WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.880 Thanks, girls. Well, I did introduce myself every week, someone who made a joke about it last time I was here, but my name is Sam, if I haven't met you. 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:13.800 I've only been to Evening Church a handful of times, so hopefully I'll be getting to know everyone progressively. 00:00:14.060 --> 00:00:21.160 But I'm excited where we're up to as a church because I know that you guys had an early start last week for those who made the effort. 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:36.519 But last week, as Steve got up and cast the vision for church, there was a real sense of excitement, I think, among the people of St. Paul's and no one less than Roxy, who was visibly buzzing as she walked out of church last Sunday morning. 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:48.960 Because God has given Steve an exciting vision, I think, for us as a church, and it is exciting to think what he might do through us if we kind of just put our shoulder to the wheel and are willing to be used by him. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:57.620 So I'm excited to get stuck into the Philippians passage tonight, but I wanted to warn you as well, this is, I think, one of the richest passages in the whole of the Bible. 00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:02.539 It's all good, but this is a particularly rich passage, and so I'm not going to get to deal with everything in it. 00:01:02.780 --> 00:01:08.120 But the good news is you'll get to deal with it in your Bible study groups, doing the books that the church has given us. 00:01:08.240 --> 00:01:14.140 So if you're not in a group, that's a quick plug that you should get in one so that you don't miss out on the good stuff that I'm not going to get to tonight. 00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:22.000 But worst case scenario, if you can't be in a group, grab a book from out the back so that you can at least look at it by yourself and get everything that is in there. 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:25.780 I'm going to pray, and then we'll get stuck into that passage, so keep it open in front of you. 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:31.079 Father God, we thank you so much for the chance to be here tonight. 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:32.780 We thank you for the blessing of your word. 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:36.439 We thank you that your word always achieves the purpose that you send it out for. 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:43.439 Lord, we ask that tonight that you would work in us, that you give us soft and humble hearts, Lord, that we'd be ready to hear you speak. 00:01:43.939 --> 00:01:49.179 And Lord, I ask that the result of us meeting together tonight would be that we walk away more like your son Jesus. 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:50.099 Amen. 00:01:51.819 --> 00:01:53.920 Do you ever feel like you're being set up? 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:58.719 Do you ever feel like, you know, in a conversation somebody's kind of talking you into a corner? 00:01:59.219 --> 00:02:05.939 So maybe, you know, they've got some news to give you, but what they do is they kind of bait you before they give you the news. 00:02:05.939 --> 00:02:07.219 Maybe you've even done this. 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:14.639 So you go home from school with a sort of dodgy report card, and instead of opening up with, I got a bad report, you open up with, 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:17.960 Mum, you know how you said you'll love me no matter what? 00:02:18.699 --> 00:02:20.460 And then you pull out the report card. 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:24.759 Or, you know, Dad, you know how you said that I'm more important than any stuff? 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:26.680 Well, there's a problem with the car. 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:27.840 Or something like that. 00:02:28.379 --> 00:02:33.219 It's kind of, you know, you kind of, there's the commitment implicit in the first question, isn't there? 00:02:33.219 --> 00:02:34.319 It's just a reminder. 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:35.780 Remember that commitment you made? 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:40.120 Well, that's kind of how Paul opens this second section of chapter 2. 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:45.060 Because all through chapter 1, he's been excited about the partnership he's got in the gospel. 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:48.159 He's been celebrating how they've been sharing with him. 00:02:48.219 --> 00:02:55.060 And then, in verse 27 of chapter 1, he challenges them to live a life worthy of the gospel. 00:02:55.780 --> 00:02:58.379 And then he begins with this. 00:02:58.379 --> 00:03:00.099 Chapter 2, verse 1. 00:03:00.979 --> 00:03:13.859 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:17.479 do you kind of feel how pointed that is? 00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:20.899 See, I think Paul's more loving than maybe we give him credit for. 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:22.879 But it almost feels like a slap in the face. 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:31.199 I mean, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, every encouragement we have is because we are united with Christ. 00:03:31.539 --> 00:03:33.979 Because we are united with Christ, we're forgiven. 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:38.000 Because we are united with Christ, we have a future hope of one day being in heaven. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:44.560 And because we are united with Christ, we have the encouragement that God loves us unconditionally and incredibly and walks with us every day. 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:45.879 The next bit. 00:03:46.379 --> 00:03:48.599 If we have any comfort, of course we have comfort. 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:49.800 We're forgiven completely. 00:03:49.900 --> 00:03:51.259 We've got a clean slate, a fresh start. 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:52.020 God is with us. 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:57.199 If we have any fellowship with the Spirit, God has given us his Spirit so that we have fellowship. 00:03:57.860 --> 00:04:00.060 The whole reason he's given it is to mark us with a seal. 00:04:00.060 --> 00:04:07.539 It brings weird people who would otherwise never be anywhere near each other into the same place for the same reason and for the same purpose and connects all of us to God. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:11.280 The fellowship we have is because he gave us his Holy Spirit. 00:04:11.419 --> 00:04:18.160 And then lastly, if any tenderness and compassion, that's exactly what God gives us. 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:27.879 Even though we're sinners, even though we don't deserve it, what God gives us is tenderness and compassion and ultimately his son Jesus. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:38.139 If we have any benefits from being Christians, the grace that God has shown us in sending Jesus has transformed us completely. 