WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.500 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:01.980 --> 00:00:04.560 Would you turn with me to Acts, chapter 15. 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:09.939 We're looking at verses 36 into chapter 16, verse 5. 00:00:10.820 --> 00:00:15.400 That's page 924 in the Pew Bible, if you want to follow along there. 00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:17.580 Acts 15. 00:00:17.579 --> 00:00:31.859 Let me read this passage for us. 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:39.159 After some days, Paul said to Barnabas, 00:00:39.599 --> 00:00:45.239 Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaim the word of the Lord and see how they are. 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:49.700 Now, Barnabas wanted to take with them John, called Mark. 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:57.740 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:04.340 And there arose a sharp disagreement so that they separated from each other. 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:09.300 Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:11.840 But Paul chose Silas and departed. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:15.560 Having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:19.920 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:23.939 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. 00:01:25.020 --> 00:01:29.120 A disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer. 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:30.939 But his father was a Greek. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:35.060 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 00:01:35.960 --> 00:01:37.939 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him. 00:01:37.939 --> 00:01:44.120 And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places. 00:01:44.819 --> 00:01:46.759 For they all knew that his father was a Greek. 00:01:47.780 --> 00:01:54.539 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 00:01:54.540 --> 00:01:57.780 So the churches were strengthened in the faith. 00:01:58.800 --> 00:02:01.420 And they increased in numbers daily. 00:02:02.740 --> 00:02:03.300 Let's pray. 00:02:04.100 --> 00:02:05.300 God, we thank you for your word. 00:02:06.080 --> 00:02:12.640 And Lord, we thank you for this time that we get this morning to read it and to study it and to hear it proclaimed to us. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:18.120 Lord, would the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts be pleasing in your sight. 00:02:18.259 --> 00:02:19.400 Our rock and our redeemer. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:20.060 Amen. 00:02:20.060 --> 00:02:20.180 Amen. 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:34.180 Well, in the last verse of this little section from Acts, we have a picture of local churches that are both deep and wide. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:40.699 Every night, well, almost every night, my family spends a little time reading the Bible together and singing some kids' songs. 00:02:41.020 --> 00:02:43.860 And that's one of our kids' favorite songs, Deep and Wide. 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:44.719 Do you know that one? 00:02:45.460 --> 00:02:46.879 I won't sing it for you. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:53.280 But Luke ends this section by saying that they were strengthened in the faith. 00:02:53.379 --> 00:02:54.359 That is, they were deep. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:56.539 And they increased in numbers daily. 00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:57.659 That is, they were wide. 00:02:58.139 --> 00:02:59.439 They were theologically rich. 00:02:59.539 --> 00:03:01.599 And they were evangelistically effective. 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:04.819 Now, I don't know about you. 00:03:04.819 --> 00:03:15.079 But my sneaking suspicion is that most churches, at least most churches I've been a part of, tend to sort of tip or lean kind of one way or the other, don't they? 00:03:15.819 --> 00:03:19.620 That some congregations tend to be really rich theologically. 00:03:19.780 --> 00:03:25.539 They love going deep into doctrine and Bible study and discussing these things richly. 00:03:25.539 --> 00:03:30.719 And other churches tend to be really evangelistically and missionally creative. 00:03:30.959 --> 00:03:31.919 And they take risks. 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:35.039 And they're doing great things along those lines. 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:42.939 But very rarely does it seem like you've got a church that's both deep and both wide. 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:49.840 And you might be wondering, I wonder which way Trinity tips on that scale. 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:55.639 And you know what I found as I've been a part of this church for a number of years is that it kind of depends who you ask, actually. 00:03:56.020 --> 00:03:57.219 Sort of depends on your background. 00:03:57.359 --> 00:03:59.740 Some people show up at Trinity and you're like, you guys are all head. 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:00.900 Where is the heart? 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:04.079 And then other people show up and say, man, this is great. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:05.979 You're involved in so much mission and evangelism. 00:04:06.020 --> 00:04:07.560 But you guys are soft on doctrine. 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:08.939 So, you know, you can't please everyone. 00:04:08.939 --> 00:04:15.340 But isn't it true that we need to be both? 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:20.360 That this is what we need both as we seek to build one another up as a church. 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:22.680 And isn't this also what our city needs? 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:27.040 That our city, our communities, they need a local church. 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:28.500 And they need local churches. 00:04:28.939 --> 00:04:31.300 Not just us, but all the churches here in New Haven. 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:34.800 That are deep and that are wide. 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:38.579 And lo and behold, Luke right here says, 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:41.279 It's possible and it happens. 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:43.420 And the question is how? 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:46.339 How in the world do we get to be like that? 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:50.399 And in these two paragraphs that make up our little passage this morning, 00:04:50.660 --> 00:04:53.959 I think Luke shows us at least how we get along that path. 00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:58.659 And the first thing that he shows us as we seek to be a church that's deep and wide, 00:04:58.659 --> 00:05:03.519 the first thing is that we have to rely on God's mercy. 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:07.100 This is chapter 15, verses 36 through 41. 00:05:07.100 --> 00:05:11.300 So this section sort of, it starts the beginning of Paul's, 00:05:11.460 --> 00:05:13.700 what's sometimes called Paul's second missionary journey. 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:19.060 But it also is sort of wrapping up the account of the Jerusalem council that we looked at two weeks ago. 00:05:19.400 --> 00:05:21.340 And it begins, as we read in verse 36, 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:27.760 with Paul wanting to return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city where we proclaim the word of the Lord 00:05:27.760 --> 00:05:29.360 and see how they are. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:33.480 Paul wants to go back to these churches that he planted and see how they're doing. 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:39.780 Now notice, just real briefly, notice Paul's love for the local church here. 00:05:41.080 --> 00:05:45.480 His heart is not just to see churches started, but to also see them grow and persevere. 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:50.200 To see them continue to grow up spiritually. 00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:53.819 John Stott in his commentary on this section says, 00:05:54.220 --> 00:05:56.280 Paul was more than a pioneer missionary. 00:05:57.200 --> 00:06:01.700 He was also concerned to see churches and believers grow into maturity. 00:06:01.699 --> 00:06:10.180 In fact, that little word translated visit in verse 36 is the same word that's sometimes used of care and oversight, 00:06:10.699 --> 00:06:13.599 of visiting the sick, of caring for orphans and widows. 00:06:13.699 --> 00:06:17.639 There's a heart behind this verse. 00:06:18.779 --> 00:06:21.000 And let's pause just briefly as we think about this. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:26.480 You know, some of you here have a great gift of evangelism. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:33.840 And some of you are on the front lines of being salt and light in our region through your work or through your other engagements. 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:35.300 And that is great. 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:41.580 But, don't lose your love for the local church. 00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:46.240 Jesus said they'll know we're followers by how we love one another. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:53.340 Wanting the church to grow to maturity isn't just a thing that pastors and elders care about. 00:06:53.420 --> 00:06:55.180 It's something that Christians care about. 00:06:55.400 --> 00:06:56.800 That we all care about. 00:06:57.720 --> 00:07:00.180 Because Christ himself does, you see. 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:07.600 But isn't it also true that the church can be a hard place to love? 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:11.800 I mean, after all, what do we see in this very paragraph? 00:07:12.460 --> 00:07:19.000 Paul and Barnabas getting into a sharp disagreement over whether or not to take Mark along with them. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:20.360 Here it is. 00:07:20.820 --> 00:07:22.580 Christians being Christians again. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:24.700 Disagreeing with each other. 00:07:26.200 --> 00:07:27.220 Now, notice first. 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:31.580 That Luke is very careful not to whitewash this event. 00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:34.160 Or to whitewash his account of the early church. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:38.740 He's giving us the reliable history, warts and all. 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:42.320 As he tells us what's going on in these first few decades. 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:46.040 And isn't that just another sign of the New Testament's historical reliability? 00:07:46.400 --> 00:07:50.680 After all, if you were sort of concocting a story or writing some propaganda, 00:07:51.320 --> 00:07:56.400 you probably wouldn't include or make up this story, would you? 00:07:57.060 --> 00:08:02.640 Two heroes of the early church movement falling out because they can't see eye to eye over a personnel decision. 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:07.159 Not exactly the kind of thing you want to cook up and put into your propaganda. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:14.639 But second, if Luke's being reliable here, he's also careful not to assign blame. 00:08:15.579 --> 00:08:18.539 It seems that Paul and Barnabas both had good reasons. 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:22.599 For Paul, you'll remember back in chapter 13, 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:27.579 Mark had turned back on their first missionary journey. 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:32.500 When the going got rough, the kitchen got hot, and he got out. 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:36.799 Somehow that metaphor works, right? 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:41.879 Mark, it seems, is not ready to jump into the fire. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:44.100 Again, Paul's thinking he's going to hinder the work. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:46.059 If we go and the same thing happens. 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:51.759 And yet for Barnabas, let's give Mark a second chance. 00:08:52.820 --> 00:08:53.480 He's grown. 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:54.379 He's matured. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:54.980 He will grow. 00:08:55.059 --> 00:08:55.539 He will mature. 00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:56.659 It's going to be good for him. 00:08:56.980 --> 00:08:58.059 Paul, let's take him along. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:00.459 Classic Barnabas, right? 00:09:00.599 --> 00:09:01.399 The encourager. 00:09:03.099 --> 00:09:06.859 Now, as you weigh those different rationales, who's right and who's wrong? 00:09:07.939 --> 00:09:11.079 Well, they both have pretty good reasons, right? 00:09:12.459 --> 00:09:16.019 One valuing the work and the team, the other valuing the person and the individual. 00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:23.840 But, you know, regrettably, even though they both had good reasons, they can't agree. 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:26.460 And so they separate. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:33.379 And that, I think, is a good reminder, or at least this passage should make us consider and remember, 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:36.500 that churches are not perfect places. 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:40.059 And that church leaders aren't perfect people. 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:45.580 Now, this isn't to excuse wrongdoing, to excuse blatant sin. 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:48.960 That needs to be called out and repented of. 00:09:50.059 --> 00:09:56.379 But, you know, it is to say that ultimately, we don't become followers of Christ and come to love his church 00:09:56.379 --> 00:09:58.240 because the church is so flawless. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:03.820 No, the church is full of sinful people who need grace. 00:10:04.740 --> 00:10:06.440 And who continue to need grace. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.440 After all, isn't that the central part of the Christian message? 00:10:12.299 --> 00:10:14.080 That we can't do it on our own. 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:16.279 And that we need someone to rescue us. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:21.860 We become Christians and learn to love the church, not because of the church, but because of who Jesus is. 00:10:22.259 --> 00:10:22.940 And what he's done. 00:10:22.940 --> 00:10:30.940 And so if you're here today and you're not a Christian, I hope you see that there's genuine love in and through this community. 00:10:31.660 --> 00:10:32.720 I hope you see that. 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:36.120 And I hope it prompts you to look deeper into Christianity. 00:10:36.300 --> 00:10:38.740 But trust me, you're not going to find perfect people here. 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:40.560 And I know that because I know myself. 00:10:42.560 --> 00:10:47.400 And if you're waiting to consider the claims of Christianity until you find some perfect expression of it, 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:48.920 friend, you'll wait forever. 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:56.459 Instead, consider Christianity because of who Jesus is. 00:10:57.219 --> 00:10:58.279 And because of what he's done. 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:02.419 He's the one that all of us as a church are looking to. 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:04.459 So look to him too. 00:11:05.219 --> 00:11:06.279 And see what you find. 00:11:09.699 --> 00:11:12.299 Now what we ultimately see in this paragraph, 00:11:12.839 --> 00:11:15.019 and I think what Luke sort of wants us to take away, 00:11:15.019 --> 00:11:21.860 is that God is able to take this regrettable disagreement of Barnabas and Paul, 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:25.899 and actually use it to further his kingdom. 00:11:26.439 --> 00:11:28.919 After all, at the end of our text, what do we have? 00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:31.259 Instead of one team, we've got two. 00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:34.159 Instead of three missionaries, there are four. 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:37.120 Barnabas takes Mark and goes to Cyprus. 00:11:37.199 --> 00:11:38.919 That was his home land. 00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:42.399 And Paul takes Silas and heads towards what we now call southern Turkey. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:48.659 And Silas providentially ends up being a great pick for this mission. 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:51.539 We met him, remember, at the end of the Jerusalem Council. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:56.759 What a strategic choice for Paul to have Jerusalem-approved Silas 00:11:56.759 --> 00:12:01.500 delivering the decisions of the Council to these embattled churches of southern Galatia. 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:05.980 And Silas, we learn a little later, was also a Roman citizen, 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:08.079 which ends up being an incredible advantage. 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:10.379 Because as we'll see, even next week, 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:13.580 the Holy Spirit's going to take this new missionary team 00:12:13.580 --> 00:12:14.900 that's visiting these churches, 00:12:15.160 --> 00:12:17.980 and is going to push them out of Asia, 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:20.540 across the Aegean Sea, 00:12:21.020 --> 00:12:22.520 and into Macedonia. 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:24.680 That is, into Europe. 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:26.560 That he's going to take this new team, 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:27.900 and he's going to break new ground. 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:31.220 So how strategic is it that Silas himself is a Roman citizen, 00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:33.320 as they get deeper into Roman territory? 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:37.460 So taking a step back, what do we see? 00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:41.580 We see that God, in his sovereign mercy, 00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:43.440 takes flawed human beings, 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:45.660 and uses even their mistakes, 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:47.760 to advance his kingdom purpose, 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:49.580 to strengthen the church, 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:52.400 and thereby to display more of his glory 00:12:52.400 --> 00:12:54.860 to and for the world. 00:12:54.860 --> 00:13:00.899 You know, if we're going to be a church that's deep and wide, 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:03.060 this is square one. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:07.200 We need to rely on God's sovereign mercy. 00:13:08.680 --> 00:13:11.860 There needs to be a deep river of trust 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:14.460 that God loves his church more than we ever could, 00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:17.300 and he's accomplishing his purposes for his own glory. 00:13:17.300 --> 00:13:19.120 And he's going to use us, 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:21.820 even as flawed as we are, 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:22.899 to be part of that. 00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:26.439 And again, this doesn't excuse what happened 00:13:26.439 --> 00:13:27.840 between these two church leaders. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:31.559 It's not a license to be careless and foolish, 00:13:32.059 --> 00:13:34.139 but it is to say that we need to see 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:36.319 that the ultimate agent in all of this 00:13:36.319 --> 00:13:37.539 is God himself. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:41.439 And won't that make us deep? 00:13:43.419 --> 00:13:45.959 If we have that kind of view of God, 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:49.840 the view that Luke and all the other biblical writers have, 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:52.100 that God is king. 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:56.959 That he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:00.860 That in him we live and move and have our being. 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:05.000 That all things are from him and through him and to him. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:12.019 If we really sink our hearts into that magnificent truth about God, 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:13.539 it will make us deep. 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:19.819 To know that God isn't some supercharged projection of Father Christmas, 00:14:20.219 --> 00:14:21.879 anxiously rubbing his hands together, 00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:23.079 peering over the clouds, 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:25.399 wondering what's going to happen in this mad world. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:25.839 No! 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:29.500 That God is the boundless 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:33.299 and everlasting creator of all things, 00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:39.879 whose roaring majesty will either undo you 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:42.919 or thrill you for all eternity. 00:14:44.359 --> 00:14:46.620 And whose glory will one day cover the earth 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:48.899 like the waters cover the sea. 00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:55.279 I remember watching a surfing documentary some time ago. 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.879 I'm not a surfer, 00:14:58.279 --> 00:14:59.840 so I had to watch a documentary. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:03.600 And one of the things I learned, 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:05.600 one of my friends was into surfing, 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:07.120 so I thought it would be nice. 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:10.559 One of the things I learned was that the best surfers, 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:12.340 the wisest ones, 00:15:12.439 --> 00:15:14.139 the most elegant ones on the waves, 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:17.340 were the ones who had really studied the sea. 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:21.620 They were the ones who knew its movement 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:23.200 and they knew its character 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:24.960 and they knew its power. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:29.300 They spent a long time not just staring at the waves 00:15:29.300 --> 00:15:30.399 but feeling the current 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.120 and learning how they surged and moved 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.480 and they were in awe of this thing 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:38.080 and they were humble before it. 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.759 They were the best ones. 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.320 They were the ones, 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:43.320 they were the gurus that everyone wanted to get with 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:44.680 and learn. 00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:47.519 And friends, in the same way, 00:15:47.579 --> 00:15:50.159 that's how we need to be with God. 00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:54.259 He's revealed himself in creation 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.359 and most of all, 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:57.359 he's revealed himself in his word, 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.859 both incarnate and written. 00:16:01.359 --> 00:16:03.359 And we need to be humbly 00:16:03.359 --> 00:16:05.000 and deeply acquainted 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.239 with all that he shows himself to be. 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:11.759 But you know, 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:12.700 understanding God 00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:14.620 and his sovereign mercy 00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:16.500 won't just make us deep, 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.860 it'll also make us wide. 00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:22.060 To know this majestic God, 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:24.240 more powerful than a million oceans, 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:26.419 to know that that God 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:28.740 has extended his mercy to us, 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:32.600 not just once at conversion, 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:36.200 but again and again and again. 