WEBVTT

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 Good evening everyone, thank you very much for being with us this evening.

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 We're coming to the end of our studies in the book of Titus.

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 This is the last passage we're looking at this evening.

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 Four verses, and you may think, as I thought when I first read them,

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 there isn't much to say about these verses.

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 But every problem is an opportunity, and we're going to take some of the themes, I think,

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 which come out directly from these verses and develop them a bit as we go through.

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 So Titus chapter 3, and we're going to read from verse 12,

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 and it will appear on the screen as well in a second.

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 Titus chapter 3, reading from verse 12.

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 And Paul writes,

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 As soon as I send Artemis or Tychicus to you,

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 do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.

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 Do everything you can to help Zenos the lawyer and Apollos on their way,

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 and see that they have everything they need.

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 Our people must devote themselves to doing what is good,

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 in order to provide for urgent needs, and not live unproductive lives.

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 Everyone with me sends you greetings.

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 Greet those who love us in the faith.

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 Grace be with you all.

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 And God, I'm sure, will bless his word as we think about it together.

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 Church is a people business.

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 That's the broad, overriding theme of what I want to talk about this evening.

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 I work, ultimately, for a big bank.

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 And you might think banks are all about money.

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 Well, they are all about money.

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 But when we talk within the bank, we tend to talk about people.

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 We talk about customers.

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 We talk about colleagues.

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 And when we're talking about making profits, we talk about our shareholders.

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 Because, ultimately, it's people who've got their money invested in pension funds,

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 or the savings or whoever that we exist to make profits for.

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 It's a people business.

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 I'm sure you could say the same about any other business that you care to think about.

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 It'd be difficult to think of a business that didn't have significant contact with people,

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 even if it's only those who work there.

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 Church certainly is a people business.

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 It's all about people.

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 Yes, it's about the gospel, absolutely.

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 But it's about the gospel, as it affects us, through the Son of God,

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 who became a man so that people like us could come into a living relationship with God

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 and could have the assurance of eternal life

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 and could enjoy fellowship with God the Father, with his Son, and with one another.

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 It's a people business.

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 As always, we come to the end of Titus, as with all of Paul's books.

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 There is a bit about people.

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 People who are with Paul, people who are where Paul is writing to,

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 and people who Paul is particularly interested in or concerned about.

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 Some of them we know reasonably well from the Bible.

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 Some of them we know absolutely nothing about,

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 except that the name happens to be mentioned at the end of Paul's book.

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 But they're all people who were Christians in the first century church

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 and have their own stories and their own interests and their own needs,

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 and we can learn from them.

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 So we've got a broad structure to what we're going to look at,

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 and we'll talk very briefly about verse 15,

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 but it's verse 12 to 14 we're going to concentrate on.

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 And verse 12, I would suggest, is about Paul's team.

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 He mentions Artemis and Tychicus, and we also have Titus.

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 These were the people who were Paul's co-workers, who were part of Team Paul, if you like.

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 Verse 13, I would suggest, is more about Paul's associates.

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 I don't think that Zenos and Apollos were directly part of Paul's team,

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 but they were gospel workers who Paul wanted to support

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 and encourage in their work for the Lord Jesus.

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 And then in verse 14, we've got to call it Paul's people.

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 Of course, it's the Lord's people, but Paul deliberately refers to them as our people.

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 And this is the broad church.

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 In this context, particularly the church, our churches in Crete,

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 but all of God's people and what it is that God wants from us

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 as the people who belong to the Lord Jesus.

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 So we're going to think about Paul's team, think about our team,

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 think about Paul's associates and other Christian work that we have associations with,

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 and then we're going to think about lessons that are relevant to all of us

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 as God's people and how we work together.

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 So first look at verse 12.

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 And what I'm suggesting from verse 12 is it tells us that Christian service is collaborative.

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 Collaborative just means that we work to support and help one another.

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 So the situation is, Titus is in Crete, clearly.

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 That's where the letter is written to, very clear from chapter 1.

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 Paul quite likely is in Corinth.

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 We don't know definitely, but good chance he is in Corinth at that time.

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 And Paul is looking ahead.

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 And two things Paul was thinking about in his plans.

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 One is, I want to spend the winter in Nicopolis.

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 Now, Nicopolis was another town in Greece, on the west coast of Greece,

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 probably quite a warm place, a nice place to spend the winter.

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 Of course, Paul wouldn't just be thinking about it as a nice place to winter.

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 Someone might say, well, in the winter I go to Miami or I go to the south of France

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 because it's a bit warmer there.

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 Paul would be thinking, well, how can we best promote the gospel and reach out to other parts?

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 And I think he'd probably say that Nicopolis was the next part of Greece that he needed to go to

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 and to preach the word.

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 One way or another, he's going to Nicopolis and he wants to meet Titus.

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 Come back in a minute to why he wants to meet Titus, but he wants Titus to go to be with them.

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 And he said, I'm not going to leave the Cretans alone.

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 We know there are a lot of problems in Crete as we've read through this book.

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 Some not very flattering things said about the people of Crete.

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 Paul doesn't want to leave them without someone to look after them and care for them.

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 So he's going to send either Artemis or Tychicus to be with them.

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 Artemis we know absolutely nothing about apart from what's in this verse.

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 Tychicus we do know a little more about and we'll talk about him in more detail in a few minutes.

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 But the key point, I think, from this is that Christian service is collaborative.

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 It's about working in teams.

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 Now there have been Christians who've gone to work on their own.

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 There have been Christians who perhaps have been turned down by missionary societies,

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 some fairly well-known ones, and have gone and done pioneer works on their own and been blessed by God.

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 But I would suggest that is very much the exception.

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 For most of us, what God calls us to do is to work together in teams

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 and to use our gifts together for his glory.

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 No one has all the gifts.

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 No one can do it by ourself.

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 We need others to work with us.

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 We need to be collaborative in our work for the Lord Jesus.

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 And a great example of that is Paul.

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 I jotted down.

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 I don't think this is comprehensive.

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 I jotted down the names of some people as they read through the letters

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 that we can say were part of Team Paul.

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 The ones in the left-hand column you'll probably be fairly familiar with.

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 The ones in the right-hand column may be a bit less so.

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 So Barnabas, who Paul went with on his first missionary journey.

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 Silas on his second missionary journey.

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 Timothy was very much Paul's apprentice.

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 And the one who Paul was particularly building up for Christian leadership.

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 Titus, Luke, Aquila, Priscilla, Mark, and lots of others.

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 Paul never worked on his own.

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 When he was left on his own, as he was at times,

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 he really missed his companions, his colleagues,

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 and he recognized the need to have others working alongside him.

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 He was a team player, and the call is for us, too, to be team players.

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 Within our church, we should work together.

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 We should work collaboratively.

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 We should work in a way that glorifies God

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 by getting on well with our Christian brothers and sisters,

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 by working alongside them,

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 by complementing us, complementing with an E,

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 complementing one another in the work that we do.

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 We are part of a team.

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 Two things in particular that I think we can notice from verse 12

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 about the team, as Paul brings it before us.

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 How is it collaborative?

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 It is collaborative first because there is mutual support.

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 The members of the team are there to strengthen and support one another.

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 I quite like the picture.

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 It's not an original picture.

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 The picture of a church team or a Christian team

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 as being like a Swiss army knife.

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 You know these knives you get that have all these

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 mounted-shooter tools on them,

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 a tool for everything that you might need.

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 And some of the tools you might think,

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 well, what's the point of them?

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 And then one day you're out walking,

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 you see a horse that's limping,

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 you say, I know this tool,

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 that's for taking the stone out of his hoof,

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 that kind of thing.

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 But all of us within the church,

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 we have gifts that have been given to us by God.

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 They're all different.

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 They're all complementary.

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 And whatever need arises in the church and the team,

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 then there should be one of us whom God has given the gift

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 and the calling to be able to meet that need.

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 It is a need for mutual support.