00:04:38.740 --> 00:04:42.420 We are defined by what we get out of Jesus dying on the cross. 00:04:42.740 --> 00:04:43.899 It's who we are. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:46.399 And he says, in light of all that stuff. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:49.259 Then, verse 2. 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:58.719 Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 00:04:59.259 --> 00:05:01.139 Paul says, be unified. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:09.719 He says, because of everything that's been done for you, because of what Jesus has achieved, because of all the blessings and benefits, be unified. 00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:10.859 Be like-minded. 00:05:11.019 --> 00:05:12.479 Have one purpose. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.180 Be partners in the gospel that he's been talking about in chapter 1. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:24.060 I think sometimes we get the idea that we're partners because we sit in the same building in the same block of about an hour on a Sunday night. 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:27.800 But partnership has nothing to do with proximity. 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:32.000 It has nothing to do with what pew you're sitting on or how many names you know in this room. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:37.200 Partnership is about being like-minded in purpose. 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:42.139 It's about sharing the vision that Paul had in 127 when he called them to live a life worthy. 00:05:42.599 --> 00:05:49.259 It's about sharing the vision that Paul has when he speaks in 121 of living is Christ and dying is gain. 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:56.500 It's sharing the gospel ministry that he talked about in chapter 1, verse 7 of defending and confirming the gospel. 00:05:57.659 --> 00:05:59.339 Partnership is not about proximity. 00:05:59.919 --> 00:06:00.719 It's about purpose. 00:06:00.899 --> 00:06:03.159 But partnership's not an easy thing, is it? 00:06:03.160 --> 00:06:11.480 Even in a room like this, surrounded by probably what you would mostly call friends, partnership in the gospel is not always easy. 00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:19.800 I remember the church that I used to be a part of, I was in a similar role to what I'm going to be here next year. 00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:21.240 So I was up the front a lot. 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:24.320 And so it meant that sometimes people would come up and talk to me. 00:06:24.379 --> 00:06:28.060 And there was one guy in particular that just used to drive me crazy. 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:36.420 I'd be having a conversation with someone and the way he'd let me know that he was there is he'd wander up behind me and just as hard as he could slap me on the back. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:37.620 But not trying to hurt me. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:39.360 That was just how he thought you say hello. 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:43.699 And he'd just belt me and then stand next to me as if, you know, I'd be excited that he was here. 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:45.819 And he'd be ready to have a conversation. 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:47.819 Or he'd come running up and jump on my shoulders. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:51.519 And, you know, I'd be sitting there going, oh, why is this guy here? 00:06:51.519 --> 00:07:00.439 And I'd just be, you know, sometimes I'd find myself walking into church hoping that he wouldn't notice me so that I could kind of be at church and not have him there and walk away. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:04.560 And I thought church would just be a more positive experience if this guy wasn't there. 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:09.459 And look, if we're honest, people are the most annoying part about being in a church. 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:12.000 If there was no people, it would be so much easier. 00:07:12.219 --> 00:07:15.759 I could do the songs I wanted with the instruments that I wanted. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:18.180 I could have the sermon as long as was convenient for me. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:20.199 I could start and finish at my own time. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:22.079 But people can be frustrating. 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:24.279 And you might not be as sinful as me. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:27.479 You might not walk into church going, I hope that person doesn't come and talk to me. 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:32.300 But if you're honest, there's probably some people in St. Paul's. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:37.079 There's probably some people maybe even in this room that sometimes just irritate you. 00:07:37.139 --> 00:07:40.639 And somewhere in there you wish that maybe they weren't here. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:46.459 Not that they weren't a Christian, but just maybe they could go to another church so that your church experience could be more fun. 00:07:46.459 --> 00:07:51.120 So that they wouldn't irritate you or distract you from talking to the people that you actually like. 00:07:51.739 --> 00:07:52.979 The people that you get on with. 00:07:55.779 --> 00:08:03.759 Well, in my eyes, I convinced myself that this guy at my church was actually getting in the way of the gospel purpose. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:05.579 I thought, where about the gospel? 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:07.439 You know, I need to love people and encourage people. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:10.660 But when he's there, I'm less encouraging and I'm less loving. 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:15.860 So we're going to be able to achieve the mission of sharing the gospel better if he's not around. 00:08:16.699 --> 00:08:18.339 That was kind of what I talked myself into. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:23.920 And maybe somewhere in there you think church would be more effective if a few people weren't here. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:30.740 We don't want to mention any names, but maybe if a few people just had less input into the way we do stuff. 00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:35.480 They can have their wacky opinions as long as no one listens to them and it doesn't change the way we do church. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:40.080 But that's not the gospel. 00:08:41.820 --> 00:08:48.100 The gospel is not about the people that I like who do things the way I like, at the times that I like, in the style that I like. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:54.960 You know, I had well-intentioned ideas about getting rid of this guy so that the gospel would go forward. 