WEBVTT

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 Our Father, thank you for your words.

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 Thank you that it's living and active, that it speaks life,

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 that it shows us Jesus, that it tells us exactly what we need to hear today.

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 I pray that you would speak to each one of us,

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 especially as Christen comes in a moment and reads from 1 Thessalonians,

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 would you speak to each one of us?

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 And then as I say a few words, would we forget what's not from you,

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 but the things that you want us to remember, that you want to speak to us,

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 would they go into our hearts by your spirit?

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 And yeah, would we come away changed and encouraged?

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 In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Kristen.

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 Today's scripture reading is taken from 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 1,

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 to chapter 3, verse 13.

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 Please follow along in your own Bible or the church Bible.

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 Our passage can be found on page 927 in the church Bible.

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 Hear then God's word to us today, starting in verse 1.

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 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.

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 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi,

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 as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God

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 in the midst of much conflict.

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 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive.

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 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel,

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 so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts.

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 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know,

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 nor with a pretext for greed.

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 God is witness.

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 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others,

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 though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

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 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

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 So, being affectionately desirous of you,

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 we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God,

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 but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

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 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil.

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 We worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,

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 while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

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 You are witnesses, and God also,

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 how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.

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 For you know how, like a father with his children,

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 we exhorted each one of you,

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 and encourage you and charge you to walk in a manner worthy of God,

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 who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

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 And we also thank God constantly for this,

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 that when you received the word of God,

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 which you heard from us,

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 you accepted it not as the word of men,

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 but as what it really is,

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 the word of God,

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 which is at work in you believers.

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 For you, brothers,

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 became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus,

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 that are in Judea.

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 For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen,

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 as they did from the Jews,

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 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets,

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 and drove us out,

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 and displeased God and opposed all mankind,

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 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles,

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 that they might be saved,

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 so as always to fill up the measure of their sins.

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 But wrath has come upon them at last.

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 But since we were torn away from you, brothers,

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 for a short time,

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 in person,

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 not in heart,

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 we endeavored the more eagerly,

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 and with great desire to see you face to face,

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 because we wanted to come to you,

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 I, Paul,

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 again and again,

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 but Satan hindered us.

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 For what is our hope,

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 or joy,

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 or crown of boasting

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 before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

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 Is it not you?

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 For you are our glory and joy.

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 Therefore,

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 when we could bear it no longer,

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 we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone,

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 and we sent Timothy,

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 our brother and God's co-worker

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 in the gospel of Christ,

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 to establish and exhort you in your faith,

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 that no one be moved by these afflictions.

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 For you yourselves know

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 that we are destined for this.

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 For when we were with you,

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 we kept telling you beforehand

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 that we were to suffer affliction,

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 just as it has come to pass,

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 and just as you know.

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 For this reason,

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 when I could bear it no longer,

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 I sent to learn about your faith,

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 for fear that somehow

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 the tempter had tempted you,

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 and our labor would be in vain.

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 But now that Timothy has come to us from you,

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 and has brought us the good news

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 of your faith,

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 and love,

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 and reported that you always remember us kindly,

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 and long to see us,

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 as we long to see you.

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 For this reason, brothers,

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 in all our distress and affliction,

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 we have been comforted about you

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 through your faith.

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 For now we live,

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 if you are standing fast in the Lord.

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 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you,

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 for all the joy that we feel

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 for your sake before our God,

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 as we pray most earnestly night and day,

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 that we may see you face to face,

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 and supply what is lacking in your faith?

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 Now may our God and Father himself,

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 and our Lord Jesus,

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 direct our way to you,

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 and may the Lord make you increase,

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 and abound in love for one another,

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 and for all,

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 as we do for you,

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 so that he may establish your hearts

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 blameless in holiness,

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 before our God and Father,

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 at the coming of our Lord Jesus

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 with all his saints.

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 Let's believe and respond

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 to God's true and living word.

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 Great.

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 Thank you so much, Kristen,

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 for reading.

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 It's a long passage for an epistle,

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 but I think it will hang together well.

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 Great.

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 Well,

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 the world is full of sad news.

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 We know that.

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 In the Christian world,

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 there's sometimes no difference.

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 There's encouraging stories,

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 maybe,

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 about how the gospel grows,

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 but there's other times

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 we hear stories that make us sad,

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 and I think one of the saddest

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 that I often sometimes hear

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 is how maybe some Christian leader

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 who has fallen,

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 right?

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 I mean,

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 we know some famous examples,

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 like Ravi Zacharias,

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 right?

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 He was this great apologist,

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 and so many people

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 were really helped in their faith,

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 and then after his death,

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 people discovered

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 a big pattern of deceit

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 and adultery

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 and other things,

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 and it's very doubtful

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 whether this guy was a Christian,

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 and there have been

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 other famous leaders like that,

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 and the worst thing about it

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 is just the impact

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 on ordinary Christians,

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 right?

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 People who have,

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 wow,

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 this was such a great leader,

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 and now actually

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 I have doubts about my faith,

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 because,

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 you know,

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 I looked up to this guy,

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 but he was a fraud.

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 How about the things he taught?

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 Isn't that also now

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 maybe not true,

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 right?

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 That's very sad.

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 You can imagine that,

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 right?

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 Maybe you're here,

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 you come from another church,

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 maybe you've been hurt

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 by leaders,

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 and it makes you doubt

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 your faith,

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 it makes you doubt

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 the church.

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 Now,

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 I know what Christians

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 often say,

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 don't look at leaders,

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 look to Jesus,

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 right?

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 Jesus is perfect,

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 and he won't let you down.

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 That is true,

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 of course.

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 It's wonderful

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 that Jesus doesn't

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 let us down,

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 and ultimately

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 our faith should be

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 based on what Jesus did,

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 right?

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 How he died

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 and rose again,

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 and yet that is not

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 really what the Bible says.

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 It doesn't say,

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 look,

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 don't look at leaders.

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 The Bible says,

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 no,

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 leaders are very important,

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 so you need really,

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 really good ones.

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 That is,

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 I think,

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 what God wants to say

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 today,

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 right?

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 Because,

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 yeah,

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 maybe you've been,

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 if you think about

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 your journey,

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 how important have

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 certain people

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 been in your life?

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 How important

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 has a certain church

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 and the leaders there,

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 the preachers been

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 for your faith?

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 It matters.

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 So,

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 if you're a Christian,

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 I hope when Paul says,

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 hey,

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 leaders are important,

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 and here's why,

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 and this is what you need,

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 we want to listen.

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 Maybe you're here,

00:08:26.159 --> 00:08:27.019
 you're not a Christian,

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 you wouldn't think

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 it's that important.

00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:29.480
 Well,

00:08:29.860 --> 00:08:31.180
 you're exploring Christianity.

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 How are you going to do that,

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 you know,

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 on your own?

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 You probably need to be part of it,

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 come to a church,

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 right?

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 Because that's why you're here,

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 and that means that,

00:08:39.300 --> 00:08:39.840
 yeah,

00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:40.780
 churches have leaders.

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 I think this is relevant

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 for you too.

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 But I think that's where

00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:46.220
 Paul is going,

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 because as you heard

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 the reading,

00:08:47.900 --> 00:08:48.740
 maybe it's a bit of

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 an unusual passage,

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 right?

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 If you read

00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:52.840
 Paul's letters,

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 how does he start?

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 Well,

00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:55.080
 he starts with some

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 thanksgiving and prayer,

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 and then he,

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 well,

00:08:57.560 --> 00:08:58.400
 he explains something

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 about the gospel,

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 he explains something

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 about Jesus,

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 and then he tells you

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 to live in the light of it,

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 right?

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 That's most of the letters

00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:05.620
 in the New Testament.

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 Except as you read

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 these two chapters,

00:09:08.780 --> 00:09:10.080
 he talks a lot

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 about himself.

00:09:10.980 --> 00:09:12.040
 He spends all his time

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 talking,

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 hey,

00:09:13.060 --> 00:09:14.040
 this is what I'm like,

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 what we were like

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 when we were with you,

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 spends so much time

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 talking about himself,

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 and then he talks about

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 what happened,

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 right?

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 I mean,

00:09:21.420 --> 00:09:22.360
 we heard last week,

00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:24.180
 Paul came to Thessalonica,

00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:26.080
 preached the gospel,

00:09:26.340 --> 00:09:27.139
 started a church,

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 but then persecution arose,

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 and after three weeks

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 he had to leave,

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 and so he explains

00:09:32.680 --> 00:09:33.740
 kind of what happened

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 and how he felt

00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:35.480
 and what he did.

00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:36.399
 I mean,

00:09:36.440 --> 00:09:37.139
 it's very useful

00:09:37.139 --> 00:09:38.259
 background information,

00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:38.660
 right?

00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:39.180
 I mean,

00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:39.759
 we know a lot

00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:40.480
 about this letter

00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:41.340
 just because of

00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:42.639
 what he just explains,

00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:42.960
 how,

00:09:43.160 --> 00:09:43.420
 you know,

00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:44.279
 hey,

00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:45.000
 we didn't stop

00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:45.860
 caring for you,

00:09:45.899 --> 00:09:46.120
 right?

00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:47.540
 Verse 17,

00:09:48.040 --> 00:09:48.220
 hey,

00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:49.139
 we were torn away

00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:49.940
 from you brothers

00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:50.960
 for a short time,

00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:52.160
 but we endeavored

00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:53.240
 to more eagerly

00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:54.340
 with great desire

00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:55.019
 to see you,

00:09:55.180 --> 00:09:55.700
 but yeah,

00:09:55.820 --> 00:09:56.680
 Satan got in the way,

00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:57.000
 right?