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 So two elements of support, I think, in this passage.

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 One we'll come back to in a second is the support

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 that Paul and Titus can give to one another.

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 And the other is the support that Artemis or Tychicus

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 was going to give.

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 So Titus, as I've said, was in Crete.

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 Crete was a church which in many ways was in crisis,

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 certainly needed a lot more support from outside

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 so that the Christians could develop real character

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 and get away from some of the worst aspects of life on the island.

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 And Paul said, we're not going to leave them alone.

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 We are going to support these Christians in Crete.

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 And we're also not going to leave Titus alone.

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 Perhaps Titus had come to the point

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 where he'd been there for a while.

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 He was finding it difficult.

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 He was finding it tough in the environment that he was in.

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 And perhaps Paul decided,

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 it's now time for Titus to have a short break,

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 to be taking someone else, perhaps in Christian service,

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 and I will send someone else to take his place.

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 There will be mutual support.

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 Titus doesn't feel as he's in Crete,

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 that he's there on his own,

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 that no one cares about him.

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 Paul is there to help and to provide support for him.

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 Very good lesson for us there.

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 In our church and other Christian works we might be involved in,

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 it's very easy for people to get into a stage

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 where they're finding they're going hard,

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 where perhaps they're becoming even a bit stale in the work

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 and they're really struggling with it.

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 We should be able to identify these situations

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 and we should be able to support them.

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 And we should also be willing,

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 as God leads,

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 to go into a different environment,

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 a different sphere of service,

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 and to provide support there

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 to serve the Lord in the way that he calls us to.

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 Collaboration, working collaboratively,

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 is about providing mutual support for one another.

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 And then it's about providing mutual encouragement.

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 We'll come back to this as we think about Tychicus,

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 but let's just think for a few minutes

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 about the kind of encouragement that we see in this verse.

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 Paul wants to be encouraged by Titus.

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 Titus was a great encourager.

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 Titus was the man who Paul sent to Corinth.

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 When the church in Corinth was going through a really bad patch,

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 Paul was really concerned about it.

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 He had to write some very stern words to it,

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 the sternest of them not even in the Bible.

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 The ones that are there are stern enough as they stand.

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 Paul sent Titus to Corinth.

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 Titus was encouraged and refreshed

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 as he saw that Corinthians had paid attention

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 to what Paul said.

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 Paul was feeling a bit lonely in Macedonia.

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 Titus comes back with the good news

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 and Paul is really encouraged.

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 And perhaps Paul is hoping

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 that this will happen again with Crete.

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 That as he's written to Crete,

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 as he knows there are problems,

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 as Titus comes back,

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 he will be able to really encourage Paul

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 with news about what God is doing

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 among the people,

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 among the elderly young Christians

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 that are there in Crete.

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 Equally, Titus will be encouraged by Paul.

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 An older brother,

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 older in the faith,

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 more mature,

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 been through it all,

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 seen all the problems

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 and difficulties before.

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 If Titus is finding things quite hard

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 as he comes back to Paul,

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 Paul will be able to encourage him

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 from the Scriptures

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 and to revitalize him

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 in his ministry for the Lord Jesus.

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 Whether that ministry is told to be in Crete

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 or elsewhere,

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 Paul will be able to give encouragement

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 to Titus

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 to keep going,

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 to be strong in his faith,

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 and to be faithful in his service

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 for the Lord Jesus.

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 Mutual encouragement.

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 Very important in churches

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 and the teams that we work in

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 within the church

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 that we are there

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 to encourage one another.

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 But there is that word of encouragement

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 when someone's finding the going difficult

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 or perhaps the word of encouragement

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 when someone's done something particularly well

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 and we see God at work in them

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 and we encourage them

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 by saying that to them.

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 Encouragement two,

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 just to keep going,

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 just to remain strong as Christians

00:14:06.280 --> 00:14:08.540
 as we go through times of trial

00:14:08.540 --> 00:14:11.400
 as things are not always straightforward

00:14:11.400 --> 00:14:14.300
 in our service for the Lord Jesus.

00:14:15.420 --> 00:14:16.620
 That's a characteristic,

00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:17.280
 both of them,

00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:18.040
 of mutual support,

00:14:18.140 --> 00:14:18.820
 mutual encouragement.

00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:20.379
 They're characteristics of teams

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.379
 that we see in the world,

00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:22.300
 in the workplace.

00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:24.639
 How much more should there be characteristics

00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:26.839
 of us in a church?

00:14:27.859 --> 00:14:29.000
 In a church as a whole

00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.339
 and in whatever team we are within

00:14:31.339 --> 00:14:32.219
 in the church,

00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:33.479
 whether it's a leadership team,

00:14:33.579 --> 00:14:35.339
 whether it's a team working with young people

00:14:35.339 --> 00:14:37.579
 or with women or something like Basics Bank

00:14:37.579 --> 00:14:39.039
 or other ministries of the church.

00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:41.679
 We should be there to support one another

00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.000
 when we need to.

00:14:43.359 --> 00:14:44.659
 We should be there to encourage

00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:46.719
 and build one another up

00:14:46.719 --> 00:14:49.379
 in our service for the Lord Jesus.

00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:52.679
 Christian service is collaborative.

00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.980
 We're in it together.

00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:55.700
 We're there to support

00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:57.000
 and to strengthen

00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:59.159
 and to encourage one another

00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.720
 in the Lord's work.

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:05.059
 Let's move on to verse 13.

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.019
 Oh no, let's not move on to verse 13.

00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:09.279
 I said I talked about Tychicus,

00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:10.360
 so let's talk about Tychicus.

00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.039
 Apologies to God,

00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:11.700
 I was going to do that.

00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:13.960
 Tychicus is a man

00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:16.220
 whom we know a reasonable amount about

00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:17.840
 from Paul's letters

00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:19.480
 and from the book of Acts.

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:21.100
 This is one of the verses

00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:23.100
 that's about Tychicus from Colossians

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.519
 and Paul says,

00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:26.019
 Tychicus will tell you

00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:27.320
 all the news about me.

00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:28.800
 He is a dear brother,

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.600
 a faithful minister

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:33.720
 and fellow servant in the Lord.

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:35.100
 Similar verse in Ephesians

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.860
 which we'll refer to in a minute.

00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:40.879
 Tychicus was a real team player

00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:43.060
 within Team Paul.

00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.840
 Three characteristics.

00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:48.160
 He was someone who was reliable.

00:15:49.280 --> 00:15:50.500
 We first come across Tychicus

00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.519
 in the book of Acts.

00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:53.000
 In the book of Acts,

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.940
 as Paul is going to Jerusalem,

00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.420
 he is taking with him

00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:57.379
 a number of men

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.700
 who are bringing gifts

00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.540
 from the churches

00:15:59.540 --> 00:16:00.519
 largely in Asia

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:02.680
 and in Macedonian Greece.

00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:04.399
 The Christians in Judea

00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:05.620
 are going through a difficult time.

00:16:05.700 --> 00:16:06.800
 There's been a famine there.

00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:08.780
 They're in physical need

00:16:08.780 --> 00:16:09.740
 and the churches

00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:11.900
 whom Paul has been out evangelizing

00:16:11.900 --> 00:16:13.840
 have recognized that need

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.019
 and they put their hands

00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:15.800
 in their pockets

00:16:15.800 --> 00:16:17.660
 to give some support

00:16:17.660 --> 00:16:20.300
 to the Christians in Judea.

00:16:21.300 --> 00:16:22.519
 And Paul says,

00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:24.720
 when he's writing to the Corinthians,

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:27.160
 that they are to choose men

00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:28.860
 who are approved by them

00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:31.800
 to take the gifts to the church.

00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:34.100
 Now Tychicus was from Ephesus,

00:16:34.280 --> 00:16:34.560
 probably.

00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.700
 He wasn't from Corinth,

00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:37.500
 but I'm sure the same message

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.920
 went to all the churches.

00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:40.360
 We want men

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.679
 who are approved by you.

