WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.660 Okay, thanks Beno. Folks, lovely to see you this morning, particularly if this is your first Sunday. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:10.179 Great to see some new faces this morning. You're so welcome here. We do this every Sunday and they 00:00:10.179 --> 00:00:17.120 express purpose as a church family is that we would help one another fix our eyes on Jesus. 00:00:18.019 --> 00:00:24.260 And so we're in this little series that we've called DNA, Prayer, Word and Fellowship. Those 00:00:24.260 --> 00:00:29.100 being the three things that we want to commit ourselves to as a church family. We thought about 00:00:29.100 --> 00:00:34.460 prayer last week. We're going to think about fellowship next week. And this morning we're 00:00:34.460 --> 00:00:39.000 going to think about God's Word. So if you have that passage in Ephesians 4, we're going to, 00:00:39.060 --> 00:00:45.020 we'll get into it in about 15 minutes time, but really helpful for you if you've got it open. 00:00:46.900 --> 00:00:52.140 So you know the story of the three little pigs, right? I'm going to huff, I'm going to puff and I'm 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:58.240 going to blow your house down. Here's the question I want you, us, to carry with us through this sermon. 00:00:59.100 --> 00:01:05.180 Is what are the things that we're building our lives on? And when push comes to shove, 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:08.500 when the wind blows, are they going to stand or are they going to fall? 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:17.740 Let me give you an example of that. Monday the 15th of September 2008 is forever etched in my mind 00:01:17.740 --> 00:01:22.579 as a date. And it's etched in my mind for two reasons. First of all, it was my first day post 00:01:22.579 --> 00:01:29.120 university in a, what I call a big boy's job. I worked for a law firm down in Charlotte Square. 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:33.060 It was my first day, turned up, suited and booted, didn't really know what I was doing, 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:39.680 but I was there. I go into the lobby, to reception, they get me to sit and I'm watching the news that's 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:46.700 on in the plasma screen just in front of me. And all I can see on this screen is people in 00:01:46.700 --> 00:01:53.299 Manhattan taking boxes out of buildings. And that's the second reason that the 15th of September 2008 00:01:53.299 --> 00:01:58.280 is significant for me and for many others around the world. It's the day when, and some of you, 00:01:58.379 --> 00:02:02.900 this will be old news, but I remember exactly where I was when this happened. It's when Lehman Brothers, 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:09.560 that massive bank in New York, they went bank dropped. And it was the day that was generally 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:16.520 considered around the world by most people to be the start of the financial crash that happened 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:23.719 between 2008 and 2010. So I'm watching this happen on my first day of work over in Manhattan, thinking 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:30.439 that is a million miles away. But it didn't take long for the ripple effect of what happened there 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:36.480 to make its way to the UK, to make its way to the shores of Edinburgh. In fact, I remember 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:42.280 going on holiday for a week, it was kind of use it or lose it with your holidays back in that day 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:47.719 and having to take a week's leave not so long after I started going away for a week. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:52.620 And when I left, there was three people in the room that I worked in coming back a week later. 00:02:52.620 --> 00:02:56.099 And there was only me and this other guy in the room that I worked in and saying, what's happened 00:02:56.099 --> 00:03:01.719 to Kirsty? And he told me that Kirsty, well, she really sadly, like many others in the company, 00:03:01.839 --> 00:03:06.359 she lost her job. And many of you might remember what that was like. Maybe some of us 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:12.120 were caught up in that. A really scary time of life when what you thought was certain, 00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:17.960 the thing that you were building your life upon, all of a sudden vanishes overnight. 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:26.480 And here's what I learned as the tune goes in the School of Hard Knocks, that it is a hard knock life. 00:03:27.480 --> 00:03:32.860 How fleeting and unstable are the things on which we as human beings so often thinks are the 00:03:32.860 --> 00:03:40.340 certainty in our days. Here's American actor, one of my favorite, Jim Carrey says, 00:03:40.420 --> 00:03:44.380 I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so that they can see 00:03:44.380 --> 00:03:51.520 that it's not the answer. And what do we long for in our world that seems to change all the time? 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:57.500 We're pining, aren't we, for some sort of solid foundation on which we can base and build our 00:03:57.500 --> 00:04:06.120 lives. It's why we talk about our forever homes. It's why we talk about the security that comes with 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:10.180 a permanent job. It's why even when you go to Morrison's and do the big shop, they try and sell 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:16.500 you a bag for life, which I think is always a massive claim for a recycled plastic bag, isn't it? 00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:22.519 But we long for that certainty in our lives. And that's why whoever you are here today, whatever 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:27.959 you think of the God of the Bible, whatever you've brought in here this morning, God invites you to 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:33.480 listen to what he's got to say to you today. Because what we're going to be thinking about is the only 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:41.660 solid place going in our lives. You see, when the Bible talks about human beings, and hear this, 00:04:41.660 --> 00:04:50.180 it doesn't talk about us like we are evergreen trees, right? The Bible says, actually, we are like, 00:04:50.200 --> 00:04:57.240 and here's the simile, we are like the grass of the field, right? Which means we are here today and we 00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:07.660 are gone tomorrow. Our lifespan in the context of humanity is very, very small. We are here today, 00:05:07.660 --> 00:05:15.420 we are gone tomorrow. And it's really sobering, isn't it, to think that. But in contrast to us 00:05:15.420 --> 00:05:25.180 is the word of the everlasting God. And his words, in contrast to us, it endures forever. 