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.420
 when he says

00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.299
 things like he

00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:09.819
 does in

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.920
 Philippians chapter

00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:13.119
 1 verses 29

00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:13.579
 and 30

00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.559
 it carries

00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.259
 a great deal

00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:15.839
 of weight.

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:16.759
 You see

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.259
 in Philippians

00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:17.940
 1 verse 29

00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:19.160
 he's telling

00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:20.039
 this church

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.579
 he's telling

00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.640
 this group

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.319
 of believers

00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.299
 a difficult

00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:23.960
 truth.

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.079
 He's telling

00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:26.019
 them that

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.539
 sometimes

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.220
 in this

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.079
 Christian walk

00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.879
 we're going

00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:29.519
 to have to

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.259
 suffer for

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:30.720
 Christ.

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:31.579
 There's going

00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:32.240
 to be things

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.839
 that we go

00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:33.339
 through that

00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:34.079
 are difficult

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.640
 that are

00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:35.279
 challenging

00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:36.180
 and he's

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:36.839
 telling them

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:37.480
 this difficult

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:37.960
 truth

00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:38.639
 but they

00:17:38.639 --> 00:17:39.559
 receive it

00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:40.240
 better because

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:40.859
 of his

00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:41.420
 relationship.

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:41.759
 I want you

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.139
 to listen

00:17:42.139 --> 00:17:42.680
 to this.

00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:44.259
 Chapter 1

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:45.039
 29 and 30

00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:45.619
 says this

00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:46.379
 for it has

00:17:46.379 --> 00:17:47.119
 been granted

00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:47.619
 to you

00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:47.960
 that for

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.500
 the sake

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.160
 of Christ

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.119
 you should

00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:50.700
 not only

00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.579
 believe in

00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:51.759
 him

00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.700
 but also

00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.680
 suffer

00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:54.359
 for his

00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:54.879
 sake.

00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:56.019
 You should

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.859
 also suffer

00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:57.220
 for his

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:57.299
 sake.

00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:57.799
 This is a

00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.160
 difficult

00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:58.519
 truth

00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.180
 but then

00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.460
 he goes

00:17:59.460 --> 00:17:59.779
 on to

00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.420
 say this

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:01.240
 he says

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:01.920
 engaged

00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:02.460
 in the

00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:02.859
 same

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.480
 conflict

00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.480
 that you

00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.120
 saw

00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.039
 I had

00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.079
 and now

00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:07.519
 hear

00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:07.920
 that I

00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.220
 still

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:08.740
 have.

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:09.940
 He's

00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:10.059
 saying

00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:10.259
 you're

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:10.360
 going

00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:10.480
 to

00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:10.880
 experience

00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:11.279
 suffering

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:11.819
 but remember

00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.339
 I did

00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:12.880
 as well.

00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:13.900
 I was

00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:14.180
 there

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.839
 with you.

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:15.759
 You saw

00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.700
 me experience

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.480
 this suffering.

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.660
 Yes I was

00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.160
 there and

00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:20.160
 brought the

00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:21.000
 gospel message

00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.120
 and Lydia

00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:23.360
 was saved

00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:24.039
 and was

00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:24.559
 baptized

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.539
 there and

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:25.839
 then I

00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.220
 came in

00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:26.720
 and cast

00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.000
 this demon

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.680
 out of

00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:29.339
 this young

00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:30.279
 slave girl

00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.259
 this spirit

00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:31.900
 of divination

00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:32.319
 who was

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.380
 making her

00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:34.080
 owners much

00:18:34.080 --> 00:18:34.880
 money and

00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.620
 because I

00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:36.100
 did this

00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:36.460
 they got

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.220
 really upset

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.580
 with me

00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:38.220
 caused a riot

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.900
 beat me

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.440
 threw me

00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.180
 in jail

00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:41.600
 but while

00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:42.080
 I was in

00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:42.500
 jail

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.580
 Silas and I

00:18:43.580 --> 00:18:44.140
 were praising

00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:44.740
 God.

