WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.000 And today I'm preaching on what is a church and how the church functions. 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:13.000 ! And to protect myself, I have to say this is not an exhaustive list. 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:18.000 ! One sermon cannot exhaust what the church is. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:27.000 I have 12 points, however, and each of these 12 points could be a sermon in themselves. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:34.000 I was commissioned by Josh to do 15 points, but I cut it down a little. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:40.000 However, this sermon serves as an overview of what Christ Church believes, 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:47.000 as we have some new people who are coming, how we function, and how we relate to one another in the body. 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:57.000 Before I jump into what the church is, I wonder, do you have a working definition of what the church is? 00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:05.000 If you consider yourself, you know, maybe you've gone to the church for years, maybe, you know, a month, 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:09.000 maybe like today's your first church service. What is the church? 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:12.000 Do you have a working definition of what that is? 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:16.000 If you go into a random church, you're like, oh, this is a healthy church. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:22.000 And throughout church history, the church has been called many things, right? 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:35.000 Including rapists, pedophiles, murderers, swindlers, master manipulators, greedy, harsh, and so on, right? 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:39.000 All of these things throughout church history and even now. 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:45.000 And if you're called and striving towards apostolic ministry or even eldership, 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:51.000 it's not optional for you to not have a definition of what the church is. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:53.000 You must have a definition. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:59.000 How can you govern God's church without knowing what it is and how it functions? 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:03.000 And this applies to all of us who are Christians, right? 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:05.000 And who don't know what the church is. 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:11.000 How can you give a defense for the church, a defense for your faith when the occasion arises? 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:15.000 You don't have a definition, right? 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:25.000 And so without further ado, my first point, which is that we are sons and daughters possessed by God, right? 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:32.000 And there's a lot of Bible passages for all of these points that I'm going to skip over. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.000 And I've just selected a few for all of them. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.000 These are not exhaustive, but just a few. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:40.000 So the first is 1 Peter 2, 9-10. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:48.000 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:53.000 that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:58.000 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:03.000 So in other words, a people who is possessed by God is owned by God. 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:05.000 I possess this phone. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:06.000 I own this phone. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:07.000 My phone. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:09.000 Do with it as I please. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:11.000 And that's pretty self-explanatory. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:18.000 But I want you to consider what that really means for who you are and who God is. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:23.000 You are no longer your own. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:25.000 You belong to God. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:29.000 And you are to act in accordance to how God wants you to act. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:30.000 Why? 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.000 Because he bought you. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:34.000 He owns you. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:35.000 You are his. 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:36.000 You are his. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:37.000 You are his. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:42.000 Paul often refers to himself as a bondservant of Christ doing the will of the master. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:47.000 And it's not wrong for us to consider ourselves the same way. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:50.000 But not as a slave, not as a servant. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.000 But as a servant, that's not how our father relates to us. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:58.000 He relates to us as sons and daughters. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:02.000 And we get to share in the glorious inheritance of our savior. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:03.000 Right? 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.000 We are sons and daughters who are possessed by God. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:07.000 We are owned by God. 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:12.000 Yet he doesn't relate to us as mere property, but as sons and daughters. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:13.000 Right? 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:24.000 Among the few that I've already named the heinous names the church has been given in church history. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:29.000 So, you know, pedophiles, thieves, murderers, master manipulators. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:39.000 The question we have to ask is, if that's what the church is being given, if that's a label of the church, are those people actually possessed by God? 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:41.000 Right? 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:42.000 Right? 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:48.000 Christ says, if you love me, you will obey my commands. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:49.000 Right? 00:04:49.000 --> 00:05:00.000 And in your life, if there's a pattern of sin in your life that's kind of defining, are you acting in accordance to how God would possess you? 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:07.000 You know, are you following the father of truth, his will? 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:12.000 Or the father of lies, Satan, his will? 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:14.000 Who are you possessed by? 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:15.000 Right? 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:24.000 If we are sons and daughters possessed by God, then what we are seeking is to follow his will and not Satan's. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:31.000 My second point, keep chugging along here, is family. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:42.000 There are lots of churches that talk a big talk about family and the family of God, yet there's no experience of family. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:44.000 None whatsoever. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:47.000 I've seen it firsthand. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:49.000 I've been a part of it. 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:56.000 And what drew me to Bellicose, the church that helped plant Christ Church, was that there was family there. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:57.000 Right? 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:01.000 Not just a mere talk of family, but it was palpable. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:02.000 You could touch it. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:04.000 You could experience it. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:08.000 And it's a marker of Christ Church as well. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:12.000 And so we don't want to just talk big about family. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.000 Right? 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:18.000 We don't want to just hold hands and sing Kumbaya. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:19.000 So what does that look like? 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:20.000 Right? 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:22.000 What does family look like? 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:24.000 Mark 3, 31 to 35 says, 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:29.000 And his mother and brothers came standing outside. 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:31.000 They said to him and called him. 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:33.000 And a crowd was sitting around him. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:34.000 And they said to him, 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:37.000 Your mother and your brothers are outside seeking you. 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:38.000 And he answered them, 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:41.000 Who are my mother and my brothers? 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:45.000 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:48.000 Here are my brother, my mother and brothers. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:55.000 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:56.000 Right? 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:58.000 Jesus says if anyone does the will of God. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:59.000 Right? 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:00.000 Very familiar. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:01.000 Right? 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:07.000 If anyone does the will of his father and his mother, they are his family. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:11.000 The scripture says, test yourself to see if you are in the faith. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:12.000 Right? 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.000 What does your obedience to God's will look like? 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:16.000 Right? 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:18.000 This is related also to the first point. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.000 Right? 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:21.000 Are you possessed by God? 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:22.000 What does your obedience look like? 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:29.000 If you are doing the will of God, then you are considered Jesus' brother, his sister, his mother. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:36.000 What does your obedience to God look like? 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:39.000 What does communing with God look like? 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:42.000 If you consider, when was the last time you picked up God's word and studied it? 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:43.000 Right? 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:45.000 What does your prayer time look like? 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:48.000 What does your intimacy with God look like? 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.000 Is it like relating to a family member? 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.000 To your father? 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:55.000 Right? 