00:09:57.500 --> 00:09:57.939
 So,

00:09:58.139 --> 00:09:58.759
 3 verse 1,

00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:00.159
 we sent Timothy to you

00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:01.339
 to find out about you,

00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:02.500
 and verse 6,

00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:03.319
 now he's come back

00:10:03.319 --> 00:10:03.759
 and he says,

00:10:04.139 --> 00:10:05.620
 he's preached the good news

00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:06.319
 of your faith

00:10:06.319 --> 00:10:07.219
 and your love,

00:10:07.319 --> 00:10:08.059
 and wow,

00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:09.159
 right?

00:10:09.359 --> 00:10:09.679
 So,

00:10:09.819 --> 00:10:10.519
 we know a lot

00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:12.239
 about the historical circumstances,

00:10:12.239 --> 00:10:12.839
 that's helpful.

00:10:13.979 --> 00:10:14.539
 But still,

00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:15.279
 presumably,

00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:16.599
 Timothy said the same thing.

00:10:17.459 --> 00:10:18.699
 Why do we have

00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:20.159
 this big section

00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:21.899
 about him telling us,

00:10:21.959 --> 00:10:22.039
 hey,

00:10:22.099 --> 00:10:22.519
 this is,

00:10:22.859 --> 00:10:23.459
 you know,

00:10:23.539 --> 00:10:24.579
 this is what we were like

00:10:24.579 --> 00:10:25.059
 as leaders,

00:10:25.059 --> 00:10:27.019
 and then explaining

00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:27.719
 all this,

00:10:28.719 --> 00:10:29.399
 this journey.

00:10:30.219 --> 00:10:31.059
 There's always a question,

00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:31.299
 right?

00:10:31.339 --> 00:10:32.259
 Why is the author

00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:33.679
 including this?

00:10:33.719 --> 00:10:34.279
 Why does he spend

00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:34.839
 so much time

00:10:34.839 --> 00:10:35.819
 talking about himself?

00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:38.179
 Some people think

00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:38.699
 Paul is kind of

00:10:38.699 --> 00:10:39.639
 defending himself.

00:10:40.599 --> 00:10:41.639
 Maybe the Thessalonians,

00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:42.899
 they had their doubts

00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:43.439
 about Paul,

00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:43.719
 right?

00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:44.719
 This guy,

00:10:44.839 --> 00:10:45.979
 he started the church,

00:10:46.059 --> 00:10:47.319
 but then after three weeks

00:10:47.319 --> 00:10:47.899
 he was gone

00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:48.879
 and he hasn't been back.

00:10:49.719 --> 00:10:50.579
 As we heard last week,

00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:51.679
 can we trust this guy?

00:10:51.779 --> 00:10:51.899
 I mean,

00:10:51.939 --> 00:10:52.859
 can we trust his message?

00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:54.539
 If you can't trust a guy,

00:10:54.539 --> 00:10:55.679
 can you trust the message?

00:10:57.099 --> 00:10:57.339
 Although,

00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:58.899
 I don't think he's,

00:10:59.120 --> 00:10:59.719
 he doesn't sound

00:10:59.719 --> 00:11:00.759
 very defensive though,

00:11:00.819 --> 00:11:01.000
 right?

00:11:01.059 --> 00:11:02.639
 And in 3 verse 6

00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.159
 he says,

00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:03.779
 hey,

00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:04.599
 Timothy said

00:11:04.599 --> 00:11:05.819
 that you always

00:11:05.819 --> 00:11:07.099
 remember us kindly

00:11:07.099 --> 00:11:08.860
 and long to see us

00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:10.120
 as we long to see you.

00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:10.959
 Right?

00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:11.699
 It's a warm

00:11:11.699 --> 00:11:12.699
 and friendly letter.

00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:13.519
 It's not like

00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:14.579
 Galatians

00:11:14.579 --> 00:11:15.279
 or Corinthians.

00:11:15.579 --> 00:11:16.639
 It's not that he's really

00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:18.579
 having to prove himself.

00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:21.259
 And yet,

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.200
 he still thinks

00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:22.840
 it's important

00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:24.800
 for the Thessalonians

00:11:24.800 --> 00:11:25.420
 to know

00:11:25.420 --> 00:11:25.759
 what,

00:11:25.900 --> 00:11:26.400
 you know,

00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:27.100
 what good,

00:11:27.300 --> 00:11:28.720
 authentic gospel leaders

00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:29.700
 are like.

00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:31.420
 Because,

00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:32.160
 yeah,

00:11:32.280 --> 00:11:33.460
 I guess they're still vulnerable.

00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:35.220
 They're having a hard time

00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:36.180
 as we heard last week,

00:11:36.259 --> 00:11:36.400
 right?

00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:37.900
 They were facing persecution.

00:11:39.040 --> 00:11:39.520
 And,

00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:40.680
 it's very easy

00:11:40.680 --> 00:11:41.879
 for people to sow doubts.

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:42.120
 Hey,

00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:43.120
 that guy Paul,

00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.080
 I'm not sure

00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:44.820
 if you can trust him,

00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:44.980
 right?

00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:45.560
 He's only been here,

00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:46.120
 he was only there

00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:46.659
 for three weeks

00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:47.539
 and he hasn't been back.

00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:48.659
 You can't trust him.

00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:50.220
 Or maybe some other guys

00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:50.639
 come in,

00:11:50.659 --> 00:11:50.840
 right?

00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:51.840
 And,

00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:53.399
 they stay for six months.

00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:54.620
 They have a bit

00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.580
 of a weird message,

00:11:55.680 --> 00:11:55.960
 you know,

00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:57.680
 that Jesus is not enough

00:11:57.680 --> 00:11:58.759
 and that you should

00:11:58.759 --> 00:11:59.700
 get circumcised,

00:11:59.800 --> 00:11:59.960
 but,

00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:00.639
 I mean,

00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:01.060
 they've been here

00:12:01.060 --> 00:12:01.720
 so much longer

00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:02.200
 than Paul,

00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:02.460
 right?

00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:03.259
 Maybe these are the,

00:12:03.560 --> 00:12:04.620
 these are much better leaders.

00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:05.759
 Now,

00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:07.019
 Paul just thinks it's good.

00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:07.259
 Hey,

00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:08.539
 I want you to recognize

00:12:08.539 --> 00:12:09.420
 good leaders.

00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:10.980
 I want you to know

00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:11.860
 who is trustworthy,

00:12:12.700 --> 00:12:13.620
 who you can trust,

00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:14.840
 whose message you can trust.

00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:16.019
 That will protect you.

00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:17.580
 That will help you.

00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:18.379
 So,

00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:19.300
 I think that's why,

00:12:19.560 --> 00:12:19.820
 well,

00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:21.779
 he's giving this big description

00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:23.120
 of what they were like

00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.420
 and why,

00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:25.560
 why that's important.

00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:27.240
 We're going to come to that

00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:28.039
 in the second point.

00:12:28.659 --> 00:12:28.820
 But,

00:12:28.940 --> 00:12:29.980
 yeah,

00:12:30.060 --> 00:12:31.700
 let's go through

00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:33.420
 verses one to twelve.

00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:34.420
 Let's go through,

00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:35.500
 yeah,

00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:37.080
 I think that's the main section

00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:37.440
 about,

00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:38.460
 yeah,

00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.340
 and I think the point is,

00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:39.460
 yeah,

00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:40.639
 we need authentic

00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:41.700
 Christian leaders.

00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:42.960
 We need good Christian leaders.

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.340
 He's giving a great model,

00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.480
 so they trust him

00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:47.580
 and know who else to trust.

00:12:47.900 --> 00:12:49.100
 And it's a beautiful passage,

00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:50.200
 it's a famous passage

00:12:50.200 --> 00:12:50.940
 about leadership.

00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:53.240
 There's quite a lot

00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.460
 in verses one to twelve.

00:12:55.180 --> 00:12:55.820
 The best way,

00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:56.080
 I think,

00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.040
 to organize it,

00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.480
 Paul has some kind

00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:59.040
 of structure,

00:12:59.180 --> 00:12:59.320
 right?

00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:00.320
 Maybe you heard the word

00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:01.660
 four a couple of times.

00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:02.160
 So,

00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:03.120
 it's in four sections

00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:03.740
 and all of them

00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:04.820
 are a contrast,

00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:05.220
 right?

00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:05.460
 So,

00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:06.060
 verse one,

00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:06.500
 four,

00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.100
 verse two,

00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:07.399
 but,

00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.220
 verse three,

00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:08.639
 four,

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.420
 verse four,

00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:09.740
 but,

00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:10.440
 verse five,

00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:10.879
 four,

00:13:11.160 --> 00:13:11.620
 verse seven,

00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:11.899
 but,

00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.160
 right?

00:13:12.560 --> 00:13:14.420
 These four contrasts.

00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:14.740
 So,

00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:16.000
 four characteristics.

00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:17.980
 And in a way,

00:13:18.060 --> 00:13:18.800
 verse one is like

00:13:18.800 --> 00:13:19.759
 a kind of headline,

00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:20.040
 right?

00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:21.560
 You yourselves know,

00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:22.080
 brothers,

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.860
 that our coming to you

00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:25.019
 was not in vain.

00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:27.080
 That sounds like

00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:28.440
 it wasn't a failure.

00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:30.180
 The word in isn't there.

00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:31.060
 Our coming to you

00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:32.100
 wasn't vain.

00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.100
 It wasn't empty.

00:13:33.300 --> 00:13:34.480
 It wasn't a fake.

00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:35.139
 It was real.

00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:36.279
 It was genuine.

00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:37.300
 Well,

00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:38.120
 in what ways?

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:38.779
 Well,

00:13:38.800 --> 00:13:39.560
 first of all,

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:40.480
 you know,

00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:42.100
 why were we

00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:43.139
 such good leaders?

00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:44.580
 We were willing to suffer.

00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:47.300
 Paul and his team,

00:13:47.420 --> 00:13:48.960
 they were willing to suffer.