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:40.780 All of us are Barnabas and Paul, 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:41.940 aren't we? 00:16:43.300 --> 00:16:45.560 None of us wants to give in 00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:46.500 to the other 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:48.180 when we're in the heat 00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:49.660 of a dispute. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:51.440 None of us wants to admit 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:52.560 that maybe our reasons 00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:53.920 aren't the final word 00:16:53.920 --> 00:16:55.100 on the subject. 00:16:57.020 --> 00:16:59.040 And yet God continues to extend 00:16:59.040 --> 00:17:00.900 his unfailing mercy to us. 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:04.119 How could that mercy 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:05.359 we've received 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:07.359 not make us a people 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:08.059 passionate 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:10.299 to show mercy to others? 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:13.160 Even people who disagree with us. 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:15.220 How could it not make us 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.139 want to go out 00:17:16.139 --> 00:17:17.079 into the world 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:19.160 so that other people, 00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:21.220 people just like us, 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:23.539 flawed and hard-headed, 00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:26.680 so that those people too 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.480 might get a glimpse 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:29.140 of God's undeserved grace? 00:17:31.620 --> 00:17:32.860 Those who know mercy 00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:34.539 are the ones who show mercy 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.920 again and again. 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:37.900 You know, 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:38.880 this isn't the last time 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.460 in the New Testament 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.240 that we hear about 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.099 Paul's relationship 00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.759 with Mark. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.860 Listen to what Paul writes 00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:44.940 later in his ministry. 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.279 This is Colossians 4.10. 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:48.000 He tells the church in Colossi, 00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:49.620 if Mark comes to you, 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.299 welcome him. 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:54.899 And then in 2 Timothy 4.11, 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:55.859 he writes from prison 00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.619 and tells Timothy, 00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:57.940 get Mark 00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:59.700 and bring him with you, 00:18:00.139 --> 00:18:01.819 for he's very useful to me 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:03.000 for ministry. 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.759 And then in Philemon, 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.319 verse 23, 00:18:06.399 --> 00:18:06.680 he says, 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.259 Epaphras, 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.099 my fellow prisoner 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:08.819 in Christ Jesus, 00:18:08.919 --> 00:18:09.859 sends greetings to you, 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.440 and so do Mark 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:13.139 and Aristarchus 00:18:13.139 --> 00:18:13.659 and Demas 00:18:13.659 --> 00:18:14.119 and Luke, 00:18:14.379 --> 00:18:15.259 my fellow workers. 00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:17.659 Do you see? 00:18:18.899 --> 00:18:20.019 Whatever happened here 00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:21.079 in Acts 15, 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.680 it didn't grow 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.319 a bitter root. 00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:25.019 It didn't remain 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.859 a source of tension 00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:28.000 and separation 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.759 for long. 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.839 Paul eventually 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.920 could say about Mark, 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:32.180 he's my fellow worker 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:33.879 and he's very useful to me. 00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.460 Go get him 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:35.039 and bring him 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.279 in my hour of need. 00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:36.920 And oh, 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.319 by the way, 00:18:37.379 --> 00:18:38.339 when he comes to you, 00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:39.480 welcome him 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.519 and honor him 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.599 because he will bless you. 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.619 They were reconciled. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:47.779 You know, 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:48.859 I often hear people wonder, 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:51.219 how come so many 00:18:51.219 --> 00:18:52.799 of my secular 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.879 non-Christian friends 00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:55.000 seem to be better people, 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:55.979 seem to be so much 00:18:55.979 --> 00:18:57.139 more moral people 00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:58.099 than some of the Christians 00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:58.579 I know. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.159 And you know, 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.359 often that's true. 00:19:03.219 --> 00:19:04.939 I have some very 00:19:04.939 --> 00:19:06.000 generous, 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:07.019 caring, 00:19:07.399 --> 00:19:08.659 and compassionate neighbors 00:19:08.659 --> 00:19:10.019 who live in our apartment building 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:11.459 who aren't very interested 00:19:11.459 --> 00:19:12.000 in Christianity. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:15.240 And on the one hand, 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:15.979 it's a mark of God's 00:19:15.979 --> 00:19:16.819 common grace, 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:17.599 isn't it? 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.559 That even people 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.899 with no interest 00:19:20.899 --> 00:19:21.639 in God 00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:24.039 still bear his image 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:26.000 in generosity, 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.339 in kindness, 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.299 in faithfulness. 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.480 But you know, 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.079 on the other hand, 00:19:31.159 --> 00:19:31.939 I find 00:19:31.939 --> 00:19:33.379 one thing 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.359 that's not so common 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:36.139 in our world, 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:38.139 and it's mercy. 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:39.779 It's forgiveness. 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:43.019 I don't see a lot 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.359 of that 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.319 in the world. 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:45.379 Do you? 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.420 And that's one reason 00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:50.519 why a church relying 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.399 on God's mercy 00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:52.879 and living it out 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:54.420 will be such 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.440 an evangelistically 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.940 potent place. 00:19:58.139 --> 00:19:58.539 Paul 00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.579 and Barnabas 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.379 and Mark, 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.139 they eventually 00:20:01.139 --> 00:20:01.940 forgave 00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:03.160 and reconciled. 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.339 That's the power 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:05.160 of knowing 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:06.059 God's mercy 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:06.940 in Jesus. 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:10.320 So how do we 00:20:10.320 --> 00:20:10.820 become a church 00:20:10.820 --> 00:20:11.259 that's deep 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:12.059 and wide, 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:12.960 that's strengthening 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.440 in the faith 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:13.900 and increasing 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.299 in numbers, 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.539 that's theologically 00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:17.000 rich and missiologically 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.759 effective? 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:19.600 First, 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.480 we rely on God's 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.120 sovereign mercy, 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.440 that it's his work 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.360 in and through us, 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:24.960 not ours. 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:28.900 But you know, 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.759 by itself, 00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:31.920 that can seem 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.000 pretty passive, 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.120 can't it? 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:35.619 Are we just 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:35.979 supposed to sit 00:20:35.979 --> 00:20:37.279 around doing 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:37.619 nothing? 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.139 Kicking up our 00:20:39.139 --> 00:20:39.519 heels, 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.299 brewing our 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.679 fancy coffees, 00:20:43.439 --> 00:20:43.899 checking our 00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:44.519 Twitter feeds 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.599 every 15 minutes? 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:49.000 I don't even 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.719 use my Twitter 00:20:49.719 --> 00:20:50.399 account and I get 00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.000 Twitter emails. 