00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:45.300
 We were

00:18:45.300 --> 00:18:45.860
 singing

00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:47.000
 and all of a

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.300
 sudden it

00:18:47.300 --> 00:18:47.740
 gave us an

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.580
 opportunity to

00:18:48.580 --> 00:18:49.080
 share the

00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:49.720
 gospel of the

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.640
 Philippian jailer

00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.740
 and him and

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.460
 his whole family

00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.080
 came to faith

00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:53.660
 in Christ.

00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.080
 He says

00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:55.760
 you remember

00:18:55.760 --> 00:18:57.640
 me experiencing

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:58.480
 these things

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.560
 the suffering

00:18:59.560 --> 00:19:00.440
 that I experienced

00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:00.820
 while you were

00:19:00.820 --> 00:19:01.640
 there but I'm

00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.140
 here to tell

00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:02.760
 you it's worth

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.160
 it and so

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:03.960
 because of

00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.940
 that relationship

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.140
 he's able to

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:07.220
 share this

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:07.720
 truth with

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.000
 them and

00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.759
 these words

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.599
 carry a

00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.480
 great amount

00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.559
 of weight.

00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:12.559
 You see we

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.099
 need the

00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:13.799
 example of

00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:14.500
 strong believers

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.420
 in our lives.

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:16.279
 There are

00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:17.420
 people that I

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.759
 intentionally make

00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:20.460
 time for each

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.259
 and every month

00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.480
 to go and

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.339
 have lunch with

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.079
 them because I

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.799
 need this in

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.460
 my life.

00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.720
 I need people

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.500
 who will pour

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.680
 into me and

00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:29.279
 who have gone

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.359
 before me who

00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:31.819
 are further along

00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:32.539
 in their relationship

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:32.960
 with the Lord

00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:34.099
 who will invest

00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:35.579
 in my life as

00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:35.899
 well.

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.480
 We all need

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.460
 this as a part

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.659
 of our Christian

00:19:39.659 --> 00:19:40.059
 walk.

00:19:40.419 --> 00:19:41.200
 This is part of

00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:41.679
 what it means

00:19:41.679 --> 00:19:42.619
 that all

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.659
 disciples show

00:19:43.659 --> 00:19:44.639
 and part of

00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:45.119
 that is we

00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:45.559
 have other

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.379
 people showing

00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:47.059
 us.

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:47.960
 We get to

00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.599
 look at their

00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:49.419
 life and see

00:19:49.419 --> 00:19:50.279
 that example

00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.419
 over and over

00:19:51.419 --> 00:19:51.539
 again.

00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:51.960
 One of the

00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:52.639
 reasons that

00:19:52.639 --> 00:19:53.619
 we see this

00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:54.220
 is important

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.000
 is because it's

00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:55.679
 a tremendous

00:19:55.679 --> 00:19:56.700
 blessing in our

00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:58.139
 life to help

00:19:58.139 --> 00:19:58.859
 you grow in

00:19:58.859 --> 00:19:59.339
 your walk

00:19:59.339 --> 00:19:59.959
 with Christ.

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.399
 You see,

00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.299
 I've never had

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:03.799
 a conversation

00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.439
 with someone

00:20:04.439 --> 00:20:04.959
 where I was

00:20:04.959 --> 00:20:05.719
 sharing with

00:20:05.719 --> 00:20:06.759
 them some

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:07.439
 hard things

00:20:07.439 --> 00:20:07.799
 that I was

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.359
 going through.

00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:09.359
 I've never

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:10.279
 had a conversation

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:10.879
 with someone

00:20:10.879 --> 00:20:11.740
 who was actually

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.959
 growing in

00:20:12.959 --> 00:20:13.339
 their walk

00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:13.939
 with Christ,

00:20:14.439 --> 00:20:14.819
 who was

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:15.719
 actually looking

00:20:15.719 --> 00:20:16.699
 to Jesus in

00:20:16.699 --> 00:20:17.319
 the midst of

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:18.379
 everything going

00:20:18.379 --> 00:20:18.659
 on in their

00:20:18.659 --> 00:20:18.839
 life.

00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:19.579
 I've never had

00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.159
 somebody say,

00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:21.379
 nah, it's

00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:22.219
 really not worth

00:20:22.219 --> 00:20:22.459
 it.

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.439
 No.