00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:50.500
 And verse two,

00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:50.820
 but,

00:13:51.180 --> 00:13:52.700
 though we had already suffered

00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:54.440
 and been shamefully treated

00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:55.279
 in Philippi,

00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:55.940
 as you know,

00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:58.480
 we had boldness in our God

00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.200
 to declare to you

00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:00.620
 the gospel of God.

00:14:01.180 --> 00:14:01.460
 I mean,

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.860
 they just came from Philippi.

00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:03.899
 And the nice thing

00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:05.120
 about having the book of Acts

00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:05.659
 is that we know

00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:06.159
 what happened,

00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:06.399
 right?

00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:07.240
 So,

00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:08.939
 this was Paul's experience

00:14:08.939 --> 00:14:09.720
 in Philippi.

00:14:10.539 --> 00:14:10.799
 So,

00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:11.720
 he started a church

00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.259
 and then,

00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:13.759
 Acts 16,

00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:14.439
 verse 19,

00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:15.939
 they seized Paul and Silas

00:14:15.939 --> 00:14:16.980
 and dragged them

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.840
 into the marketplace

00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:18.899
 before the rulers.

00:14:19.579 --> 00:14:20.579
 And when they had brought them

00:14:20.579 --> 00:14:21.539
 to the magistrates,

00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:22.039
 they said,

00:14:22.439 --> 00:14:23.480
 these men are Jews

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.340
 and they're disturbing

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:24.939
 our city.

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.559
 And then the crowns

00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:27.899
 joined in attacking them

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.019
 and the magistrates

00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:30.439
 tore the garments off them

00:14:30.439 --> 00:14:31.240
 and gave orders

00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:31.860
 to beat them

00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:32.419
 with rods

00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:34.060
 and when they had inflicted

00:14:34.060 --> 00:14:35.240
 many blows upon them,

00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:36.060
 they threw them

00:14:36.060 --> 00:14:36.820
 into prison,

00:14:37.180 --> 00:14:38.019
 ordering the jailer

00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:38.919
 to keep them safely.

00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:39.680
 So,

00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.919
 that's kind of Paul's experience

00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.580
 in Philippi,

00:14:41.800 --> 00:14:42.000
 right?

00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:43.480
 And then he gets

00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:44.279
 to Thessalonica.

00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:44.519
 Now,

00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:45.539
 I don't know what you would do.

00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.519
 I would be,

00:14:47.680 --> 00:14:48.159
 keep quiet,

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:48.460
 okay?

00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.560
 I don't want to have that again.

00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:50.659
 Well,

00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:51.500
 not Paul,

00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:51.960
 right?

00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:53.259
 Even though we were

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:54.139
 shamefully treated

00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:54.840
 in Philippi,

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:55.899
 we had boldness

00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:57.279
 to declare,

00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:57.879
 right?

00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:58.980
 To declare the gospel,

00:14:59.580 --> 00:14:59.820
 right?

00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:01.160
 He boldly preached it.

00:15:01.300 --> 00:15:02.520
 These guys were not fakes.

00:15:02.640 --> 00:15:04.300
 They really believed this,

00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:04.460
 right?

00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.140
 If people are willing

00:15:05.140 --> 00:15:06.780
 to suffer for something,

00:15:07.300 --> 00:15:08.420
 no one likes suffering,

00:15:08.540 --> 00:15:08.660
 right?

00:15:08.660 --> 00:15:08.780
 So,

00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:09.720
 if these guys are willing

00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:10.440
 to do that,

00:15:10.900 --> 00:15:11.860
 that shows they must be

00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:12.580
 pretty genuine,

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:12.900
 right?

00:15:12.920 --> 00:15:13.740
 In what they believe.

00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:16.480
 They must be really real.

00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.560
 They're not into it

00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:18.200
 for themselves,

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:18.879
 right?

00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:19.920
 It's still the same today.

00:15:20.020 --> 00:15:20.800
 If someone is willing

00:15:20.800 --> 00:15:21.860
 to preach something,

00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:23.040
 that gets them vilified,

00:15:23.640 --> 00:15:24.720
 that gets them arrested.

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:26.960
 That's a sign

00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.960
 you can really trust them,

00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.180
 right?

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:28.660
 In some way.

00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.120
 Or the disciples.

00:15:30.340 --> 00:15:31.740
 Why can we trust the disciples

00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:33.600
 that they really believed

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.480
 in Jesus' resurrection?

00:15:34.660 --> 00:15:34.759
 Well,

00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:36.220
 because they suffered for it

00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:37.139
 and they didn't stop

00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:37.700
 preaching it,

00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:37.879
 right?

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.639
 What else?

00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.060
 Well,

00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:42.120
 verses 3 and 4,

00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:43.620
 they were faithful

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.720
 with God's truth.

00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:44.940
 So,

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.980
 they preached the message,

00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:47.019
 but they were also

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:48.120
 very faithful with it,

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:48.300
 right?

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:48.899
 Verse 3,

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:50.600
 for our appeal,

00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.319
 our message,

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:53.259
 does not spring from error

00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:54.600
 or impurity

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:56.059
 or any attempt

00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.919
 to deceive,

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.840
 but just as we have been

00:15:58.840 --> 00:15:59.840
 approved by God

00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.600
 to be entrusted

00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:01.360
 with the gospel,

00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:02.620
 so we speak,

00:16:02.819 --> 00:16:03.759
 not to please man,

00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:04.860
 but to please God,

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:05.899
 right?

00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:06.959
 So,

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.779
 you know,

00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:10.220
 we've been entrusted

00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:10.939
 by God

00:16:10.939 --> 00:16:11.559
 with the gospel

00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.100
 and so,

00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:12.600
 yeah,

00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.659
 that's what we speak.

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:13.980
 And so,

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:16.199
 we don't preach

00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:16.939
 from deceit,

00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:17.659
 we don't preach

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:18.220
 from error,

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.180
 we don't preach

00:16:19.180 --> 00:16:20.139
 from the wrong motives,

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.040
 we don't want to

00:16:21.040 --> 00:16:22.220
 change the message,

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:22.519
 I mean,

00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:22.920
 it would be good

00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:23.740
 to change the message,

00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:24.080
 right?

00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.320
 Make it more popular,

00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:26.600
 get more people,

00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.040
 get less persecution,

00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.040
 but no,

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.700
 we're not going to

00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:30.580
 change the message,

00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:31.060
 right?

00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:32.259
 Because we've been

00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:33.360
 entrusted by God

00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:33.759
 with this,

00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:34.800
 and so we don't

00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:35.899
 try to please people,

00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:37.060
 we try to please

00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:38.019
 God,

00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:38.540
 he says,

00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:38.800
 right?

00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:39.940
 Even though it's

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:40.580
 very tempting,

00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:42.000
 that's what Christians

00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.139
 should do,

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:43.800
 just,

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:44.660
 yeah,

00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:45.420
 tell the truth,

00:16:46.060 --> 00:16:46.820
 even if it's

00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:47.800
 not very popular,

00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.479
 even though,

00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:49.099
 you know,

00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:49.740
 maybe other,

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.519
 some people don't

00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.019
 like it.

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:53.059
 If you are willing

00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:53.959
 to not be liked

00:16:53.959 --> 00:16:55.299
 by preaching something,

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.120
 that's a good sign

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.679
 that someone is

00:16:56.679 --> 00:16:57.039
 trustworthy,

00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:57.539
 right?

00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:58.579
 That they really,

00:16:58.939 --> 00:16:59.240
 again,

00:16:59.319 --> 00:16:59.799
 that they really

00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.279
 believe,

00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:00.819
 that they really

00:17:00.819 --> 00:17:01.599
 have conviction

00:17:01.599 --> 00:17:03.279
 in God,

00:17:03.359 --> 00:17:03.859
 in the truth.

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.139
 Of course,

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.940
 these two points

00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.680
 sound like someone

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.259
 who's just very

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:08.819
 brash,

00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.099
 and doesn't care

00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:11.339
 about people.

00:17:11.879 --> 00:17:12.460
 Of course,

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.500
 Paul was more

00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:13.839
 than that,

00:17:13.879 --> 00:17:14.039
 right?

00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:14.579
 because that's

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.019
 what he goes

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.559
 on to in

00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:16.379
 five to eight,

00:17:16.899 --> 00:17:18.779
 his selfless,

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.139
 loving care.

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:21.519
 Verse,

00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.299
 you can hear

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:22.799
 the contrast,

00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.639
 verse five,

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.339
 we were never

00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:25.180
 came with words

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.059
 of flattery,

00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:26.680
 as you know,

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:28.019
 nor with a pretext

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.960
 for greed.

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:30.119
 God is witness,

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:30.899
 nor did we see

00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:32.079
 glory from people.

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.659
 That's someone

00:17:34.659 --> 00:17:35.700
 who's self-serving,

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.779
 who wants your money,

00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.319
 who wants your praise,

00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:39.559
 who wants all kinds

00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:40.480
 of things from you.

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.519
 But Paul says,

00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.120
 we didn't want

00:17:42.120 --> 00:17:42.680
 any of that.

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:44.220
 We were selfless.

00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:44.860
 Instead,

00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.960
 verse seven,

00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.860
 we were gentle

00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:48.559
 among you,

00:17:48.860 --> 00:17:50.240
 like a nursing mother

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.039
 taking care

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.220
 of her own children.

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:53.880
 We didn't do ministry

00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.599
 to get something

00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:54.980
 from you.

00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:55.799
 We were selfless,

00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:57.200
 like a nursing mother.

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:57.759
 And we've had

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.860
 quite a few new babies

00:17:58.860 --> 00:17:59.700
 here at Watermark.

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.440
 Can you think of anyone

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.299
 more selfless

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.779
 than a nursing mother?

00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.099
 When you get

00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:06.000
 nothing out of it,

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:06.200
 right?