00:07:55.000 --> 00:08:00.000 In other scriptures, like 1 Timothy 5, 1-2 says, 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:04.000 Do not rebuke an older man, but encourage him as you would a father. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:10.000 Younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters in all purity. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.000 Paul says in Romans 16, 13, 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:19.000 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:25.000 The apostle Paul has someone who is related to him as a mother. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:27.000 That's not his own mother. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:31.000 She's commended for treating Paul like a son. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:36.000 1 Peter 2, 17, Love the brotherhood. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.000 Right? 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:40.000 These are all very familial languages. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:56.000 And a family, especially a healthy family, is one that knows one another, knows their likes, knows their dislikes, how they're doing, what their struggles are. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:59.000 They're open in heart and vulnerable as well. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:02.000 Vulnerable to receiving correction. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:11.000 And in the family of God, we must be in one another's lives so that we know one another. 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:12.000 Right? 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:22.000 I would have a very bad marriage if I didn't know my wife in that way, including with my kids. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:23.000 Here's an example to think about. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:25.000 Let's think about eldership. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:28.000 Can you just be an elder in a vacuum? 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:29.000 Right? 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:30.000 No one knows you. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.000 Right? 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:37.000 You must consult God's word and then consult the people of God. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:38.000 Right? 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:45.000 If the people of God don't know you, who you are, what you do, how are you going to be able to tell if you're qualified or not? 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:48.000 We all have blind spots. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:52.000 We must be in family. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:10:01.000 Another example, if you're seeking marriage, you're a young man, but you're addicted to pornography and your finances are out of order, 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:02.000 right? 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.000 Right? 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:08.000 It is the burden of God's people to rebuke you and call you to Christ. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:08.000 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:09.000 Right? 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:16.000 But you would not be able to know that if you're not in that person's life. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:17.000 Sure. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:18.000 Sure. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:23.000 You're so dull and so distant from the church and from the body and you're not enjoying anything right now. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:24.000 It is the burden of the church to pray for you. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:27.000 It is the burden of the church to pray for you. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:30.000 To question why you are so dull. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:32.000 Why there's no joy in you. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:39.000 It's the pro to understand, to commune with you. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:46.000 To understand that maybe you haven't communed with God in the past five months. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:58.000 And if you're celebrating an adoption or if you're having a birthday party and all things in life is going well, it is the burden of the church also to celebrate with you. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.000 Right? 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.000 That is what a family does. 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:14.000 And in a family, it rings in Christ's church that the mission of our church is the kingdom of God in all of life together. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:21.000 And it would be hard to do that mission if we're not rightly relating to one another's family. 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:29.000 I came from a very poor, very unhealthy family, a very abusive mother, very abusive father. 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:32.000 And we really don't communicate a whole lot. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:35.000 And if we do communicate, it's very surface level. 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:38.000 And everyone just cares about their own interests. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:42.000 That's not what we're pursuing. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.000 Right? 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:52.000 A personal example at Christ Church is when Sarah and I were trying to buy our house in last November. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:12:01.000 I got grilled so hard about all of my finances by different brothers. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:04.000 Zamir, what happens if you lose your job? 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:07.000 How much do you have saved up? 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:10.000 What happens if your boiler goes out? 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:13.000 It's like 10 grand to replace those things. 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:19.000 Asking all of these questions, having multiple conversations. 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:28.000 And, you know, if all of those things were to happen, my finances were in order, I lost my job, my boiler goes out. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:30.000 Do you know who I could rely on? 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:35.000 Those same brothers who were grilling me. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:36.000 And that's the family of God. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:37.000 And that's the family of God. 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:39.000 That's the expression of the family of God. 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:42.000 To bear one another's burdens. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:49.000 And remember, there's no perfect church. 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:54.000 Even if there's a strong family in a church, there's no perfect church. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:13:00.000 And even if you found a perfect church, once you joined it, it would cease to be perfect. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:03.000 Because you joined them. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:05.000 Number three. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:09.000 The church of God is God's bride. 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:11.000 Christ's bride. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:14.000 Revelation 19, 17 says, 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:17.000 Let us rejoice and exalt and give glory. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:22.000 For the marriage of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:25.000 Revelation 21, 2. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:33.000 And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from the heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:36.000 Revelation 21, 9. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:43.000 Then come one of the seven angels who had seven bowls full of seven, the seven last blanks, spoke to me, saying, 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:48.000 Come, and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:53.000 This bride that is being talked about is the church. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.000 Right? 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:56.000 The church of God. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:02.000 As Seth preached two weeks ago, Christ is the head of the church. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:07.000 And if you haven't heard that sermon, I would highly recommend it. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:14.000 That the church of God acts in a feminine way towards God, towards Christ. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.000 Right? 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:16.000 We are his bride. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.000 Our affections are towards him. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:21.000 We are to prepare ourselves for him. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:22.000 Right? 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:25.000 Our desires are to be for him. 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:28.000 And that begs the question, where are our desires? 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.000 Right? 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:38.000 If we are his bride, if our affections are to be for him, if our preparation is to be for him, are we making ourselves ready? 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:42.000 Following the commands that he left for us. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:46.000 You know, namely, the great commission that he left for us. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.000 Make yourself ready. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:52.000 Go and make disciples of all nations. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:57.000 Have you considered that you are his bride? 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:59.000 Are you making yourself ready? 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:03.000 When Christ returns, he returns for his bride. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.000 Right? 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:07.000 Right? 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:19.000 And those who are not founded in the church, and even those who despise his bride, must reconsider. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:22.000 Because Christ returns for his bride. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.000 Imagine this. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:27.000 I have a group of friends who love me dearly. 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:28.000 Right? 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:29.000 Love hanging out with me. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:31.000 Love talking with me. 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:33.000 You know, great friends. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:34.000 I love talking to them. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:36.000 But they hate my wife. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.000 Or they think really ill of my wife. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:45.000 What would I have to do with them? 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.000 Right? 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:47.000 My wife and I are one. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:48.000 Right? 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.000 Yeah. 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:50.000 Right? 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:51.000 Yeah. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.000 Yeah. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:57.000 So Christ likewise loves his bride. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:00.000 Do not despise his bride. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.000 His bride is the church. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:08.000 Point number four, fellowship. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:19.000 The Greek word koinonia, bear with me, is meant to describe fellowship. 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:20.000 Right? 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.000 It's usually translated. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:23.000 It can be translated fellowship. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:28.000 It can also be translated partnership or joint participation. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.000 Right? 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:41.000 So, Acts 2, 42. 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:47.000 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.000 and to prayer. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.000 Right? 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:53.000 That fellowship there is koinonia. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.000 It's partnership. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.000 It's joint participation. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.000 Right? 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:03.000 They devoted themselves, if you want to just say, they devoted themselves to fellowship. 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:04.000 The last word says, 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:17.000 I thank my God in all remembrance of you, always in the prayer of mine for you all making my 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:23.000 prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:26.000 2 Corinthians 6, 14 says, 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:33.000 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.000 Right? 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:42.000 As Josh is doing a series on partnership, suffice it to say that the kingdom of darkness rages 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:48.000 against the church, and we cannot stand isolated fighting by ourselves. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:53.000 In this partnership that Paul talks of, we need to be joined together. 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:54.000 Right? 00:17:54.000 --> 00:18:01.000 There are many who believe that they can just do church by themselves. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:07.000 You know, I can just go fishing, spend time with the Lord and pray and be good. 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:10.000 If that were true, I wouldn't be here right now. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:13.000 But don't take my word for it. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:15.000 Listen to what I just read. 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:19.000 They devoted themselves to fellowship. 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:20.000 Right? 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:22.000 That is what the church did. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:26.000 They partnered together with Paul for the gospel. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:28.000 They did that together. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.000 It's not in a vacuum. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:32.000 That is not how God has set up his church to be. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:37.000 Elsewhere in the Proverbs, it says, 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:41.000 The man who isolates himself is a fool. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:44.000 That's what the scripture says. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.000 Right? 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:47.000 We are not meant to be isolated. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:50.000 We are meant to be yoked together in partnership. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:55.000 Even the common phrase, no man is an island. 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.000 Right? 00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:02.000 Brings that every man, even unbelievers, need community. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:12.000 And the nature of God himself, the triune God is one of fellowship. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:16.000 We would not have fellowship if our God didn't have fellowship. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:23.000 So, on to one number five, flock. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:25.000 The flock of God. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:27.000 Church is the flock. 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:32.000 In the New Testament, usually when flock or the flock of God is mentioned, 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:36.000 it's usually in relation to leadership or shepherding. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.000 Right? 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:40.000 Acts 20, verse 28. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:49.000 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God, 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:51.000 which he obtained by his own blood. 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:57.000 Peter, 1 Peter 5, 1-5. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:04.000 So I exhort the elders among you as fellow elders and a witness of sufferings of Christ, 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:07.000 as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:18.000 Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you, 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:25.000 not for shameful gain, but eagerly, not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:31.000 And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:36.000 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:39.000 Close yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another. 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:44.000 For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:49.000 Christ is our head. He is our shepherd. He is the great shepherd. 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:51.000 He's the one leading us, ultimately. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:55.000 And truly, we are stupid sheep. Right? 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:57.000 I'd admit that. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:02.000 And we need his defense, and we need his guarding. Right? 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:09.000 Like David, before he fights Goliath, he talks to Saul, and he talks about how he protects the flock. 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:14.000 He fights the lion and the bear to protect his flocks. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:21.000 And there's no difference in what Jesus does for us, in how he leads us, guides us, and protects us. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:25.000 He defends us from the kingdom of darkness. 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:32.000 He guards us. He leads us in the paths of righteousness. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:37.000 In the name, in his name, darkness must flee. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:45.000 And for those who are considering eldership, overseeing an epistolic ministry, this is the labor of the shepherd. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:47.000 Protecting the flock. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:50.000 Fierce wolves are coming. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:22:02.000 If you're thinking, I'll just kick my feet up, I'll preach a few sermons, breakfast here, dinner there, that's not it. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:11.000 You protect the flock of God by ultimately looking to the head shepherd. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:18.000 By praying, by fasting, weeping for the salvation of your flock's souls. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:21.000 Doing meetings at 6 a.m. 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:24.000 After you've been up all night. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.000 Showing up to people's houses when they're in the middle of sin. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:29.000 When they've drunk, they're filled. 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:33.000 And it's midnight, and you're tired, and they're calling you. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:36.000 Guarding the flock from stupidity. 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:40.000 A foolish young man who's about to make a stupid decision. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:46.000 Mothers, sisters, brothers, old men in folly and need encouragement. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:48.000 That is the task. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:23:04.000 If you don't enjoy dwelling with the sheep, if you don't enjoy smelling like the flock, then you shouldn't consider being an older. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:11.000 And you, flock, me, all of us, remember, the Lord is our shepherd. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:13.000 We have what we need. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:18.000 Number six. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.000 Body. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:31.000 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:39.000 And individually members one of another, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:41.000 Let us use them. 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:47.000 Seth again, which is a great sermon on Christ being the head of our body. 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:52.000 And a body without a head is dead. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:55.000 And it's dead faith, right? 00:23:55.000 --> 00:24:05.000 If you come to church and you do all the stuff, but Christ is not your foundation, he is not your head, then you have a dead faith. 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:11.000 And we cannot put Christ out of order. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:18.000 And according to our giftings and according to how God has called us, we also must act in accordance. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:28.000 I think, as I was preparing for the sermon, of the hilarity of the liver if we're trying to take the place of the hands. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:29.000 Right? 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:32.000 Because it wanted to be seen more. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.000 Right? 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:36.000 Liver is like, I really want people to see me more. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:38.000 So I want to be the hands. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:41.000 Like, no liver, that's not your function. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:44.000 Your function is to filter. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:49.000 It's to metabolize nutrients and produce critical protein. 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:57.000 To take out the toxins of the blood and filter those chemicals like red dye 40 and yellow 6. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:59.000 And to make the body feel better. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.000 Right? 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:03.000 And the body would implode and die without the liver. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:05.000 If it tried to be a hand. 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:13.000 And in the same way, the question must be asked for you believers who make up the body. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:22.000 Your giftings, your calling, are you acting according to how you are called, according to how you are gifted? 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:26.000 Are you prioritizing what the Lord has called you to? 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:28.000 How the Lord has gifted you? 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:31.000 Are you acting like how you must be acting? 