00:16:42.099 --> 00:16:42.819
 We want men

00:16:42.819 --> 00:16:43.659
 who are reliable.

00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:45.599
 And the church in Asia,

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.059
 possibly a church in Ephesus,

00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:48.059
 chose Tychicus

00:16:48.059 --> 00:16:49.860
 and he went with Paul

00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:51.599
 to Jerusalem.

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.759
 He was someone

00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.659
 who was reliable.

00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.759
 You knew if you gave him

00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.740
 something to do

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:57.240
 that he would do it

00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:59.219
 and that he would do it well

00:16:59.219 --> 00:17:01.799
 and that if you gave him money,

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:03.039
 he wouldn't try and steal it

00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:03.879
 or waste it away.

00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:04.859
 He would keep it

00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:05.680
 for the purpose

00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:07.159
 for which it was intended.

00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:08.519
 He would make sure

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:10.500
 it got there safely.

00:17:11.060 --> 00:17:11.759
 He was someone

00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.840
 who could be trusted,

00:17:13.080 --> 00:17:14.820
 someone who was reliable.

00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.660
 Alongside that,

00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.500
 I've just said the word,

00:17:18.580 --> 00:17:19.759
 he was trusted.

00:17:21.060 --> 00:17:22.759
 Tychicus was one of these people

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.700
 who Paul knew

00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:24.920
 he could send anywhere

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:27.420
 and he would do a good job.

00:17:28.300 --> 00:17:29.100
 He was someone

00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:30.360
 who Paul could trust

00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:33.600
 absolutely to go for him.

00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.620
 I've sometimes thought

00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:36.700
 slightly unflatteringly

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.279
 of Tychicus

00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.420
 as Paul's postman

00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:39.240
 and he was that

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:39.900
 to some extent.

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:41.140
 He took a letter

00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:41.900
 to Colossae.

00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:42.900
 He probably took a letter

00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:44.140
 to Ephesians as well.

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.400
 He was someone

00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.640
 who Paul was happy

00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:48.220
 to send with his letters

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:49.880
 and to trust them to him.

00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:52.539
 But he didn't just trust him

00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.960
 with the letters.

00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:54.960
 And that's where

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.880
 the verse in Colossians

00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:56.559
 comes in.

00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.920
 As Paul says,

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.460
 this man I'm sending to you,

00:17:59.660 --> 00:18:00.559
 he'll tell you the news.

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.519
 He's a dear brother,

00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:03.140
 a faithful minister,

00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:04.880
 and a fellow servant

00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:06.160
 in the Lord.

00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:08.620
 And it wasn't always

00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:09.780
 easy errands

00:18:09.780 --> 00:18:11.640
 that Paul sent Tychicus on.

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.940
 When Paul sent Tychicus

00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:14.840
 to Colossae,

00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:15.900
 he had actually

00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:17.420
 quite a difficult job.

00:18:18.060 --> 00:18:19.220
 Because along with Tychicus,

00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.140
 Paul was sending

00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:21.800
 a man called Onesimus.

00:18:22.360 --> 00:18:22.820
 Onesimus,

00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.540
 I'm sure you know,

00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:24.220
 was the slave

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:24.759
 who'd run away

00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.620
 from his master,

00:18:26.040 --> 00:18:26.480
 who had become

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.440
 a Christian in Rome,

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:29.259
 and Paul was sending him

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:31.400
 back to Philemon,

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.460
 his master,

00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:34.039
 who was in Colossae.

00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:36.160
 And you can imagine

00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:37.080
 that might create

00:18:37.080 --> 00:18:38.440
 two potential issues.

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:40.160
 One for Tychicus

00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:41.600
 as he went back

00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:42.660
 to his master.

00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:44.360
 Tychicus knew

00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:46.279
 that in normal circumstances,

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:48.240
 the best he could expect

00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:49.220
 was to be branded

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:51.200
 as someone who'd run away

00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.500
 from his master.

00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.279
 The worst he could expect

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:55.580
 was that he might be executed

00:18:55.580 --> 00:18:56.920
 because he is a slave

00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.980
 who had run away.

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.240
 And you can imagine

00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:00.940
 what kind of nervous state

00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:03.039
 Onesimus might have been in

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.340
 as he went back

00:19:04.340 --> 00:19:05.460
 to Colossae.

00:19:06.080 --> 00:19:07.279
 And Paul sent with him

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:07.820
 Tychicus,

00:19:08.320 --> 00:19:08.860
 who was someone

00:19:08.860 --> 00:19:09.660
 who was trusted,

00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.480
 who was reliable,

00:19:10.600 --> 00:19:11.300
 who was encouraging,

00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:13.420
 who was able to reassure him

00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:14.539
 as he went on the journey

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:16.420
 that he was in God's hand

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.480
 and that everything

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:19.320
 would work out well.

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:20.860
 And then when they got

00:19:20.860 --> 00:19:21.560
 to Colossae,

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.240
 there was Philemon

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:25.400
 to be dealt with.

00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:26.400
 And Philemon,

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.500
 his initial reaction

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.120
 might have been

00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:29.120
 as he saw his runaway

00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:30.200
 slave coming back,

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.360
 that this was a man

00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:33.220
 who deserved real punishment.

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.720
 And of course,

00:19:34.820 --> 00:19:35.920
 Paul's letter to Philemon

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.940
 is very much a plea

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.680
 to Philemon

00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:39.180
 to forgive Onesimus,

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:40.200
 to accept him back

00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:40.740
 as a brother

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.640
 in the Lord Jesus,

00:19:42.040 --> 00:19:42.680
 rather than just

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.420
 to think of him

00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:44.160
 as a slave

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.200
 who'd returned.

00:19:46.040 --> 00:19:46.620
 But I'm sure,

00:19:46.780 --> 00:19:47.860
 along with the letter,

00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:49.180
 that the testimony

00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:49.860
 of Tychicus

00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:50.360
 would have been

00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:51.240
 very important

00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:52.100
 to Philemon.

00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:53.980
 What Paul could only

00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:55.079
 commit to the page

00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:55.660
 and he does it

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.660
 very movingly,

00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:57.960
 but his only words

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:59.000
 are on paper.

00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:00.880
 Tychicus in person

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.980
 would be able

00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:03.299
 to pass on

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.799
 to Philemon.

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.660
 And Paul trusted him

00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:07.759
 to do that.

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.980
 He was a man

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:10.220
 who was trustworthy,

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.700
 he was a faithful minister,

00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.940
 he was a fellow servant

00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:15.299
 in the Lord.

00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.299
 And he was

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.420
 encouraging.

00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:21.560
 He was one of these

00:20:21.560 --> 00:20:22.960
 people who you

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.900
 could rely on

00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:25.200
 when you talk to them

00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:26.360
 that you go away

00:20:26.360 --> 00:20:27.080
 feeling better

00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:28.240
 than when you met them

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.400
 because they would

00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:30.960
 really encourage you

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.640
 in your faith.

00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.100
 Paul,

00:20:34.300 --> 00:20:35.100
 in writing to

00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:36.039
 the Ephesians,

00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.539
 says very specifically

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.620
 he'd send Tychicus

00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:39.440
 on this errand

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.279
 to take the letter

00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:40.860
 to them

00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:42.019
 so that he could

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:43.080
 give them the news

00:20:43.080 --> 00:20:43.980
 about Paul

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:45.259
 and so that they

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.019
 could be

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:47.180
 encouraged.

00:20:48.320 --> 00:20:48.800
 And so Tychicus

00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:50.019
 was the kind of person

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:51.680
 who could go to a church

00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.759
 and could stand up

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.539
 in front of them

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.440
 and tell them

00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.279
 about the wonderful

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.259
 things that the Lord

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:56.899
 was doing

00:20:56.899 --> 00:20:57.960
 and how he was

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.919
 blessing Paul

00:20:58.919 --> 00:21:00.019
 and the work

00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:00.779
 that he was

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.980
 engaged in.