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:57.120 But I was kind of missing the point. 00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:07.799 And maybe if sometimes you sit here frustrated and just thinking it would be better if you could get rid of a few people. 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:12.220 Maybe you need to hear Paul's words. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:16.220 It's not about you. 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:20.679 Church is not about you. 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:23.299 It's never about you. 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:25.339 Have a look at verse 3. 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:46.779 See, this community is made up of people that God chose. 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:52.079 This is a room full of people who don't deserve to be here at all, but are forgiven by God. 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:57.500 And what that means is, you have no claim on what we do here and how we do it. 00:09:58.199 --> 00:10:00.399 You have no more rights than anyone else. 00:10:00.839 --> 00:10:03.740 Because the only reason you're here is Jesus. 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:10.459 The only reason you're part of this community is because you were forgiven by the same Jesus that everyone else here was forgiven by. 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:18.120 And so when you get frustrated and wish they would do it your way, you need to remember that it's not about you. 00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:21.460 It's about the one who forgave you. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:25.759 See, the key to partnership for us is humility. 00:10:26.680 --> 00:10:28.540 The key to unity is humility. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:31.000 It's the putting the needs of other people first. 00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:35.100 It's saying it's not about me, but it's about why the church exists. 00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:39.300 It's about living in a life, living in a manner worthy of the gospel. 00:10:39.299 --> 00:10:43.819 I remember, I'm just coming to the end of my third year at Bible College. 00:10:43.939 --> 00:10:47.259 And in the first year, me and Sal were looking for a new church. 00:10:47.740 --> 00:10:53.519 And we thought, we want to be a part of a church that's exciting, that's doing stuff, that's seeing people come to know Jesus. 00:10:53.799 --> 00:11:01.639 And I heard about a friend of mine who was only young, he was only 28 at the time, and God had just excited him to start a new church. 00:11:02.319 --> 00:11:04.699 He had all these ideas about how he was going to do it. 00:11:04.719 --> 00:11:06.519 He was passionate about preaching the gospel. 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:09.039 He was passionate about telling people about Jesus. 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:15.120 And so he gathered up a group of young people, a group of young adults, and we were meeting together and praying and getting excited. 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.179 But the problem was, a new church doesn't have a building. 00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:21.539 And a building's a fairly important part of being a church. 00:11:21.599 --> 00:11:22.579 You need somewhere to meet. 00:11:23.079 --> 00:11:25.620 And so we're looking around trying to figure out, okay, where do we meet? 00:11:25.839 --> 00:11:26.379 Where do we go? 00:11:26.459 --> 00:11:27.899 Where's the right place to do it? 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:33.620 And along the line, we found out about a church in Coggera, Coggera Presbyterian Church. 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:39.399 And Coggera Presbyterian Church, in its day, was like absolute powerhouse of ministry. 00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:43.620 There was a time they had four, five hundred young people in Sunday school every Sunday. 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:50.399 Like every kid just about south of the Hubbard Bridge would go to this Sunday school because they loved it and it was the place to be. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:52.980 And the church was like bursting at the seams. 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:59.759 But when we found out about them, there was ten people, all of them over 70, and no minister. 00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:05.079 They didn't have music most weeks because no one could play the organ. 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:07.879 But occasionally they could get someone to come and play it for them. 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:11.319 Or they could get a CD that would play some hymns that they could sing along to. 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:16.780 But they found out about my friend who was looking to plant a church. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:22.200 And they contacted him and they said, look, we love the way we do church. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:24.020 We love the tradition. 00:12:24.520 --> 00:12:25.460 We love our history. 00:12:25.640 --> 00:12:26.460 We love our building. 00:12:26.920 --> 00:12:28.000 We love our hymns. 00:12:28.540 --> 00:12:31.720 We love so much about what we do, but we love Jesus more. 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:35.360 And this church is dying and we want to see the kingdom grow. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:42.039 So we want you to come here with some young people and we want you to help us reach out to the community in Cogra. 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:50.759 And the resulting sort of conversations and chats afterwards meant about 20 of us turned up and joined this church. 00:12:51.539 --> 00:12:54.019 And after we'd been there, I was only there for 12 months. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:58.740 And by the time we got to the end of the 12 months, basically we'd knocked down their historical old building. 00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:06.659 We'd moved into just a rented hall around the corner as they tried to build a slightly funkier facility for us to use for church. 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:10.360 We hadn't done a hymn in months as far as I can remember. 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:14.159 There was nobody in robes up the front, which is what they were used to. 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:16.680 They didn't have all the usual things. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:18.039 They didn't have pews anymore. 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:20.399 They were sitting on chairs that were brought out. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.580 It was just unrecognisable for them. 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:26.960 And I remember sitting down with a really godly old man named John Burgess. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.040 He was one of the key elders in the church. 