WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.980 In verse 2, he quotes the apostles as saying that leaving the word of God would be a grave mistake. 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:15.900 And in verse 7, Luke reports and in fact celebrates the effect of not leaving the word of God. 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:19.179 The word of God spread. 00:00:19.179 --> 00:00:33.600 His point is that the word of God kept spreading and bearing fruit because the apostles did not make the strategic mistake of leaving their calling to fix a pressing problem. 00:00:34.119 --> 00:00:40.260 What Luke, I think, is saying here, it was so right that the apostles' focus stayed on the ministry of the word and prayer. 00:00:41.100 --> 00:00:47.960 The major threat to the church's mission, Luke teaches us, is whatever threatens the word of God advancing and spreading. 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:49.800 That's the threat. 00:00:53.780 --> 00:00:59.719 And in this case, it would have been something very good that was threatening it. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:02.520 Not something bad at all. 00:01:04.740 --> 00:01:15.420 See, I suspect that our default way of thinking is that it would have been good for the apostles to express a little bit of humility by serving some tables. 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:25.459 That is, the assumption is that if these apostles were truly loving and they truly had a pastoral heart, 00:01:25.679 --> 00:01:31.979 then they would get involved in the nitty gritty of caring for these widows' physical needs. 00:01:31.980 --> 00:01:48.400 But Luke puts it together here in such a way that it helps us see that it would have been a big mistake for the church's God-given mission. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:57.160 And I say this with an element of gentleness. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:04.219 It's because the widow's needs are not the mission of the church. 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:14.479 The spread of the word of God and the increase of disciples giving glory to Christ is the mission of the church. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:28.299 Now, historically, the churches tended to play these two sort of major roles off against one another. 00:02:29.079 --> 00:02:32.159 Ministry of the word and prayer and pastoral care kind of stuff, if you like. 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:34.019 Play them against one another. 00:02:34.020 --> 00:02:40.400 Playing off the importance of one ministry over the other. 00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:53.460 But here God led the apostles to overcome both parts of the threat by not playing the threat off against one another. 00:02:53.460 --> 00:03:03.819 The apostles didn't say, guys, we can't wait on the tables here because, frankly, we're too busy with the word of God and prayer. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:06.460 They didn't say that. 00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:14.319 And it wasn't because, well, actually, I've done my stint of waiting on tables and it's time for someone else to do that now. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:18.459 And it's not because, well, actually, I'm an apostle. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:23.239 I walk with Jesus for three years and waiting on tables is a little bit below me. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:26.120 You know, my pay rate is up here. 00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:36.500 And they certainly didn't say that caring for the needs of this group wasn't as important as the ministry of prayer and the word of God. 00:03:38.579 --> 00:03:40.319 The issue wasn't one of importance. 00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:43.519 It was of calling and responsibility. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:47.659 Notice the instruction in verse three. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:52.500 Brothers, that is, the apostles are now speaking to the church. 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:58.479 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the spirit and wisdom. 00:03:58.959 --> 00:04:01.659 And we will turn this responsibility over to them. 00:04:02.859 --> 00:04:09.159 And so the apostles instructed the church to pick seven leaders who were full of the spirit and wisdom. 00:04:09.699 --> 00:04:13.400 As it turns out, they appointed all Hellenists. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:15.780 Greek-speaking Jews. 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:19.480 We know that because the seven names are all Greek. 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:27.199 The church put up the names as to who they think could do this job. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:34.439 But it was the apostles who authorized them to do the ministry in verse six. 00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:38.659 They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid their hands on them. 00:04:38.660 --> 00:04:43.580 That's how important the apostles thought this ministry was. 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:46.740 They didn't just go, hang on a bit. 00:04:46.880 --> 00:04:49.640 I've got, you know, my job description's here. 00:04:49.639 --> 00:05:04.099 They said, pick seven people full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. 00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:05.600 People of stature. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:18.560 People of stature. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:21.560 Of godliness amongst you. 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:25.439 And we will delegate this responsibility over to them. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:29.079 They were very careful about who they appointed to this role. 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:29.860 Why? 00:05:31.939 --> 00:05:33.939 Because it was so essential to get it right. 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:39.120 It was so essential that that ministry was done. 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:43.079 It was important as far as the apostles were concerned. 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:55.019 Because without this ministry being done well, and without them doing their ministry well, the ministry of the word of God does not spread. 00:05:57.899 --> 00:06:01.799 And so we make a grave mistake when we pit these two things against one another. 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:09.980 It was a very wise move on the part of the apostles and the church they delegated. 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:14.300 The apostles kept on devoting themselves to ministry of the word and prayer according to verse four. 00:06:14.960 --> 00:06:21.000 There is no hint here at all that the apostles thought that the ministry of food distribution was below them. 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:27.860 There is no hint at all that they didn't love and care for the widows because they themselves didn't actually distribute the food. 