WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Thank you. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.000 Thank you. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Thank you. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.000 Thank you. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.000 Thank you. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:38.000 Thank you. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.000 Thank you. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.000 Thank you. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:44.000 Thank you. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:46.000 Thank you. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:52.299 too innerly focused, too serious about Bible study, and not serious enough about loving the campus. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:02:00.120 The worship was dry. The teaching was intellectual. I could go on and on about all the things that 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:11.960 were wrong. I had a laundry list of what could be done better. But you know, some of the people who 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:16.360 served me and some of the people who I knew at that time, some of the people who led that ministry, 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:22.860 are some of my lifelong friends today. And as I look back on that moment, I realize 00:02:22.860 --> 00:02:29.480 that the problem was not the ministry that I was a part of. The problem was my heart. 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:37.740 And I know this not only because of that, but because I've seen it again and again and again 00:02:37.740 --> 00:02:45.180 in my own heart, I walk into something and my first reaction is to analyze and then criticize. 00:02:46.180 --> 00:02:52.780 It is to think that I have the corner on how all things ought to be done well. And whoever's leading 00:02:52.780 --> 00:03:03.700 this ought to figure out that I'm their best asset. I so easily fall into a proud, independent, 00:03:03.699 --> 00:03:10.199 critical heart. In fact, one of the things that I've seen is that the more I care, the more easily 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:21.179 I fall into it. Maybe this is like you as well. Through God's grace and through the grace of those 00:03:21.179 --> 00:03:26.859 leaders and many others whom I've served, I've been able to see this pattern in my heart. And 00:03:26.860 --> 00:03:33.220 again, I don't know if you this morning could connect with that at all, resonate with that at all. It's, 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:37.580 I don't think it's surprising when I read the Bible, because when you go back to the Garden of Eden 00:03:37.580 --> 00:03:44.040 and Adam and Eve, when you look at their heart towards God at the very beginning, what did they do? 00:03:45.040 --> 00:03:52.840 They doubted God. They questioned His rules. They asked 00:03:52.840 --> 00:04:01.240 for independence from Him and the desire to make their life their own way, to follow their own path. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:09.000 They didn't want to trust or obey God, but they had an independent, doubting, and proud heart. And 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:17.240 friends, if that's true of humanity before God, the King of the universe, how much more is it likely to be 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:27.540 ours in front of human leaders who are imperfect? How likely is it for our hearts to be like that? 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:35.139 We struggle to respond to leadership the way we ought to, particularly human spiritual leaders. 00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:43.240 What does this look like? It might look like it did for me, that critical heart. And you know, 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:49.759 the crazy thing about it is we don't only just become critical, but we justify it. We see, well, 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:55.780 no leader is perfect, so I get to sit in judgment of them. I get to tell them everything that's wrong 00:04:55.780 --> 00:05:06.759 with them all the time. We so internalize our independence that we think that we have the corner 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:13.439 on truth, and then we live, we pursue a fundamentally independent course. I'm going to do my own thing. 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:19.300 And there's a subtle version of this, which is, I will follow my leaders only as long as I understand 00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:27.879 them and are completely convinced by them. Or otherwise, I'm on my own. I'm not going to follow 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:36.759 if I don't understand. You have to convince me for me to lead you. We reserve our freedom of 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:43.300 independence. So that's one end of the spectrum. Then there's another end of the spectrum. The other 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:49.439 end of the spectrum is the pastor can do no wrong. I don't know how many of you have grown up in this 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:55.180 kind of context or lived in this kind of context, but pastor so-and-so can never be questioned. He never 00:05:55.180 --> 00:06:01.840 does anything wrong. He never thinks that there's any reason. There's this idolization of church 00:06:01.840 --> 00:06:08.460 leaders today. And friends, we have a unique opportunity to do that in our context because 00:06:08.460 --> 00:06:14.620 of the wonderful internet. Because you can go home and listen to the best preachers of the last hundred 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:22.199 years. Maybe not quite a hundred, but you know what I mean. You can go home and listen to the best 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:29.139 preachers. You can read a hundred church websites this afternoon and think about exactly how you 00:06:29.139 --> 00:06:39.599 think church ought to be done ideally. And it's so easy for us to think, this is the, the pastors can 00:06:39.599 --> 00:06:46.599 do no wrong. We have this ideal out there. And then we struggle when we come back and we look at, 00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:54.160 again, our own local church with its own warts and its own foibles and its own funny looking guys who 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:58.280 wear three different things on Sunday morning. Are those really the pastors? What about the elders? 