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.539 What's up with 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.279 that, by the way? 00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.119 You know, 00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:57.779 the book of Acts, 00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.279 not to mention 00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:58.899 the rest of the 00:20:58.899 --> 00:20:59.159 Bible, 00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:00.619 would suggest 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.599 just the opposite, 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:03.319 that this 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.259 sovereign God 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:05.959 works ordinarily 00:21:05.959 --> 00:21:07.219 through means 00:21:07.219 --> 00:21:09.219 and he invites 00:21:09.219 --> 00:21:10.839 us into his 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.480 great drama 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.079 of redemption 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.259 and gives us 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.139 a role to play. 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:16.219 So while we 00:21:16.219 --> 00:21:17.059 rely on God's 00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.279 mercy, 00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:18.339 we're also called 00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:19.480 to use a good 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:21.139 godly strategy 00:21:21.139 --> 00:21:22.299 and that's what 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:22.740 we see in the 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.240 next paragraph, 00:21:23.399 --> 00:21:24.000 in chapter 16, 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.779 verses 1 through 5. 00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:25.419 If we want to 00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:26.619 grow deep 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.279 and wide, 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:27.939 first we rely 00:21:27.939 --> 00:21:28.519 on God's mercy 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.219 and second, 00:21:29.919 --> 00:21:30.579 we use a good 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.480 godly strategy. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:32.859 In the beginning 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.559 of chapter 16, 00:21:33.679 --> 00:21:33.939 Paul, 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:34.879 along with Silas, 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.759 revisits the churches 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.279 he had planted 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:36.819 on his first 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.159 journey. 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:37.879 And now there's 00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:39.059 a lot we learn 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:40.599 about solid strategic 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:41.279 mission in this 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.019 whole section 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.839 of the book of Acts, 00:21:43.199 --> 00:21:43.899 some of which we'll 00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:44.439 have to come back 00:21:44.439 --> 00:21:45.159 to in later sermons. 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.419 I mean, 00:21:45.459 --> 00:21:45.839 think about it. 00:21:45.959 --> 00:21:46.259 First, 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.219 Paul's planting 00:21:47.219 --> 00:21:47.879 churches. 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:48.659 That's key, 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:48.939 right? 00:21:48.959 --> 00:21:49.419 He's not just 00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:50.039 running outreach 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.819 events but starting 00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.879 healthy local 00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:52.399 churches. 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:52.980 And next, 00:21:53.139 --> 00:21:53.779 he's doing it 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.559 in cities. 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.219 That is, 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:55.919 he's finding 00:21:55.919 --> 00:21:56.779 the cultural 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.480 or political 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.639 center of a region, 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.779 starting a movement 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.539 there, 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:02.659 because he knows 00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.119 that then it will 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:03.960 naturally spread 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.599 to the surrounding 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.440 towns and regions. 00:22:07.159 --> 00:22:07.559 Those are just 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:08.259 some overarching 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.299 things we see 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:09.859 in Acts about 00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:10.500 good gospel 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:10.799 mission. 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:11.339 But you know, 00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:12.159 here in the beginning 00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:13.119 of chapter 16, 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.339 we see some more 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.639 specific things 00:22:15.639 --> 00:22:16.859 that are equally 00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:17.539 critical. 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:17.599 people. 00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.259 And especially 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:20.079 if those churches 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.480 are going to 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.700 mature in breadth 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.279 and depth. 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.460 In other words, 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:23.839 think of it like 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:24.039 this. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.559 If church planting 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.399 in sort of 00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:27.319 cultural political 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.680 centers is a sort 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.799 of 40,000 foot 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.579 view of Paul's 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:30.879 strategy, 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.379 if that's what 00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:31.920 it looks like 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.700 from the air, 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.680 then what Luke 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.000 is going to 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.859 show us here 00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:36.420 is what Paul's 00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:36.980 strategy looked 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.559 like on the 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.019 ground, 00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:39.180 in the trenches, 00:22:39.399 --> 00:22:40.099 in the day-to-day 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:40.819 operations. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:42.940 And quickly, 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.440 there are three 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.740 things that we 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.220 see here about 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.839 a good godly 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.299 strategy. 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.379 First, 00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.799 there's faithful 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.879 delivery of the 00:22:49.879 --> 00:22:50.220 message. 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:50.799 Look again at 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.500 verse 4. 00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:52.779 As they went 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.119 on their way 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:53.599 through the cities, 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.339 they delivered 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:55.079 to them for 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:55.799 observance the 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.539 decision that 00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.159 had been reached 00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:57.879 by the apostles 00:22:57.879 --> 00:22:58.700 and elders who 00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.460 were in Jerusalem. 00:22:59.579 --> 00:22:59.879 Now, if you 00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.379 were here two 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:00.980 weeks ago, 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.220 we looked at 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.019 chapter 15, 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:03.500 where the church 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.279 had this great 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:05.619 theological debate 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.819 about what was 00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.740 required for 00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:08.279 someone to be 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:09.119 accepted by God 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.519 and welcomed 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.240 into his family. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.139 And what the 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:12.000 church decided 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.399 there, 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.319 on the basis 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:13.759 of what God 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.359 had said in 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:14.919 scripture and 00:23:14.919 --> 00:23:15.359 what God had 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:15.940 done, 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:17.100 in their midst, 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.259 what they decided 00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:19.140 was that salvation 00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:20.240 wasn't just for 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:20.779 the Jews. 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:22.039 It wasn't just 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.180 for the circumcised. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.799 No, rather, 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.320 actually, 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.120 salvation comes 00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:27.120 to everyone, 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:28.480 Jew and Gentile 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:28.900 alike, 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:30.500 solely and freely 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.820 through faith 00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:33.059 in Jesus Christ. 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.740 That it's not 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:37.380 based on race, 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.940 but it's based 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.080 on God's grace. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:43.399 And here we see 00:23:43.399 --> 00:23:44.379 Paul and Silas 00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:46.399 faithfully delivering 00:23:46.399 --> 00:23:48.139 this message 00:23:48.139 --> 00:23:48.859 to the churches, 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.619 this message 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.240 of liberating 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.639 grace, 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:51.500 and the churches 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:51.879 grow. 