WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.240 It's one of my favorite movie scenes. 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:20.679 A tour de force of 80s techno pop new age music 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:26.960 with a driving bass line written by the great composer Vangelis. 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:29.120 Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:33.799 The screen opens and you see men running along the beach in England 00:00:33.799 --> 00:00:39.899 as they appear out of the mist and run across the screen 00:00:39.899 --> 00:00:44.539 with the ocean spray spitting up into their faces, 00:00:44.840 --> 00:00:50.020 their white running shorts and shirts getting stained with sand. 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:57.680 And so you see the heart of the movie, Chariots of Fire, Oscar winning. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:00.259 Many of you weren't born when it was made. 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:05.319 It's worth going back to watch because it's a great story. 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:09.960 It is a great story of two men in their pursuit, 00:01:10.739 --> 00:01:14.780 their different paths to Olympic gold and to Olympic glory. 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:19.640 Eric Liddell, a missionary kid, local Scottish rugby hero, 00:01:20.299 --> 00:01:23.460 active in ministry and campus mission, 00:01:23.459 --> 00:01:27.299 preparing to return to China as a missionary. 00:01:28.399 --> 00:01:30.039 He says to his sister, 00:01:31.039 --> 00:01:33.459 I believe God made me for China, 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:36.119 for a purpose, for China. 00:01:36.639 --> 00:01:39.419 But I also know that God made me fast. 00:01:39.939 --> 00:01:42.219 And when I run, I feel his pleasure. 00:01:43.219 --> 00:01:45.679 And so to live his whole life for the glory of God, 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:48.419 he pursued both this Olympic opportunity 00:01:48.420 --> 00:01:51.439 and his career in missions. 00:01:52.100 --> 00:01:53.379 The other main character, 00:01:53.820 --> 00:01:54.780 Harold Abrams, 00:01:55.019 --> 00:01:57.460 from a non-Anglo-Saxon family. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:00.060 In fact, he was half Jewish, 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:02.340 half Lithuanian, if I remember correctly. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:06.500 Succeeded at the highest levels 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:08.780 at Cambridge University, 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:11.840 working to be the best runner in the world, 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:14.099 driven by an inner compulsion 00:02:14.099 --> 00:02:16.599 to overcome the odds. 00:02:16.699 --> 00:02:18.019 And as an outsider, 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:20.780 climb to the top. 00:02:23.819 --> 00:02:26.620 Both of these men in their various courses 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:28.900 disciplined their lives. 00:02:28.979 --> 00:02:30.019 And this is what you see. 00:02:30.180 --> 00:02:32.340 Abrams and Liddell running next to each other, 00:02:32.459 --> 00:02:35.039 both members of the Great Britain Olympic team, 00:02:35.139 --> 00:02:35.539 training, 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:37.579 disciplining themselves, 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:40.759 training their body through hard work. 00:02:40.819 --> 00:02:42.519 And it's fun to watch how they do it differently. 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:44.880 Eric Little's running through the Scottish Highlands, 00:02:45.020 --> 00:02:46.000 jumping over rocks. 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:50.520 And Abrams is training methodically 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:53.820 in a modern sports way 00:02:53.820 --> 00:02:56.439 that was shocking to the day. 00:02:57.180 --> 00:02:59.439 But both of them trained themselves 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:02.400 and focused for this purpose 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:06.200 of being the best runner they could be 00:03:06.200 --> 00:03:08.100 as they ran their Olympic race. 00:03:09.480 --> 00:03:11.080 They denied themselves. 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:13.660 They even put some of the relationships 00:03:13.660 --> 00:03:16.100 that they held most dear on the back burner 00:03:16.100 --> 00:03:19.500 in order to follow through 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:21.160 with the purpose that they had set 00:03:21.160 --> 00:03:22.380 for themselves, 00:03:22.460 --> 00:03:24.439 to win the prize. 00:03:26.760 --> 00:03:28.600 Friends, this is a great movie 00:03:28.600 --> 00:03:31.580 partly because the Bible uses a picture 00:03:31.580 --> 00:03:33.880 of running and running a race 00:03:33.880 --> 00:03:36.760 to be a part of the Christian life as well. 00:03:36.759 --> 00:03:40.199 And how we are called in a similar way 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:43.060 to live lives of discipline and purpose. 00:03:44.859 --> 00:03:47.699 I was struck by how important this is 00:03:47.699 --> 00:03:50.120 as I read a news report this week. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:53.139 Yet another well-known pastor 00:03:53.139 --> 00:03:55.500 removed from ministry, 00:03:56.099 --> 00:03:58.079 fallen into sin, 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:03.000 graciously being loved by his congregation, 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.099 and yet how devastating it is 00:04:06.099 --> 00:04:08.060 for him, for his family, 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:09.379 for his church 00:04:09.379 --> 00:04:11.219 to not run the race well, 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:16.620 to fail to run to the end, 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:18.300 to fail to have the discipline 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:19.660 and the focus 00:04:19.660 --> 00:04:21.800 to keep going. 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:27.699 And so, we asked the question this morning, 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:28.800 what does it look like 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:30.840 to run the race 00:04:30.840 --> 00:04:32.180 such as to win the prize? 00:04:32.900 --> 00:04:33.879 Maybe you're here visiting 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:34.480 and you're wondering, 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:36.280 what is this Christianity thing all about? 00:04:36.840 --> 00:04:37.780 You get a peek in 00:04:37.780 --> 00:04:38.759 to what it looks like 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:40.100 as Christians wrestle with 00:04:40.100 --> 00:04:42.379 how are we called to live out our life 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:43.879 in following Jesus? 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:46.780 And for those of us, 00:04:46.780 --> 00:04:47.600 as we look at 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.120 the example of the Apostle Paul 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:51.040 and how he talks about 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:52.480 his own life in ministry, 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:54.160 we will be challenged 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:55.620 to think how we also 00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:57.579 ought to live our lives. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:00.980 Continuing in our series 00:05:00.980 --> 00:05:03.360 in 1 Corinthians, 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:06.840 we're in section chapters 8 through 10 00:05:06.840 --> 00:05:09.319 that is responding to a question about, 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:10.639 which is one we don't have, 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:11.939 we don't face today, 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:13.840 about food offered to idols. 00:05:13.939 --> 00:05:14.920 What do we do with food 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:15.720 offered to idols 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:17.340 in pagan temples? 00:05:17.699 --> 00:05:18.459 As Christians, 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:19.180 do we eat it? 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:20.000 Do we not eat it? 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:20.639 Are there context? 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:23.280 How do we wrestle with those things? 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:25.079 And it seems that 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:27.540 for some in the Corinthian church, 00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:28.300 they had said, 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:30.040 we know it's just food. 00:05:30.220 --> 00:05:31.079 We know that idols 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:32.639 are not really gods at all. 00:05:32.900 --> 00:05:33.939 So what's the big deal? 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:35.280 We can do whatever we want. 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:38.319 Paul says, 00:05:38.420 --> 00:05:39.480 no, running the race 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:41.600 is more nuanced than that. 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:44.319 We need to be more careful thinkers 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:46.480 about how we respond 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:47.620 to these situations. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:49.780 And so, 00:05:49.900 --> 00:05:51.780 as we come to our passage today, 00:05:53.020 --> 00:05:54.460 1 Corinthians chapter 9, 00:05:54.580 --> 00:05:55.939 starting in verse 19, 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:59.160 page 957 in your pew Bibles. 00:05:59.980 --> 00:06:01.020 As we come to this, 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:03.300 we get Paul talking about 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:04.819 how do we run the race 00:06:04.819 --> 00:06:07.319 so as to win the prize? 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:11.520 Let's look at that passage 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:12.500 and read it together 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:14.680 and then we'll dive in. 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:22.319 1 Corinthians chapter 9, 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:23.759 starting verse 19. 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:27.719 For though I am free from all, 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.500 I have made myself a servant to all, 00:06:30.939 --> 00:06:32.899 that I might win more of them. 00:06:33.579 --> 00:06:34.319 To the Jews, 00:06:34.979 --> 00:06:36.139 I became as a Jew 00:06:36.139 --> 00:06:37.519 in order to win Jews. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:38.500 2 Corinthians 6. 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:39.620 To those under the law, 00:06:39.799 --> 00:06:41.019 I became as one 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:41.879 under the law, 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.379 though not being myself 00:06:43.379 --> 00:06:44.000 under the law, 00:06:44.839 --> 00:06:45.819 that I might win 00:06:45.819 --> 00:06:47.079 those under the law. 00:06:48.139 --> 00:06:49.779 To those outside the law, 00:06:49.919 --> 00:06:51.019 I became as one 00:06:51.019 --> 00:06:52.099 outside the law, 00:06:52.659 --> 00:06:53.519 not being outside 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:54.279 the law of God, 00:06:54.379 --> 00:06:55.959 but under the law of Christ, 00:06:56.719 --> 00:06:57.839 that I may win 00:06:57.839 --> 00:06:59.759 those outside the law. 