WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.940 Well, good morning. Let me add my welcome to those of Craig and others who have been up here. 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:09.060 And my name's Archie. If we haven't met, I'm one of the pastors in training here. 00:00:09.660 --> 00:00:13.580 And I also work part-time, most of you know this, for a church down in Peebles. 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:16.820 Incidentally, your pastor, Graham, some of you will have noticed he's not here. 00:00:16.899 --> 00:00:19.839 He's actually preaching for us down in Peebles right now, 00:00:19.859 --> 00:00:24.260 which is just a wonderful illustration, isn't it, of our partnership together in the gospel. 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:27.660 And we come together this morning to 2 Corinthians. 00:00:27.660 --> 00:00:30.899 2 Corinthians, as Anne has just read for us, please do get that open. 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:34.859 And if you haven't already got it in front of you, please get it in front of you. 00:00:35.259 --> 00:00:39.460 And as you do that, I'm just going to pray once more for us before we come to God's word together. 00:00:41.939 --> 00:00:48.879 Heavenly Father, I pray so much this morning that in my weakness, Jesus, your power would be evident. 00:00:50.379 --> 00:00:57.200 That you would speak even through little old me by your spirit this morning for your glory. 00:00:57.659 --> 00:00:58.579 Amen. 00:00:59.399 --> 00:00:59.799 Amen. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:02.559 And I wonder if you've seen Drive to Survive. 00:01:03.299 --> 00:01:08.840 And today actually is the first Formula One race of the 2025 season. 00:01:09.500 --> 00:01:12.000 And honestly, for me, I've never been able to get into Formula One. 00:01:12.259 --> 00:01:13.219 I don't really get it. 00:01:13.259 --> 00:01:16.340 Just hours and hours of racing round and round in a circle. 00:01:16.579 --> 00:01:17.859 I don't find that very entertaining. 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:21.199 But I don't know if you've seen Drive to Survive. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:23.780 Because it really does bring Formula One to life. 00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:29.340 It's much more interesting when you know all the drama and the background and the stories. 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:33.079 But one of the things that I still can't really understand, right? 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:34.820 You get a driver like Lewis Hamilton. 00:01:34.819 --> 00:01:39.059 And he's arguably the best to have ever done it. 00:01:39.639 --> 00:01:43.599 But it's very easy to say, well, he wouldn't have won any of those races. 00:01:43.739 --> 00:01:46.280 He only really won them because he was in the Mercedes. 00:01:46.419 --> 00:01:48.059 And that was the fastest car. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:51.899 Like, is Lewis Hamilton really the best driver? 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:56.500 Or is it just that he got lucky and got to drive the fast car? 00:01:56.500 --> 00:02:04.719 If you want to know if Lewis Hamilton is actually a really strong driver, you'd have to take him out of the fastest car. 00:02:05.460 --> 00:02:08.039 If you want to know that he's really that good. 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:10.479 At this season, he has moved to Ferrari. 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:15.199 But if you put him in the Renault or the Honda or one of the other cars that just constantly struggles. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:16.860 And then he kept winning races. 00:02:17.979 --> 00:02:19.500 Well, then we'd know, wouldn't we? 00:02:19.920 --> 00:02:21.719 That he's a really good driver. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:25.039 Why are we talking about Formula One and Lewis Hamilton? 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:26.439 Well, it's like this. 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:34.840 Like I say, if you want to know how strong a driver Hamilton is, then putting him in a weak car is going to be a good way to display his strength. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:37.080 And it's kind of like that with God in our passage. 00:02:38.099 --> 00:02:49.099 If God's strength is going to be on display, well, then it makes absolute sense for him to work through weakness, through weak people like you and like me. 00:02:49.740 --> 00:02:52.280 A bit like Lewis Hamilton in one of the rubbish cars. 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:55.020 And that's really the main point of this passage this morning. 00:02:55.020 --> 00:02:58.580 I think we had that previewed for us with Craig last week. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:04.400 As Paul compared himself to and warned against these so-called super apostles. 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:11.860 And Paul is going to pick that theme up again, probably most clearly articulated, actually, when we get to chapter 12. 00:03:11.860 --> 00:03:15.879 And chapter 12, verse 9, God speaks to Paul and he says, 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:25.439 It's a strange statement that. 00:03:26.219 --> 00:03:26.299 Right? 00:03:26.300 --> 00:03:30.140 I mean, maybe to some of us it's so familiar that it's lost its strangeness. 00:03:30.219 --> 00:03:31.000 But think about it. 00:03:31.060 --> 00:03:32.980 Power in weakness. 00:03:32.980 --> 00:03:34.080 That makes no sense. 00:03:34.160 --> 00:03:35.700 Those are opposite things. 00:03:35.699 --> 00:03:39.619 But it is really important for us. 00:03:40.259 --> 00:03:41.879 In fact, we need to see this morning. 00:03:41.959 --> 00:03:43.539 This is a really good thing. 00:03:44.199 --> 00:03:46.719 That's central to how the gospel functions. 00:03:46.979 --> 00:03:50.039 That this is how God is at work in the world today. 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:54.919 Not in things that look impressive or strong. 00:03:55.859 --> 00:04:03.180 But in things that are broken and struggling and real and human. 00:04:04.739 --> 00:04:06.939 Maybe you're here this morning and you're not a Christian. 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:10.500 And maybe you're just checking us out as a church. 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:14.780 And you really need to know from the Bible this morning, God loves you. 00:04:15.259 --> 00:04:17.360 And he wants you to come to him this morning. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:19.720 But not because you're strong. 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:25.779 Not because he's recognized something in you and thinks that you're going to be useful to him. 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:28.439 Not because of your potential. 00:04:29.939 --> 00:04:34.240 But because you, just like all of us in the room, just like me, 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:39.600 are broken and struggling and real and human. 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:45.939 And he wants to work in you to bring healing and forgiveness and freedom. 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:52.079 And even in your weakness, he wants to work through you to release those things in other people too. 00:04:53.420 --> 00:04:58.399 And if you're a Christian in the room, please, please, please never get tired of this message. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:00.560 Never forget. 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:03.120 Never move on from this. 00:05:03.300 --> 00:05:05.139 The strength is Christ. 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:07.939 The power is God. 00:05:07.939 --> 00:05:09.899 The message is the gospel. 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:14.680 Yes, he wants you to grow and to discover your gifts and to serve him with them. 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:19.900 But in all of that, he wants you to know really the fundamental growth in the Christian faith. 00:05:19.939 --> 00:05:22.519 And all of that is not into your own strength. 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:28.959 But to know your weakness and to move more and more into dependence on him. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:31.019 For he is strong. 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:34.060 So that's where we're going this morning. 00:05:34.279 --> 00:05:37.899 We're going to tackle the text that Anne read for us under three headings. 00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:39.359 Real ministry is costly. 00:05:40.339 --> 00:05:42.039 Real ministry looks weak. 00:05:42.659 --> 00:05:44.180 And real ministry points to Jesus. 00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:46.819 Before we do that, that's where we're going. 