Matthew 23, verse 1.
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
! The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat,
! So do and observe what they tell you,
but not the works they do,
for they preach but do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,
and lay them on people's shoulders,
but they themselves are not willing to move them
with their finger.
They do all their deeds to be seen by others,
for they make their phylacteries broad
and their fringes long,
and they love the place of honour at feasts
and the best seats in the synagogues
and greetings in the master marketplaces
and being called rabbi by others.
But you are not to be called rabbi,
for you have one teacher and you are all brothers.
And call no man your father on earth,
for you have one father who is in heaven.
Neither be called instructors,
for you have one instructor, the Christ.
The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Will you pray with me as we come to God's word?
We're always in need of your help, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit,
to understand your word and believe
and be changed.
So I ask for that now in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, many years ago,
Emma and I went to Sydney to buy a car.
Fantastic price.
Low kilometres.
It was kind of a European brand.
I was a bit excited by that.
Now, once we got there,
the location was a little strange.
It was like this industrial area,
and then the guy I met
was a different name to the advert,
but I ignored all that.
That's okay.
We took it to a local mechanic.
At least I had that amount of wisdom.
And he decided not to charge us anything
for looking at the car to make sure it was okay,
because when he lifted it up and had a look,
it was two cars welded together.
Two VIN numbers.
Those sorts of things,
it's like, oh, man,
who can you trust in life?
Now, there were signs.
There were signs that I ignored.
I love what seemed impressive,
the great price,
the great brand.
Internally,
it was a counterfeit.
Now, that's just buying a car.
Now, wouldn't it be a shame
if we were more careful about how we buy a car
than we are about which spiritual authorities
we listen to?
How much more is at stake?
Eternity is at stake
in terms of who we listen to.
Our passage today is a warning
about who not to trust.
Now, I know the elephant in the room
is I'm here speaking as an authority.
But who can you trust?
We're given guidance here
by Christ himself.
I want us to be thinking about
who are you listening to online?
This is a measure of our health
as elders in this church
and as a church as a whole.
One day, you may need to move
and find another church.
And this is great preparation for that too.
Who we trust
to guide us to be right with God
is vital, isn't it?
So, the context of where we're up to,
we're still in the temple courts.
It's a matter of days
before Jesus goes to the cross.
He's ridden in on a donkey.
He's declared himself king.
He's receiving praise from children
as if he's Yahweh himself.
He's told those parables
that increasingly
warning the Pharisees
that they are not listening to God
because they're rejecting his son.
They try those gotcha questions,
but he shows greater wisdom than Solomon.
If King David gladly worshipped me,
then why don't you?
And now Jesus,
this is confrontation,
he's publicly exposing
and accusing the Pharisees.
Now, for Matthew's readers,
original readers,
this section would have helped explain
why the religious leaders of the day
were scrapped.
Yes, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament,
but there needed to be a changing of the guard.
That would have been the original purpose,
but notice in verse 1 and 2
who Jesus is speaking to.
Before verse 13,
he speaks to the Pharisees themselves,
but look who he's speaking to.
It's to the crowds and to his disciples.
Now, often when you talk about someone else
to someone,
that's slander.
Why do the disciples and the crowds
need to hear this?
Why do we need to hear this?
And I think this helps us in
why it's so relevant for us today.
I think there's two effects of this passage.
One is,
do not look to the Pharisees
as your authority.
They are blind guides.
They are whitewashed tombs.
They are hypocrites.
Don't trust them.
The second is,
he's calling his people
to a different authority.
And he's calling his people
to be trustworthy spiritual leaders.
To be sitting in Moses' seat
is to claim succession
of Moses' spiritual authority.
The Pharisees did have huge influence in the day.
They were the people
you would naturally look to
and trust.
The ancient historian Josephus writes,
these,
the Pharisees,
have so great a power
over the multitude
that when they say anything
against the king
or against the high priest,
they are presently believed.
They had huge influence.
Now,
verses two and three
can be taken one of two ways.
The first way is
the scribes and the Pharisees
do teach true doctrine.
So,
listen to what they say.
Just don't follow their lives.
It doesn't match
their lives.
Now,
if you take that view,
their authority here
must be very,
very limited.
It's about to end
because he's,
next week we're going to see
he calls down God's woes,
God's judgments.
Their authority is coming to an end.