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:01.339 To the weak, 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:02.299 I became weak, 00:07:02.379 --> 00:07:03.620 that I might win the weak. 00:07:04.539 --> 00:07:06.399 I have become all things 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:14.539 to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel 00:07:14.539 --> 00:07:22.539 that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:30.179 but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:39.019 in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run 00:07:39.019 --> 00:07:46.280 aimlessly. I do not box as one beating the air, but I discipline my body and keep it under control, 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:54.500 lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. Please pray with me. 00:07:54.500 --> 00:08:07.220 Lord, thank you for your word. Thank you that it teaches us, instructs us, and Lord, 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:15.060 more than that, that it changes us. That as we read your word by your spirit, Lord, you are able to 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:26.280 work in our hearts. Lord, to change our attitudes, to motivate us to action, to instruct us in our 00:08:26.280 --> 00:08:34.100 belief, and Lord, to encourage our faith and trust in you. God, I pray you would help us this morning. 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:41.940 I pray for your help that my words, Lord, would be useful in your hands, Lord, for all of us. 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:47.660 God, we pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:08:53.460 --> 00:09:00.620 What we see in the Apostle Paul is what God wants for all of us. He wants us to live lives of great 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:10.340 gospel flexibility and great gospel focus. And when we run this race, this is how we will run to win 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:17.560 the prize that he has us. So gospel flexibility and gospel focus is what we have on tap this morning. 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:24.580 Verses 19 through 23 show us about Paul's flexibility and the flexibility that Christians can have. 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:31.960 Verses 24 through 27 talk about the focus. So let's explore those first in order. 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:39.180 So 19 through 23, Paul has just spent, if you were here last week, you remember Pastor Nick preached on this, 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:46.960 but Paul has just spent the greater part of chapter 9 talking about his rights, that as a traveling 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:53.820 religious teacher and as a minister of the gospel in the kingdom of God, for both cultural and theological 00:09:53.820 --> 00:10:01.060 reasons, there is a good expectation, even a right that he would have, that the church, 00:10:01.059 --> 00:10:06.959 the people that he is teaching and encouraging, that they would support him, that they would take 00:10:06.959 --> 00:10:17.179 care of him financially. And so in verses 1 through 14 of chapter 9, Paul says, this is my right as an 00:10:17.179 --> 00:10:24.899 apostle for me to ask all of this. And yet, then he says in verses 15 through 18, but I don't take that 00:10:24.899 --> 00:10:32.559 right. As a matter of fact, I consciously defer that right. I do not want that obligation to be placed 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:39.879 on you because I do not want the obligation to you that is entailed in that. I want to be free 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:46.079 to proclaim the gospel to you without any burden to you at all so that you would hear the gospel and 00:10:46.079 --> 00:10:53.659 respond not because of any obligated relationship that we have, but simply because of the message that 00:10:53.659 --> 00:11:02.360 I proclaim. This is what Paul has been saying so far. And he's saying, talking about his ministry in 00:11:02.360 --> 00:11:13.500 the context of trying to address this issue of offering meat to idols and how he has shaped his life and 00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:24.039 shaped his ministry and shaped his message to live out this calling of preaching the gospel free of charge. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:33.960 So he says, I have this freedom to avoid obligation. And yet, and yet, look with me at verse 19 again. 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:41.759 Though I am free from all, I'm coming to you and I have no obligation per se based on that. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:52.319 I have made myself a slave or servant. It's the same word. I've made myself completely obligated. I have 00:11:52.319 --> 00:12:04.200 surrendered my freedom and my right. For what? I have made myself a servant of all that I may win 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:11.480 some of them. Recognize friends that this is a different concern that in chapter that he had in 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:17.960 chapter eight. Chapter eight, he was talking about protecting the souls of fellow brothers and sisters 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:24.580 who might stumble by the action of eating meat offered to idols. Here he is extending his vision 00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:29.759 even more than that. Yes, we are going to continue to care for them, but his, his vision is greater than 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:37.039 that. He is looking beyond his brothers and sisters and thinking in this world, there are those who 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:46.500 have not yet heard and have not yet received the good news of Jesus Christ. And this is Paul's great 00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:55.039 burning desire that the freedom that I have because of Jesus, I would spend fully and completely 00:12:55.039 --> 00:13:05.419 that others might also know that great freedom in Christ. This is what it is. Paul says, this is my 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:12.079 life. And I put it forth to you as an example that this is the pattern, not just for ministers 00:13:12.079 --> 00:13:20.639 or pastors, but for all believers to follow in my pattern. And what is the pattern? You see it. It's 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:26.019 fascinating to see if you're an English major, did you see that there's a, there's a linguistic pattern 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:38.240 here to the X, I became as Y so that I might win X. Do you see that to the Jews? I became a Jew 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:45.659 to those under the law. I became as under the law to those not under the law. I became as those not 00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:50.439 under the law to the week. I became as those under the week. And even the summary statements, 00:13:50.440 --> 00:14:01.320 verse 22, the second half, I become all things to all people that by all means I may win, 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:13.880 I may save some. This is the pattern. Paul's saying, because I now have this deeper identity in Christ, 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:23.200 because I now know that regardless of what else I am, I am first and foremost a Christian because of the 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:32.620 gospel work in my life. I have the freedom to be flexible. I have the freedom to go to a person and 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:39.799 meet them in every way I can without compromising the gospel itself so that they might understand it. 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:49.199 What did this look like? Think about, for instance, Paul says, to the Jews, I became as a Jew. Well, 00:14:49.219 --> 00:14:56.819 you know what? Paul was a Jew. Ethnically, he was a Jew. And yet his identity in Christ was so profound 00:14:56.819 --> 00:15:01.959 that what he said was, though these are my Jewish brothers and sisters, 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:11.340 what I'm going to do is I'm going to put myself back under following some of the customs, some of the 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:18.740 legal patterns that my Jewish brothers follow that I don't have to follow anymore. That's what he means 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:24.400 by saying to those under the law, though I'm not under the law, I become under the law. He's explaining 00:15:24.400 --> 00:15:29.360 that to say, although I know I don't have to do these things in order to be accepted by God, 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:36.120 I do them willingly so that my Jewish brothers and sisters will not be offended. 00:15:37.300 --> 00:15:45.060 I will not eat blood with meat in it. I will not travel on the Sabbath. You know, I will not 00:15:45.060 --> 00:15:52.539 all sorts of, I will not eat shellfish. You know, there are all sorts of different ways in which Paul 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:58.200 might have embraced these different things. Say, I won't do those things with my brothers because I 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:08.160 don't want to offend them. To those outside the law, to those without law, and for lots of religious 00:16:08.160 --> 00:16:13.540 people in the world, that would feel like those like crazy pagans out there, those people who are 00:16:13.540 --> 00:16:21.220 off the hook, living it up. So Paul says, look, to those outside the law, I'll become like them. Not 00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:27.759 that I'm off the hook with them, right? It's not that I'm embracing everything that they do because I'm still 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:34.379 under the law of Christ. I still have to live a life that reflects what God calls me to. But at the end of 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:43.320 the day, I'm going to become like them in every way that I can so that they might hear the gospel. What did this 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:50.000 look like? Well, it's fascinating to think about some of Paul's examples, right? Here's one of them. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:55.340 The issue of circumcision. To the Jewish community in the first century, and maybe even today, 00:16:55.740 --> 00:17:00.500 circumcision is a big deal, right? It's a sign that you're in the covenant. It's a sign that you're a 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:09.380 part of the people, right? And so, fascinatingly, Paul had one companion, Timothy, who in Acts 16, 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:18.759 Paul had circumcised so that they could continue their ministry among the Jews without 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:27.759 offense. So he had Timothy circumcised because he didn't want that to be offensive to his Jewish 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:34.500 brothers that Timothy had not done that. But then you turn over to Galatians chapter 2 and you find out 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:39.920 Titus, another traveling companion, was not compelled to be circumcised 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:52.160 for the same reason. To clarify the gospel among the Jews. Because in the Galatian context, 00:17:52.300 --> 00:17:56.920 there were people who were saying, you must follow the Jewish law in order to be a true Christian, 00:17:56.920 --> 00:18:04.920 in order to be saved, in order to be accepted by God. And Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, 00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:11.340 says, no, the only basis for our salvation is only and exclusively the finished work of Jesus Christ 00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:18.759 on the cross. His sufficient death for our sin is the only thing that is necessary. And our faith, 00:18:19.060 --> 00:18:26.880 which receives this work that God has done for us, is the only thing that makes us acceptable. 