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:31.240 And just before I was leaving, I was sitting down chatting to him. 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:33.700 And I said, how are you finding church at the moment? 00:13:33.780 --> 00:13:35.680 Kind of thinking, he must be really frustrated. 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:38.940 We've pulled the rug out from him on what church looks like. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:39.740 And he said, you know what? 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:44.040 This is like the most exciting time I've ever had in this church. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:49.400 And I said, you know, don't you miss your hymns and don't you miss other things? 00:13:49.420 --> 00:13:50.840 And he said, yeah, I do. 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:54.600 But then I was important as seeing people come to know Jesus. 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:58.180 He said, this is so much better. 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:04.259 Because for him, he understood what the purpose of the church was. 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:11.960 He understood that the church existed not to suit him, but to defend and confirm the gospel. 00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:16.460 He understood that the whole point of this community is that we become more like Jesus 00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:18.720 so that we can share Jesus with the world out there. 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:21.060 And he said, it's not about me. 00:14:21.160 --> 00:14:22.320 It's not about my needs. 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:25.259 It's about the purpose that God has given us. 00:14:26.420 --> 00:14:30.040 For the Philippians, their purpose was the gospel of Jesus. 00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:31.879 They sacrificed. 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:33.660 They gave to help Paul's ministry. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:38.180 And for us here, if we are to be a church of Jesus Christ, 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:42.399 our purpose must be the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:47.980 It must be the purpose that Jesus died and rose again to give us. 00:14:48.179 --> 00:14:50.179 It must be a gospel purpose. 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:54.679 The mission statement for our church here, which hopefully you know from your studies during the week, 00:14:55.159 --> 00:15:01.759 is that we exist to know Jesus, treasure Jesus, and represent Jesus for the glory of God and the joy of all people. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:07.379 That is the only thing that we should argue about. 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:11.240 That is the grid that we should put every disagreement through now. 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:13.840 It's not whether I like it. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.460 It's not whether it suits me. 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:18.840 It's not whether they kind of fit in my friendship group. 00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:19.919 It's not whether I get on with them. 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:21.240 It's not whether I want them here. 00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:27.059 But in regards to the resources we've got, the people we've got, the opportunities we've got, 00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:35.759 the question has always got to be, does this help all of us know Jesus, treasure Jesus, and represent Jesus? 00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:37.899 Because that is why we exist. 00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:40.859 The rest of it doesn't matter. 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:43.739 It doesn't matter if it's the song I like. 00:15:44.359 --> 00:15:46.159 It doesn't matter if it's the singer I like. 00:15:46.219 --> 00:15:47.839 It doesn't matter if it's the preacher I like. 00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:49.639 It doesn't matter if it's the chairs I like. 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:56.319 What matters is, does this help us know, treasure, and represent Jesus? 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:59.379 Because that's the gospel we received. 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:02.360 That's the good news we received. 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:04.280 That's the good news we're called to proclaim. 00:16:05.040 --> 00:16:10.500 It's a gospel of a humble, selfless, servant, saviour king. 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.940 Look at me at verse 5. 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:16.900 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:22.180 who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:26.339 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:30.219 being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:35.219 he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. 00:16:36.099 --> 00:16:38.819 We are the community of that king. 00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:43.200 We are the community of the God-man. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:47.960 The one who came from heaven to earth, even though he didn't have to. 00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:51.220 The one who was already there before time began. 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:53.940 The one who created us, but became a creature. 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:58.240 The one who humbled himself and walked around amongst pathetic human beings 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.520 that he sustains by his very will. 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:05.599 The one who created life, yet submitted to death. 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:11.039 The one who denied his rights for our sake. 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:15.920 I mean, do you understand the gravity of those three verses? 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:18.900 Jesus didn't have to do any of that. 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:21.740 He was already God. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:23.099 He was already glorious. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:24.480 He was already majestic. 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:28.220 It doesn't change his character that he came to earth, 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:30.200 but for our sake he did. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:35.000 He didn't need to come to earth so that he could be in heaven with God. 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:35.920 He was there already. 00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:39.400 He came to earth so that we could be in heaven with God. 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:43.299 I mean, at any point in his life, Jesus could have turned around and gone, 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:44.740 look, this is too hard. 