00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:03.379
 He wasn't the kind

00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:03.799
 of person

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.240
 who left you

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.119
 feeling depressed

00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:06.440
 or wishing you'd

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.539
 never spoken to them.

00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:08.579
 He was the kind

00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.039
 of person

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.659
 who went away

00:21:09.659 --> 00:21:10.919
 feeling really encouraged

00:21:10.919 --> 00:21:12.079
 and rejoicing

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.240
 in the kind of work

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.180
 that God

00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.240
 was doing.

00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.759
 What a great

00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.559
 team player.

00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.220
 Someone who's

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:18.779
 reliable,

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:19.980
 you know if they

00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.779
 take something on

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.539
 they'll do it

00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:22.220
 and they'll do it

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:22.600
 well.

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:23.680
 Someone who could

00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.180
 be absolutely

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:24.900
 trusted,

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.579
 trusted to do

00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.079
 the difficult

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.319
 things as well

00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:27.880
 as the easy

00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.400
 things.

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.620
 Someone who is

00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:31.319
 really encouraging.

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.779
 Let's us try

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:34.220
 to be like that

00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.279
 as well.

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.819
 Now we will

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.380
 move on to

00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:38.339
 verse 13.

00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:40.240
 And verse 13

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:41.579
 I've said

00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.440
 Christian service

00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:43.500
 is cooperative.

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.100
 This is nothing

00:21:44.100 --> 00:21:44.539
 about getting

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:45.200
 your groceries.

00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.620
 Cooperative means

00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:47.339
 that we cooperate

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.919
 with one another.

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.739
 We're collaborative

00:21:49.739 --> 00:21:51.799
 and we're cooperative.

00:21:51.939 --> 00:21:52.239
 Now you might

00:21:52.239 --> 00:21:52.739
 look at that

00:21:52.739 --> 00:21:53.000
 and say

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.859
 what's the difference?

00:21:54.479 --> 00:21:54.959
 And if you look

00:21:54.959 --> 00:21:56.239
 in a thesaurus

00:21:56.239 --> 00:21:56.819
 you'll probably

00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.419
 find the two

00:21:57.419 --> 00:21:58.399
 listed as synonyms

00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:59.459
 of one another.

00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:00.179
 But I think

00:22:00.179 --> 00:22:00.739
 they're not

00:22:00.739 --> 00:22:01.879
 quite the same.

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.199
 Collaborative

00:22:03.199 --> 00:22:03.919
 is about us

00:22:03.919 --> 00:22:05.139
 working as a team.

00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:06.679
 Cooperative

00:22:06.679 --> 00:22:07.359
 is about us

00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.179
 working with people

00:22:08.179 --> 00:22:08.919
 who are outside

00:22:08.919 --> 00:22:09.519
 our team

00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.559
 but who nevertheless

00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.519
 share the same

00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:13.079
 goals as us.

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:14.539
 I came across

00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.240
 this on the internet

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.619
 I'm not sure

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.519
 why you can read it.

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.519
 I've cut it down

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.639
 quite a little bit

00:22:18.639 --> 00:22:19.299
 but I thought

00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:19.859
 it illustrated

00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.419
 quite well

00:22:20.419 --> 00:22:21.240
 to me the difference.

00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:22.220
 The picture at the top

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.039
 probably does it.

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.099
 If you're cooperating

00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:24.639
 you've got kind of

00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.500
 one line going

00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.819
 into the various places.

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.099
 If you're collaborating

00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:28.720
 you've got this

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.460
 kind of network

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.240
 this matrix

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.919
 of different things.

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:32.980
 Second bullet

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.659
 also I find

00:22:33.659 --> 00:22:34.399
 quite interesting

00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:35.359
 perhaps with my

00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.220
 business background

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.319
 if you're

00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:38.139
 cooperating

00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:39.119
 you have shared

00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:39.740
 goals.

00:22:40.399 --> 00:22:40.919
 If you're

00:22:40.919 --> 00:22:41.579
 collaborating

00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:43.199
 it's very important

00:22:43.199 --> 00:22:43.859
 that you have

00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:44.779
 shared vision

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:46.339
 and values.

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.000
 You're not just

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.779
 aiming to achieve

00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.679
 the same end

00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:49.919
 you're happy

00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:50.480
 to do it

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:50.980
 in the same

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.759
 kind of way

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.919
 sharing the same

00:22:52.919 --> 00:22:54.019
 vision and

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:55.500
 values as you

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:55.819
 go.

00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.559
 So what's the

00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.199
 relevance here?

00:22:59.179 --> 00:23:00.079
 Well in verse 13

00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:01.359
 I think we have

00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.059
 two men who

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:02.980
 were not part

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.599
 of team

00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.359
 Paul.

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.619
 The best guess

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.599
 about the situation

00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:09.220
 here is that

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.099
 Paul had a letter

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.259
 he wanted to send

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.960
 to Titus

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.200
 in Crete

00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.480
 and he grabbed

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:15.940
 hold of a

00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.879
 passing evangelist

00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.599
 Apollos and

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:17.879
 Zenos

00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:18.879
 and said

00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:19.519
 could you take

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.039
 this letter

00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:20.599
 to Crete

00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.339
 as you go

00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:22.279
 on your journey

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.759
 they were going

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.680
 there anyway.

00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.339
 So probably

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:24.980
 they were

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:26.019
 the bearers

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.640
 of the letter

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.619
 from Paul

00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.879
 to Titus.

00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:31.000
 But as I said

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.640
 they weren't

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.500
 part of

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.379
 directly part

00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.000
 of Paul's

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.299
 team.

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.480
 Now Zenos

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.019
 we know

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.599
 nothing about

00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.140
 from the Bible

00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:37.759
 apart from the

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.259
 fact that he

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.940
 was a lawyer

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.940
 and not that

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.539
 many lawyers

00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:41.140
 mentioned in the

00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:41.700
 Bible but

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.340
 Zenos was one

00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:42.700
 of them.

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:45.420
 There's a legend

00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:46.460
 or a Christian

00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:47.240
 myth that he

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.799
 was passed

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.240
 one of the

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:48.900
 70 or the

00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:49.980
 72 or the

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.940
 outer circle

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.960
 of the Lord's

00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.420
 disciples.

00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.220
 No script for

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.960
 evidence of that

00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.860
 may or may not

00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:55.400
 be right.

00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:56.620
 There's also

00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:57.140
 something in

00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:57.660
 church history

00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.200
 said he might

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.059
 subsequently become

00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.500
 a bishop in

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.279
 the kind of area

00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:02.080
 we're talking

00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:02.640
 about here.

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.380
 But essentially

00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:04.519
 from a Bible

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.779
 viewpoint we know

00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.640
 nothing about him

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.259
 apart from that

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.900
 he was a lawyer

00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:08.680
 and that he

00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.200
 was travelling

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:10.540
 with Apollos.

00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:11.920
 Apollos of

00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.500
 course we know

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:12.980
 a bit more

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.360
 about.

00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:16.220
 Apollos was

00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.580
 the man who

00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:18.740
 was working

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.940
 in Ephesus

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:21.259
 and Aquila

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.720
 and Priscilla

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.500
 he wasn't

00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.520
 preaching the

00:24:23.520 --> 00:24:24.920
 true message

00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:25.340
 of the Lord

00:24:25.340 --> 00:24:25.560
 Jesus.

00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.080
 He had some

00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:26.700
 understanding

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:26.920
 of the

00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:27.200
 powerful

00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:27.400
 preacher

00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:27.759
 some

00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.220
 understanding

00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:28.440
 of the

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:28.820
 gospel

00:24:28.820 --> 00:24:29.740
 not a full

00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.400
 understanding

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:31.480
 and Aquila

00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:31.980
 and Priscilla

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.440
 took him

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.820
 in and they

00:24:33.820 --> 00:24:34.360
 taught him

00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.420
 more carefully

00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:35.880
 and more

00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.540
 soundly

00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:37.299
 God's

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:37.720
 words.