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:32.880 And so, I won't circumcise Titus so that you will understand the gospel clearly. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:38.520 In the same way that I will circumcise Timothy so that you will hear the gospel clearly and not 00:18:38.520 --> 00:18:49.000 be offended by these external things. It's fascinating to watch Paul be flexible like that. 00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:54.920 We don't like this. We like things to be neat and clean. Well, should he do it? Should he not do it? 00:18:55.100 --> 00:18:59.160 Do I eat with the Gentiles? Do I not eat with the Gentiles? How do I work these things out? 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:11.580 Right? And for Paul, there is this clarity about it. Does it help the gospel become clear? 00:19:12.540 --> 00:19:19.400 Does it help the gospel be heard in this circumstance? There are certain places where 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:24.980 if I went to preach in a church and I did not wear a tie, people would not listen to me. 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:32.680 They would wonder what kind of backwater yahoo I am that I couldn't get dressed up enough to actually 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:39.539 honor God but from the pulpit. There are other places where if I wore this, they would look at 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:44.940 me and think, oh wow, I don't know who he is, but he has no idea what my world is like. And they 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:52.920 wouldn't give me the time of day to listen. Right? So there's nothing I can wear that will always 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:59.660 win. There's nothing that a preacher should always wear when he does ministry. It is contextual. 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:06.200 If I'm a woman working in the Middle East sharing the gospel, I will likely wear a head covering. 00:20:06.560 --> 00:20:12.240 Unless I learn that that head covering is going to offend, is going to be confused 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:22.160 by the people there as a necessary requirement to be accepted by God. If I don't wear this, I can't be 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:28.559 accepted by God. Then I might not wear it for the sake of clarifying the gospel. 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:37.480 In some cases, there's a great illustration one of my seminary professors used where, you know, 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:44.220 he's from Canada, his mother's British, and he ministers in America. In lots of places in America, 00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:49.919 he doesn't drink alcohol because he knows that for some people, that's something that could be a real 00:20:49.919 --> 00:20:57.599 barrier to them hearing him as a minister of the gospel. Right? And so he doesn't do it in order to 00:20:57.599 --> 00:21:04.839 not offend people. But he said, but if I hear someone saying, you must not drink alcohol or you 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:11.359 cannot be a Christian, he will say, well then pass the port and let's drink together for the sake of 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:18.959 clarifying the gospel. Paul's pattern is to be flexible in everything that can be flexible. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:27.240 Let me give you some categories. How we dress, how we speak, the things that we talk about, 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:37.459 the places that we go. There's some deeper ones that are harder when we get into it. Things like 00:21:37.459 --> 00:21:44.179 how time is spent. If you're in a different culture, people might just stop by your house 00:21:44.179 --> 00:21:52.659 for the day. In America, that's just unthinkable. In America, you think, I've got a schedule, 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:56.080 well I've got to be at the grocery store in 45 minutes and I've got to, you know, and so on and 00:21:56.080 --> 00:22:02.380 so forth. And we live that way, right? But what does it mean for me to become all things to all 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:10.900 people, to my neighbor for whom time works differently than me? How do I do that? 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:21.280 These are some of the ways. Really another funny example. Physical space, right? In some cultures, 00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:27.980 physical space is like three to four feet. In other cultures, it's 12 to 18 inches. And if you've ever 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:32.380 been in one of those cultures where it's 12 to 18 inches, we as a Western Americans particularly, 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:37.620 we keep moving backwards in the conversation because we keep finding ourselves invaded. 00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:42.099 And our friend that we're trying to have a conversation with, he's trying to build a 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:45.539 relationship with us, keeps moving towards us because they want to connect with us and 00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:55.139 they can't figure out why we're so far away. And honestly, it's really uncomfortable to have 00:22:55.139 --> 00:23:04.079 a conversation with someone when you're not used to it culturally. But Paul says, I become 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:13.740 all things to all people that I might by all means win some. What are the limits of this? 00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:22.199 Well, you know, we can't actually become someone else. Great missionary story I heard about a guy who 00:23:22.199 --> 00:23:30.039 went out, he lived with some more primitive tribe in Southeast Asia for 20 years, lived like them, 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:37.259 ate like them, talked like them. He did everything he could to make himself one of them. 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:43.279 And after 20 years, they're sitting around the fire talking and he's thinking, I think I finally 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:49.299 made it. And then someone makes an offhand comment that reveals that, oh no, they know he's an outsider. 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:54.839 They know that he's not a part of them. He, in sadness, asked them, why would you say that? 00:23:54.839 --> 00:24:00.240 And they looked at him and they said, well, your feet are big. And it was just one of those things 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:07.319 where it's like in that culture, as a Westerner, he had big white person feet. And that was, 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:15.419 and so we need to recognize there are human limitations. We ought not to have the arrogance 00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:21.500 of thinking that we can become exactly like someone else, but we can move towards them in 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:28.900 every way possible. There are also limits of this. Paul does not say to the sinner, I become as a 00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:36.240 sinner so that I might win the sinner. Specifically, let's think about what he means in this context. 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:42.559 He's talking about food offered to idols. And what he's going to end up saying in chapter 10 is, 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:49.619 you know what? Go to your friend's house, eat the meat. That's fine. But if he says, 00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:56.059 this is meat offered to an idol, then you can't eat it. Because then you are participating with him 00:24:56.059 --> 00:25:03.919 in his idolatry. And you are encouraging it by the connection between the meat and the idolatry 00:25:03.919 --> 00:25:10.579 that your guest is making. And it seems like this is in an evangelistic context. This is in a context 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:16.259 where someone, you're in a home of a friend. Think about how offensive that might be. Particularly in a 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:21.920 culture where meat was fairly rare. And so you're being served the best food possible. 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:29.200 But Paul says, no. In that case, you have to say, I can't participate with you in that. 00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:33.700 We're going to preach on that for the next two weeks and unpack it a little more. 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:39.619 But Paul says, there's a limit there. I cannot participate with them in their sin. 00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:43.839 And in this case, in their idolatry. 00:25:46.699 --> 00:25:51.619 Even if it's really costly. We might think, well, that's a terrible way to reach someone. 00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:56.199 That's really offensive. You walk in their home, they've invited you in, and what do you do? 00:25:56.719 --> 00:26:02.219 You just reject their best offering to you. Their most hospitable action. 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:05.899 Paul says, yes, but there are gospel limits. 00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:09.400 You don't get drunk with the drunkards. 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:11.180 You don't lie with the liars. 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:13.400 You don't scorn with the scornful. 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:15.620 And you don't ostracize with the in crowd. 00:26:16.340 --> 00:26:18.259 You don't get greedy with the greedy. 00:26:19.320 --> 00:26:21.240 And you don't worship with others 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:23.600 who worship other gods. 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:27.880 Because 00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:29.440 what cannot change 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:31.840 is the reality of the gospel. 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:34.259 It can be shaped. 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:36.680 I think Paul shapes his language. 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:39.539 Look at his preaching in Acts 13 00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.879 of Sidian Antioch. 00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.799 And his preaching in Acts 17 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:44.740 to the Greeks and Athenians. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:47.559 Fascinating how different his approach is. 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:51.019 One is through the law 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:52.640 and through the Jewish background 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:53.559 of the believers. 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.940 Trying to see Jesus. 00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:57.019 Trying to present 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:59.400 how clearly Jesus is the fulfillment 00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:01.379 of all the Jewish hopes. 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:04.300 But to the Greeks and Athens, 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.960 these aren't the important things. 