WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.800 Hello. Good morning. Let me just say Happy Mother's Day to everyone as well. It's an 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:19.320 amazing day to be with you here. I'm just so excited about what God is doing and just 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:24.379 even hearing from the young lives and just the way God is working in and through the 00:00:24.379 --> 00:00:27.960 church. I think she just really encourages us with what God's up to. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.140 We're coming to a passage today which, if I think about it, I actually find this really 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:43.859 difficult, if I'm honest. It's not difficult because I don't quite get what Paul is talking 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:52.019 about in this passage. I find this passage really difficult because the way that when 00:00:52.019 --> 00:00:58.840 I go out of the door and into the culture around me, it tells me everything that is counter 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:04.719 to what this passage tells me. And my fear is that even as we seek to talk about it over 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:13.840 the next 30 minutes, is that I and we will kind of write off what Paul is saying because 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:21.659 it is just so anti-everything that we hear 24-7 throughout our weeks, in our offices, in our 00:01:21.659 --> 00:01:28.079 workplaces, wherever we are. But the reason we're looking at these kind of passages, the 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:32.179 reason we're looking at the book of Corinthians is, those of you who have been with us all 00:01:32.179 --> 00:01:36.859 this time, we have looked through the story of God, the story of the Bible which showed 00:01:36.859 --> 00:01:43.079 us God's purposes, His call, His plan for His people. And we got to the stage of Acts where 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:48.140 God had really just begun to build His church. And then what you come to is Corinthians where 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:55.640 actually the calling of God's church becomes face to face with the cold, hard reality of life, 00:01:56.159 --> 00:02:01.980 of what it really is to live in this world. This is not dreamland any longer. This is actually 00:02:01.980 --> 00:02:11.659 facing the realities of life. And the city that this letter, Corinth, is written into 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:20.840 is uncannily like Hong Kong, as Tobin mentioned. It's a business-minded entrepreneurial city. Trade 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:27.379 was what got you money. And it was a place where everyone was vying to be top dog. You wanted 00:02:27.379 --> 00:02:31.759 to be in the top schools. You want to have the most money. You wanted to have status and career 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:38.120 and power and influence. It was competitive. Everyone was fighting against everybody else. 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:44.939 It was dog, eat dog. And everyone wanted to be the Rottweiler and no one wanted to be the Chihuahua. 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:54.500 Because this was a place where it was a city of schmoozers. I like that word. You know, schmoozers. 00:02:54.719 --> 00:03:02.740 It was people who you had to network to get ahead. You had to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:08.000 because that would just move you up the pecking order. And you'd drag your opponents down in the mud 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.960 so that you would look so much better than everybody else. 00:03:13.219 --> 00:03:18.800 It was a city that showed you the kind of heroes, the kind of people that you would want to imitate 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:25.620 and be like, the kind of leaders that you should follow, the kind of people that you should look up 00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:29.939 to and admire and be kept one day you could be like them. 00:03:32.920 --> 00:03:38.379 And the thing was, this church, which had come out of this city, had unwittingly 00:03:38.379 --> 00:03:42.240 taken on all the values of the culture. 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:47.060 They just looked exactly like the culture looked. 00:03:47.259 --> 00:03:48.439 And they didn't even know it. 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:52.480 They didn't even realize how much the culture was influencing them. 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:56.780 Now, I don't know who your heroes are. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:02.139 When I was 14, I started playing the guitar. 00:04:02.839 --> 00:04:08.120 And very quickly, I came across a guy called Eddie Van Halen. 00:04:09.219 --> 00:04:11.099 Some of you know who I'm talking about. 00:04:11.239 --> 00:04:13.379 Some of you think it's like a taxi company. 00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:17.860 But Eddie Van Halen was this amazing guitarist. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:21.060 And I remember one day watching one of his videos. 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:23.160 And there was Mr. Halen. 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:25.339 He was there doing his thing with his guitar. 00:04:26.540 --> 00:04:27.560 And I was like, wow. 00:04:27.819 --> 00:04:28.740 And he was doing this thing. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:30.939 And then suddenly, the music stopped. 00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:33.079 He stopped right in the middle of his solo. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:36.060 He looked at the camera and just gave you the look like. 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:39.279 And then he carried on playing like this. 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:42.560 And I just thought, wow, that is so cool. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:45.519 I want to be like you. 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.980 And, you know, from that point, I would fantasize. 00:04:50.100 --> 00:04:51.819 And to be honest, I still do occasionally. 00:04:52.339 --> 00:04:53.280 I would... 00:04:53.280 --> 00:04:55.280 You've got to be real. 00:04:55.279 --> 00:05:06.139 I would fantasize that I was just like him in our youth group playing this amazing solo. 00:05:06.899 --> 00:05:08.739 All the girls in front of me. 00:05:08.740 --> 00:05:14.060 And there, at one point, I would stop. 00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:16.460 And I'd do the look. 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:18.780 And then I'd keep going again. 00:05:18.860 --> 00:05:25.259 And everyone would fall down and worship me at that point, thinking, isn't Chris great? 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:29.339 I'm sure none of you are like that. 00:05:29.699 --> 00:05:35.920 But I wanted to be like him because I thought some of his cool factor could kind of rub off on me. 00:05:36.659 --> 00:05:39.740 And I could be great like Mr. Van Halen. 00:05:41.099 --> 00:05:46.039 Because everyone else would then think, wow, isn't Chris good? 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:54.740 And Paul is kind of talking into a situation a little bit like this with the church. 00:05:55.740 --> 00:06:06.079 He's talking about what's the difference between being puffed up with your own importance or being cross-centered. 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:14.819 Being the way of pride, which is all about you, or the way of the cross, which is all about laying down you. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:16.519 Denying you. 00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:18.079 So that's what we're going to look at. 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:20.740 The way of pride and the way of the cross. 00:06:21.459 --> 00:06:25.199 So let's kind of go on this journey and get into the passage a little bit. 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:26.699 Verse 1 to 3. 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:28.199 Paul starts off. 00:06:28.300 --> 00:06:34.599 This is how one should regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 00:06:35.659 --> 00:06:38.779 Moreover, it's required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:45.560 But with me, it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you. 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:47.779 Now this is really interesting. 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:48.439 Let's stop there. 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:55.240 What's going on in this church is that the church has been blessed with many, many things. 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:56.639 It's a happening church. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:00.860 If you looked on your Google search, it would come right at the top of the hit list. 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:02.740 They had their own YouTube channel. 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:05.100 This was the place that you wanted to be. 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:12.879 Every Sunday, they would have like TED Talks, inspiring sermons from these amazingly gifted teachers and speakers. 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.220 They just didn't have the communicators. 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:18.019 They also had the personalities. 00:07:18.019 --> 00:07:27.879 They had assertive, dynamic, charismatic, strong leaders who everyone looked at and thought, wow, these guys, you are great. 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:33.939 And as they looked at it, it wasn't just the teaching was amazing and the doctrine was amazing. 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:38.740 It was also the fact that they had so many gifts and supernatural gifts. 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:41.240 This was a lively, happening place. 00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:42.800 There were supernatural miracles. 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:46.519 And if it wasn't just the teaching you wanted, you could go and have the miracles. 00:07:46.719 --> 00:07:48.540 You could have all the stuff, the tongues. 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:50.100 You could have all these gifts. 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:58.140 And they looked at themselves and they saw that all the other people around them, they would love to be in this church if it was here in Hong Kong. 00:07:58.960 --> 00:08:01.200 Because it was a lively, happening place. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:04.939 This wasn't a village church with two old ladies and an organist. 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:07.500 This was a rocking place. 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:13.240 And the Corinthians looked at how successful they were. 00:08:13.340 --> 00:08:15.640 And some of the people were very rich. 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:20.180 People were converting and coming into the church who had places in society. 00:08:21.899 --> 00:08:25.240 Some had become successful. 