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:41.800 In fact, it seems that the widows and the whole church were satisfied that care was being offered under the leadership of the apostles, even if it wasn't by the apostles. 00:06:44.660 --> 00:06:48.520 And so the issue here is entirely a question of calling. 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:51.920 And this is a vital principle for us as a church. 00:06:53.100 --> 00:06:56.240 God calls all of his people into ministry. 00:06:56.240 --> 00:07:00.139 He calls different people to different ministries. 00:07:00.579 --> 00:07:09.500 And each calling in ministry is to work together to see the word of God spread and increase in our mission field. 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:22.519 But the word of God will not spread if those charged with the ministry of the word of God allow themselves to be distracted from their primary calling. 00:07:22.519 --> 00:07:29.219 And so Luke here celebrates the solution of the apostles. 00:07:30.859 --> 00:07:32.680 The two threats are overcome. 00:07:33.419 --> 00:07:36.579 The widows were cared for and the ministry of the word of God was not neglected. 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:38.639 Both were utterly crucial. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:45.319 And either one of these threats could have undermined the church and ended its amazing growth. 00:07:45.979 --> 00:07:54.079 The solution was the diversity of gifts and calling working together to see the influence of the word of God spread in their mission field. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:08:00.439 And I believe that's what we should be praying and laboring towards here at St. Paul's. 00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:10.279 As we try to establish our own kind of teamwork that meets the whole gamut of practical needs and free some for the ministry of the word and prayer. 00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:22.000 The great threat in any local church is anything that jeopardizes the spread of the word of God as being our main thing. 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:30.639 And the way Luke celebrates the triumph of the church over this threat is by showing its effect in verse 7. 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:33.120 And so the word of God spread. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:40.799 The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:47.299 What Luke is celebrating is the triumph over this problem resulted in a breakthrough. 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:50.060 A new breakthrough in evangelistic power. 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:53.080 Notice he says even the priests. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:57.600 The guys who had been hostile and arrested the apostles in chapter 4. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:01.560 Are responding to the word of God and obeying the faith. 00:09:01.559 --> 00:09:03.419 The church has been tested. 00:09:03.959 --> 00:09:07.819 She has passed the test by caring for the widows and guarding the word. 00:09:08.319 --> 00:09:11.479 And God honors his triumph with a new power and a new fruitfulness. 00:09:13.119 --> 00:09:17.479 The word of God, Luke says, grew like a living thing. 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:22.219 Because the word of God is alive and active according to Hebrews 4. 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:34.820 In early September I spent a couple of days with the senior staff here working out what is the big thing that we need to work on in 2014 00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:41.420 in order for us to take the next steps to see the word of God spread in our mission field here at Chatswood. 00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:49.959 The thing that we identified was that we needed to unleash the ministry capacity of the people at St. Paul's. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:58.620 It is interesting that we saw this back in 2010 in a parish council and staff planning day. 00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:04.879 That one of the three big obstacles to growth and the spread of the word in our mission field 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:08.340 was the lack of leadership and involvement across the church. 00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:14.259 Thankfully we have seen progress. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:22.680 We had 100 people gather yesterday to celebrate those who made a contribution across the life of the church yesterday afternoon. 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:24.279 It's fantastic. 00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:26.979 People who are involved in all sorts of ministry areas across the church. 00:10:27.979 --> 00:10:29.479 So we're seeing some progress. 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:37.379 But it's identified as something that we need to work harder on. 00:10:38.939 --> 00:10:44.819 To be consistently developing leadership and commitment across the church. 00:10:45.359 --> 00:10:47.959 And it's going to be a particular focus for us next year. 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:55.360 Having thought about that, I scratch my head looking at this passage and go, 00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:56.900 why would you want to? 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:58.900 That's another question. 00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:02.060 Why would you want to be involved in the ministry of supports? 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:05.259 Because I think that's a question for not just this church, for many churches. 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:10.920 Because the reality is, apparently across the church, it's the 80-20 rule. 00:11:11.680 --> 00:11:13.960 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. 00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:16.400 So obviously a lot of people don't see it valuable. 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:18.579 What is the motivation? 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:27.279 The best answer I could come up with as I was looking at this passage is that it was a privilege. 00:11:30.259 --> 00:11:31.220 It's a privilege. 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:34.039 What I mean by that is, 00:11:34.439 --> 00:11:43.439 is that I never feel that I am St. Paul's Chatswood's privilege. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:46.660 What I mean by that is, 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:48.360 that you're really privileged to have me. 00:11:50.400 --> 00:11:52.820 I believe that St. Paul's is my privilege. 00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:59.220 To be at St. Paul's and serving in a church community is a gift. 00:12:00.300 --> 00:12:02.720 In my view, it is all gift and privilege. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:11.379 I still remember the day when my chains fell off and my heart was free and I rose and went forth and followed Christ. 