00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:08.000 Instead, the connections 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.900 have to do with an unknown God 00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:11.980 and the great principles of the world. 00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:15.280 But both of them land on 00:27:15.280 --> 00:27:16.500 Jesus Christ 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.560 who died on the cross 00:27:17.560 --> 00:27:18.120 for his sins 00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:19.260 and rose from the dead 00:27:19.260 --> 00:27:20.680 for your salvation 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:22.140 and for your sanctification. 00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:26.259 And when the clarity 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:27.640 of the gospel is threatened, 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:29.720 we cannot be flexible. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:34.960 So what are the barriers 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:38.020 between you and your neighbors? 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:42.140 Where are the areas 00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:43.120 where you 00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:45.560 just really don't like 00:27:45.560 --> 00:27:47.140 to connect with your 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:49.420 coworkers? 00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:49.539 coworkers? 00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:52.500 How is it hard for you 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.620 when you go 00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.560 and see your family? 00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:58.940 What are the things 00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.640 in our culture 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:02.800 that you just really wish 00:28:02.800 --> 00:28:03.720 weren't true? 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:08.340 And what are you holding on to? 00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:11.660 One of the things 00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:12.480 that I've realized 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.500 as we've looked through this 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:13.940 is that 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:16.000 at the core of our 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.680 lack of willingness 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:19.080 to be adaptable 00:28:19.080 --> 00:28:19.759 and flexible 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.480 the way 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:22.759 Paul is 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:24.180 is 00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:24.640 well, 00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.320 twofold. 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.140 One is that 00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:27.240 it comes from us 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:28.920 not understanding 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:30.039 our fundamental identity 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.700 in Christ 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.820 and so we cling 00:28:31.820 --> 00:28:33.220 to these secondary things, 00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:34.400 these cultural things, 00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:36.039 these familial things, 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:37.539 these ethnic things, 00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.680 these whatever things, 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.640 we cling to them 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.539 as being more important 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.560 than they ought to be. 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:45.640 But even if that's not true, 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.200 it's still hard 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:48.720 because we're just 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.640 plain selfish. 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:52.380 And by that I mean this, 00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:53.819 we just think 00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:55.100 we want our lives 00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:56.480 to be pretty comfortable 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.620 and pretty easy. 00:28:58.600 --> 00:29:00.400 We don't want to be stretched 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:01.740 in the places 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:03.819 that we might be stretched 00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.580 by the people 00:29:04.580 --> 00:29:05.360 that God places 00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:06.200 in our lives. 00:29:10.360 --> 00:29:12.080 We feel inadequate 00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:13.220 to know how to do it 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:13.880 really well 00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:15.559 and so we never try. 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:17.720 we feel awkward 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.379 in reaching out 00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:18.799 to someone 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.460 who's obviously 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.519 different from us 00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:23.960 and so we don't. 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.700 And Paul says to us, 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.179 no, 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.899 don't you see, 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:31.399 friends, 00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:33.000 the call of the gospel 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.659 in our lives 00:29:33.659 --> 00:29:34.319 is to love 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.119 and it's to love 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:35.779 people who are 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.579 different than us 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.960 and it's to engage 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.980 in the painful, 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:41.259 refining process 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.700 of loving them 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:46.319 not selfishly 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:47.579 but sacrificially. 00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:50.400 How do I die 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:52.359 to my comfort zone 00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:54.420 to reach my friends, 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:55.279 my co-workers, 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.059 my family? 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.339 Where am I unwilling 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:01.339 to do that? 00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:05.059 It's hard. 00:30:05.699 --> 00:30:06.419 I'll just say it. 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:07.299 It's hard to do, 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:07.779 right? 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:09.099 Because it is awkward. 00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:10.980 It's facing our incapacity. 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.379 Here's my one piece 00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:13.179 of advice for you, 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.980 my practical pastoral advice. 00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:16.319 If we are trying 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.459 to reach others 00:30:17.459 --> 00:30:18.220 with the good news 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:18.879 of the gospel 00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:21.019 and we take a stance 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:22.720 of being the answer people, 00:30:23.199 --> 00:30:24.899 I have what you need 00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:25.379 and I'm going 00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:26.399 to bring it to you. 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:28.519 When we face 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:30.280 these cultural barriers 00:30:30.280 --> 00:30:30.840 and things, 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:32.120 we see them 00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:32.980 as impediments 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.980 to a task. 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:36.900 That's why 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.660 it feels awkward 00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:38.519 and that's why 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.280 we're not very good 00:30:39.280 --> 00:30:39.700 at it 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:41.180 and why it's not 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.160 very love-driven 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:42.800 actually. 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:46.060 But the thing 00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:47.019 that I have learned 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:49.240 very imperfectly 00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:50.700 is that when I take on 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:52.060 the role of a learner, 00:30:52.800 --> 00:30:53.960 when I look at someone 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.500 and I say, 00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:55.100 you know what? 00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:56.559 You are obviously 00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:57.419 different from me 00:30:57.419 --> 00:30:58.179 and I am different 00:30:58.179 --> 00:30:58.819 from you. 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:00.219 And gosh, 00:31:00.639 --> 00:31:01.539 I'm sure that 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.539 God has done 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:04.299 all sorts of great things 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.000 in your life 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:07.219 in His common grace 00:31:07.219 --> 00:31:08.839 that there are things 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:09.559 in your ethnicity 00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:10.319 and your family 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.980 and your background 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.699 and your interests 00:31:11.699 --> 00:31:12.559 and your personalities 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:14.399 that are totally different 00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:14.899 from mine, 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:16.240 totally foreign from mine 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.399 and I have no idea 00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.379 how to connect with them. 00:31:19.939 --> 00:31:21.059 But rather than being 00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.859 afraid of that, 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.959 to press into that 00:31:22.959 --> 00:31:23.759 and to learn. 