WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.100 This is a football. 00:00:09.480 --> 00:00:13.839 At the last service, I think it was the first time in the history of St. Albans 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:18.179 somebody brought a football to the pulpit at the 8 o'clock service. 00:00:19.379 --> 00:00:25.519 But there was a young man present who kept waiting for me to throw it into the congregation. 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:34.100 And I told him that I don't trust my arm and that I would probably hit some elderly person in the face with it, 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:39.700 which would destroy any attempt at good teaching from the illustration. 00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:41.299 But this is a football. 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:46.939 And many of you know that I'm a big football fan. 00:00:47.239 --> 00:00:50.320 I watched parts of both of the playoff games last night. 00:00:50.320 --> 00:01:00.100 And I don't do church services in the evening on Super Bowl Sunday because I watch the Super Bowl. 00:01:00.219 --> 00:01:04.500 You can have a service, but as long as I can get home by about 4.30, I'll come to it. 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:09.620 But after that, I'm not going to do the service because I watch the Super Bowl. 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:16.099 There's a famous story about, I think it's Vince Lombardi, who was one of the greatest football coaches who ever lived, 00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:19.140 that his team had been on a losing streak. 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:28.399 And one day when the team came after its loss and they came to gather into the room to begin their practice for the week, 00:01:28.939 --> 00:01:30.799 Vince Lombardi said, 00:01:31.060 --> 00:01:33.919 Men, this is a football. 00:01:34.899 --> 00:01:39.019 And then he proceeded to teach them the basics of football. 00:01:39.199 --> 00:01:44.039 They'd just reached the point in time he'd realized that they weren't doing the basics of football properly. 00:01:44.039 --> 00:01:46.039 They weren't doing the fundamentals properly. 00:01:46.699 --> 00:01:48.559 And he said, we're going to start right at the beginning. 00:01:48.919 --> 00:01:52.859 And right at the beginning, if you want to teach somebody football, as you say, this is a football. 00:01:53.739 --> 00:01:58.119 My sermon this morning is a this is a football type of sermon. 00:01:59.199 --> 00:02:05.239 It's because not only do bad teams need to remember the basics, 00:02:05.759 --> 00:02:08.199 but good teams need to remember the basics. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:11.799 Those of you guys and probably some women as well. 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:12.100 I know. 00:02:14.140 --> 00:02:16.580 I don't know how many here remember Audrey Foster. 00:02:16.820 --> 00:02:22.380 Audrey Foster was the head of the altar guild in this church for half a century. 00:02:23.200 --> 00:02:28.080 She was also season ticket holder for the Rough Riders for half a century. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:31.180 And so I know there are women who like football. 00:02:31.180 --> 00:02:39.020 And, you know, one of the things they talk about when they're talking about football is that it's a team that does the fundamentals and the basics well. 00:02:39.020 --> 00:02:44.980 So good teams need to do the fundamentals and the basics and bad teams need to relearn them. 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:52.500 And churches can get confused about what the fundamentals and the basics of a church is. 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:54.460 This is not just speaking. 00:02:54.639 --> 00:03:03.000 I know many of you here aren't lifetime Anglicans, but Anglicans in particular are profoundly confused nowadays about what the church is. 00:03:03.719 --> 00:03:05.659 We think it's a name. 00:03:05.860 --> 00:03:10.240 You know, the Anglican church is fighting people over the use of the word Anglican here in Canada. 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:12.439 Or we think it's the presence of a bishop. 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:14.379 Or we think it's the presence of a building. 00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:19.960 Or, you know, or we think that if we want to get back to basics, we go to the third century. 00:03:20.219 --> 00:03:22.120 Or we go to the twelfth century. 00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:23.819 Or we go to some century or another. 00:03:24.180 --> 00:03:29.460 And churches, the Anglican church in particular, and I'm speaking as an Anglican clergyman, 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:34.879 the Anglican church in particular is profoundly confused about what is a church. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:42.620 And the reading of scripture which Janice read this morning is something which is going to be in our minds 00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:45.219 over the next, this week and the next three weeks. 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:49.219 As we, in a sense, look again at what are the fundamentals. 00:03:49.539 --> 00:03:52.439 What is the basics of a church? 00:03:52.539 --> 00:03:54.080 What makes a church a church? 00:03:54.300 --> 00:03:58.060 What makes a church a church? 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:04.300 So take your Bibles and turn in them to page 944. 00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:11.120 Those of you who've brought your own Bibles, it's Acts chapter 2 verses 44 to, 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:15.000 sorry, Acts chapter 2 verses 40 to 47. 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:20.920 And the first thing we're going to look at is verse 42. 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:27.280 And this, throughout the ages, has been recognized as a text. 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:31.540 This one text gives the four marks of what a real church is. 00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:34.959 I think it was two years or three years ago. 00:04:36.180 --> 00:04:39.439 Well, it was 2003, so I guess it's now almost three years ago. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:41.959 I went to Amsterdam for the first time. 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:46.360 And if you go to Amsterdam and you get any of the touristy type of map stuff, 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:49.379 you'll see that there are churches listed. 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:55.680 Like here you have this secular Dutch government advertising churches. 00:04:55.959 --> 00:04:57.360 Now, I wasn't taken in for a moment. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:00.300 Because if you go to them, all it is is a building. 00:05:00.939 --> 00:05:02.639 It's a really nice building. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:04.759 It's a really dramatic building. 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:11.279 And if you want to pay several euros, you can go into it and have a tour. 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:16.119 And at least in one of the ones that I was in, which was the really dramatic building, 00:05:16.119 --> 00:05:22.439 there hasn't been worship in that building for decades, decades and decades. 00:05:22.559 --> 00:05:26.939 It's a museum with the odd classical music concert and the odd lecture. 00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:30.939 But it's not a church, even though it has church on the outside. 00:05:31.619 --> 00:05:33.899 And even though the Dutch government calls it a church. 00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:37.779 And even though the advertising calls it a church, it's not a church. 00:05:38.039 --> 00:05:39.179 It's just a building. 00:05:39.539 --> 00:05:42.500 It's a building that used to be owned by a church. 00:05:43.419 --> 00:05:46.299 Acts 2, verse 42. 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:50.899 And one verse gives the four marks of a real church. 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:52.079 Listen. 00:05:52.739 --> 00:05:53.759 And they continued. 00:05:54.539 --> 00:05:56.879 Another way to put this as they were devoted. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:06.360 They continued, or were devoted, in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:11.540 Now, over the next couple of weeks, we're going to sort of, you know, look at this in some depth. 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:18.360 But just sort of to give you the big picture of these four simple marks of what makes a church a church. 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:27.980 The first thing is that the church, a true church, a real church, is a group of people devoted to the apostles' teaching. 00:06:28.960 --> 00:06:34.360 In fact, in this version, it says it is a group of people who are devoted to the apostles' doctrine. 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:38.379 And we now understand that that means the New Testament. 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:51.399 It means that the mark of a real church is a church which is completely and utterly, wholeheartedly devoted to understanding what the apostles taught about the person of Jesus Christ, 00:06:51.699 --> 00:06:55.879 about the meaning of life, about what happens after we die. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:07:03.439 It means a group of people completely and utterly devoted to hearing the witness of the apostles, 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:10.459 which means a church is a people devoted to the New Testament and through the New Testament to read the Old Testament. 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:13.219 It is a church devoted to the Bible. 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:15.180 And you know what? 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:16.860 It doesn't matter if, you know what? 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:19.740 It doesn't matter if we have, we could have 20 bishops in here. 00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:21.680 We could have five primates in here. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:28.800 We could have 10 learned professors, emeritus here from divinity schools. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:34.100 But if they all gathered here and they weren't committed to the New Testament, 00:07:34.660 --> 00:07:39.800 to having, to being a group of people who are formed and reformed by the New Testament, 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:41.220 then there's not a church here. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:45.079 Doesn't matter if they own the name Anglican. 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:46.899 Doesn't matter if they're all of those people. 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:53.279 A church is a group of people who are devoted to being a New Testament people. 00:07:53.539 --> 00:07:56.039 A people devoted to apostolic teaching. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:00.339 Listen again to the words of Acts 2.42. 00:08:00.479 --> 00:08:06.879 They continued steadfastly, or they were devoted, in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:13.039 And that second word, fellowship, is a hard word to translate. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.040 The Greek word is koinonia. 00:08:16.020 --> 00:08:19.220 And it could really also be translated as communion. 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:23.060 And so what does it mean to be a people devoted to communion? 00:08:23.640 --> 00:08:27.820 The word koinonia points us that, first of all, we are to be a people devoted. 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:32.960 Like, you could have a group of people devoted to Shakespeare's writings. 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:38.740 You could have a group of people who are devoted to maybe Jane Austen's writing. 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:45.180 I know there's piles of people every year who go to Prince Edward Island because they are devoted to Anne of Green Gables. 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:48.100 And they read the book over and over and over again. 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:51.919 And if all the church was was a group of people devoted to the New Testament, 00:08:52.060 --> 00:08:55.419 there would be maybe nothing different than us in the university down the road 00:08:55.419 --> 00:08:59.580 who have professors devoted to different writers or different topics. 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:03.080 But the second one points to something deeper. 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:07.720 Remember, we are a group of people devoted to communion, to koinonia. 00:09:08.280 --> 00:09:14.340 And first and foremost, that is a word that points us to being devoted to communion with God, 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:17.259 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:20.360 That's what this word is pointing us to. 00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:25.280 Not just a group of people devoted to intellectual mind games 00:09:25.280 --> 00:09:29.400 and academic discussions about curious things about the New Testament. 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:35.340 Maybe read the New Testament to see what it does to reflect upon the changing roles of women 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:41.120 in first century pagan culture as they clash with Latin and Greek culture and things. 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:42.679 It's not like that, folks. 00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:48.419 It is a group of people devoted to New Testament teaching, to the apostolic teaching, 00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:50.519 and a group of people devoted to communion. 00:09:51.240 --> 00:09:53.939 And that means first and foremost, communion with God. 00:09:53.940 --> 00:10:00.460 And secondly, communion with other people who desire communion with God. 00:10:01.180 --> 00:10:04.560 You see, the Christian life is never the life of the Lone Ranger. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:08.820 It's always a life of communion and community. 00:10:09.780 --> 00:10:13.720 And so we are to be devoted first and foremost to communion with God. 00:10:14.020 --> 00:10:17.680 And as part of our devotion to communion with God, it means communion. 00:10:18.420 --> 00:10:20.520 Well, look to your left and look to your right. 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:30.019 It's devotion as well, a complete and utter commitment to other people who also desire communion with God. 00:10:31.079 --> 00:10:34.139 Acts 2.42, the third mark of a church. 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:40.319 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, koinonia, 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:42.399 in the breaking of bread. 00:10:43.319 --> 00:10:47.620 And here, the definite article, the, belongs there. 00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:49.799 And it's referring to the Lord's Supper. 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:55.620 And it's referring to the Lord's Supper, not just as a ritual which we happen to go to. 00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:59.819 And, you know, a church which never has that ritual isn't a real church. 00:10:59.939 --> 00:11:01.079 You know, you have to have the ritual. 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:02.840 But it's more than the ritual. 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:06.120 It's what the ritual is about and what it allows us to enter into. 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:10.379 Remember, we're to be a people devoted to apostolic teaching, 00:11:10.539 --> 00:11:15.679 a people devoted to communion with God and communion with others who are in communion with God. 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:19.959 And we are to be a people who regularly gather to remember Jesus. 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:27.039 Regularly gather to remember that Jesus is the Messiah of God, 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:31.739 the anointed one, the mighty savior, the mighty deliverer, 00:11:31.819 --> 00:11:35.579 that he is the one who died on the cross for you and for me, 00:11:35.939 --> 00:11:38.039 bearing all of your sins in mind, 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:41.339 tasting all there is to taste of sin and of death, 00:11:41.339 --> 00:11:44.079 and on the third day, rising from the dead, 00:11:44.439 --> 00:11:47.699 and defeating sin and death and hell and the evil one, 00:11:47.959 --> 00:11:50.559 and all things that keep us far from God. 00:11:50.699 --> 00:11:52.620 And we are to gather daily. 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:55.779 We are to gather regularly to partake of the Lord's Supper. 00:11:55.899 --> 00:11:58.779 And more than that, to remember Jesus. 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:01.179 To remember Jesus. 00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:05.120 The fourth mark of the church. 00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:11.159 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.539 in the breaking of bread, and in, 00:12:13.859 --> 00:12:15.859 and here if it was to be translated literally, 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.939 it would say, and in the prayers. 00:12:18.939 --> 00:12:21.019 And the prayers is a wonderful term. 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:24.339 It means that we are to be a people devoted to prayer in two types. 00:12:25.059 --> 00:12:26.479 That we are, on one level, 00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:30.259 it describes that we are to be devoted to this type of the prayers, 00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:36.360 gather together to say and to do and to live the prayer of the church. 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:38.439 A public gathering. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.379 That once again, we're not just to be solitary, 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:42.360 individual lone rangers, 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.419 but it also means, 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:46.899 it also means those of us who get up in the morning 00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:48.580 and kneel by the side of the bed, 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:49.879 or before we go to bed at night, 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:52.519 kneel by the side of the bed and pray. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:54.840 Or those who gather in coffee shops, 00:12:54.939 --> 00:12:56.600 or in living rooms, or in kitchens, 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:58.539 and pray with other people, 00:12:58.659 --> 00:12:59.980 or pray by themselves. 