00:06:58.420 --> 00:07:08.400 What is this church all about anyway? And in the middle of it, whether we fall into a critical heart 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:16.120 or an unthinking idolization of our leaders, we find that, in fact, we're in places of weakness. 00:07:16.919 --> 00:07:22.599 We're in places where it's actually hard to persevere in the Christian faith. 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:30.500 Why do I say that? Well, let's turn to our passage this morning because our passage this morning 00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:39.579 talks about leaders in the midst of a much greater passage about perseverance. So Hebrews, we're 00:07:39.579 --> 00:07:43.899 almost at the end. For those of you who are just coming in, we have been preaching on Hebrews since 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:49.560 last September. We are done. Next week, Greg is going to bring us home with a resounding chorus. 00:07:49.819 --> 00:07:54.939 If you've made plans to go away for Labor Day, cancel them and come back to stay for it. It's worth it. 00:07:54.939 --> 00:08:03.980 But this is going to be the last two in our book, in our series on the book of Hebrews. Chapter 13 is 00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:11.180 where we are. We're going to be looking at verses 7 through 19 with a special attention on verse 7 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:19.500 and then verses 17 through 19. So let's read the passage. That's page 1009, by the way, in your pew Bibles. 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:25.199 Let's read the passage and then we'll pray and then we'll dive in together. 00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:35.940 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life 00:08:35.940 --> 00:08:45.200 and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:51.540 by diverse and strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, 00:08:52.120 --> 00:09:00.000 not by foods which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:06.320 in the tent, who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:12.500 brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:20.399 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:29.440 Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:36.419 lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up 00:09:36.419 --> 00:09:44.159 a sacrifice of praise to God that is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:52.559 good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Obey your leaders and submit to 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:58.620 them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account. Let them do 00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:06.460 this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:13.960 for we are sure that we have a clear conscience desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:21.980 the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. Let's pray. 00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:35.259 Lord, we thank you for your word. We thank you this morning for the way you speak to us and the way you 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:44.560 instruct us about how you have constructed your church. Lord, so that we might know you better. 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:55.019 Lord, we thank you for Jesus, who is the head of the church, who is the great shepherd, who has rescued us 00:10:55.019 --> 00:11:03.279 from sin by his death on the cross. Thank you that he is the one who has gone ahead of us. Lord, this morning 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:11.899 I pray that we would see him and be encouraged this morning. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:12.039 Amen. 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:15.559 Amen. 00:11:18.839 --> 00:11:23.239 So we started talking about leaders and then I ended with perseverance and you might be wondering, 00:11:23.459 --> 00:11:28.259 why did we do that? Well, we did it because the writer of Hebrews did it. As we looked at this 00:11:28.259 --> 00:11:36.079 passage, if you were here last week, you heard Pastor Nick just beautifully unpack verses 8 through 16, 00:11:36.079 --> 00:11:40.399 so I'm not going to try to repeat all that's in there, but there's this, 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:49.699 there's this odd thing that he throws into this, to this line of thought about leaders in verse 7 and 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:56.220 verses 17 through 19. And it's in the broader context of the book of Hebrews, book of Hebrews, 00:11:56.220 --> 00:12:03.679 which has been to encourage the church to persevere in faith by seeing that Jesus is the supreme 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:13.459 and the only one who can keep us and bring us to God. That there's no other way that we can actually draw near to God 00:12:13.459 --> 00:12:21.459 except for Jesus, who he is, what he has done for us. And this has been the argument of the whole book up until now. 00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:29.960 And if you think that's what chapters 1 through 10 are functionally about, and then you get to chapter 12 and you get this 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:38.160 climactic exhortation, therefore run the race set before you. Let's run the race of following Jesus as his people. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:46.180 And not just run the race by holding on and hoping we don't fall off, but run the race as people who have been won and 00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:53.839 captured by Jesus run as his people. And so he starts bringing in, in chapters 12 and 13, themes of holiness, 00:12:54.179 --> 00:13:01.000 themes of loving one another, themes of being a blessing to the world, themes of being those who worship God and 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:07.099 then love others. And so there's a, there's a morality and a character that's meant to be a part of this 00:13:07.099 --> 00:13:14.839 running the race. And then we come to this very last climactic section, where in the middle of it, 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:22.060 he's reminding us yet one more time, don't turn away to other teachings, don't turn away to other 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:30.460 religious practices, thinking that they can give you what Jesus can give you. Only Jesus has offered 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:39.040 the sacrifice that will deal with your sin and can enable you to stand before a holy God. So go to him, 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:47.059 even outside the camp, bearing his reproach, bearing the shame that you may face in the world, 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:54.719 but go to him and identify with him because he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:13:57.719 --> 00:14:07.659 And then there are these verses about leadership. Why leadership? Well, it's because I'm convinced that 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:13.740 what the writer of the Hebrews wants us to see is that God has given the gift of leadership to his 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:23.279 church so that those leaders will enable and empower and guide the church body as a whole 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:33.500 in persevering and holding fast to Jesus. This is why leaders are inserted into this argument, 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:39.860 because God has given leaders as a gift. And so that's what we're going to look at this morning. 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:46.240 And when we see leaders as a gift, we see that we don't have to be overcritical of them, nor do we 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:52.019 need to idolize them, but we need to see them as coming from God, playing the role that God has 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:58.259 appointed for them, and then playing the role that we as followers are meant to have. So let's look at 00:14:58.259 --> 00:15:04.179 these things together. First, what has God given leaders to do, or what are leaders supposed to 00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:11.080 look like? And then secondly, what does it look like to follow these leaders, receiving them as a 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:19.559 gift from God? What are God-given leaders? Well, the first thing that I want you to see is there are a 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:23.779 couple of preliminary statements I want to make just to give you some orientation, particularly some of you 00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:30.600 who are new to our church. We are a church that's led by elders, a plurality of elders. We believe it's 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:36.579 the biblical model for it, and we think that this passage is primarily about elders. When you look at 00:15:36.579 --> 00:15:43.839 verse 17, they are those who are responsible for the care of your souls as one who have to give an 00:15:43.839 --> 00:15:52.039 account. This describes the elders in a church as we see it. Elders are a group of men who love you, 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:58.039 who pray for you, who teach you. We're going to see about all the things that this passage tells us 00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:03.799 that we're meant to do. But we have this church because we believe that that's the way God has 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:14.539 structured it for us to care for you. It may also have a good application beyond just the elders. 00:16:15.219 --> 00:16:20.639 There are many who lead others in the church. You can see it in Titus 2, where older men serving 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:25.299 younger men, and that's not just chronological. That's in wisdom and maturity in the Lord. 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:32.720 So we see that there are other places and other ways in which leadership is exercised. The primary 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:38.120 application here is elders, but we think there's an overflow for many of us who may take different 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:48.600 roles in the church. The second thing I want you to see as a preamble is that that description at the 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:58.519 end of verse 17, or in the middle of verse 17, is those who have to give an account, leaders are not 00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:07.259 the head of the church. Jesus Christ is the head of the church. First Peter reminds us that Jesus is 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:16.400 the great shepherd of the sheep, and that leaders are men who stand first and foremost as accountable to 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:26.860 God for their leadership in the church. And what that means is that they have no place to be an overlord. 00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:36.280 They have no place to wield their authority in a heavy-handed way. This is what leaders are meant. 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:45.980 It requires us to have humility because we realize this church isn't about us. It's about Jesus. 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:53.700 Always has been. Always will be. And woe be to the leader that makes the church about himself 00:17:53.700 --> 00:18:02.059 and doesn't point people to Christ. We also see in the pattern of Scripture that leaders are not above 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:08.940 accountability. There is an appropriate place to recognize that leaders can and have abused their 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:13.799 authority in the past, and there is an appropriate way to address that. 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:26.019 There is a danger of leaders who are unaccountable and proud. And I want to acknowledge that because the 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:32.460 rest of our message this morning is going to be about following and leading and valuing leaders 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:39.960 for doing what they're called to do by God. But I want to recognize that a proud, unaccountable leader 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:45.039 is to be opposed. They are not given by God in that hardness of heart. 