00:05:26.379 --> 00:05:31.220 Now, Jesus tells a story a bit like that, doesn't he? We get it at the end of what is called the 00:05:31.220 --> 00:05:38.400 Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel, and a little bit of timeless architectural advice. 00:05:38.640 --> 00:05:46.260 He says to whoever would listen in that moment and down the generations, if you hear my words and you 00:05:46.260 --> 00:05:54.020 listen and you heed what I'm saying, you are like a wise man who is building his house on the rock. 00:05:54.020 --> 00:05:59.520 But if you listen to what I'm saying and you disregard it, you are like a foolish man who is 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:04.299 building his house on the sand. And again, I think that's a little bit of first century humour. 00:06:04.740 --> 00:06:14.859 Subtext, my words, which are God's words, are a stable place for you to build everything on. 00:06:15.979 --> 00:06:23.799 And that's why for generations, this church has been and is a Bible-loving church. 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:29.639 And it's why the Bible continues to be the best-selling book of all time, 00:06:30.379 --> 00:06:34.939 printing 80 million copies per year, even in the 21st century. 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:44.180 This church loves the Bible, but more than that, this church believes that the Bible is more than a book. 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:49.199 Or to echo the words of C.S. Lewis, I've quoted this guy a few times in my time, 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:55.240 I've been reading poems, romances, vision, literature, legends and myths all of my life. 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:58.180 I know what they are like. I know none of them are like this. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:00.779 The Bible is more than a book. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:06.819 Now, let me just give you two words that capture what Christians the world over believe and love about the Bible. 00:07:06.899 --> 00:07:08.339 You ready for these? Here's the first one. 00:07:08.339 --> 00:07:10.699 Number one, it is inspired. 00:07:12.719 --> 00:07:17.579 Open the Bible at your contents page and you'll see that in there are actually 66 books. 00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:20.219 If you want to turn to your contents page, you can do that. 00:07:20.719 --> 00:07:30.240 66 books written by 40 different authors who throughout history are addressing different people at different points in history. 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:35.019 So there's human personalities involved in the composition of the Bible. 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:42.899 God doesn't bypass human personalities, but by his spirit, like the wind into the sails of a ship, 00:07:42.899 --> 00:07:47.519 he speaks through human personalities as we find them in the Bible. 00:07:47.719 --> 00:07:50.519 66 books, 40 different authors. 00:07:50.979 --> 00:07:59.979 But standing behind all of this, the voice that spans eternity is God's one grand voice. 00:08:00.979 --> 00:08:09.579 Which means that the Bible rightly understood and correctly applied is the same as having God in the room. 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:13.199 The Bible is inspired. 00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:15.779 Secondly, real quick, it's inerrant. 00:08:16.659 --> 00:08:19.500 Which means that the Bible holds up to scrutiny. 00:08:21.259 --> 00:08:25.459 As a historical document, it is reliable. 00:08:25.459 --> 00:08:32.220 And if that's something you want to think more about, then I highly recommend this book by Amy Orr Ewing, 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:39.720 who's one of the sharpest minds in our country, certainly, when it comes to understanding theological truth. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:41.480 In this book, she's written called Can... 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:43.179 I've written down here, Can I Trust the Bible? 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:47.699 I think it's so popular, she's actually done a revised edition called Why Trust the Bible? 00:08:48.439 --> 00:08:53.120 And you know something's good when it gets lots of new editions printed, isn't it? 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:54.699 Can I Trust the Bible? 00:08:54.700 --> 00:09:00.980 Now, that's not to say that it is wrong to have questions. 00:09:02.060 --> 00:09:04.780 On the contrary, it's right to ask questions. 00:09:05.040 --> 00:09:09.180 The day we stop asking questions is the day that we stop growing. 00:09:09.920 --> 00:09:15.280 But the very fact that the Bible is reliable means that we can bring our questions to God, 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:20.220 seeking answers, as opposed to thinking we've got nowhere to go in hiding them. 00:09:20.220 --> 00:09:26.519 And the cash out to all of that is that we can trust the Bible. 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:28.480 We can trust it. 00:09:28.579 --> 00:09:32.079 And so, and here's what I'd love you to do, if you feel comfortable in this, you can join me in this. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.279 There's three things that we do with our Bibles. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:36.079 So if you've got a Bible, right? 00:09:36.319 --> 00:09:38.000 Literally, come on, we're all family here. 00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:39.500 You can pick it up and just hold it here. 