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:48.960 He could have been just frustrated by disobedient people. 00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:51.400 He could still be frustrated by disobedient people. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.519 He could have turned around and said, look, 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:55.019 I just don't want to go through this death on the cross. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:58.000 For these people who are spitting on me and mocking me, I'm out. 00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.539 But he didn't. 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:02.420 He was powerful enough. 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:04.220 He could have done it. 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:06.220 But he chose not to. 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:11.240 It's his name that we bear. 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.579 We're Christians. 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.819 Followers of Christ. 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.860 Imitators of Jesus. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.579 We are his community. 00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:22.819 I mean, this should be the most humble group of people there is. 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:29.439 I mean, we should have trouble making decisions because we're so obsessed with other people's needs. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:33.159 We should be tripping over each other, denying ourselves and so not getting anywhere. 00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:40.720 I remember at school, I was in about year seven or year eight and a clever English teacher wanted to teach us some manners. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:43.740 So she invented a system of doorway decorum. 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:56.720 And basically, the theory was that, I guess doorway decorum was supposed to be catchy enough to remember, but we'd get to the door and if two people were trying to get through, doorway decorum meant, you know, you did the polite thing and step back and let the other person through. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:00.480 The result for year eight boys was we walked to the door and never walked through. 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:07.480 We just insisted that the other person go first and that went back and forth until we were about an hour late for class and explained that it was because we were so polite. 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:11.620 That's really the kind of humility that should mark us. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:25.819 As we try to make decisions about what we're going to do with our church, what ministries are going to matter to us, you know, the way that this is going to look, we should be tripping over each other to say, not what I want, what you want. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:29.799 But yet, so often that's not the case. 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:33.539 So often it's, I've been here longer than you, let's do it my way. 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:36.079 I'm older than you, let's do it my way. 00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:40.640 Or I'm younger, I know what's new and what people are going to respond to, let's do it my way. 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:47.440 We should look just like Jesus. 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:55.880 I remember when I became a Christian, I was 14 years old and I was on a camp and I honestly don't remember what the sermon was about. 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:59.040 I'm sure it was about Jesus, but I couldn't tell you what the passage was. 00:19:59.520 --> 00:20:01.160 I couldn't tell you specific details. 00:20:02.020 --> 00:20:06.840 But I could tell you that the thing I remember more than anything else on that week was the community. 00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.460 I was a 14-year-old kid. 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:11.360 I was an annoying 14-year-old kid. 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:19.340 We had an excursion to the beach one day and I spent the entire return bus trip on the back seat singing this is the song that doesn't end as loud as I possibly could. 00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:26.199 And, you know, a few people probably thought about the possibility of coming down and punching me so that I wouldn't sing, but no one did. 00:20:27.179 --> 00:20:33.759 A few people asked me to be quiet, but even in spite of my best attempts to annoy people and be that kid that no one would run around, 00:20:34.419 --> 00:20:40.179 I remember that even at the end of the week, there was like kids who were older than me coming and just asking if I was having a good week. 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:49.240 I went away knowing about three people and then I remember the first morning after camp I woke up and I was devastated because, you know, all these 150 new friends weren't there anymore. 00:20:50.500 --> 00:21:00.180 I was just blown away that teenagers who are like the most selfish people there are were actually looking out for me when they didn't have to. 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:04.500 They were actually looking out for my needs as the new kid who just rocked up on camp. 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:07.140 They were just making sure I was having a good time. 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:11.580 I remember seeing that and going, I want to be a part of that. 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:14.140 I don't know what they've got, but I want to find out. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.600 And then God showed me what they have. 00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:20.920 I pray that we can be that kind of community. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:28.240 I pray that when a non-Christian walks in here, the first thing they see is people who serve one another. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:34.880 People who are humble, people who say it's not about me, it's about other people and I'll do anything for their needs first. 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:38.700 Because that's what Jesus did for us. 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:43.500 I mean, it's kind of embarrassing when you think about the kind of stuff that we hold on to. 00:21:44.800 --> 00:21:47.060 When you think about what Jesus forgives us for. 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:52.860 We've been forgiven for willfully and actively rejecting God. 00:21:53.820 --> 00:21:55.740 For repeatedly disobeying him. 00:21:56.280 --> 00:21:59.040 For ignoring things that he obviously says are wrong. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:02.079 And yet when somebody hurts us, we remember that. 00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:08.159 When somebody annoys us a little bit, I shouldn't have to put up with that. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:13.379 When somebody mistreats me, I have a right to be treated better than that. 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.799 And you know what the hard thing is? 00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:18.259 You do have a right to be treated better than that. 00:22:19.159 --> 00:22:21.799 God has made you in his image. 00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:27.599 It means every person in this room has a dignity just by virtue of the fact that God made you with dignity. 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:34.619 But the one that we follow denied his own rights. 00:22:35.939 --> 00:22:37.980 He had every right to stay in heaven. 00:22:38.439 --> 00:22:42.139 He had every right to sit there and destroy his enemies on earth. 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:45.719 To forcefully be the king that he is. 00:22:46.699 --> 00:22:49.819 But he denied himself that right and suffered for us. 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.379 That's the one we follow. 00:22:54.380 --> 00:23:01.240 One who calls us to forgive the failings of people who mistreat us. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:07.580 One who calls us to humbly not look down on other people but consider others better than ourselves. 00:23:07.760 --> 00:23:10.500 One who calls us to imitate his humility. 00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:14.800 To deny our rights and to seek the good of other people. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.799 Humbly. 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:18.240 That's basically what it means to be humble. 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:23.460 Humility is saying it's not about what I need. 00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:24.919 It's about what you need. 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:29.639 It's about the purpose that God has given us to see the gospel go out. 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:31.419 Regardless of what I need. 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:36.759 I remember when I just started coming here. 00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.580 It was a while ago. 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.759 I don't know exactly how many months. 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:41.240 But I was sitting in 10am church. 00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:46.820 And I remember having seen Judy Green with this massive pregnant belly for weeks leading up to it. 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:49.880 And I remember hearing that she'd had the baby on the Friday. 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:55.680 And you know I was thinking it'd be fair enough for her to have a Sunday off and just relax at home. 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.420 She's got a newborn. 00:23:57.180 --> 00:24:01.120 She was standing up the front leading singing that morning in church with the baby strapped to her. 00:24:02.040 --> 00:24:06.200 And I remember looking at that and going no one would have thought any worse of you. 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:09.380 It would be so within her rights to stay home and relax. 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:12.360 But she said no it's not my rights I want to serve. 00:24:14.280 --> 00:24:15.160 You know what people need? 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.500 They need someone to lead. 00:24:16.560 --> 00:24:18.040 I'm on the roster and I want to do it. 00:24:18.040 --> 00:24:19.300 I want to bless other people. 00:24:19.899 --> 00:24:21.079 That's what humility is. 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:25.659 Humility is saying not what I need but what other people need. 00:24:26.899 --> 00:24:31.440 Denying your rights for the sake of other people and for the sake of the gospel. 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:36.839 For Jesus humbling himself was the path that he chose to glory. 00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:41.480 Instead of putting his feet up in heaven and just kind of waiting for the world to destroy itself. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:44.279 He chose to come to earth as a person. 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:48.319 Instead of arriving with an army and just kind of laying the smack down and taking over. 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:50.099 And putting himself as king. 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:52.899 He chose to be a carpenter. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:55.799 He chose to be opposed. 00:24:56.460 --> 00:25:00.240 And he even submitted to unjust punishment and death. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:03.500 For him humility was a choice. 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:05.420 And you know why? 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:07.460 Verse 9. 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:37.460 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:45.299 He didn't have to come and lay the smack down because he knew that God would raise him up. 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:47.720 And he would get his position of honour and glory. 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:50.120 He would get his position of ultimate authority. 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:54.639 See the path of glory for Jesus involved denying himself. 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:57.679 Humbling himself until God raised him up. 00:25:59.679 --> 00:26:01.639 And the path for us is the same. 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:04.339 It's not a path to the cross. 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:06.759 But as we look forward to heaven. 00:26:07.179 --> 00:26:11.879 As we look forward to the day when we're godly enough to not be annoyed by other people. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:23.139 When we're godly enough to not be frustrated by trivial things like song choice or seat choice or carpet colour or time of service or whatever else it is that annoys us about our church. 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:26.900 We look forward to that. 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:30.940 But first we're called to humble service. 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:34.580 First we're told to deny our rights. 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:36.280 To seek the good of others. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.060 To imitate Jesus. 00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:42.500 See selfish ambition is born out of fear. 00:26:44.060 --> 00:26:49.460 The thing that makes us pursue our own good first is the fear that no one else will do it if we don't. 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:53.819 It's the fear that everyone else is getting looked after but I might miss out. 00:26:56.700 --> 00:27:02.259 But when we trust a faithful God to provide for us then we're released from that fear. 