00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:47.620 Where have we been? 00:05:47.859 --> 00:05:48.919 We're in this letter. 00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:50.060 What's this letter all about? 00:05:50.139 --> 00:05:52.060 As Paul writes to the church in Corinth. 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:52.220 Corinth. 00:05:52.860 --> 00:05:57.339 And we've seen this is the fourth letter that Paul has written that we know about to this church. 00:05:57.560 --> 00:05:59.360 And we only have two of them in our Bibles. 00:05:59.480 --> 00:06:00.639 But this is the fourth. 00:06:01.339 --> 00:06:04.860 And Paul's relationship with the church in Corinth has been pretty rocky. 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:07.439 He established the church there. 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:10.459 But they have been drifting from his teaching in various ways. 00:06:10.840 --> 00:06:12.160 And Paul has been confronting that. 00:06:12.279 --> 00:06:14.899 He's written to confront that with letters. 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:16.199 Even tearful letters. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:18.079 He's visited them. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:22.079 He's even decided that it would be too painful to visit them again. 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:27.800 And in this letter in 2 Corinthians, it can be hard to tell, I think, in this letter, 00:06:27.899 --> 00:06:31.219 whether Paul is now happy with them and the progress that they're making. 00:06:31.599 --> 00:06:33.439 Or whether he's confronting them. 00:06:33.699 --> 00:06:36.879 Because this letter contains kind of a bit of both of those things. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:39.879 I think it's as if they're moving in the right direction. 00:06:40.519 --> 00:06:43.399 But they're still sort of slightly on the fence about Paul. 00:06:44.259 --> 00:06:47.399 And in this letter, he's saying, you've got to get on board. 00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:49.979 He's saying, I am the real deal. 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:51.120 A true apostle. 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:53.319 A certified messenger of Christ. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:55.519 My ministry is legit. 00:06:55.719 --> 00:06:58.299 And legit ministry looks like mine. 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:00.560 And so he's saying, are you with me? 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:05.419 And we saw last week, not just are you with me, but therefore are you not with them? 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:09.939 Not with the super apostles that we met in the first half of this chapter. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:15.279 Those super impressive looking teachers that Paul says are false. 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:19.279 They are even, we saw really strong words last week, servants of Satan. 00:07:21.039 --> 00:07:26.000 And so he says to us this morning, as if Paul is directly addressing us as a church and as individuals, 00:07:26.119 --> 00:07:27.259 he's saying, are you with me? 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:29.939 Are you prepared to get on board? 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.179 To get behind and be involved in this proper gospel ministry? 00:07:34.180 --> 00:07:36.500 So that's where we've been. 00:07:36.579 --> 00:07:38.920 And as I say, we've got three headings for this morning. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:42.920 But you might be asking, just as you look at those headings, what is ministry? 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:44.600 What is gospel ministry? 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:49.120 And just to quickly and briefly answer that question, I found this book enormously helpful. 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:52.920 It's clear that Craig has too, because he quoted from it at the start of our service. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:55.180 We actually came to it independently this week. 00:07:55.220 --> 00:07:58.220 But I find myself coming back to this book often. 00:07:58.220 --> 00:08:03.740 And the authors have developed this metaphor that Craig was describing of a trellis and a vine. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:06.720 A trellis is all that supports the vine. 00:08:06.820 --> 00:08:10.700 And the vine, the growth of which is really the priority, is the people. 00:08:11.640 --> 00:08:15.740 And so they say this, similar to the quote that Craig gave us at the beginning. 00:08:15.740 --> 00:08:23.460 The basic work of any Christian ministry is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of God's spirit. 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:29.139 And to see people converted, changed and grow to maturity in that gospel. 00:08:29.699 --> 00:08:32.460 That's vine work, as they define it. 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:37.700 And then they go on and they say, just as some sort of framework is needed to help a vine grow, 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:41.799 so Christian ministries also need some structure and support. 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:46.959 It might not be much, but at the very least, we need somewhere to meet and some Bibles to read from, 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:50.679 some basic structures of leadership within our group, and that's the trellis. 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:54.779 And I just find that illustration enormously helpful, 00:08:54.779 --> 00:08:58.819 because it shows us the breadth of what gospel ministry is. 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:07.199 It's not just the staff team and the Sunday sermon and the elders or the growth group leader or the public evangelist, 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:12.759 but any time that we speak the word of God in the power of the spirit, 00:09:13.160 --> 00:09:16.780 that might be a small word over coffee after the sermon this morning. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:24.259 It might be with a neighbor over the garden fence or with a parent at the school gate, 00:09:25.040 --> 00:09:28.360 or as you wait for the microwave to go ding at work. 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:35.740 And any time we do anything to support that, which might be making the coffee this morning, 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:39.580 or helping fix something at church, or just putting the Bibles out, 00:09:40.539 --> 00:09:43.639 the point is, and the point of this book, Trellis and the Vine, 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:45.879 is that Christian ministry is for everyone. 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:50.659 To be a Christian is to be involved in this in some way, 00:09:50.700 --> 00:09:54.480 not just to turn up to church on a Sunday and sit in the pew and take it all in. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:57.100 But Paul says to us this morning, 00:09:57.440 --> 00:09:59.980 are you prepared to follow in my footsteps? 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:05.600 And it's into a pattern of ministry that is costly and that looks weak, 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:08.180 but that ultimately points to Jesus. 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:11.779 I don't know if you noticed as it was read, 00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:13.560 I think Anne did an excellent job, 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:18.500 because those first few verses are dripping with irony and sarcasm. 00:10:19.460 --> 00:10:21.480 We saw the super apostles last week, 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:23.940 and their pattern of ministry was one of boasting. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:26.960 Of pointing to their own credentials, 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:28.159 their own strength, 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:29.519 their own qualifications. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:33.480 You might have noticed how much that word boasting is repeated in this letter, 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:35.000 and particularly in this chapter. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:38.300 And in those first few verses, Paul says, 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.399 I can play that game. 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:41.279 Verse 18, 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:42.100 if they're going to boast, 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:43.300 I can boast too. 00:10:43.460 --> 00:10:45.840 You put up with their foolish boasting, 00:10:45.980 --> 00:10:47.259 maybe if I boast like them, 00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:49.100 then you'll come back to me. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:50.940 Verse 21, 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:52.259 second half of verse 21, 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:53.399 if they boast, 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:55.240 well, I can be foolish too. 00:10:55.299 --> 00:10:56.279 I'll speak like a fool. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:57.100 I will boast. 00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:58.700 And he does that in verse 22. 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:00.419 Are they Hebrews? 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:01.779 So am I. 00:11:02.139 --> 00:11:02.759 Are they Israelites? 00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:03.659 So am I. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:05.179 Are they Abraham's descendants? 00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:06.379 So am I. 00:11:06.899 --> 00:11:10.419 The super apostles seem to love to have pointed to their heritage, 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:10.779 right? 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:12.240 In the very early church, 00:11:12.299 --> 00:11:13.600 in places like Corinth, 00:11:13.819 --> 00:11:16.919 lots of people who weren't Jews were starting to follow Jesus. 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:18.679 But it was, 00:11:18.839 --> 00:11:19.120 really, 00:11:19.219 --> 00:11:21.199 it still is a very Jewish faith. 00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:23.019 It's rooted in the Old Testament, 00:11:23.179 --> 00:11:24.379 in Jewish scriptures. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:25.559 Jesus was a Jew. 00:11:26.079 --> 00:11:28.419 And so the super apostles were boasting. 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:29.899 We're Jewish too. 00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:31.699 They like to point to their origins. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:32.860 Paul says, 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:33.759 I can do that. 00:11:34.819 --> 00:11:35.699 But then he continues, 00:11:35.959 --> 00:11:39.179 are they servants or ministers of Christ? 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:41.599 I am more. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:45.159 They had been boasting in the work that they do for Jesus. 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:49.500 But then halfway through verse 23, 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:52.059 I think Paul's tone really changes. 00:11:53.079 --> 00:11:55.939 Changes from that kind of sarcastic irony. 00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:57.860 But we get in brackets. 00:11:58.019 --> 00:11:58.240 He says, 00:11:58.319 --> 00:12:00.659 I'm out of my mind to talk like this. 00:12:01.199 --> 00:12:08.439 And then what follows is this unexpected description of what it means to be a real servant or minister of Christ. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:12.339 And so we see there first that real ministry is costly. 00:12:12.340 --> 00:12:15.379 Just look at how costly it was for Paul. 00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:17.120 He's been in prison. 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:19.220 He's been flogged. 00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:21.720 He's been exposed to death. 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:23.139 He's been lashed by the Jews, 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:24.340 beaten with rods, 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:26.200 pelted with stones. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:28.920 He's been shipwrecked three times, 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:31.120 spent a day and a night on the open seas. 00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:32.639 He's always on the move, 00:12:32.680 --> 00:12:36.019 in danger from rivers and bandits and Jews and Gentiles. 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:36.939 In the city, 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:37.759 in the country, 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:38.860 on the sea, 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:40.079 he's gone without sleep. 00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:40.759 He's hungry, 00:12:41.220 --> 00:12:41.620 thirsty, 00:12:42.079 --> 00:12:42.539 cold, 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:43.319 naked. 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:46.699 Don't skip over those details. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.720 See how costly real ministry is. 00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:51.019 Paul's ministry is. 00:12:51.059 --> 00:12:51.659 It's brutal. 00:12:53.059 --> 00:12:56.939 Can you imagine being whipped 49 times? 00:12:56.940 --> 00:13:01.100 Each impact worse than the last. 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:03.140 Blood dripping down your back. 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.060 Scarred. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:06.600 Literally scarred for life. 00:13:08.640 --> 00:13:12.080 Imagine being at sea for a full day and night. 00:13:12.780 --> 00:13:14.220 Maybe picture the Titanic film, 00:13:14.300 --> 00:13:15.000 Jack and Rose, 00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:16.280 on that floating door. 00:13:16.780 --> 00:13:17.240 Can I just say, 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:18.760 definitely enough room for both of them. 00:13:20.180 --> 00:13:21.860 But maybe that gives you an idea. 00:13:22.020 --> 00:13:24.880 Think of Paul just clinging to a piece of driftwood like that 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:26.279 in the freezing cold sea. 00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:29.000 Right through the dark of night, 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:29.759 terrified. 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:30.700 See, 00:13:30.779 --> 00:13:33.039 real ministry is costly. 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:38.100 I think we have to imagine that the super apostles that we met last week, 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:40.340 these super impressive looking teachers were, 00:13:40.659 --> 00:13:43.899 we know they were preaching to gain a following and to earn money. 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:47.419 But afraid of the cost. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:51.259 And preaching a gospel in that kind of pattern. 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:53.379 And you know, 00:13:53.419 --> 00:13:55.620 there are those today with a similar message. 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:57.679 It can be very obvious. 00:13:58.220 --> 00:14:01.759 That kind of give us your money and God will multiply it back to you. 00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:05.700 A gospel that says you're going to be blessed according to your faithfulness. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:10.379 That the material prosperity and physical health are God's good plan for you. 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:13.759 But it can be much more subtle than that. 00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:15.399 And much more likely, 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:18.039 I think more dangerous is a gospel that simply says, 00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:19.480 you know, 00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:21.120 God wants your best. 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:23.259 He wants you to flourish and to prosper. 00:14:24.339 --> 00:14:26.819 And so if you come to him with all of your needs, 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:28.939 all of the things that you think you need, 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:30.799 and we'll pray for you, 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:33.980 and God is going to heal your physical problems. 00:14:34.199 --> 00:14:35.819 He's going to provide for you financially 00:14:35.819 --> 00:14:37.319 because he doesn't want you to suffer. 00:14:37.439 --> 00:14:38.019 He's a good, 00:14:38.719 --> 00:14:39.039 kind, 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:39.980 and loving God. 00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:42.099 And look, 00:14:42.099 --> 00:14:44.799 it's not wrong to pray for those material things. 00:14:45.599 --> 00:14:47.439 We absolutely should pray for them. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:49.500 But we have to pray for them, 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:51.679 knowing that it might not be in God's plan 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.740 to remove our suffering in this life. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.480 In fact, 00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.179 very often, 00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.579 just like for Paul, 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.579 God is actually most at work 00:15:00.579 --> 00:15:03.500 when it costs us the most in our suffering. 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:05.179 That's real ministry. 00:15:05.319 --> 00:15:05.939 It's costly. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:07.259 And so, 00:15:07.719 --> 00:15:09.819 can you ask yourself this morning, 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:12.639 what am I prepared to do to make Christ known? 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:14.439 You know, 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:16.659 could my next house move be to somewhere 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.919 with a real need for the gospel? 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:20.059 Jason, 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:21.600 this is going to embarrass him, 00:15:21.699 --> 00:15:22.879 but many of you know Jason. 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:25.399 He's just recently bought a house down in Peebles. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:29.139 And there is a cost associated with that for him. 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:32.659 I know that he loves living in the city. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:34.199 Here in Edinburgh, 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.720 he loves this church. 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:40.620 But he has just recently invested basically everything that he has, 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.700 materially speaking, 00:15:42.420 --> 00:15:43.660 in this move to Peebles, 00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:47.019 so that he can be involved in the ministry there. 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.420 It's costly for him, 00:15:48.540 --> 00:15:49.920 costly in lots of ways. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.899 For some others of you in the room, 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:53.820 I know right now, 00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:55.720 you are facing the real practical 00:15:55.720 --> 00:16:00.759 and painful consequences of that cost. 00:16:02.040 --> 00:16:03.800 The cost of serving God. 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:06.960 I just want to encourage you this morning 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:08.200 that I know that's not easy. 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:11.920 I know that that can be really hard. 00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:14.779 But you are in good company 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:17.580 because Paul's ministry was costly. 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.139 In fact, 00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:21.100 real ministry is costly. 00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:22.960 And you know, 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.139 for lots of us in the room, 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.779 I don't want to overstep here. 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:28.439 But I'm sure that for most of us, 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:30.699 following Jesus just hasn't been all that costly. 00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:34.179 I'm not sure it's been all that costly for me, 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:34.860 to be honest. 00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:39.580 I've been reading a book about this guy called Samuel Rutherford, 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:42.199 who was a pastor here in Scotland in the 1600s. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.919 He was famous for writing amazing letters 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:46.519 to other Christians in the nation. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:48.980 Christians who are standing for truth 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:51.960 at a time where it was up for grabs. 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:55.000 And lots of the people that he wrote letters to 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:57.940 paid the ultimate cost for following Jesus 00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:59.580 and died for it. 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.480 What does it cost you? 00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:05.240 I'm not saying that we should be looking for trouble. 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:07.160 But if it comes, 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:09.740 what are you prepared for it to cost? 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:13.180 What if it was going to cost you your life? 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:16.759 Or some element of your health? 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:20.599 Would you take a greatest sort of financial sacrifice 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:22.740 than you currently are bearing? 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.680 What if it cost you your social standing? 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:27.480 Have you lost some friends over it? 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:30.000 What if it cost you your freedom 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.180 and you ended up in prison? 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:34.940 What are we prepared for it to cost? 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:37.539 Because real ministry can be costly. 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:37.700 Secondly, 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.559 secondly, 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:42.779 real ministry looks weak. 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:45.940 See what Paul says in verse 28. 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.859 Look at verse 28 with me. 00:17:48.659 --> 00:17:50.139 Besides everything else, 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:52.920 I face daily the pressure of my concern 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.099 for all the churches. 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:56.859 Paul hasn't got it all together. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:00.099 He isn't like a visionary leader with a great plan. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.399 He isn't on top of all the problems in the churches 00:18:02.399 --> 00:18:04.599 that he's planted and feels responsible for. 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:05.839 Every day, 00:18:06.919 --> 00:18:09.699 he feels the pressure of that concern. 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:11.740 Very often, 00:18:12.139 --> 00:18:14.139 I come into the office here 00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:17.000 and I ask Graham and Cater how they're doing. 00:18:17.199 --> 00:18:18.639 And this is true of Pete and Craig too, 00:18:18.699 --> 00:18:19.000 by the way, 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.819 but they're much harder to turn into a cartoon 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.919 than Graham and Cater were. 00:18:22.659 --> 00:18:24.500 But I ask them how they're doing. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:28.019 And maybe there's been an elders meeting 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.619 or a difficult pastoral visit 00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:32.079 or someone has shared something challenging 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:32.759 with one of them. 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:34.379 Maybe one of you is suffering. 00:18:35.199 --> 00:18:36.799 And as I ask them how they are, 00:18:36.879 --> 00:18:40.019 you can just see the pain of that in their eyes, 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:42.799 the challenge of that care and responsibility 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.859 that they feel for each and every one of you. 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:48.599 I'm sure if you serve on the pastoral care team 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:51.579 or you're responsible for some element of children's work, 00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:54.419 maybe especially for our elders here at Brunsfield, 00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:55.900 they share that burden 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:58.080 as they seek to love and care for you. 00:18:58.300 --> 00:19:00.700 And that really does mean sleepless nights. 