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:38.720
 He also

00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.180
 went to

00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.639
 Corinth

00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:40.619
 and while

00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:40.879
 he was

00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:41.359
 in Corinth

00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:41.680
 there were

00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.000
 a number

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.339
 of people

00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:42.839
 who particularly

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.259
 aligned

00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:43.700
 themselves

00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.559
 with Apollos

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.519
 so in the

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.079
 beginning of

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.740
 1 Corinthians

00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.659
 Paul can talk

00:24:47.659 --> 00:24:48.180
 about those

00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.519
 who say

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.259
 we're of

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.759
 Apollos

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.159
 we're of

00:24:50.159 --> 00:24:50.480
 Paul

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.039
 we're of

00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.379
 Cephas

00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:51.799
 we're of

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.259
 Christ

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.480
 and Apollos

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.099
 clearly made

00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.779
 quite a big

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.859
 impression in

00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:56.119
 Corinth

00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:56.960
 he was a

00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.759
 very fine

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.519
 preacher.

00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.259
 But Paul

00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:00.960
 didn't see

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:01.379
 him as

00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.279
 a rival

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.519
 even though

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:03.960
 the Corinthians

00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.659
 might have

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.720
 he saw

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.180
 them as

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.860
 someone who

00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:07.480
 should be

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.360
 encouraged

00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:09.420
 and someone

00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.140
 that the

00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:10.759
 Christians in

00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.460
 team Paul

00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.920
 should cooperate

00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.299
 with.

00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:13.880
 So he says

00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:14.420
 do everything

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.079
 you can

00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.839
 to help

00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.440
 Zenos the

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:16.799
 lawyer

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:18.019
 and Apollos

00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:18.400
 on their

00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:18.759
 way

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.860
 and see

00:25:19.860 --> 00:25:20.339
 that they

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:20.759
 have

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.519
 everything

00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.779
 they need.

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:23.539
 So probably

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.079
 a situation

00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:24.799
 as I said

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.140
 Apollos and

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:27.339
 Zenos are

00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:27.759
 going

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:29.100
 possibly from

00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:29.579
 Greece to

00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.339
 Asia Minor

00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.380
 somewhere like

00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:31.980
 Ephesus or

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.400
 Colossae

00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:33.000
 perhaps on the

00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.579
 way there

00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:34.119
 they're

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.420
 stopping

00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:34.880
 up in

00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.119
 Crete

00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:35.440
 on the

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:35.740
 way

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:37.220
 and as

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:37.460
 they're

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:37.640
 there

00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.059
 they deliver

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.519
 Paul's

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:38.839
 letter

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.740
 and Paul

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.240
 says to

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.759
 Titus

00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.680
 make sure

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:41.960
 they're

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.640
 well looked

00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.099
 after.

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.279
 Offer them

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:45.079
 the hospitality

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.660
 that you

00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.059
 would like

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.740
 to receive

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.359
 if you

00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:47.660
 are in a

00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:47.859
 similar

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.559
 situation

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.660
 make sure

00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.099
 they've got

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.559
 enough

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.420
 for their

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:51.819
 journey

00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.279
 both in

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:52.660
 food and

00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:53.519
 perhaps also

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.839
 in money.

00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.299
 These are

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:57.240
 not our

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.619
 team

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.680
 but they're

00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.160
 people who

00:25:59.160 --> 00:25:59.579
 are doing

00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.460
 God's work

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.120
 they're

00:26:01.120 --> 00:26:01.860
 people who

00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:02.500
 we want

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.259
 to identify

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.360
 with and

00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.200
 to encourage

00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:06.180
 in their

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.980
 Christian

00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:08.100
 service.

00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:09.559
 Now I think

00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:09.940
 that's very

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.519
 relevant to

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.460
 us as

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:11.759
 well.

00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.039
 We have

00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.799
 our team

00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.220
 whether you

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.519
 think of

00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:14.840
 the team

00:26:14.840 --> 00:26:15.140
 as the

00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.819
 church here

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.940
 or as a

00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:17.220
 particular

00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:17.779
 group within

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.200
 the church

00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.980
 working together

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:19.840
 or indeed

00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:20.299
 a team of

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:20.620
 Christians

00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:21.180
 you're involved

00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:21.519
 with in

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.220
 some service

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:22.740
 outside

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.380
 Brunsfield

00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.240
 and that

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.000
 is the

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.380
 team.

00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:26.600
 But there

00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:27.120
 are lots

00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:27.559
 of other

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.100
 Christian

00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:29.319
 workers both

00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:29.660
 in the

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.039
 city

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:31.180
 and further

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:31.759
 afield

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.639
 who have

00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:33.139
 the common

00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:33.799
 goal with

00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:34.559
 us that

00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:34.960
 they want

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.359
 to see

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:36.119
 many people

00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:36.579
 coming to

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.099
 trust the

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.599
 Lord Jesus

00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.099
 they want

00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:38.599
 to live

00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:39.359
 in a way

00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:39.619
 that's

00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:40.180
 honouring

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:41.099
 to him

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.259
 and we

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.859
 should work

00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:43.319
 in a way

00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:43.819
 that is

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.579
 cooperative

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:46.000
 with them.

00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.119
 We may

00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:47.659
 not agree

00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:48.359
 with all

00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:48.720
 that they

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.279
 believe in

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.000
 the secondary

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:51.180
 things of

00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:51.659
 doctrine.

00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.720
 They may

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.139
 not do

00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:53.599
 things the

00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.059
 way that we

00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:54.559
 think we

00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:54.920
 would do

00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.619
 them if

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:55.940
 we were

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.379
 in their

00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.319
 situation.

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:58.440
 It

00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.000
 doesn't

00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.559
 matter.

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.220
 As long

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:01.599
 as they're

00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:03.279
 working to

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.920
 serve the

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.420
 Lord and

00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:05.099
 to glorify

00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.559
 him and

00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:05.839
 they're not

00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.759
 too way out

00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.159
 in the way

00:27:07.159 --> 00:27:07.480
 that they

00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.019
 do it,

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:08.879
 they're our

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.500
 fellow brothers

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.059
 and sisters

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.779
 in Christ.

00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:11.539
 We want

00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.159
 to support,

00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.019
 we want

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.639
 to encourage

00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:14.000
 them,

00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:14.859
 we want

00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:15.980
 to cooperate

00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:17.319
 with them.

00:27:18.379 --> 00:27:19.099
 One great

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.799
 example which

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.440
 we have in

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:20.940
 this church

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.220
 is the

00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:21.720
 Basics Bank.

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.460
 Now Basics Bank

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.059
 is a

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.659
 collaboration,

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.079
 so we have

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.420
 to have

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:24.819
 collaboration,

00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:25.319
 a collaboration

00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:26.659
 between this

00:27:26.659 --> 00:27:27.819
 church and

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.480
 Edinburgh City

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:28.819
 Mission.

00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:30.240
 but there

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.599
 are other

00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:30.960
 churches

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.619
 round about,

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.319
 most notably

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.059
 Kings and

00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:34.099
 Barclay Viewforth,

00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:34.639
 who are

00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:35.079
 tremendous

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:36.679
 supporters of

00:27:36.679 --> 00:27:37.599
 Basics Bank.

00:27:37.679 --> 00:27:38.139
 They provide

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:39.039
 vast amounts

00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.619
 of food to

00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.539
 us every

00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.000
 month.

00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.099
 And they

00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:42.720
 clearly see

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.240
 this as

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.619
 being a

00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:44.480
 gospel work,

00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.419
 as being a

00:27:45.419 --> 00:27:45.899
 work among

00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.579
 the needy,

00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.720
 among those

00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.460
 who are in

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.259
 desperate physical

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.779
 need as well,

00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.819
 and they want

00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:52.619
 to support it,

00:27:52.679 --> 00:27:53.179
 they want to be

00:27:53.179 --> 00:27:54.179
 associated with

00:27:54.179 --> 00:27:55.079
 it, they want

00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:56.059
 to cooperate with

00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:57.240
 us in it.