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:55.259 But God-given leaders are a blessing. What do they look like? Let's look at it. Let's look at the 00:18:55.259 --> 00:19:01.379 passage. I want you to see three things that you should expect as a congregation from your leaders. 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:09.619 This may be really corny, but what's your basic need? Food, shelter, and clothing. They're meant to 00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:14.539 feed you with the Word of God. They're meant to clothe themselves with the character of Christ, 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:21.819 and they're meant to shelter you by their loving care for your soul. That may stick. You may forget it, 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:28.939 but there it is. So first of all, to feed you with the Word of God. Look at verse 7. Remember your 00:19:28.939 --> 00:19:35.399 leaders, those who spoke to you, the Word of God. And when you look at the flow, if you look down in 00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:41.220 verse 9, he's contrasting that with, in verse 9, other teachers who may have strange and diverse 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:47.039 teachings. How do we know what's good and what's bad? Here's a really simple way. Look at verse 8. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:53.279 The way you know that they're teaching you the Word of God is because they are pointing you to Jesus 00:19:53.279 --> 00:20:00.680 Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. That their teaching is going to exalt the person of 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:06.220 Christ. Their teaching is going to see as precious the work of Christ. That their teaching is going to 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:16.940 point you to faithful obedience and submission to Christ. Not opinions. Not, I think, 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:24.619 it would be nice if. But good leaders are going to point you through the Word to Jesus Christ over 00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:31.220 and over and over again. This is what it means to have a pattern of sound teaching. 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:43.799 And this is why leaders are going to be inherently teachers. Because the way we know about Jesus 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:49.440 primarily is through this book. And so your leaders should be people that you should look to to teach 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:55.799 you, to open the Bible again and again and again. Whether it's an esoteric, philosophical, theological 00:20:55.799 --> 00:21:02.279 question you have. Or whether it's a dramatic crisis of your life that you think the Bible has nothing to 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:09.019 say to. Your leaders should be able to open the Word and say, look, Jesus is here with you in the 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:16.399 middle of it. And to give you instruction and to give you counsel based on the Word of God to help you 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:25.800 persevere in faith, to help you understand who Jesus is. Not only are they to feed you with the Word of God, 00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:34.259 but they are to have a character of life worth imitating. You see it, the second phrase in verse 7. 00:21:35.120 --> 00:21:41.000 Consider the outcome of their way of life. What he's talking about here is, look at the people. It's likely 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:46.700 that this is talking about leaders who have already died, although I don't think it has to be only those. 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:53.319 Saying, look at the sum total of their life. And when you see the sum total of your life, what should 00:21:53.319 --> 00:22:00.019 you see? Jesus Christ soaked in them and through them. The character of Jesus exemplified in their 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:07.420 humility, in their kindness, in their gentleness, in their patience, in their strength, in their 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:14.180 willingness to confront evil, in their love, and in their sacrificial giving for the sake of others. 00:22:14.820 --> 00:22:21.400 These are the character qualities. Look in Titus and Timothy for the characteristics of an elder. 00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:29.320 Look for leaders who were like that. That is what they should be like. 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:37.220 And friends, one of the things that the writer of the Hebrews is emphasizing here, consider the outcome 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:44.599 of their way of life. They have finished through the end in persevering in faith. So they should be 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:53.839 leaders who are continuing in believing in and trusting in Christ, even to the point of facing 00:22:53.839 --> 00:23:02.599 persecution, even to great sacrifice to themselves, even to the loss of their lives, even. These are the 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:09.099 kinds of leaders you should be looking for, that those who are willing to be like Christ in laying down 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:22.359 their life for the gospel. Thirdly, they're meant to watch over your souls. Look with me down in verse 17. 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:31.139 They are keeping watch over your souls. Keeping watch is a great phrase. In the original, it actually is 00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:42.199 having sleepless nights over the condition of your soul. And I can tell you, we do. As the leaders of your 00:23:42.199 --> 00:23:49.579 church, we have sleepless nights over the condition of your soul. Our job is to watch out for you, 00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:58.699 to help you, to encourage you, to help you, to encourage you. Maybe even to rebuke you, to call you to 00:23:58.699 --> 00:24:08.139 account. Brother, sister, this is what the Word of God says. Brother, sister, this is who Jesus is for you 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:17.880 right now. Don't forsake Him. There's nothing else worth forsaking Him for. And so leaders are called to 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:30.080 shepherd you by watching out for your soul. They're to remind you, for those of you who've been here all 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:38.199 year, Hebrews chapter 6, they're to remind you that Jesus has gone ahead into the heavens. And He has 00:24:38.199 --> 00:24:48.220 placed there an anchor for your soul. For all in Christ, there's an anchor for their soul in the 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:56.379 heavens because Jesus has gone ahead and put it there. And therefore, all of our care for your soul 00:24:56.380 --> 00:25:01.740 is for you to live out of that glorious truth, that when you're in Christ, you're secure. 