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:25.339 tell me about that. 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.519 Tell me about football. 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:29.420 Why are there 11 guys 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:31.279 instead of five? 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.440 You know? 00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.799 Why do they keep stopping? 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:36.980 I'm used to watching soccer 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.940 where they keep playing. 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:39.019 Why do they keep stopping? 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.539 Explore the thing 00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.819 that you don't understand. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.259 And if you take on 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.420 a role of a learner, 00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:48.000 it actually frees you 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.960 to be the role 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:51.000 of one who loves well 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:53.180 because you get to see them 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:54.240 as they really are. 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.559 And you get to see 00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:57.160 and God so often 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.119 opened doors 00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:59.180 for the gospel 00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:00.960 through that kind of approach. 00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:04.079 And when we learn, 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:04.839 we're not feeling 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:05.599 so defensive. 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.240 And when we learn, 00:32:07.339 --> 00:32:08.220 we're not feeling 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:10.000 so protective of ourselves. 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:15.059 Paul finishes this section 00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:15.960 on adaptability 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.519 by saying, 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.879 I do it all 00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:19.319 for the sake of the gospel. 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.960 God's great work in Jesus 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:25.420 that it may go forward, 00:32:25.639 --> 00:32:27.339 that people may participate 00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:29.639 and know the great blessing 00:32:29.639 --> 00:32:30.460 of what it is 00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:31.299 that God has done, 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.619 that they may receive 00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:34.379 this truly good news, 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:36.299 this life-changing news, 00:32:36.639 --> 00:32:38.299 and be saved. 00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:40.480 And I want them 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.859 to participate in it 00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:43.180 and to receive it 00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:44.759 so that we might 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.700 rejoice together in it, 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:49.240 so that we might share together 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:50.240 in its blessings. 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.299 Paul's Christianity 00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:53.220 is never, 00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:54.359 I'm in, 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.220 I'm good, 00:32:55.339 --> 00:32:55.899 I'm done. 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:57.319 Paul is, 00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:59.339 God has given me this 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.700 and I want you to have it 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.619 and I want you to have it 00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:02.779 and I want you to have it 00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.859 because it's the best thing 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:05.059 that's ever happened to me. 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.379 It's the best news 00:33:06.379 --> 00:33:07.480 in the whole world. 00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:09.980 God has done 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.659 what we can't do 00:33:10.659 --> 00:33:11.339 for ourselves. 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:13.859 Come and see 00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:14.940 and believe. 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.279 This is the heart 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:18.259 that Paul has. 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.759 So having talked about 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:23.159 his gospel flexibility 00:33:23.159 --> 00:33:25.879 that's grounded in 00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.859 his own experience 00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:27.519 of the gospel, 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:29.379 shaped by the clarity 00:33:29.379 --> 00:33:30.019 of the gospel 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:32.879 and driven by this purpose 00:33:32.879 --> 00:33:34.599 of gospel love 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:35.639 for neighbor. 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.339 He then goes on 00:33:37.339 --> 00:33:38.099 in verse 24, 00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.019 through 27 00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:40.559 to give an extended 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.779 metaphor 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:45.200 basically talking about 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:46.220 how focused 00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:47.279 his life is. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:49.779 He uses athletic metaphors 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.859 and the Corinthian church 00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:51.759 would have understood 00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:53.200 the Corinthian, 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.839 these metaphors 00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:55.500 because the, 00:33:55.919 --> 00:33:57.539 just like the Olympic games 00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:58.759 happened in other parts 00:33:58.759 --> 00:33:59.220 of Greece, 00:33:59.339 --> 00:34:00.859 the Isthmian games 00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:01.399 happened 00:34:01.399 --> 00:34:02.619 in the Isthmus, 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:03.940 which is the little connection 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.680 between northern 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.480 and southern Greece, 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:07.620 that Corinth was on. 00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:09.440 And so this happened 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.240 every three years 00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:11.099 and they would see 00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:11.639 these games 00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:12.380 and they would see 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:12.940 the runners 00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:13.880 and the wrestlers 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.900 and the fighters 00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:16.720 and they would understand. 00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:19.000 It was a cultural phenomenon 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:22.219 maybe bigger than the Olympics today, 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.320 more like the Olympics 00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:24.900 was like 25 years ago 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.480 for those of you 00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.219 who were alive back then 00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:27.519 when it was a really big deal 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.480 and everyone watched. 00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:28.960 Nowadays, 00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:29.280 I think, 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:29.739 I don't know. 00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.360 But it's a much, 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:34.360 maybe 600 cable channels 00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:36.139 have dulled the impact 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:36.679 of the Olympics. 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.780 But the Olympics 00:34:37.780 --> 00:34:38.920 were a big deal 00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:41.139 and so they are a big deal 00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:42.800 to that. 00:34:43.240 --> 00:34:45.240 And Paul's basic point is 00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:48.340 compete with discipline 00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:51.460 so you may win the prize. 00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:53.300 He's talking about 00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:54.139 a disciplined 00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:56.680 or a self-controlled life. 00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:59.200 A life that makes 00:34:59.200 --> 00:35:00.860 intentional choices 00:35:00.860 --> 00:35:03.619 to invest in certain things 00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:04.220 because he has 00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:05.920 a very clear purpose 00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:09.420 and he wants to bend 00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:11.559 every resource in his life 00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:13.720 towards that purpose. 00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:15.180 He says, 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:16.720 don't go like a runner 00:35:16.720 --> 00:35:17.579 who doesn't know 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.700 which way he's running. 00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:21.159 You can't win the race 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:21.840 if you're running 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:23.880 a race that heads this way 00:35:23.880 --> 00:35:25.579 and you head off that way. 00:35:27.340 --> 00:35:29.280 And don't be like a boxer 00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:30.240 who, 00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:32.119 rather than landing a punch, 00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:34.639 just swings at the air 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:36.019 and never hits anything. 