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:41.299 Three things that we do, okay? 00:09:43.899 --> 00:09:44.600 Hold it down. 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:47.139 We sit under the Bible. 00:09:47.139 --> 00:09:48.699 In fact, sorry, hold it above your heads. 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:49.759 That's the wrong one, right? 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:54.659 We sit under the Bible, right? 00:09:55.620 --> 00:09:59.179 This is how King Jesus rules his church, through his words. 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:02.220 We don't shape the Bible according to our logic. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:05.279 We allow our logic to be shaped by the Bible. 00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:08.759 And that's really good news in case you're wondering what that's about. 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:09.659 You can put them down now. 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:20.819 Because the truths that we have in here, if we allow the Bible to shape our truths, the truths that we have in here, I would not believe them if it weren't for the fact that God told me they were true. 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:21.539 They are true. 00:10:21.819 --> 00:10:28.179 I would struggle to believe I could be forgiven if the Bible didn't tell me about Jesus and what he'd done for me on the cross. 00:10:28.339 --> 00:10:35.860 I would struggle to think I'm loved if the Bible didn't tell me that God has adopted me as his son and loves me as a father. 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:44.600 I would really struggle if it weren't for the fact that I want my mind to be shaped by the Bible, not that I bring my logic to the Bible. 00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:46.940 We sit under it. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:48.639 And secondly, again, with your Bible, get it there. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:51.220 Picture it at your feet reverently. 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:53.279 We stand on the Bible. 00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:56.899 It's a solid place in which we can stake our lives. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:58.100 We don't hedge our bets. 00:10:58.379 --> 00:10:59.700 We don't spread the risk. 00:10:59.940 --> 00:11:02.820 We put all our eggs in the Bible basket. 00:11:02.820 --> 00:11:14.140 And thirdly, and this is what we're going to tease out over the next 15 minutes or so, we allow God through his spirit, we allow it to work its way in our hearts. 00:11:15.700 --> 00:11:22.800 So above the head, under the feet and on the chest, we allow God's word to be at work in us. 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:32.660 Because here's the thing, you can believe correct things about the Bible and yet completely miss God's intention for what he longs to accomplish in the lives of his people through his words. 00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:38.780 And this is where we jump back into Ephesians 4 and verse 11 is where we'll jump in. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:45.440 What does God long to accomplish in our lives through his words? 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:47.500 Look at the text if you've got it there. 00:11:48.420 --> 00:11:50.640 Let me give you one word, verse 13. 00:11:53.140 --> 00:11:54.580 It's the word maturity. 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:55.460 Do you see that? 00:11:56.780 --> 00:11:57.220 Maturity. 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:57.340 Maturity. 00:11:58.019 --> 00:11:59.399 And how does that happen? 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:02.740 Let me give you one phrase that you find at verse 15. 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:08.500 It's by us speaking the truth to each other in love. 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:09.860 Do you see that? 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:11.700 Speaking the truth in love. 00:12:11.940 --> 00:12:14.180 Here's a little phrase maybe to help you remember this. 00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:18.980 God's goal is our growth and God's means is his word. 00:12:19.940 --> 00:12:20.180 Right? 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:22.320 God's goal is our growth. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:25.340 God's means is his word. 00:12:25.540 --> 00:12:29.879 So when you become a follower of Jesus, it doesn't matter what age you are. 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:33.360 The Bible says spiritually that we are infants. 00:12:33.520 --> 00:12:34.280 We are babies. 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:34.980 Right? 00:12:35.040 --> 00:12:36.940 You've seen plenty of them on show this morning. 00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:44.080 And God's desire is that we grow up by drinking the milk that is his word. 00:12:45.060 --> 00:12:48.620 So God longs for us together to be able to grow. 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:51.920 From verse 11, God's given his church apostles. 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.940 He's given them prophets. 00:12:54.140 --> 00:12:55.720 He's given them evangelists. 00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:59.700 And then we get that lovely little phrase, pastors and teachers. 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:02.120 So here is my job description. 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:10.320 And everyone else who comes up here and delivers God's word. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:20.220 My job is to, do you see, equip you, and that's a workout in the gym word, for works of ministry. 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:22.019 How? 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:30.460 By teaching and unleashing God's word to do its work by his spirit amongst us. 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:34.759 Committed to the Bible. 00:13:35.160 --> 00:13:36.920 You know, I was listening to Ramesh Ranganathan. 00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:38.060 I think that's how you say his name. 00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:41.180 DJing Radio 2. 