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.000 And it's interesting 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.539 that the word 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.559 deliver here is 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.240 actually the same 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.299 word that Paul 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.240 uses in 1 Corinthians 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.179 15, remember Greg 00:24:00.179 --> 00:24:00.779 talked about that 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.359 last week, 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.679 which really describes 00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:03.799 the handing down 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.919 of authoritative 00:24:04.919 --> 00:24:06.039 teaching without any 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.259 tampering or any 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.679 tweaking. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.299 In other words, 00:24:08.320 --> 00:24:08.560 they're saying, 00:24:08.820 --> 00:24:09.440 this is what the 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.120 church believes 00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:10.880 and will always 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:11.259 believe, 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:12.140 we don't need to 00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:12.560 change it, 00:24:12.820 --> 00:24:13.660 here it is. 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.440 Now, as we think 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.200 about this today, 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:20.660 how often are we 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:23.720 tempted to tweak 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:25.539 or maybe cover up 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:27.120 certain elements 00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:28.640 of the core message 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.240 of the gospel? 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.920 And sometimes this 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.420 even happens 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.259 through good intentions, 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:33.820 doesn't it? 00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:35.320 We want people to 00:24:35.320 --> 00:24:36.039 come to know God 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.380 in Christ, 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:36.920 we want them to 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.600 hear the gospel 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.639 as actually the 00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:39.179 good news that it 00:24:39.179 --> 00:24:40.099 is, but that can 00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:41.240 actually sort of 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.639 end up, we can 00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:43.740 end up shying away 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.639 from certain things 00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:45.599 that we think might 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:47.439 be kind of a little 00:24:47.439 --> 00:24:48.339 less than palatable 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:50.099 that they might not 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.599 want to hear. 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:54.219 But what we see here 00:24:54.219 --> 00:24:56.259 is that faithful 00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:57.399 delivery of the 00:24:57.399 --> 00:24:59.259 message brings good 00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.579 fruit. 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.539 Now, of course, 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.099 we have to 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.779 contextualize, 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.500 we have to speak in 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:03.959 ways that people 00:25:03.959 --> 00:25:04.480 understand, 00:25:04.719 --> 00:25:05.219 and we have to 00:25:05.219 --> 00:25:06.439 address the questions 00:25:06.439 --> 00:25:07.119 that they have, 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:08.059 but the message 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.579 itself, 00:25:08.659 --> 00:25:09.339 this message of 00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:09.879 the gospel that 00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:10.659 you can say in a 00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:11.599 thousand ways, 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.019 it doesn't change. 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.659 That what Jesus' 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:15.799 apostles taught 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.699 under his authority 00:25:16.699 --> 00:25:17.519 and what we have 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.259 preserved in the 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.819 New Testament 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:20.839 is a message of 00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:22.979 life-giving power 00:25:22.979 --> 00:25:24.459 that we don't need 00:25:24.459 --> 00:25:25.939 to tweak or improve 00:25:25.939 --> 00:25:27.279 or bring up to date. 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.419 And what we find 00:25:29.419 --> 00:25:30.859 again and again 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:33.279 is that this message 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.459 that doesn't change, 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:36.980 doesn't actually sit 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:38.799 among us as a relic, 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.900 a sort of antiquarian 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:40.579 relic that, oh, 00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:41.380 that's nice, I can't 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.259 believe people believe 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:44.079 that, but no, it 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.059 comes among us. 00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.660 And it does now 00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:48.559 exactly what it did 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:48.860 then. 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:51.039 It liberates and it 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:53.380 frees and it heals. 00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.559 You know, this is one 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:58.579 of the reasons why our 00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.480 preaching on Sunday 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.980 mornings is mainly 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.460 expository. 00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.100 expository. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.940 That is, we take a 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:05.240 text and we move 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.019 through it section by 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.240 section and teach the 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:08.180 main point of each 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:09.140 passage Sunday after 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:09.460 Sunday. 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.279 We're not doing that 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:10.960 because we want to 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.960 bore you all to death. 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.299 You know. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.240 But we're doing that 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:19.579 because we want to 00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.180 make sure that we're 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.660 delivering faithfully 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:23.360 this liberating good 00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:24.240 news of Jesus with 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:26.279 all its implications. 00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:27.860 You know, if we 00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:28.860 skipped around from 00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:29.660 verse to verse, 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.600 verse, or even 00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:32.060 worse, if I just 00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:33.060 shared some warm 00:26:33.060 --> 00:26:34.080 devotional thoughts 00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:36.960 from my week, not 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.519 only would that be 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:39.040 pretty boring after a 00:26:39.040 --> 00:26:41.560 while, trust me, I'm 00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:42.160 not a very interesting 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:42.600 person. 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.700 It would be boring. 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.580 But you know, it 00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.360 wouldn't actually feed 00:26:47.360 --> 00:26:47.940 our souls. 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.460 Friends, I wonder 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.779 that the books that 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:54.740 you like to read and 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.400 the speakers that you 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:56.300 like to listen to, 00:26:56.299 --> 00:27:00.119 are they teaching 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.740 God's word clearly 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:03.019 and accurately? 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:04.839 In that book that you 00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:05.960 read, is it a lot of 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:07.039 expounding of scripture 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.899 or is it a lot of 00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.799 sort of cherry picking 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:10.079 of verses and then 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.899 running away with an 00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:11.259 idea? 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:15.899 Just like Paul and 00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:17.039 Silas faithfully 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.980 delivered the 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:19.059 apostolic message, 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.159 that should be our 00:27:20.159 --> 00:27:21.299 strategy too. 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:24.440 But it also involves 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.539 not just sort of 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.259 faithfully delivering 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:27.180 the message, but it 00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:28.799 also involves personal 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.819 investment. 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.980 Look again at verses 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.839 one through three. 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:36.279 Luke introduces us to 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.359 another key player in 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.139 the story of the early 00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:39.839 church, Timothy. 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:42.119 And Paul takes a 00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:44.579 personal interest in 00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:46.980 this young man and 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:48.180 chooses to intentionally 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:49.299 invest in him. 00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:51.259 Now, what's 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:52.680 happening here, this 00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:53.519 sort of personal 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.359 investment, is not 00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:55.279 just for missionaries 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.139 and not just for 00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:56.659 church leaders. 