WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:04.900 Today's scripture reading is a selection of passages from throughout the Bible. 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:08.519 Please follow along on the screen or in your bulletin. 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:11.620 Starting in Genesis 1, we read, 00:00:13.280 --> 00:00:18.120 Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, 00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:23.519 and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:29.859 and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.960 That creeps on the earth. 00:00:31.859 --> 00:00:34.460 So God created man in his own image. 00:00:35.020 --> 00:00:37.159 In the image of God, he created him. 00:00:37.980 --> 00:00:40.200 Male and female, he created them. 00:00:41.219 --> 00:00:42.420 And God blessed them. 00:00:42.859 --> 00:00:49.439 And God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:53.960 and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heaven, 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:57.840 and over every living thing that moves on the earth. 00:00:57.840 --> 00:01:02.000 But after the fall, sin entered the world. 00:01:02.780 --> 00:01:04.140 We read in Genesis 6, 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:09.780 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 00:01:10.380 --> 00:01:13.640 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt. 00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:17.520 For all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 00:01:19.100 --> 00:01:23.060 After Jesus' death and resurrection, Matthew 28 says, 00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:29.500 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 00:01:30.100 --> 00:01:32.280 And when they saw him, they worshipped him. 00:01:33.240 --> 00:01:34.340 But some doubted. 00:01:35.219 --> 00:01:37.379 And Jesus came and said to them, 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:42.879 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:48.280 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, 00:01:48.839 --> 00:01:53.939 baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 00:01:54.739 --> 00:01:57.759 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:04.060 And behold, I am with you, always, to the end of the age. 00:02:04.060 --> 00:02:08.259 As Jesus' disciples responded to his command, 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:10.780 we read in Acts 6 and 12, 00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:14.259 And the word of God continued to increase, 00:02:14.539 --> 00:02:19.099 and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:23.520 and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith, 00:02:24.140 --> 00:02:27.699 and the word of God increased and multiplied. 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:29.620 This is the word of God. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:33.319 Great. Thanks, Henrika. 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:37.199 Yeah, a bunch of passages. 00:02:38.420 --> 00:02:40.620 Now today, yeah, it is Mother's Day. 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:43.420 And today is again a kind of free topic. 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:46.939 So I wanted to kind of connect it to Mother's Day. 00:02:47.259 --> 00:02:49.580 Next week we're starting a new series of One Corinthians. 00:02:50.699 --> 00:02:53.099 And yeah, we've been talking about Mother's Day already. 00:02:53.219 --> 00:02:56.379 But I wanted to kind of lay a, hey, a biblical foundation under that. 00:02:56.439 --> 00:02:59.120 That actually, hey, what we're saying is right. 00:02:59.500 --> 00:03:01.900 And so how does Mother's Day, 00:03:01.900 --> 00:03:05.780 how does mothering, fathering, because it's Father's Day in a few weeks, 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:08.200 how does it actually fit with the Bible? 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:11.960 What does it fit with God's plan and what he's doing in the world? 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:14.599 So that's what I wanted to speak about today. 00:03:15.259 --> 00:03:19.659 We're going to do that with kind of what's called biblical theology. 00:03:19.659 --> 00:03:21.859 Now, what is biblical theology? 00:03:21.859 --> 00:03:25.900 It's basically looking at a topic through the storyline of the Bible. 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:29.780 And we've been doing that the past four months as we learned the storyline of the Bible. 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:32.319 But that's how you should actually look at topics. 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:37.000 Because there's a storyline in the Bible, which means things kind of tend to change. 00:03:37.219 --> 00:03:37.300 Right? 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:41.480 There were things that are in the Old Testament that have changed in the New Testament. 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:46.180 So if you sin in the Old Testament, you need to offer an animal sacrifice. 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:49.820 Of course, as Christians, we know for forgiveness we need Jesus. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:53.180 In the Old Testament, you can't eat pork and shellfish. 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:57.120 I don't mind the shellfish, but I'm really glad I can eat pork in the New Testament. 00:03:57.400 --> 00:03:57.500 Right? 00:03:58.240 --> 00:03:59.240 Things have changed. 00:03:59.920 --> 00:04:03.600 How God, yeah, it's the same God but a developing story. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:10.180 And so what I wanted to do is, yeah, look at being a mother or father, how that relates to the Bible story. 00:04:10.979 --> 00:04:12.639 And we don't have to look very far for that. 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:17.259 Because it's already in the very first chapter of the Bible. 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:17.779 Right? 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:20.159 What is the very first command? 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:22.600 God makes the world, makes a beautiful world. 00:04:22.939 --> 00:04:23.959 He creates mankind. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:26.819 What is the very first thing he says to them? 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:32.839 And God said to them, be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:33.420 Right? 