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:36.000 If you're not, then you're hurting the body. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:41.000 The body is not functioning the way it's supposed to be. 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:44.000 Because you are not. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:48.000 Don't despise the giftings and the callings that the Lord has given to you. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:52.000 Like how Jonah despised going to Nineveh. 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:55.000 Don't despise the Lord has called you to. 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:58.000 But look to your master and say, 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:00.000 You have redeemed me. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.000 You have purchased me. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:03.000 Your will be done. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:05.000 Not my own. 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:08.000 So onto number seven. 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:10.000 House, building and temple. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:15.000 First Peter says, 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.000 You yourselves. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:19.000 I'm just going to read four scripture verses. 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:32.000 You yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:35.000 Living stones is what I want you to take hold of. 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:37.000 Matthew 16, 18. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:39.000 And I tell you, you are Peter. 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:42.000 And on this rock I will build my church. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:45.000 And the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:49.000 The confession that Christ is Lord. 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.000 Mark 11, 17. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:52.000 And he was teaching them and saying to them, 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:57.000 It is written, my house shall be called a house of prayer for the nations. 00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:02.000 First Corinthians 3, 16 to 17. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:04.000 The you here is plural. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.000 Plural. 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:06.000 Plural. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.000 Plural, by the way. 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:13.000 Do you know, do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's spirit dwell in you? 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:17.000 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:19.000 For God's temple is holy. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:21.000 You are that temple. 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:28.000 God no longer dwells in a house built by human hands. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:33.000 He built, he dwells in houses bought by his blood. 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:35.000 Right? 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:38.000 His people, his possessions. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:42.000 No longer do nations come to a temple to pray. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:47.000 We are a house of prayer for the nations. 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:54.000 The greatest gift that God could have given to us is himself, which he did. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:58.000 God has built his church. 00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:04.000 And the blocks that are used for his church are living stones. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:06.000 You are those stones. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:12.000 And we are his temple, which leads to the next point. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:15.000 Priesthood, which are, we are his priests. 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:16.000 Right? 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:18.000 We are God's house. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:22.000 We are the priests in his temple. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:31.000 And like I already read, we are living stones being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:38.000 To offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ Jesus. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:44.000 Not only are we temple in the house of God, but in the service of the temple, we are the priests. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:49.000 However, we don't rely on the blood of bulls and goats. 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:54.000 The one great man has already offered himself up as a sacrifice. 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:58.000 No more does one man have to go behind a curtain. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:01.000 He has torn the curtain. 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:06.000 We have full access to God. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:13.000 We can go before the throne of grace, the throne of God, and not die because of Christ Jesus. 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:17.000 He makes us priests. 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:18.000 Not just sons and daughters. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:20.000 We are also priests. 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:21.000 Take care. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.000 Take care. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.000 Take care. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.000 Take care. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.000 Take care. 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.000 Take care. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:27.000 Take care. 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:28.000 Take care. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:29.000 Take care. 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:30.000 Take care. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.000 Take care. 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:32.000 Take care. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.000 Take care. 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:34.000 Take care. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:36.000 Take care. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:37.000 Take care. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.000 Take care. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.000 Take care. 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:40.000 Take care. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.000 Take care. 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.000 Take care. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:43.000 Take care. 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:44.000 Take care. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.000 Take care. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:46.000 Take care. 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.000 Take care. 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:48.000 Take care. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.000 Take care. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:52.380 before obeying his commands and trusting them, 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:56.319 not leaning on ourselves, but leaning upon him, 00:29:58.180 --> 00:30:00.619 leaning upon the everlasting arm. 00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:04.859 Number nine, pillar of truth. 00:30:08.619 --> 00:30:11.519 1 Timothy 3, 15. 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:15.160 If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave 00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:16.339 in the household of God, 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:18.539 which is the church of the living God. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:21.220 A pillar and buttress of truth. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.720 I have no clue what a buttress is, 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.819 but it's kind of a funny word. 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:32.220 It's a support kind of for a wall. 00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:34.559 It's like a triangle almost in architecture. 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.279 It supports the wall, 00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:40.839 and it's what you'd see in really old cathedrals. 00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:44.500 But it's a support. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:46.960 It holds it up like a pillar, right? 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:49.340 Same word, pillar, buttress. 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:57.059 But the church of the living God is a pillar and buttress of truth. 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:59.460 John 17, 17 says, 00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:01.399 Sanctify them in your truth. 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:03.299 Your word is truth. 00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:05.440 John 4, 23. 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:09.579 The hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers 00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:12.779 will worship the Father in spirit and truth. 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:16.059 For the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:18.399 God is spirit, 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:22.200 and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:25.299 Do your best, 2 Timothy 2, 15. 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:27.859 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, 00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:31.319 a worker who has no need to be ashamed, 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:34.160 rightly handling the word of truth. 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:38.660 We are a pillar of truth. 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:40.740 As a church, we hold truth. 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.800 We defend it. 00:31:42.340 --> 00:31:43.019 Teeth and nail. 00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.940 Our Father is truth. 00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:47.700 His word is truth. 00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:51.940 Jesus, our Savior, is the way, the truth, and the life. 00:31:53.100 --> 00:31:55.400 We worship the Father in spirit and in truth. 00:31:56.500 --> 00:32:01.840 This world with its woke ideologies and lies about so many things, 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.500 especially about who men and women are, 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:07.679 about how to find our value and dignity, 00:32:08.679 --> 00:32:10.059 about how to find worth. 00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:13.720 Search for work, not work possessions, 00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:15.259 not possessions, riches, 00:32:15.879 --> 00:32:17.559 not riches, go smell the roses. 00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:22.379 Brothers and sisters, we hold the truth of the Bible, 00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:26.799 which is the great sword to defend against these lies. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:28.159 Right? 00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:30.819 Do you recall who Satan is? 00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:32.460 What's the name? 00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:34.579 The Father of Lies. 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:40.240 If we're actively defending and fighting for truth 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:42.579 and holding on to what is truth, 00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:46.059 the Father of Lies seeks to deceive us. 00:32:48.139 --> 00:32:50.519 He seeks to deter us like Adam and Eve. 