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:13.860 I still remember that day, the day it happened. 00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:15.860 It was a gift. 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:16.500 It was a gift. 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:18.899 And it remains a gift. 00:12:20.060 --> 00:12:24.860 It was a privilege for me to be forgiven, to have all of my guilt erased, 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:31.000 and for the first time in my life to have hope, to have life, to have a future, to have purpose. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:37.139 Because of what Christ had done for me on the cross. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:48.159 The immediate response was for me to go to my local church and to go to the minister and say, 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:50.059 what do you want me to do? 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:55.779 I wasn't paid to do it. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:58.419 I went to him, what do you want me to do? 00:12:58.419 --> 00:13:01.639 I remember one day, knocked on his door after work, rocked up. 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:02.639 Okay, so what's happening? 00:13:02.719 --> 00:13:03.219 What do you want me to do? 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:06.299 And he said, I've been trying to cut the grass for the last couple of days, haven't got to it. 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.019 Not a problem. 00:13:07.099 --> 00:13:07.559 Where's the mower? 00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:11.620 Next day, rocked up. 00:13:14.079 --> 00:13:15.919 There's a pew that needs fixing the back of church. 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:16.559 Fantastic. 00:13:16.719 --> 00:13:17.299 Where's the tools? 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:23.519 It was three to four days a week I went. 00:13:23.980 --> 00:13:27.959 And eventually he said, I need to do some hospital rounds. 00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:32.959 Give that a crack. 00:13:33.839 --> 00:13:34.279 Okay. 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:37.179 Go and talk to some dying people. 00:13:38.719 --> 00:13:41.139 I had a little less subtlety back in those days. 00:13:44.599 --> 00:13:45.979 That's a scary thought. 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:57.320 But what I'm saying is, coming to Christ turned my life inside out and upside down. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:04.680 And I wanted to be involved in what he was doing to bring such a transformation in the lives of other people. 00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:07.920 This is his eternal purpose. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:25.939 The mindset that I am so valuable that I deserve my stipend. 00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:28.020 That I deserve my housing. 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:30.660 That I deserve my long service leave. 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:34.720 That I deserve recognition. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.880 That I deserve praise. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:41.779 This is foreign to the spirit of Christ. 00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:54.200 Likewise, the mindset that I'm so valuable that I will only give to the church in a way that I see fit. 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:59.539 And when I see fit, it's just alien to the spirit of Christ. 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:08.599 Christ came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.379 For me. 00:15:12.579 --> 00:15:19.819 The whole orientation of his life was give, give, give. 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:22.980 We saw it last week. 00:15:24.260 --> 00:15:24.840 He came. 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.600 He ministered. 00:15:25.640 --> 00:15:26.020 He died. 00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:26.800 He rose again. 00:15:27.260 --> 00:15:32.560 He ascended on high and he sits as Lord over all space and time. 00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:36.580 And he continues to reign and work in this world for his eternal purposes. 00:15:37.400 --> 00:15:42.120 And for little old me to be involved in that is just astounding. 00:15:44.260 --> 00:15:47.560 And to think that you pay me to be involved in that is... 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:50.679 That's a gift. 00:15:56.919 --> 00:16:00.659 It was a privilege then when I wasn't being paid for and it's even a privilege now. 00:16:06.359 --> 00:16:14.259 I'm convinced that when we adopt this attitude of serving because it is a privilege to be involved in what he is doing in his world, 00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:20.659 we will discover the deep blessing of the word of God growing and increasing in us. 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:30.059 It's ironic that as we labor together, each doing their part to see the word of God increase and grow in the numbers of disciples coming to Christ, 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:33.220 it tends to increase and grow in us. 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:37.879 It's a connection between my giving and my growing. 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:50.080 And so my prayer is that no obstacle inside the church or outside the church will hinder the word of God spreading from the ministry of St. Paul's Chatswood. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:59.400 And may the same power that brought thousands into the church in Acts do the same here at Chatswood 00:16:59.400 --> 00:17:06.980 as we work together to ensure that the word of God spreading in our mission field remains our main thing. 00:17:08.100 --> 00:17:08.539 Amen. 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:08.619 Amen. 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:16.579 Amen. 00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:17.019 Amen. 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.079 Amen. 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:17.559 Amen. 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:17.839 Amen. 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.500 Amen. 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:18.799 Amen. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:18.859 Amen. 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.000 Amen. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:19.039 Amen. 00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.019 Amen. 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:20.399 Amen. 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:25.079 Amen. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:25.159 Amen. 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.440 Amen. 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.079 Amen. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:26.359 Amen. 00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:26.759 Amen.