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:45.080 Listened to him a couple of years ago before he started presenting a show on Radio 2. 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:46.920 And at the time, he's a stand-up comedian. 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:50.840 And they ask him how he's getting on with being a stand-up comedian. 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:52.440 And he says he's really struggling. 00:13:53.160 --> 00:13:58.560 And the reason he's struggling is because he feels the pressure of having to come up with new material all the time. 00:13:59.639 --> 00:13:59.800 Right? 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:00.679 It makes sense, doesn't it? 00:14:01.179 --> 00:14:03.819 That's why comedians, they just disappear off the scene for two years. 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.500 What are they doing? 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:06.159 They're working on new material. 00:14:06.219 --> 00:14:10.819 Because you can't stand up there and deliver a joke in front of 5,000 people that you delivered last time around. 00:14:11.599 --> 00:14:15.399 And he says, I feel really jealous of pop bands. 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.259 Or bands. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:18.759 Right? 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:21.299 Because people go to their concerts. 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:23.279 When people go to Oasis next August. 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:27.259 They're not going to say, can you play us your most recent stuff, are they? 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:29.080 Can you give us some new material? 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:29.779 What do they say? 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:31.939 Why is everyone flocking to get there? 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:35.519 Because we just want you to play your greatest hits. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:38.199 We don't want novelty. 00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:38.980 We want new stuff. 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:40.220 We want stuff that we know. 00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:41.240 Give us your greatest hits. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:44.259 And he says, if only as a stand-up comic it was that easy. 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:50.879 But it struck me listening to him that the Christian preacher does neither of those things. 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:55.939 We are not, the person up here is not chasing originality. 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:58.179 Coming up with new material all the time. 00:14:58.220 --> 00:14:58.360 Right? 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:00.360 I would really struggle if that were the case. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.519 Not chasing new material. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:04.860 But neither is it delivering the greatest hits. 00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:06.419 I've done this long enough. 00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:06.679 Right? 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:08.980 That you could do that if you wanted. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:10.200 Come up with the greatest hits. 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:14.860 But the Christian preacher is committed to the Bible because the power is here. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:16.960 The power is here. 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:21.480 The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. 00:15:21.660 --> 00:15:27.420 So there is an unashamed commitment to delivering the same old message. 00:15:27.920 --> 00:15:29.420 Because the power is here. 00:15:30.300 --> 00:15:33.040 And this message, it comes not just from a preacher. 00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:35.180 It comes through a preacher. 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:42.459 And the aim is that God's Spirit would take his word and do his work in our lives as his word goes forth. 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.120 Think of it. 00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:44.179 You remember when we were young. 00:15:44.859 --> 00:15:46.679 Have you ever played like me a domino rally? 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.059 Have you ever done that? 00:15:48.359 --> 00:15:49.839 I should have had a picture on the screen. 00:15:49.959 --> 00:15:51.000 But this came to me this morning. 00:15:52.239 --> 00:15:54.519 And you just tip the first domino and they all go. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:55.479 Right? 00:15:55.599 --> 00:15:57.039 That's the kind of idea here. 00:15:57.359 --> 00:15:58.339 The preaching goes. 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:02.179 And the idea is that God's word does its work in our lives. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.419 You want to change the analogy? 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:07.039 Think about the first guy to light a firework in a fireworks night. 00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:09.620 Always felt sorry for that guy when I was young. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:12.199 Bravely stepping out to light the match. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.979 To set off the firework. 00:16:14.599 --> 00:16:15.939 And then the whole thing goes. 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:17.279 It's that kind of idea. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:23.620 God's word by his Spirit doing his work in our lives. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:24.579 That's how we'll mature. 00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:26.599 That's how we'll grow. 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:30.199 And here's the assumption of this passage. 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:36.180 And it's something that we so often miss because of the individualistic culture in which we live. 00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:38.940 Speaking the truth in love assumes what? 00:16:40.400 --> 00:16:45.860 It assumes that there's a group of people close enough to you who you can do that with. 00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:48.320 Here's what that means. 