00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.640
 The baby doesn't

00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:08.500
 give you any money,

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.339
 doesn't give you

00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:10.079
 any praise.

00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:10.519
 You know,

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.619
 babies don't give anything.

00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.679
 They just poop and cry.

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.720
 And yet,

00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.779
 you serve them

00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.879
 day after day.

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:18.980
 That's really

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.220
 selfless care.

00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:20.779
 And so,

00:18:20.919 --> 00:18:21.319
 Paul says,

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.439
 we didn't make

00:18:22.439 --> 00:18:23.139
 any demands.

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.679
 We were just selfless.

00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:25.799
 And we loved you

00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.899
 and we cared for you

00:18:26.899 --> 00:18:27.859
 and we shared

00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.939
 our life with you.

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.359
 That's what

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:30.980
 they were like.

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:32.500
 And verses

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.419
 nine to twelve,

00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:34.799
 look at our

00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:36.379
 exemplary conduct.

00:18:37.679 --> 00:18:38.579
 It's interesting.

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.159
 He says,

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.159
 we were like a mother.

00:18:40.399 --> 00:18:41.179
 And then verse eleven,

00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.679
 we were like a father

00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:43.799
 with his children.

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.139
 Of course,

00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:45.819
 as a father,

00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:46.159
 hey,

00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:48.480
 you instruct your children,

00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:48.779
 right?

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.319
 That's what he says.

00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.220
 We were like a father.

00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.839
 Verse twelve,

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:52.919
 we exhorted

00:18:52.919 --> 00:18:53.919
 each one of you

00:18:53.919 --> 00:18:54.980
 and encouraged you

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:56.099
 and charged you

00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:56.960
 to walk in a manner

00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.839
 worthy of God.

00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:00.460
 But I don't think

00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:00.939
 it's just that

00:19:00.939 --> 00:19:01.779
 we were telling you

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.399
 what to do

00:19:02.399 --> 00:19:02.839
 because,

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:03.240
 you know,

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.879
 the worst leaders

00:19:03.879 --> 00:19:04.559
 also tell you

00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.019
 what to do.

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.639
 what is the thing?

00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.519
 He emphasizes

00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:10.240
 our example,

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:12.160
 how we did ourselves

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.400
 what we told you,

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:13.619
 right?

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.339
 In chapter five,

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.240
 he's going to tell them,

00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:15.700
 hey,

00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:16.680
 work hard

00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.660
 and don't be a burden

00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:18.180
 to people.

00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:19.139
 Well,

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.279
 we ourselves,

00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:20.539
 hey,

00:19:20.639 --> 00:19:21.420
 we worked hard

00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:22.039
 and we were not

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.879
 a burden to you,

00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:23.579
 right?

00:19:23.639 --> 00:19:24.059
 He says,

00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:24.319
 hey,

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.079
 we want you

00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:25.859
 to live a life

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.700
 worthy of God

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.980
 but verse ten,

00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.359
 you are witnesses

00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.200
 and God also

00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:30.799
 how holy

00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.440
 and righteous

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.279
 and blameless

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:33.680
 was our conduct

00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.759
 towards you believers.

00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:35.920
 Right?

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:36.680
 You know,

00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.819
 someone who practices

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.680
 what they preach.

00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.139
 They don't just tell you

00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:40.720
 to be holy

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.559
 but they themselves,

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.599
 they apply it

00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.139
 to themselves,

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:44.440
 right?

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.240
 They live it out

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:45.819
 themselves.

00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.139
 That's really important.

00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:48.460
 Right?

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:48.779
 Jesus,

00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:49.400
 he talks about

00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:50.220
 the Pharisees

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:50.819
 as those who,

00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.879
 they lay heavy burdens

00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:52.440
 on people

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.539
 but they themselves

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.660
 are not willing

00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.339
 to lift a finger.

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.480
 So the people

00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:57.980
 who tell you

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.420
 do this,

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:58.900
 do that

00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.500
 and they themselves

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.099
 don't do it.

00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:01.359
 No,

00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:02.500
 here are,

00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.279
 Paul says,

00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:03.480
 hey,

00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:04.779
 we hadn't,

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.639
 we were great

00:20:05.639 --> 00:20:06.599
 examples to you.

00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:07.420
 Right?

00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.500
 We lived this

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.079
 out ourselves.

00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.099
 We told you

00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:10.559
 how to live

00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.139
 but we did it

00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:11.980
 ourselves as well.

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.319
 Exemplary conduct.

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:15.440
 By the way,

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.059
 that's a good thing

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.660
 for parents.

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.119
 You know,

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:17.700
 it's not just

00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.139
 what you tell

00:20:18.139 --> 00:20:19.000
 your children to do.

00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:19.539
 You need to

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.599
 do it yourself,

00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:20.899
 right?

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:23.799
 If you're a bad example,

00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:24.599
 your children

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.079
 are not going

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:25.700
 to listen to you.

00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.460
 I think that's

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.299
 very helpful to know.

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.079
 But there you have it.

00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:29.799
 Paul's reminder

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:31.440
 of how they lived,

00:20:31.659 --> 00:20:32.379
 how they were

00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.099
 when they were

00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:34.039
 with them those weeks.

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.379
 And he says,

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.220
 look Thessalonians,

00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:36.839
 look at us,

00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:37.680
 you can trust us.

00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:38.180
 Right?

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.000
 Don't let anyone

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.240
 sow any doubt

00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:40.919
 in your mind.

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.619
 Right?

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.619
 This is what good

00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:43.639
 leaders look like.

00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.059
 In a way,

00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:45.599
 you know,

00:20:46.139 --> 00:20:46.619
 it's just being

00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.240
 like Jesus,

00:20:47.419 --> 00:20:47.599
 right?

00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:49.019
 It's all these things,

00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.799
 of course you can say

00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:51.059
 that Jesus was

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:51.759
 willing to suffer,

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:52.919
 Jesus was faithful

00:20:52.919 --> 00:20:53.839
 with God's truth,

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:55.180
 Jesus was the most

00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:56.240
 selfless person ever.

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.240
 It's just like Jesus.

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.279
 Of course,

00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.420
 Jesus is the true shepherd,

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.480
 but he's not here.

00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:03.400
 That's why he gives

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.240
 under shepherds.

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.120
 But yeah,

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.359
 here's a great model

00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.359
 of what it's like to,

00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:09.000
 well,

00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:10.140
 what leaders should be like.

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:11.440
 Now,

00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.359
 that's an easy way

00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:12.940
 to apply.

00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:13.200
 Now,

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.839
 there's quite a lot

00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.500
 of people here,

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.660
 but I think about 70

00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:17.680
 or 80 leaders among us,

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:17.900
 right?

00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:19.000
 If you add the kids leaders

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.819
 and the youth leaders

00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.759
 and the CG leaders

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:22.359
 and ministry leaders,

00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.279
 last week,

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:23.759
 if you were here,

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.680
 you saw all those

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.559
 kids leaders.

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.640
 There's quite a lot

00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:27.620
 of people here.

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:27.859
 Well,

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.339
 here is a bit

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.920
 of the bar

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.900
 that Paul sets

00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:32.819
 for me as an elder.

00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.120
 Well,

00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.319
 okay,

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.039
 this is what,

00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:34.740
 you know,

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:36.579
 leaders should be like.

00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.799
 It's a high bar,

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.339
 but it's good.

00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.019
 It's beautiful,

00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:40.359
 right?

00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.660
 So yeah,

00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.759
 how do we measure up?

00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:44.579
 Am I willing

00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:45.700
 to teach the truth

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.579
 no matter the cost?

00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.440
 Do I really

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:50.259
 selflessly love people?

00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.180
 And am I in this

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.140
 just out of love

00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:53.000
 and not for what

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.900
 I can get out of it?

00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:54.900
 Right?

00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:56.120
 Do I live out

00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:57.000
 in my own life

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.759
 what I teach others?

00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.000
 They're really

00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.879
 great questions,

00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.220
 a great challenge.

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.420
 Though again,

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.220
 I think we're

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.019
 a wonderful church.

00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:05.400
 We have wonderful people

00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:06.559
 leading CG

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.440
 and, you know,

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.079
 leading kids

00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:08.640
 and youth.

00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:10.339
 We're a great church.

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:11.059
 So many people

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.839
 giving their time

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.400
 selflessly,

00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.339
 caring for others.

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:15.440
 Now,

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:15.839
 that's a good,

00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:16.700
 that's a good application.

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.420
 But I don't think

00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:18.240
 that's, you know,

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:19.000
 the main point.

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.799
 Paul is not saying,

00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:20.039
 hey,

00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:21.799
 elders of Thessalonica,

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.379
 this is what

00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:23.259
 I want you to do.

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.160
 Although I hope

00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:25.059
 they listen and learn.

00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:27.400
 Well,

00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.160
 here's a question,

00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:28.460
 though.

00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:30.059
 Why is having

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.839
 good leaders

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.859
 so important?

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:34.000
 Why does Paul

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.220
 make such a point

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:35.720
 of this?

00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:36.980
 And for that,

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.700
 I want to kind of

00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.420
 look at the rest

00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.180
 of the passage.

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.759
 Because in a way,

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.980
 there's no direct teaching.

00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:43.420
 He's just talking about,

00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:44.140
 you know,

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:44.759
 what happened,

00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:45.019
 what,

00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:46.140
 you know.

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.160
 And of course,

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:47.500
 there's things

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.099
 we can learn,

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:48.299
 right?

00:22:48.379 --> 00:22:49.079
 Sometimes Satan

00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:49.940
 gets in the way.

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.559
 It's good to send

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.480
 a young co-worker

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.680
 if you can't go yourself.

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.639
 But that's not,

00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:54.919
 I think,

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.559
 the kind of things

00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.639
 we're supposed to learn.