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:05.100 We don't have to worry about being looked after. 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:08.259 We don't have to worry about our rights because God has promised to protect us. 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:10.579 He's promised that one day we get to go to heaven. 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:13.660 He's promised that every day between now and then he is with us. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:17.660 And so when we trust him like Jesus did we're released. 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:21.440 And instead of worrying about yourself you can pour your energy. 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.700 You can pour your effort. 00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:26.640 You can pour your attention into serving other people. 00:27:27.360 --> 00:27:28.279 Into humility. 00:27:29.340 --> 00:27:31.660 Because of the example Jesus sets for us. 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:34.640 Because he has been exalted by God to heaven. 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:36.460 Therefore, verse 12. 00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:56.039 Trusting God doesn't mean being lazy. 00:27:57.340 --> 00:28:00.980 Trusting God doesn't mean step back and go, he'll do it. 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:03.259 There's two dangers for us. 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:07.220 One is to kind of think that grace is cheap. 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:10.299 That God's done it so I can just sit back and everything will happen. 00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:14.579 God has done it but that's not how grace works. 00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:19.480 The other danger is that we think grace isn't enough and we have to serve one another. 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:22.220 You know, we have to do enough to stay saved. 00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:25.819 But this verse says, work hard. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:31.700 It says there, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:34.900 Continue to put effort into serving other people. 00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:37.839 Continue to pursue humility actively. 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.920 You won't just stumble into humility. 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.819 Work at it. 00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:46.819 But it also says, it's God who works in you to will and to act. 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:52.679 Both the desire to be humble and the ability to carry it out is God working in you. 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:55.579 It's not either you or God. 00:28:55.899 --> 00:29:01.319 It's God working and you working out your salvation as he empowers you to do it. 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:07.539 So as we pursue humility, we need to make sure we do it in the strength he provides. 00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:12.639 We need to make sure we do this in light of the forgiveness he has won for us. 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:16.780 And we need to do it with grace and patience because we won't always get it right. 00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:25.520 I remember just before I got married, I started trying to figure out what the Bible teaches about marriage. 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:27.259 A bit of wisdom for you guys ahead of time. 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:31.660 I started looking through the Bible for what the Bible says I'm supposed to do. 00:29:32.080 --> 00:29:34.300 What the Bible says Sal is supposed to do. 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:37.040 What the Bible says I'm supposed to tell Sal to do. 00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:39.500 There's none of those in case you're wondering. 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:48.819 But I remember reading passages like Ephesians 5 that talk about the husband must love the wife and the wife must submit to the husband. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:51.880 And I'm going, okay, I've got to make sure my wife submits. 00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:59.079 And I was lucky enough to have a godly older Christian man who sat me down and said, actually, that's not how it works. 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:03.319 He said, my responsibility is to love my wife. 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:05.880 As I love her, she will want to submit to me. 00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:09.360 And her responsibility is not to make me love her. 00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.940 It's to submit to me. 00:30:11.300 --> 00:30:13.360 And then I'll just want to love her even more. 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:16.640 It's kind of the same with humility. 00:30:17.540 --> 00:30:19.360 It's kind of the same with serving one another. 00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:24.040 As you stop worrying about your own needs and work really hard to serve others, 00:30:24.280 --> 00:30:29.060 all of a sudden you release someone else from worrying about their needs so that they can be serving you as well. 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:33.019 If I'm worrying about me, then I stop serving you. 00:30:33.659 --> 00:30:36.619 But if you're worrying about me, then I get to serve you. 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:43.839 See, as each of us humbly serves one another, we breed that kind of humble service in each other. 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:48.000 We give each other license because we don't have to worry about ourselves anymore. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:54.980 And when it comes to serving in church, it's not about asking, what do I want to do? 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:57.099 It's not about asking, what do I want? 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:57.839 What do I need? 00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:01.599 But it's about coming to the church and going, what do you need? 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.680 Not what I want. 00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.980 Not even what I want to do. 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.480 What do you need? 00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:10.279 Because it's never about you. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:13.700 And humble service like that stands out. 00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:16.220 Have a look at verse 14. 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.240 It says, 00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:19.319 Do everything without complaining or arguing. 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:21.960 Criticism is the ultimate enemy of humility. 