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:35.920 The very first command that he gives them is have children. 00:04:36.520 --> 00:04:37.680 Become a father and mother. 00:04:38.220 --> 00:04:39.340 Go and have children. 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:41.960 It's a very basic part of humanity. 00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:43.439 But why? 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:46.080 And that's what we are going to think about. 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:51.400 Well, it is, I think, to spread God's rule around the world. 00:04:51.400 --> 00:04:53.780 What God wants, why should they multiply? 00:04:54.520 --> 00:04:58.080 Because God wants his rule to spread all across the world. 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:02.960 And in this case, here in the beginning, it's through having children. 00:05:03.420 --> 00:05:05.699 Now, why does God want them to be fruitful? 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:08.720 And look how it goes on, right? 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:10.040 Be fruitful and multiply. 00:05:10.699 --> 00:05:12.259 Fill the earth and subdue it. 00:05:12.340 --> 00:05:13.800 And have dominion over the world. 00:05:13.900 --> 00:05:17.000 So it's about, they are supposed to go and rule the world. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:17.280 Right? 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:20.039 But what is their rule? 00:05:20.679 --> 00:05:22.579 Well, 1 verse 26. 00:05:22.799 --> 00:05:29.500 It says that, and God said, let us make man in our image after our likeness. 00:05:30.479 --> 00:05:33.139 And so the idea is, yeah, they are supposed to rule the world. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:34.659 But they are God's image. 00:05:34.739 --> 00:05:36.099 They are to reflect God. 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:41.500 They are to basically rule the world God's way, which is God's loving rule. 00:05:41.619 --> 00:05:41.699 Right? 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:44.500 God is the loving ruler of the whole world. 00:05:44.579 --> 00:05:45.939 But how does he exercise that? 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:47.339 Well, through humans. 00:05:48.219 --> 00:05:51.159 It's a bit, I think Kevin explained that a few months ago. 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:55.360 In the past, you know, the king, all around his kingdom, he would put statues of himself 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:57.980 to show, hey, this is, you know, I rule here. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:05:59.339 Well, God is doing that. 00:05:59.419 --> 00:06:00.680 But we are the image. 00:06:00.860 --> 00:06:03.279 We are God's rulers, in a way. 00:06:03.620 --> 00:06:06.939 Which is a wonderful thing that God wants that. 00:06:07.019 --> 00:06:07.139 Right? 00:06:07.139 --> 00:06:10.180 He wants the whole world to be filled with his loving rule. 00:06:11.740 --> 00:06:14.560 Of course, which in a way is worth thinking, right? 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:15.719 Why have children? 00:06:16.539 --> 00:06:19.699 Maybe in some parts of the world, well, because it's an insurance policy. 00:06:19.939 --> 00:06:21.459 Someone can take care of you when you're old. 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:26.979 Maybe these days, a lot of people, well, children, it's for my status, for my happiness. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:29.060 I want children because I think it will make me happy. 00:06:29.919 --> 00:06:34.360 Actually, originally, then this is part of God's plan for the world, to fill the whole 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:35.800 world with his rule. 00:06:37.139 --> 00:06:39.779 But, of course, is having children enough? 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:44.599 Because the problem is, of course, that we're no longer in the beautiful world God made. 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:45.139 What happened? 00:06:45.219 --> 00:06:49.319 Genesis 3, Adam and Eve, they, well, they rejected God, right? 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:50.419 They rejected his rule. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:52.579 We can rule the world ourselves. 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:53.779 We can do it our way. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:56.060 And that became a great mess. 00:06:56.459 --> 00:06:58.839 And that's what, I mean, they did a lot of things, right? 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:05.180 They built cities, and they developed technology, and they made art and music in Genesis 4. 00:07:05.180 --> 00:07:08.340 But then Genesis 6, well, what is God's verdict? 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:09.199 Well, we read it, right? 00:07:09.259 --> 00:07:15.180 Genesis 6, and the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 00:07:15.819 --> 00:07:17.280 I mean, they filled the earth, yes. 00:07:17.540 --> 00:07:19.160 But they filled it not with God's rule. 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:20.680 They filled it with violence, right? 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:24.540 As people just lived their own way, everyone for themselves. 00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:26.840 It was a terrible world. 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:30.799 But if people just go their own way, yeah, they just fill the world with sin. 00:07:31.979 --> 00:07:38.839 And so God said, so when God kind of starts things again, he says, no, no, we need to not just have children. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:40.939 We need to teach children, right? 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:46.559 So in the law, the famous command that he gave to Israel, you know, 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:51.280 Here, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:54.180 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:07:54.740 --> 00:07:56.160 These commandments will be on your heart. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:58.600 You shall teach them to your children, right? 00:07:58.660 --> 00:08:00.959 Children need to learn to love God, right? 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:02.500 Otherwise, the earth will be such a mess. 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:08.579 But if everyone loves God and therefore loves their neighbor, that is when the world will be good. 