00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:58.279
 But they

00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:58.980
 don't come to

00:27:58.980 --> 00:27:59.559
 us and say,

00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.259
 well how do

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.940
 you do this?

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:01.940
 What do you say

00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.639
 to people when

00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.279
 they come in?

00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:04.319
 What are you

00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.619
 trying to achieve

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.279
 through the

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:06.599
 work?

00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:07.779
 They know that

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.500
 the work is to

00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.259
 provide for those

00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:10.619
 in need, and

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.200
 as opportunity

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:11.960
 arises to

00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:12.519
 witness to

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.240
 them about

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:13.659
 the Lord

00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:15.019
 Jesus, and

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.659
 they are happy

00:28:15.659 --> 00:28:16.299
 to leave it

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.220
 to us to

00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:18.379
 do that as

00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:18.940
 the Lord

00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:19.659
 leads.

00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.200
 It may be

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:20.720
 different from

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.359
 the way they

00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:21.899
 would do it,

00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.559
 but they see it

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.279
 as God's work,

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.019
 and they're

00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.740
 happy that it's

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.579
 done in the

00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.160
 way that the

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.460
 Lord leads us

00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.359
 in it.

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:29.960
 And for us

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.799
 too, there are

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.579
 situations, I'm

00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.180
 sure, where we

00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:32.940
 could look at it

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.779
 in a similar

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.180
 way.

00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:35.680
 The mission

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.700
 works that we

00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:38.299
 support, missionaries

00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:40.220
 overseas, working in

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.299
 South America or in

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.759
 Africa, training

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.339
 people in

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:45.160
 discipleship, local

00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:46.079
 works among

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:46.960
 students or in the

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:48.000
 Ferrywell project,

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:49.559
 not directly works

00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:50.420
 of this church,

00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.680
 perhaps not always

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.360
 done the way

00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:53.980
 that we would

00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:55.340
 do it if it

00:28:55.340 --> 00:28:56.240
 was our choice,

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.660
 but works for

00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.460
 the Lord Jesus,

00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:00.060
 seeking to glorify

00:29:00.060 --> 00:29:01.279
 his name and to

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.039
 bring others to

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:03.799
 faith in him, and

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.920
 we support them, we

00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.799
 cooperate with

00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.920
 them, and we

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.759
 rejoice in the

00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:09.180
 fact that God is

00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.680
 working through

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.000
 them.

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:12.840
 And we don't

00:29:12.840 --> 00:29:13.740
 want as a church

00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.779
 to become too

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:16.759
 insular, to think

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.680
 we do our work

00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.720
 here, we are God's

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.600
 people in Bransfield,

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:21.120
 and we are, and

00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:22.200
 it's our job to

00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.080
 work, to

00:29:23.080 --> 00:29:23.840
 fellowship, to

00:29:23.840 --> 00:29:24.480
 worship, to

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.200
 witness as a

00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:25.720
 church, it is

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.720
 very much that,

00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.900
 but we mustn't

00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.740
 think it is all

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.600
 about us and

00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:30.360
 what we do.

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.539
 It is very

00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.420
 important that we

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:32.900
 have fellowship

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.580
 with our Christian

00:29:33.580 --> 00:29:34.080
 brothers and

00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:35.720
 sisters in other

00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.799
 gospel churches

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.620
 around Edinburgh,

00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:39.259
 and that we also

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.380
 are associated

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.620
 with God's wider

00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:43.480
 work around the

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:43.900
 world.

00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:44.860
 And in some

00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:45.380
 ways that might

00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:46.759
 be financial, it

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.440
 will certainly be

00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.980
 in prayer, sometimes

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.960
 perhaps also it

00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:51.299
 will be practical.

00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:52.840
 But let's be

00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:53.880
 aware of the

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.660
 great work that's

00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.279
 being done that

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.120
 is not directly

00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:56.880
 part of this

00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:58.299
 church here, and

00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:59.000
 let's cooperate

00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.200
 with it, let's

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:01.200
 support our

00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:01.960
 Christian brothers

00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:03.340
 and sisters in

00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:03.960
 the work they're

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:05.100
 doing for the

00:30:05.100 --> 00:30:05.680
 Lord Jesus.

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.019
 And finally,

00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:09.840
 verse 14.

00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:11.640
 I've described

00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:12.460
 this as

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.259
 collective.

00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:14.000
 So Paul writes,

00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:14.759
 our people must

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.519
 learn to devote

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.120
 themselves to

00:30:16.120 --> 00:30:16.680
 doing what is

00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:18.160
 good in order to

00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:19.140
 provide for urgent

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:20.620
 needs and not

00:30:20.620 --> 00:30:22.140
 live unproductive

00:30:22.140 --> 00:30:23.280
 lives.

00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.759
 So the message

00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.440
 I take from

00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.800
 this is that

00:30:26.800 --> 00:30:27.900
 every Christian

00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:28.940
 has a part to

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:30.380
 play in God's

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:30.980
 work.

00:30:31.340 --> 00:30:32.220
 We're in it

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.100
 together.

00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.780
 It's a collective

00:30:34.780 --> 00:30:36.460
 vision and task

00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.259
 that we have.

00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.759
 It's not just a

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.000
 task for the

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.340
 few.

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.480
 One of the things

00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:43.300
 that slightly

00:30:43.300 --> 00:30:44.100
 concerns me as I

00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:44.640
 look forward to

00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.600
 the summer when I'm

00:30:45.600 --> 00:30:46.720
 taking up a role

00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.200
 in the church

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:48.660
 here is that as

00:30:48.660 --> 00:30:49.620
 we take on more

00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:50.360
 staff members

00:30:50.360 --> 00:30:51.319
 within the church

00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:52.299
 there's a danger

00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:53.000
 that other people

00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:54.079
 feel squeezed out

00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:55.259
 and not able to

00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:56.380
 exercise the gifts

00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.700
 that God has

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.240
 given them.

00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.480
 That's absolutely

00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.259
 not where we want

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.440
 to be.

00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:00.900
 It's not where I

00:31:00.900 --> 00:31:01.279
 want to be.

00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:01.640
 It's not where

00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:02.279
 Graham wants to

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:02.380
 be.

00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:02.740
 It's not where

00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.680
 the elders and

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.440
 other leaders of

00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.480
 the church want

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:05.920
 to be.

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.240
 We want to be

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.880
 those who are

00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:08.860
 able to encourage

00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:09.519
 all of you,

00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:10.039
 all of the

00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:11.640
 congregation in

00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:12.480
 your service for

00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.559
 the Lord to be

00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.799
 actively involved

00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:15.819
 in the church

00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:16.759
 here to be

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.339
 using your

00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.419
 gifts in the

00:31:18.419 --> 00:31:19.619
 way that God

00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:20.740
 has given

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.919
 them to you.

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.379
 We are all

00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:25.200
 in it together.

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.899
 John Stott in

00:31:27.899 --> 00:31:28.259
 one of his

00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.379
 books tells

00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:30.179
 about how

00:31:30.179 --> 00:31:31.419
 sometimes someone

00:31:31.419 --> 00:31:32.099
 would go up to

00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:32.659
 him and say

00:31:32.659 --> 00:31:33.679
 I've been called

00:31:33.679 --> 00:31:34.439
 to go into the

00:31:34.439 --> 00:31:34.819
 ministry.

00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:35.939
 And he would

00:31:35.939 --> 00:31:36.359
 say to them

00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:36.599
 well that's

00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.099
 really interesting

00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:38.119
 what ministry

00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:38.759
 do you mean?

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.359
 And they say

00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.159
 well the pastoral

00:31:40.159 --> 00:31:40.579
 ministry.

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.379
 He said well

00:31:41.379 --> 00:31:41.859
 why didn't you

00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:42.339
 say that to

00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:42.919
 begin with?