So,
if you take that view,
their authority is very limited.
The second way to take these verses
is
he's using very sharp
irony.
They claim
to sit on Moses' seat.
They want you
to obey everything.
But let me show you
just how unlike Moses
they are.
They claim
Now,
it may feel a bit
beneath Jesus
to talk like that.
But there's so much
at stake.
Verse 13,
they shut the kingdom
of heaven
in people's faces.
They are leading people
away from salvation.
Paul uses very
strong language
in Galatians 5,
12,
when those teachers
are saying
you need to be circumcised
and obey the law.
I wish those
who unsettle you
would emasculate
themselves.
It seems ungracious
but when
eternity
is on the line
you need to
call it out.
Now,
I favour the latter
but honestly
I don't mind
which view you take.
I think there's
pros and cons to both.
Either way,
the point is very clear
in this passage.
Don't trust them.
You can't trust them.
whoever claims
to be a spiritual
guide
has enormous
power
over anyone
who believes
that they do.
It's not just
human authority,
they're claiming
God's authority.
So it's so vital
we know
who we can trust.
Jesus said,
by their fruits
you will know
them.
In these verses
we get three,
it's not all
scripture has to say
but we've got
three characteristics
here
of why
they're false
teachers.
The second half
of verse three,
they preach
but do not
practice.
Now you can pick
any of my sermons.
Go for your life
online and pick
one and you
will be able to
charge me with
that.
Now assuming
that my life
isn't living up
to God's word,
now assuming
Jesus isn't
requiring
total
sanctification
yet,
what is he
exposing here?
Maybe you are
going to write
to the elders
later.
But what is he
exposing here?
I think he's
striking at the
heart of what
the Pharisees
prided themselves
on.
They were
the gold
standard
of being
godly.
If you want
to know what
godliness looks
like,
look at
me,
is basically
how they
live their
lives.
And yet,
so they've
got a reputation
of being
godly and
yet,
what we're
going to
see next
week in
verse 23
and 24,
they are
tithing their
garden herbs,
their cumin
and their
mint.
They're being
that careful
that they're
neglecting the
weightier matters
of justice.
mercy,
faithfulness.
There's this
outward appearance
of godliness
but inwardly
they are so
unlike God.
External
reputation
a show
but no
internal
change.
have you
noticed the
qualifications
for elders
in 1
Timothy 3
are incredibly
ordinary?
You're
faithful to
one wife,
self-controlled,
not drunkard,
not violent but
gentle, not a
lover of money.
It's very
ordinary things.
Can I suggest
one of the
reasons for
that is that
is one of the
fruits of
God's word
actually reaching
inside someone's
heart and
changing?
Not the
public things
but the
day-to-day
ordinary
obedience
where God is
changing the
heart.
When that
man thinks
no eyes are
watching him,
is God's
word grabbing
his heart
then?
grabbing his
heart then?
I've been
personally
convicted that
my sermons are
not a good
measure of my
godliness.
They're not.
My private
prayer, which
you have no
idea, that is
a much better
gauge of my
godliness or
how much I've
still got to
go.
I was speaking
to a missionary
friend and he
was saying that
he thought he
was already
obeying God,
like leaving
behind everything
comfortable,
taking great
risks in
obeying the
Great Commission
but on the
mission field he
felt convicted
that what God
really wanted him
to learn is
just that
ordinary,
daily,
unseen
obedience,
considerate of
his wife and
patient with his
children and
honest with his
words and when
his day's plans
are thrown,
does he trust
God?
that is the
evidence of
God's word
changing, not
the outward
show but the
inward change.
So that's one
fruit of false
teachers.
It's just,
there's no
inward reality.
The second
fruit is they
burden God's
sheep with rules
and regulations.
Now, Jesus
calls for much
more radical
obedience than
the Pharisees
do.
You think
tithing your
garden herbs
is radical.
Jesus says,
deny yourself,
take up your
cross,
pray for your
enemies,
forgive.
That is much
harder,
much,
much harder.
So it's not
the degree of
difficulty of
the rule,
the expectations.
So what
makes the
Pharisees'
rules burdensome?
Well, one
thing is,
they turn the
rules of
man as if
they're God's
rules.
They
emphasise the
traditions of
the fathers.
They added
regulations to
how to live
out God's
law.
So God
said,
keep the
Sabbath.