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:12.480 Now, again, that's a challenge for us, right? 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:17.259 But if we want a good world, we need to, well, teach children right and wrong. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:18.740 Teach children God's ways. 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:26.300 As often Hong Kong parents, we can be focused on exams and grades and violin exams and ballet and everything. 00:08:27.460 --> 00:08:30.200 If children don't love God, we just bring more sinners into the world. 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:31.500 It's not a good thing. 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:37.180 No, children need to, yeah, that's what we need to do. 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:38.860 Of course, teaching isn't enough. 00:08:38.860 --> 00:08:45.940 Ultimately, people become Christians by God's grace, which is something to remember, right? 00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:51.740 Because some of us here, maybe you're older and you have children and they are actually currently not following Jesus. 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:54.419 And maybe you feel, well, have I done something wrong? 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:55.820 Have I not done what God wanted? 00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:59.279 Well, maybe you have, but ultimately it's about grace. 00:08:59.419 --> 00:09:01.080 Ultimately, it's about people's own response. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:04.560 And you don't necessarily have to feel guilty. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:06.519 Probably you've done a great job. 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:13.019 It's just, yeah, things are, yeah, things are not machine, right? 00:09:13.059 --> 00:09:15.480 It's not like this goes in, that goes out. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:19.199 At the same time, that means it's also a bit hopeful. 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:22.480 Most parents, if you ask them, they will feel like a failure. 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:25.720 Wonderfully, God saves people despite their parents. 00:09:26.059 --> 00:09:26.980 That's a wonderful thing. 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:30.500 But still, we shouldn't be complacent, right? 00:09:30.539 --> 00:09:34.559 The only thing is if you never talk to your kids about God, they will end up not believing. 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:35.259 That's pretty sure. 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:37.620 But how does this then develop? 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:43.480 Okay, you know, in the New Testament, of course, there's a few sentences about parents. 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:46.100 Well-known Ephesians 6, verse 4, right? 00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:51.480 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:58.379 But actually, this idea of the rule of God spreading around the world, it becomes something much bigger. 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:01.600 It is through discipling everyone. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:05.560 We read just now the Great Commission, right? 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:10.279 This new beginning, Jesus died and he rose, and now he gives a command. 00:10:10.379 --> 00:10:11.800 It's a little bit like Genesis 1. 00:10:12.300 --> 00:10:15.639 Not just in that way, but what does Jesus say, right? 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:17.200 It's again about his rule, right? 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:21.160 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:24.020 God has now made him the ruler over everything. 00:10:25.160 --> 00:10:27.420 And then what are people supposed to do? 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:34.140 Well, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:36.860 teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. 00:10:36.860 --> 00:10:39.840 So, again, it's about his rule spreading, right? 00:10:40.560 --> 00:10:44.259 So, people, they think, well, Genesis 1 and Matthew 28, those are two things we need to do. 00:10:44.340 --> 00:10:50.639 We need to kind of build culture, right, and technology and art, and we need to grow the church. 00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:55.600 No, I think it's just one thing, and it's the fulfillment, right? 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:58.039 How does now the rule of God spread? 00:10:58.139 --> 00:10:59.759 It's not through children. 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:01.860 It's not necessarily through families. 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:07.700 It's through everyone, well, yeah, all Christians go and disciple all nations. 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:09.940 That is how it now works. 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:13.720 And you see the same thing in Acts, right? 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:18.419 Because what then happens, you know, Jesus, he starts the church, and the disciples go out, 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:20.220 and then we read those verses from Acts. 00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:26.860 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of disciples multiplied. 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:26.940 Right? 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:31.960 12 verse 24, it's these summary statements all throughout Acts. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:34.279 The word of God increased and multiplied. 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:37.680 Now, that's the same idea of multiplying, right? 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:38.700 That was in Genesis 1. 00:11:38.779 --> 00:11:39.519 What did God want? 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:40.480 He wants multiplication. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:44.159 Even the word increase is part of that. 00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:49.800 Now, this is a little bit nerdy, but Luke, he's a Gentile, not a Jew. 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:50.720 He can't read Hebrew. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:57.139 In the Greek translation of Genesis 1, it's God says to Adam and Eve, increase and multiply. 