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:54.539 You're naive to think if he's not. 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:59.440 So how do we guard against Satan's schemes? 00:33:00.859 --> 00:33:03.940 How do we safeguard against despair in the midst of temptations, 00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:05.740 in the midst of believing lies? 00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:08.559 We turn to God and His word, 00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:11.680 and we worship Him in spirit and truth. 00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:14.099 Very simple. 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:16.459 Where there's confusion, 00:33:16.459 --> 00:33:17.899 where there's gray, 00:33:18.419 --> 00:33:19.759 where there's deception, 00:33:20.159 --> 00:33:21.980 we must turn to God. 00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:26.199 Satan seeks to deceive, 00:33:26.699 --> 00:33:30.099 but God seeks to bring clarity and truth. 00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:33.379 We have to be strong in the Lord 00:33:33.379 --> 00:33:35.279 and the power of His might. 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.299 That's the only way. 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.799 Number 10. 00:33:38.959 --> 00:33:39.939 A holy nation. 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:41.439 There's three things. 00:33:41.939 --> 00:33:42.799 A holy nation, 00:33:43.419 --> 00:33:44.379 light of the world, 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:46.019 and salt of the earth. 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:46.639 Okay? 00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:49.619 Three heavy hitters. 00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:51.799 I put these three together, 00:33:51.979 --> 00:33:55.639 mainly because I think they convey the same idea, 00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:57.059 which is, 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.500 though we are in the world, 00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.699 we are not of the world. 00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:03.579 And first would be nations, right? 00:34:05.059 --> 00:34:07.559 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, 00:34:07.719 --> 00:34:08.699 making His appeal. 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:10.739 God making His appeal through us. 00:34:11.259 --> 00:34:12.699 We implore you on behalf of Christ 00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:14.059 to be reconciled to God. 00:34:14.779 --> 00:34:17.819 An ambassador is someone from another country, right? 00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:19.720 We are, 00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:21.820 these churches are like little embassies. 00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:24.940 Embassies of the heavenly kingdom. 00:34:27.580 --> 00:34:28.740 Philippians 3.20 00:34:28.740 --> 00:34:31.460 says the same idea, 00:34:31.600 --> 00:34:33.320 but our citizenship is in heaven, 00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:35.640 and from it we await a Savior, 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:37.320 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:34:38.120 --> 00:34:39.519 No longer are we 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:42.480 just people of the earth, 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:45.559 people of heaven, right? 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:47.740 We are a new creation. 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.240 Born again. 00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:52.000 We are in the world, 00:34:52.100 --> 00:34:53.620 but we are not of the world no more. 00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:57.580 And so, 00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:59.340 being in the world, 00:34:59.700 --> 00:35:00.660 and not of the world, 00:35:01.200 --> 00:35:01.900 we seek 00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:04.340 to fight against the darkness, 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:06.080 the kingdom of darkness, 00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:07.900 which means that we are the 00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:08.820 light of the world. 00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:10.000 Right? 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:12.539 You are the light of the world. 00:35:12.719 --> 00:35:14.900 A city on a hill cannot be hidden, 00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:16.960 nor do people light a lamp 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:18.079 and put it under a basket, 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.380 but on a stand, 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.139 and gives light 00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:22.360 in all the house. 00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:23.260 In the same way, 00:35:23.340 --> 00:35:25.199 let your light shine before others, 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:27.460 so that they may see your good works 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:28.739 and give glory 00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:31.019 to your Father who is in heaven. 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:31.780 Right? 00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:34.019 We are in this world 00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:34.900 as ambassadors 00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:36.180 to shine the light, 00:35:36.580 --> 00:35:37.400 this new creation, 00:35:37.560 --> 00:35:38.180 this gospel 00:35:38.180 --> 00:35:39.280 that is inside of us, 00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:40.620 to proclaim it 00:35:40.620 --> 00:35:41.680 and bring light 00:35:41.680 --> 00:35:42.980 to this kingdom of darkness 00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:44.540 that Satan has corrupted. 00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:51.420 And then on top of that, 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.539 we are also salt. 00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:54.420 You are the salt 00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:55.219 of the earth. 00:35:56.099 --> 00:35:56.800 But if salt 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:58.059 has lost its taste, 00:35:58.380 --> 00:35:59.019 how shall it 00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:01.000 saltiness be restored? 00:36:02.219 --> 00:36:03.139 It is no longer good 00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:03.659 for anything 00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:04.860 except to be thrown out 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:06.099 and trampled under feet. 00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:06.719 Right? 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.759 There is nothing so good 00:36:08.759 --> 00:36:10.119 as salt on a stake. 00:36:11.699 --> 00:36:12.219 Right? 00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.300 Like, 00:36:13.300 --> 00:36:14.620 if I just had a stake 00:36:14.620 --> 00:36:15.300 with no salt, 00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:16.820 ugh. 00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:18.800 Right? 00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:21.440 But we are to be different. 00:36:22.120 --> 00:36:23.400 We are not to conform 00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:24.340 to this world. 00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:26.100 We are to overcome this world. 00:36:26.180 --> 00:36:26.880 Christ has already 00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.840 overcome this world. 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.260 We are to be the light 00:36:29.260 --> 00:36:29.980 of this world. 00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:30.600 Right? 00:36:31.600 --> 00:36:32.160 We are to God 00:36:32.160 --> 00:36:32.920 and proclaim 00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:34.980 His mercies. 00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.760 His mercies are more. 00:36:36.760 --> 00:36:37.280 Right? 00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:40.960 Onward. 00:36:43.300 --> 00:36:48.940 We are a field. 00:36:49.580 --> 00:36:50.260 Number 11. 00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:54.660 1 Corinthians 3, 5-9. 00:36:54.660 --> 00:36:56.160 What then is Apollos? 00:36:56.620 --> 00:36:57.460 What then is Paul? 00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:59.160 Servants through whom 00:36:59.160 --> 00:36:59.720 you have believed. 00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:01.100 As the Lord assigned to each, 00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:01.820 I planted, 00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:03.240 Apollos watered, 00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:04.640 but God gave the growth. 00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:07.099 So neither he who plants 00:37:07.099 --> 00:37:07.900 nor he waters 00:37:07.900 --> 00:37:08.480 is anything, 00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:09.379 but only God 00:37:09.379 --> 00:37:10.339 who gives the growth. 00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:11.819 He who plants 00:37:11.819 --> 00:37:12.699 and he who waters 00:37:12.699 --> 00:37:13.219 are one. 00:37:14.379 --> 00:37:15.440 Each one will receive 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:16.039 his wages 00:37:16.039 --> 00:37:17.019 according to his labor. 00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:19.159 For we are God's 00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:19.819 fellow workers. 00:37:20.839 --> 00:37:21.159 You 00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:22.859 are God's field. 00:37:23.819 --> 00:37:24.679 God's building. 00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:25.599 Right? 00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:26.859 This field that 00:37:26.859 --> 00:37:28.400 Paul and Apollos 00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:29.900 and we also 00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:30.619 are working in 00:37:30.619 --> 00:37:31.819 is God's field. 00:37:32.219 --> 00:37:32.480 Right? 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:34.119 And we are also 00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:35.079 in God's field. 00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:35.840 Right? 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:38.079 Planted by God. 00:37:38.900 --> 00:37:39.940 By the use of our 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:41.400 someone who preached 00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:42.260 the gospel to us 00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:42.659 planted 00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:44.019 and being grown 00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:45.159 by the Lord. 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:45.780 Right? 00:37:47.139 --> 00:37:47.420 You know, 00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:48.820 that shows that 00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:50.119 this field 00:37:50.119 --> 00:37:51.079 that's being talked about, 00:37:51.240 --> 00:37:52.380 it's God's field. 00:37:53.059 --> 00:37:54.139 He plants the seed. 00:37:54.139 --> 00:37:55.960 You know, 00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:56.779 are you stuck 00:37:56.779 --> 00:37:57.379 in despair? 00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:59.039 Tired of the mundane 00:37:59.039 --> 00:37:59.619 of lies? 00:38:00.259 --> 00:38:01.679 And no longer 00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:02.400 feeling joy 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:03.179 in your salvation? 00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:03.739 Do you know 00:38:03.739 --> 00:38:04.460 who gives growth 00:38:04.460 --> 00:38:04.799 in that? 00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:06.420 God. 00:38:09.779 --> 00:38:10.739 Ask him to grow 00:38:10.739 --> 00:38:11.559 you up in the faith. 00:38:12.759 --> 00:38:13.539 Ask him to grow 00:38:13.539 --> 00:38:14.319 your salvation. 