00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:43.819
 Because John

00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.299
 Stott was making

00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:45.379
 the point every

00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:46.260
 Christian is

00:31:46.260 --> 00:31:47.020
 involved in

00:31:47.020 --> 00:31:47.460
 ministry.

00:31:47.580 --> 00:31:48.060
 We're not all

00:31:48.060 --> 00:31:49.200
 pastors but

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:49.720
 we're all

00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.400
 ministers.

00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.620
 We're all

00:31:51.620 --> 00:31:52.300
 those who are

00:31:52.300 --> 00:31:52.900
 called to

00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:53.460
 serve the

00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.060
 Lord Jesus

00:31:54.060 --> 00:31:55.440
 and to live

00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:56.620
 and to work

00:31:56.620 --> 00:31:57.620
 for him.

00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:58.860
 And if we're

00:31:58.860 --> 00:31:59.740
 not doing that

00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:01.000
 work then we're

00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.340
 not serving God

00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:03.600
 as we should.

00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:04.620
 And so in

00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:06.020
 verse 14 Paul

00:32:06.020 --> 00:32:07.620
 tells Titus that

00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:08.380
 he has to make

00:32:08.380 --> 00:32:09.760
 sure that the

00:32:09.760 --> 00:32:10.620
 Christians in

00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:11.960
 Crete that they

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.720
 devote themselves

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.940
 to doing what

00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:15.300
 is good to

00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:15.960
 provide for

00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.879
 urgent needs

00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:17.539
 actually the

00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:18.940
 technical or

00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:19.940
 literal translation

00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.759
 would be necessary

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.440
 needs urgent

00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.180
 needs is probably

00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:22.539
 the right

00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:23.759
 translation and

00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.440
 not to live

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:25.500
 unproductive

00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.599
 lives.

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.379
 Now you may

00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:27.899
 remember back

00:32:27.899 --> 00:32:28.740
 in chapter 1

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.960
 Paul described

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:31.200
 the Cretans as

00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.339
 fat and lazy

00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:33.399
 I'm paraphrasing

00:32:33.399 --> 00:32:34.059
 slightly but not

00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.639
 very much.

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:36.559
 So he's now

00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.399
 saying well to

00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:38.319
 Titus well as a

00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.519
 reminder make

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.759
 sure that these

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.980
 people are involved

00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:44.240
 in service for

00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:45.000
 the Lord Jesus

00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.360
 perhaps in the

00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:47.160
 immediate context

00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:47.900
 in providing for

00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:49.299
 Apollos and

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:50.240
 Zenos but I

00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.160
 think more widely

00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:52.420
 as well.

00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:54.319
 Because he says

00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:55.819
 if we're not

00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:57.339
 involved in doing

00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:58.380
 Christian service

00:32:58.380 --> 00:32:59.799
 if we're not

00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.740
 meeting the needs

00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:01.720
 that God puts in

00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.500
 front of us that

00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.500
 we're able to

00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:05.059
 help with we're

00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:06.360
 living unproductive

00:33:06.360 --> 00:33:07.019
 or perhaps by a

00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:08.519
 translation unfruitful

00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:09.519
 lives.

00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:11.099
 We are wasting

00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:12.039
 our lives if we're

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:13.519
 not living them in

00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.859
 the service of the

00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:15.460
 Lord Jesus.

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.319
 If God has given

00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:18.579
 us a gift something

00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:19.740
 we're able to do

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.720
 and we're not

00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.859
 exercising it to

00:33:21.859 --> 00:33:23.220
 his glory then

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.639
 we're being

00:33:23.639 --> 00:33:25.099
 unfruitful we're

00:33:25.099 --> 00:33:26.099
 being unproductive

00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:27.420
 we're not living

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.519
 our Christian lives

00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:29.500
 to the full.

00:33:30.139 --> 00:33:30.940
 All of us are

00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:31.879
 called to Christian

00:33:31.879 --> 00:33:33.559
 ministry all of us

00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:34.599
 are called to serve

00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:35.400
 the Lord Jesus

00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:37.420
 and to do the

00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:38.059
 things that he

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:39.180
 would want us to

00:33:39.180 --> 00:33:40.360
 do and which he

00:33:40.360 --> 00:33:41.340
 has gifted us to

00:33:41.340 --> 00:33:42.600
 do through his

00:33:42.600 --> 00:33:44.000
 Holy Spirit.

00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:45.840
 We are called

00:33:45.840 --> 00:33:47.759
 to do good.

00:33:49.080 --> 00:33:49.680
 And doing good

00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:50.620
 is probably a good

00:33:50.620 --> 00:33:51.340
 summary as we come

00:33:51.340 --> 00:33:52.500
 to the end of the

00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:53.799
 book of Titus.

00:33:53.860 --> 00:33:54.480
 Now you'll gather

00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:55.160
 I didn't make this

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.519
 up myself but I

00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:57.299
 find it quite useful

00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.039
 when I find it

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:59.200
 on the internet.

00:34:00.100 --> 00:34:01.180
 What does Paul

00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:03.019
 say in Titus?

00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.220
 Well he talks

00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:04.980
 about a number

00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.680
 of things.

00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:06.560
 He talks about

00:34:06.560 --> 00:34:07.580
 appointing leaders.

00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:08.559
 What is the

00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.579
 character of those

00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.340
 who are in charge

00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.000
 of the church

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.940
 who are pastors

00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:12.779
 of the flock

00:34:12.779 --> 00:34:14.019
 and they're very

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.980
 practical and down

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.739
 to earth things

00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:16.380
 about Christian

00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:16.940
 character.

00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:19.099
 What is Paul to

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:20.099
 teach the Cretans?

00:34:20.259 --> 00:34:20.779
 Well it is that

00:34:20.779 --> 00:34:21.779
 they should observe

00:34:21.779 --> 00:34:22.779
 sound doctrine and

00:34:22.779 --> 00:34:23.579
 sound doctrine will

00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.079
 lead to good

00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:24.699
 practice.

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.259
 And what is he to

00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:27.139
 remind them of?

00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.019
 He's to remind

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.799
 them of the grace

00:34:28.799 --> 00:34:29.779
 of the Lord Jesus

00:34:29.779 --> 00:34:31.799
 and the fact that

00:34:31.799 --> 00:34:32.340
 they have to live

00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:33.360
 good character not

00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:34.219
 just in the church

00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:35.400
 but in the world

00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.400
 as well.

00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.559
 So we are to

00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:38.519
 become godly

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:40.000
 people and what

00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.700
 is the result of

00:34:40.700 --> 00:34:41.519
 becoming godly

00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:41.920
 people?

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:43.460
 It is that we

00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:44.619
 do, we are full

00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:46.119
 of good works.

00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:46.980
 The order is

00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:47.460
 important.

00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:49.099
 We become godly,

00:34:49.160 --> 00:34:49.780
 we put our faith

00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:50.619
 in the Lord Jesus,

00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.039
 he through his

00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:53.280
 spirit sanctifies us

00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:54.000
 and makes us more

00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:55.360
 like him and then

00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:56.460
 we're able to do

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:57.220
 good works.

00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:57.980
 We don't start by

00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:58.619
 trying to do good

00:34:58.619 --> 00:34:59.220
 works and work

00:34:59.220 --> 00:34:59.599
 backwards.

00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:00.660
 We start with

00:35:00.660 --> 00:35:01.380
 faith in the Lord

00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:03.059
 Jesus and the

00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:04.099
 inevitable consequence

00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:04.860
 of faith in the

00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:05.980
 Lord Jesus and

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:07.539
 sound doctrine and

00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.320
 being committed to

00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:09.700
 the Lord is that

00:35:09.700 --> 00:35:12.079
 we do good works.

00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:14.140
 Good works in the

00:35:14.140 --> 00:35:15.059
 way that we live.