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:34.179 And those who weren't successful, and many of them weren't, they looked up to the people who seemed to be successful and they hung on their words. 00:08:34.539 --> 00:08:38.220 And visiting preachers would come in who were also very charismatic. 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:43.960 And they would be put up at the best hotels and everyone would want to listen to them. 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:47.440 Because these guys, they were the bee's knees. 00:08:48.060 --> 00:08:51.899 They were the guys who really were the movers and shakers. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:59.580 And the Corinthians thought that they were spiritually mature because they had all this stuff. 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:02.940 All these amazing things going on in their church. 00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:05.720 And to be honest, it looked good. 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:11.240 And to be in this church, the values really were you've got to look good. 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:13.080 You've got to talk good. 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:14.600 You've got to achieve good. 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:16.300 And then we'll listen to you. 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:25.580 If you didn't have any of those kind of things, well, sorry, we just kind of, we won't listen to you. 00:09:25.660 --> 00:09:29.300 If you don't have a seminary degree, sorry. 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:32.460 If you don't have the gifts, sorry. 00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:39.000 We're not interested in you because we've got the guys, the real people, the real deal here. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:49.220 And it's really interesting because do you know who the Corinthians had actually written off as they judged the different people around them? 00:09:50.300 --> 00:09:51.759 They'd actually written off Paul. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:10:00.980 They'd said, the one who had preached the gospel to them originally, Paul himself. 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:04.879 They'd said, I'm sorry. 00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:08.019 You're not quite what we're looking for. 00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:13.519 That's why he says, it's a small thing if I'm judged by you. 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:19.319 Now, I don't know if you, if you've been a Christian a while, you have an impression of what Paul is like. 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:24.460 I have this impression of Paul as being kind of like the Arnold Schwarzenegger of Christians. 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:34.340 You know, he kind of, he goes into one town there and he's blasting away like with the gospel, you know, blasting everything to smithereens, you know. 00:10:34.400 --> 00:10:37.800 And then he does this, he's such an intelligent, intellectual guy. 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:40.420 He debates everyone, grinds them into powder. 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:44.700 They're there on their knees and he starts walking away from the village and just says, you know, 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:52.140 if you repent, I'll be back, you know. 00:10:52.520 --> 00:11:00.900 And this is, this is my image of this kind of strong, dynamic Paul. 00:11:01.780 --> 00:11:08.040 But the Corinthians who have spent 18 months with Paul don't think that at all. 00:11:08.920 --> 00:11:09.759 Really interesting. 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:11.740 Here's what the Corinthians say about him. 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:23.240 2 Corinthians 10, they say, his letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he's unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing. 00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:25.820 Wow. 00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:27.899 Is that your image of Paul? 00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:32.159 They thought he's a terrible public speaker. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:33.700 He's just so boring. 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:36.740 You know, one guy fell asleep and fell out of a window when listening to Paul. 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:39.399 I mean, that's, that's not great for your street cred. 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:49.000 He, he doesn't seem to be the assertive, dynamic character that all these other people around are. 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:55.080 He even says in 1 Corinthians 2, I came with weakness and fear and trembling. 00:11:55.080 --> 00:12:01.680 And the Corinthians looked at him and said, well, you may have been good to start with, but you've got nothing to offer us now. 00:12:02.160 --> 00:12:03.740 We've kind of moved on to better guys. 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:10.420 You know, if Paul was at a networking event in Corinth, not many people would have wanted his business card. 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:16.399 They'd take one look at it and say, oh, that's interesting, and then walk away. 00:12:18.319 --> 00:12:26.659 And it's fascinating how even as Christians, we tend to elevate Paul into this kind of untouchable superhero kind of Christian, 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:32.339 when actually the people who actually knew him and spent time with him never had that impression at all. 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:32.820 Wow. 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:34.580 Wow. 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:41.019 Because the Corinthians, I think if they'd had a job description for their new pastor, 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.860 it would have looked something like this. 00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:49.399 Pastor wanted for thriving cosmopolitan congregation, must be dynamic personality, 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:55.040 eloquent preacher with theological degree, highly spiritually gifted, a strong visionary leader, 00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:56.900 attractive remuneration offered. 00:12:56.899 --> 00:13:02.899 That's what the Corinthians thought a great leader should be. 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:07.740 I wonder, how do we fare on that? 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:14.279 If Tobin was to leave to go and plant a church somewhere else, and we were looking for a new pastor, 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:22.259 what criteria would you judge somebody suitable for being pastor? 00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:28.580 Who would you write off if you didn't have certain criteria? 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:35.620 What are the qualities which make a Christian leader someone who is worth following, 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:38.100 someone who is worth imitating? 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:42.059 Paul says this. 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:45.500 He says, I don't care if you're judging by all these outward appearances. 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:53.240 He says, listen, I don't even judge myself because I'm not the one who has to answer to you guys. 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:56.899 I am answering to God for my life. 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:03.460 He will judge me, not based on my outward appearance, but he will judge me based on my heart 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:07.700 and how I've been faithful with what he's given me. 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:14.960 And Paul diagnoses, like a doctor, he kind of diagnoses the Corinthians like a patient, 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:18.520 you know, the patient who thinks they're well and just going for a normal checkup. 00:14:18.920 --> 00:14:22.200 And they feel healthy, and then the doctor says to you, 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:24.440 actually, you may look healthy, you may feel healthy, 00:14:24.540 --> 00:14:27.100 but actually inside you have a cancer growing in you. 00:14:28.540 --> 00:14:31.820 And that cancer is pride. 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:35.600 You are puffed up, he says. 00:14:36.520 --> 00:14:41.520 You're judging one leader against another leader by outward appearances. 00:14:42.300 --> 00:14:47.060 And really, it's actually ultimately all about you anyway. 00:14:48.520 --> 00:14:49.280 Think about it. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:55.300 Pride is basically making the world about me, elevating me, making me look great. 00:14:55.299 --> 00:15:02.279 If I was to say to you, you know, I was with the CEO of Prada yesterday, 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:07.379 and he said to me, Chris, I just need your advice on this. 00:15:07.819 --> 00:15:11.139 You know, you're the only man who can help us on this thing. 00:15:12.479 --> 00:15:16.219 And I go and tell you all, what does that do to my credibility now? 00:15:17.479 --> 00:15:21.259 Do you now think, hmm, he knows some interesting people? 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:26.879 Because if I hang around some kind of impressive people, 00:15:27.419 --> 00:15:30.319 if I'm associated with them in some way, 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:31.960 even though I feel ordinary, 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:35.200 maybe some of their little stardust can kind of rub off on me. 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:37.500 And I can just move a little bit higher 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:40.039 in the pecking order in everybody else's eyes. 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:42.659 Because, you know, I feel ordinary, 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:45.899 but actually I'd all like to be just a little bit extraordinary. 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.980 Just a little bit great. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:49.480 Not too great, just a little bit. 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:53.299 And I think it's interesting. 00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:54.559 You look out in the business world, 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.939 in law firms or companies, 00:15:56.220 --> 00:16:00.059 and how many partners or associates 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:05.779 would grab lunch with office clerks or secretaries? 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:09.519 Does that happen very often? 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:10.960 Why? 00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:12.319 I mean, why would you? 00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:14.100 They've got nothing to offer you. 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:18.159 Because it doesn't really give you any higher standing, does it? 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:19.419 Why would you do that? 