Sabbath,
they added
don't even
pluck a
head of
grain if
you're
hungry on
the
Sabbath.
They added
rules.
God's
word often
tells us
principles,
the why,
why we
should do
something.
But often
he leaves a
lot of room
for how we
express that.
And I
think we
confuse those
two all
the time.
I think
we're still
prone today
to make the
man-made
rules of
how we
do something
and we
load it
with divine
authority that
that is how
we must
obey.
So there's
man-made
rules and
we load
them with
divine
authority.
That's one
thing they
did.
But I
think there's
a deeper
problem even
than that.
Jesus
charges them,
they
themselves are
not willing
to move
them with
their finger.
Not even
their finger
to help
them.
Now they
were willing
to tithe
the garden
herbs.
I think
what's being
said is
they laid
down the
law.
You are
here when
God wants
you here.
And if
you're
failing,
no help
whatsoever,
just you
need to be
here and
you're
crushed.
It was
graceless.
You should
be here
like us,
like me.
No
grace.
As if
how you
perform is
how God
accepts you
or not.
It's this
subtle shift
away from
what religion
has always
been about.
The law
of Moses
was always
a response
to God's
rescue from
Egypt.
It was
always in
the context
of grace.
What God
had done.
Remember
what God
has done.
Remember
he is
present
to help
you.
it's
the shift
from what
God has
done to
what you
must do.
In this
respect,
they are
so unlike
Moses.
When
Israel failed
with the
golden calf,
he didn't
go,
well,
you'll get
what you
deserve,
because they
did deserve
judgment.
No,
he went up
and he
interceded.
Blot me
out of
your
book.
He
served
the
people.
They
are so
unlike
Moses.
This
shift
from the
focus on
what God
has done
to what
you must
do,
it's so
subtle,
but we
feel it,
that it's
still a
danger today.
In sermons,
I think it's
in good
churches,
probably in
some of
my sermons,
you'll feel
the shift.
In one
sermon,
you're going
to walk
out feeling
burdened,
I've got
to do
more,
I'm
failing,
pressure.
In
another
sermon,
your soul
is
refreshed,
God
is with
me,
to go
into another
week.
Now,
what's the
difference?
Because the
words can
still be
Jesus,
God is
great,
and the
words can
sound really
religious.
Here's the
difference.
Come to
me,
all who
labor and
are heavy
laden,
and I
will give
you rest.
Take my
yoke of
discipleship upon
you and learn
from me,
for I am
gentle and
lowly in
heart,
and you
will find
rest for
your souls,
for my
yoke is
easy and
my burden
is light.
Pharisees
put the
expectation
on you,
what you
must do
to be
right with
God.
Christ
says,
come to
me.
The
difference
between a
sermon
that's
burdening
or
uplifting
is,
it's
pretty
simple to
spot,
is
Christ.
I
will
serve
you.
Is
that the
message
you're
hearing?
God
will
serve
you.
in
me,
you
will
find
full
divine
acceptance.
In
me,
you'll
find
full
divine
help.
There's
a famous
preacher,
I'm not
going to
mention
his name
because
that's
not the
point.
My job
is to
teach
principles,
I think.
I've
stopped
listening
to him.
He's
a gospel
loving
man,
don't get
me wrong,
but I've
just stopped
listening to
him because
too often
his
sermons,
they're
from the
text,
they apply
the text,
but they
don't get
to Christ.
They don't
get to
his person
and what
he's done
for us.
And I
just,
my soul
just felt
hungry.
Who are
you listening
to online?
Do you
need to
change it?
I've got a
friend with
Christian music.
he said
that he
was listening
to Christian
music all
the time,
but he
started to
feel burdened
by it because
the songs
were all
about my
response to
God,
my commitment
to him,
my love
for him,
my obedience,
my praise.
It shifted.
It was the
wrong,
no,
we need
much more
songs about
God,
what you have
done for
me.
It's a
subtle shift
and yet
it's the
difference
between
heaven and
earth.
They lay
down the
law without
grace.
It's
Christless.
Can I
speak a
word quickly
to parents?
We need
to show
the goodness
and the
beauty of
authority
that a
Christian home
isn't just
about laying
down
expectations
of what
God wants
us.
A
Christian
home is
one filled
with his
mercy and
grace.