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:58.180 At one level, Paul 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:59.339 taking Timothy along 00:27:59.339 --> 00:28:00.220 with him is just a 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:02.079 heightened example of 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:04.000 healthy discipleship. 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.819 Paul's modeling 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:07.919 something for us here. 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.440 He's a more mature 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.319 person in the faith, 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.839 identifying a younger 00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:14.480 brother or sister, and 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:16.019 then investing in him 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:17.339 or her personally. 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:20.879 to see him or her 00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:22.199 grow towards maturity 00:28:22.199 --> 00:28:22.879 in Christ. 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.299 Friends, this is what a 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:26.099 healthy church actually 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.759 looks like. 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.379 Where there's a culture 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.359 of this sort of thing. 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.759 Where there's a culture 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.919 of personal investment 00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:33.019 and intentional 00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.339 discipleship. 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.119 A culture where we 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:36.699 want to spend time 00:28:36.699 --> 00:28:37.619 with each other to see 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.379 one another grow. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.720 You know, I hope that 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.599 in the coming years, 00:28:43.459 --> 00:28:44.339 our church becomes 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:46.480 more and more a place 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:48.759 where every member 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:51.459 has a Paul in their 00:28:51.459 --> 00:28:52.659 life, as it were. 00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:54.619 Someone building into 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:54.919 them. 00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:57.439 And everybody has a 00:28:57.439 --> 00:28:58.299 Timothy in their life 00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:58.480 too. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.119 Someone that they're 00:28:59.119 --> 00:28:59.699 building into. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.619 And everybody has a 00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:03.839 Barnabas or a Silas or 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:05.000 two in their life. 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.679 A good friend, maybe at 00:29:06.679 --> 00:29:07.679 the same stage as you, 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.720 spurring you on. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.459 Wouldn't that be a 00:29:11.459 --> 00:29:12.059 beautiful thing? 00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:13.940 That the gospel wasn't 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.419 just something we 00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:15.139 talked about, but 00:29:15.139 --> 00:29:16.379 something we lived out 00:29:16.379 --> 00:29:17.639 in relationship with 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:18.099 one another. 00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.940 Some change, some 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:21.859 growth, some progress 00:29:21.859 --> 00:29:22.579 towards Christ's 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.259 likeness will only 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.899 happen in that 00:29:23.899 --> 00:29:24.460 context. 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.519 We need to be close 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.240 enough to one another 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.379 so we can imitate one 00:29:29.379 --> 00:29:29.700 another. 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.379 As we imitate Christ. 00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:36.980 So brothers and 00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:37.599 sisters, let me ask 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.099 you, who are you 00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:38.720 building into? 00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.359 Is there someone 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:42.279 younger in the faith 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.299 here in our church 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:44.579 family that you think 00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:45.819 you could invest in 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:46.339 personally? 00:29:48.199 --> 00:29:48.919 Of course, you might 00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:51.319 be thinking, I have no 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.379 idea where to start. 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.959 That sounds nice on 00:29:53.959 --> 00:29:56.319 paper, but no one 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.259 ever discipled me. 00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:58.079 How do I actually do 00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:58.399 that? 00:29:59.979 --> 00:30:00.819 Well, here's a good way 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:01.240 to start. 00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:05.399 First, start praying for 00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:05.939 the people that you 00:30:05.939 --> 00:30:07.159 know in the church. 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:08.799 Maybe start with your 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.459 small group, for 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:09.860 instance. 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:11.900 And is there anyone 00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:13.180 there younger than you 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:13.940 or younger in the 00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.200 faith? 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.600 And then pray for that 00:30:16.600 --> 00:30:17.600 person and invite them 00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:18.559 out to lunch on Sunday. 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:21.059 And in the course of 00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:22.480 your conversation, be 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.180 sure to ask them two 00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:23.640 questions. 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:26.579 One, hey, what's God 00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:27.180 been teaching you 00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:27.900 through our small group 00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:28.220 lately? 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:30.860 Or if they're not in 00:30:30.860 --> 00:30:31.420 your small group, hey, 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.220 what's God been teaching 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:32.860 you on Sundays? 00:30:33.100 --> 00:30:33.400 What have you been 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.019 learning from the book 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:34.480 of Acts? 00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:35.039 How's it been 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.600 challenging you? 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.180 What's been new? 00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:39.380 And second, ask them, 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.259 hey, how can I pray for 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.820 you this week? 00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:45.779 And then, actually pray 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.480 for them that week. 00:30:47.060 --> 00:30:47.279 Right? 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:49.120 And in a week or two, 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.900 follow up with what you 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.720 talked about and prayed 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.799 about and keep the 00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.600 conversation and the 00:30:52.600 --> 00:30:53.100 prayer going. 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.900 Doesn't have to be 00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:57.799 rocket science, but it 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.440 could be revolutionary. 00:30:58.440 --> 00:31:03.180 Now, if in a week's 00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:05.120 time, someone asks you 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:06.500 to lunch next Sunday, 00:31:06.820 --> 00:31:08.779 and they ask you these 00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:10.440 questions, don't get all 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:11.140 weirded out. 00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:13.259 Uh-oh, they're discipling 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.519 me. 00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:14.900 They must think I'm really 00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:15.920 immature in the faith. 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:17.039 This is weird. 00:31:18.080 --> 00:31:20.680 Look, be thankful that 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.980 God's starting to use your 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:23.759 church family for what God 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:26.700 designed it to do, to grow 00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:27.700 you up in the faith. 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:30.860 Be glad that God's 00:31:30.860 --> 00:31:31.799 starting something in 00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.299 your life. 00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:35.340 And, of course, once a 00:31:35.340 --> 00:31:36.120 relationship like this 00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:36.759 gets off the ground, 00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.480 there's all sorts of 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:37.880 things you can do 00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:38.120 together. 00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:39.000 You can read a good 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:39.720 Christian book together. 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.539 There's plenty downstairs 00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.059 in the bookstall. 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:41.779 Just pick one. 00:31:42.360 --> 00:31:42.680 Randomly. 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.279 Close your eyes. 00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:43.680 Grab one. 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:44.400 It'll be edifying. 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.539 Just kidding. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:46.840 Think of ways you can 00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:48.039 serve together, right? 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.960 Or pick up a, take up a 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:52.200 particular need that you 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:54.360 see in the world or in 00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:56.080 our inner city and start 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:57.019 to pray about it together 00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:58.159 intentionally, regularly. 