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:04.140 It really does mean tearful eyes. 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:06.240 And maybe you can pray for me 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.860 as I increasingly feel the responsibility 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:09.140 of that down in Peebles. 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:11.360 It looks weak. 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.900 It is weak. 00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:15.460 But that's real ministry. 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:18.480 Paul just says it really clearly in verse 30. 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:20.380 If I must boast, 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:24.840 I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 00:19:26.800 --> 00:19:29.500 And he then illustrates his weakness, I think. 00:19:29.760 --> 00:19:31.280 In verse 32, he says, 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:33.780 In Damascus, the governor under King Aratus 00:19:33.780 --> 00:19:36.600 has the city of the Damascenes guarded 00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:37.980 in order to arrest me. 00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:41.180 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:43.240 and slipped through his hands. 00:19:44.260 --> 00:19:46.340 Paul had caused such a stir 00:19:46.340 --> 00:19:48.620 in his sharing of the gospel in Damascus 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:50.839 that the governor had shut the whole place down. 00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:53.319 And you can read about it in Acts chapter 9. 00:19:53.459 --> 00:19:56.959 No way in, no way out, got to catch Paul. 00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:58.659 As you know, in the Roman army, 00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:00.059 one of the greatest decorations 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:01.779 that could be bestowed upon you 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:03.099 was called the Corona Morales. 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.519 And you won it. 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.519 It was a sort of crown 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.199 and you won it for being the first 00:20:07.199 --> 00:20:09.000 to scale the walls in a siege. 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:11.399 It was one of the highest military honors 00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:12.399 that you could receive. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:16.000 But here, Paul, in his weakness, 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.839 it's like the anti-Corona Morales. 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:21.119 He doesn't scale the walls to take the city 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:22.220 and to bring the gospel 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:24.619 and triumphantly plant a church in Damascus. 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.940 No, in his weakness, 00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:28.960 he's let down the walls in a basket to flee the city. 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:30.059 It's humiliating. 00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:33.380 This basket that ought to have been carrying fruit 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:35.240 or whatever else you put in a basket. 00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:37.579 And there's Paul in it, humiliated. 00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:41.019 And Paul boasts in this 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:45.000 because he boasts in his weakness. 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:48.579 So how do you feel about your weaknesses? 00:20:49.879 --> 00:20:52.000 And maybe especially when it comes to your weakness 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.539 in serving the church. 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.059 I think there are two dangers 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:56.619 that we might fall into here. 00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:59.519 Some of us may be tempted to hide our weaknesses, 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:03.099 which is really just quite obviously the opposite 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:05.000 of what Paul is encouraging us to do, 00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:06.359 covering up our floors 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:08.879 because we don't want anyone to know how weak we are. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:12.500 Others of us might be very willing 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:14.420 to have our weakness right out there, 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:16.980 like Paul to boast in them, 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:19.620 but taking it further than Paul 00:21:19.620 --> 00:21:23.140 and making it so central to who we are 00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:25.720 that actually it stops us from serving God. 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.620 And maybe this is you. 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:30.160 You don't think that you know the Bible well enough 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:32.540 so you can't serve in kids' church 00:21:32.540 --> 00:21:33.840 or help lead a Bible study. 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:36.060 You don't have enough answers 00:21:36.060 --> 00:21:37.700 so you could never share the gospel 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:39.460 with someone who doesn't know Jesus. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:42.100 You're not very good at public speaking 00:21:42.100 --> 00:21:44.120 so you could never lead us in prayer 00:21:44.120 --> 00:21:46.140 or read for us, certainly never preach. 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:49.759 You feel yourself to be quite an awkward sort of person 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:51.580 so you could never be on the welcome team. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.799 Paul does boast in his weakness, 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:58.080 but crucially in his weakness, 00:21:58.680 --> 00:22:00.000 he serves God 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.180 because he knows that real Christian ministry 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:05.100 is supposed to look weak. 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.920 And do you know it's much better 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:08.680 that the real Christian ministry 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.920 is carried out in weakness. 00:22:10.600 --> 00:22:13.240 I know we think that it would work best 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.759 if it looked impressive, 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:17.580 that if we wanted to gather a crowd, 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:19.600 I know logic would tell us 00:22:19.600 --> 00:22:22.180 that we have to have excellence in everything, 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.640 brilliant music 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:25.080 and the best coffee in town 00:22:25.080 --> 00:22:26.400 and excellent teaching. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:30.040 And look, there is no harm 00:22:30.040 --> 00:22:31.540 in doing things excellently. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.120 But it's okay. 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.120 In fact, it's good 00:22:34.120 --> 00:22:36.280 when things go wrong, 00:22:36.820 --> 00:22:40.180 when our weakness is on display. 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:40.740 Why? 00:22:42.040 --> 00:22:43.300 Because it proves, 00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:46.519 it shows that it's not about us. 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:50.759 Real ministry looks weak 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:50.839 weak. 00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.960 And that's a really good thing. 