We need
authority,
don't hear me
wrong,
but the
only way
you can
fill a
home with
mercy and
grace is
if you
know you
need mercy
and grace
and you
can't fake
that,
there's no
rules for
that.
We need
to be
filled with
Christ and
his mercy
if we
want.
Our
kids to
see that
in us.
So the
first fruit,
there's an
outward show,
there's no
inward change
to be like
God.
The second
fruit is
that they
burden with
the law
and it's
just missing
grace.
The third
fruit,
they love
their own
reputation
as being
closer to
God.
Verses 5
to 7.
They do
all their
deeds to
be seen
by others.
They turn
acts for
God to
then make
it about
people's
love for
them.
I can't
even say
the word
phylactery,
I don't know
if I got
that right,
but it
was a
small box
containing
verses from
the law,
which
Deuteronomy
commanded,
whether it's
metaphorical
or not,
they took
it literally
and they
bound it
on their
forehead
or on
their hand
and their
tassels
were on
the outer
garments.
They were
meant to
be personal
reminders to
obey God's
word,
but they
make them
broad and
long.
Look at
how godly
I am.
It's so
twisted
what the
human heart
can do.
Prayer.
Haven't you
heard prayers
sometimes at
public events
like weddings
and things
where it's
meant to
be pouring
out our
helplessness
before God,
but it's
this show
of jargon
and look
at me and
my passion
for God.
It's so
twisted in
on ourselves.
A generation
ago, the
big names
in the
evangelical
English-speaking
world were
like Martin
Lloyd-Jones,
John
Stott,
and Dick
Lucas.
And Phil
Jensen from
Sydney, he
was talking
about Dick
Lucas and
he said,
you've never
met a man
who was
less
egocentric.
Everybody
else wanted
to go and
talk to
the great
one.
But as
soon as he
got the
impression that
you came
because he
was the
great one,
that was
the end
of the
conversation.
He was
always serving
the people.
That's the
fruit of
someone you
can trust.
It's not
about their
name.
They're not
the great
one.
Again,
they're so
unlike
Moses.
He was
the
authority,
but on
this one
occasion when
the 70
elders were
filled with
the spirit
to prophesy,
his assistants
were saying,
quick,
Moses,
stop them
because the
authority was
spreading away
from Moses
to these
other elders.
Are you
jealous?
For my
sake,
would that
all the
Lord's
people were
prophets,
that the
Lord would
put his
spirit on
them?
Moses wasn't
even trying to
keep all the
authority to
himself.
The Pharisees
were.
They loved
their own
name.
Now,
there might
be an
order to
these three
characteristics.
If the
deepest love
that you
and I
have is
the praise
of people,
you can't
rejoice in
God's
grace because
you don't
get the
praise.
He does.
He gets
it all.
And so
your religion,
if you're
looking for
praise for
people,
it's all
going to be
for show,
external.
You don't
care about
the internal
reality,
you care
about the
external.
But if
you love
his grace,
you want
him to get
the praise
and you
want that
internal
reality.
Now,
I don't
think my
love for
people's
praise will
be fully
eradicated
until Jesus
returns.
My motives
are always,
always mixed.
I've known
people to
step back
from music
for a time
because they
just knew
in their
own heart
that even
while they're
meant to be
leading the
congregation in
worship.
Really,
what they're
wanting is
you to
love them.
Now,
you may not
need a step
back,
but where
is the
Holy Spirit
convicting you
that you're
doing it for
the love of
the praise
of people?
Name it.
It's dangerous
not to name
it.
That's the
pathway to be
refreshed in
his grace
again.
Now,
they're the
fruits.
false
teachers and
people we
shouldn't
trust if
their whole
life is
characterized
by those
three things.
You might
expect at
this point
that we're
given
characteristics
of people
you can
trust,
but that's
not where
Jesus goes.
We're given
something so
much better
than that.
Look at
verses 8 to
10.
You are
not to be
called
rabbi,
for you
have one
teacher,
and you
are all
brothers.
And call
no man
your father
on earth,
for you
have one
father who
is in
heaven.
Neither be
called
instructors,
for you
have one
instructor,
the Christ.
God
himself is
your
teacher,
your
father,
your
authority.
There's
possibly a
trinitarian
nature in
these verses.
Jesus is
claiming a
radical change
in salvation
history.
Old Testament,
their spiritual
relationship with
God depended
on the
leaders.