00:38:15.119 --> 00:38:15.839 Not salvation, 00:38:16.159 --> 00:38:17.099 but your joy. 00:38:18.779 --> 00:38:19.779 Ask him to grow 00:38:19.779 --> 00:38:20.420 your pleasures. 00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:26.240 If God's word 00:38:26.240 --> 00:38:26.940 has been planted 00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:28.240 deep in your heart, 00:38:28.300 --> 00:38:29.300 then it takes root 00:38:29.300 --> 00:38:30.059 everywhere. 00:38:30.700 --> 00:38:30.900 Right? 00:38:31.220 --> 00:38:32.139 There's no longer 00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:33.519 a secret part of your life 00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.500 that you want to keep. 00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:35.000 Right? 00:38:35.539 --> 00:38:36.619 It takes root everywhere. 00:38:36.960 --> 00:38:38.099 And you must give 00:38:38.099 --> 00:38:39.059 those secret things 00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.760 up to the Lord. 00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:46.220 Have you been 00:38:46.220 --> 00:38:47.039 seeking to grow? 00:38:48.820 --> 00:38:49.639 How have you been 00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:50.280 seeking to grow? 00:38:50.420 --> 00:38:52.280 Right? 00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:55.420 Have you sought 00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:56.280 discipleship? 00:38:57.200 --> 00:38:57.659 Have you sought 00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.260 to be father? 00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:02.400 Have you sought 00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:04.519 to prepare yourself 00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:06.659 by listening 00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:08.500 and receiving 00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:09.599 teachings of doctrine? 00:39:10.680 --> 00:39:11.300 Have you sought 00:39:11.300 --> 00:39:12.300 to know God 00:39:12.300 --> 00:39:13.840 and his word? 00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:15.940 God is generous 00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:16.880 to give growth. 00:39:18.740 --> 00:39:19.579 I know. 00:39:19.579 --> 00:39:22.179 He's given me 00:39:22.179 --> 00:39:22.840 tons of growth. 00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:26.019 And anything 00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:26.940 that is healthy 00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:27.619 grows. 00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:32.380 He is the owner, 00:39:32.799 --> 00:39:33.759 he is the gardener, 00:39:33.819 --> 00:39:34.719 and he protects 00:39:34.719 --> 00:39:35.179 the garden. 00:39:36.980 --> 00:39:37.940 He guards, 00:39:38.319 --> 00:39:39.019 but he also 00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:40.000 prunes you. 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:44.019 The word says, 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.780 no discipline 00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:45.619 seems pleasant 00:39:45.619 --> 00:39:46.320 at the time, 00:39:46.380 --> 00:39:47.059 but painful. 00:39:48.119 --> 00:39:48.760 Later on, 00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:49.099 however, 00:39:49.179 --> 00:39:49.719 it produces 00:39:49.719 --> 00:39:51.480 a harvest 00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:52.639 of righteousness 00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:53.920 and peace 00:39:53.920 --> 00:39:54.380 for those 00:39:54.380 --> 00:39:54.739 who have been 00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:55.460 trained by it. 00:39:56.159 --> 00:39:57.480 We need pruning. 00:39:57.840 --> 00:39:58.800 We need discipline. 00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:00.340 It's God 00:40:00.340 --> 00:40:00.860 who prunes. 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:02.219 Do not despise 00:40:02.219 --> 00:40:03.699 his discipline. 00:40:03.699 --> 00:40:06.980 Number 12. 00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:08.759 Almost there. 00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:14.500 The church 00:40:14.500 --> 00:40:15.719 is God's army. 00:40:16.879 --> 00:40:17.439 Right? 00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:22.880 I think it's way 00:40:22.880 --> 00:40:23.780 cooler to think 00:40:23.780 --> 00:40:24.800 of an army 00:40:24.800 --> 00:40:26.679 like a Spartan army 00:40:26.679 --> 00:40:27.900 like a Roman army 00:40:27.900 --> 00:40:29.840 like a sword 00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:31.320 and shields 00:40:31.320 --> 00:40:33.000 than like an army 00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:33.679 with guns. 00:40:35.260 --> 00:40:35.900 I just think 00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:36.460 it's way cooler. 00:40:36.720 --> 00:40:37.800 Maybe I'm a romantic 00:40:37.800 --> 00:40:39.159 of swords and shields, 00:40:39.300 --> 00:40:39.820 but I just think 00:40:39.820 --> 00:40:40.559 it's so much cooler. 00:40:40.559 --> 00:40:42.759 And Paul agrees 00:40:42.759 --> 00:40:44.259 because he's never 00:40:44.259 --> 00:40:45.059 seen a gun before. 00:40:49.599 --> 00:40:51.699 But there are 00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:52.739 three foes 00:40:52.739 --> 00:40:53.920 that we fight 00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:54.460 against 00:40:54.460 --> 00:40:55.279 in the army 00:40:55.279 --> 00:40:55.960 of the Lord. 00:40:56.340 --> 00:40:56.440 Right? 00:40:56.500 --> 00:40:57.460 There's two external 00:40:57.460 --> 00:40:58.039 foes 00:40:58.039 --> 00:41:00.039 and one internal 00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:00.940 which is our own 00:41:00.940 --> 00:41:01.360 flesh. 00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:02.119 Right? 00:41:03.179 --> 00:41:04.199 Paul tells us 00:41:04.199 --> 00:41:05.179 in Ephesians 6, 00:41:06.219 --> 00:41:06.799 finally, 00:41:07.420 --> 00:41:08.019 be strong 00:41:08.019 --> 00:41:08.500 in the Lord 00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:10.000 and in 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:10.840 the strength 00:41:10.840 --> 00:41:11.420 of his might. 00:41:11.559 --> 00:41:12.519 Put on the whole 00:41:12.519 --> 00:41:13.500 armor of God 00:41:13.500 --> 00:41:15.019 so that you may 00:41:15.019 --> 00:41:15.539 be able to 00:41:15.539 --> 00:41:16.880 withstand the schemes 00:41:16.880 --> 00:41:17.500 of the devil 00:41:17.500 --> 00:41:19.800 or stand against 00:41:19.800 --> 00:41:20.760 the schemes of the devil. 00:41:20.940 --> 00:41:21.659 For we do not 00:41:21.659 --> 00:41:22.360 wrestle against 00:41:22.360 --> 00:41:23.280 flesh and blood, 00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:24.840 but against the rulers, 00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:25.980 against authorities, 00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:27.480 against cosmic powers 00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:28.480 over this present 00:41:28.480 --> 00:41:28.920 darkness, 00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:30.320 against the spiritual 00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:31.480 forces of evil 00:41:31.480 --> 00:41:32.619 in the heavenly places. 00:41:33.539 --> 00:41:33.940 Therefore, 00:41:35.039 --> 00:41:36.179 take up the whole 00:41:36.179 --> 00:41:37.019 armor of God 00:41:37.019 --> 00:41:38.659 that you may be able 00:41:38.659 --> 00:41:39.320 to withstand 00:41:39.320 --> 00:41:40.360 in the evil day 00:41:40.360 --> 00:41:41.700 and having 00:41:41.700 --> 00:41:42.900 done all 00:41:42.900 --> 00:41:43.920 to stand firm. 00:41:44.580 --> 00:41:45.300 We are in 00:41:45.300 --> 00:41:46.160 these evil days. 00:41:47.300 --> 00:41:48.200 These days are evil. 00:41:49.200 --> 00:41:49.460 Right? 00:41:51.100 --> 00:41:52.200 And our battle, 00:41:52.360 --> 00:41:53.200 we must remember, 00:41:53.300 --> 00:41:53.720 is not against 00:41:53.720 --> 00:41:54.400 flesh and blood, 00:41:54.700 --> 00:41:56.039 but the cosmic powers. 00:41:56.780 --> 00:41:57.840 We need to see that. 00:41:58.300 --> 00:41:58.960 We fight against 00:41:58.960 --> 00:41:59.360 Satan 00:41:59.360 --> 00:42:01.580 and his lies 00:42:01.580 --> 00:42:03.539 who tempts us 00:42:03.539 --> 00:42:04.200 away from the 00:42:04.200 --> 00:42:04.900 Father of Truth. 00:42:05.200 --> 00:42:06.059 So what do we do 00:42:06.059 --> 00:42:06.799 in his lies? 00:42:07.799 --> 00:42:08.779 We fasten 00:42:08.779 --> 00:42:09.759 the belt of 00:42:09.759 --> 00:42:10.440 truth. 00:42:11.940 --> 00:42:12.980 And we wrestle. 00:42:13.619 --> 00:42:14.599 And as we wrestle 00:42:14.599 --> 00:42:16.279 in the world 00:42:16.279 --> 00:42:17.480 of unrighteousness, 00:42:17.679 --> 00:42:18.699 we must wrestle 00:42:18.699 --> 00:42:19.099 with the 00:42:19.099 --> 00:42:20.400 breastplate of 00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:20.820 righteousness. 00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:22.039 Right? 00:42:22.099 --> 00:42:23.139 The two foes 00:42:23.139 --> 00:42:23.719 that are external 00:42:23.719 --> 00:42:24.360 is the world 00:42:24.360 --> 00:42:24.900 and the devil. 00:42:25.460 --> 00:42:25.940 Right? 00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:29.539 And then our flesh 00:42:29.539 --> 00:42:31.039 loves 00:42:31.039 --> 00:42:32.279 the devil. 00:42:33.279 --> 00:42:34.360 Loves the world. 00:42:34.360 --> 00:42:37.079 When Satan tempts 00:42:37.079 --> 00:42:37.220 us, 00:42:37.280 --> 00:42:37.860 our flesh is like, 00:42:37.940 --> 00:42:38.120 oh, 00:42:38.660 --> 00:42:38.800 bro, 00:42:38.880 --> 00:42:39.280 just give it. 00:42:40.140 --> 00:42:41.220 You know you want it. 00:42:41.820 --> 00:42:43.160 That is your old man 00:42:43.160 --> 00:42:44.640 coming out 00:42:44.640 --> 00:42:45.680 and saying, 00:42:45.880 --> 00:42:47.340 you used to be like this. 00:42:47.360 --> 00:42:48.400 You can be like this again. 00:42:48.980 --> 00:42:50.300 Remember how sweet it was? 00:42:51.300 --> 00:42:52.380 But we must beat 00:42:52.380 --> 00:42:53.099 that old man 00:42:53.099 --> 00:42:53.780 in submission. 00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:56.000 We must take up 00:42:56.000 --> 00:42:56.559 our cross 00:42:56.559 --> 00:42:57.940 and crucify our flesh 00:42:57.940 --> 00:42:59.380 and follow Christ. 00:42:59.380 --> 00:43:05.559 I recently read 00:43:05.559 --> 00:43:06.660 The Old Man in the Sea. 00:43:07.920 --> 00:43:08.599 Good book. 00:43:09.599 --> 00:43:10.800 I dropped out of high school 00:43:10.800 --> 00:43:11.800 so I didn't get to read 00:43:11.800 --> 00:43:12.300 it in high school. 00:43:13.320 --> 00:43:14.300 But most of you 00:43:14.300 --> 00:43:15.079 have probably read it. 00:43:15.800 --> 00:43:16.500 But there's 00:43:16.500 --> 00:43:17.760 there's a 00:43:17.760 --> 00:43:20.260 the scene 00:43:20.260 --> 00:43:22.119 that I want to describe 00:43:22.119 --> 00:43:22.920 is when 00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:24.260 he's fighting 00:43:24.260 --> 00:43:24.960 against 00:43:24.960 --> 00:43:25.920 the marlin. 00:43:26.240 --> 00:43:27.700 This great big fish 00:43:27.699 --> 00:43:28.899 that's 18 feet long. 00:43:29.339 --> 00:43:29.460 Right? 00:43:30.299 --> 00:43:30.879 And 00:43:30.879 --> 00:43:32.919 it's just himself 00:43:32.919 --> 00:43:34.439 in a small skiff 00:43:34.439 --> 00:43:36.139 and his left arm 00:43:36.139 --> 00:43:36.899 is cramping 00:43:36.899 --> 00:43:37.939 the entire time 00:43:37.939 --> 00:43:38.839 and 00:43:38.839 --> 00:43:40.219 his back 00:43:40.219 --> 00:43:40.619 like 00:43:40.619 --> 00:43:41.460 he has the cord 00:43:41.460 --> 00:43:41.980 on his back 00:43:41.980 --> 00:43:42.899 and he's wrestling 00:43:42.899 --> 00:43:44.159 against this great fish 00:43:44.159 --> 00:43:45.379 day and night 00:43:45.379 --> 00:43:47.460 and he seeks 00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:48.159 the glory 00:43:48.159 --> 00:43:49.139 and the prize 00:43:49.139 --> 00:43:50.539 of getting this fish. 00:43:51.219 --> 00:43:52.679 So we must wrestle. 00:43:53.879 --> 00:43:55.919 So we must fight. 00:43:57.699 --> 00:43:59.419 But our prize 00:43:59.419 --> 00:44:00.559 is not a great fish. 00:44:01.239 --> 00:44:02.259 And the great fish 00:44:02.259 --> 00:44:03.099 ends up being eaten. 00:44:04.059 --> 00:44:05.079 Our prize 00:44:05.079 --> 00:44:06.319 is an eternal crown. 00:44:07.019 --> 00:44:08.139 Crown of glory. 