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:50.340 Listening to sermons online. 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:51.240 Brilliant thing. 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:53.560 Listening to Christian podcasts. 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.360 Brilliant thing. 00:16:54.780 --> 00:16:56.460 Reading your Bible and praying individually. 00:16:57.020 --> 00:16:57.600 Great thing. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:58.940 But you know what's a better thing? 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:05.960 It's being part of a church family where people will share with you not just truth from the Bible, 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:10.940 but who will share their entire lives with you as well. 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:14.200 Who will open their home to you. 00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.920 Who will meet up with you for coffee. 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:18.099 Who will know your name. 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:21.140 Who will notice when you're not here on a Sunday morning. 00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:25.900 It's why I know I've done this gig long enough to know that this time of year we do this church search thing. 00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:28.060 And I know many of you are here this morning. 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:29.240 One of many. 00:17:29.320 --> 00:17:29.940 It's a great thing. 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:32.160 There's so many churches here I could recommend to you. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.380 Really, really are. 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:35.320 But here's my top tip. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.100 I haven't done this for a few years now. 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:42.860 Pick somewhere where people will notice when you're not there on a Sunday. 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.120 Right? 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:45.460 Where people will know your name. 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:52.180 Because I've just seen people drift so often. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.799 Pick a church. 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:56.860 Commit to a church where they'll know your name. 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:57.779 Where they love you. 00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:59.500 Where they'll preach to you every week. 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:02.559 And where they'll get involved in your life. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:05.079 That, friends, is gold dust. 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:07.319 It is gold dust. 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:15.599 Let me encourage you to take the time to be known and to know when it comes to a church family. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:18.779 You know, a little girl came to me this morning. 00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:21.220 She said she loves the first Sunday of the month at Brunsfield. 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:23.639 Because in her eyes, it's eating Sunday. 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:30.860 So we have pastries before this little bit. 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:32.140 Before the service starts. 00:18:32.580 --> 00:18:33.920 We take communion together. 00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:36.200 Some of us will go home and have lunch together. 00:18:36.300 --> 00:18:38.480 And then we come back at 5.30 and have pizza and prayer. 00:18:38.580 --> 00:18:40.920 She says, I love the first Sunday of the month because it's eating Sunday. 00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:43.700 And I led a great conversation about Jesus. 00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:48.800 And about how in Luke's gospel, Jesus is just always, what's he doing? 00:18:49.560 --> 00:18:50.660 He's eating with people. 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:51.880 Right? 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:58.540 You can make a very good case that he's killed precisely because he's eating with the wrong people in culture's eyes. 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:01.600 But it's such a biblical thing, eating together. 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:04.000 Because it's a way of saying, I want to know you. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.540 I want to care about you. 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:08.160 I want a relationship with you. 00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:09.400 And I really love you. 00:19:09.820 --> 00:19:13.000 So let me encourage you to make the most of eating Sunday. 00:19:14.340 --> 00:19:16.800 But go, come and be part of this church. 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:18.320 Be known and know. 00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.960 Speaking the truth in love. 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:22.960 In a world where individual is king. 00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:25.500 Says that you can't do both of those things. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.319 Think about it. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:31.400 Because if you love someone, you'll simply just affirm what they want to hear. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.460 But not true, says God in his word. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:38.600 Actually, God calls us to be a community who does both truth and love. 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:42.139 So here's some questions for you to think about. 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:53.880 Who is close enough to us, who we've allowed into our lives, who will tell us from the Bible, both the hard things that we need to hear and the good things that we sometimes doubt. 