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:22.899 They're not impressive enough to move you up in your kudos 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:25.159 or to give you something that you want. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:27.419 But the world works that way. 00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:31.599 And I'm afraid I often work that way. 00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:34.159 We all want to be a little bit of a hero, 00:16:34.699 --> 00:16:35.899 a little bit more impressive, 00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:37.059 a little bit more great. 00:16:37.819 --> 00:16:39.919 And I don't think it's just the business culture 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:41.699 that does that. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:43.860 I think actually in the church we can do this. 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:46.519 There's one pastor called Don Carson. 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.279 Speaking of the Western church, 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.700 he puts it like this. 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:51.440 He says, 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:55.980 Why is it that we constantly parade Christian athletes, 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:58.120 media personalities, and pop singers? 00:16:58.900 --> 00:17:01.160 Why should we think their opinions 00:17:01.160 --> 00:17:03.560 or their experience of grace 00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:06.400 is any more significant than those of any other believer? 00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:10.900 When we tell outsiders about the people who are in our church, 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:14.180 do we instantly think of the despised and lowly 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.400 who have become Christians? 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:17.640 Or do we love to impress people 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:19.460 with the importance of men and women 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.620 who have become Christians? 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:24.180 The modern Western church is deeply infected 00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:26.660 with the virus of triumphalism 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:29.160 and the resulting illness destroys humility, 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:30.660 minimizes grace, 00:17:30.840 --> 00:17:33.360 and offers far too much homage to money 00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:35.940 and influence and wisdom of our day. 00:17:36.600 --> 00:17:37.259 Ouch. 00:17:38.540 --> 00:17:39.220 Wow. 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:44.240 And I was just thinking about this. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.420 I think it's not just the Western church. 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.200 I think here, 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.460 every Sunday, 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.180 I don't know if you know, 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.099 there's three or four people 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:53.539 who meet to pray every Sunday faithfully 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.319 for our church, 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.019 for you guys, 00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:55.880 for what's going on, 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.460 for this city. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.400 But what if I said, 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:01.460 I don't know, 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:02.859 Jeremy Lin, 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.079 Manny Pacquiao, 00:18:04.859 --> 00:18:05.700 Sammy Cheng, 00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:07.680 Tim Keller, 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:09.400 and it put fill in the blank, 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:11.759 was going to lead the prayer meeting next Sunday. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:15.379 How many people would turn up 00:18:15.379 --> 00:18:16.460 at the prayer meeting then? 00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:20.099 Because actually, 00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:24.099 I would be interested in turning up 00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:25.900 at the prayer meeting if it was like that. 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:27.980 Honestly, I would. 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:31.359 And I think to myself, 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:33.440 well, why would I want to do that? 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:36.900 Is it because I'm so passionate about praying? 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:39.160 Well, I probably would have been 00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:40.200 at the prayer meeting before 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.220 if that was the case. 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:43.620 Or is it more that actually, 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:46.480 I want to be around people 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.120 who are impressive, 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:48.800 people who are well known, 00:18:49.560 --> 00:18:50.480 people who are famous. 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.580 I don't find that very comfortable. 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.519 But actually, 00:18:54.580 --> 00:18:55.480 I think if I'm honest, 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.820 that's probably real. 00:18:58.900 --> 00:19:00.380 And I heard a local pastor, 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:02.340 I spoke to him the other day, 00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:03.099 and he said to me, 00:19:03.139 --> 00:19:03.839 in Hong Kong, 00:19:03.959 --> 00:19:04.199 you know, 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:05.419 one of the things that 00:19:05.419 --> 00:19:09.099 cripples the church in Hong Kong, 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:11.039 and these were his words, 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:12.379 he said, 00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:15.019 we go from conference to conference 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.759 to listen to amazing speaker 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:18.220 after amazing speaker, 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:21.819 but often not really getting fully engaged 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.039 in our local congregation 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:25.459 with the ordinary everyday people around us. 00:19:26.459 --> 00:19:28.619 And we think we're getting more mature, 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:29.339 but actually, 00:19:29.859 --> 00:19:31.019 we're staying immature. 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:37.839 Because the reason at Watermark 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.119 we don't have a lot of conferences 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:40.759 or a lot of these things 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:43.339 is because we believe maturity comes 00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:47.379 as you serve ordinary people around you 00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:48.960 in your local congregation. 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.559 And the people we do have, 00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:53.240 like John Brandon coming next week, 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.420 we bring those in 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:56.039 because we believe they're going to help us 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:58.160 not take away from what we're doing as a church, 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:59.379 but to help equip us 00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:01.460 to go back into loving people, 00:20:01.820 --> 00:20:02.920 getting alongside people 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:05.040 in the normal everyday things of life. 00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:08.500 But if you're like me, 00:20:08.820 --> 00:20:10.620 I'm infected with a culture 00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:13.060 which judges people on the outward appearance, 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:15.920 and often I fail to see how God judges 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:17.720 from the heart. 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:21.900 So if you think about it, 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:24.799 I dream about being like Eddie Van Halen. 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.700 Who do you dream, 00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.700 daydream of being like? 00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:29.600 Why? 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.299 Because actually, 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.700 who you daydream of being like 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:35.579 probably tells you something 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:37.740 about how much you understand the gospel. 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:42.019 And so Paul is going to say, 00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:43.339 and let's move on to the second thing 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:43.960 we want to say, 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:46.279 is the mark of a true Christian leader, 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.680 of someone who's worth imitating, 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:49.079 of someone who's worth following, 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:50.440 is not the way of pride, 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.400 is not the way of kind of 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:53.180 making you elevate yourself anymore, 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:55.180 but it's the way of the cross. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:58.099 So let's look at the next part of the passage. 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.299 And Paul does, 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:03.940 did you know sarcasm is in the Bible? 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:04.759 Did you know that? 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:06.039 I'm British, 00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:06.779 so I love it. 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:10.700 But Paul here is incredibly sarcastic. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:11.799 He says, 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:12.859 verse eight, 00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:15.299 already you have all you want. 