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:26.480 Because to criticize, you assume that you are above someone and that you can comment on them. 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.680 It says, 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:32.180 Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:36.140 children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation 00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:41.680 in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:47.440 Humility and unity and service stands out in the world that we live in. 00:31:48.560 --> 00:31:54.240 Nobody outside of church likes to say they're selfish, but the reality is they are. 00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:59.860 The reality is we struggle with it as well, that the world tells us we need to look after number one. 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:04.200 The world tells us to work hard and then, you know, maybe if we're really nice, 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:07.759 once we've kind of looked after ourselves, then we can worry about being generous to other people. 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:12.900 And so when people find a community that is all about serving and all about the other person, 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:14.200 that stands out. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:20.500 As we start to look like Jesus, as we know him, as we treasure him, as we represent him, 00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:24.259 the lives we live and the relationships we have in this community 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:28.759 will either adorn the gospel that we preach or veil it. 00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:35.079 It will either make it easy to see or it will make it muffled and confusing. 00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:42.899 If people come here and see a community of selfless, humble, servant-hearted, unified people, 00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:45.439 they see Jesus. 00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:51.799 Even before we open our mouths from the word, they hear the gospel preached 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:55.439 because we're living like Jesus. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:33:03.039 God has placed you in this community at this time for the purpose of knowing, treasuring 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:07.480 and representing Jesus to Chatswood, Sydney, Australia and the world. 00:33:09.340 --> 00:33:13.140 So the question I want you to ask yourself, and not even just for the next 30 seconds 00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:16.259 and then forget about it, but for this week, for this month 00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:18.259 and for as long as you're a part of this community, 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:26.660 is what ambition, what desire, what need, what insecurity do you need to let go of 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:28.740 so that you can start serving? 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:32.539 So that we can actually partner together 00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:37.220 so that I can worry about your needs and you can worry about the needs of other people? 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:45.640 What is there in you that is just stopping you from being able to pour yourself into service? 00:33:47.620 --> 00:33:50.940 What is there stopping you from being able to be humble like Jesus 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:52.960 for the sake of the gospel? 00:33:54.440 --> 00:33:58.019 In 127, Paul calls them to live a life worthy of the gospel. 00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:03.860 A life worthy of the gospel is a gospel that's driven by gospel purpose. 00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:07.119 It's a life of humble service just like Jesus. 00:34:07.859 --> 00:34:12.380 It's a life that trusts God instead of looking after your own rights. 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:17.699 It's a life of working hard that will shine like a star in the universe. 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:23.839 What do you need to let go of so that you can humbly serve like Jesus? 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:28.099 So that this community can know, treasure and represent Jesus 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:31.339 in a way that will transform the world that we're a part of. 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:35.019 Let's pray. 00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:42.740 Father God, we want to admit that 00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:48.019 the first inclination of our heart is so often to care about ourselves. 00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:51.500 So often to worry about our own rights. 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:55.599 Lord, I want to thank you for Jesus. 00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:59.440 I want to thank you for his humility. 00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:04.539 I want to thank you for his willingness to lower himself and humble himself for our sake. 00:35:07.300 --> 00:35:09.480 Lord, keep us from arrogance and pride. 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:15.039 Keep us from demanding our rights and instead fill us with love for one another. 00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:17.280 Fill us with love for you. 00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:21.840 And fill us with a humility that just loves to serve one another. 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:26.579 Lord, I ask that as people come into this community that they will see you 00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:28.460 through the way that we treat one another. 00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:36.980 Father, for those of us who do fear that we will not be cared for or looked after, 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:38.120 that our needs won't be met, 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:42.460 I pray that you give us a peace to trust our brothers and sisters around us, 00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:44.460 to love us as you are calling them to love us. 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:56.460 I pray that we would actively and enthusiastically pursue the good of other people before ourselves 00:35:56.460 --> 00:36:03.019 so that this community can achieve the purpose that you have given it, 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:07.139 can represent you to the community that you've placed us in, 00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:11.980 and can see your kingdom grow through this ministry. 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:15.840 Father, thank you so much for Jesus. 00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:20.280 Please make us more like him. 00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:21.639 Amen.