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:07.940 And no matter what you're facing, no matter what doubts you have, no matter what else is tantalizing 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:15.000 you to perhaps think that something else might be better, our job is to remind you that no, all those 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:23.340 things are actually a cancer and a poison to your soul. But Jesus is the one who will keep your soul to the 00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:35.019 end. I've been blessed to have leaders like this in my life. I told you a little about my beginning of 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:44.500 my freshman year. Through the four years that I was in college, three couples over those four years 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:49.980 invested their lives in me. They brought me into their home. They taught me the Word of God. They took 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:57.220 me on missions trips to the far ends of the world. They lived out what Paul describes in Philippians 00:25:57.220 --> 00:26:03.960 to share not only the gospel, but their very lives. They did that with me. And coming from a home that 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:11.059 didn't have a lot of Christ-centered patterns in it, I learned a ton. Not just about the Bible and 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:17.299 theology, but I learned about how to live. I learned about having a family and a marriage long before I had 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:25.799 either. I learned about faithfulness and perseverance through trials. As I saw these couples weather all 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:33.740 sorts of different challenges, as I had them share with me their lives, and as they spoke into mine, 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:44.339 my foolish, hot-headed, it didn't stop quickly. It really didn't. And they persevered in loving me. 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:51.879 I'm so glad that they loved me enough to have the kind of care for my soul that they did. 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:59.220 Friends, I hope that you've had that experience, and I hope if you don't, or if you haven't, 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:06.019 that you will here in this church. It is our desire to shepherd you in that way. 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:15.799 Application. How do you respond to leaders like this? What should it, or how do you pursue connecting 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:20.359 with that kind of shepherding care for your soul? Here are a couple of things. One, become a member. 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:28.220 This is not because we want to increase our tribal numbers, but this is because when you identify 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:35.059 yourself as a member of our church, it gives, it then gives us a weight of responsibility and a care 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:44.000 for your soul. And so, become a member so that we know that you want us to shepherd you, and so that 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:50.779 we will know that we are responsible for shepherding you. Secondly, seek out the teaching. 00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:58.379 Friends, we have 200 plus people here. There's a great Sunday school class that happens at 9 o'clock 00:27:58.379 --> 00:28:06.079 every Sunday morning. The elders oversee it and teach a lot of it. Make it a plan to go and sit under 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:15.579 their teaching. Make it a plan to take in more from your leaders as they point you to Christ. 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:22.919 Thirdly, open your life to us. Every once in a while, as a leader in this church, I get this weird 00:28:22.919 --> 00:28:33.279 sense of, oh, the pastor's here. I got to put on my church self so I can be okay. I understand that. 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:44.279 It's normal. We all do it. But listen, friends, part of our ability to shepherd your soul is to engage 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:49.339 with you in real life. We want you to come into our lives. We want to be a part of your lives. 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:57.160 So, don't think it's an imposition, and don't think that you have to perform for us. 00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:59.899 But let us into your lives. 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:08.319 Final word about this from one of my seminary professors. 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:11.559 I'm thinking about this passage. 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.839 What are leaders to be? 00:29:15.419 --> 00:29:20.939 They're to be biblically-based teachers who will bring you back again and again and again 00:29:20.939 --> 00:29:28.460 and again and again to Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:36.559 So, that's what you should look for. That's what you should hold us as leaders accountable to. 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:44.660 What about you? It's actually interesting that the writer of Hebrews is writing mostly to the 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:50.160 congregation, not to the leaders. We as leaders need to take all that I've just said as a call, 00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:55.980 as a mandate, as a responsibility. But for the congregation, how do we respond? 