00:11:57.740 --> 00:12:03.019 So when Luke says, hey, the word of God increased and multiplied, this is Genesis 1. 00:12:03.160 --> 00:12:05.379 This is God's original plan for the world. 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.600 It's now happening. 00:12:07.180 --> 00:12:13.740 As people are preaching the gospel, as disciples are made, that's how the word of God, 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:17.320 that is how God's plan is now happening in the world. 00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:23.680 As, yeah, the word of God increased and multiplied, which is really exciting. 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:26.460 Again, do you want Genesis 6? 00:12:26.540 --> 00:12:28.400 Do you want a world filled with violence? 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:29.820 I hope you don't. 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:34.000 God has a wonderful plan for the world, namely to fill it with his rule. 00:12:34.920 --> 00:12:38.020 Had Jesus' rule, love God, love your neighbor. 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:40.980 Don't you want a world where everyone loves their neighbor? 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:43.980 Don't you want a world where everyone follows Jesus' teaching? 00:12:44.520 --> 00:12:45.440 That would be wonderful. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:48.560 Well, that is what God, in a way, is doing. 00:12:50.020 --> 00:12:55.920 But the thing is, yeah, as we've mentioned earlier, that means it's no longer just about parenting. 00:12:56.900 --> 00:12:59.500 Israel was very family-focused, right? 00:12:59.560 --> 00:13:05.200 This was one nation with tribes and families, and each had their own piece of land, and that's where they lived, 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:06.620 and they wouldn't really go out. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:09.060 It was very, yeah, family-based. 00:13:09.540 --> 00:13:12.560 But now, well, make disciples of all nations. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:16.419 In a way, the world is already filled with people, which is they don't know Jesus. 00:13:17.219 --> 00:13:22.599 And so, fill the world with Jesus' teaching, and then it will be filled with God's rule. 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:25.059 Which means, yeah, we can all do this. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:32.599 You don't need to be a biological parent to take part in God's plan of filling the world with Jesus' rule. 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:35.980 Everyone can do this, a few disciple people. 00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:39.259 Which, again, is great news, right? 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:46.259 There are people here who maybe, yeah, you're single, and actually you're getting on, and you feel, I will never be a parent. 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:50.580 Are you missing out on doing what God wants you to do? 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:52.780 No, you don't. 00:13:53.680 --> 00:13:58.240 Because, actually, the bigger picture is about filling the world with disciples. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.740 And it could be your own children, but it could be anyone. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:05.000 It could be one of the many people here in the church who you help grow. 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:09.500 And so, yeah, you can play your part in God's plan. 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:11.960 You can be, yeah, a spiritual mother, like we said earlier. 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:12.639 Right? 00:14:12.780 --> 00:14:17.640 Dina, she's a great mom to Lani and Etan, but also she's a wonderful disciple. 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:22.019 And even without biological children, we can do that. 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:24.039 Spiritual mother, spiritual father. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:26.279 And the idea that all of you get a bag. 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:31.860 That's not a kind of, you know, kids party, everyone gets a prize, but otherwise someone feels left out. 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:33.699 No, there's something real there. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:40.199 In the family of God, actually everyone can be a father or mother when they disciple. 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:44.799 Of course, I don't want to say that parenting is kind of optional. 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:50.740 That, hey, being a mother is kind of comparable to once a week reading the Bible with someone. 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:54.079 Man, being a mother is so much work. 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:56.979 Because, yeah, children don't need to grow just spiritually. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:57.959 They need to grow physically. 00:14:58.559 --> 00:14:59.559 Babies are so helpless. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.620 There is so much work involved in parenting. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.519 So much cost. 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:06.500 And then a child costs like six million dollars until they finish uni. 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:09.439 It's a lot of, and an amount of time. 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.500 And children's years are so important. 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:12.980 Right? 00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:17.340 I mean, 18 years discipling one person or two or three. 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:18.639 It's a lot of work. 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:23.039 But actually, imagine if people get to uni and they've never been raised. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.559 They've never been told right and wrong. 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:25.720 They've never learned anything. 00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:27.100 And then we try. 00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:29.799 And now we tell them the gospel and they'll be wonderful Christians. 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:31.580 No, they'll be so far from God. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:34.419 These children's years are so important. 00:15:34.419 --> 00:15:40.799 I thank God for, you know, for mothers, for fathers who are kind of pouring their lives into their children. 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.779 And let's celebrate that today as well. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:53.479 But, at the same time, yeah, spiritual fathering and mothering is a wonderful thing. 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:54.779 That's what we want to talk about. 00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:57.800 And that is kind of my first point, right? 00:15:57.860 --> 00:16:00.860 That's actually, yeah, we should be discipling. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:02.379 It's not just about fathers and mothers. 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:04.980 Actually, God's plan is about disciples. 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:06.159 Discipling. 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:09.279 But, at the same time, we talked about it earlier. 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:11.460 What does it mean, then, to disciple? 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.500 What is that like? 00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:17.720 And the funny thing in the Bible is, discipling, it says it is like parenting. 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:20.019 You want to know how to disciple someone? 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:21.699 Well, it is like parenting. 00:16:22.699 --> 00:16:24.620 Let me give you a few funny examples. 00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:25.379 Well, funny. 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:31.199 Here is Paul, and he talks to the church in Thessalonica about his ministry there. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:35.519 They are kind of, they've had some people telling them funny things about him. 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:39.899 And he says, no, we were, you know, we were really genuine apostles. 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:41.059 We really discipled you. 00:16:41.579 --> 00:16:43.879 And what does he say in 1 Thessalonians 2? 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:45.279 Verse 7. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:50.240 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:57.459 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves. 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:59.919 Because you had become very dear to us. 00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:01.419 We were like a mother. 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:02.659 Verse 11. 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:10.920 You know how like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:12.539 who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:15.960 Hey, we were great. 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:20.559 You know, our discipling was really real and genuine and from God because we were like parents. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:25.819 Later, Paul tells Timothy, how do you choose a good elder? 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.839 Well, what kind of father are they? 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:34.259 Because, well, if someone doesn't manage his own household well, how will he care for the church? 00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:39.339 Basically, if you're not a good father, you're not a good elder because those things are very similar. 00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:43.000 So, discipling is like parenting. 00:17:43.959 --> 00:17:46.379 And that's what I want to explore a bit. 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:48.679 How is discipling like parenting? 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:53.819 First of all, often, it's basically old to young, right? 00:17:54.139 --> 00:17:54.759 Old to young. 00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:59.639 I mean, of course, two Christians of similar age, they can read the Bible together and both grow together. 00:18:00.159 --> 00:18:01.659 That's a wonderful thing to do. 00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:09.580 But usually when you hear discipleship, you think of a mature Christian, you know, taking on board a younger Christian and teaching them, right? 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:13.519 Because they know so much more usually, right? 00:18:13.540 --> 00:18:18.440 A mature Christian reading with an immature Christian, like a parent. 00:18:18.560 --> 00:18:20.400 Because children, they don't know very much. 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.560 They need to learn all that. 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:26.620 And they learn that from their wise, mature parents in most cases, right? 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:28.699 Again, that's what the Bible says. 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:31.719 So, Titus 2 talks about older women. 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:36.899 Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.459 They are to teach what is good. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:41.619 And so, train the young women to love their husbands and children. 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:47.459 A great ministry for older women to teach younger children how to be a woman of God. 00:18:48.439 --> 00:18:50.079 It's kind of behind the wow ministry, right? 00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:51.959 Wow does it really well. 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:56.200 So much mentoring of older women discipling younger women. 00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.340 Because it's like parenting. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:03.340 Because, second, as we said earlier, it's about all of life. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.380 You know, being a follower of Jesus is about your whole life, right? 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:10.059 Everything under the rule of Jesus. 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:13.400 It's not just knowing a few things from a Bible story. 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:18.700 So, it will mean about, you know, what is it like to be a Christian at work? 