00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.460
 Clearly,

00:22:58.639 --> 00:22:58.779
 though,

00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.559
 you can see

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.879
 Paul's incredible

00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:02.440
 concern for these people,

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:02.659
 right?

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:03.779
 You can see

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.819
 how much he cares

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.259
 for them,

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:07.019
 how anxious he was

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.299
 when,

00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:07.859
 you know,

00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:08.680
 he was torn away

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.700
 and couldn't care for them

00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:11.319
 and how happy he was

00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.379
 when they were doing well,

00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:12.879
 right?

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.460
 It shows his heart,

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:14.720
 right?

00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:15.379
 You know,

00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:16.680
 that's part of being

00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.319
 a good leader.

00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:18.099
 You really care

00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:18.720
 about people

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.319
 long term.

00:23:20.679 --> 00:23:22.059
 It's a great characteristic.

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:22.460
 But,

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.000
 actually,

00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:24.700
 I want to look

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.759
 at the underlying point.

00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:26.639
 Why is Paul

00:23:26.639 --> 00:23:27.399
 so concerned?

00:23:27.639 --> 00:23:28.200
 Not just because he,

00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.299
 why is this something

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.619
 to be really concerned about?

00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:32.579
 Why is this something

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.759
 that is so important?

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.240
 And I think

00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:36.939
 if you read

00:23:36.939 --> 00:23:38.779
 this passage,

00:23:39.439 --> 00:23:40.000
 if you read

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.879
 the New Testament,

00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:42.240
 one big thing

00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.579
 that comes through

00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.759
 underlying it all,

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.379
 well,

00:23:45.419 --> 00:23:46.179
 because Christians

00:23:46.179 --> 00:23:47.299
 need to endure

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.159
 to the end.

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.220
 Christians need

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.639
 to endure

00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:51.159
 to the end.

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:53.079
 Christians need

00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.099
 to keep trusting Jesus

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:54.599
 all the way

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.059
 to the end,

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.740
 until they die

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.960
 or until Jesus returns.

00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:57.259
 But,

00:23:57.879 --> 00:23:59.059
 we need to endure

00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.700
 to the end.

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.180
 It's vitally,

00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:02.460
 eternally important.

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.539
 And I mean

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.319
 both parts

00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:05.980
 of that phrase,

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:06.180
 right?

00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:07.339
 Christians need

00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:08.099
 to endure.

00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:10.339
 The Christian life

00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:10.779
 is not,

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.899
 it's not cruising

00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:12.480
 to the end.

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.639
 It's not smooth sailing

00:24:14.639 --> 00:24:15.359
 to the end.

00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:17.079
 it's going

00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.759
 to be hard.

00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.579
 And Paul

00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:19.899
 makes it so clear

00:24:19.899 --> 00:24:21.759
 throughout this passage,

00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:22.079
 right?

00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:22.359
 I mean,

00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:23.339
 already last week

00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:23.719
 he said,

00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.000
 hey,

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.319
 1 verse 6,

00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:26.419
 you receive the word

00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.479
 in much affliction.

00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:29.000
 But then,

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.219
 yeah,

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.219
 2 verse 14,

00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:30.539
 hey,

00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.759
 you became imitators

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.419
 of the churches

00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:32.879
 of God

00:24:32.879 --> 00:24:33.619
 in Christ Jesus

00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.500
 that are in Judea.

00:24:35.219 --> 00:24:35.759
 How did you

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.579
 become imitators?

00:24:36.959 --> 00:24:37.159
 Well,

00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:37.859
 you suffered

00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.959
 the same things

00:24:38.959 --> 00:24:39.500
 from your own

00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.039
 countrymen

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.479
 as they did

00:24:40.479 --> 00:24:41.059
 from the Jews.

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:43.099
 3 verse 2,

00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:44.019
 I sent Timothy

00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.719
 to encourage you.

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:46.500
 Why?

00:24:46.919 --> 00:24:47.519
 Verse 3,

00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:48.319
 3 verse 3,

00:24:48.699 --> 00:24:49.519
 so that no one

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.179
 be moved

00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:51.379
 by these afflictions.

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.519
 For you yourselves

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.339
 know that we are

00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:54.279
 destined for this.

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.319
 For when we were

00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:55.759
 with you,

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.699
 we kept telling you

00:24:56.699 --> 00:24:57.639
 beforehand that we

00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:58.240
 were to suffer

00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.179
 affliction.

00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.139
 Just as it has

00:25:00.139 --> 00:25:00.819
 come to pass

00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.619
 and just as you know,

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:02.579
 right?

00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:04.299
 He has been telling them

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:05.059
 we're going to suffer,

00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:06.119
 we're going to face

00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:07.059
 these things.

00:25:07.219 --> 00:25:07.359
 I mean,

00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:08.399
 right?

00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.740
 It's all through

00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:11.019
 this passage.

00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:11.619
 And of course,

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.480
 Paul himself,

00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:12.839
 right?

00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.000
 He has been

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.720
 in Philippi

00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.660
 and Thessalonica.

00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:16.339
 That's why he

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:17.079
 had to leave.

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:19.299
 3 verse 7,

00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.160
 in all our

00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:20.860
 distress and

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.420
 affliction,

00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.160
 and affliction,

00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:23.120
 we've been comforted.

00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.759
 The whole picture

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.279
 you get of the

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.120
 Christian life here

00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:26.860
 is that it's,

00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:27.099
 well,

00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:27.740
 it's enduring

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.259
 affliction,

00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:28.500
 right?

00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:31.319
 It's not easy.

00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:32.980
 And it's not

00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.640
 just for a little

00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:33.880
 bit,

00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.079
 right?

00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:34.799
 It is all the

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.940
 way to the

00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:36.339
 end.

00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:38.539
 Thessalonians

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.319
 had such a big

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.279
 focus on Jesus'

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:40.839
 return.

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:40.879
 return.

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.459
 Every chapter

00:25:42.459 --> 00:25:43.079
 ends with

00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:43.379
 Jesus'

00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:43.839
 return.

00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.279
 Because,

00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:46.559
 of course,

00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:46.799
 Jesus'

00:25:46.939 --> 00:25:47.500
 return is the

00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.059
 most important

00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:48.359
 thing,

00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:48.599
 right?

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.240
 What is this

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.839
 whole Christianity

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.439
 about?

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.099
 It's about how

00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.959
 this world is,

00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:53.659
 you know,

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.959
 is a mess,

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.980
 is cursed because

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.480
 of sin,

00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.240
 but God is going

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.740
 to come and

00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:59.000
 judge and save

00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.779
 his people and

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.579
 judge the world

00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.259
 and make

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.059
 everything right.

00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.079
 That's why we

00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.539
 need to believe

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.000
 in Jesus,

00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:04.399
 so that,

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:04.699
 you know,

00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.319
 we'll be safe

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:05.879
 in the judgment.

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.640
 That's the

00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:07.320
 whole point of

00:26:07.320 --> 00:26:08.120
 being a

00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:08.480
 Christian,

00:26:08.780 --> 00:26:08.980
 right?

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.440
 If you're here,

00:26:10.520 --> 00:26:10.920
 you're not a

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.200
 Christian,

00:26:11.340 --> 00:26:11.920
 you may wonder

00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.500
 what's the big

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:12.900
 thing about

00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.300
 being a

00:26:13.300 --> 00:26:13.600
 Christian.

00:26:13.780 --> 00:26:13.920
 Well,

00:26:14.520 --> 00:26:15.080
 that one day

00:26:15.080 --> 00:26:15.420
 you'll be

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:15.780
 saved.

00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:16.740
 At the end

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.060
 of chapter

00:26:17.060 --> 00:26:17.340
 one,

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:17.760
 we heard it

00:26:17.760 --> 00:26:18.220
 last week,

00:26:18.280 --> 00:26:18.440
 right?

00:26:18.760 --> 00:26:19.440
 Jesus who

00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.180
 delivers us

00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:20.580
 from the

00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:21.020
 wrath to

00:26:21.020 --> 00:26:21.640
 come because

00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:22.460
 he paid

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:22.860
 for our

00:26:22.860 --> 00:26:23.300
 sins so

00:26:23.300 --> 00:26:23.580
 that we

00:26:23.580 --> 00:26:24.480
 can stand

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:24.740
 in the

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.040
 judgment.

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.720
 But every

00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.400
 chapter ends

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:27.820
 with that,

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.760
 and that is

00:26:28.760 --> 00:26:29.240
 Paul's big

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:29.720
 concern,

00:26:29.840 --> 00:26:30.040
 right?

00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:31.280
 2,

00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.000
 verse 19

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.680
 and 20.

00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.820
 And what

00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:34.160
 is our

00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.240
 hope or

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:35.980
 joy or

00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:36.620
 crown of

00:26:36.620 --> 00:26:37.000
 boasting

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.740
 before our

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.259
 Lord Jesus

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:38.620
 had his

00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:38.920
 coming?

00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:39.680
 Is it

00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.299
 not you?

00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:41.299
 For you

00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:41.779
 are glory

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.200
 and joy.

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.460
 And what

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.019
 brings Paul

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.440
 the greatest

00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:44.840
 joy?

00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:45.360
 Well,

00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:45.840
 he's thinking

00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.400
 about Jesus'

00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:46.840
 return.

00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.220
 It's not

00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:47.519
 that I've

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:47.960
 planted a

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.340
 church.

00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:49.400
 It's not

00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:49.680
 that some

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.200
 people came

00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:50.779
 to faith,

00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:51.580
 but that

00:26:51.580 --> 00:26:52.240
 one day

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.200
 before Jesus,

00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:53.620
 that's where

00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.160
 they are,

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:54.680
 right?

00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.500
 When we're

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.220
 before Jesus,

00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.700
 then that

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:57.980
 is my

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.539
 great joy.

00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:00.660
 And 3,

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.360
 verse 13,

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:01.640
 right?