00:19:55.480 --> 00:20:03.440 Who is perfectly placed to specifically speak God's truth into your life as we walk together through the ups and downs. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:06.680 That is what church membership is all about. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:08.640 We're going to think more about this next week. 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:11.519 It's the one another in language in the New Testament. 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:13.820 God's goal is our growth. 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:16.799 And God's means is his word. 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:22.440 Let me just pull out really quick two points that Paul makes when it comes to teaching what it does in the life of the church. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:24.759 Number one, and this is playing the defense. 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:27.240 Teaching combats drift. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:36.720 So maturity looks like us together developing the ability to discern what is true and what is false. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:40.160 Between what is right and what is wrong in God's eyes. 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:49.920 Now, in Ephesus, which is where this letter is, where money is easily made, where the occult is massive, where superstition is mainstream. 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:56.200 And right at the heart of their city is that statue of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:58.539 And all the sex worship and trade that goes with it. 00:20:58.840 --> 00:21:05.920 These Christians are breathing in false narratives all the time about what they think life is all about. 00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:09.840 You know, our kids are desperate to go on a Jet 2 holiday. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.500 Do you know why? 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:14.880 Because we watch YouTube every night at Family Devotions, a little video. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:20.360 Before, because we haven't paid for the version, up pops a little video for a Jet 2 holiday. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:22.039 People loving it in the sun, whatnot. 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:24.140 The kids, can we go on a Jet 2 holiday? 00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:31.380 We're breathing in narratives all the time about where we think the good life is to be found. 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:40.660 And being familiar with the Word of God and growing in the knowledge of Christ is how we're going to stop being like a lilo on a stormy night at sea. 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:43.880 Getting buffeted all over the place. 00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:50.000 Paul wants this church and God wants us through his words to be planted. 00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:52.340 To be rooted. 00:21:54.300 --> 00:22:00.140 You know, I read a stat recently that said that we spend seven and a half years of our lives watching TV. 00:22:00.820 --> 00:22:01.460 Take that one in. 00:22:03.360 --> 00:22:08.140 That 400 new hours of content is uploaded to YouTube every minute of every day. 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:12.400 Friends, we are a generation who are swimming in information and opinions. 00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:15.259 And we're a culture that's swimming in cliches. 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:19.400 How can we help each other grow in discernment? 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:23.500 To grow to see all of life through the lenses of the Bible. 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:29.100 Let me ask you, do you spot anyone this morning that's not here? 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.860 Could you follow up this morning? 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:34.100 Send them a text to say, I'm just thinking of you. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:34.740 I love you. 00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:35.660 How can I pray? 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:38.779 And potentially as you're reading God's word on your own during the week, 00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:43.000 could you think about someone who you could encourage with that? 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:49.380 Who are you uniquely placed to get alongside in this church family to help? 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:51.700 Whose shoes have you walked in? 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:57.840 For whom do you look at and think, I remember what that was like and how hard it was. 00:22:57.940 --> 00:23:04.300 And I remember what God taught me and what I know now that I wish I knew then. 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:11.000 I remember being a final year student and having the fear of not knowing what was next after I graduated. 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:16.919 I remember being a young parent and feeling like I've got absolutely no idea what I'm doing. 00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:21.799 I remember having a relationship breakdown and struggling with loneliness and sadness. 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:27.460 I remember having older children who just don't seem to be interested in the things of God. 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:33.559 Friends, in my experience, rarely does someone have a moment crisis of faith. 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:41.419 What's way more common is the slow drift that comes when a hurting heart becomes a doubting heart, 00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:43.859 becomes a hardened heart. 00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:50.440 And if we spotted it in loving each other and lovingly sought to listen to each other 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:55.059 and speak God's truth into each other's lives, what a difference that would make. 00:23:55.059 --> 00:24:00.259 Teaching it, it combats drifting. 