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.500
 Every single

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.059
 time, no matter

00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.719
 what they've

00:20:26.719 --> 00:20:28.240
 experienced, if

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.859
 they're growing

00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:29.120
 in their

00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:29.539
 relationship

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:29.880
 with the

00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.120
 Lord, if

00:20:30.120 --> 00:20:30.400
 they've got

00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.000
 their eyes

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.500
 fixed on

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.680
 Jesus, every

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.400
 single time

00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:34.000
 they'll say,

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.500
 yes, it's

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.420
 hard, but

00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:35.819
 it's worth

00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.099
 it.

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.160
 But it's

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:37.500
 worth it

00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.200
 because Jesus

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:39.400
 is worth

00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:39.579
 it.

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.480
 So we need

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:40.839
 it because

00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:41.099
 of the

00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:41.579
 encouragement

00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.839
 it is, but

00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:43.660
 we also need

00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.420
 this because

00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.019
 this is what

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.599
 God has

00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:46.059
 called us

00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:47.240
 to do, and

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:47.940
 not doing

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.480
 it as being

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.440
 disobedient.

00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.599
 Paul says,

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.779
 brothers, join

00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.460
 in imitating

00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.620
 me and keep

00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.359
 your eyes on

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:55.079
 those who walk

00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:56.299
 according to

00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:56.960
 the example

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.799
 you have in

00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.220
 us.

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.200
 So we must

00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.720
 keep our

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.160
 eyes.

00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.700
 Disciples see

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.500
 the example

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.440
 of others, the

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.279
 godly example

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:04.900
 of others.

00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:05.940
 But not only

00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:06.720
 does Paul give

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.460
 us an example

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:09.559
 to follow, he

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.220
 gives us a

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.960
 warning in this

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.500
 passage.

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.880
 He gives us a

00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.420
 warning that

00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:13.880
 there are going

00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:15.740
 to be those who

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.700
 don't give us a

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.460
 godly example.

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.680
 And so the next

00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.400
 thing that we see

00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.839
 is that disciples

00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:22.279
 see the danger

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.420
 in following bad

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:23.940
 examples.

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:25.720
 Yes, disciples

00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:27.059
 see the good

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.700
 examples, the

00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.700
 godly examples

00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:29.299
 to follow, but

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:30.200
 they also see

00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.680
 the danger in

00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.519
 following bad

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.019
 examples.

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.580
 It says this,

00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:35.460
 for many of

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.059
 whom I have

00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:36.980
 often told you

00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.600
 and now tell

00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:38.660
 you even with

00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.840
 tears, walk as

00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:40.620
 enemies of the

00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:41.660
 cross of Christ.

00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:42.779
 Their end is

00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.600
 destruction, their

00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:44.279
 God is their

00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:45.319
 belly, and they

00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:46.100
 glory in their

00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:46.640
 shame with

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.920
 minds set on

00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:48.980
 earthly things.

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.120
 You see, I

00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:50.840
 don't think Paul

00:21:50.840 --> 00:21:51.860
 is referring to

00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:52.740
 people who were

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:54.920
 openly speaking

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.600
 against the

00:21:55.600 --> 00:21:56.160
 church in

00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:56.500
 public.

00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.360
 I don't think

00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:57.880
 he's referring

00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.660
 to people who

00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:59.279
 were in the

00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.880
 church and

00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:00.519
 now they

00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:00.840
 said, I

00:22:00.840 --> 00:22:01.180
 don't want

00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:01.620
 anything to

00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:02.019
 do with that

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.700
 anymore, and

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.120
 now they're

00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:04.360
 speaking and

00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:05.019
 talking bad

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.400
 about it.

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.600
 Of course, Paul

00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:07.460
 would say don't

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.120
 follow that

00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:09.720
 example, but I

00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:10.660
 think what he's

00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.300
 talking about

00:22:11.300 --> 00:22:12.840
 here is people

00:22:12.840 --> 00:22:13.360
 within the

00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:14.820
 church who are

00:22:14.820 --> 00:22:16.060
 saying one thing

00:22:16.060 --> 00:22:16.960
 with their mouth,

00:22:17.080 --> 00:22:18.500
 but their life is

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.279
 living something

00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.380
 completely different.

00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.900
 He's saying don't

00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:22.540
 follow that

00:22:22.540 --> 00:22:23.060
 example.