00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:59.019 Or maybe do that in your 00:31:59.019 --> 00:31:59.439 workplace. 00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:01.939 That's just a few. 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:04.919 But, of course, building 00:32:04.919 --> 00:32:05.839 into someone like this 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:07.639 takes time, doesn't it? 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:11.199 And isn't it time that we 00:32:11.199 --> 00:32:12.039 all feel like we don't 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:12.579 have enough of? 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.619 But, you know, on the one 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:17.579 hand, I think if you start 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.460 with people you already 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:19.439 have some kind of 00:32:19.439 --> 00:32:21.740 connection with, I bet 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.460 you'll find it's not as 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:25.079 hard as you think to get 00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:25.839 that time together. 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:28.119 And remember, too, look, 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.720 everybody has to eat. 00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:32.079 Everyone has to eat. 00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:33.899 Meals are a great time to 00:32:33.899 --> 00:32:34.599 do this sort of thing. 00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:35.879 Read the Gospels. 00:32:36.199 --> 00:32:37.599 Jesus was always eating 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.099 with people. 00:32:38.939 --> 00:32:39.799 He knew they had to eat. 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:40.960 He wanted to get time 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.279 with them. 00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.159 So he ate with them. 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.980 It's a very Christ-like 00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:43.439 thing to do. 00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:44.519 Grab a meal. 00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:46.039 Start discipling each 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:46.220 other. 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:48.859 But, you know, on the 00:32:48.859 --> 00:32:49.639 other hand, I hope you 00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:52.199 see that this is worth 00:32:52.199 --> 00:32:53.639 making the time and 00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.439 sacrifice for. 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.160 Because, first, it's a 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:57.940 surefire way that God 00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:58.519 will grow you. 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.380 You know, often it's 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:01.519 only when we step out 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.720 to minister to others 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.120 that God shapes and 00:33:04.120 --> 00:33:05.660 matures us in the deep 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:06.259 ways that he really 00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:06.759 wants to. 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.440 And that's very 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:10.960 exciting to think that 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:12.080 when we step out into 00:33:12.080 --> 00:33:12.640 something that might be 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.500 a little scary and a 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.820 little risk-taking, God's 00:33:14.820 --> 00:33:15.660 going to meet us there 00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:17.299 and change us more and 00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:17.480 more. 00:33:19.340 --> 00:33:20.259 But it's not just good 00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:20.720 for you. 00:33:20.860 --> 00:33:21.700 Friends, this is also an 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:23.200 eternal work. 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:26.840 You have the chance to 00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:28.720 impact someone for their 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:30.160 spiritual and eternal 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:30.940 good. 00:33:31.600 --> 00:33:33.559 Is there any joy 00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:34.980 comparable to that? 00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:39.820 Personal investment. 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:41.279 That's the second part of 00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:42.519 Paul's strategy. 00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:45.240 But the last thing we see 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:45.940 here, not just faithful 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:47.220 delivery, not just personal 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:48.440 investment, but also 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:50.220 costly identification. 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:50.779 identification. 00:33:52.600 --> 00:33:53.940 At the end of verse 3, 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:56.140 Paul has Timothy 00:33:56.140 --> 00:33:57.720 circumcised. 00:33:59.160 --> 00:34:00.160 Welcome to the team. 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:06.880 And you know, of course, 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.660 it's not because Paul 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:08.699 thinks Timothy has to get 00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:09.260 circumcised. 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.320 That was, I mean, as we 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:11.320 said, that was settled at 00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:12.380 the Jerusalem Council once 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:12.780 and for all. 00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:14.079 Timothy was free to be 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:15.199 circumcised or not. 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.500 It wasn't a requirement for 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:18.000 salvation, but he willingly 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.720 undergoes it. 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:19.239 Why? 00:34:21.799 --> 00:34:23.179 For the sake of sharing the 00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:25.179 gospel with, as Luke 00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:27.099 says, the Jews who were in 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:28.699 those places, for they all 00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:29.719 knew that his father was a 00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:29.980 Greek. 00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:33.519 1 Corinthians 9 that we read 00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.539 earlier, that Malcolm read 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.539 for us, is a really helpful 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.559 cross-reference here. 00:34:37.399 --> 00:34:38.579 There we heard Paul say, 00:34:38.779 --> 00:34:40.739 I'm willing to become like 00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:41.799 the Jews in order to win the 00:34:41.799 --> 00:34:42.399 Jews to Christ. 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.899 And I'm willing to become like 00:34:43.899 --> 00:34:44.879 the Gentiles to win the 00:34:44.879 --> 00:34:45.759 Gentiles to Christ. 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.780 Not like them in their 00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:47.920 sinful practices, but like 00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:48.620 them in their culture. 00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:50.720 And I'm willing to become 00:34:50.720 --> 00:34:51.980 all things to all people, 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:53.800 that by all means I might 00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:54.860 save some. 00:34:55.140 --> 00:34:56.500 I do it all for the sake of 00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:57.620 the gospel, he says. 00:34:58.360 --> 00:35:00.240 That I might share with them 00:35:00.240 --> 00:35:01.700 in its blessings. 00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:05.320 And here we see this 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:06.500 principle being played out in 00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:07.200 Timothy's life. 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:08.640 He's willing to become more 00:35:08.640 --> 00:35:10.220 Jewish, as it were, in order 00:35:10.220 --> 00:35:11.960 to win the Jews, to be an 00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:13.540 insider in their culture. 00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:18.679 And no doubt, adult circumcision 00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:20.559 was a painful procedure. 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:25.739 And yet for Timothy, the joy of 00:35:25.739 --> 00:35:27.759 sharing in the gospel blessings 00:35:27.759 --> 00:35:30.900 with new converts was greater in 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:33.460 his mind than the pain of 00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:34.000 circumcision. 00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:37.960 He was willing to joyfully accept 00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:40.639 the temporary cost for the sake of 00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:41.619 that eternal gain. 00:35:41.619 --> 00:35:46.059 Friend, I wonder, have you ever 00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:48.440 considered how you might become 00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:49.960 more like your neighbors? 00:35:51.099 --> 00:35:52.279 Not in their sin, but in their 00:35:52.279 --> 00:35:54.759 culture, in order to love them 00:35:54.759 --> 00:35:55.859 and show them the grace of 00:35:55.859 --> 00:35:56.159 Jesus. 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:59.039 Have you ever thought about how 00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:00.400 you might become more of an 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:02.940 insider to their world in order 00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:04.099 to love them with the love of 00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:05.059 Christ more effectively? 00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:09.119 Even if doing so is costly. 00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:12.820 You know, for missionaries, this 00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:14.139 often requires learning a new 00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:15.840 language and dressing in 00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:17.759 different clothes and eating new 00:36:17.759 --> 00:36:18.400 foods. 00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:22.400 But what would it be like for your 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:22.699 neighbors? 00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:25.619 That's who God's calling you to 00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:27.579 know and to love and to be an 00:36:27.579 --> 00:36:28.279 ambassador to. 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:32.059 What would be an example of this? 00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:34.059 Well, let's say you have a 00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:36.139 neighbor who reads the New York 00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:38.380 Times religiously every Sunday. 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:41.480 And something that they've read 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:43.039 always comes up when you talk 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:43.440 with them. 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:45.119 I have some neighbors like that. 00:36:45.219 --> 00:36:45.420 Do you? 00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:49.039 Well, would we be willing to get a 00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:52.360 subscription and read it in order to 00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:54.179 enter into their world and to get to 00:36:54.179 --> 00:36:55.699 know them and to love them well? 00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:59.460 Would you listen to their music? 