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:04.659 It is a commitment to a life of conversation with God. 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:07.960 Because that's what prayer is. 00:13:08.680 --> 00:13:11.019 The four marks of a real church. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:16.240 It is a group of people devoted to knowing the apostolic teaching 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:17.680 so we can be formed by it. 00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:20.980 It is a group of people who are devoted to be in communion with God, 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:23.740 and in communion with others who are in communion with God. 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:29.700 A group of people who are devoted to gathering together to remember Jesus in the Lord's Supper, 00:13:29.700 --> 00:13:35.000 and a group of people who are committed, devoted to conversation with God. 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:37.799 These are the four marks of the church. 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:40.139 They answer the question, 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:42.779 how do I recognize a real church? 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:45.000 How do I know when I go to Amsterdam 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:48.080 that even though the brochure says it's a church, 00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:50.100 the government says it's a church, 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:52.159 the sign says it's a church, 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:53.840 it's just a building? 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:57.720 We know this by Acts 2.42. 00:13:58.660 --> 00:14:02.940 Pray for us that we will be a people devoted to these basics. 00:14:03.700 --> 00:14:05.580 Pray for us that we will be a church, 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.620 a group of people, 00:14:07.280 --> 00:14:10.420 a community devoted to these things. 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:12.159 Now this text, 00:14:12.299 --> 00:14:13.299 which Janice read, 00:14:14.099 --> 00:14:15.879 touches on two other questions. 00:14:16.719 --> 00:14:17.459 The first one is, 00:14:17.819 --> 00:14:19.379 how do you enter a real church? 00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:21.019 And secondly, 00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:23.759 how do you live in a real church? 00:14:24.219 --> 00:14:25.360 We're going to look at the first one, 00:14:25.439 --> 00:14:26.860 how do you enter a real church? 00:14:27.319 --> 00:14:27.860 And here, 00:14:27.979 --> 00:14:29.399 we're not just talking about a building, 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:30.259 although, you know, 00:14:30.979 --> 00:14:33.319 it's really important for us to be always sensitive 00:14:33.319 --> 00:14:35.559 about how hard it is to enter a building. 00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:39.620 I have a friend, 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.940 or I had a friend many years ago 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:42.440 who was into anthroposophy. 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:44.560 I don't know if there still are many people 00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:45.860 who are into anthroposophy. 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:48.120 I hope I pronounced that correctly. 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:51.539 And I went with her once 00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:52.679 for one of their services. 00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:55.139 And I had been going to churches for a long time, 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:57.039 but it was just very, very unnerving 00:14:57.039 --> 00:15:00.120 to go into a building devoted to anthroposophy. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:00.840 Like, you know, 00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:03.240 how am I supposed to act, you know? 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:05.120 Like, what am I supposed to do? 00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:07.399 I went to a Buddhist wedding once. 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:09.199 And, you know, 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.340 when I first got the invitation 00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:11.340 to go to a Buddhist wedding, 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.059 it was a cousin 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:15.259 who was marrying somebody who was a Buddhist. 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:17.959 And I was a bit apprehensive about, 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:18.759 well, how do you enter 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:21.120 into a Buddhist wedding ceremony? 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.720 How do you enter into a Buddhist building? 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:24.059 And one of the things 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:25.159 that we have to pray about 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:26.779 is that, you know, 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:28.379 there are many people in our culture 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:30.879 that the idea of walking through that door 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.319 is very scary. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:34.400 They don't know how to do it. 00:15:35.560 --> 00:15:36.280 And you know what? 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:37.600 That's not their fault. 00:15:38.940 --> 00:15:39.500 Like, you know, 00:15:39.560 --> 00:15:40.720 we can't stand at the door 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.220 and say, 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.540 shame on you 00:15:42.540 --> 00:15:43.280 for not knowing 00:15:43.280 --> 00:15:44.580 how to enter this building. 00:15:45.520 --> 00:15:46.140 But, you know, 00:15:46.180 --> 00:15:47.500 and for many people in our culture, 00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:49.160 what they think is in this building 00:15:49.160 --> 00:15:49.980 is a combination 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:51.160 of interesting things 00:15:51.160 --> 00:15:52.120 about the past 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:54.260 and toxic waste. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.060 You know, 00:15:56.140 --> 00:15:56.900 because there's many people 00:15:56.900 --> 00:15:57.460 in our culture 00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:57.960 who believe 00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:59.060 that we're a repository 00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:00.779 of everything that is bad 00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:02.559 about Canada and the West. 00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:03.979 And once again, 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.119 that's not their fault. 00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:06.799 And one of the things 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:07.500 we have to do 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.500 is we have to pray 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:09.599 and pray and pray 00:16:09.599 --> 00:16:12.000 that as people pass that door 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.579 and as they maybe 00:16:12.579 --> 00:16:13.819 even consider that door 00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:14.599 that there's something 00:16:14.599 --> 00:16:15.579 welcoming about it 00:16:15.579 --> 00:16:16.259 and that we can do 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:17.399 whatever we can 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.199 in our power 00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:19.659 to make coming 00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:21.419 into this scary place 00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:23.759 a welcoming experience. 00:16:24.599 --> 00:16:26.899 But that's an aside. 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:29.840 The text here talks about 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:30.600 how do we enter 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:31.379 a real church. 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.139 We're going to look at 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:34.120 still on page 944, 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:34.799 we're going to look at 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:36.220 verses 40 to 41. 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.840 And with many other words, 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:39.679 this is Peter. 