00:29:55.980 --> 00:30:06.460 What then? How are we to respond? There are three things here as well. My son's heading off to 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:12.579 kindergarten next week, and it seems like these are pretty basic things. Pay attention, follow the 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:23.640 leader, and pray. So, how are we to respond to our leadership? First thing, pay attention. Look with me in 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:31.900 verse 7. There are three different words that talk about paying attention. One is remembering. That is, bring to 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:41.520 mind, consciously think about your leaders. And then second one, consider. That is, not just sort of go, oh, I wonder if, 00:30:41.520 --> 00:30:51.440 but consider as in, take stock of, think through, think about their way of life, and then thirdly, imitate 00:30:51.440 --> 00:31:00.160 them. Right? When Eli wants to know how to tie his shoe, and I bend down, and I say, well, you take this, 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:05.400 and you make the loop, and you take the rabbit around the tree, and he's suddenly, you know, watching the 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:09.500 bird in the trees or whatever. What am I going to say? I'm going to say, pay attention, because you're not 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:16.519 going to get what you want if you're not paying attention. You can't imitate me if you don't see what I'm doing. 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:22.299 And so we are called to pay attention to our leaders. 00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:33.859 Pay attention to their teaching. Pay attention to their way of life. Here's some questions that might 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:42.319 help you to think about how to pay attention. How do they respond to the Word of God? 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:51.059 Is it precious to them? Do they submit to it? Do they treat it with honor and respect? Do they see 00:31:51.059 --> 00:32:01.240 it as a treasure? How do they respond when they're shown their own sinfulness? With humble, repentant faith? 00:32:03.139 --> 00:32:10.259 Or with proud defensiveness? How do they treat others? And particularly, I'm going to put this in there. 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:13.220 How do they treat people who can't do anything for them? 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:19.160 How do they treat their families? 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:27.799 How do they respond to personal disappointment or tragedies? 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:39.079 How do they show great faith even when there's a great risk or a great cost involved? 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:43.099 In their pattern of life or in the decisions that they're making? 00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:46.740 I'm sure there are other good questions to ask. 00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:50.940 But if you start to think about those questions as, 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.299 how do my leaders do this? 00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:57.680 Could be really helpful for you to pay attention. 00:32:57.680 --> 00:33:02.060 So, first thing is pay attention. 00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:03.900 Second thing is follow the leader. 00:33:04.259 --> 00:33:06.039 This is what we see in verse 17. 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.460 Obey and submit. 00:33:08.600 --> 00:33:13.880 Just, we have a really big problem in our culture today about obeying and submitting 00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:17.519 because we're a democracy and we all think we have individual rights 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:21.240 and obeying and submitting isn't a big deal for us. 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:25.180 It's a wonderful fruit of the enlightenment gone wrong. 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:33.259 And what I want you to see is that there are other passages in Scripture 00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:38.559 where obeying and submitting are very clearly and very strongly taught. 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:40.839 And they're an important part of the Scriptures. 00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:46.619 The reality that God has instituted authorities over us in various different places. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:51.079 But here this morning, these words aren't actually those really strong words. 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:56.099 Let me retranslate the beginning of verse 17 to you in a different way. 00:33:56.099 --> 00:34:06.359 Trust in the guidance of your leaders and yield to their direction in your life. 00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:12.940 Does that help? 00:34:13.759 --> 00:34:14.799 Does that help you think through? 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:17.880 How are you supposed to respond to your leaders? 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:21.839 To trust in their guidance. 00:34:22.659 --> 00:34:24.460 Let them point you again and again. 00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:26.320 If you have a question, don't think, 00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:30.119 well, what in my best wisdom can I do with this all on my own? 00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:32.980 But go to your leaders if you're struggling with it and say, 00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:35.320 hey, what does God's Word have to say about this? 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.579 And then trust them. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:39.780 Look for them to give you something. 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:42.900 And then when they teach you, yield to it. 