00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.060
 And he

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:02.619
 prays for

00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:02.899
 them at

00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:03.220
 the end.

00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:04.000
 What does

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.299
 he ask

00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:04.659
 God to

00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:04.899
 do?

00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:05.519
 Well,

00:27:05.659 --> 00:27:05.859
 3,

00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:06.519
 verse 13,

00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:06.879
 so that

00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.200
 he may

00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:07.659
 establish

00:27:07.659 --> 00:27:08.259
 your hearts

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:08.819
 blameless

00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:09.399
 in holiness

00:27:09.399 --> 00:27:10.519
 before our

00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:10.899
 God and

00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:11.440
 Father at

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:11.779
 the coming

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.099
 of our

00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:12.619
 Lord Jesus

00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:13.019
 with all

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.500
 his saints.

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.299
 What does

00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:14.799
 he pray?

00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:15.399
 Is that

00:27:15.399 --> 00:27:15.619
 they are

00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:16.200
 there at

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:16.639
 the end,

00:27:17.179 --> 00:27:17.679
 blameless

00:27:17.679 --> 00:27:18.519
 before Jesus.

00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:19.720
 That is

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:19.940
 what he

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.240
 wants.

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.659
 That's the

00:27:21.659 --> 00:27:21.980
 goal.

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.539
 That is

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:22.799
 Paul's

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.159
 concern.

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:23.679
 Why was

00:27:23.679 --> 00:27:24.019
 he so

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.659
 worried about

00:27:24.659 --> 00:27:24.879
 them?

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.399
 It's not,

00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:27.599
 yeah,

00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.079
 why was he

00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:28.359
 worried?

00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:28.539
 Well,

00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:28.759
 3,

00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.359
 verse 5,

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.659
 I was,

00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.339
 about your

00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:32.879
 faith for

00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:33.299
 fear that

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:34.019
 somehow the

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.779
 tempter had

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.819
 tempted you

00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.179
 and our

00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:36.700
 labor would

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.039
 be in

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.319
 vain.

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.000
 He was

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.500
 worried that

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:38.759
 they would

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.179
 give up.

00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.419
 He was

00:27:40.419 --> 00:27:40.859
 worried that

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.200
 they wouldn't

00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:41.679
 make it.

00:27:42.679 --> 00:27:43.000
 And 3,

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.579
 verse 8,

00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:44.819
 the positive,

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.559
 for now we

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.559
 live if you

00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.119
 are standing

00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:47.919
 fast in the

00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.179
 Lord.

00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.599
 Why is he

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.299
 so happy?

00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:50.759
 Well,

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.119
 because they're

00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:51.659
 still going.

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.619
 They're still

00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.240
 standing fast.

00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:53.599
 They're still

00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.379
 trusting Jesus.

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:54.940
 They're still

00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.940
 being Christians.

00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.279
 Right?

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:57.700
 What does he

00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.299
 pray for that

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.139
 they're established?

00:27:59.259 --> 00:27:59.839
 I hope you

00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.339
 see that.

00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.460
 The big thing

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:01.840
 about being

00:28:01.840 --> 00:28:02.360
 a Christian

00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:03.100
 is hard,

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.740
 but you

00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.079
 need to

00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.440
 make it

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:04.759
 all the

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.059
 way to

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.480
 the end.

00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.779
 If the

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.360
 Christian life

00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:08.960
 was easy,

00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:09.500
 Paul didn't

00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:09.880
 need to

00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:10.140
 worry.

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.519
 He planted

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:11.980
 a church,

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.559
 people became

00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:13.140
 Christians.

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.180
 Well,

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.579
 now they

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.279
 are blessed

00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.019
 and they're

00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.319
 going to be

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.140
 prosperous and

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.779
 healthy and

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.279
 wealthy,

00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:19.539
 because I

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:19.900
 know the

00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.340
 plans I

00:28:20.340 --> 00:28:20.680
 have for

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:20.880
 you,

00:28:21.360 --> 00:28:21.779
 plans for

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.200
 good and

00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.519
 not for

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:22.980
 evil.

00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.900
 God has

00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.240
 a wonderful

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.700
 plan for

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.220
 their life.

00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:26.640
 They're

00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:26.960
 going to be

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.340
 fine.

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:27.920
 Let me

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.299
 go to the

00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:28.740
 next town.

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:31.200
 then Paul

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.680
 wouldn't be

00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.180
 anxious,

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.039
 except he

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.480
 is very

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:33.859
 anxious.

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:34.720
 He's very

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.380
 worried about

00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:35.940
 them because

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.319
 there are

00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:36.839
 very young

00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.640
 Christians who

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.359
 haven't had

00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:38.839
 much help

00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.279
 and he's

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.720
 just worried

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.099
 that they

00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:40.900
 give up

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.339
 under all

00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.180
 the persecution

00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.839
 they're facing.

00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:43.980
 Right?

00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:46.240
 That's why

00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.420
 Paul just

00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.440
 really cares

00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:48.799
 that they

00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.279
 make it.

00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.759
 That's why

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:52.059
 maybe you

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.700
 wondered why

00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.140
 he's so

00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:53.680
 angry with

00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.140
 the Jews

00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:54.640
 in 2

00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.140
 verse 15

00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:55.640
 and 16.

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:56.319
 Well,

00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:56.759
 because they

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.259
 stop people

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.000
 being saved.

00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.700
 It's not

00:28:59.700 --> 00:28:59.980
 that he

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:01.119
 is anti-Semitic.

00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:01.660
 He himself

00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:02.200
 is a Jew.

00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:03.400
 You can

00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:03.879
 ask me more

00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:04.700
 later about

00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.140
 that, but

00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:06.700
 there's people

00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.140
 who stop

00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:07.559
 the preaching

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:07.900
 of the

00:29:07.900 --> 00:29:08.379
 gospel, who

00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:08.839
 stop people

00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:09.519
 being saved,

00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.140
 who get

00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:10.579
 people to

00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:10.839
 give up

00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.299
 their faith.

00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:11.819
 That makes

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.299
 him angry

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:12.839
 because he's

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:13.200
 just so

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.319
 concerned that

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:14.819
 people make

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.160
 it to the

00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:15.359
 end.

00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:16.779
 I hope you

00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.099
 get the

00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:17.299
 point.

00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:17.960
 We need

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.480
 to endure

00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:18.859
 to the

00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:19.140
 end.

00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.140
 That's the

00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.839
 underlying

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.779
 thing here

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.879
 why Paul

00:29:22.879 --> 00:29:23.940
 cares so

00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:25.700
 much about

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:25.920
 him.

00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:27.080
 Well,

00:29:27.800 --> 00:29:28.519
 are you

00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:28.980
 aware of

00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:29.120
 that?

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.940
 Are we

00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:30.440
 ready for

00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:30.660
 that?

00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:31.800
 Okay,

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.560
 you're a

00:29:32.560 --> 00:29:32.840
 Christian,

00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.279
 do you

00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:33.759
 know that

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:35.400
 Christian life

00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:35.560
 is going

00:29:35.560 --> 00:29:35.720
 to be

00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.100
 tough and

00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:36.360
 you need

00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:36.680
 to make

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:36.900
 it to

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.320
 the end?

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:38.680
 Is that

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:38.920
 what you

00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.220
 believe?

00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:39.620
 Are you

00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:40.039
 ready for

00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:40.220
 that?

00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:41.840
 Is that

00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:42.160
 how you

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.480
 see the

00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:42.800
 church?

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.740
 It's nice

00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.039
 to come

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.640
 here together,

00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:45.680
 but the

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.080
 main thing

00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:46.500
 God brings

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.019
 us together

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:47.519
 is to

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.180
 help us

00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:49.019
 make it

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.340
 to the

00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:49.600
 end.

00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:51.320
 Someone

00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:51.940
 doesn't

00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:52.259
 come to

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.680
 your CG

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.300
 for a few

00:29:53.300 --> 00:29:53.640
 weeks.

00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:54.660
 They're

00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:54.900
 probably

00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:55.259
 busy,

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:55.519
 they

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:55.759
 probably

00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:55.980
 have

00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.200
 better

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:56.500
 things

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:56.880
 to do.

00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.259
 Or do

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:58.700
 you think

00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:58.960
 well,

00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.420
 I want

00:29:59.420 --> 00:29:59.640
 to make

00:29:59.640 --> 00:29:59.960
 sure they

00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:00.280
 make it

00:30:00.280 --> 00:30:00.519
 to the

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:00.780
 end.

00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:02.280
 Are you

00:30:02.280 --> 00:30:02.620
 concerned

00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:02.940
 about

00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.120
 them?

00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.280
 Give them

00:30:04.280 --> 00:30:04.620
 a text,

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:04.920
 hey,

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.140
 are you

00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:05.380
 doing?

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.320
 If we

00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:07.560
 really

00:30:07.560 --> 00:30:08.259
 believe this,

00:30:08.320 --> 00:30:08.600
 we want

00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:08.940
 to care

00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.360
 for each

00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:09.580
 other,

00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:09.820
 right?

00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:10.160
 We care

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.340
 for

00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:10.759
 ourselves

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.800
 and care

00:30:11.800 --> 00:30:12.040
 for

00:30:12.040 --> 00:30:12.400
 others

00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:12.800
 that we

00:30:12.800 --> 00:30:13.100
 all

00:30:13.100 --> 00:30:13.420
 make

00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:13.620
 it.

00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:15.060
 Of

00:30:15.060 --> 00:30:15.240
 course,

00:30:15.360 --> 00:30:15.940
 it varies

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:16.540
 from time

00:30:16.540 --> 00:30:17.100
 to time

00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:17.380
 and from

00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:17.680
 place

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.140
 to place.

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.480
 Hong Kong

00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.580
 is a

00:30:19.580 --> 00:30:19.980
 relatively

00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.640
 easy place

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:20.860
 to be

00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:21.280
 a Christian.