00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.500
 Don't follow the

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.079
 example of

00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:26.240
 people who say

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:27.140
 one thing, but

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:28.059
 their life is

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.200
 screaming something

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.619
 very different.

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.140
 It was those who

00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:33.079
 claimed to be a

00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.480
 part of the

00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:34.079
 fellowship, but

00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.740
 their lifestyle was

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.420
 an open

00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.720
 contradiction to

00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.220
 what they

00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.880
 claimed.

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:39.940
 For these

00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:40.519
 people, their

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.480
 end is destruction.

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.680
 You see, for

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.519
 these people, they

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.259
 claimed to be

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:44.900
 followers of

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:46.099
 Christ, but there

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.799
 was a sharp

00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.799
 contrast in what

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.920
 they claimed to

00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.799
 believe and how

00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.579
 they actually

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.740
 lived.

00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:52.720
 These people

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.559
 claimed to know

00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:54.440
 Jesus, but they

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:55.460
 focus on

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.480
 themselves.

00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.519
 But here's the

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.259
 thing, Paul's

00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:01.159
 sharp warning and

00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:01.899
 the way that he

00:23:01.899 --> 00:23:03.460
 says this has

00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.919
 led many people to

00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:06.720
 think that Paul was

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.700
 probably talking

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:09.059
 about leadership

00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:10.059
 within the church.

00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.619
 People who had a

00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.879
 voice on a regular

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.919
 occurrence, people

00:23:13.919 --> 00:23:15.159
 who were openly

00:23:15.159 --> 00:23:16.200
 sharing, but yet

00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:17.339
 their life was a

00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.359
 contradiction to

00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:18.899
 what they were

00:23:18.899 --> 00:23:19.240
 saying.

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.240
 He's telling them

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.220
 be very careful

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.039
 about those people.

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:24.339
 don't follow that

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:24.980
 example.

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.680
 And sadly, there is

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.440
 no shortage of

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:29.000
 people who claim to

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:30.920
 know Christ, who can

00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.920
 say the right things,

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.019
 but their life is a

00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:34.099
 complete contradiction.

00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.920
 We see it in

00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:36.839
 prominent places.

00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.200
 We see it from

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.180
 politicians who

00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.159
 claim Christ, but

00:23:40.159 --> 00:23:41.000
 their life is a

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.000
 complete contradiction

00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.799
 to that claim.

00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.700
 And sadly, where we

00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:46.079
 often see this is the

00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:47.279
 same place that Paul

00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:48.839
 is likely referring to

00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:50.379
 inside the church.

00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:51.700
 church and often

00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:52.700
 in the office of

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.240
 pastor.

00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:55.300
 Over the past few

00:23:55.300 --> 00:23:57.340
 years, we have seen

00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:58.880
 more and more pastors

00:23:58.880 --> 00:23:59.960
 walk away from the

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:01.980
 ministry, being forced

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:03.320
 to resign or to

00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:05.140
 rethink their views

00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:06.100
 on certain issues

00:24:06.100 --> 00:24:06.940
 because they got

00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.320
 caught.

00:24:08.040 --> 00:24:08.980
 The reasons are

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.320
 many.

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:11.120
 Pride, abuse of

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:12.360
 power, pornography,

00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:14.100
 adultery, you name

00:24:14.100 --> 00:24:14.720
 it, and there's a

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:16.220
 good chance that a

00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.140
 pastor has been

00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:18.260
 involved with it.

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.480
 And so what we're

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.279
 seeing here is that

00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.000
 we must choose

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.960
 carefully who you

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.119
 are going to

00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:24.619
 follow.

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.400
 Now, I'm not saying

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.440
 that we only follow

00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.559
 perfect examples

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:30.359
 because none of us

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:31.279
 in here are perfect,

00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:32.879
 but we're following

00:24:32.879 --> 00:24:35.000
 examples that keep

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.379
 their eyes fixed on

00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:36.779
 Jesus.

00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.799
 We're following

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:38.700
 examples of those

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.680
 that realize, hey,

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:41.299
 I'm not there, but

00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:42.220
 I'm working towards

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:42.440
 it.