00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:41.959 Luke is summarizing 00:16:41.959 --> 00:16:43.079 what Peter has just, 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.519 how Peter's ended 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:46.059 the first Christian sermon 00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:48.019 that took place 50 days 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.059 after the resurrection 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:49.779 of Jesus 00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:53.539 and the Holy Spirit 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.679 has fallen upon 00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:56.539 the 120 people 00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:58.360 Peter has got up 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:58.959 and preached. 00:16:59.459 --> 00:17:00.579 Luke has given a summary 00:17:00.579 --> 00:17:02.039 of this first sermon. 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:04.259 On one level, 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:05.180 this is the birthday 00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:06.000 of the church 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.359 and here's what Peter, 00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.539 this is how it sort of 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.200 closes up. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.759 And with many other words, 00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:11.759 Peter testified 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.960 and exhorted them saying, 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.240 be saved 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:16.139 from this perverse generation. 00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:17.960 Then those who were, 00:17:18.139 --> 00:17:19.839 those who gladly received 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:21.180 his word were baptized 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.539 and that day 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:24.159 about 3,000 souls 00:17:24.159 --> 00:17:25.159 were added to them. 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:27.519 verse 41 shows 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.900 that there's two things 00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:30.120 involved in entering 00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:30.759 a real church 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.180 because remember, 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:31.800 a real church 00:17:31.800 --> 00:17:32.519 is not a building 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.160 but people, 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:35.140 a community of people. 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.980 There are two things involved. 00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:37.860 First, 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:38.960 that we receive 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.640 the word of Peter 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:42.000 and secondly, 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.960 that we are baptized. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.040 Now, 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:45.779 the receiving 00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:46.740 the word of Peter 00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.279 means, 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.300 it means receiving 00:17:49.300 --> 00:17:50.920 his witness 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.400 forgiveness 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.519 to Jesus, 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.740 his death upon the cross, 00:17:54.860 --> 00:17:55.680 his resurrection, 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:57.100 the fact that he is 00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:58.500 the Messiah of God, 00:17:58.580 --> 00:17:59.220 the fulfillment 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:00.539 of all of the promises 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:01.820 which God has been making 00:18:01.820 --> 00:18:02.660 for centuries 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.360 and centuries 00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:04.140 and centuries. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.400 It is a message 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.259 to turn to him 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:06.840 in faith, 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:08.200 to surrender to him 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:09.019 in obedience. 00:18:09.560 --> 00:18:10.240 It is a message 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.500 that Jesus is the one 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.400 that opens the way 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:12.900 to God 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:14.000 and that when we 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.940 turn to Jesus, 00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:16.279 he turns no one away 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:17.220 who comes to him 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.200 and we receive 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:18.819 the forgiveness 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.539 of sins 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.120 and the gift 00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:21.079 of the Holy Spirit 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:22.660 and the way 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:23.500 that we enter 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.779 into a real church 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.799 is to receive 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.900 this word, 00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:30.059 to say yes 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:32.839 and in saying yes 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:33.700 to say no 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.319 to whatever 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.500 is not in keeping 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.400 with that word 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.660 and is to say yes, 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.339 Jesus, 00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:39.400 thank you, 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.980 thank you 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:43.299 and the second thing 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.720 is to be baptized. 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:46.279 Now, 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:48.740 completely 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.279 and utterly 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.399 godly people 00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:52.460 in different churches 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.579 debate the order 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:54.579 that these two things 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:55.539 have to happen in. 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:57.779 Baptists, 00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.180 I was a Baptist. 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.220 I was a member 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.940 of Alta Vista Baptist Church. 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.660 I was baptized 00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:04.099 when I was 17 years old. 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.899 I survived 00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:05.720 the interview 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.819 by the deacons 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:08.220 of several hours 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:09.079 to allow me 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:09.700 to membership 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:10.379 in the church 00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:11.319 which given that 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.299 I had hair down 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:13.160 to my belt 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:15.000 was quite a task. 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:19.599 And I was a member 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.440 of a Baptist church 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.200 and Baptists, 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:22.180 God loved them, 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.079 they believed 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.420 that first you received 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.399 the word about Jesus 00:19:25.399 --> 00:19:26.799 and then you were baptized. 00:19:28.379 --> 00:19:28.899 Anglicans, 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.240 Presbyterians, 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.220 Lutherans, 00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:32.279 Roman Catholics, 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.240 Eastern Orthodox, 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.859 say that the order 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.559 doesn't matter 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.759 as long as you do both. 