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:54.799 But you know, 00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.819 I've chosen my words 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:57.059 quite carefully here 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:59.299 when I say that it looks weak 00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:01.519 because it does in fact 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.220 contain real power. 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.059 And that leads us 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:06.240 to our final point, 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:08.799 that real ministry points to Jesus. 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.339 You might remember 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.299 a couple of weeks ago 00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:12.640 with Ian, 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.879 we were in chapter 10. 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.099 And in chapter 10, 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:15.779 Paul says this, 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:16.980 if you look back 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:18.720 at verse 17 of chapter 10, 00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:19.460 he says, 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:21.180 let the one who boasts 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:23.420 boast in the Lord. 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.259 And you might have 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.220 a little footnote there 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:27.000 to tell you that Paul 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.120 is quoting from Jeremiah. 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.579 And let me just read 00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:31.299 what Paul is quoting from. 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:33.299 Jeremiah says this, 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.360 let not the wise 00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:35.660 boast of their wisdom 00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:37.640 or the strong boast 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.680 of their strength 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:40.120 or the rich boast 00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:41.100 of their riches. 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:43.740 But let the one who boasts 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.860 boast about this, 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:47.160 that they have the understanding 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.079 to know me, 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:49.619 that I am the Lord 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:51.319 who exercises kindness, 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.279 justice, 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.259 and righteousness 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.099 on the earth. 00:23:54.699 --> 00:23:55.960 For in these I delight, 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:57.220 declares the Lord. 00:23:58.299 --> 00:24:00.259 It's clear that the super apostles 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.980 in Corinth love to boast 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:03.519 in their wisdom 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.399 and strength 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:05.119 and riches. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.139 They've been boasting 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:07.399 about their authority 00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:08.460 and their power. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:09.819 But Paul, 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:10.799 he boasts, 00:24:10.919 --> 00:24:11.960 as we've seen in our passage 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.759 in verse 30, 00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:14.220 in his weakness. 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.119 Why? 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:16.379 Why does Paul do that? 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.799 Why does Paul boast 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.399 in his weakness? 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:18.599 Well, 00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.399 I take it that, 00:24:19.739 --> 00:24:20.659 as in chapter 10, 00:24:20.739 --> 00:24:21.959 to boast in his weakness 00:24:21.959 --> 00:24:24.679 is the same as to boast 00:24:24.679 --> 00:24:25.159 in the Lord 00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:26.579 or it is so that he can boast 00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.259 in the Lord. 00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:29.319 Because his ministry, 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.619 being weak, 00:24:31.419 --> 00:24:33.000 points to Jesus 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.839 who is strong. 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.739 Come to chapter 12 with me. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.959 We've seen already 00:24:37.959 --> 00:24:38.879 in verse 9, 00:24:39.199 --> 00:24:39.699 but let me read 00:24:39.699 --> 00:24:40.500 just a little bit more 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.059 from there. 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:43.220 But he said to me, 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:45.220 that is God saying to Paul, 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:47.859 my grace is sufficient for you, 00:24:48.159 --> 00:24:49.299 for my power is made 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.419 perfect in weakness. 00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:51.559 Therefore, 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:52.559 Paul says, 00:24:52.659 --> 00:24:53.519 responding to what God 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.119 has said to him, 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.500 therefore, 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:56.139 I will boast 00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:57.339 all the more gladly 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.519 about my weaknesses 00:24:58.519 --> 00:25:02.079 so that Christ's power 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:03.539 may rest on me. 00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.240 That is why, 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.079 for Christ's sake, 00:25:05.139 --> 00:25:06.579 I delight in weaknesses, 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.359 in insults, 00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:08.940 in hardships, 00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:10.059 in persecutions, 00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:10.980 in difficulties. 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:13.579 For when I am weak, 00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:15.960 then I am strong. 00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:19.240 Real ministry is costly, 00:25:19.419 --> 00:25:19.539 right? 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:21.480 Hardships and persecutions 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.399 and difficulties, 00:25:22.399 --> 00:25:23.419 they will come. 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.440 And therefore, 00:25:25.659 --> 00:25:27.240 real ministry looks weak. 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.539 It looks weak, 00:25:28.659 --> 00:25:30.279 but in its apparent weakness, 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:32.259 in the appearance of weakness, 00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:34.059 in human cost and weakness, 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:36.659 the power and strength of Christ 00:25:36.659 --> 00:25:38.240 is on display. 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.200 Again, 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:40.900 that might seem counterintuitive. 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:43.400 We might think that by being impressive, 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:45.220 we would make Jesus attractive. 00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.720 But remember, 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.900 this is the way of the gospel. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.460 This has always been the way of the gospel, 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:50.920 right? 