00:44:09.339 --> 00:44:10.439 And as the old man 00:44:10.439 --> 00:44:10.960 wished 00:44:10.960 --> 00:44:12.399 throughout the entire story 00:44:12.399 --> 00:44:12.799 for 00:44:12.799 --> 00:44:14.500 that boy 00:44:14.500 --> 00:44:15.299 who would help him 00:44:15.299 --> 00:44:15.659 a lot 00:44:15.659 --> 00:44:16.759 we have 00:44:16.759 --> 00:44:17.519 men and women 00:44:17.519 --> 00:44:18.799 who must 00:44:18.799 --> 00:44:19.480 link arm 00:44:19.480 --> 00:44:19.879 with us 00:44:19.879 --> 00:44:20.480 in this army 00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:20.919 of God. 00:44:21.519 --> 00:44:22.059 Right? 00:44:22.379 --> 00:44:23.159 We are not 00:44:23.159 --> 00:44:23.839 in this army 00:44:23.839 --> 00:44:24.579 by ourself. 00:44:25.579 --> 00:44:26.139 Right? 00:44:26.139 --> 00:44:28.079 We must fight together. 00:44:28.359 --> 00:44:29.239 We must be praying 00:44:29.239 --> 00:44:29.819 for one another. 00:44:30.440 --> 00:44:31.679 We must be communing 00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:32.319 with one another. 00:44:33.319 --> 00:44:34.299 That's why family 00:44:34.299 --> 00:44:35.019 is so important. 00:44:38.500 --> 00:44:38.980 Finally, 00:44:39.139 --> 00:44:40.319 point number 13. 00:44:42.519 --> 00:44:43.279 The ekklesia. 00:44:44.819 --> 00:44:46.059 Sorry for all the Greek. 00:44:49.059 --> 00:44:49.539 Ekklesia 00:44:49.539 --> 00:44:51.920 is the word 00:44:51.920 --> 00:44:52.359 that is 00:44:52.359 --> 00:44:54.239 often translated 00:44:54.239 --> 00:44:55.139 church. 00:44:55.139 --> 00:44:55.219 church. 00:44:55.960 --> 00:44:56.099 Right? 00:44:56.719 --> 00:44:57.960 And I want to 00:44:57.960 --> 00:44:58.940 put in parentheses 00:44:58.940 --> 00:45:00.699 legislative body. 00:45:01.139 --> 00:45:01.279 Right? 00:45:04.659 --> 00:45:05.599 But before 00:45:05.599 --> 00:45:07.299 anything 00:45:07.299 --> 00:45:07.940 I want to read 00:45:07.940 --> 00:45:08.879 Acts 19 00:45:08.879 --> 00:45:10.579 23 00:45:10.579 --> 00:45:11.339 and 38 00:45:11.339 --> 00:45:11.940 to 41. 00:45:12.539 --> 00:45:13.379 And I want to read 00:45:13.379 --> 00:45:13.920 this mainly 00:45:13.920 --> 00:45:14.619 to show 00:45:14.619 --> 00:45:15.579 that ekklesia 00:45:15.579 --> 00:45:16.659 was a common 00:45:16.659 --> 00:45:17.739 word that was used. 00:45:18.379 --> 00:45:18.519 Right? 00:45:19.059 --> 00:45:20.639 Acts 19. 00:45:21.079 --> 00:45:21.500 Now some 00:45:21.500 --> 00:45:22.099 cried out 00:45:22.099 --> 00:45:23.079 one to another 00:45:23.079 --> 00:45:24.659 some another 00:45:24.659 --> 00:45:25.420 for the assembly 00:45:25.420 --> 00:45:26.460 was in confusion 00:45:26.460 --> 00:45:27.759 and most of them 00:45:27.759 --> 00:45:28.539 did not know 00:45:28.539 --> 00:45:29.099 why they had 00:45:29.099 --> 00:45:29.659 come together. 00:45:30.799 --> 00:45:31.400 If therefore 00:45:31.400 --> 00:45:32.059 Demetrius 00:45:32.059 --> 00:45:33.619 and the craftsmen 00:45:33.619 --> 00:45:34.400 who are with him 00:45:34.400 --> 00:45:35.000 have complaint 00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:35.739 against anyone 00:45:35.739 --> 00:45:36.739 the courts are open 00:45:36.739 --> 00:45:38.599 and they are pro-council. 00:45:38.799 --> 00:45:39.500 Let them bring 00:45:39.500 --> 00:45:40.440 charges against 00:45:40.440 --> 00:45:40.880 one another. 00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:41.940 But if you are 00:45:41.940 --> 00:45:42.539 seeking anything 00:45:42.539 --> 00:45:43.079 further 00:45:43.079 --> 00:45:43.880 it shall be 00:45:43.880 --> 00:45:45.000 settled in the 00:45:45.000 --> 00:45:46.000 regular assembly 00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:46.840 the regular 00:45:46.840 --> 00:45:47.340 ekklesia. 00:45:47.340 --> 00:45:50.019 for we are really 00:45:50.019 --> 00:45:51.260 for we really 00:45:51.260 --> 00:45:51.920 are in danger 00:45:51.920 --> 00:45:52.740 of being charged 00:45:52.740 --> 00:45:53.720 with rioting today 00:45:53.720 --> 00:45:54.539 since there is no 00:45:54.539 --> 00:45:55.059 cause 00:45:55.059 --> 00:45:56.539 that we can give 00:45:56.539 --> 00:45:57.059 to justify 00:45:57.059 --> 00:45:57.820 this commotion. 00:45:59.059 --> 00:45:59.660 And when he had 00:45:59.660 --> 00:46:00.480 said all these things 00:46:00.480 --> 00:46:01.200 he dismissed 00:46:01.200 --> 00:46:02.340 the assembly 00:46:02.340 --> 00:46:02.960 the ekklesia. 00:46:05.340 --> 00:46:05.740 Ekklesia 00:46:05.740 --> 00:46:06.760 is simple 00:46:06.760 --> 00:46:07.360 in definition 00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:09.380 can be translated 00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:09.960 assembly 00:46:09.960 --> 00:46:10.960 which is what 00:46:10.960 --> 00:46:11.980 it was there. 00:46:12.460 --> 00:46:13.120 It is not a word 00:46:13.120 --> 00:46:13.820 that was invented 00:46:13.820 --> 00:46:15.100 by Paul 00:46:15.099 --> 00:46:16.440 not a word 00:46:16.440 --> 00:46:17.039 that was invented 00:46:17.039 --> 00:46:17.619 by Jesus 00:46:17.619 --> 00:46:20.239 but a very 00:46:20.239 --> 00:46:21.059 common word 00:46:21.059 --> 00:46:21.819 that was being 00:46:21.819 --> 00:46:22.940 used already. 00:46:23.599 --> 00:46:24.460 And in antiquity 00:46:24.460 --> 00:46:25.460 the Greeks 00:46:25.460 --> 00:46:26.539 would use the word 00:46:26.539 --> 00:46:27.000 ekklesia 00:46:27.000 --> 00:46:28.559 for political events 00:46:28.559 --> 00:46:28.900 right? 00:46:30.139 --> 00:46:31.179 It would mean 00:46:31.179 --> 00:46:31.539 there 00:46:31.539 --> 00:46:32.880 an event 00:46:32.880 --> 00:46:33.639 that occurred 00:46:33.639 --> 00:46:34.420 for the meetings 00:46:34.420 --> 00:46:35.119 of citizens 00:46:35.119 --> 00:46:36.519 where they would 00:46:36.519 --> 00:46:37.319 vote on various 00:46:37.319 --> 00:46:37.679 things. 00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:40.380 I bring this up 00:46:40.380 --> 00:46:42.319 because 00:46:42.319 --> 00:46:43.579 the word 00:46:43.579 --> 00:46:43.920 ekklesia 00:46:43.920 --> 00:46:44.460 is also 00:46:44.460 --> 00:46:44.960 translated 00:46:44.960 --> 00:46:45.360 to mean 00:46:45.360 --> 00:46:45.800 church 00:46:45.800 --> 00:46:46.880 right? 00:46:49.780 --> 00:46:50.679 But the word 00:46:50.679 --> 00:46:51.179 church 00:46:51.179 --> 00:46:52.500 truly didn't 00:46:52.500 --> 00:46:52.920 start being 00:46:52.920 --> 00:46:53.480 used until 00:46:53.480 --> 00:46:53.880 about the 00:46:53.880 --> 00:46:54.860 12th century. 00:46:57.559 --> 00:46:58.380 And I've 00:46:58.380 --> 00:46:58.900 met many 00:46:58.900 --> 00:46:59.340 people 00:46:59.340 --> 00:47:01.019 who have 00:47:01.019 --> 00:47:01.460 used the 00:47:01.460 --> 00:47:01.860 argument 00:47:01.860 --> 00:47:03.260 that ekklesia 00:47:03.260 --> 00:47:04.119 means assembly 00:47:04.119 --> 00:47:04.800 right? 00:47:05.320 --> 00:47:05.960 So where 00:47:05.960 --> 00:47:06.720 two or three 00:47:06.720 --> 00:47:07.440 are gathered 00:47:07.440 --> 00:47:09.360 there Christ 00:47:09.360 --> 00:47:09.679 is 00:47:09.679 --> 00:47:10.800 right? 00:47:11.519 --> 00:47:12.360 On a Sunday 00:47:12.360 --> 00:47:12.559 morning. 00:47:12.659 --> 00:47:13.019 So every 00:47:13.019 --> 00:47:13.920 Sunday morning 00:47:13.920 --> 00:47:14.179 you know 00:47:14.179 --> 00:47:14.619 what I do? 00:47:14.960 --> 00:47:16.119 at 9 a.m. 00:47:16.559 --> 00:47:17.320 I go out 00:47:17.320 --> 00:47:17.740 to the golf 00:47:17.740 --> 00:47:18.019 course 00:47:18.019 --> 00:47:18.619 with my buddies. 00:47:19.619 --> 00:47:19.840 It's the 00:47:19.840 --> 00:47:20.599 ekklesia baby. 00:47:23.079 --> 00:47:25.519 But I really 00:47:25.519 --> 00:47:26.240 want to fight 00:47:26.240 --> 00:47:27.019 against this. 00:47:27.679 --> 00:47:28.760 It's not just 00:47:28.760 --> 00:47:30.639 assembly. 00:47:31.039 --> 00:47:31.780 It's an 00:47:31.780 --> 00:47:32.320 assembly 00:47:32.320 --> 00:47:33.500 of people 00:47:33.500 --> 00:47:34.059 who are 00:47:34.059 --> 00:47:35.039 coming together 00:47:35.039 --> 00:47:35.360 who are 00:47:35.360 --> 00:47:35.940 common 00:47:35.940 --> 00:47:36.980 and yoked 00:47:36.980 --> 00:47:37.260 together 00:47:37.260 --> 00:47:38.440 for the 00:47:38.440 --> 00:47:39.019 body of 00:47:39.019 --> 00:47:39.579 Christ. 00:47:39.579 --> 00:47:40.139 right? 00:47:40.559 --> 00:47:41.279 And even 00:47:41.279 --> 00:47:41.699 if we 00:47:41.699 --> 00:47:42.239 read 00:47:42.239 --> 00:47:43.199 Matthew 00:47:43.199 --> 00:47:43.679 18 00:47:43.679 --> 00:47:44.079 15 00:47:44.079 --> 00:47:44.699 to 20 00:47:44.699 --> 00:47:46.239 which 00:47:46.239 --> 00:47:47.219 also has 00:47:47.219 --> 00:47:47.440 the word 00:47:47.440 --> 00:47:47.819 assembly 00:47:47.819 --> 00:47:48.340 in it 00:47:48.340 --> 00:47:49.420 it says 00:47:49.420 --> 00:47:50.099 if 00:47:50.099 --> 00:47:50.460 if your 00:47:50.460 --> 00:47:50.840 brother 00:47:50.840 --> 00:47:51.200 sins 00:47:51.200 --> 00:47:51.500 against 00:47:51.500 --> 00:47:51.800 you 00:47:51.800 --> 00:47:52.619 don't 00:47:52.619 --> 00:47:52.980 tell him 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:53.119 his 00:47:53.119 --> 00:47:53.460 faults 00:47:53.460 --> 00:47:54.440 between 00:47:54.440 --> 00:47:54.800 you 00:47:54.800 --> 00:47:54.920 and 00:47:54.920 --> 00:47:55.079 him 00:47:55.079 --> 00:47:55.360 alone 00:47:55.360 --> 00:47:55.579 if 00:47:55.579 --> 00:47:55.720 he 00:47:55.720 --> 00:47:56.099 listens 00:47:56.099 --> 00:47:56.320 to 00:47:56.320 --> 00:47:56.500 you 00:47:56.500 --> 00:47:56.500 00:47:56.500 --> 00:47:56.720 you 00:47:56.720 --> 00:47:56.880 have 00:47:56.880 --> 00:47:57.280 gained 00:47:57.280 --> 00:47:57.440 your 00:47:57.440 --> 00:47:57.700 brother 00:47:57.700 --> 00:47:58.420 but if 00:47:58.420 --> 00:47:58.659 he does 00:47:58.659 --> 00:47:58.880 not 00:47:58.880 --> 00:47:59.260 listen 00:47:59.260 --> 00:48:00.579 take one 00:48:00.579 --> 00:48:01.059 or two 00:48:01.059 --> 00:48:01.360 others 00:48:01.360 --> 00:48:01.920 with you 00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:02.680 that 00:48:02.680 --> 00:48:03.000 every 00:48:03.000 --> 00:48:03.440 charge 00:48:03.440 --> 00:48:03.820 may be 00:48:03.820 --> 00:48:04.220 established 00:48:04.219 --> 00:48:04.679 by the 00:48:04.679 --> 00:48:05.119 evidence 00:48:05.119 --> 00:48:05.539 of two 00:48:05.539 --> 00:48:05.819 or three 00:48:05.819 --> 00:48:06.219 witnesses 00:48:06.219 --> 00:48:07.439 if he 00:48:07.439 --> 00:48:07.980 refuses 00:48:07.980 --> 00:48:08.500 to listen 00:48:08.500 --> 00:48:08.899 to them 00:48:08.899 --> 00:48:09.639 tell it 00:48:09.639 --> 00:48:09.959 to the 00:48:09.959 --> 00:48:10.279 church 00:48:10.279 --> 00:48:10.579 the 00:48:10.579 --> 00:48:10.959 ecclesia 00:48:10.959 --> 00:48:11.559 the 00:48:11.559 --> 00:48:11.879 assembly 00:48:11.879 --> 00:48:13.379 and if 00:48:13.379 --> 00:48:13.480 he 00:48:13.480 --> 00:48:13.919 refuses 00:48:13.919 --> 00:48:14.219 to 00:48:14.219 --> 00:48:14.519 listen 00:48:14.519 --> 00:48:14.799 even 00:48:14.799 --> 00:48:14.959 to 00:48:14.959 --> 00:48:15.119 the 00:48:15.119 --> 00:48:15.480 church 00:48:15.480 --> 00:48:16.319 let him 00:48:16.319 --> 00:48:16.639 be to 00:48:16.639 --> 00:48:16.819 you 00:48:16.819 --> 00:48:17.199 as a 00:48:17.199 --> 00:48:17.639 gentile 00:48:17.639 --> 00:48:18.259 and tax 00:48:18.259 --> 00:48:18.639 collector 00:48:18.639 --> 00:48:19.879 truly I 00:48:19.879 --> 00:48:20.199 say to 00:48:20.199 --> 00:48:20.419 you 00:48:20.419 --> 00:48:20.939 whatever 00:48:20.939 --> 00:48:21.159 you 00:48:21.159 --> 00:48:21.399 bind 00:48:21.399 --> 00:48:21.559 on 00:48:21.559 --> 00:48:21.779 earth 00:48:21.779 --> 00:48:21.980 shall 00:48:21.980 --> 00:48:22.139 be 00:48:22.139 --> 00:48:22.359 bound 00:48:22.359 --> 00:48:22.519 in 00:48:22.519 --> 00:48:22.759 heaven 00:48:22.759 --> 00:48:23.219 and 00:48:23.219 --> 00:48:23.419 whatever 00:48:23.419 --> 00:48:23.619 you 00:48:23.619 --> 00:48:23.839 loose 00:48:23.839 --> 00:48:23.980 on 00:48:23.980 --> 00:48:24.159 earth 00:48:24.159 --> 00:48:24.359 shall 00:48:24.359 --> 00:48:24.500 be 00:48:24.500 --> 00:48:24.779 loosed 00:48:24.779 --> 00:48:24.919 in 00:48:24.919 --> 00:48:25.179 heaven 00:48:25.179 --> 00:48:25.839 again 00:48:25.839 --> 00:48:25.980 I 00:48:25.980 --> 00:48:26.159 say 00:48:26.159 --> 00:48:26.319 to 00:48:26.319 --> 00:48:26.459 you 00:48:26.459 --> 00:48:26.659 if 00:48:26.659 --> 00:48:27.139 two 00:48:27.139 --> 00:48:27.859 of 00:48:27.859 --> 00:48:28.000 you 00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:28.319 agree 00:48:28.319 --> 00:48:28.559 on 00:48:28.559 --> 00:48:28.779 earth 00:48:34.219 --> 00:48:34.339 there 00:48:34.339 --> 00:48:34.419 are 00:48:34.419 --> 00:48:34.759 two 00:48:34.759 --> 00:48:34.980 or 00:48:34.980 --> 00:48:35.179 three 00:48:35.179 --> 