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:40.460 And some other time 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.539 I can talk more fully 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:43.059 about why we Anglicans 00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:43.819 in particular 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:45.119 believe that it's appropriate 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:46.480 that baptism happens 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.200 for godly parents 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:49.019 of their children. 00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.980 That's another topic. 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.960 But whether you're a Baptist 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:54.000 or whether you're Anglican, 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.879 you should believe 00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:55.319 in both. 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:55.640 In fact, 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.879 one of the tragedies today 00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:57.720 is that while it's 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.519 understandable 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.079 that Christians of goodwill 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.700 can debate 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:02.480 the order of receiving 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.339 the word 00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:04.539 and being baptized, 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:06.240 it is terrible 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.579 that there are many 00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:08.220 who think 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:09.720 that both are not needed. 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:12.079 There are many Anglicans, 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:12.700 once again, 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.359 unfortunately, 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.259 who only think 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.339 you have to be baptized. 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.759 That, you know, 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.619 you can come to 00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:19.659 St. Swithin's 00:20:19.659 --> 00:20:20.399 in the swamp 00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:22.539 as long as you're baptized 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.779 you can receive communion 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.920 and one of the wonderful things 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.980 about St. Swithin's 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.559 in the swamp 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.319 is it doesn't matter 00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:28.220 what you believe. 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.519 That anybody, 00:20:29.639 --> 00:20:30.700 no matter what they believe, 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.759 are completely and utterly, 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.980 well, folks, 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.920 that's not Christian. 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.680 You know, 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:37.359 I had a hard time 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:38.460 for many years 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:40.519 when I was an Anglican 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.759 after I'd been ordained 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.720 in Anglican Church 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:44.000 to be able to say that, 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.480 like, you know, 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.440 come out in public 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:46.740 and say, 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.839 that's just not Christian. 00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:49.819 And Anglicanism, 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.440 of course, 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.319 does believe 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:52.119 and teach 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:53.659 that you have to have 00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:54.920 receive the word 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.599 about Jesus 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.680 and give your life 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.240 to Christ 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.339 and be baptized. 00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.299 Both of them 00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:00.099 have to happen. 00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:01.240 Whether baptism 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.680 happens first or second, 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.339 well, 00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:04.379 that's just sort of, 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.299 there's a whole sorts 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:05.720 of reasons 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.720 why things might happen 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.199 in that order, 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:08.459 but both are important. 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.679 The church is a people 00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:12.659 who have received the word, 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.939 the message of Jesus, 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:15.599 responded with faith 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.199 and obedience, 00:21:16.199 --> 00:21:18.000 and have been baptized. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.259 As another aside, 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.000 sometime within the next 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.699 couple of weeks, 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.699 I would like to provide 00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:26.299 an opportunity 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:27.639 for people in this congregation 00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:29.280 who haven't been baptized 00:21:29.280 --> 00:21:32.180 or for people 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:33.060 who would like 00:21:33.060 --> 00:21:34.380 to publicly reaffirm 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:34.980 their faith. 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:36.200 Maybe they were baptized 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:36.960 as infants, 00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:38.960 came to faith far later 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:40.040 and would like to mark 00:21:40.040 --> 00:21:41.320 that somehow publicly. 00:21:41.780 --> 00:21:42.900 And also for those 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:43.980 who would like to be received 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:45.380 into the Anglican Church. 00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:46.480 And I'm going to provide 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.360 some means of 00:21:47.360 --> 00:21:48.780 some sort of teaching 00:21:48.780 --> 00:21:49.500 for that. 00:21:50.280 --> 00:21:51.500 And I will be making 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.140 some announcements 00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:52.780 about that 00:21:52.780 --> 00:21:54.460 in a couple of weeks' time. 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:58.660 So, the marks of a true church, 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.400 a real church, 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.720 how you enter a real church, 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.420 and finally, 00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:02.660 how do you live 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.900 in a real church? 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:04.960 Once again, 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:06.860 we go to this classic text. 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.600 Remember, Acts chapter 2, 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:09.660 40 to 47, 00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:10.279 is a, 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:12.600 this is a football text. 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.539 It's one of those things 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.779 we have to sort of look at 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:17.920 time and time and time again 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:18.700 to make sure 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:20.519 that we're in the right direction. 