00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:05.379 And real quick, secondly, playing the offense, teaching enables growth. 00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:09.419 And Paul says, picture your church as a body. 00:24:09.659 --> 00:24:10.759 Christ is the head. 00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:13.700 And we're all different body parts. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:18.799 It's a whole different sermon there, but that's how God has designed the church. 00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:20.440 We've got unique roles to play. 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:23.580 And at the end of verse 16, what do we need? 00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:25.779 We need to help each other grow. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:29.940 Imagine if all of us, as a normal part of our church life, 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:34.539 were caught up in a web of Bible reading relationships. 00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:38.039 This church should be full of people who are just passing on. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:43.539 Our Sunday gatherings, our formal settings, our growth groups during the week, 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:45.900 our women's and men's groups. 00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:50.620 But informally, if we were doing this as well, dipping into the word privately, 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:54.019 reading with our kids, reading with our spouse, 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:56.460 reading with a non-Christian colleague at work, 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:59.240 coming alongside someone who's new to the faith, 00:24:59.300 --> 00:25:01.240 saying, would you love to read the Bible together? 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:07.380 God's goal is our growth, and God's means is his word. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:10.820 So friends, think about those questions. 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:12.560 Who can you get alongside this morning? 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:15.200 Who would you love to come alongside you? 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:16.679 Come and speak about these things. 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:20.899 But just as we close, maybe to help us see the cash out of this, 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:23.879 let me tell you about a lady who used to be part of this church family 00:25:23.879 --> 00:25:27.679 who died, and she went to be with Jesus about five years ago. 00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:32.359 And listen, if you're coming into the Brunsford story at this junction, 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.519 this time in history, 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:37.799 know that we are really standing on the shoulders of spiritual giants. 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:40.419 People who have given their lives over the years, 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:43.019 people who faithfully prayed and prayed 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:46.000 and given themselves to the work of the church here over the years. 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:48.119 We really are standing on the shoulders of giants. 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.919 This lady's name was Lavinia. 00:25:50.659 --> 00:25:53.299 Lavinia was from a little village in the north of Ireland, 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:55.980 just to clarify, not Northern Ireland for a friend to anyone, 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.159 called Donegal. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.579 And she had two children, 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.879 she has two children called John and Pamela, 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:04.319 and I remember going around to see them to plan her funeral. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:08.240 And there's always one of the first questions you ask when you come to plan it, 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:11.259 is is there any readings that are special to you? 00:26:12.919 --> 00:26:15.319 And with no prompting and no warning whatsoever, 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:17.379 they both turned to each other, they smiled, 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:21.899 and they said in wonderful unison, 00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:24.240 we would love Psalm 121, 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:28.379 because mum made us memorize it when we were young. 00:26:29.899 --> 00:26:31.099 Psalm 121, 00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:33.619 I lift my eyes to the mountains, 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:37.439 where does my help come from? 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.819 And so this is a psalm that the Old Testament worshippers would rehearse 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:44.519 as they travel to the temple in Jerusalem for worship. 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.579 Now here's the thing, 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:47.079 if you have to lift your eyes, 00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:48.679 what does it assume in the first place, 00:26:49.179 --> 00:26:49.980 about your eyes, 00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:51.199 where they were to begin with? 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.639 Were they up or were they down? 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.279 They were down, right? 