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.519
 We follow the

00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.379
 examples of those

00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:45.839
 who not only see

00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.559
 Jesus, but their

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.720
 life shows that

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.720
 they're actively

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.700
 trying to follow

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.579
 him, and we

00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:52.159
 follow those

00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:52.740
 examples.

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:54.119
 Don't follow bad

00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:55.599
 examples no matter

00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:56.500
 what they say.

00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:57.980
 But also I want to

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:59.019
 encourage you, don't

00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:00.480
 give up on the

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.639
 Christian faith because

00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:03.819
 of bad examples or

00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:04.980
 because of a bad

00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.139
 experience either.

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:08.259
 This isn't a new

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.720
 struggle.

00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.519
 Paul is warning the

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.839
 church of Philippi of

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:13.919
 this 2,000 years ago,

00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:15.220
 but it's something that

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.160
 we must consider

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:17.120
 today as well.

00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.779
 And so not only are

00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.880
 disciples able to see

00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:21.079
 the example of strong

00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:22.960
 believers, not only are

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.680
 they able to see the

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.640
 danger of these

00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:26.079
 examples, but finally

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.860
 we are able to see

00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:30.339
 that disciples follow

00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.819
 the good examples

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.579
 they see.

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:35.259
 Disciples follow the

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:36.720
 good examples they

00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.259
 see.

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:39.740
 Verses 20 through 4,

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.519
 1 says this, it

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:40.980
 says, but our

00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:42.700
 citizenship is in

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:44.380
 heaven, and from it

00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:45.560
 we await a Savior,

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.600
 the Lord Jesus

00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:47.820
 Christ, who will

00:25:47.820 --> 00:25:49.160
 transform our lowly

00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:50.260
 body to be like his

00:25:50.260 --> 00:25:52.080
 glorious body by the

00:25:52.080 --> 00:25:53.340
 power that enables him

00:25:53.340 --> 00:25:55.080
 to be subject to all,

00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:57.120
 to, uh, enables him

00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:58.380
 even to subject all

00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.380
 things to himself.

00:26:00.020 --> 00:26:01.340
 Therefore, my brothers

00:26:01.340 --> 00:26:03.260
 whom I love and long

00:26:03.260 --> 00:26:05.720
 for, my joy and my

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:07.560
 crown stand firm thus

00:26:07.560 --> 00:26:09.980
 in the Lord my beloved.

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.120
 left.

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:13.000
 Several years ago, we

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:14.160
 worked our way through

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:15.240
 the entire book of

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.799
 Philippians, and I'm

00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:18.400
 sure that each and

00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.160
 every one of you

00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:20.279
 remember every single

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.000
 thing that we talked

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.740
 about in the book of

00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.960
 Philippians, and that

00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:24.220
 there's really no need

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.920
 in me giving a

00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:26.440
 refresher here, and

00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.480
 since you remember it

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:29.240
 all word for word, but

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:29.960
 some of you may not

00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.599
 have been here, so let's

00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:31.319
 just do a quick

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.819
 refresher for something

00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:34.240
 that we see at the

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:35.279
 beginning of

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:35.940
 Philippians.

00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.420
 In chapter 1, verse

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:39.079
 27, Paul tells us, he

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:40.720
 says this, he says,

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:42.480
 only let your manner

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:44.699
 of life be worthy of

00:26:44.699 --> 00:26:46.000
 the gospel of Christ.

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.919
 The word that Paul

00:26:47.919 --> 00:26:49.379
 uses here to describe

00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:52.019
 this life, it has a

00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:53.559
 citizenship implication

00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.339
 to it.

00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:56.240
 In fact, I love how the

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:58.019
 ISV, it translates this,

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:59.039
 I think probably better

00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:00.279
 than most of our

00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:01.079
 translations that we

00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:02.779
 have, it says this, it

00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.839
 says, the only thing

00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:05.519
 that matters is that

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:07.220
 you live as good

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:09.460
 citizens in a manner

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.740
 that is worthy of the

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.980
 gospel of Christ.

00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:14.120
 We are called to live

00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:15.660
 in this world as

00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.700
 citizens of another

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.180
 world.

00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:19.240
 We are called to live

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.180
 in this world as

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:21.120
 citizens of another

00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:21.480
 world.

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.980
 We are called to live

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.779
 in this world as

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:25.319
 citizens of heaven, as

00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:26.460
 citizens of the gospel

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.579
 of Jesus Christ.