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:22.920 And how do we live 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:24.059 in a real church? 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:26.859 Look at verses 43 through 47. 00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:28.879 I'll just read them briefly. 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:31.259 Then fear, or awe, 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.879 came upon every soul, 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:35.019 and many wonders and signs 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.519 were done through the apostles. 00:22:37.659 --> 00:22:39.159 Just want to pause here. 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.339 The first thing 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:42.879 about living in a real church 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:46.079 is that we are learning, 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:48.019 we are a people learning 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:49.960 to be open to God. 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:53.399 Learning to just be open to God. 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:54.759 I mean, you know, 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:57.000 so many of us go through times 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.480 in our life 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:59.060 when our relationship with God 00:22:59.060 --> 00:23:00.300 is sort of like this, 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.640 and we're maybe in a fetal position, 00:23:03.140 --> 00:23:04.280 you know, curled up, 00:23:04.800 --> 00:23:09.060 and the goal of the Christian life 00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:11.500 and the goal of the people of God 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:13.080 is to learn to be, 00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:14.519 not in a fetal position, 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:16.720 but to learn to stand like this 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.639 and be completely 00:23:17.639 --> 00:23:19.339 and utterly open to God. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.500 And here in this simple verse, 00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:23.160 we see two of the three things 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:24.359 that are mentioned in this text 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:25.720 about how we're learning 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.639 to be open to God. 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:28.819 First, to be open to God 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:30.099 is to learn awe. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.920 Like, the more you know about God, 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.879 on one level, 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:36.119 the more we know about God, 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.779 the more we know 00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:38.519 that he is the kindest being 00:23:39.379 --> 00:23:40.799 you will ever meet, 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.980 the most merciful, 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.220 the most faithful, 00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:46.400 but he's also the most different. 00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:49.099 He is God. 00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:51.319 And so it's appropriate 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.480 that we learn a sense 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:54.799 of the awfulness of him 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.619 and his difference. 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.460 And to be open to God 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.819 means to be open 00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.920 to the supernatural. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.079 It means to be open 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.779 to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:04.339 It means to not quench 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:05.200 the Holy Spirit. 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.559 It means to be open 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:08.000 to praying for miracles, 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:09.779 to pouring out our heart to God 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:11.099 for the needs of the world 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:13.639 and for God to work miraculously 00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:14.700 and powerfully 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:17.079 in and through the church 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.779 and his people. 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.480 It means learning 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.599 to be open to this 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:21.099 and also means to be open 00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:22.519 to God in such a way 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.379 that other people 00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:25.299 come to saving faith 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.180 in Jesus Christ. 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.319 It's the last verse 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:28.379 of the chapter. 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.660 Praising God 00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:30.519 and having favor 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.460 with all the people 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:32.480 and the Lord added 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.440 to the church daily 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.759 those who are being saved. 00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.799 Like the part 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.559 of the dailiness 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:39.220 of learning to be the church 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.360 is expecting 00:24:40.360 --> 00:24:41.920 and being open to God 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.759 in such a way 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:44.240 that we learn 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:46.180 to have a sense of awe 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:47.019 in his presence. 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.740 We learn to be open 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:50.420 to the supernatural power 00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.460 of the Holy Spirit 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.500 and the acting of God 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.200 in our lives 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.400 and we are open 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.799 to how God brings people 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.819 to saving faith 00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:59.660 through fallen people 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.700 like us. 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:04.420 fallen, unworthy people 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.100 like us. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.120 Secondly, 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.779 a church, 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.660 a real church 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.299 is learning 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.700 to be generous. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.900 Look at verses 44 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.779 and 45. 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.740 Now all who believed 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.500 were together 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.600 and had all things 00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.259 in common 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:21.460 and sold their possessions 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.220 and goods 00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.240 and divided them 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.000 among all 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.460 as anyone had need. 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:27.340 This is not a text 00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:28.500 that teaches communism. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.539 It's not part 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.039 of the sermon. 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.799 Some other time 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.519 I can show. 00:25:31.899 --> 00:25:32.639 The whole text 00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:34.599 assumes private property. 