If they
were faithful,
God blessed.
If they
weren't faithful,
they were
cursed.
A change
is happening
here.
Jeremiah said
the new
covenant,
no longer
shall each
one teach
his neighbor
and his
brother,
saying,
know the
Lord,
for they
shall all
know me,
from the
least of
them to
the greatest,
declares the
Lord.
one
authority
in God
himself.
That's
true
religion.
A few
of the
people who
have been
influential in
my life
are no
longer claiming
to be
Christian.
Sadly,
I'm guessing
I'm not the
only one who
can say
that.
Some of
those are
relationships in
my life.
Some of
them are just
public
figures.
But here's
the thing,
my faith is
not shaken.
It's very
disturbing when
that happens,
isn't it?
It's very
disturbing.
But my
faith is not
shaken because
they're not
my authority.
God alone
is in
his word and
by his
spirit in
the gospel.
Which means
our faith
is solid
when he
is our
one
authority.
his gospel
never fails
us.
At
small group
this week,
I love the
fact that
they ganged
up on me
and disagreed
with me.
I think I
was the
only one
who believed
at one
point from
the passage.
It was
wonderful because
the word of
God was the
authority in
the room.
That's true
religion.
One
authority.
Now,
the Pharisees
looked to
their earlier
rabbis and
called them
fathers and
what they
meant by
that is all
their teaching
became capital
T truth.
You can't
disagree with
them.
Now,
we have a
history of
faithful teachers
that we
stand on the
shoulders of
giants.
We've got the
early church
fathers.
We've got
the reformers,
Calvin,
Luther.
We've got the
Baptist
Confession.
But we
have one,
one final
authority.
They deserve
our respect,
but we
have one
authority.
Catholics
use this
seat of
Moses as
part of the
evidence for
the Pope,
whereas the
passage is
saying God's
not going to
share that
seat with
anyone.
He sits
on that
seat.
false
religion
always puts
something in
between you
and God
in his
word as
the ultimate
authority.
Whether it's a
human or a
tradition,
some
institution,
something is in
between.
may sound like
I'm trying to
get out of
my job,
but elders
and pastors
and other
authorities in
our lives,
they're a good
gift,
but what it
means is we're
first and
foremost
brothers.
We're
learners.
I don't
think Jesus
is being
hyper-democratic
here.
Human
teachers are
a gift from
Christ,
but if you
look at
Paul's
ministry,
especially
1 Thessalonians
2,
there's this
lovely section
where he
says,
I was like
a nursing
mother to
you.
When they
started off
as Christians,
they were so
dependent on
him, like a
nursing mother,
but then I
was like a
father to
you.
God's
urging you,
come on,
you can do
it, pushing
out of the
nest, but
then he
says, he
calls them
brothers.
True
authorities
push you
away from
themselves to
Christ.
We're a
brotherhood in
there.
Every
earthly
teacher has
gaps.
has prejudice,
has
prejudice, has
imbalances,
has that
remaining
sin of
the love
of praise
of man,
but Christ's
blood has
brought for
us a
father in
heaven, one
divine master,
one teacher,
in his word,
by his
spirit, which
means our
faith can
never be
shaken if
we look to
that authority.
there's so
many
capabilities in
human
teachers that
we often,
it attracts
us, it
gives us
confidence in
them, like
their knowledge,
their Bible
knowledge,
their widely
read, or
maybe it's
their rhetoric,
their debating
skills are
impressive,
maybe it's
their training,
they've got
PhDs, maybe
it's their
titles,
reverend,
bishop,
pastor,
senior
pastor, maybe
it's their
charisma,
they're
passionate,
they're
zealous,
you can
look for
their empathy,
their tears,
maybe you can
look for their
visionaries,
they've got
these grand
plans, they
can move
people to
get them
done, it
could be
their popularity,
but all
that could
be two
chassis of
a car
welded
together.
Let's not
look at
those things,
they can be
used for
good or
ill.
Verses
11 and
12 tell
us the
fruit we're
to look
for.
And this
fruit can
only come
if someone
looks to
Jesus as
the one
authority
and loves
the grace
of God.
The greatest
among you
shall be
your servant.
Whoever
exalts
himself will
be humbled
and whoever
humbles
himself will
be exalted.
Even as
the Son of
Man came
not to be
served but
to serve and
to give his
life as a
ransom for
many.