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.399
 There's

00:30:22.399 --> 00:30:22.759
 plenty of

00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.200
 places in

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.480
 the world

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:23.819
 where it's

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.359
 really hard,

00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:26.119
 where your

00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:27.019
 life is at

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.379
 risk.

00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.359
 Here,

00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.440
 it's different.

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:30.279
 Of course,

00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:30.759
 it doesn't mean

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.599
 that it's

00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:32.180
 fully easy

00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:32.399
 here.

00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.399
 Satan has

00:30:33.399 --> 00:30:33.799
 lots of

00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:34.240
 tools that

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.500
 he can

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:34.779
 use.

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.359
 He can

00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:36.079
 seduce us

00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.440
 with money.

00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:37.839
 He can

00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.160
 keep us

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:38.799
 so busy

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.619
 and so

00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.119
 focused on

00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:40.639
 our careers

00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:40.940
 that we

00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:41.299
 just keep

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.059
 quiet and

00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:42.740
 no one

00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.079
 hears the

00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.399
 gospel.

00:30:44.419 --> 00:30:45.000
 Satan has

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.599
 other tools

00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:48.059
 but still,

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.179
 things might

00:30:49.179 --> 00:30:49.599
 change in

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.039
 the future.

00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:51.099
 We need

00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:51.379
 to be

00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:52.159
 ready for

00:30:52.159 --> 00:30:54.279
 a race,

00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:55.319
 for a

00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.579
 not a walk,

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.259
 not a stroll,

00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:57.679
 a race,

00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.159
 a fight.

00:30:59.559 --> 00:30:59.980
 That's all

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.259
 the kind

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.139
 of metaphors

00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:02.659
 Paul uses.

00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.000
 If you

00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.379
 put those

00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:05.839
 two things

00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.339
 together,

00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:07.919
 there's one

00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:08.460
 reason why

00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:08.819
 you need

00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.419
 good leaders.

00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:12.279
 Christians need

00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.700
 to endure

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:13.279
 to the end

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:13.779
 and so

00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.560
 if you

00:31:14.560 --> 00:31:15.200
 have a

00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.640
 leader who

00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:16.200
 falls and

00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:16.539
 a lot of

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.000
 people get

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.400
 their faith

00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:17.820
 destroyed,

00:31:18.320 --> 00:31:18.660
 you don't

00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.039
 want that,

00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:19.240
 right?

00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.300
 You want

00:31:20.300 --> 00:31:20.800
 leaders who

00:31:20.800 --> 00:31:21.279
 help you,

00:31:21.360 --> 00:31:21.560
 who are

00:31:21.560 --> 00:31:21.980
 trustworthy,

00:31:22.300 --> 00:31:22.600
 who tell

00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:22.880
 you the

00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:23.779
 truth that

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.019
 you can

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:24.660
 rely on,

00:31:25.100 --> 00:31:25.980
 who care

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.519
 for you

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.180
 selflessly,

00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.259
 who do

00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:28.940
 anything to

00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.340
 help you

00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:29.820
 endure to

00:31:29.820 --> 00:31:30.220
 the end

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:30.700
 because that

00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:30.980
 is what

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.440
 we need.

00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:34.000
 Those two

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.360
 things go

00:31:34.360 --> 00:31:34.759
 together.

00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:35.880
 If anyone

00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:36.460
 doesn't fit

00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.200
 the profile,

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.019
 if he falls

00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:38.580
 short in a

00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:39.060
 big way,

00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:39.819
 well beware,

00:31:40.399 --> 00:31:40.619
 right?

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.539
 They might

00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.240
 lead you

00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:42.659
 away from

00:31:42.659 --> 00:31:43.019
 Christ,

00:31:43.139 --> 00:31:43.419
 they might

00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:44.019
 take advantage

00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.919
 of you,

00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:45.799
 destroy your

00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.099
 faith,

00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:46.579
 you don't

00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.059
 want that,

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.000
 right?

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.339
 If leaders

00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:49.960
 really help

00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.200
 in your

00:31:50.200 --> 00:31:50.899
 Christian life

00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.599
 and it's

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.220
 so important

00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:52.639
 to make

00:31:52.639 --> 00:31:52.980
 it to the

00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.179
 end,

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.000
 yeah,

00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:54.319
 you want

00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:54.859
 good leaders.

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:55.899
 If they're

00:31:55.899 --> 00:31:56.339
 the foundation

00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:56.720
 of your

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:56.940
 faith,

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:57.200
 you need

00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.440
 a good

00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:57.919
 foundation.

00:31:59.259 --> 00:31:59.619
 So let

00:31:59.619 --> 00:31:59.899
 me make

00:31:59.899 --> 00:32:00.159
 a few

00:32:00.159 --> 00:32:00.720
 applications

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.339
 along those

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:01.700
 lines.

00:32:02.899 --> 00:32:03.700
 Maybe you're

00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.139
 here as a

00:32:04.139 --> 00:32:04.599
 newcomer.

00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:04.899
 We have

00:32:04.899 --> 00:32:05.299
 quite a few

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:05.679
 visitors.

00:32:05.919 --> 00:32:06.099
 I think

00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:06.539
 last week

00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:06.819
 was our

00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:07.079
 biggest

00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:07.740
 Sunday yet.

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:09.259
 maybe you're

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.680
 looking for

00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.120
 a church.

00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.460
 Why would

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:11.880
 you choose

00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.259
 a certain

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.620
 church?

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.180
 Maybe because

00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:15.019
 it's got great

00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.620
 music,

00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:17.180
 very convenient

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:17.920
 parking,

00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.539
 and lots of

00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.140
 young adults

00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:20.539
 who could be

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.120
 your friends.

00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:21.740
 They're all

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.160
 very good

00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:22.500
 things.

00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:25.259
 But what's

00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:25.740
 actually far

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.400
 more important,

00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:26.819
 I mean,

00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:27.599
 we heard last

00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:29.019
 week that the

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.740
 gospel is preached,

00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.400
 God's word is

00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:30.720
 preached,

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.160
 and that it's

00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:31.980
 producing fruit in

00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:32.500
 people's lives.

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.799
 And then

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.339
 from today,

00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:34.920
 what are the

00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.500
 leaders like?

00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:36.619
 Are they

00:32:36.619 --> 00:32:37.059
 people who

00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:37.380
 are a

00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:37.740
 godly

00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.299
 example?

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.619
 People who

00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:40.380
 selflessly

00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:41.819
 serve, who

00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:42.660
 preach the

00:32:42.660 --> 00:32:43.160
 truth no

00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:43.519
 matter the

00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:43.920
 cost?

00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:45.119
 Because those

00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:45.660
 things really

00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.019
 matter.

00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:47.920
 I'm not

00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:48.220
 saying you

00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.599
 should join

00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:49.160
 Watermark.

00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:50.000
 There's lots

00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.279
 of good

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:50.740
 churches in

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.059
 Hong Kong,

00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:52.079
 but it's a

00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:52.819
 real consideration.

00:32:53.099 --> 00:32:53.680
 It's more

00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:54.339
 important than

00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:54.700
 some other

00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:54.980
 things.

00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:57.039
 Or maybe

00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:57.420
 you're a

00:32:57.420 --> 00:32:58.019
 member and

00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.640
 you need to

00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.019
 move.

00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:00.180
 Because we

00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:00.819
 have, you

00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.559
 know, we're an

00:33:01.559 --> 00:33:01.980
 international

00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.420
 church.

00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:02.759
 We have

00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.400
 people who

00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:04.400
 get jobs

00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:05.440
 overseas, or

00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:05.960
 who go back

00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:07.400
 to family, or

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:08.180
 you know, maybe

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:08.720
 you move to a

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.339
 different part of

00:33:09.339 --> 00:33:09.960
 Hong Kong, and

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.400
 Wong Chuk Hang

00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:10.920
 is just too

00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.200
 far.

00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:12.660
 You know, what

00:33:12.660 --> 00:33:13.140
 kind of church

00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:13.400
 are you going

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:13.839
 to look for?

00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:15.400
 Well, look at

00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.240
 the teaching, and

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:16.779
 look at the

00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.500
 leaders, and

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.000
 look at the

00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.440
 fruit in the

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:19.000
 people's lives.

00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:20.200
 They're more

00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:20.799
 important than

00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:21.279
 lots of other

00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:21.839
 things, right?

00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:24.019
 Again, it's

00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:25.059
 great for people

00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.640
 who are committed

00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:26.539
 to stay here, but

00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.259
 you know, the

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.319
 reality of life is

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:28.980
 that sometimes you

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:29.259
 move.

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:29.880
 You want to

00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:30.819
 have a good

00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.720
 church with

00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.480
 good leaders.

00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:32.579
 leaders.

00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:35.940
 Here's another

00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.200
 one.

00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:37.240
 I think that's

00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:37.500
 helpful.

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:38.480
 Accountability.

00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.819
 If leaders are so

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.640
 important, I hope you

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.259
 pray for them.

00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.620
 I hope you pray for

00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:44.019
 us, right?

00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:45.079
 For the elders, for

00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:45.920
 the pastors, for

00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:47.779
 if you're in a CG, do

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.580
 you pray for your CG

00:33:48.580 --> 00:33:48.960
 leader?

00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.480
 That would be a

00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:50.200
 great thing to do,

00:33:50.620 --> 00:33:50.900
 right?

00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:52.560
 That we would not

00:33:52.560 --> 00:33:53.800
 go astray, because

00:33:53.800 --> 00:33:55.320
 the sad thing is that

00:33:55.320 --> 00:33:56.500
 we're human, we're

00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:58.160
 sinners, we can go

00:33:58.160 --> 00:33:58.500
 astray.

00:33:59.320 --> 00:34:01.140
 And if we do, please

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:02.700
 do something, right?