00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:36.019 It assumes 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.079 their possessions 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.759 and in a moment 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.119 we'll see 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:39.180 it's their houses. 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.339 But the mark, 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:41.759 you know, 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.740 how do we live 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:44.759 in the real church? 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:46.019 Those of us 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.440 who are learning 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.420 to live in the real church 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:47.779 are learning 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.899 to be open to God 00:25:48.899 --> 00:25:50.059 and we are learning 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.200 to be generous, 00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:52.740 especially when 00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.759 faced with need. 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:56.599 especially when 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.559 faced with need. 00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.859 That when we see 00:25:58.859 --> 00:25:59.700 real need, 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.599 whether it's a need 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.940 to send the gospel out, 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.599 whether it's a need, 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.559 a physical need 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.019 of somebody 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.940 in the congregation, 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.660 the first thing 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.640 that goes through our mind 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:09.579 is how can I 00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:11.160 generously deal with this? 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.379 How can I deal 00:26:12.379 --> 00:26:13.720 with this generously 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.859 with my property, 00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:15.960 with my time, 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:16.819 with my money? 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.079 How can I deal 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:18.660 with this? 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.900 When we're learning 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.619 to do this, 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:22.599 we're not there yet. 00:26:23.179 --> 00:26:23.739 But to be 00:26:23.739 --> 00:26:25.039 a real church, 00:26:25.199 --> 00:26:25.379 I mean, 00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.159 to learn to live 00:26:26.159 --> 00:26:26.859 in a real church 00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:27.319 is to learn 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:28.399 to be open to God, 00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:30.099 to learn to be generous, 00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:30.939 especially when 00:26:30.939 --> 00:26:31.799 faced with need. 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.000 And finally, 00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:34.799 we're learning 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:36.139 to live large 00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:36.919 and little. 00:26:38.199 --> 00:26:39.439 Notice all those L's 00:26:39.439 --> 00:26:40.139 in that sentence. 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.500 This is my Baptist roots, 00:26:41.659 --> 00:26:41.779 you know, 00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:42.939 learning to live 00:26:42.939 --> 00:26:44.019 large and little. 00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:46.359 Look at verse 46. 00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:48.679 So continuing daily, 00:26:48.959 --> 00:26:50.219 day by day, 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:52.199 the word daily here 00:26:52.199 --> 00:26:53.199 presents a picture 00:26:53.199 --> 00:26:55.799 of the normal life. 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:56.699 You know, 00:26:56.739 --> 00:26:58.839 it's a homey word. 00:26:59.159 --> 00:26:59.359 Like, 00:26:59.419 --> 00:27:00.539 what's your daily life like? 00:27:00.659 --> 00:27:00.759 Well, 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:00.899 you know, 00:27:00.939 --> 00:27:01.459 your daily life, 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.399 you brush your teeth, 00:27:02.699 --> 00:27:02.979 you know, 00:27:03.439 --> 00:27:04.199 you get up, 00:27:04.239 --> 00:27:05.000 you have coffee, 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:05.839 you go to work, 00:27:05.939 --> 00:27:06.119 you know, 00:27:06.219 --> 00:27:08.179 you say hi to your friend, 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.019 you go to your regular 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:10.039 place for coffee. 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:10.279 Like, 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:11.299 it's a daily, 00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:13.279 homey type of word. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.959 And so in verse 46, 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:16.059 so continuing daily 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:16.859 with one accord 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.739 in the temple 00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:19.420 and breaking bread 00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:20.620 from house to house, 00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:22.019 they eat their food 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.779 with gladness 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:24.180 and simplicity of heart. 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:25.779 You see, 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.460 they're learning 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.740 to live large 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.819 and little. 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.359 And that means 00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:31.460 that part of this 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:33.420 normal life 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:36.339 in a real church, 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:38.200 part of a real people 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:39.599 who are really committed 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.859 to Jesus Christ 00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.980 means that 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.759 large gatherings 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.519 like this 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.420 are just part 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.279 of our normal life. 00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:48.220 that's the word there 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.200 they met in the temple 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.819 daily. 00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.299 It's just part 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:50.940 of their normal life 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:52.139 that we would come together 00:27:52.139 --> 00:27:53.160 with larger numbers 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:53.720 of people 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.940 and that we'd worship 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.759 God together 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.579 and this is part 00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.200 of the normal 00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:58.000 Christian life. 00:27:58.579 --> 00:27:59.619 But not only 00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:00.119 are we learning 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:01.299 to live large, 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.319 but we're learning 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:03.240 to live little 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:04.879 because they meet 00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.819 also daily 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:07.420 house by house. 00:28:08.399 --> 00:28:09.099 And this is really 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:09.700 what we would now 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.859 call small groups. 00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:13.339 And it would be also 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:14.680 those mentoring types 00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.339 of relationships. 