00:35:36.879 --> 00:35:37.940 This is not 00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:39.980 going to bring success. 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:42.019 This is not going to bring 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:44.000 you to the goal 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.960 for which you have 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:45.900 trained yourself. 00:35:49.339 --> 00:35:50.460 Paul says, 00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:50.940 no, 00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:52.900 there is a gospel focus here. 00:35:53.819 --> 00:35:55.359 The gospel focus is 00:35:55.359 --> 00:35:57.339 that I might win some 00:35:57.339 --> 00:35:59.299 and I am going to bend 00:35:59.299 --> 00:36:01.279 everything in my life 00:36:01.279 --> 00:36:03.119 to that end. 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:07.980 The NBA playoffs 00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:08.779 are upon us 00:36:08.779 --> 00:36:09.440 for those of you 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.799 who are paying attention. 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:12.639 The Golden State Warriors 00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:13.400 set a record 00:36:13.400 --> 00:36:14.900 for the best record ever 00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:16.099 in the regular season 00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:17.339 if you haven't noticed. 00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:19.460 And if you haven't noticed, 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.500 you ought to pay attention 00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:21.339 because in about 00:36:21.339 --> 00:36:22.179 a month and a half, 00:36:22.339 --> 00:36:23.799 the finals will start 00:36:23.799 --> 00:36:24.839 and then you'll get to see 00:36:24.839 --> 00:36:27.579 the actual championship series. 00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:30.739 But in this, 00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:33.139 it's fascinating to have read. 00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:35.099 I read a great article 00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:36.400 on Steph Curry 00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:39.059 who's the all-star leader 00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:40.059 in many ways 00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:42.179 of the Golden State team. 00:36:42.279 --> 00:36:43.059 Two years ago, 00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:44.400 they thought he was probably 00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:45.199 going to be done 00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:46.960 in his NBA career 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:47.480 because he had 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.559 really bad ankles. 00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:51.059 And he found 00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:52.539 a new training regimen 00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:55.379 that brought in 00:36:55.379 --> 00:36:57.179 all sorts of different things 00:36:57.179 --> 00:37:00.139 to shape his body differently. 00:37:00.139 --> 00:37:01.980 It had to do with diet. 00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:02.759 It had to do with 00:37:02.759 --> 00:37:04.159 certain kinds of exercises. 00:37:04.799 --> 00:37:05.440 It had... 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:06.599 But what he did 00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:07.460 is he spent 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:09.539 his whole time 00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:10.639 retooling 00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:12.199 how his body worked 00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:14.719 so that his ankles 00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:16.119 would not be so stressed 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:18.000 and so that he would be able 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.839 to have more fitness 00:37:19.839 --> 00:37:21.960 to do what he's doing, 00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:23.119 which is shooting the ball 00:37:23.119 --> 00:37:24.199 really, really well. 00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:28.559 And he is shooting the ball 00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.819 really, really well. 00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:32.239 Like phenomenally well. 00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:34.500 Like better than anyone ever has 00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:36.079 in the history of the NBA well. 00:37:38.659 --> 00:37:40.059 But his discipline 00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:42.039 of his body, 00:37:42.179 --> 00:37:42.899 of his diet, 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:43.919 of his time, 00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:44.619 he has spent 00:37:44.619 --> 00:37:45.799 all of his energy 00:37:45.799 --> 00:37:48.619 shaping his body 00:37:48.619 --> 00:37:50.199 so that he might be prepared 00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:51.559 to do this. 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:55.299 And the question is, 00:37:55.719 --> 00:37:57.579 how do we do that? 00:37:58.519 --> 00:37:59.440 What does it look like 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.699 for us to discipline 00:38:00.699 --> 00:38:02.119 our lives? 00:38:02.299 --> 00:38:02.920 And here, 00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:04.079 discipline means 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:06.099 both saying no 00:38:06.099 --> 00:38:07.239 to bad things, 00:38:07.279 --> 00:38:07.960 which is kind of 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:08.460 the discipline 00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:09.460 we often think about, 00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:10.219 but it also means 00:38:10.219 --> 00:38:11.400 saying yes 00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:12.719 to the good things 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.420 that we do 00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:14.739 for the purpose 00:38:14.739 --> 00:38:15.400 of living out 00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:16.000 this calling. 00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:18.099 Let me give you 00:38:18.099 --> 00:38:18.880 a couple of examples 00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:20.139 of people that I've seen 00:38:20.139 --> 00:38:21.759 discipline their lives 00:38:21.759 --> 00:38:22.460 in this way. 00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:24.059 I think of a guy, 00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:24.759 when I worked 00:38:24.759 --> 00:38:25.699 in campus ministry 00:38:25.699 --> 00:38:26.139 at Cornell, 00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:27.159 there was a guy 00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:28.339 there named Izzy. 00:38:29.219 --> 00:38:30.039 Izzy showed up 00:38:30.039 --> 00:38:30.739 on campus, 00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:32.139 fairly new believer, 00:38:32.759 --> 00:38:33.920 wanting to grow 00:38:33.920 --> 00:38:34.539 in Christ, 00:38:34.699 --> 00:38:35.199 wanting to, 00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:36.679 and his freshman year 00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:37.819 he kind of got involved 00:38:37.819 --> 00:38:39.539 in our campus fellowship 00:38:39.539 --> 00:38:40.859 and he was growing a lot 00:38:40.859 --> 00:38:41.759 and it was really exciting 00:38:41.759 --> 00:38:42.480 to see him 00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:44.279 understanding the faith more, 00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:44.960 learning to study 00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:46.079 the Bible more deeply, 00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:47.519 and those sorts of things. 00:38:47.619 --> 00:38:48.299 But Izzy was 00:38:48.300 --> 00:38:49.360 always restless 00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:51.360 because he thought, 00:38:51.519 --> 00:38:52.140 I'm on a campus 00:38:52.140 --> 00:38:54.440 with 15,000 people 00:38:54.440 --> 00:38:56.519 and I'm spending 00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:57.180 all my time 00:38:57.180 --> 00:38:57.720 with Christians 00:38:57.720 --> 00:39:00.080 and I'm never interacting 00:39:00.080 --> 00:39:01.380 with people 00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:02.300 who don't know Jesus. 00:39:04.900 --> 00:39:05.700 So at the end 00:39:05.700 --> 00:39:06.180 of the year, 00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:06.800 he'd said, 00:39:07.019 --> 00:39:07.800 I think I'm going 00:39:07.800 --> 00:39:08.820 to pledge a fraternity. 00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:12.900 And we sat down, 00:39:12.960 --> 00:39:13.580 we talked about 00:39:13.580 --> 00:39:14.480 what that would mean. 00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:15.660 We talked about 00:39:15.660 --> 00:39:16.539 some of the boundaries 00:39:16.539 --> 00:39:17.580 he would have to set, 00:39:17.579 --> 00:39:18.659 some of the limits, 00:39:18.799 --> 00:39:20.860 some of the prior commitments 00:39:20.860 --> 00:39:22.039 he would have to make 00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:23.319 so that he could 00:39:23.319 --> 00:39:24.759 be a part of a fraternity 00:39:24.759 --> 00:39:25.840 without engaging 00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:27.679 in some of their 00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:29.380 pretty well-worn 00:39:29.380 --> 00:39:31.000 traditional sinful practices. 00:39:33.159 --> 00:39:34.299 And then he'd have to do 00:39:34.299 --> 00:39:35.019 some of those things 00:39:35.019 --> 00:39:35.619 up front 00:39:35.619 --> 00:39:36.639 to make sure 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:37.659 that that would be 00:39:37.659 --> 00:39:38.199 all right. 00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:39.659 And he did that 00:39:39.659 --> 00:39:40.880 and he was accepted. 00:39:42.039 --> 00:39:42.980 And for the next 00:39:42.980 --> 00:39:44.079 three years, 00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:46.539 he was never a part 00:39:46.539 --> 00:39:47.659 of our campus fellowship 00:39:47.659 --> 00:39:48.639 as much 00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:50.239 as many people 00:39:50.239 --> 00:39:50.960 wished he would 00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:52.159 because they saw 00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:52.840 his maturity, 00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.519 they wanted to grow 00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:56.199 by being around him. 00:39:57.480 --> 00:39:58.460 And you know why? 00:39:58.860 --> 00:40:00.019 Because he was disciplined 00:40:00.019 --> 00:40:01.019 to spend time 00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:01.860 with his brothers 00:40:01.860 --> 00:40:03.840 in the fraternity house. 00:40:04.219 --> 00:40:05.500 He made it a priority 00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:06.380 to make sure 00:40:06.380 --> 00:40:08.079 that his Christian activities 00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:09.079 didn't pull him away 00:40:09.659 --> 00:40:10.079 completely 00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:10.679 completely 00:40:10.679 --> 00:40:12.019 from being 00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:14.019 involved in the community 00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:15.340 that he was a part of. 00:40:19.179 --> 00:40:19.980 And he did it 00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:21.059 for the sake of the gospel. 