Humility.
Do we look
for humility?
I'm going
to say it
again.
Who you're
listening to
online, are
they humble?
Are they
pushing away
from self?
Are they so
full of God
and full of
others?
Are they
aware of
their propensity
for loving
people's praise?
Now one
public teacher
I followed
is John
Piper.
Now I
don't really
care if you
like his
style or
not.
The point
of this
message is
not to
say hey
listen only
to John
Piper.
That would
totally
misunderstand
the point
of this
sermon.
Now whatever
you think
of him,
there's
something
that's
made me
respect him
even more
because in
2011 he
took eight
months off
every public
speaking
from the
pulpit,
from all
conferences,
there's one
or two we
couldn't get
out of for
some reason,
but he was
a great one.
He was
selling books,
there was
huge following,
he could have
said look how
God is blessing
my ministry,
there's no
problem,
but he took
eight months
off because of
his marriage.
He could
have just
kept hidden.
Now in
terms of
his marriage
he writes,
I would
label my
decades long
besetting and
hopefully
weakening
sins in
this relationship
with Noel
as selfishness,
self-pity,
anger,
blaming and
sullenness,
all of them
species of
pride.
God is as
sovereign and
gracious as
ever and I
find myself
chastened,
humbled and
perhaps more
usable now.
Anyways,
that humility
made me
respect him
all the more.
Look for
that kind of
humility.
Look for
the fruit of
serving the
sheep.
There can be
so much
talk of
ministry and
serving.
We can
use that.
Don't we
use those
words so
often?
But self-love
can use the
flock for
ministry goals
whereas
shepherding love
for the sheep
and for the
flock will
well ministry
structures,
they can
change.
Does that
spot need to
be filled?
it's always
looking to
the sheep
and the
church's
best
interests.
Now I'm
guessing us
as elders are
going to
offend you
at some
point by
the way.
I don't
think
servanthood
means
leaders will
never offend.
If we've all
got idols,
I've still got
idols in my
heart,
things people
say to me
still deeply
offend me.
We should
expect that.
But can I
suggest,
look at a
leader's track
record.
Can you look
back from that
one issue
and go,
there is a
trail of
care.
Can you
say that?
So who do
we trust?
Who can we
trust?
There's only
one.
Father,
Son and
Holy Spirit.
in his
word.
We have
one
authority.
Jesus is
just as
displeased
today with
those who
require loyalty
to themselves
rather than
exalting
Christ.
They will
be humbled
by God
in the end.
Don't follow
them into
God's
displeasure.
listen to
those who
are most
like Moses
and the
Lord,
who are
gentle and
lowly in
heart,
who came
not to
be served
but to
serve,
who love
grace,
and they
point to
God and
his authority
and they
want him to
get the
praise.
God's
I think
this passage
exposes how
much of the
Pharisee way of
thinking still
lurks in
us.
thanks be to
God that we
have one
authority,
who's totally
faithful,
he's personally,
presently our
teacher and
father and
master.
Your faith,
my faith,
depends on
him.
There's so much
comfort in that,
there's so much
assurance in that,
holding fast to
the gospel of
Christ in his
word alone.
no power of
hell, no
scheme of
man can ever
pluck me from
his hand.
When you look
to one
authority, that's
who you can
trust.
Let's pray.
Father,
forgive us for
the degree to
which we still
love the
praise of
people.
When we
rob you of
your praise,
in your
grace, and
we rob
ourselves of
the peace
that comes in
resting in
Christ, and
the joy and
courage to live
for you that
comes from
that.
So please
help us,
Lord, to
in this
community,
help one
another to
point each
other to
you again
and again.
We thank
you that you
are faithful.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Thank you,
Dave.
Some very
sobering
signals, I
think,
there out of
scripture,
isn't there?
And thanks be to
God for the
message that he's
brought us through
Dave.
And Dave,
thank you for
the humility
you demonstrated
while you were
expounding humility
to us.
Muses, if you'd
like to come out,
it's time for our
next song.
And for those of
you who dropped
your children out
to creche, now
would be a good
time to collect
them.
And Anne, I
think we'll be
taking years
three to six out
to the hall for
their time together.
And straight
after the song,
Andrew,
Wilco, if you'd
like to come up
and I'd like to
lead us in prayer,
that would be
great.