00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.900
 We are called to live

00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:30.400
 in this world, but our

00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:32.420
 home is somewhere else.

00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.980
 And in just a moment,

00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:35.259
 we're going to briefly

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.460
 take a look at what this

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:38.100
 means and how this gets

00:27:38.100 --> 00:27:39.779
 applied to our lives.

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.980
 But before we discuss

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:44.039
 that, given the context

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:46.000
 that this is given in,

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:47.539
 I believe Paul is setting

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.579
 us up for this.

00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:50.720
 He's letting us know that

00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.160
 in order to live this

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:54.579
 life, we need godly

00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:56.579
 examples in our life.

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:58.380
 In order to live this

00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:59.840
 life where we are living

00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:01.360
 as citizens of another

00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:03.259
 place, we must have

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.600
 those examples who are

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:07.159
 modeling this for us in

00:28:07.159 --> 00:28:09.059
 this life, who live in

00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:10.579
 this world as citizens of

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:10.879
 another.

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.619
 And so how do we do

00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.039
 this?

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.539
 How do we live as

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:16.179
 citizens of another

00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:16.539
 world?

00:28:16.699 --> 00:28:18.000
 We do it in two ways.

00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:20.619
 First, we let one

00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:22.379
 citizenship take priority

00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:23.299
 over the other.

00:28:23.939 --> 00:28:25.299
 We let one citizenship

00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:27.119
 take priority over the

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.480
 other.

00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:29.719
 And two, very closely

00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:31.620
 related to this, is we

00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:33.039
 let one citizenship

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.819
 influence the other.

00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:37.140
 We let one have a

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:39.200
 bigger priority, a

00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:40.600
 higher priority in our

00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:42.200
 life, and we let that

00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.860
 one have influence over

00:28:43.860 --> 00:28:44.860
 the other.

00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:47.279
 And so this plays out in

00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:48.299
 all kinds of ways.

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.860
 And I just want you to

00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:51.180
 consider this with me for

00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:51.660
 just a moment.

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:53.019
 I am thankful.

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.600
 And I know that many of

00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:56.279
 you are thankful for the

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.480
 freedoms that we get to

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.900
 experience in this

00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.339
 country.

00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.799
 To be able to gather

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:02.120
 together today like this,

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.860
 to open God's Word freely

00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:04.980
 and discuss it, I am

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.980
 thankful for that.

00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:07.539
 We get to worship without

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.240
 persecution.

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.880
 I am thankful that I get

00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:12.140
 to call the United States

00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:13.519
 of America my home.

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:16.200
 But my allegiance to this

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:18.299
 country, as great as it

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:21.380
 is, must always take a

00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:22.599
 back seat to my

00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:23.539
 allegiance to God.

00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.819
 My allegiance to this

00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.720
 country, as great as it

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:28.460
 is, must always take a

00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:30.059
 back seat to my allegiance

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.559
 to God.

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:32.880
 There is absolutely nothing

00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:34.620
 wrong with being patriotic.

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:36.240
 This is a patriotic church.

00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:37.759
 I consider myself to be

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.480
 patriotic.

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:41.779
 But our allegiance to our

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:43.319
 country or to a political

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:46.019
 party must always take a

00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:47.059
 back seat to our allegiance

00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:47.799
 to God.

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:51.420
 We must make sure that our

00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:53.940
 citizenship in heaven takes

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:55.460
 priority over everything

00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:55.660
 else.

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:57.279
 We must let that citizenship

00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:00.180
 influence the latter.

00:30:00.820 --> 00:30:02.600
 We must set our minds on

00:30:02.600 --> 00:30:04.779
 heavenly things where our

00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:06.360
 true citizenship is, where

00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:08.040
 our true hope, our true

00:30:08.040 --> 00:30:10.019
 treasure is, where Christ is,

00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:12.420
 who will transform this lowly

00:30:12.420 --> 00:30:14.320
 body to be like his glorious

00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:14.660
 body.

00:30:15.040 --> 00:30:17.100
 This is where our minds must be

00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:17.840
 fixed on.

00:30:18.560 --> 00:30:21.060
 And we live in light of Christ

00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:22.160
 each and every day.