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.539 If you have to lift your eyes to the hills, 00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:58.299 your eyes were down to begin with. 00:26:58.299 --> 00:27:00.079 So if your eyes are down, 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:01.339 when life's scary, 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:03.440 when life's uncertain, 00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:07.019 when that diagnosis comes that knocks you for six, 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:09.180 when redundancy happens, 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:11.000 when that relationship breaks down, 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:14.259 when the dream job you thought you had doesn't materialize, 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:14.799 and we say, 00:27:14.919 --> 00:27:16.500 where can we look for help? 00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.940 Lavinia had spent her life 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:23.500 getting the word of God into her children's systems, 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.319 into their heads, 00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:25.240 into their hearts, 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:27.859 so that they knew in any moment of crisis 00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:30.380 what they needed to do was Psalm 121, 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:33.359 to lift their eyes to the hills. 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:36.120 Where does my help come from? 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:38.839 My help comes from the Lord, 00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:40.740 the maker of heaven and earth. 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.059 Friends, 00:27:41.380 --> 00:27:42.680 particularly if you're a parent here today, 00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:45.220 don't underestimate the power of memory verses. 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:49.380 Because God does his work in our hearts, 00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:51.620 and his means is his word. 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:53.639 So friends, 00:27:53.719 --> 00:27:54.219 let me ask you, 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.319 where's your life base? 00:27:55.399 --> 00:27:55.519 Remember, 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.839 go back to the three pegs at the start. 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.299 One, 00:27:57.439 --> 00:27:58.979 what are you building your life? 00:27:59.939 --> 00:28:00.699 Why don't we pray, 00:28:01.199 --> 00:28:04.739 and let's ask that God would help us 00:28:04.739 --> 00:28:07.000 build our lives on the truth of his word. 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:24.099 All scripture is God-breathed. 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:26.980 The word of God is living and active. 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:29.039 It is sharper than a double-edged sword, 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:33.099 piercing to the deepest point, 00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:36.460 exposing thoughts and hearts. 00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:37.680 Father, 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:39.240 thank you for your words. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:39.440 Lord, 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.500 we don't take it for granted 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:42.680 that we have this in our language, 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.859 that we can read, 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:44.960 and we can understand, 00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:46.680 and we recognize that many, 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:48.299 down the centuries, 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.759 have given so costly 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:51.259 for that to be a possibility. 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:52.660 So Lord, 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:54.519 we thank you for your precious word. 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:55.920 And Lord, 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.740 may we continue to be a church 00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:00.920 that is unashamed in our devotion 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:01.859 and love for your word. 00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:03.619 And I pray particularly, 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:03.899 Lord, 00:29:03.959 --> 00:29:05.399 I recognize I have thrown out 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:06.699 a lot of questions there. 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.099 And Father, 00:29:08.199 --> 00:29:10.199 I pray that you would be moving amongst us 00:29:10.199 --> 00:29:11.479 by your spirit this morning. 00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:13.659 Would you be encouraging? 00:29:14.459 --> 00:29:15.859 Would you be prompting? 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.839 Would you be challenging? 00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:19.159 Would you be comforting? 00:29:19.439 --> 00:29:19.559 Lord, 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:21.659 would you be putting people on our minds 00:29:21.659 --> 00:29:22.619 and on our hearts? 00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:24.139 Father, 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:26.339 may we leave this morning 00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:28.919 with a greater picture of Jesus. 00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:31.159 Thank you that he 00:29:31.159 --> 00:29:33.079 is the center point, 00:29:33.179 --> 00:29:34.939 the high point of this Bible story. 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:35.399 And so Lord, 00:29:35.419 --> 00:29:36.979 we pray that you would lift our eyes to him 00:29:36.979 --> 00:29:38.219 as we close. 00:29:38.939 --> 00:29:39.239 Father, 00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.559 thank you for your love for us. 00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:41.859 And we pray these things 00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:43.319 in Jesus' worthy name. 00:29:43.919 --> 00:29:44.279 Amen.