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.240
 Mike a few weeks

00:35:16.240 --> 00:35:17.059
 ago pointed out how

00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:18.000
 often self-control

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:19.579
 for example is

00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.400
 mentioned in chapter

00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:22.360
 two and in the way

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.280
 we act and interact

00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:23.920
 with others.

00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:25.680
 Good works too in

00:35:25.680 --> 00:35:27.079
 reaching out and in

00:35:27.079 --> 00:35:28.380
 serving and in

00:35:28.380 --> 00:35:29.920
 living for the

00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:30.539
 Lord Jesus.

00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.220
 I think if we take

00:35:32.220 --> 00:35:33.200
 one thing away from

00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:34.619
 Titus let it be

00:35:34.619 --> 00:35:35.000
 this.

00:35:35.879 --> 00:35:37.319
 We need sound

00:35:37.319 --> 00:35:39.000
 doctrine otherwise

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:40.859
 our faith is empty.

00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.639
 But sound doctrine

00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:43.939
 by itself is not

00:35:43.939 --> 00:35:44.480
 enough.

00:35:44.919 --> 00:35:45.980
 That sound doctrine

00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:47.359
 should lead us to do

00:35:47.359 --> 00:35:48.219
 good works.

00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:49.899
 To lead good lives

00:35:49.899 --> 00:35:51.279
 and to be active in

00:35:51.279 --> 00:35:52.199
 serving others

00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:53.659
 out of love for

00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:54.939
 them and out of

00:35:54.939 --> 00:35:56.500
 love for the

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.099
 Lord Jesus.

00:35:58.159 --> 00:35:59.119
 And if we do that

00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:00.159
 we will be fully

00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:01.199
 guarded against being

00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:02.519
 unproductive or

00:36:02.519 --> 00:36:03.819
 unfruitful or

00:36:03.819 --> 00:36:04.559
 falling into some

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.339
 of the trap which

00:36:05.339 --> 00:36:06.699
 appeared that some

00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:07.739
 in Crete had

00:36:07.739 --> 00:36:09.039
 fallen into.

00:36:09.819 --> 00:36:10.799
 Let's be those who

00:36:10.799 --> 00:36:12.299
 know and love the

00:36:12.299 --> 00:36:13.759
 Lord and as we do

00:36:13.759 --> 00:36:14.539
 that let that be

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.919
 evident in our

00:36:15.919 --> 00:36:17.480
 lives with others.

00:36:18.539 --> 00:36:19.500
 Then verse 15

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:20.439
 the customary

00:36:20.439 --> 00:36:21.199
 greeting that Paul

00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:21.639
 sends.

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:22.819
 Greetings from those

00:36:22.819 --> 00:36:23.519
 who are with him

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.819
 to those whom he

00:36:24.819 --> 00:36:25.679
 is writing to

00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:28.539
 and greetings

00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.960
 particularly to

00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:31.659
 those who love

00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:32.619
 him and are

00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:33.359
 associated with

00:36:33.359 --> 00:36:34.279
 him in the

00:36:34.279 --> 00:36:34.659
 faith.

00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:35.659
 And that great

00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:36.379
 word at the end

00:36:36.379 --> 00:36:37.779
 grace be with

00:36:37.779 --> 00:36:38.139
 you all.

00:36:38.199 --> 00:36:39.500
 God's grace which

00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:40.339
 is the greatest

00:36:40.339 --> 00:36:41.299
 thing that we have

00:36:41.299 --> 00:36:42.279
 the grace of God

00:36:42.279 --> 00:36:43.539
 to us that we

00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.819
 need continually to

00:36:44.819 --> 00:36:46.039
 be refreshed and

00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:47.559
 reminded of in our

00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:48.719
 lives for the

00:36:48.719 --> 00:36:49.279
 Lord Jesus.

00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:51.179
 Let's take the

00:36:51.179 --> 00:36:51.519
 lessons.

00:36:51.659 --> 00:36:52.519
 Let's as a team

00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:54.019
 work together very

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:55.340
 well collaboratively.

00:36:56.239 --> 00:36:57.059
 Let's look at

00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:57.900
 others, look more

00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:58.719
 widely as we

00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.340
 cooperate with

00:36:59.340 --> 00:36:59.860
 others and we

00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:01.179
 support them in

00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:01.759
 their Christian

00:37:01.759 --> 00:37:02.280
 ministry.

00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:03.440
 And let's make

00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:04.139
 sure that we are

00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:05.500
 all productive in

00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.420
 our service for the

00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:08.139
 Lord Jesus in our

00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:09.239
 work for him.

00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:10.099
 Let's pray together.

00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:12.860
 Father we thank you

00:37:12.860 --> 00:37:13.400
 for your word.

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:14.119
 We thank you for

00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:15.079
 these very practical

00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:16.440
 instructions that

00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:17.900
 Paul gives in the

00:37:17.900 --> 00:37:18.780
 book of Titus.

00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:20.780
 Instructions about

00:37:20.780 --> 00:37:22.759
 the best situations

00:37:22.759 --> 00:37:23.759
 for people to be in.

00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:24.800
 the way that they

00:37:24.800 --> 00:37:25.680
 should treat others.

00:37:26.200 --> 00:37:26.800
 The way that they

00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:27.880
 should live their

00:37:27.880 --> 00:37:28.400
 lives.

00:37:28.900 --> 00:37:29.400
 We thank you that

00:37:29.400 --> 00:37:31.080
 it's all rooted in a

00:37:31.080 --> 00:37:31.740
 knowledge of the

00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:32.700
 Lord Jesus and of

00:37:32.700 --> 00:37:33.860
 your grace to us.

00:37:34.680 --> 00:37:35.660
 We thank you too that

00:37:35.660 --> 00:37:36.740
 it is rooted in sound

00:37:36.740 --> 00:37:37.220
 doctrine.

00:37:38.020 --> 00:37:39.760
 In good teaching of

00:37:39.760 --> 00:37:41.320
 your word and in

00:37:41.320 --> 00:37:42.840
 understanding what it

00:37:42.840 --> 00:37:43.920
 is you have done for

00:37:43.920 --> 00:37:45.460
 us and what it is

00:37:45.460 --> 00:37:47.240
 that you require of

00:37:47.240 --> 00:37:47.580
 us.

00:37:48.220 --> 00:37:48.920
 And we pray that all

00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:50.180
 of us may be marked

00:37:50.180 --> 00:37:51.820
 by our real faith in

00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:52.720
 the Lord Jesus.

00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:54.519
 By our real love of

00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:55.860
 your word and of

00:37:55.860 --> 00:37:57.580
 sound doctrine and

00:37:57.580 --> 00:37:59.300
 by a real desire to

00:37:59.300 --> 00:38:00.660
 do good works.

00:38:01.080 --> 00:38:02.000
 To demonstrate our

00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:02.860
 love for the Lord

00:38:02.860 --> 00:38:04.700
 Jesus as we show our

00:38:04.700 --> 00:38:05.700
 love for one another

00:38:05.700 --> 00:38:06.940
 and for those who

00:38:06.940 --> 00:38:08.300
 don't yet know the

00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:08.740
 Saviour.

00:38:09.300 --> 00:38:09.920
 Thank you for your

00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:10.840
 presence with us as

00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:11.900
 we've studied this

00:38:11.900 --> 00:38:12.800
 evening your word.

00:38:13.240 --> 00:38:13.840
 We pray that you'll

00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:14.820
 bless us, help us as

00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:15.840
 we reflect back in the

00:38:15.840 --> 00:38:17.420
 book of Titus that we

00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:18.360
 may learn the lessons

00:38:18.360 --> 00:38:20.000
 from it and we may

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:21.539
 be able better to be

00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:22.500
 the people of God

00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:24.180
 living in Edinburgh.

00:38:24.700 --> 00:38:25.240
 We give you our

00:38:25.240 --> 00:38:25.900
 thanks and commit

00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:27.240
 ourselves to you in

00:38:27.240 --> 00:38:27.860
 Jesus' name.

00:38:28.660 --> 00:38:28.960
 Amen.