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:06.220
 If you see us go

00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:08.340
 away, you know, please

00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:08.740
 meet up.

00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:10.180
 Please tell us what

00:34:10.180 --> 00:34:10.519
 you see.

00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:11.860
 And hopefully the

00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:12.480
 spirit will grant

00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.239
 repentance, right?

00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:15.800
 We need, you know, we

00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:16.599
 need to make it to the

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:16.759
 end.

00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:17.500
 We can go wrong.

00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:20.119
 We'd love you to speak

00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:21.019
 to us if you see

00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:21.699
 something go wrong.

00:34:21.759 --> 00:34:22.119
 That's really

00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:22.599
 important.

00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:24.159
 And if we don't

00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:25.739
 listen, you know, maybe

00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.519
 you should go to another

00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:29.659
 church or get us to

00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:30.099
 resign.

00:34:30.259 --> 00:34:30.940
 Maybe that would be a

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.860
 great, good for the

00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:32.860
 other watermarkers too.

00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:34.320
 But, you know, this

00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:36.380
 is very, yeah, leaders

00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:37.220
 are really important.

00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:38.880
 And Paul wants, he

00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.800
 shows you this is what

00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:40.740
 a good leader is like.

00:34:40.820 --> 00:34:41.440
 This is the kind of

00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:41.980
 leaders you should

00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.240
 have.

00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:44.320
 That's important.

00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:45.440
 But this can all

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.340
 sound quite negative,

00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:46.720
 right?

00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:48.300
 This is a warm and

00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:49.539
 positive passage.

00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:51.280
 You know, there are

00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.480
 high stakes, absolutely.

00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:55.059
 But, you know, I hope

00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:55.920
 if you have good

00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:57.320
 Christ-like leaders that

00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:57.880
 you can be really

00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:58.240
 thankful.

00:34:58.700 --> 00:34:59.280
 Please encourage

00:34:59.280 --> 00:34:59.500
 them.

00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.160
 Maybe that's a nice

00:35:00.160 --> 00:35:00.660
 thing, right?

00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:02.519
 Let's be positive.

00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:04.840
 But pray for them

00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.460
 that they will stay

00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:05.940
 on track.

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.120
 That they will help

00:35:07.120 --> 00:35:08.019
 you stay on track.

00:35:08.680 --> 00:35:09.599
 Because eternity

00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:10.559
 matters, right?

00:35:10.640 --> 00:35:11.700
 Making it to the end

00:35:11.700 --> 00:35:13.200
 is what matters.

00:35:15.059 --> 00:35:15.900
 And even if things,

00:35:16.280 --> 00:35:18.460
 you know, and even

00:35:18.460 --> 00:35:19.380
 though that's all

00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:20.620
 true, remember there's

00:35:20.620 --> 00:35:21.780
 also a bigger reality.

00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:23.300
 Now, I put a lot of

00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:24.220
 emphasis on leaders.

00:35:24.660 --> 00:35:25.700
 This passage talks a

00:35:25.700 --> 00:35:26.380
 lot about human

00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:27.539
 responsibility, right?

00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.420
 It talks a lot about

00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:30.980
 our need to, you

00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:31.860
 know, to make it to

00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:32.260
 the end.

00:35:33.140 --> 00:35:34.360
 On leaders helping

00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:35.120
 you make it to the

00:35:35.120 --> 00:35:35.360
 end.

00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:37.380
 And yet, if your

00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:38.460
 salvation was on my

00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:39.300
 shoulders, I couldn't

00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:39.880
 handle that.

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:42.800
 So, you know, I said

00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:44.000
 that every chapter ends

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:45.420
 with Jesus' return.

00:35:46.160 --> 00:35:46.900
 And let's go to the

00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:47.940
 end of chapter five.

00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:49.240
 Actually, I've put it

00:35:49.240 --> 00:35:49.840
 on the screen.

00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.519
 These are some famous

00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:51.840
 words.

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.640
 This is how Paul

00:35:52.640 --> 00:35:53.039
 finishes.

00:35:53.200 --> 00:35:54.380
 Yes, he exhorts them.

00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.140
 Yes, he encourages

00:35:55.140 --> 00:35:55.440
 them.

00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:57.420
 Yes, he tells them to

00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:57.940
 keep going.

00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:59.700
 But now may the God

00:35:59.700 --> 00:36:00.559
 of peace himself

00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:02.039
 sanctify you completely.

00:36:02.760 --> 00:36:03.740
 May your whole spirit

00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:05.079
 and soul and body be

00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:06.720
 kept blameless at the

00:36:06.720 --> 00:36:07.360
 coming of our Lord

00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:08.059
 Jesus Christ.

00:36:08.700 --> 00:36:09.820
 He who calls you is

00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:10.260
 faithful.

00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.980
 He will surely do it.

00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:13.840
 And it talks about

00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:14.860
 making it to the end,

00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:16.500
 standing before Jesus.

00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:20.380
 But ultimately, you

00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.780
 know, there's someone

00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:22.619
 who wants you to be

00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:22.800
 there.

00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:24.060
 someone who is

00:36:24.060 --> 00:36:25.500
 gracious and powerful.

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:26.960
 And so even though

00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:27.820
 we need to press on,

00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:29.240
 we need good leaders.

00:36:29.860 --> 00:36:30.400
 You know, ultimately

00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:30.980
 you're not going to be

00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:31.880
 there because of God,

00:36:32.100 --> 00:36:32.900
 because of faithful

00:36:32.900 --> 00:36:33.680
 leaders, but because

00:36:33.680 --> 00:36:34.539
 of a faithful God.

00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:35.580
 Right?

00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:37.900
 Yes, as we press on,

00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:39.400
 let's keep our hope

00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:41.320
 and our trust ultimately

00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:42.700
 in the God who works

00:36:42.700 --> 00:36:43.440
 through these things.

00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:43.640
 Right?

00:36:43.640 --> 00:36:44.539
 Who gives us leaders.

00:36:44.640 --> 00:36:45.460
 Who gives us the church.

00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:46.700
 Gives us what we need

00:36:46.700 --> 00:36:48.100
 to make it to the end.

00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:49.800
 And that's why in a

00:36:49.800 --> 00:36:50.560
 moment we're going to

00:36:50.560 --> 00:36:51.900
 sing, he will hold me

00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:52.300
 fast.

00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:53.740
 Because that is our

00:36:53.740 --> 00:36:54.660
 ultimate confidence.

00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:56.820
 But yeah, I think a

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:57.840
 lot of us for us to

00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:58.380
 think about.

00:36:58.539 --> 00:36:59.880
 A lot of us for us to

00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:01.500
 think about, you know,

00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:02.420
 how we press on, how

00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.580
 we help each other.

00:37:04.220 --> 00:37:05.539
 And yeah, what we

00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:06.140
 need in leaders.

00:37:06.660 --> 00:37:07.380
 Why don't I pray?

00:37:08.080 --> 00:37:09.080
 And then after that

00:37:09.080 --> 00:37:09.880
 we'll pray together.

00:37:11.200 --> 00:37:11.880
 So we will pray in

00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.160
 groups.

00:37:13.420 --> 00:37:14.380
 Father, thank you for

00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:16.200
 Paul and his great

00:37:16.200 --> 00:37:18.340
 example of selfless

00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:20.220
 care, of faithfulness

00:37:20.220 --> 00:37:21.160
 to you, of his

00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:21.699
 example.

00:37:22.359 --> 00:37:23.599
 We, yeah, that was

00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:25.599
 so encouraging for the

00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:26.759
 Thessalonians to remember.

00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:28.519
 Man, they could trust

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:28.759
 him.

00:37:29.099 --> 00:37:30.119
 Would we have

00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:30.960
 trustworthy leaders?

00:37:31.319 --> 00:37:32.500
 Would we ourselves be

00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:33.319
 trustworthy people?

00:37:33.420 --> 00:37:34.719
 Of course, we all, in a

00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:36.420
 way, we're a church, we're

00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:37.199
 there for each other.

00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:39.099
 We want to live up to

00:37:39.099 --> 00:37:39.259
 this.

00:37:39.319 --> 00:37:40.420
 But especially those who

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.739
 you've put in charge,

00:37:42.299 --> 00:37:45.379
 would you make them the

00:37:45.379 --> 00:37:46.179
 people they need to be?

00:37:46.279 --> 00:37:47.339
 Help us to support and

00:37:47.339 --> 00:37:47.819
 encourage.

00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:49.059
 Help us to discern.

00:37:49.740 --> 00:37:50.720
 Help us to be willing to

00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:51.580
 step up and hold

00:37:51.580 --> 00:37:52.600
 accountable when needed.

00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:54.539
 But say, yeah, we want

00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:55.400
 to endure to the end.

00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:56.400
 Thank you for that end.

00:37:56.519 --> 00:37:57.380
 Thank you for that Jesus

00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:57.940
 will come.

00:37:58.320 --> 00:37:59.100
 He'll make everything

00:37:59.100 --> 00:37:59.380
 right.

00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:00.140
 Everything will be

00:38:00.140 --> 00:38:00.519
 wonderful.

00:38:01.100 --> 00:38:01.880
 But we need to get

00:38:01.880 --> 00:38:02.080
 there.

00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:03.360
 We need to make it.

00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:04.900
 And so please help us

00:38:04.900 --> 00:38:05.180
 with that.

00:38:05.260 --> 00:38:06.900
 Work through our church.

00:38:07.100 --> 00:38:08.280
 Work through our

00:38:08.280 --> 00:38:09.760
 leaders to get us

00:38:09.760 --> 00:38:10.019
 there.

00:38:10.220 --> 00:38:10.720
 Get us home.

00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:12.300
 In Jesus' name.

00:38:12.780 --> 00:38:13.000
 Amen.

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:13.120
 Amen.