00:48:35.539 gathered 00:48:35.539 --> 00:48:35.739 in 00:48:35.739 --> 00:48:35.879 my 00:48:35.879 --> 00:48:36.199 name 00:48:36.199 --> 00:48:36.659 there 00:48:36.659 --> 00:48:36.899 I 00:48:36.899 --> 00:48:37.139 am 00:48:37.139 --> 00:48:37.719 among 00:48:37.719 --> 00:48:37.980 them 00:48:37.980 --> 00:48:39.339 this 00:48:39.339 --> 00:48:39.919 text 00:48:39.919 --> 00:48:40.219 is 00:48:40.219 --> 00:48:40.559 giving 00:48:40.559 --> 00:48:41.599 christ 00:48:41.599 --> 00:48:41.819 is 00:48:41.819 --> 00:48:42.179 giving 00:48:42.179 --> 00:48:43.119 permission 00:48:43.119 --> 00:48:43.500 for 00:48:43.500 --> 00:48:43.759 those 00:48:43.759 --> 00:48:43.939 two 00:48:43.939 --> 00:48:44.119 or 00:48:44.119 --> 00:48:44.459 three 00:48:44.459 --> 00:48:45.299 to 00:48:45.299 --> 00:48:45.739 what 00:48:45.739 --> 00:48:46.019 is 00:48:46.019 --> 00:48:46.599 bound 00:48:46.599 --> 00:48:47.439 on 00:48:47.439 --> 00:48:47.919 earth 00:48:47.919 --> 00:48:48.119 shall 00:48:48.119 --> 00:48:48.259 be 00:48:48.259 --> 00:48:48.480 bound 00:48:48.480 --> 00:48:48.659 in 00:48:48.659 --> 00:48:48.939 heaven 00:48:48.939 --> 00:48:49.439 right 00:48:49.439 --> 00:48:50.559 he's 00:48:50.559 --> 00:48:50.759 giving 00:48:50.759 --> 00:48:51.299 authority 00:48:51.299 --> 00:48:51.559 to 00:48:51.559 --> 00:48:51.719 the 00:48:51.719 --> 00:48:52.039 church 00:48:52.039 --> 00:48:52.219 to 00:48:52.219 --> 00:48:52.339 be 00:48:52.339 --> 00:48:52.480 able 00:48:52.480 --> 00:48:52.659 to 00:48:52.659 --> 00:48:53.019 do 00:48:53.019 --> 00:48:53.879 such 00:48:53.879 --> 00:48:54.000 a 00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:54.179 thing 00:48:54.179 --> 00:48:54.439 as 00:48:54.439 --> 00:48:55.139 expelling 00:48:55.139 --> 00:48:55.679 a 00:48:55.679 --> 00:48:55.879 brother 00:48:55.879 --> 00:48:56.159 from 00:48:56.159 --> 00:48:56.319 the 00:48:56.319 --> 00:48:56.539 church 00:48:56.539 --> 00:48:56.679 who 00:48:56.679 --> 00:48:56.819 is 00:48:56.819 --> 00:48:57.159 not 00:48:57.159 --> 00:48:58.079 obeying 00:48:58.079 --> 00:48:58.239 his 00:48:58.239 --> 00:48:58.639 commands 00:48:58.639 --> 00:49:00.459 and 00:49:00.459 --> 00:49:00.579 it 00:49:00.579 --> 00:49:00.799 says 00:49:00.799 --> 00:49:01.059 if 00:49:01.059 --> 00:49:01.179 he 00:49:01.179 --> 00:49:01.719 refuses 00:49:01.719 --> 00:49:02.019 to 00:49:02.019 --> 00:49:02.279 listen 00:49:02.279 --> 00:49:02.539 to 00:49:02.539 --> 00:49:02.799 them 00:49:02.799 --> 00:49:03.259 tell 00:49:03.259 --> 00:49:03.399 it 00:49:03.399 --> 00:49:03.519 to 00:49:03.519 --> 00:49:03.699 the 00:49:03.699 --> 00:49:04.119 church 00:49:04.119 --> 00:49:05.279 right 00:49:05.279 --> 00:49:06.279 the 00:49:06.279 --> 00:49:06.859 assembly 00:49:06.859 --> 00:49:08.500 one 00:49:08.500 --> 00:49:08.899 thing 00:49:08.899 --> 00:49:09.059 to 00:49:09.059 --> 00:49:09.459 consider 00:49:09.459 --> 00:49:09.839 here 00:49:09.839 --> 00:49:10.119 is 00:49:10.119 --> 00:49:10.379 that 00:49:10.379 --> 00:49:10.679 it 00:49:10.679 --> 00:49:10.939 means 00:49:10.939 --> 00:49:11.099 that 00:49:11.099 --> 00:49:11.419 there's 00:49:11.419 --> 00:49:11.719 someone 00:49:11.719 --> 00:49:12.000 who 00:49:12.000 --> 00:49:12.439 knows 00:49:12.439 --> 00:49:12.659 this 00:49:12.659 --> 00:49:13.059 brother 00:49:13.059 --> 00:49:14.579 right 00:49:14.579 --> 00:49:15.179 it's 00:49:15.179 --> 00:49:15.319 not 00:49:15.319 --> 00:49:15.559 a 00:49:15.559 --> 00:49:15.879 random 00:49:15.879 --> 00:49:16.219 group 00:49:16.219 --> 00:49:16.399 of 00:49:16.399 --> 00:49:16.779 people 00:49:16.779 --> 00:49:17.819 it's 00:49:17.819 --> 00:49:18.039 people 00:49:18.039 --> 00:49:18.219 who 00:49:18.219 --> 00:49:18.599 knows 00:49:18.599 --> 00:49:18.779 his 00:49:18.779 --> 00:49:19.039 brother 00:49:19.039 --> 00:49:19.239 who 00:49:19.239 --> 00:49:19.500 knows 00:49:19.500 --> 00:49:19.659 his 00:49:19.659 --> 00:49:20.079 life 00:49:20.079 --> 00:49:20.559 and 00:49:20.559 --> 00:49:20.719 who 00:49:20.719 --> 00:49:20.919 knows 00:49:20.919 --> 00:49:21.079 these 00:49:21.079 --> 00:49:21.359 other 00:49:21.359 --> 00:49:21.759 brothers 00:49:21.759 --> 00:49:21.959 that 00:49:21.959 --> 00:49:22.059 are 00:49:22.059 --> 00:49:22.279 coming 00:49:22.279 --> 00:49:22.559 tell 00:49:22.559 --> 00:49:22.699 it 00:49:22.699 --> 00:49:22.819 to 00:49:22.819 --> 00:49:22.980 the 00:49:22.980 --> 00:49:23.419 regular 00:49:23.419 --> 00:49:24.439 assembly 00:49:24.439 --> 00:49:24.859 who 00:49:24.859 --> 00:49:25.119 gather 00:49:25.119 --> 00:49:25.539 together 00:49:25.539 --> 00:49:25.839 they 00:49:25.839 --> 00:49:26.159 know 00:49:26.159 --> 00:49:26.359 one 00:49:26.359 --> 00:49:26.639 another 00:49:26.639 --> 00:49:27.319 right 00:49:27.319 --> 00:49:28.399 it's 00:49:28.399 --> 00:49:28.539 a 00:49:28.539 --> 00:49:28.959 connected 00:49:28.960 --> 00:49:29.460 people 00:49:29.460 --> 00:49:30.760 and 00:49:30.760 --> 00:49:31.039 they're 00:49:31.039 --> 00:49:31.880 accountable 00:49:31.880 --> 00:49:32.179 to 00:49:32.179 --> 00:49:32.320 one 00:49:32.320 --> 00:49:32.599 another 00:49:32.599 --> 00:49:34.900 and 00:49:34.900 --> 00:49:35.380 and 00:49:35.380 --> 00:49:35.860 just 00:49:35.860 --> 00:49:36.079 some 00:49:36.079 --> 00:49:36.220 more 00:49:36.220 --> 00:49:36.619 on top 00:49:36.619 --> 00:49:36.740 of 00:49:36.740 --> 00:49:36.980 this 00:49:36.980 --> 00:49:37.400 in 00:49:37.400 --> 00:49:37.519 the 00:49:37.519 --> 00:49:37.659 book 00:49:37.659 --> 00:49:37.840 of 00:49:37.840 --> 00:49:38.240 Acts 00:49:38.240 --> 00:49:38.579 there's 00:49:38.579 --> 00:49:38.720 an 00:49:38.720 --> 00:49:39.059 assembly 00:49:39.059 --> 00:49:39.240 of 00:49:39.240 --> 00:49:39.500 people 00:49:39.500 --> 00:49:39.679 that 00:49:39.679 --> 00:49:40.179 happens 00:49:40.179 --> 00:49:40.720 and 00:49:40.720 --> 00:49:40.900 there's 00:49:40.900 --> 00:49:41.019 a 00:49:41.019 --> 00:49:41.260 group 00:49:41.260 --> 00:49:41.519 of 00:49:41.519 --> 00:49:42.199 120 00:49:42.199 --> 00:49:42.699 people 00:49:42.699 --> 00:49:43.039 gathered 00:49:43.039 --> 00:49:43.260 in 00:49:43.260 --> 00:49:43.360 the 00:49:43.360 --> 00:49:43.880 upper 00:49:43.880 --> 00:49:44.159 room 00:49:44.159 --> 00:49:44.840 they're 00:49:44.840 --> 00:49:45.539 assembling 00:49:45.539 --> 00:49:46.159 together 00:49:46.159 --> 00:49:46.920 right 00:49:46.920 --> 00:49:48.579 and 00:49:48.579 --> 00:49:48.880 there's 00:49:48.880 --> 00:49:49.119 some 00:49:49.119 --> 00:49:49.480 way 00:49:49.480 --> 00:49:49.960 that 00:49:49.960 --> 00:49:50.260 someone 00:49:50.260 --> 00:49:50.599 knew 00:49:50.599 --> 00:49:50.860 that 00:49:50.860 --> 00:49:51.000 there 00:49:51.000 --> 00:49:51.099 was 00:49:51.099 --> 00:49:51.619 120 00:49:51.619 --> 00:49:53.880 because 00:49:53.880 --> 00:49:54.139 they 00:49:54.139 --> 00:49:54.320 knew 00:49:54.320 --> 00:49:54.740 everyone 00:49:54.740 --> 00:49:55.960 right 00:49:55.960 --> 00:49:56.880 it 00:49:56.880 --> 00:49:57.039 wasn't 00:49:57.039 --> 00:49:57.220 just 00:49:57.220 --> 00:49:57.360 a 00:49:57.360 --> 00:49:57.619 random 00:49:57.619 --> 00:49:58.099 gathering 00:49:58.099 --> 00:49:59.179 even 00:49:59.179 --> 00:49:59.519 more 00:49:59.519 --> 00:49:59.799 when 00:49:59.799 --> 00:50:00.119 they 00:50:00.119 --> 00:50:00.239 were 00:50:00.239 --> 00:50:00.559 meeting 00:50:00.559 --> 00:50:01.159 in 00:50:01.159 --> 00:50:01.299 the 00:50:01.299 --> 00:50:01.719 temple 00:50:01.719 --> 00:50:02.679 there 00:50:02.679 --> 00:50:02.920 were 00:50:02.920 --> 00:50:04.059 3,000 00:50:04.059 --> 00:50:04.259 who 00:50:04.259 --> 00:50:04.400 were 00:50:04.400 --> 00:50:04.699 gathering 00:50:04.699 --> 00:50:06.599 how 00:50:06.599 --> 00:50:06.779 could 00:50:06.779 --> 00:50:06.900 you 00:50:06.900 --> 00:50:07.039 know 00:50:07.039 --> 00:50:07.179 if 00:50:07.179 --> 00:50:07.279 there 00:50:07.279 --> 00:50:07.420 was 00:50:07.420 --> 00:50:07.980 3,000 00:50:07.980 --> 00:50:08.219 if 00:50:08.219 --> 00:50:08.339 you 00:50:08.339 --> 00:50:09.039 didn't 00:50:09.039 --> 00:50:09.579 know 00:50:09.579 --> 00:50:10.099 these 00:50:10.099 --> 00:50:10.519 people 00:50:10.519 --> 00:50:11.299 right 00:50:11.299 --> 00:50:11.659 someone 00:50:11.659 --> 00:50:11.839 is 00:50:11.839 --> 00:50:12.059 keeping 00:50:12.059 --> 00:50:12.460 track 00:50:12.460 --> 00:50:12.659 of 00:50:12.659 --> 00:50:12.839 who 00:50:12.839 --> 00:50:13.059 these 00:50:13.059 --> 00:50:13.559 3,000 00:50:13.559 --> 00:50:13.880 are 00:50:13.880 --> 00:50:15.079 right 00:50:15.079 --> 00:50:19.599 if 00:50:19.599 --> 00:50:19.940 people 00:50:19.940 --> 00:50:20.880 belong 00:50:20.880 --> 00:50:21.420 to 00:50:21.420 --> 00:50:21.639 the 00:50:21.639 --> 00:50:22.139 church 00:50:22.139 --> 00:50:22.559 right 00:50:22.559 --> 00:50:22.839 the 00:50:22.839 --> 00:50:23.159 ecclesia 00:50:23.159 --> 00:50:23.460 then 00:50:23.460 --> 00:50:23.619 they 00:50:23.619 --> 00:50:23.759 are 00:50:23.759 --> 00:50:24.259 regularly 00:50:24.259 --> 00:50:24.819 gathering 00:50:24.819 --> 00:50:25.239 together 00:50:25.239 --> 00:50:25.699 and 00:50:25.699 --> 00:50:26.019 know 00:50:26.019 --> 00:50:26.239 one 00:50:26.239 --> 00:50:26.519 another 00:50:26.519 --> 00:50:27.019 ! 00:50:28.099 --> 00:50:30.799 point 00:50:30.799 --> 00:50:31.199 13 00:50:31.199 --> 00:50:32.219 got to 00:50:32.219 --> 00:50:32.420 the 00:50:32.420 --> 00:50:33.019 conclusion 00:50:33.019 --> 00:50:34.039 but 00:50:34.039 --> 00:50:34.259 just 00:50:34.259 --> 00:50:34.579 in 00:50:34.579 --> 00:50:35.079 conclusion 00:50:35.079 --> 00:50:36.559 I 00:50:36.559 --> 00:50:36.739 have 00:50:36.739 --> 00:50:36.940 a 00:50:36.940 --> 00:50:37.519 quote 00:50:37.519 --> 00:50:37.759 from 00:50:37.759 --> 00:50:37.900 the 00:50:37.900 --> 00:50:38.219 great 00:50:38.219 --> 00:50:38.779 scholar 00:50:38.779 --> 00:50:39.039 and 00:50:39.039 --> 00:50:39.460 pastor 00:50:39.460 --> 00:50:40.119 Brian 00:50:40.119 --> 00:50:40.500 Pirtle 00:50:40.500 --> 00:50:42.400 in 00:50:42.400 --> 00:50:43.440 in 00:50:43.440 --> 00:50:43.579 the 00:50:43.579 --> 00:50:43.920 context 00:50:43.920 --> 00:50:44.159 of 00:50:44.159 --> 00:50:44.300 the 00:50:44.300 --> 00:50:44.579 local 00:50:44.579 --> 00:50:45.099 church 00:50:45.099 --> 00:50:46.059 there's 00:50:46.059 --> 00:50:46.480 clarity 00:50:46.480 --> 00:50:47.880 there's 00:50:47.880 --> 00:50:48.199 healthy 00:50:48.199 --> 00:50:48.579 order 00:50:48.579 --> 00:50:49.559 and 00:50:49.559 --> 00:50:49.760 there's 00:50:49.760 --> 00:50:49.920 a 00:50:49.920 --> 00:50:50.239 shared 00:50:50.239 --> 00:50:51.059 responsibility 00:50:51.059 --> 00:50:52.480 none 00:50:52.480 --> 00:50:52.739 of the 00:50:52.739 --> 00:50:52.980 leaders 00:50:52.980 --> 00:50:53.199 are 00:50:53.199 --> 00:50:53.659 perfect 00:50:53.659 --> 00:50:54.320 and 00:50:54.320 --> 00:50:54.500 none 00:50:54.500 --> 00:50:54.739 claim 00:50:54.739 --> 00:50:54.920 to 00:50:54.920 --> 00:50:55.119 be 00:50:55.119 --> 00:50:56.320 but 00:50:56.320 --> 00:50:56.480 they 00:50:56.480 --> 00:50:56.619 are 00:50:56.619 --> 00:50:57.079 grounded 00:50:57.079 --> 00:50:57.340 in 00:50:57.340 --> 00:50:57.480 the 00:50:57.480 --> 00:50:57.920 gospel 00:50:57.920 --> 00:50:58.920 aiming 00:50:58.920 --> 00:50:59.300 to be 00:50:59.300 --> 00:50:59.659 spirit 00:50:59.659 --> 00:51:00.019 led 00:51:00.019 --> 00:51:00.820 aiming 00:51:00.820 --> 00:51:01.159 to be 00:51:01.159 --> 00:51:01.519 bible 00:51:01.519 --> 00:51:01.920 soaked 00:51:01.920 --> 00:51:02.280 people 00:51:02.280 --> 00:51:03.019 aiming 00:51:03.019 --> 00:51:03.380 to be 00:51:03.380 --> 00:51:03.780 clear 00:51:03.780 --> 00:51:04.039 with 00:51:04.039 --> 00:51:04.219 one 00:51:04.219 --> 00:51:04.500 another 00:51:04.500 --> 00:51:06.039 you 00:51:06.039 --> 00:51:06.260 might 00:51:06.260 --> 00:51:06.719 agree 00:51:06.719 --> 00:51:08.239 but 00:51:08.239 --> 00:51:08.500 have 00:51:08.500 --> 00:51:08.679 your 00:51:08.679 --> 00:51:09.139 labors 00:51:09.139 --> 00:51:09.420 grown 00:51:09.420 --> 00:51:09.739 dull 00:51:09.739 --> 00:51:09.960 in 00:51:09.960 --> 00:51:10.099 the 00:51:10.099 --> 00:51:10.440 pursuit 00:51:10.440 --> 00:51:10.599 of 00:51:10.599 --> 00:51:10.739 the 00:51:10.739 --> 00:51:11.039 church 00:51:11.039 --> 00:51:13.440 do 00:51:13.440 --> 00:51:13.659 your 00:51:13.659 --> 00:51:14.099 labors 00:51:14.099 --> 00:51:14.280 need 00:51:14.280 --> 00:51:14.539 to be 00:51:14.539 --> 00:51:15.039 refreshed 00:51:15.039 --> 00:51:17.239 are 00:51:17.239 --> 00:51:17.480 you 00:51:17.480 --> 00:51:17.800 seeing 00:51:17.800 --> 00:51:18.239 God's 00:51:18.239 --> 00:51:18.539 church 00:51:18.539 --> 00:51:19.320 the way 00:51:19.320 --> 00:51:19.539 that 00:51:19.539 --> 00:51:19.960 God 00:51:19.960 --> 00:51:20.239 sees 00:51:20.239 --> 00:51:20.420 his 00:51:20.420 --> 00:51:20.699 church