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:20.660 What does it mean to be a Christian spouse? 00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:24.640 What does it mean to be a Christian neighbor, a Christian citizen, a Christian parent? 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:29.300 Now, all of life thing, yeah, you can't get that from a book, right? 00:19:29.320 --> 00:19:32.040 You need that from someone who has walked this. 00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:36.700 Now, even in Deuteronomy, and that's basically parenting, right? 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:40.380 Deuteronomy 6, you know, you shall teach this to your children. 00:19:40.860 --> 00:19:44.580 You'll talk about it, well, when you're at home and also when you walk on the road 00:19:44.580 --> 00:19:48.240 and when you lie down, when you rise, basically all the time. 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:50.480 Isn't that how parenting works? 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:55.000 You are with your kids all the time and you kind of, you know, you walk on the street 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.660 and you see something and you talk about it. 00:19:57.059 --> 00:20:00.680 And something else happens in the news and you talk about it, right? 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:03.539 So much of it is just about all of life. 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:06.920 And not just, okay, let's sit down for half an hour and do it. 00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:08.900 No, it's about all of life. 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:13.900 And yeah, so there's so much value in older people discipling younger people. 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:19.640 EJ and I, we just finished marriage counseling, premarital counseling with two couples. 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:22.019 Yeah, we've been married for 22 years. 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:24.820 We can share a few things about how not to do it. 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:31.340 That's really, there's value in just experienced people teaching younger people about all of life. 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:34.259 The thing is, of course, Hong Kong is so busy, right? 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:37.600 You need to schedule an appointment like one month later, maybe. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:39.859 It would be nice if that was different. 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:44.559 Parenting and discipleship is very personal, right? 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:46.699 It's not about content. 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:48.500 We think often, okay, teaching. 00:20:48.699 --> 00:20:52.119 So you think of a classroom, someone at the front, and here's a textbook. 00:20:52.959 --> 00:20:53.839 It's not like that, right? 00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:58.240 It's relationship because when it's personal, someone can be an example. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:04.279 And children, they learn from their parents what they do, not just from what they say. 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:08.720 Okay, so being a good example is so important as a parent. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:13.940 Likewise, as a disciple, what does it look like to be a Christian spouse, a Christian worker? 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:15.180 You can actually show that. 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:18.220 You can be an example rather than just talk about it. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:21.000 But then you need to have, you know, you need to share life. 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:23.480 You need to have a relationship, right? 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.200 It's not just a reading. 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:29.319 And finally, what a lot of people say when I ask this question, 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:31.819 okay, why is discipleship like parenting? 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:33.180 Well, it's slow and frustrating. 00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:35.000 Right? 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:37.019 Parenting takes so much time. 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:39.240 I wish every time I told my kids to do something, 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:41.720 then they would just perfectly do that the rest of their life. 00:21:42.139 --> 00:21:43.220 That's not how it works. 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:48.019 If that happens to you, that's not doing something wrong. 00:21:48.139 --> 00:21:49.639 That's what it's like, right? 00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:51.220 Because we are all slow. 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:51.980 We're all sinners. 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:55.559 Sometimes it's two steps forward and one step back, 00:21:55.559 --> 00:22:03.440 which means it's just patient, ongoing love and ongoing pointing to the gospel, 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:07.960 pointing to God, pointing to God's word and just bearing with people, 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:12.339 which is why you need time together and relationship and all those things. 00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:14.359 Spiritual growth can be like that. 00:22:15.919 --> 00:22:16.899 I used to be an engineer. 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:19.460 As most of you know, engineering is so easy, right? 00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:20.500 Here's a machine. 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:23.119 You put the right input, so you get the right output. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:27.339 If you don't get the right output, well, either it's broken or the input is wrong, 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.640 but it's fixable. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.700 Parenting is not like that. 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.599 Your child is a person. 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.359 They're complex. 00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:34.700 And it doesn't work. 