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:17.140 Already you've become rich. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.420 Without us, 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:20.379 you have become kings. 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:22.900 And would that you did reign 00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:24.980 so that we might share the rule with you. 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:28.059 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:29.700 as last of all, 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.200 like men sentenced to death 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:33.559 because we've become a spectacle to the world, 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.799 to angels and to men. 00:21:35.179 --> 00:21:36.559 We are fools for Christ, 00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:38.419 but you are wise in Christ. 00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:39.460 We are weak, 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.679 but you are strong. 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:42.179 You are held in honor, 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.700 but we're in disrepute. 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.819 To the present hour, 00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:46.079 we hunger and thirst. 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:47.119 We're poorly dressed 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:47.960 and buffeted 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.819 and homeless. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:50.059 And we labor, 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.419 working with our own hands. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.579 When reviled, 00:21:52.679 --> 00:21:53.159 we bless. 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:53.980 When persecuted, 00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:54.619 we endure. 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.559 When slandered, 00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.119 we entreat. 00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:57.480 We have become 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.940 and are still 00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:00.720 like the scum of the world, 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.639 the refuse 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:03.120 of all things. 00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:06.420 Whoo! 00:22:07.560 --> 00:22:10.000 Paul is drawing on some images there. 00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:11.980 He's drawing on images 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:14.280 of the, 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:16.220 either in the gladiators arena 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:18.320 or in the Roman processions. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:20.300 When the Romans came back from victories, 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.500 what they used to do, 00:22:21.560 --> 00:22:23.420 they used to process through the streets 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.900 with the great heroes, 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.480 the generals, 00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:26.360 right out front, 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:28.640 dressed in their elegant uniforms, 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.120 whatever they wear. 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.720 And in the back 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:33.600 would be the prisoners of war, 00:22:34.020 --> 00:22:34.600 shackled, 00:22:35.020 --> 00:22:35.720 held down, 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:36.560 like this. 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.580 And everyone else 00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:38.880 would be insulting them, 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:39.940 jeering at them, 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.580 throwing things at them. 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:43.060 And Paul is saying, 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.680 you guys are like the generals 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.500 out in front, 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:47.440 and we're like the prisoners of war 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.259 at the back. 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.140 You're the winners. 00:22:49.280 --> 00:22:49.960 We're the losers. 00:22:50.300 --> 00:22:51.400 You're the great ones. 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.820 We are just like this. 00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:56.259 And we're suffering 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.700 for the sake of the gospel, 00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.539 but actually we're more like 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.539 homeless beggars. 00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:02.099 You know, 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.500 we're hungry, 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.299 we're thirsty, 00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.960 we don't wear nice clothes, 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:08.619 we get kicked on the ground 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:09.339 by others, 00:23:09.939 --> 00:23:13.099 we don't have a home to live in. 00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:15.859 And as you guys walk past us 00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:17.279 wearing your nice brands, 00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:19.359 you don't even notice us 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:19.960 on the floor. 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:22.319 That's what Paul's saying 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.019 to the Corinthians. 00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:25.100 And he's saying, 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.200 if you think you're already 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.220 spiritually mature 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.120 without the pain 00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:28.920 and struggle, 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:29.620 Corinthians, 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:31.400 of the sacrifice 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.579 of following the way 00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.360 of the cross, 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.360 well, 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.779 I'm afraid you've forgotten 00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:38.980 who you're actually following. 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.079 You've forgotten 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.840 who you're following. 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:44.420 And if you look down 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.259 in verse 16, 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:46.180 he says something 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.299 which is very strange. 00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.860 He says, 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:50.219 I urge you. 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.299 He doesn't say, 00:23:52.399 --> 00:23:52.539 well, 00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:53.339 this would be nice. 00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:55.539 How about trying this one day? 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.199 He doesn't say that. 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:56.579 He says, 00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.299 I, 00:23:57.679 --> 00:23:59.259 with everything in me, 00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:00.479 urge you, 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:03.659 be imitators of me. 00:24:05.659 --> 00:24:06.500 Have you thought 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.579 how weird that is? 00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.399 First of all, 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:11.039 if I come and say to you, 00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:12.099 okay, guys, 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:13.419 if you want to live life, 00:24:14.159 --> 00:24:14.959 just look at this. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.519 That, 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:15.720 that, 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.860 we would say, 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:17.900 is arrogant. 00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:20.299 But not just that. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.200 Think about it. 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.059 It's even weirder 00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:23.880 because what has Paul just said? 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.819 He's just said, 00:24:28.100 --> 00:24:30.340 we are the scum of the world, 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:32.180 the refuse of all things. 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:32.960 That word, 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:33.640 scum, 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:35.500 it means scrapings off. 00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:35.900 It's like, 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:37.279 you know when you go to the park 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.819 and you're walking along 00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:40.299 and you put your foot down 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.759 and you hear this squelch. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.960 And suddenly you look down 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:45.420 to see what you stepped in 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.980 and it's not a pleasant sight. 00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:49.440 And you lift up your foot 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:49.940 and you think, 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:50.779 oh no. 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:53.900 And you scrape off 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:58.099 the beautiful material 00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:59.779 that is on the bottom of your shoe 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:02.059 and you throw it away. 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.680 And Paul is saying, 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.559 that is what we are like. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:08.379 We are like the scrapings 00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:11.220 in your eyes, 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:13.740 in the eyes of society around us. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.700 And when Paul is saying, 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:18.139 I want you to be imitators of me, 00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.379 he's not saying, 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:21.079 I want you to be really impressive. 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:21.679 He's saying, 00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:24.000 I want you to be like some dog crap. 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.679 If I can say that. 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.859 You see, 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:31.599 that is not a great marketing campaign. 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:32.659 You know, 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.860 that's not going to get 00:25:33.860 --> 00:25:36.060 the online booking office 00:25:36.060 --> 00:25:37.160 jammed with people 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:38.080 lining up to say, 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:39.480 I want some of that, Paul. 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.540 But Paul is saying, 00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:44.380 this is what Christian leadership 00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:45.180 looks like. 00:25:46.060 --> 00:25:47.000 This is what, 00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:48.060 if you want to see someone 00:25:48.060 --> 00:25:48.980 who's worth following, 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.800 this is what it looks like. 00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:52.840 This is the way of the cross. 00:25:53.340 --> 00:25:54.340 Christian maturity 00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:55.600 is cross-shaped. 00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:58.040 It's not puffed up shaped. 00:25:59.540 --> 00:26:00.200 He says, 00:26:00.300 --> 00:26:01.400 if you want to be spiritual, 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.300 then your life 00:26:02.300 --> 00:26:03.720 has got to look like my life. 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.700 Now I'm sorry 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:10.540 if some of you 00:26:10.540 --> 00:26:11.360 came to Christianity 00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:12.320 on the card of, 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.360 I follow Jesus, 00:26:13.820 --> 00:26:15.060 get some nice feelings, 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.800 get someone just to be with me 00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:17.440 who I can pray, 00:26:17.540 --> 00:26:18.680 sort out all the nasty things 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.300 in my life, 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.780 and life will be so much better. 00:26:21.340 --> 00:26:21.540 And, 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:24.480 I'm sorry 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.300 if that's the card 00:26:25.300 --> 00:26:25.980 you came on 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.519 because, 00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:28.800 I'm afraid 00:26:28.800 --> 00:26:29.680 someone lied to you. 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:31.380 Well, 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.380 maybe they didn't lie. 00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:33.680 Maybe there is truth in that. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.160 But maybe 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.279 they didn't tell you 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:35.940 the small print. 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.039 Well, 00:26:38.080 --> 00:26:38.400 actually, 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:39.279 it's not small print. 00:26:39.360 --> 00:26:40.680 It's actually very big print 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.980 because it's, 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.820 it's through pretty much 00:26:42.820 --> 00:26:43.820 every single book 00:26:43.820 --> 00:26:44.420 of the Bible, 00:26:45.100 --> 00:26:46.279 the book of the New Testament. 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.220 You know, 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.799 there's wonderful, 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:50.220 but I've got some favorite verses. 00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:50.539 You know, 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.420 you know those verses like, 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:54.519 we are more than conquerors 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:56.360 through Christ who loves us. 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:56.640 Do you know, 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:58.140 I like that verse. 00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:00.279 Do you know what the previous 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:01.140 two verses are? 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.920 Here we go. 00:27:04.860 --> 00:27:06.080 Who shall separate us 00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:07.000 from the love of Christ? 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.940 It's good so far. 00:27:08.800 --> 00:27:09.580 Shall tribulation, 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.039 distress, 00:27:10.320 --> 00:27:10.660 persecution, 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.160 famine, 00:27:11.300 --> 00:27:11.680 nakedness, 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:11.960 danger, 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:12.560 sword, 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.600 as it's written, 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.400 for your sake, 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.560 we're being killed 00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:16.820 all the day long. 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.140 We're regarded as sheep 00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:19.120 to be slaughtered 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.339 in all these things. 00:27:20.679 --> 00:27:22.299 We are more than conquerors. 00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:23.899 Ooh. 00:27:25.639 --> 00:27:26.739 Here's another one. 00:27:27.459 --> 00:27:27.899 Philippians. 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:29.500 Paul says, 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.659 I want to know Christ 00:27:30.659 --> 00:27:31.759 and the power 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.619 of his resurrection. 00:27:33.459 --> 00:27:34.479 I like that. 00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:34.779 You know, 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:36.459 a bit of resurrection power. 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:37.139 Yeah. 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.619 Come on. 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:39.500 And, 00:27:39.879 --> 00:27:42.759 but the next bit says, 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:45.219 that I may share 00:27:45.219 --> 00:27:46.299 his sufferings 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.399 becoming like him 00:27:47.399 --> 00:27:48.219 in his death. 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.519 And I'm thinking, 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:49.900 no, 00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:50.500 Paul, 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.539 why did you have 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:53.100 to put that sentence in? 00:27:53.600 --> 00:27:55.299 It was looking so nice 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.259 to that point. 00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.700 Because I struggle 00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.259 with this. 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.440 It's not sexy. 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.339 It's not comfortable. 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.220 It doesn't get you 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:03.460 many Facebook likes. 00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:06.339 But he says, 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:08.039 be imitators of me. 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.019 And he says it again 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.779 in chapter 11. 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:10.120 He says, 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.360 be imitators of me 00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:13.759 as I imitate Christ. 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:19.180 in Hong Kong, 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.920 many of us wear crosses, 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:22.240 sometimes diamond crosses. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.680 I don't have a problem 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.980 with diamond crosses, 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:28.000 but I think, 00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.559 do you realize 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.819 how weird it would be 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:32.539 for a first century person 00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:34.980 to see a load of people 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:36.140 wearing crosses? 00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:37.920 Because the cross 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:39.620 was the most humiliating form 00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:41.259 of torture and death 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:43.520 reserved for the worst criminals, 00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:45.740 the serial rapists, 00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:46.460 the murderers, 00:28:46.540 --> 00:28:47.259 the pedophiles, 00:28:47.340 --> 00:28:48.280 the people you think 00:28:48.280 --> 00:28:50.040 are the worst in society. 00:28:50.300 --> 00:28:52.220 That's what the cross represented. 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.660 It's a bit like 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.160 if you've got, 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:54.880 I don't know, 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:56.820 you have an electric chair 00:28:56.820 --> 00:28:58.900 hanging around your neck. 00:28:59.140 --> 00:29:00.000 Or if you're a Jew, 00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:01.380 you have a gas chamber. 00:29:01.800 --> 00:29:03.080 Or you have a noose 00:29:03.080 --> 00:29:04.100 around your neck. 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.679 That is what it means. 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:07.839 Any first century person 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.959 would be shocked 00:29:08.959 --> 00:29:10.199 and think you're an idiot 00:29:10.199 --> 00:29:13.159 to have one of those. 