00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:24.560
 This is where the examples we

00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:26.800
 should be following fix their

00:30:26.800 --> 00:30:27.360
 eyes.

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:30.819
 And so when you look to people who

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:32.319
 are caring for the vulnerable,

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:34.779
 when you look to people who are

00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:37.319
 caring for orphans, who are doing

00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:39.419
 all that is good and right and

00:30:39.419 --> 00:30:41.399
 true, who are giving to the poor,

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:43.619
 who are speaking edifying words to

00:30:43.619 --> 00:30:45.559
 one another, who are outdoing one

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:47.039
 another with good works, who are

00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:50.339
 showing no partiality or racism, who

00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:51.799
 are putting the needs of others

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:53.740
 before their own, who are doing

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:56.099
 nothing with grumbling or disputing,

00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:58.079
 who are shining as lights in the

00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:00.799
 world, we should say this looks a

00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.879
 lot like Christ.

00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:04.759
 This looks a lot like living for

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.500
 another kingdom.

00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:07.799
 This is what it looks like to be

00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:10.759
 heavenly minded, to be focused on

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:12.480
 the things of heaven and let those

00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:14.939
 things influence this life.

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:18.359
 We should show and attempt to show

00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:20.359
 the world a glimpse of our heavenly

00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:20.899
 home.

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.959
 So I want to encourage you to find

00:31:22.959 --> 00:31:24.939
 godly examples in your life.

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:28.039
 Avoid those who claim Christ but

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:29.640
 their life screams something

00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:32.259
 completely different and set your

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:34.860
 gaze, fix your eyes on the things

00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:37.559
 that are above, not on this earth.

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.720
 And so how do we do this?

00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:42.380
 We look to the examples of others.

00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:46.240
 We look to those who are focused on

00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:48.279
 scripture, who are focused on the

00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:49.000
 things of heaven.

00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:50.840
 We come alongside them.

00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:52.960
 We see the example that they set for

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:55.259
 us, this modeling that they have done

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.880
 for us.

00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:57.500
 Think of it like this.

00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:59.519
 Have you ever thought about why a

00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:01.079
 little Australian child has an

00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:01.940
 Australian accent?

00:32:03.360 --> 00:32:04.960
 It's because their parents, it's

00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:06.220
 because what they've heard over and

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:06.840
 over again.

00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:09.620
 Charlotte, our youngest, she has a

00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.539
 pretty good southern drawl.

00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.700
 You know why she has a pretty good

00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:12.440
 southern drawl?

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.680
 Because of her mother.

00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.019
 No.

00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:17.920
 We see these things all the time.

00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:19.700
 We see it play out in so many

00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.720
 different ways.

00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:25.379
 We see how modeling this example of

00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:27.099
 setting an example, we see how this

00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:28.920
 plays out in different people's lives.

00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:31.660
 We see how children, they'll copy

00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:32.279
 other children.

00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:34.359
 We see the importance of having these

00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:35.980
 godly examples in our life.

00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:39.519
 And so we must keep our eyes fixed on

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.599
 those godly examples.

00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:42.759
 We must make sure that we are

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:44.959
 surrounding ourselves with people

00:32:44.959 --> 00:32:46.919
 who will not only show us what it

00:32:46.919 --> 00:32:49.539
 looks like to follow Christ, but will

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:51.559
 call us out when the time is needed.

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:54.939
 So please let us consider and think

00:32:54.939 --> 00:32:56.599
 about this idea of modeling.

00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:58.559
 It is vitally important in our

00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.439
 Christian walk.

00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.839
 Think about it.

00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:02.159
 How did you learn how to pray?

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:04.579
 There's a good chance if you grew up

00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:06.459
 in a Christian home, then your prayers

00:33:06.459 --> 00:33:08.519
 sound very similar to your parents'

00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:08.919
 prayers.

00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:12.060
 Because you heard those things over

00:33:12.060 --> 00:33:13.380
 and over again.

00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:16.320
 There's a good chance the examples

00:33:16.320 --> 00:33:18.519
 that they set for you are the

00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:20.519
 examples that you still live by today.

00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:23.660
 So make sure you look to godly

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.200
 examples.

00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:26.480
 Make sure you're careful where you

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:26.880
 look.