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:36.380 And the same thing with discipling. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:38.559 It's not just, okay, here's the right Bible passage. 00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.480 Out comes a perfect Christian. 00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:42.440 It doesn't work like that, right? 00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:43.579 It's slow. 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.779 So, yeah. 00:22:45.679 --> 00:22:46.519 But it's wonderful. 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:48.679 We say walking with people. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:51.119 That's what's the kind of standard expression here. 00:22:51.699 --> 00:22:52.899 That's such a good picture, right? 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.839 Walking with. 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:59.439 It suggests a long-term commitment of a kind of someone who is really with you 00:22:59.439 --> 00:23:02.460 and with you on that journey together. 00:23:02.919 --> 00:23:04.279 That is such a great image. 00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:06.480 But that is what parents do. 00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:08.980 That is what discipling is like. 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:15.360 And so, yeah, for all of us here, can you try to be a spiritual parent? 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.720 And that might be with someone else's children. 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:24.140 I think it's wonderful how some of the youth leaders are investing in my kids, in youth. 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:28.980 But also kind of older Christians taking on younger Christians 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:31.940 and being like a spiritual father or mother. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:38.000 And let me especially think, hey, if discipleship is like parenting, 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:40.019 who would be a great kind of discipler? 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:44.000 Hopefully it is a parent, right? 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:47.019 If you're a parent, maybe actually God has prepared you for this. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:51.440 Because it's quite, you know, often when you get a bit older, 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:55.180 maybe you're in your 40s and you think, I don't have much to do here, right? 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:59.920 We have all these wonderful young people on production and on music and on stewarding. 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:02.240 And I have nothing to offer. 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.799 I just need to look after my kids. 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:08.200 Actually, you have so much experience to share. 00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:13.299 We are such a young church and a lot of people don't have the life experience that you have. 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:16.799 Why don't you invest in people and share that? 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:19.879 You can be such a blessing to the younger people here. 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:22.960 Just, you know, a fresh graduate. 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:25.180 No idea what it's like to be a Christian at work. 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.799 But you've been there for 15 years. 00:24:27.659 --> 00:24:30.200 You know, a single person or a couple just got engaged. 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:32.559 They know nothing about Christian marriage. 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:35.340 But you do because you've done that for ages. 00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:38.259 You can be such a blessing. 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:40.220 So let me encourage you. 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.600 Try and do that. 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.220 Invest in people. 00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:46.059 Can you find someone and invest in them? 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:47.640 Invite them into your life. 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.400 Invite them into your home. 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:51.160 It's great that Dina is doing that, right? 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.240 You know, breastfeeding. 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.680 Hey, you know, don't worry. 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.360 Come and visit. 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:58.000 And because, okay, this is what life is like as a Christian woman. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:00.400 And people can learn from that, right? 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.460 Isn't that a wonderful thing? 00:25:02.380 --> 00:25:02.500 Yeah? 00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:04.440 It makes the Christian life real. 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.880 You know, is Christianity true? 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.619 Does it work? 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:09.220 Well, where can you see that? 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:12.740 You can see that in the life of mature Christians, hopefully. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:16.480 And so as people come, as maybe you have them for dinner, right? 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.799 You're feeding your kids anyway. 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:20.079 Why not have an extra plate for someone else? 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.119 Yeah, they can learn. 00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.740 That's a great thing. 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:25.460 And so people are really good at that. 00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:29.759 I know it's not easy because you have biological kids and it makes you very busy. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:35.160 But actually, if you think about it, if you try and fit it in, you can be such a blessing. 