00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:16.480 And Jesus in the Bible, 00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:18.319 it tells us Isaiah 53. 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.059 It says, 00:29:20.199 --> 00:29:21.740 He had no form of majesty. 00:29:22.159 --> 00:29:23.359 This is the one we worship, 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:23.899 by the way. 00:29:24.639 --> 00:29:26.019 He had no form of majesty 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:27.859 that we should look at Him, 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:30.459 no beauty that we should desire Him. 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.779 He was despised 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:33.000 and rejected by men. 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:34.079 He was as one 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:35.599 from whom men hide their faces. 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.700 He was despised 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:38.259 and we esteemed Him not. 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:41.319 That's the foolishness 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:42.000 of the cross. 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:45.420 But Jesus made Himself nothing 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:47.599 so that we could get glory. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.000 Jesus died 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:51.480 that we might have life. 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.700 He chose not to grasp 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:55.799 onto equality with God. 00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:56.559 He didn't choose 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.920 to make Himself great, 00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:59.339 but He lowered Himself 00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:03.220 so that we might be forgiven, 00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:05.359 so that we might experience 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:05.939 that joy. 00:30:07.679 --> 00:30:08.759 He did it for you. 00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:09.639 He did it for me. 00:30:10.199 --> 00:30:11.859 And if that's what the King is like, 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.759 well, His followers 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:16.079 will also look like Him. 00:30:16.959 --> 00:30:17.819 That's why Christians 00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.759 are called Christian. 00:30:19.439 --> 00:30:20.859 They're kind of like little Christs. 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:21.919 They look like Him. 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:26.060 Now, this is, 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:28.400 I find this quite heavy 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:30.200 because, 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:32.500 you know, 00:30:32.580 --> 00:30:34.060 it says we follow Christ crucified 00:30:34.060 --> 00:30:36.440 and follow means follow 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:39.500 and crucified means to death, 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:42.080 to service, 00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.640 to sacrifice, 00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.340 to self-denial, 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.660 to suffering, 00:30:47.300 --> 00:30:48.580 to not me being great, 00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:50.500 but to me being laid less. 00:30:52.419 --> 00:30:53.879 And I just wonder sometimes 00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:54.759 why does Jesus seem 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.500 to make it so heavy? 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:56.339 Because Jesus says it. 00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:56.779 I mean, He says, 00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:57.579 if anyone's not willing 00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.299 to deny himself, 00:30:58.399 --> 00:30:59.079 take up his cross, 00:30:59.159 --> 00:30:59.619 he's not worthy 00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:00.439 of being my disciple. 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:00.759 And I say, 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:02.419 Jesus, that sounds pretty hard. 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.919 But I think another reason 00:31:06.919 --> 00:31:07.639 I struggle with this 00:31:07.639 --> 00:31:08.299 is because it seems 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:09.419 a little bit detached 00:31:09.419 --> 00:31:11.299 from my everyday life, 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:11.659 you know. 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:13.960 I'm not going to be crucified 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.839 on a cross 00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:17.500 probably tomorrow at work. 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.799 You know, 00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:21.279 my life is not in danger 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:23.519 generally in Hong Kong. 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:25.859 And so sometimes 00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:26.980 that idea of me dying 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:28.359 doesn't really kind of compute. 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:31.619 But I think Paul is not saying, 00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:31.920 okay, 00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:33.579 it's just a physical death. 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.759 I think he's saying 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:36.519 it's a death to me 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.460 being the one 00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:39.279 who's the center of my life, 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.779 the one who's got to be great 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:42.079 in my situations. 00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.259 He's saying it's an attitude 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.119 of service. 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.180 It's an attitude 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:48.360 of not self-promoting 00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:49.600 but laying myself down. 00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.580 And that takes place 00:31:50.580 --> 00:31:52.519 a thousand times every day 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.940 in just very little 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:55.740 ordinary things. 00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:59.640 Very ordinary things 00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:00.779 where we choose 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.860 to die to ourselves. 00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:03.320 It's your response 00:32:03.320 --> 00:32:05.539 when you hear somebody 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:07.680 talking behind your back 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.700 at work. 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:10.460 And you can follow 00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.340 the way of pride 00:32:11.340 --> 00:32:11.700 which is, 00:32:12.060 --> 00:32:12.940 I don't deserve it. 00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:14.060 I'm going to get my own back. 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:16.099 I'm going to ignore them. 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.399 Or you can say, 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:19.619 I will choose to forgive them 00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:20.859 and I will bless. 00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:23.659 That's the way of the cross. 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:26.220 It's when you're suffering 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.200 from cancer 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:28.440 and the pain of that 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:30.419 and you have that temptation 00:32:30.419 --> 00:32:31.359 to be bitter 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:32.619 and yet you say, 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:34.460 I will trust you God. 00:32:35.179 --> 00:32:36.339 It's the way of the cross. 00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.480 It's if you're single 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.299 and you're desperate 00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:39.200 to get married 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:41.759 and yet you choose 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.140 to say, 00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:43.500 I will follow you Christ. 00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.720 I will trust you 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:45.940 in this time 00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:47.319 even though it's hard. 00:32:49.860 --> 00:32:51.259 It's when you go home 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:52.180 and you just crash 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.720 on the sofa 00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.960 after a day's work 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:55.620 and you want to do nothing 00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:56.900 but just watch TV 00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:58.620 and your spouse 00:32:58.620 --> 00:32:59.519 or friend 00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:00.779 just wants to talk to you 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.279 and tell them 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:01.960 about your issues 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.980 and it's the last thing 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:03.680 you want to do. 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:05.640 But the way of the cross, 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:08.840 the way of the cross. 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:14.040 I don't find this easy. 00:33:14.780 --> 00:33:15.920 I'm not just saying that. 00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.580 I really don't. 00:33:17.600 --> 00:33:18.640 But if there's one thing 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:19.620 that's crystal clear 00:33:19.620 --> 00:33:20.240 in the Bible 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:21.620 it's this. 00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:25.000 There are no mature Christians. 