00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:02.000 Would you follow their sports team? 00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:04.639 Would you try their food? 00:37:04.740 --> 00:37:05.960 Would you frequent their restaurant 00:37:05.960 --> 00:37:07.400 or their local hangout? 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:10.920 Would you do all that for the sake of 00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:12.539 sharing in the joys of the gospel? 00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:15.980 And of course, it's easy to see why we 00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:16.740 don't do this. 00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:20.720 After all, costly identification is 00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:21.619 just that, right? 00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:22.940 It's costly. 00:37:24.800 --> 00:37:27.320 It takes time and it takes money and 00:37:27.320 --> 00:37:28.120 it takes energy. 00:37:29.120 --> 00:37:30.800 It takes space in our schedules. 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:33.840 And besides, wouldn't I rather be 00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:34.800 listening to my music? 00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:36.180 After all, it's way better than 00:37:36.180 --> 00:37:36.420 theirs. 00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:38.460 Wouldn't I rather be eating at my 00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:39.960 restaurant or cheering for my sports 00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:42.000 team or reading my newspaper or just 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:43.559 staying in my culture? 00:37:45.900 --> 00:37:47.280 It's not just costly, but it's 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:47.780 inconvenient. 00:37:48.140 --> 00:37:50.320 It takes me naturally away from what I 00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:52.260 feel most comfortable with. 00:37:52.260 --> 00:37:56.320 But friends, remember 00:37:56.320 --> 00:38:00.400 that there once was a time when someone 00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:01.320 took notice of you 00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:05.500 and he saw everything that made up your 00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:05.900 life. 00:38:06.460 --> 00:38:08.660 All of your likes and dislikes 00:38:08.660 --> 00:38:10.540 and all of your family background 00:38:10.540 --> 00:38:12.620 and he saw all of your cultural 00:38:12.620 --> 00:38:14.340 uniquenesses and differences. 00:38:15.700 --> 00:38:17.120 And even more than that, 00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:20.120 he took notice of all your sin 00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:21.420 and all your rebellion. 00:38:23.279 --> 00:38:24.579 And in love, 00:38:25.079 --> 00:38:26.779 he left everything that was 00:38:26.779 --> 00:38:27.239 comfortable. 00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:30.339 He left everything that he called home 00:38:30.339 --> 00:38:32.859 in order to come and identify 00:38:32.859 --> 00:38:34.079 with you. 00:38:35.659 --> 00:38:37.719 Not just in your humanity, but also in 00:38:37.719 --> 00:38:38.239 your sin. 00:38:39.859 --> 00:38:41.659 And he didn't just become like you. 00:38:42.380 --> 00:38:44.099 He actually took your place. 00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:47.219 He became sin. 00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:49.799 Your and my sin. 00:38:50.119 --> 00:38:51.819 So that in him, 00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:53.920 you could become his 00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:54.659 righteousness. 00:38:56.259 --> 00:38:57.359 And three days later, 00:38:57.460 --> 00:38:58.799 God raised him from the dead 00:38:58.799 --> 00:39:00.380 to show that that work 00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:01.539 was complete. 00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:04.219 You see, friends, 00:39:04.339 --> 00:39:06.059 Jesus identified with us 00:39:06.059 --> 00:39:07.859 at the most tremendous 00:39:07.859 --> 00:39:09.279 cost. 00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:12.719 And it has resulted 00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:14.219 in our eternal good. 00:39:15.400 --> 00:39:16.519 For the joy 00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:17.400 set before him, 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:18.159 Hebrews says, 00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:19.899 he endured the cross, 00:39:20.379 --> 00:39:21.480 despising the shame, 00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:23.699 and is seated at the right hand of God, 00:39:24.659 --> 00:39:25.539 welcoming all 00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:26.299 who come to him. 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:30.039 Friends, how could we not go 00:39:30.039 --> 00:39:31.599 knowing 00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:32.739 him? 00:39:32.899 --> 00:39:34.000 How could we not go 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:35.799 and identify with others 00:39:35.799 --> 00:39:38.299 so that we might share with them 00:39:38.299 --> 00:39:39.440 in the blessings of the gospel? 00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:41.880 It is the most natural thing 00:39:41.880 --> 00:39:42.460 in the world 00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:44.280 for Christians to do that. 00:39:46.340 --> 00:39:46.900 So friends, 00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:47.760 this is the strategy. 00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:48.900 This is it. 00:39:49.539 --> 00:39:50.340 Deliver the message 00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:51.179 faithfully. 00:39:51.659 --> 00:39:52.639 Invest in one another 00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:53.360 personally. 00:39:53.820 --> 00:39:54.900 And identify 00:39:54.900 --> 00:39:57.159 even when it's costly. 00:39:59.300 --> 00:40:00.280 For in doing this, 00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:00.900 why is this a, 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:02.059 it's not just a good strategy, 00:40:02.179 --> 00:40:03.200 it's a godly strategy. 00:40:03.320 --> 00:40:03.559 Why? 00:40:03.659 --> 00:40:04.880 Because it's exactly 00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:06.179 what Jesus has done for us. 00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:10.659 And so Luke shows us 00:40:10.659 --> 00:40:11.259 that when we rely 00:40:11.259 --> 00:40:12.039 on God's mercy 00:40:12.039 --> 00:40:13.519 and when we take up 00:40:13.519 --> 00:40:15.239 this Christ-shaped strategy, 00:40:15.380 --> 00:40:16.179 that's the path 00:40:16.179 --> 00:40:17.059 to growing deep 00:40:17.059 --> 00:40:17.920 and wide as a church. 00:40:19.099 --> 00:40:19.320 Friends, 00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:19.779 imagine 00:40:19.779 --> 00:40:21.400 if that's what 00:40:21.400 --> 00:40:22.219 Trinity became 00:40:22.219 --> 00:40:23.340 in the coming months 00:40:23.340 --> 00:40:23.940 and years. 00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:25.739 What if this became 00:40:25.739 --> 00:40:26.599 a place where we thought 00:40:26.599 --> 00:40:27.539 deeply about God, 00:40:27.619 --> 00:40:28.159 where his grace 00:40:28.159 --> 00:40:28.880 was brought to bear 00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:29.559 on all of life, 00:40:29.619 --> 00:40:30.079 where we grew 00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:31.279 deep, strong, 00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:31.980 living roots 00:40:31.980 --> 00:40:32.480 in the depths 00:40:32.480 --> 00:40:33.099 of the gospel? 00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:35.000 But what if this 00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:35.719 was also a place 00:40:35.719 --> 00:40:36.420 where the spiritually 00:40:36.420 --> 00:40:37.880 curious were welcomed 00:40:37.880 --> 00:40:38.699 and engaged? 00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:40.119 What if this were 00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:40.639 a place where 00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:41.260 new believers 00:40:41.260 --> 00:40:42.079 were multiplying 00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:42.900 and encouraged 00:40:42.900 --> 00:40:44.039 to grow and ask 00:40:44.039 --> 00:40:44.940 questions and work 00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:45.659 through their doubts? 00:40:46.260 --> 00:40:47.079 What if this is a place 00:40:47.079 --> 00:40:47.840 where we went out 00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:48.639 with boldness 00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:49.480 and with creativity 00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:50.460 to raise spiritual 00:40:50.460 --> 00:40:51.199 questions 00:40:51.199 --> 00:40:53.059 and to open doors 00:40:53.059 --> 00:40:53.820 for conversations 00:40:53.820 --> 00:40:54.460 about Christ? 00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:54.699 Friends, 00:40:54.820 --> 00:40:55.559 that's the church 00:40:55.559 --> 00:40:56.460 that God's calling us 00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:56.780 to be. 00:40:57.300 --> 00:40:58.199 And that's the church 00:40:58.199 --> 00:40:58.840 that by his grace 00:40:58.840 --> 00:41:00.139 he's making us to be. 00:41:03.119 --> 00:41:03.820 And as we come 00:41:03.820 --> 00:41:04.360 to the table 00:41:04.360 --> 00:41:05.420 in just a minute, 00:41:05.980 --> 00:41:07.240 it's here that we 00:41:07.240 --> 00:41:08.019 get to remember 00:41:08.019 --> 00:41:10.360 the center of it all. 00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:12.219 Christ crucified 00:41:12.219 --> 00:41:13.159 for you and for me. 00:41:13.940 --> 00:41:14.619 And here we get 00:41:14.619 --> 00:41:15.380 to experience, 00:41:15.539 --> 00:41:16.340 to taste and see 00:41:16.340 --> 00:41:17.019 the depths 00:41:17.019 --> 00:41:18.199 of God's wisdom 00:41:18.199 --> 00:41:18.780 and power 00:41:18.780 --> 00:41:19.280 and love 00:41:19.280 --> 00:41:20.440 on display 00:41:20.440 --> 00:41:21.059 in their fullness 00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:21.780 at the cross. 00:41:23.820 --> 00:41:24.539 But at the table 00:41:24.539 --> 00:41:25.240 we're also reminded 00:41:25.240 --> 00:41:26.199 of how wide 00:41:26.199 --> 00:41:28.599 it goes. 00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:30.659 Because here we see 00:41:30.659 --> 00:41:31.179 that everyone 00:41:31.179 --> 00:41:31.759 who repents 00:41:31.759 --> 00:41:32.379 and believes 00:41:32.379 --> 00:41:35.460 is welcome 00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:37.239 to find their place 00:41:37.239 --> 00:41:37.919 in his family 00:41:37.919 --> 00:41:38.539 and to come 00:41:38.539 --> 00:41:40.359 to feast at the table. 00:41:42.579 --> 00:41:42.940 Friends, 00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:43.279 let's pray. 00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:53.440 God, 00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:53.799 we pray 00:41:53.799 --> 00:41:54.399 that you would 00:41:54.399 --> 00:41:56.719 help us 00:41:56.719 --> 00:41:57.199 to do just 00:41:57.199 --> 00:41:57.599 what we see 00:41:57.599 --> 00:41:58.299 in this passage. 00:41:58.300 --> 00:42:00.380 Lord, 00:42:00.440 --> 00:42:00.960 make us a church 00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:01.440 that's deep 00:42:01.440 --> 00:42:02.360 and that's wide. 00:42:03.580 --> 00:42:03.920 Lord, 00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:04.420 we need 00:42:04.420 --> 00:42:05.280 your Holy Spirit 00:42:05.280 --> 00:42:06.780 and we need 00:42:06.780 --> 00:42:07.200 your gospel 00:42:07.200 --> 00:42:08.019 to make that true. 00:42:08.820 --> 00:42:09.220 So Father, 00:42:09.300 --> 00:42:09.900 take these things 00:42:09.900 --> 00:42:10.340 and seal them 00:42:10.340 --> 00:42:10.820 in our hearts 00:42:10.820 --> 00:42:11.260 as we come 00:42:11.260 --> 00:42:11.760 to the table. 00:42:12.200 --> 00:42:12.320 Lord, 00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:12.820 impress them 00:42:12.820 --> 00:42:13.680 deeply upon us, 00:42:13.720 --> 00:42:14.060 we pray. 00:42:14.700 --> 00:42:15.039 Amen. 00:42:15.039 --> 00:42:15.140 Amen. 00:42:15.140 --> 00:42:15.160 Amen. 00:42:15.160 --> 00:42:15.180 Amen. 00:42:15.180 --> 00:42:15.200 Amen. 00:42:15.200 --> 00:42:15.220 Amen. 00:42:15.220 --> 00:42:15.240 Amen. 00:42:15.240 --> 00:42:15.260 Amen. 00:42:15.260 --> 00:42:15.280 Amen. 00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:17.200 Amen. 00:42:17.200 --> 00:42:17.240 Amen. 00:42:17.240 --> 00:42:17.260 Amen. 00:42:17.260 --> 00:42:19.240 Amen.