00:40:23.579 --> 00:40:24.460 And I can think 00:40:24.460 --> 00:40:25.319 of one of the guys 00:40:25.319 --> 00:40:25.940 who he knew 00:40:25.940 --> 00:40:26.500 was one of his 00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:27.319 fraternity brothers. 00:40:28.059 --> 00:40:28.980 I got the privilege 00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:30.840 of seeing him 00:40:30.840 --> 00:40:32.099 ten years later. 00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:33.739 And he's 00:40:33.739 --> 00:40:34.880 a Christian now. 00:40:35.179 --> 00:40:35.960 He wasn't a Christian 00:40:35.960 --> 00:40:36.860 back then, 00:40:36.900 --> 00:40:37.840 but he's a Christian now. 00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:40.440 It's the fruit 00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:42.200 of Izzy's commitment, 00:40:42.380 --> 00:40:43.180 his discipline 00:40:43.180 --> 00:40:43.720 to say, 00:40:44.160 --> 00:40:44.960 I'm going to choose 00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:45.760 to invest 00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:46.700 my life 00:40:46.700 --> 00:40:47.700 in a significant way 00:40:47.700 --> 00:40:48.500 at a cost 00:40:48.500 --> 00:40:49.320 of not doing 00:40:49.320 --> 00:40:50.460 other good things 00:40:50.460 --> 00:40:51.860 so that I might 00:40:51.860 --> 00:40:52.860 be able to 00:40:52.860 --> 00:40:53.760 invest in these 00:40:53.760 --> 00:40:54.400 relationships 00:40:54.400 --> 00:40:56.320 and walk with Christ. 00:40:57.600 --> 00:40:58.860 And it was costly 00:40:58.860 --> 00:40:59.960 in the fraternity 00:40:59.960 --> 00:41:01.120 for him to do it 00:41:01.120 --> 00:41:01.500 in a way 00:41:01.500 --> 00:41:02.120 that the gospel 00:41:02.120 --> 00:41:02.800 was clear. 00:41:03.300 --> 00:41:04.360 That he wasn't 00:41:04.360 --> 00:41:05.260 simply participating 00:41:05.260 --> 00:41:05.840 with them 00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:07.019 in everything they did, 00:41:07.019 --> 00:41:08.259 but that he was 00:41:08.259 --> 00:41:09.159 living for Christ 00:41:09.159 --> 00:41:09.840 among them. 00:41:13.940 --> 00:41:14.420 Friends, 00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:14.940 we have 00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:16.380 other great examples 00:41:16.380 --> 00:41:17.099 even in 00:41:17.099 --> 00:41:18.579 our own church. 00:41:19.159 --> 00:41:19.719 I can think 00:41:19.719 --> 00:41:20.500 of a young Yale 00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:20.940 undergrad 00:41:20.940 --> 00:41:22.219 who said, 00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:22.980 how can we 00:41:22.980 --> 00:41:23.559 live out our 00:41:23.559 --> 00:41:24.000 calling 00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:26.739 to reach this city 00:41:26.739 --> 00:41:27.599 if we're not 00:41:27.599 --> 00:41:28.340 getting outside 00:41:28.340 --> 00:41:28.920 the bubble 00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:29.840 and somehow, 00:41:30.179 --> 00:41:30.699 someway, 00:41:31.059 --> 00:41:32.219 beginning to reach 00:41:32.219 --> 00:41:33.500 the urban poor 00:41:33.500 --> 00:41:34.099 in our city? 00:41:34.099 --> 00:41:36.420 And so the 00:41:36.420 --> 00:41:37.279 ministry from 00:41:37.279 --> 00:41:37.920 Trinity Baptist 00:41:37.920 --> 00:41:38.539 Church to 00:41:38.539 --> 00:41:39.139 Columbus House 00:41:39.139 --> 00:41:39.699 was started 00:41:39.699 --> 00:41:40.500 a long time 00:41:40.500 --> 00:41:40.819 ago. 00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:42.880 Greg said, 00:41:42.960 --> 00:41:43.259 I don't know 00:41:43.259 --> 00:41:43.759 what I'm doing 00:41:43.759 --> 00:41:44.199 but I'm going 00:41:44.199 --> 00:41:44.559 to do it 00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:45.039 anyway and 00:41:45.039 --> 00:41:45.400 figure it 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:45.759 out as I 00:41:45.759 --> 00:41:46.339 go along. 00:41:50.059 --> 00:41:50.819 And so many 00:41:50.819 --> 00:41:51.500 lives have been 00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:52.559 changed by him 00:41:52.559 --> 00:41:53.119 and by many 00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:53.500 who have 00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:54.139 followed after. 00:41:54.139 --> 00:41:54.239 there. 00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:01.139 There's a guy 00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:01.579 in our church 00:42:01.579 --> 00:42:01.980 right now 00:42:01.980 --> 00:42:02.559 who goes to 00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:03.039 the sauna 00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:03.819 in the gym 00:42:03.819 --> 00:42:04.339 every week. 00:42:04.500 --> 00:42:04.940 They call it 00:42:04.940 --> 00:42:05.339 chapel 00:42:05.339 --> 00:42:07.799 because he 00:42:07.799 --> 00:42:08.599 has taken 00:42:08.599 --> 00:42:09.219 the time 00:42:09.219 --> 00:42:11.400 to invest 00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:12.500 in the 00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:13.039 relationships 00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:13.799 he's developed. 00:42:14.199 --> 00:42:14.699 Some of his 00:42:14.699 --> 00:42:15.259 friends are here 00:42:15.259 --> 00:42:15.639 today. 00:42:16.839 --> 00:42:17.579 Good to see 00:42:17.579 --> 00:42:18.099 you guys. 00:42:18.099 --> 00:42:18.159 Good to see 00:42:18.159 --> 00:42:18.179 you guys. 00:42:22.980 --> 00:42:23.739 Might not have 00:42:23.739 --> 00:42:24.199 taken that 00:42:24.199 --> 00:42:24.839 time in his 00:42:24.839 --> 00:42:25.500 busy schedule 00:42:25.500 --> 00:42:25.939 otherwise. 00:42:26.179 --> 00:42:26.619 But for the 00:42:26.619 --> 00:42:27.019 sake of the 00:42:27.019 --> 00:42:27.599 gospel he 00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:27.819 said, 00:42:28.239 --> 00:42:28.579 I want to 00:42:28.579 --> 00:42:29.039 be here. 00:42:29.439 --> 00:42:29.879 I want to 00:42:29.879 --> 00:42:30.379 be present 00:42:30.379 --> 00:42:30.779 with these 00:42:30.779 --> 00:42:31.239 guys and 00:42:31.239 --> 00:42:31.559 see what 00:42:31.559 --> 00:42:32.000 God might 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:32.239 do. 00:42:35.579 --> 00:42:36.339 It might be 00:42:36.339 --> 00:42:36.859 picking a 00:42:36.859 --> 00:42:37.279 particular 00:42:37.279 --> 00:42:38.979 playground for 00:42:38.979 --> 00:42:39.479 you to take 00:42:39.479 --> 00:42:40.459 your kids to. 00:42:40.619 --> 00:42:41.299 Maybe it's not 00:42:41.299 --> 00:42:41.779 your favorite 00:42:41.779 --> 00:42:42.399 one but it's 00:42:42.399 --> 00:42:42.819 the one where 00:42:42.819 --> 00:42:43.399 you know that 00:42:43.399 --> 00:42:43.639 there are 00:42:43.639 --> 00:42:44.039 people who 00:42:44.039 --> 00:42:44.479 go every 00:42:44.479 --> 00:42:44.919 week at 00:42:44.919 --> 00:42:45.239 the same 00:42:45.239 --> 00:42:47.199 time to 00:42:47.199 --> 00:42:47.639 reach your 00:42:47.639 --> 00:42:47.979 neighbors. 00:42:51.399 --> 00:42:52.179 It might be 00:42:52.179 --> 00:42:52.819 thinking about 00:42:52.819 --> 00:42:53.379 how you 00:42:53.380 --> 00:42:54.039 balance your 00:42:54.039 --> 00:42:54.680 extracurricular 00:42:54.680 --> 00:42:55.579 activities in 00:42:55.579 --> 00:42:56.640 college so 00:42:56.640 --> 00:42:56.960 that they're 00:42:56.960 --> 00:42:57.700 not all 00:42:57.700 --> 00:42:59.519 Christian but 00:42:59.519 --> 00:42:59.820 that you're 00:42:59.820 --> 00:43:00.640 actually investing 00:43:00.640 --> 00:43:01.160 in somewhere 00:43:01.160 --> 00:43:01.480 else. 00:43:01.660 --> 00:43:03.019 Not just to 00:43:03.019 --> 00:43:03.420 build your 00:43:03.420 --> 00:43:05.619 resume but to 00:43:05.619 --> 00:43:06.519 reach the 00:43:06.519 --> 00:43:07.000 lost. 00:43:08.260 --> 00:43:09.579 It might mean 00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:10.940 thinking about 00:43:10.940 --> 00:43:13.119 your family and 00:43:13.119 --> 00:43:13.559 being more 00:43:13.559 --> 00:43:14.300 intentional to 00:43:14.300 --> 00:43:15.800 call them and 00:43:15.800 --> 00:43:16.519 to connect with 00:43:16.519 --> 00:43:17.599 them and to 00:43:17.599 --> 00:43:18.360 be with them on 00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:18.860 holidays. 00:43:18.860 --> 00:43:22.620 there's so 00:43:22.620 --> 00:43:23.160 many different 00:43:23.160 --> 00:43:24.079 ways that this 00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:24.599 could look. 00:43:26.599 --> 00:43:27.280 I want to 00:43:27.280 --> 00:43:27.980 finish by 00:43:27.980 --> 00:43:28.900 quoting from 00:43:28.900 --> 00:43:30.500 Hudson Taylor. 00:43:30.599 --> 00:43:31.200 Hudson Taylor is 00:43:31.200 --> 00:43:31.539 one of my 00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:31.900 heroes. 00:43:32.059 --> 00:43:32.340 He was a 00:43:32.340 --> 00:43:33.000 missionary to 00:43:33.000 --> 00:43:35.500 China back 00:43:35.500 --> 00:43:35.760 in the 00:43:35.760 --> 00:43:38.680 1800s and 00:43:38.680 --> 00:43:40.120 he was a 00:43:40.120 --> 00:43:41.099 pioneer in 00:43:41.099 --> 00:43:41.860 thinking about 00:43:41.860 --> 00:43:42.440 how to reach 00:43:42.440 --> 00:43:42.700 people. 00:43:42.800 --> 00:43:43.360 Before he 00:43:43.360 --> 00:43:43.720 went, 00:43:44.360 --> 00:43:44.780 missionaries 00:43:44.780 --> 00:43:45.320 from Europe 00:43:45.320 --> 00:43:46.240 would go to 00:43:46.240 --> 00:43:46.579 China. 00:43:46.579 --> 00:43:47.000 they would 00:43:47.000 --> 00:43:47.860 establish a 00:43:47.860 --> 00:43:48.380 walled 00:43:48.380 --> 00:43:49.619 compound where 00:43:49.619 --> 00:43:50.000 they would 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:51.259 dress in 00:43:51.259 --> 00:43:52.360 European clothing, 00:43:52.980 --> 00:43:53.679 speak in 00:43:53.679 --> 00:43:54.759 European languages 00:43:54.759 --> 00:43:55.819 and invite the 00:43:55.819 --> 00:43:56.679 Chinese in. 00:43:57.679 --> 00:43:58.340 It was about 00:43:58.340 --> 00:43:59.319 the opposite of 00:43:59.319 --> 00:43:59.900 becoming all 00:43:59.900 --> 00:44:00.519 things to all 00:44:00.519 --> 00:44:01.119 men so that I 00:44:01.119 --> 00:44:01.900 might win 00:44:01.900 --> 00:44:02.679 some. 00:44:04.840 --> 00:44:05.480 Hudson Taylor 00:44:05.480 --> 00:44:06.420 said that can't 00:44:06.420 --> 00:44:07.139 be the pattern. 00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:08.940 He wrote 00:44:08.940 --> 00:44:12.019 later in a 00:44:12.019 --> 00:44:12.840 discussion about 00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:14.019 how to do 00:44:14.019 --> 00:44:14.519 this well. 00:44:14.639 --> 00:44:15.319 He said this, 00:44:15.320 --> 00:44:16.580 we wish to 00:44:16.580 --> 00:44:17.160 see Christian 00:44:17.160 --> 00:44:17.760 Chinese, 00:44:17.920 --> 00:44:18.840 true Christians 00:44:18.840 --> 00:44:20.059 but with all 00:44:20.059 --> 00:44:20.960 true Chinese 00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:21.860 in every sense 00:44:21.860 --> 00:44:22.380 of the word. 00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:23.559 We wish to 00:44:23.559 --> 00:44:24.140 see churches 00:44:24.140 --> 00:44:25.200 and Christian 00:44:25.200 --> 00:44:26.840 Chinese presided 00:44:26.840 --> 00:44:28.039 over by pastors 00:44:28.039 --> 00:44:29.120 and officers of 00:44:29.120 --> 00:44:29.580 their own 00:44:29.580 --> 00:44:30.200 countrymen 00:44:30.200 --> 00:44:31.220 worshiping the 00:44:31.220 --> 00:44:31.940 true God in 00:44:31.940 --> 00:44:32.500 the land of 00:44:32.500 --> 00:44:33.120 their fathers, 00:44:33.640 --> 00:44:34.340 in the costumes 00:44:34.340 --> 00:44:35.280 of their father, 00:44:35.600 --> 00:44:36.360 in their own 00:44:36.360 --> 00:44:37.019 tongue wherein 00:44:37.019 --> 00:44:37.760 they were born 00:44:37.760 --> 00:44:38.320 and in the 00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:39.660 edifices of a 00:44:39.660 --> 00:44:40.580 thoroughly Chinese 00:44:40.580 --> 00:44:41.320 style of 00:44:41.320 --> 00:44:41.900 architecture. 