00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:28.300 There are no mature Christians 00:33:28.300 --> 00:33:30.480 who have not walked 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.580 the way of the cross, 00:33:32.360 --> 00:33:33.600 who have not suffered 00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:35.100 in some way 00:33:35.099 --> 00:33:36.939 whether it's through health, 00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:37.899 whether it's through 00:33:37.899 --> 00:33:39.339 just choosing 00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:40.519 to be ethical 00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:41.419 when everyone else 00:33:41.419 --> 00:33:42.579 wants to be unethical. 00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:45.859 Maturity comes that way. 00:33:45.919 --> 00:33:46.919 I know so many people 00:33:46.919 --> 00:33:48.119 who think maturity, 00:33:48.899 --> 00:33:49.939 they think they're mature 00:33:49.939 --> 00:33:50.779 just because they've been 00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:51.500 to seminary 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.599 and they've got 00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:53.759 an extra lot of doctrine. 00:33:54.179 --> 00:33:55.099 That's not maturity. 00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:57.559 Maturity is people 00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:59.179 who just in the ordinary 00:33:59.179 --> 00:34:00.879 everyday things of life 00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:03.039 choose the way of the cross. 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:06.259 at this point 00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:06.920 I just want to 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:08.360 I want to commend to you 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.199 some of our leaders 00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:10.119 in this church. 00:34:11.699 --> 00:34:12.860 Whether it's the staff 00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:13.739 or whether it's the community 00:34:13.739 --> 00:34:14.559 group leaders 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.679 or whether it's the people 00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:16.360 who are leading 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.500 just some of the amazing things 00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:18.300 like the young life 00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:19.199 and young life stuff 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:19.980 that's going on. 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.619 Some of these 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:23.079 are great examples 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:24.519 of just in the ordinary 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.219 everyday 00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:27.099 of how they serve, 00:34:27.259 --> 00:34:28.239 of how they sacrifice, 00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.800 of how they love you 00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:30.740 and you may not even 00:34:30.740 --> 00:34:31.519 have noticed 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:34.080 but these guys, 00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.240 this is what Christian 00:34:35.240 --> 00:34:36.220 leadership is about. 00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:38.039 These people 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:39.539 are worth imitating. 00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:40.900 That's why we want them. 00:34:41.060 --> 00:34:41.980 We don't choose leaders 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.860 just because you've had 00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:44.000 a great business success 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.300 or you've led groups before. 00:34:45.660 --> 00:34:46.580 We choose people 00:34:46.580 --> 00:34:47.120 who just, 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:48.440 we see that sense 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:49.440 of wanting to walk 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.400 the way of the cross. 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:54.220 They'll admit 00:34:54.220 --> 00:34:54.980 they're not perfect. 00:34:55.160 --> 00:34:55.840 None of us are. 00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:56.940 We're broken. 00:34:57.360 --> 00:34:58.460 It's step by step 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.579 but they're seeking 00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.440 to walk that way. 00:35:02.740 --> 00:35:03.660 I want to tell you 00:35:03.660 --> 00:35:04.500 about one of my 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.619 Christian heroes. 00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:07.720 Not Van Halen. 00:35:09.740 --> 00:35:10.680 Who I've seen 00:35:10.680 --> 00:35:12.200 just living the way 00:35:12.200 --> 00:35:12.780 of the cross 00:35:12.780 --> 00:35:13.420 in their life. 00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:15.639 It's my mom. 00:35:17.240 --> 00:35:17.760 You see, 00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:18.220 my mom, 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.360 you'll never see her on TV. 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.380 You'll never see her 00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:20.980 on Facebook. 00:35:21.660 --> 00:35:22.500 She doesn't tweet. 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.620 She thinks YouTube 00:35:23.620 --> 00:35:24.480 is probably something 00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:25.120 you find under 00:35:25.120 --> 00:35:26.000 the kitchen sink. 00:35:28.140 --> 00:35:28.620 She, 00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:30.320 she doesn't want to be 00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.380 the center of attention 00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:31.800 at all. 00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:33.900 She grew up 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:35.160 with a domineering father. 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:35.820 She got married 00:35:35.820 --> 00:35:36.280 to someone 00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:37.059 who was too low 00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:38.019 on the social scale 00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:39.059 for her dad's approval. 00:35:39.700 --> 00:35:40.980 She had three children, 00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:41.960 one miscarriage. 00:35:42.220 --> 00:35:43.280 She brought three of us 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:43.980 up constantly, 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.440 often on her own 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.140 because my dad 00:35:46.140 --> 00:35:46.940 struggled with illness 00:35:46.940 --> 00:35:47.680 and depression 00:35:47.680 --> 00:35:48.400 and stress. 00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:50.000 At the age of 40, 00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:50.740 she was diagnosed 00:35:50.740 --> 00:35:51.579 with arthritis 00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:54.059 in her hips. 00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:55.380 She had one operation. 00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:56.619 It was a complete disaster. 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:57.960 It took two more operations 00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.960 to fix that one. 00:35:59.320 --> 00:35:59.980 After praying, 00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:00.800 they chose not 00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:01.760 to sue the surgeon 00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:02.820 because he was retiring. 00:36:04.700 --> 00:36:05.380 In total, 00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.160 she's had at least 00:36:06.160 --> 00:36:07.280 eight hip operations, 00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:08.740 been under general anesthetic 00:36:08.740 --> 00:36:10.000 at least 16 times. 00:36:10.700 --> 00:36:11.820 And in all of that, 00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:12.800 she's had a quiet, 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:13.860 joyful confidence 00:36:13.860 --> 00:36:14.539 in God. 00:36:16.120 --> 00:36:17.539 She spent long periods 00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:19.180 of time looking after us, 00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:20.820 sometimes barely able 00:36:20.820 --> 00:36:22.039 to walk in agony, 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:24.360 and yet she never complained. 00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:27.180 When we would complain 00:36:27.180 --> 00:36:27.880 about the food 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.780 that she'd just cooked, 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.860 spent two hours cooking, 00:36:30.200 --> 00:36:31.120 she wouldn't get angry, 00:36:31.260 --> 00:36:32.140 but she'd just patiently 00:36:32.140 --> 00:36:33.000 remind us 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:34.460 that God provides. 00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:36.820 And through everything 00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:37.579 that was going on 00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:38.180 in her life, 00:36:38.300 --> 00:36:39.660 she would be always 00:36:39.660 --> 00:36:40.140 looking out 00:36:40.140 --> 00:36:40.880 for other people. 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:43.800 In our middle class church, 00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:46.320 we would always have people 00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:47.160 around for dinner 00:36:47.160 --> 00:36:48.380 on Sundays and things, 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:49.820 but she would invite 00:36:49.820 --> 00:36:50.260 the people 00:36:50.260 --> 00:36:51.220 that most other people 00:36:51.220 --> 00:36:51.900 wouldn't invite. 00:36:52.280 --> 00:36:54.059 We had ex-drug addicts, 00:36:54.140 --> 00:36:54.800 we had refugees, 00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:56.860 we had manic depressive, 00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:58.200 we had the lot 00:36:58.200 --> 00:36:59.300 coming in and out 00:36:59.300 --> 00:36:59.980 of our house. 00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:02.019 And she cared for them all. 00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:03.519 She listened to them, 00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:04.940 she prayed for them, 00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:06.019 she fed them, 00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:07.500 she shared the gospel 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:08.000 with them, 00:37:08.420 --> 00:37:09.440 she sometimes shouted 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:09.880 at them. 00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:13.280 She loved God's word, 00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:13.780 but she's not 00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:14.800 particularly intellectual. 00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:16.220 She'd be left behind 00:37:16.220 --> 00:37:17.160 in any discussion, 00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:18.280 but she was okay with that. 00:37:20.140 --> 00:37:21.260 She's not perfect. 