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.980 Nowhere more apparent 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:53.940 than at the center of it all at the cross, 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:56.400 where the God of the universe, 00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:57.859 the most powerful, 00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.180 the strongest, 00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:00.720 when he became man, 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:03.440 he really did take on human weakness. 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:05.620 And he displayed that weakness, 00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:09.200 even to the point of that humiliating death on a cross. 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.279 Would you picture him there? 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:14.519 Picture Jesus hanging on the cross at Calvary. 00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.860 Does he look strong to you? 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:17.860 No. 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:19.299 He looks defeated 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:20.740 and broken 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:22.320 and weak. 00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.900 Do you know what he was doing? 00:26:25.580 --> 00:26:26.640 In that moment, 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:31.000 he took all of the sin of the world on his shoulders. 00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:33.300 The human being, 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.340 Jesus Christ, 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.960 paid the ultimate price 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:38.440 in his weakness. 00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:41.860 But as he looked weak, 00:26:42.280 --> 00:26:44.860 he was achieving the greatest victory. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.720 He looked weak, 00:26:46.820 --> 00:26:48.560 but he was triumphing in glory. 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:51.120 He looked weak, 00:26:51.280 --> 00:26:52.800 but in his weakness, 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:55.639 God was strong. 00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.740 And he proved it 00:26:57.740 --> 00:27:00.740 by rising him from the dead. 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:03.319 This is real ministry. 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.759 It points to Jesus. 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:06.519 It boasts in Jesus. 00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:08.119 It's all about Jesus. 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.460 Maybe you're here 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.599 and you're relatively new. 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:13.659 Maybe you're looking for a church to settle in. 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.599 It'd be wonderful 00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:16.000 if you decide to stay here. 00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:17.500 I've got no skin in the game. 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.240 I'm about to leave, 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.839 but this is an excellent church. 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:22.779 But if you don't decide to settle here, 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:24.740 can I implore you, 00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:26.259 please find a church 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:27.579 that is all about Jesus. 00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.579 Not a church 00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:31.240 that is all about experiences. 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.180 Not a church 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:33.960 where the sermons 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:35.720 are all about the church's vision. 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:38.279 But find a church 00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:39.500 that is just relentlessly 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.259 pointing people 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.859 to the grace 00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:42.259 that is available in Christ. 00:27:43.139 --> 00:27:44.159 A church that is willing 00:27:44.159 --> 00:27:45.859 not to talk themselves up, 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.819 but a church that is willing 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.980 to count the cost 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:50.639 and own their weakness 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:53.200 and to point to Jesus' victory. 00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.560 Because again, 00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:56.920 it feels counterintuitive, 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.820 but how weakness, 00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:59.200 it really does point to Jesus. 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.140 And Sam Albury 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.960 puts it like this. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.440 I've quoted 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:04.420 this exact quote 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:04.900 from here 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.740 at least once before, 00:28:05.800 --> 00:28:06.320 but it's gold. 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.720 So I'm going to say it again. 00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:10.860 I don't need to look good 00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:12.980 so that Jesus can look good. 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:15.079 I need to be honest 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:17.360 about my colossal spiritual needs 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:19.960 so that he can look all sufficient. 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.579 Can I just speak personally 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.200 for a moment? 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.680 Because honestly, 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.860 I find this really hard. 00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:29.220 At my character, 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:30.700 everything inside of me, 00:28:30.900 --> 00:28:32.380 I want to back myself, 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.720 to be confident 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.779 and know my strengths 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.660 and to be strong 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:37.420 and to serve like that. 00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:39.400 And I want people 00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:40.779 to be attracted to Jesus. 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.680 I want my friends 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.539 who don't know him, 00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:43.340 to know him. 00:28:43.560 --> 00:28:45.100 And it just feels as though 00:28:45.100 --> 00:28:46.259 if I look like 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.820 I'm living a really good life 00:28:47.820 --> 00:28:50.080 and if I'm impressive 00:28:50.080 --> 00:28:51.259 and have all the answers, 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.460 it just feels like 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.259 that would help. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.160 But this passage 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:59.180 has really challenged me this week 00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:01.799 because it's uncomfortable for me. 00:29:01.840 --> 00:29:03.560 But as I reflect on my ministry, 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:04.480 do you know, 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:06.240 it's always been in moments of weakness 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.500 that God has most clearly 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.320 been at work. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.160 Simple things 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:11.779 like preaching sermons 00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:12.960 when I've been really ill 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.600 or tired 00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:14.880 and it's felt kind of rubbish 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:17.779 but then it's seemed 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.880 to bear real fruit 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:19.540 and I've received 00:29:19.540 --> 00:29:20.440 massive encouragement 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.400 off the back of it. 00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:23.380 Or conversations 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.460 where I was way out 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.080 of my depth 00:29:25.080 --> 00:29:25.620 and I didn't have 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.540 any of the answers. 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.720 I had to just keep saying 00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.400 I don't know 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.400 but it turned out 00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:30.060 to be a breakthrough 00:29:30.060 --> 00:29:30.779 for someone. 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:34.540 Or moments of stupidity 00:29:34.540 --> 00:29:35.540 and sinfulness 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:37.980 that have turned 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.819 into opportunities 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.960 to point to the grace 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:41.480 that Christ has extended 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.079 to me 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:43.420 and the forgiveness 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:44.259 that I rely on 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.899 day by day. 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.000 It's just true 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.000 that real ministry 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:51.420 it's weakness. 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:53.180 It's not about me 00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:54.700 but opportunities 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.680 to point to Jesus. 00:29:57.159 --> 00:29:58.319 And so do you feel yourself 00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:59.339 to be weak this morning? 00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.720 Do you know yourself 00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:03.359 to be a struggling sinner? 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:06.339 Do you have a colossal 00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.359 spiritual need? 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:09.799 Because if you do 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.859 that is excellent 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:13.079 and do not hide it 00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:15.439 but come to him. 00:30:15.899 --> 00:30:17.279 He is all sufficient. 00:30:17.919 --> 00:30:19.319 His grace is sufficient. 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.740 Sufficient to forgive. 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.699 Sufficient to set free. 00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:24.879 Sufficient to enable 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:26.519 and empower your ministry 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.719 even and especially 00:30:27.719 --> 00:30:29.979 when you're not strong enough 00:30:29.979 --> 00:30:31.159 to do it on your own. 00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:33.079 And so point to him. 00:30:33.959 --> 00:30:34.979 Because that is what 00:30:34.979 --> 00:30:36.479 real ministry does. 00:30:37.979 --> 00:30:39.279 We started this morning 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.299 by thinking about 00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:41.099 Formula One 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.319 Lewis Hamilton 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.139 winning races 00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.039 in the fastest car 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.759 which is impressive 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:46.519 but how much more 00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.439 impressive would it be 00:30:47.439 --> 00:30:48.199 if he won races 00:30:48.199 --> 00:30:49.179 in the rubbish car? 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.899 Then we would know 00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.599 wouldn't we 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:52.579 that Lewis Hamilton 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:54.019 was a truly great driver. 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.259 And just so 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:57.079 if God 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:58.699 just always used 00:30:58.699 --> 00:30:59.659 super impressive 00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:00.819 and gifted people 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:03.460 well it wouldn't 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:04.819 make God look so glorious 00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:05.899 it wouldn't shine a light 00:31:05.899 --> 00:31:06.679 on his strength 00:31:06.679 --> 00:31:07.519 it would shine a light 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.200 on theirs. 00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.919 But by using 00:31:10.919 --> 00:31:12.220 weak sinful people 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:12.879 like me 00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:13.679 and like you 00:31:13.679 --> 00:31:15.159 people who 00:31:15.159 --> 00:31:15.759 have to 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.899 and only can 00:31:16.899 --> 00:31:17.439 serve 00:31:17.439 --> 00:31:18.700 in utter dependence 00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:19.439 on him 00:31:19.439 --> 00:31:20.779 it is then 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:22.059 that we begin 00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:23.059 to see a God 00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:24.519 who is truly powerful. 00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:27.139 we've seen 00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:28.099 that real ministry 00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:28.779 is costly 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.900 that it looks weak 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.619 and that it points 00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:31.299 to Jesus. 00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:33.619 And in all of that 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.420 the message 00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:35.680 to the church in Corinth 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.900 is get on board 00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:37.519 with Paul. 00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.139 This is what 00:31:39.139 --> 00:31:39.779 his ministry 00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:40.259 looked like 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:40.940 it's not what 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.639 the super apostles 00:31:41.639 --> 00:31:42.400 looked like 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:43.559 but it's what 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.440 real authentic 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:46.099 approved by God 00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:47.400 ministry looks like 00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:48.400 and he says 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.299 the very same thing 00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:50.139 to us this morning. 00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:52.019 Are we willing 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.700 to get on board 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:54.119 with real gospel ministry 00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:54.219 ministry? 00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:56.359 It won't be easy 00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:58.759 it might very well 00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.379 be costly 00:31:59.379 --> 00:32:00.759 and it will look weak 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:02.079 but it's good 00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:04.199 because it points 00:32:04.199 --> 00:32:04.859 to Jesus 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:06.159 who is strong.