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:15.980 It's not only 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.980 Christian families, 00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.779 but it implies 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.659 something beyond 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:19.359 the family 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:20.559 of a life 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:22.779 where we remember 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.299 Jesus 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.119 and we say 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:24.740 the prayers 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.659 and we study 00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:26.259 the Bible 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.819 and we learn 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.699 about each other's 00:28:28.699 --> 00:28:29.099 needs 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:29.720 and we use 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.839 our spiritual gifts 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.699 not only when we 00:28:31.699 --> 00:28:32.439 gather in large 00:28:32.439 --> 00:28:32.740 settings, 00:28:32.879 --> 00:28:33.759 but also in little 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.259 sessions. 00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:37.019 And if we as a church 00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:38.579 only do the large 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:40.699 without the little, 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.319 there's something wrong. 00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:44.339 And if we only do 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:44.899 the little 00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:46.579 without the large, 00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:47.980 there's something wrong. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:50.079 Because part of what 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:51.240 it means to learn 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.579 to live in a real 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:54.179 church is that not 00:28:54.179 --> 00:28:55.299 only do we learn 00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.460 to be open to God, 00:28:56.579 --> 00:28:57.279 not only are we 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.059 learning to be 00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.460 generous, 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.619 but we're learning 00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.779 to live large 00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.339 and little. 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.299 Which means, 00:29:03.919 --> 00:29:04.159 you know, 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.759 whether it's the 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.720 small groups that 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.339 are advertised 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.359 in the bulletin 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:07.979 or I don't know 00:29:07.979 --> 00:29:08.299 if they are 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.019 advertised in the 00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.339 bulletin, 00:29:09.439 --> 00:29:09.919 Vi's been, 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.299 Vi is sick 00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.839 and I don't know 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:12.379 if the bulletin's 00:29:12.379 --> 00:29:12.819 all up to date, 00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.299 but whether it's 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:13.899 one of the small 00:29:13.899 --> 00:29:14.539 groups that we 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:14.839 offer, 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.559 whether it's a 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.219 small group that 00:29:16.219 --> 00:29:16.819 we want to start 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.399 in our home 00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:18.240 or whatever, 00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:19.099 but learning to 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:20.039 live little 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:21.759 is part of what 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.439 it means to be 00:29:22.439 --> 00:29:23.259 the real church. 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:25.139 Please pray 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:27.039 that St. 00:29:27.159 --> 00:29:27.859 Albans 00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:29.719 will never forget 00:29:29.719 --> 00:29:30.479 the basics, 00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:31.839 but that we'll do 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:32.339 these really, 00:29:32.479 --> 00:29:32.859 really well. 00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.459 Let's pray. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:52.179 Loving Father, 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:52.839 we thank you 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:53.259 that you are 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:55.019 so patient with us. 00:29:55.479 --> 00:29:56.199 We give you 00:29:56.199 --> 00:29:57.079 thanks and praise 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.399 that you don't 00:29:57.399 --> 00:29:58.019 look at us 00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.699 and try to weigh 00:29:58.699 --> 00:29:59.439 our merits, 00:29:59.899 --> 00:30:00.619 but that you 00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:02.000 pardon our offenses. 00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:03.639 We give you 00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.639 thanks and praise 00:30:04.639 --> 00:30:05.599 that you don't 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.359 sort of look 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:07.099 down your nose 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.819 at us if we're 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.419 not doing as 00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:08.980 good a job 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.619 as we should 00:30:09.619 --> 00:30:09.939 be, 00:30:10.439 --> 00:30:11.219 but that you 00:30:11.219 --> 00:30:12.980 just day by day 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.740 and moment by 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.439 moment that you 00:30:14.439 --> 00:30:15.299 smile at us 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.000 and look at us 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.079 with eyes of love 00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:18.099 and desire only 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:19.159 the best for us. 00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:20.319 Father, 00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:20.859 we give you 00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:21.859 thanks and praise 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:23.219 for your fatherly 00:30:23.219 --> 00:30:23.539 care, 00:30:23.679 --> 00:30:24.639 your gentle care, 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.699 your kindness 00:30:25.699 --> 00:30:26.619 towards us. 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.079 Loving Father, 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.879 pour out your 00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.519 Holy Spirit 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.579 with fresh power 00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:31.359 upon us as a 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:31.779 congregation. 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:34.159 May these marks 00:30:34.159 --> 00:30:35.079 be the marks 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:36.039 that characterize us 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.619 as a people. 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:38.719 may you help us 00:30:38.719 --> 00:30:40.439 to help people 00:30:40.439 --> 00:30:41.439 to enter 00:30:41.439 --> 00:30:43.359 into your people, 00:30:43.939 --> 00:30:44.579 people who are 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:45.599 learning to call 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:46.199 on your name. 00:30:47.159 --> 00:30:47.559 And Father, 00:30:47.659 --> 00:30:48.619 may you help us 00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:49.379 to learn how to 00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:50.299 live as your people. 00:30:50.959 --> 00:30:51.719 Help us to learn 00:30:51.719 --> 00:30:52.679 how to live large 00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:53.159 and little 00:30:53.159 --> 00:30:54.419 and to live 00:30:54.419 --> 00:30:55.779 more generous lives 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:57.240 and to live lives 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.119 that are completely 00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:58.699 and utterly 00:30:58.699 --> 00:30:59.619 open to you. 00:31:00.419 --> 00:31:00.839 Father, 00:31:00.959 --> 00:31:01.699 this we ask 00:31:01.699 --> 00:31:02.679 in the name of Jesus. 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.400 Amen. 00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:03.539 Amen.