Thank you.
What gift of grace
is Jesus my
Redeemer?
There is no
more for heaven
now to give.
He is my joy,
my righteousness
and freedom,
my steadfast love,
my deep and boundless
peace.
To this I hold
my hope
is only Jesus,
for my life
is holy
bound to
His.
Oh, how strange
and divine
I can sing,
all is mine,
yet not I,
but through Christ
in me.
the night is dark,
but I am not
forsaken,
for by my side
the Savior
He will stay.
I labor on
in weakness
and rejoicing,
for in my need
His power
is displayed.
to this I hold
my shepherd
will defend me,
through the deepest
valley He will lead.
O the night
has been won
and I shall
overcome
yet not I,
but through Christ
in me.
No fate I dread,
I know I am forgiven,
the future's sure,
the price it has been paid,
for Jesus bled
and suffered
for my pardon
and He was raised
to overthrow
the grave.
To this I hold
my sin
has been defeated,
Jesus now
and ever
is my plea.
All the chains
are released,
I can sing,
I am free,
yet not I,
but through Christ
in me.
With every breath
I long to follow
Jesus,
for He has said
that He will
bring me home,
and day by day
I know He will
renew me
until I stand
with joy
before the throne.
to this I hold
my hope
is only Jesus,
all the glory
evermore
to Him.
When the race
is complete,
still my lips
shall repeat,
yet not I,
but through Christ
in me.
through Christ
When the race
is complete,
still my lips
shall repeat,
yet not I,
but through Christ
in me.
Yet not I,
but through Christ
Christ
in me.
Good morning, everyone.
God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We hold confidence and hope because of knowing who you are and what Jesus has done.
No plan of man or the evil one or even our own sin can change the glorious moment when we will be changed and spend eternity with you.
Father, we confess, though, just like the Pharisees and religious leaders, we can too easily keep up appearances, looking at things other than you to give us the joy that can only be found in you.
We can care more about titles, success in the world and being praised by others more than pleasing you.
Father, help us not to be blind fools like the scribes and Pharisees.
Give us a love and genuine concern for others, just like you have for us.
May our lives be known for serving others, to see others build up and grow and ultimately know you and help us to encourage each other in church with the same attitude and the same mind.
Lord, we thank you for many in our own church who model this care and self-sacrifice.
And we pray as you change us each day, help us to live this way, even when our own flesh pulls us away to live selfish and self-exalting lives.
May there be a deep humility in us that reflects your glory.
Lord, sometimes it is easy to despair at leaders in our country who don't reflect your model for leadership.
At times we have leaders who are interested in advancing their own agenda for their own glory rather than honouring the calling of serving the people.
Father God, we pray you would continue to rise a generation of leaders in our churches and our community with a love for you and a servant heart for others.
We pray you might embolden these leaders to speak the truth in wisdom and love.
Specifically, ask we would have leaders that honour your godly design for marriage and families.
Leaders that value the life of unborn children and uniqueness in the way that we are created.
As male and female.
And we pray for leaders that care for the poor, the widow and the orphan.
We ask for leaders that do not care for the praise of men, but care only to advance what you say is good and true.
Lord, we have many needs in our own church we want to bring before you.
We pray for the Pilliga trip and the Kids Club coming up in a couple of weeks.
We thank you that we have seen the fruit and the willingness of kids and parents in previous years to hear the gospel.
We pray this work might bring a harvest for your kingdom.
May you change the lives of many in this community as they see the love and service of the team to bring the message of good news of Jesus to them.
Alongside Henry and Maria.
We also thank you for the opportunity for the church to outreach through Taste and See coming up in the next few weeks.
Father, prepare the men who come along and don't know you to have soft hearts ready to listen.
And may you give Dave and the other men involved wisdom and words to speak in moments when they need them.
Lord, for those who can't be with us today, our brothers and sisters in nursing homes or those unwell, give them a real peace in your presence, we ask.
May they feel the special bond of being together, even though they can't be physically with us today.
Lord, we also want to think of those grieving at the moment or mourning the loss of loved ones in the week past or the week ahead.
May you give them comfort.
But some of us at church have anniversaries of loved ones we've lost.
Others are living with the uncertain reality of others who are sick around them and don't have much time left.
Lord, how comforting it is to know that we can never be closer to knowing your peace and comfort when we are at our weakest moments.