00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:22.820 Many times she would just, 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:24.480 the people that she was 00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:25.480 trying to engage with 00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:26.800 would just drive her 00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:27.740 completely nuts. 00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:29.059 She'd lose her temper. 00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:30.000 Sometimes she'd say 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:30.940 inappropriate things 00:37:30.940 --> 00:37:32.200 at inappropriate times. 00:37:33.160 --> 00:37:34.099 But people knew 00:37:34.099 --> 00:37:34.900 that she loved them. 00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:39.940 In many ways, 00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:41.820 she's just ordinary. 00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:42.559 She would clean 00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:43.820 people's flats for them, 00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:45.440 babysit their kids, 00:37:45.639 --> 00:37:46.720 visit people in hospital, 00:37:47.400 --> 00:37:48.539 just the normal things 00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:50.059 in the normal course of life. 00:37:52.380 --> 00:37:53.559 Ordinary woman, 00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:54.760 plenty of faults, 00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:56.480 but someone who was looking 00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:58.059 to walk the way of the cross. 00:37:58.059 --> 00:38:00.960 She knew God's forgiveness 00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:01.860 on her life. 00:38:02.779 --> 00:38:03.739 God changed her. 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:05.539 She looked to share Jesus 00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:06.139 with people. 00:38:07.779 --> 00:38:09.159 She was willing to serve. 00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:11.000 She wasn't looking 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:12.000 to make herself great. 00:38:15.519 --> 00:38:17.039 And it's not just 00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:18.059 because it's Mother's Day 00:38:18.059 --> 00:38:18.880 that I say this 00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:20.320 or because I'm her son, 00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:21.219 but many other people 00:38:21.219 --> 00:38:21.940 would come up to me 00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:22.239 and say, 00:38:22.340 --> 00:38:22.519 you know, 00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:23.340 your mom has been 00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:25.019 an amazing blessing to us. 00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:29.480 Because she's 00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:30.960 a Christian hero to me. 00:38:32.079 --> 00:38:32.880 She's someone 00:38:32.880 --> 00:38:34.180 I think is worth 00:38:34.180 --> 00:38:36.780 imitating in life. 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.300 And the thing is, 00:38:39.340 --> 00:38:40.120 every one of us 00:38:40.120 --> 00:38:40.840 in this room 00:38:40.840 --> 00:38:43.620 has people 00:38:43.620 --> 00:38:44.940 who are imitating us. 00:38:45.700 --> 00:38:46.920 Whether you like it or not, 00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:48.019 people are noticing you. 00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:50.280 People notice how you act. 00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:51.559 They notice your priorities. 00:38:51.900 --> 00:38:52.960 Your kids notice 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.940 what you do. 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.780 And you know what? 00:38:57.860 --> 00:38:58.900 People will judge you 00:38:58.900 --> 00:39:00.039 by your appearance. 00:39:01.720 --> 00:39:02.720 They'll write you off 00:39:02.720 --> 00:39:03.599 if you don't look 00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:04.920 the way they want you to look. 00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:05.840 They will. 00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:07.119 That's the way the world works. 00:39:08.360 --> 00:39:09.320 But the question 00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:11.699 I would ask each one of us is, 00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:14.900 is your life worth imitating? 00:39:16.900 --> 00:39:19.260 Is your life worth imitating? 00:39:19.260 --> 00:39:23.400 Is the way that you do business, 00:39:23.520 --> 00:39:24.440 is the way that you work, 00:39:24.520 --> 00:39:25.780 is the way you love your family, 00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:27.800 is the way you care for people 00:39:27.800 --> 00:39:28.860 in your community group, 00:39:29.080 --> 00:39:31.120 is the way that you do these things, 00:39:31.680 --> 00:39:33.100 does it show an example 00:39:33.100 --> 00:39:35.240 to people that if they followed you 00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:36.380 in just a little way, 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:38.400 they would look just a little bit 00:39:38.400 --> 00:39:39.160 more like Jesus? 00:39:47.220 --> 00:39:48.240 The way of the cross 00:39:48.240 --> 00:39:51.760 is not a glorious thing 00:39:51.760 --> 00:39:52.900 where I'm going to look great. 00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:54.160 It's just today, 00:39:54.280 --> 00:39:55.800 there's going to be mundane things, 00:39:56.380 --> 00:39:57.960 everyday little things, 00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:59.960 everyday there's a chance 00:39:59.960 --> 00:40:01.180 to walk the way of the cross. 00:40:01.179 --> 00:40:04.039 In my pride, 00:40:04.139 --> 00:40:05.119 I want to be noticed 00:40:05.119 --> 00:40:05.940 for my greatness 00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:06.960 and for my gifts 00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:08.179 and for all those other things 00:40:08.179 --> 00:40:09.019 and praise God 00:40:09.019 --> 00:40:10.359 for the gifts that God gives. 00:40:10.919 --> 00:40:12.319 I mean, praise Him. 00:40:14.139 --> 00:40:15.379 But what is it that 00:40:15.379 --> 00:40:18.019 the cross is going to look like for you? 00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:19.199 We have next week, 00:40:19.579 --> 00:40:21.539 we have this love offering. 00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:23.299 What does the way of the cross 00:40:23.299 --> 00:40:24.799 look like as it's sacrificial, 00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:25.679 as it's serving, 00:40:25.779 --> 00:40:26.679 as it's self-denying, 00:40:26.719 --> 00:40:27.219 as you give? 00:40:27.219 --> 00:40:30.299 What does the way of the cross 00:40:30.299 --> 00:40:31.379 look like as you go 00:40:31.379 --> 00:40:33.179 into your office place? 00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.959 The people you say hi to, 00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:37.579 the people that you'll notice, 00:40:37.919 --> 00:40:39.219 the people you'll smile at. 00:40:40.879 --> 00:40:44.019 The culture that we live in, 00:40:44.179 --> 00:40:45.039 like in Corinth, 00:40:45.179 --> 00:40:46.599 tells us to look at the outward 00:40:46.599 --> 00:40:49.639 and to try and be like them. 00:40:50.899 --> 00:40:52.239 And Paul, he says, 00:40:53.139 --> 00:40:54.419 be imitators of me 00:40:54.419 --> 00:40:56.199 because I imitate Christ. 00:40:57.219 --> 00:41:01.439 Can you say, 00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:03.480 and I find this a challenge, 00:41:03.579 --> 00:41:04.139 but this is one 00:41:04.139 --> 00:41:05.739 that we continually put before us. 00:41:05.799 --> 00:41:06.699 It's not a guilt trip. 00:41:06.799 --> 00:41:09.019 It's something to continually think 00:41:09.019 --> 00:41:10.199 and check my life. 00:41:11.339 --> 00:41:12.639 Can I say to somebody, 00:41:13.639 --> 00:41:15.439 be an imitator of me 00:41:15.439 --> 00:41:18.799 as I imitate Christ? 00:41:20.480 --> 00:41:21.839 That's Christian leadership. 00:41:23.079 --> 00:41:24.439 That's Christian maturity. 00:41:25.439 --> 00:41:25.959 Let's pray. 00:41:27.219 --> 00:41:27.639 Father, 00:41:39.799 --> 00:41:44.639 when you call us to follow you, 00:41:45.159 --> 00:41:48.379 you call us into something 00:41:48.379 --> 00:41:49.139 that is beautiful. 00:41:49.139 --> 00:41:53.000 because to be a hero 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:56.259 is not often what we think it is. 00:41:57.400 --> 00:41:58.619 Lord, even in culture, 00:41:58.619 --> 00:42:00.299 we know that some of the greatest heroes 00:42:00.299 --> 00:42:01.099 are those who are willing 00:42:01.099 --> 00:42:02.039 to lay down their life 00:42:02.039 --> 00:42:02.759 for other people. 00:42:04.759 --> 00:42:06.079 And in our good moments, 00:42:06.219 --> 00:42:08.039 we recognize that. 00:42:08.099 --> 00:42:08.980 Even on Mother's Day, 00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:10.239 we recognize the way 00:42:10.239 --> 00:42:12.039 that our mothers have been 00:42:12.039 --> 00:42:13.960 in many ways, Lord, 00:42:13.960 --> 00:42:15.699 those people who do walk 00:42:15.699 --> 00:42:16.699 that way of the cross. 00:42:18.619 --> 00:42:21.500 Please would you show us, 00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:22.760 just today, 00:42:22.900 --> 00:42:23.900 show us one thing. 00:42:25.179 --> 00:42:26.619 As we go out of here, 00:42:27.159 --> 00:42:28.380 what it looks like for me 00:42:28.380 --> 00:42:29.159 to say, 00:42:29.159 --> 00:42:31.659 I'm not going to walk in 00:42:31.659 --> 00:42:33.239 just trying to impress 00:42:33.239 --> 00:42:35.079 and make myself look good, 00:42:35.139 --> 00:42:35.839 but I'm going to look 00:42:35.839 --> 00:42:36.679 for the people around 00:42:36.679 --> 00:42:38.699 to love and serve. 00:42:39.759 --> 00:42:41.079 And even if other people 00:42:41.079 --> 00:42:41.960 look down on that, 00:42:42.039 --> 00:42:42.759 then that's okay 00:42:42.759 --> 00:42:43.899 because you're the one 00:42:43.899 --> 00:42:45.039 who judges me, Father. 00:42:45.839 --> 00:42:47.199 And I know your judgment 00:42:47.199 --> 00:42:49.079 is good 00:42:49.079 --> 00:42:50.859 and is loving 00:42:50.859 --> 00:42:52.399 and is kind. 00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:54.820 help us to be a church 00:42:54.820 --> 00:42:56.519 which is not just consumed 00:42:56.519 --> 00:42:58.680 with being outwardly impressive, 00:42:59.720 --> 00:43:03.800 but really sees the cross 00:43:03.800 --> 00:43:05.420 as just something so beautiful 00:43:05.420 --> 00:43:07.539 because it is. 00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:09.740 Thank you that you're our Savior. 00:43:10.760 --> 00:43:12.000 Thank you that we're forgiven 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:13.639 where we walk the way of pride. 00:43:14.440 --> 00:43:16.280 Help us now renew us afresh 00:43:16.280 --> 00:43:17.760 to remember that grace, 00:43:19.099 --> 00:43:20.480 that joy of what it means 00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:21.320 to walk in you. 00:43:22.400 --> 00:43:23.280 Thank you. 00:43:23.740 --> 00:43:24.160 In your name. 00:43:24.700 --> 00:43:24.900 Amen.