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.360 Not just here. 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:38.180 I've seen it in CGs, right? 00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:39.440 Community groups. 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:41.720 Sadly, it's very separated sometimes. 00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:43.860 The young adults, they meet on a weekday night. 00:25:44.600 --> 00:25:46.600 Family groups, they meet Sunday after the service. 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:49.640 Because, yeah, if you have young kids, that's kind of how it works. 00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:51.980 And yet it can be such a blessing. 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:54.559 We had Henry and Florence, an older couple here. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:58.539 You know, we put them with a group of very young CG. 00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:02.279 And they were such a blessing there because they had so much life experience to share. 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:06.720 Bernard and Angie, they always had a CG of young people. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:09.319 And again, being spiritual parents to them. 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:10.819 And that's been so helpful. 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:14.720 So can I encourage you to do something like that? 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:16.639 This is God's plan for the world. 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:20.319 It may be slow and frustrating and time intensive. 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:22.980 And yet this is such a wonderful thing. 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:25.740 And just think about your own experience. 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.920 Isn't this what happened to you? 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:29.660 You know, did you become a Christian all on your own? 00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:32.480 With a Bible, like an orphan on the streets? 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:33.779 No, right? 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:36.240 People loved you and cared for you. 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:38.000 And they were patient with you. 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.579 Ultimately, right? 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:41.120 Ultimately behind it is God. 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.920 He is our loving Father. 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:46.740 God doesn't get frustrated. 00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:48.480 But I'm sure he'd be very frustrated with me. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.620 But he loved me. 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:52.539 And he's compassionate and kind. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:54.300 And keeps guiding me. 00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:56.440 And he did it for you. 00:26:56.560 --> 00:27:00.019 And one way he does that is through the people who have born with you. 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.360 Who've loved you. 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:03.279 Who've walked with you. 00:27:04.060 --> 00:27:05.420 And now you can do that with others. 00:27:05.560 --> 00:27:06.680 Isn't that a wonderful thing? 00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:08.799 This is what God is doing in the world. 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:13.120 It's how he's spreading his wonderful rule of love around the world. 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:16.680 And that's the beautiful thing that we can be part of. 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.019 So, yeah. 00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:21.360 Things for us to think about on this Mother's Day. 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.019 Why don't we pray? 00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:26.400 And then let's sing about God's loving rule. 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:28.460 And his kingdom. 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:38.060 Our Father, thank you for your love for us. 00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:40.500 Thank you for bringing us under your rule. 00:27:40.800 --> 00:27:42.240 When we were far away from you. 00:27:42.840 --> 00:27:43.840 Coming into our life. 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.600 Saving us. 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.960 Growing us. 00:27:46.060 --> 00:27:47.600 Growing us through the church family. 00:27:47.800 --> 00:27:48.940 Through people who loved us. 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.960 Who invested in us. 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.660 Who were parents to us. 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:54.100 I pray that we would take that up now. 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.640 In the positions where we are. 00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:57.320 Some of us have more time. 00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.500 Some of us have less time. 00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.680 We are of different ages. 00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:00.940 And yet there will be people. 00:28:01.300 --> 00:28:02.600 We can be parents to. 00:28:02.780 --> 00:28:03.580 We can disciple. 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.940 We can help. 00:28:05.560 --> 00:28:07.960 To obey everything Jesus commanded. 00:28:08.840 --> 00:28:09.980 Pray that we would do that Lord. 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:10.820 Stir up our hearts. 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:12.500 Help us to not be afraid. 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:16.100 Not be despondent. 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:17.460 That we think we don't have time. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.100 But let's try and do this. 00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:19.720 For your glory. 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:21.620 That your rule may spread across the world. 00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.060 In Jesus name. 00:28:23.520 --> 00:28:23.860 Amen.