We also thank you too, Lord, for the women's conference that's happened over the weekend.
Thank you for the great blessing that's been for the women in our church.
And may they go away from that feeling encouraged and more confident in learning more about you.
For the week ahead, we know there will be joys and trials.
Give us eternal perspective in all we do and hearts and minds willing to do everything for your glory.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Good morning.
Church camp is 23 weeks away.
Start getting excited now.
So, it's always great, isn't it?
After church, we have coffee, we have tea, and it's really good to chat and get to know each other more.
So, church camp is that on steroids.
It really is.
It's really good, you know, a good time.
I love church camp.
I love the opportunity to be able to get to know people at, you know, a deeper level and to do it in a relaxed atmosphere as well.
So, this year we're going, not this year, next year, 23 weeks.
Next year, 26, we're going to a crew camp.
Now, it will not have escaped your notice that it costs a lot more than it has done, you know, like the last time.
But what we were aiming to get was to, that involved, last time it involved some people not even taking part at all or being present.
They were there working, but not actually present.
And so, we really want everyone to, you know, to be there, to be able to enjoy and to be able to, you know, mix with everyone and enjoy one another's company.
And, of course, to sit under good Bible teaching in a relaxed way.
So, yes, so consider it an investment in each other.
And 23 weeks, you know, put money aside each week for this.
Don't, as it says in the bulletin, don't let it be a barrier.
Don't let the money be a barrier, okay?
If you have an issue, if you think, well, even 23 weeks, this is going to be difficult to, you know, to get this money together,
then please come and see either myself or one of the other elders or chairs, okay?
So, yes.
Thanks.
Thank you, Gareth.
I know each of the church camps I've been to has been a great time in fellowship.
So, I would commend that to everyone to make the effort to be there.
Certainly well worth the time to spend in fellowship together.
All right.
Just a few announcements.
Firstly, birthdays.
We've got three this week.
Yin Min, Damien and Kaya.
Happy birthday to your birthdays this week.
Grace Kids.
I have a message for you from Grace Kids.
They need teachers and helpers for term four.
Please see Catherine Gibbons if you feel that there's something that you can do there in that respect.
The blokes taste and see.
Thank you, Andrew, for praying for that.
It's part of the men's initiative over the next couple of months.
There is a flyer out the front on the exit door.
It flies on the table there.
But Dave has requested that someone, we need a few hands to help prepare desserts for each of those four evenings.
So, if anyone feels they'd be able to support the men and that fellowship together in that way, please talk to Dave.
And Grace Community Carols.
It seems odd, doesn't it, to be talking in September about carols in December.
And yet it is only weeks away.
I just can't believe how fast this year has gone.
And so Grace Community Carols is set down for December 20th.
Make sure you save the date.
And for those of you that are accustomed to using the FSM, please make sure you get into that FSM this week, if at all possible.
So that we can get a bit of an idea of who is going to be available and when.
And provide them the opportunity to start to plan those carols.
And thank you for those of you that you are happy with us.
!
Andrew mentioned that we will be having morning tea and coffee, so please hang around after the service as we join a little bit of fellowship together.
And our guests, please do that. We would most welcome you to join us and have a bit of a chat.
I'll call the musos up for the last song, please.
And just before we have the last song, I might just close the service in prayer as well.
So if you could just join me in prayer for a moment before the musos bring us our last song.
Our loving Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word today.
We've been reminded that true greatness in our earthly walk is not found in pride or position, but in humility and serving others.
Lord, help us to walk away from here today, not only as hearers of your word, but as doers.
And Father, help us to seek to live as a servant-hearted followers of Christ.
And Father, as we remember the depth of your love, we remember also that the greatest act of servant leadership was seen in your Son,
who humbled himself to the point of death on a cross for us.
May that love break our pride, stir our hearts, and send us out to serve others in the same spirit of humility and grace.
We ask this in the name of Christ Jesus, our Saviour and the Servant King.
Amen.
I'll keep the Father's love for us.
How vast beyond the measure that he should give his only Son to make a rich his treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns his face away.
As wounds which Mother's chosen one bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon his shoulder.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice.
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held him there.
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything.
No gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ.
His death and resurrection.
What should I gain from his reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart.
His wounds have paid my answer.
Why should I gain from his reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart.
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Stop.
Thank you.