00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:29.200
 Not just to any example, but to those

00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:31.880
 who are focused on Christ, who look

00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:32.519
 to Him.

00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:35.240
 You see, Jesus' disciples, His disciples

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:37.900
 spent three years with Him, learning

00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:38.880
 His example.

00:33:39.340 --> 00:33:41.100
 And just before He goes into heaven,

00:33:41.100 --> 00:33:42.860
 just before He ascends into heaven,

00:33:43.100 --> 00:33:44.860
 He gives them the Great Commission.

00:33:45.340 --> 00:33:47.019
 And He says, go therefore into all

00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:47.340
 nations.

00:33:47.800 --> 00:33:49.759
 Go therefore and make disciples of all

00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:52.080
 nations, baptizing them in the name

00:33:52.080 --> 00:33:53.800
 of the Father, the Son, and the Holy

00:33:53.800 --> 00:33:54.280
 Spirit.

00:33:54.540 --> 00:33:56.820
 But then He says, teaching them to

00:33:56.820 --> 00:33:59.620
 observe all that I've commanded you.

00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:03.899
 Jesus set this example of living a life

00:34:03.899 --> 00:34:05.019
 for others to follow.

00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:08.239
 And I want to encourage you to find

00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:10.440
 those people that you can look to,

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:12.500
 that will be an encouragement to you,

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:14.239
 that you can follow their example,

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:17.119
 and to encourage you to find that in

00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:17.659
 your life.

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:20.279
 This passage is a great reminder of the

00:34:20.279 --> 00:34:23.159
 fact that who you hang out with, who you

00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:26.380
 look to, who you let have influence in

00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:27.880
 your life, it matters.

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:31.000
 Look to and see godly examples.

00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:33.599
 Those who have their eyes fixed on

00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:35.900
 Jesus, those examples will not only

00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:40.099
 help you to more clearly see the bad

00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:42.400
 examples in this life, but those

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:46.039
 examples will show you what it means to

00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:48.920
 live as citizens of another place.

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:51.300
 So help us to do that today.

00:34:51.640 --> 00:34:53.420
 Lord, we thank You so very much.

00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:55.380
 We thank You for Your Word.

00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:57.740
 We thank You for what we understand

00:34:57.740 --> 00:34:59.940
 that it means for us today.

00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:01.599
 Lord, help us to apply it.

00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:04.019
 Help it not to be, just be something

00:35:04.019 --> 00:35:06.079
 that we know about, we get more

00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:08.000
 knowledge with, but Lord, help it to be

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:10.400
 something that we apply to our lives.

00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:12.420
 And Lord, I thank You.

00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:15.159
 I thank You for the godly examples that

00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:16.920
 You have placed in my life.

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:19.760
 Examples that have pointed me to You

00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:22.220
 over and over and over again.

00:35:22.219 --> 00:35:25.000
 And so Lord, I pray that we will

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:28.079
 actively be finding people to look to

00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:30.079
 that will encourage us, that will

00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:32.559
 mentor us, that will come alongside us,

00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:34.739
 that we can look to their life and see

00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:36.919
 how they're looking to You and follow

00:35:36.919 --> 00:35:37.759
 that example.

00:35:38.359 --> 00:35:40.739
 And so Lord, give us wisdom, give us

00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:42.519
 grace, give us understanding in all of

00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:42.859
 this.

00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:45.119
 And we just thank You so much for Jesus

00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:48.259
 who makes a way for us to live as

00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:49.599
 citizens of another place.

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:51.880
 So Lord, help us to keep our eyes

00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:52.679
 fixed on You.

00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:55.699
 We ask all this in Jesus' precious name.

00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:56.480
 Amen.

00:35:57.319 --> 00:35:59.279
 I'm going to invite you to take your

00:35:59.279 --> 00:36:02.079
 Baptist hymnal and turn to hymn number

00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:05.480
 628, He Touched Me.

00:36:05.860 --> 00:36:07.539
 I want to encourage you, if God is

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:09.079
 speaking to you this morning, won't you

00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:11.759
 respond as we stand together and sing?

00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:17.980
 I may may may may may may may may may

00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:17.980


00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:17.980


00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:17.980


00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:17.980


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00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:17.980