00:44:43.380 --> 00:44:44.120 If we really 00:44:44.120 --> 00:44:44.840 desire, and 00:44:44.840 --> 00:44:45.240 this was 00:44:45.240 --> 00:44:46.079 groundbreaking 00:44:46.079 --> 00:44:46.980 because they 00:44:46.980 --> 00:44:47.519 would build 00:44:47.519 --> 00:44:48.340 western style 00:44:48.340 --> 00:44:49.740 cathedrals and 00:44:49.740 --> 00:44:50.220 then expect 00:44:50.220 --> 00:44:50.900 people to come 00:44:50.900 --> 00:44:51.440 and understand 00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:51.880 what it was 00:44:51.880 --> 00:44:52.340 all about. 00:44:52.700 --> 00:44:53.360 He goes on, 00:44:53.400 --> 00:44:53.920 if we really 00:44:53.920 --> 00:44:54.940 desire to see 00:44:54.940 --> 00:44:55.800 the Chinese 00:44:55.800 --> 00:44:57.400 such as we 00:44:57.400 --> 00:44:58.180 have described, 00:44:58.700 --> 00:44:59.640 let us as 00:44:59.640 --> 00:45:00.600 far as possible 00:45:00.600 --> 00:45:01.539 set before them 00:45:01.539 --> 00:45:01.980 a correct 00:45:01.980 --> 00:45:02.539 example. 00:45:03.280 --> 00:45:03.780 Let us in 00:45:03.780 --> 00:45:04.380 everything 00:45:04.380 --> 00:45:05.800 unsinful become 00:45:05.800 --> 00:45:06.539 Chinese, 00:45:07.039 --> 00:45:07.880 that by all 00:45:07.880 --> 00:45:08.780 things we may 00:45:08.780 --> 00:45:09.660 save some. 00:45:10.039 --> 00:45:10.840 Let us adopt 00:45:10.840 --> 00:45:11.680 their costume, 00:45:12.160 --> 00:45:12.820 which for him 00:45:12.820 --> 00:45:13.680 meant shaving 00:45:13.679 --> 00:45:14.159 the front of 00:45:14.159 --> 00:45:14.699 his head and 00:45:14.699 --> 00:45:15.159 wearing a 00:45:15.159 --> 00:45:15.739 really long 00:45:15.739 --> 00:45:16.359 ponytail. 00:45:16.699 --> 00:45:17.599 It was very 00:45:17.599 --> 00:45:18.480 un-European. 00:45:21.219 --> 00:45:22.399 Their costume, 00:45:22.599 --> 00:45:23.339 acquiring their 00:45:23.339 --> 00:45:24.879 language, he 00:45:24.879 --> 00:45:25.519 spoke four 00:45:25.519 --> 00:45:26.679 different dialects, 00:45:27.079 --> 00:45:27.799 studying to 00:45:27.799 --> 00:45:28.559 imitate their 00:45:28.559 --> 00:45:30.819 habits and 00:45:30.819 --> 00:45:31.859 approximate to 00:45:31.859 --> 00:45:32.639 their diet as 00:45:32.639 --> 00:45:33.379 far as health 00:45:33.379 --> 00:45:34.019 and constitution 00:45:34.019 --> 00:45:35.000 will allow. 00:45:35.719 --> 00:45:36.639 Let us live in 00:45:36.639 --> 00:45:37.259 their houses, 00:45:37.460 --> 00:45:38.039 making no 00:45:38.039 --> 00:45:38.639 unnecessary 00:45:38.639 --> 00:45:40.139 alterations in 00:45:40.139 --> 00:45:40.659 external 00:45:40.659 --> 00:45:41.539 appearance and 00:45:41.539 --> 00:45:42.539 only so far 00:45:42.539 --> 00:45:44.299 modifying internal 00:45:44.299 --> 00:45:45.219 arrangements as 00:45:45.219 --> 00:45:45.839 attention to 00:45:45.839 --> 00:45:46.319 health and 00:45:46.319 --> 00:45:47.059 efficiency for 00:45:47.059 --> 00:45:48.359 work absolutely 00:45:48.359 --> 00:45:49.000 require. 00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:52.980 Let the love 00:45:52.980 --> 00:45:53.420 of Christ 00:45:53.420 --> 00:45:54.400 constrain you 00:45:54.400 --> 00:45:55.460 to seek to 00:45:55.460 --> 00:45:56.219 commend yourself 00:45:56.219 --> 00:45:57.440 and your 00:45:57.440 --> 00:45:58.299 message to the 00:45:58.299 --> 00:45:58.839 Chinese. 00:45:59.440 --> 00:46:00.500 As becomes the 00:46:00.500 --> 00:46:01.339 follower of such 00:46:01.339 --> 00:46:02.099 a master, let 00:46:02.099 --> 00:46:02.819 there be no 00:46:02.819 --> 00:46:03.460 reservation. 00:46:04.139 --> 00:46:04.799 Give yourselves 00:46:04.799 --> 00:46:05.719 up fully and 00:46:05.719 --> 00:46:06.500 wholly to him 00:46:06.500 --> 00:46:07.879 whose you are 00:46:07.879 --> 00:46:08.920 and whom you 00:46:08.920 --> 00:46:09.779 wish to serve 00:46:09.780 --> 00:46:10.640 in this work 00:46:10.640 --> 00:46:12.440 and there can 00:46:12.440 --> 00:46:13.640 be no 00:46:13.640 --> 00:46:14.300 disappointment. 00:46:15.840 --> 00:46:16.860 The Apostle 00:46:16.860 --> 00:46:18.540 Paul sets 00:46:18.540 --> 00:46:19.320 before us a 00:46:19.320 --> 00:46:21.640 picture of 00:46:21.640 --> 00:46:22.680 reaching Christ, 00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:25.040 reaching his 00:46:25.040 --> 00:46:25.860 world for 00:46:25.860 --> 00:46:26.420 Christ. 00:46:27.540 --> 00:46:28.160 Hudson Taylor 00:46:28.160 --> 00:46:28.980 followed in 00:46:28.980 --> 00:46:29.620 that saying, 00:46:30.060 --> 00:46:31.000 by all things 00:46:31.000 --> 00:46:31.900 we might win 00:46:31.900 --> 00:46:32.680 some. 00:46:34.420 --> 00:46:35.040 And of course 00:46:35.040 --> 00:46:36.040 friends, the 00:46:36.040 --> 00:46:37.060 reason why Paul 00:46:37.060 --> 00:46:37.760 could do this 00:46:37.760 --> 00:46:38.580 and the reason 00:46:38.580 --> 00:46:39.500 why Hudson Taylor 00:46:39.500 --> 00:46:40.139 could do this 00:46:40.139 --> 00:46:41.480 is because this 00:46:41.480 --> 00:46:42.019 is what our 00:46:42.019 --> 00:46:42.639 Savior has 00:46:42.639 --> 00:46:42.980 done. 00:46:44.780 --> 00:46:45.519 Because this 00:46:45.519 --> 00:46:46.280 isn't just a 00:46:46.280 --> 00:46:47.300 task to be 00:46:47.300 --> 00:46:48.320 more strategic 00:46:48.320 --> 00:46:49.019 in how we 00:46:49.019 --> 00:46:49.739 reach people. 00:46:52.039 --> 00:46:53.219 It's not just 00:46:53.219 --> 00:46:54.699 learning the 00:46:54.699 --> 00:46:55.340 rules of what 00:46:55.340 --> 00:46:55.920 we can do 00:46:55.920 --> 00:46:56.579 and not do 00:46:56.579 --> 00:46:57.300 so we can try 00:46:57.300 --> 00:46:57.840 to get through 00:46:57.840 --> 00:46:58.360 by the skin 00:46:58.360 --> 00:46:59.019 of our teeth. 00:46:59.179 --> 00:46:59.719 But it's 00:46:59.719 --> 00:47:00.420 following the 00:47:00.420 --> 00:47:01.719 pattern of 00:47:01.719 --> 00:47:02.320 our Savior 00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:03.840 who did not 00:47:03.840 --> 00:47:05.099 come to be 00:47:05.099 --> 00:47:05.900 served but to 00:47:05.900 --> 00:47:06.599 serve and to 00:47:06.599 --> 00:47:07.360 give his life 00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:08.000 a ransom 00:47:08.000 --> 00:47:08.660 for many. 00:47:09.880 --> 00:47:10.660 He who did 00:47:10.660 --> 00:47:11.200 not count 00:47:11.200 --> 00:47:12.120 equality with 00:47:12.120 --> 00:47:12.820 God something 00:47:12.820 --> 00:47:13.840 to be grasped 00:47:13.840 --> 00:47:15.280 but humbled 00:47:15.280 --> 00:47:16.059 himself and 00:47:16.059 --> 00:47:17.360 taking on human 00:47:17.360 --> 00:47:18.099 form made 00:47:18.099 --> 00:47:18.760 himself a 00:47:18.760 --> 00:47:21.200 servant and 00:47:21.200 --> 00:47:21.760 he submitted 00:47:21.760 --> 00:47:22.820 himself even to 00:47:22.820 --> 00:47:24.180 death on the 00:47:24.180 --> 00:47:24.660 cross. 00:47:25.500 --> 00:47:26.940 He deferred in 00:47:26.940 --> 00:47:28.460 love the rights 00:47:28.460 --> 00:47:29.480 of the Godhead 00:47:29.480 --> 00:47:30.579 so that he 00:47:30.579 --> 00:47:32.099 might win us 00:47:32.099 --> 00:47:33.719 by his 00:47:33.719 --> 00:47:34.319 identification 00:47:34.319 --> 00:47:35.339 with us in 00:47:35.339 --> 00:47:36.360 every way yet 00:47:36.360 --> 00:47:37.920 without sin so 00:47:37.920 --> 00:47:38.679 that he might be 00:47:38.679 --> 00:47:39.460 our substitute 00:47:39.460 --> 00:47:40.480 and our 00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:41.079 sacrifice. 00:47:42.960 --> 00:47:43.980 He identified 00:47:43.980 --> 00:47:45.000 with us, he 00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:45.980 suffered for us 00:47:45.980 --> 00:47:47.000 and he died in 00:47:47.000 --> 00:47:48.099 our place so 00:47:48.099 --> 00:47:48.860 we might be 00:47:48.860 --> 00:47:49.559 raised with 00:47:49.559 --> 00:47:50.960 him to new 00:47:50.960 --> 00:47:51.659 life for all 00:47:51.659 --> 00:47:52.279 who believe in 00:47:52.279 --> 00:47:52.539 him. 00:47:54.839 --> 00:47:55.880 Friends, this is 00:47:55.880 --> 00:47:57.000 the gospel reward 00:47:57.000 --> 00:47:57.799 and this is the 00:47:57.799 --> 00:47:58.440 hope and this is 00:47:58.440 --> 00:47:59.559 the prize that 00:47:59.559 --> 00:48:00.380 Paul was pressing 00:48:00.380 --> 00:48:00.980 on to. 00:48:00.980 --> 00:48:02.500 not just his 00:48:02.500 --> 00:48:04.199 own salvation 00:48:04.199 --> 00:48:05.340 but that this 00:48:05.340 --> 00:48:06.300 great savior 00:48:06.300 --> 00:48:07.260 Jesus would be 00:48:07.260 --> 00:48:08.639 known and that 00:48:08.639 --> 00:48:09.519 many, many more 00:48:09.519 --> 00:48:10.159 would come to 00:48:10.159 --> 00:48:11.019 know the blessing 00:48:11.019 --> 00:48:13.260 of salvation in 00:48:13.260 --> 00:48:13.480 him. 00:48:15.900 --> 00:48:16.840 So friends, 00:48:17.320 --> 00:48:18.980 I leave you with 00:48:18.980 --> 00:48:19.579 the questions. 00:48:20.780 --> 00:48:21.440 What is it going 00:48:21.440 --> 00:48:22.059 to look like for 00:48:22.059 --> 00:48:22.760 you to run your 00:48:22.760 --> 00:48:23.159 race? 00:48:25.240 --> 00:48:25.920 Where are the 00:48:25.920 --> 00:48:26.820 places and the 00:48:26.820 --> 00:48:28.119 people that God 00:48:28.119 --> 00:48:29.039 wants to stretch 00:48:29.039 --> 00:48:29.800 you to be 00:48:29.800 --> 00:48:30.300 disciplined? 00:48:30.980 --> 00:48:32.420 to reach those 00:48:32.420 --> 00:48:33.420 who don't yet 00:48:33.420 --> 00:48:34.260 know Christ? 00:48:35.619 --> 00:48:36.599 How will you 00:48:36.599 --> 00:48:37.360 reshape your 00:48:37.360 --> 00:48:38.980 life to follow 00:48:38.980 --> 00:48:39.539 in the footsteps 00:48:39.539 --> 00:48:40.860 of Paul and 00:48:40.860 --> 00:48:41.340 follow in the 00:48:41.340 --> 00:48:42.139 footsteps of our 00:48:42.139 --> 00:48:42.440 savior? 00:48:42.860 --> 00:48:43.400 Let's pray. 00:48:45.079 --> 00:48:46.240 Jesus, we love 00:48:46.240 --> 00:48:46.539 you. 00:48:47.219 --> 00:48:48.320 You have done so 00:48:48.320 --> 00:48:49.360 much for us. 00:48:50.380 --> 00:48:50.920 Lord, you have 00:48:50.920 --> 00:48:52.380 left us not only 00:48:52.380 --> 00:48:53.840 a model to 00:48:53.840 --> 00:48:54.699 follow but Lord, 00:48:54.820 --> 00:48:55.500 you have given 00:48:55.500 --> 00:48:56.740 us the very life 00:48:56.740 --> 00:48:57.579 that we need to 00:48:57.579 --> 00:48:58.659 live it out. 00:48:58.659 --> 00:49:00.339 Lord, help us, 00:49:00.420 --> 00:49:00.839 we pray. 00:49:02.299 --> 00:49:03.019 Lord, help us 00:49:03.019 --> 00:49:03.920 to have your 00:49:03.920 --> 00:49:05.339 heart for those 00:49:05.339 --> 00:49:05.899 who don't yet 00:49:05.899 --> 00:49:06.440 know you. 00:49:08.599 --> 00:49:09.639 Lord, help us 00:49:09.639 --> 00:49:11.599 to be willing 00:49:11.599 --> 00:49:12.779 to sacrificially 00:49:12.779 --> 00:49:13.399 and in a 00:49:13.399 --> 00:49:14.279 costly manner 00:49:14.279 --> 00:49:16.019 embrace a 00:49:16.019 --> 00:49:17.059 pattern of life 00:49:17.059 --> 00:49:18.000 that is driven 00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:19.599 by a desire 00:49:19.599 --> 00:49:20.659 to reach many, 00:49:21.659 --> 00:49:23.000 to win some. 00:49:23.659 --> 00:49:24.239 Lord, we know 00:49:24.239 --> 00:49:24.839 that ultimately 00:49:24.839 --> 00:49:25.619 you're the only 00:49:25.619 --> 00:49:26.500 one who can save 00:49:26.500 --> 00:49:27.599 us but Lord, 00:49:27.659 --> 00:49:28.159 we want to be 00:49:28.159 --> 00:49:29.360 useful to you 00:49:29.360 --> 00:49:30.059 and so we ask 00:49:30.059 --> 00:49:30.400 that you would 00:49:30.400 --> 00:49:30.900 help us. 00:49:31.519 --> 00:49:32.380 We pray this in 00:49:32.380 --> 00:49:33.019 Jesus' name. 00:49:33.840 --> 00:49:34.119 Amen. 00:49:36.500 --> 00:49:37.699 We have the joy 00:49:37.699 --> 00:49:39.440 of celebrating 00:49:39.440 --> 00:49:40.139 this with a 00:49:40.139 --> 00:49:40.960 baptism this 00:49:40.960 --> 00:49:41.300 morning. 00:49:41.300 --> 00:49:41.400 Amen. 00:49:41.400 --> 00:49:41.460 Amen. 00:49:41.460 --> 00:49:41.480 Amen.