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:46.179 Out of God's Word in a Christ-centered way, 00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:48.780 let them guide you. 00:34:48.780 --> 00:34:58.000 Trust that they are a gift from God. 00:34:58.240 --> 00:35:03.360 Don't let the teaching that happens from your leaders simply tickle your mind. 00:35:04.160 --> 00:35:09.160 Or some of you are going to be in, some of you have been in university for a while now. 00:35:11.080 --> 00:35:16.100 Do you know that when you get into section, a small group discussion, what are you doing? 00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:22.819 You're like grasping for something so that you can make some meaningful contribution so that you can look really impressive, right? 00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:27.779 I mean, that's basically what small group sections are like in university, right? 00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:29.380 Don't do that at church. 00:35:29.699 --> 00:35:32.179 Don't feel like that's your role in small group. 00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:37.699 Come instead saying, what does God's Word have to say to us? 00:35:38.699 --> 00:35:42.839 Allow your leaders to direct you in this. 00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:45.360 And I don't mean in an unthinking way. 00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.720 Ask good questions. 00:35:47.100 --> 00:35:53.160 Ask questions because you really want to know the answer for the feeding of your soul and for the strengthening of your faith. 00:35:59.300 --> 00:36:05.480 But let them lead you and let them guide you through the Word of God. 00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:12.960 The picture, as I see it here, is one of cooperation and trust. 00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:19.940 There's a fascinating article this week about LaShawn McCoy, who's a running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, 00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:29.639 and his new coach, Chip Kelly, who came in from college, and he had all these crazy new metrics and different ways of running the team 00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:35.639 and trying to actually get the athletes to think about running their lives differently so that they could be better athletes. 00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:38.980 And his first response was, this guy's crazy. 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.480 I'll show up. 00:36:40.539 --> 00:36:41.579 I'll work hard at practice. 00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:43.579 But I'm not buying into the rest of this. 00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:48.380 And the coach said, well, you can do that, but you're not going to play. 00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:53.579 And so the coach pulled the authority card and said, I'm the authority and you need to follow me. 00:36:53.840 --> 00:36:55.099 But you know what happened? 00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:57.519 He also said, give me a chance. 00:36:58.199 --> 00:37:00.500 Do everything I tell you and see what happens. 00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:06.219 And LaShawn McCoy, two months later, was getting 10 hours of sleep a night. 00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:08.639 And he stopped eating fast food. 00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:10.000 And on and on and on. 00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:18.839 He changed his whole manner of life because he was convinced that this coach had his best in mind. 00:37:19.779 --> 00:37:23.739 And it said near the end, I would do anything Coach Kelly tells me to now. 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:32.539 Because there was a partnership and a cooperation between a leader who has authority and a responsibility to lead 00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:35.299 and followers who are saying, please lead me. 00:37:35.460 --> 00:37:36.359 I trust you. 00:37:36.359 --> 00:37:38.359 I think you are a gift from me. 00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:39.519 A gift to me. 00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:41.559 And I want you to lead me. 00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:45.500 And this is the picture that I see here. 00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:51.019 As we're running the race that God has called us to, it is meant to be a partnership. 00:37:51.579 --> 00:37:55.780 The leadership is responsible for providing that leadership of pointing you to Christ 00:37:55.780 --> 00:38:00.079 through their teaching and through their lives and through their shepherding of your souls. 00:38:00.700 --> 00:38:04.120 And your responsibility is to be a part of the team. 00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:05.559 Don't be a bystander. 00:38:05.640 --> 00:38:07.200 Don't stand on the sidelines. 00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:08.759 Don't sit there and wait. 00:38:08.839 --> 00:38:10.559 Well, I wish someone would come and help me. 00:38:10.879 --> 00:38:11.719 Get involved. 00:38:12.099 --> 00:38:13.000 Seek it out. 00:38:13.799 --> 00:38:19.899 Engage with the life of this church and with its leadership so that you can persevere. 00:38:19.900 --> 00:38:25.400 Even when you don't always agree. 00:38:27.240 --> 00:38:28.840 This is the hard part, isn't it? 00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:29.139 Right? 00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:31.420 Well, I don't like the way they struggled it. 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:33.059 Why can't we do it this way? 00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:34.019 And you know what? 00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:34.920 Let me say this. 00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:39.099 We invite constructive ideas and constructive dialogue. 00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:44.780 We believe that we don't have the corner on every good idea for this church. 00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:47.220 So we want you to engage with us. 00:38:47.219 --> 00:38:52.439 But we also, at the end of the day, want you to trust us. 00:38:52.699 --> 00:38:53.919 That if we say, you know what? 00:38:53.939 --> 00:38:54.859 That's a great idea. 00:38:55.119 --> 00:38:56.759 But this is how we thought about it. 00:38:56.779 --> 00:38:58.579 And these are the reasons why from the word. 00:38:58.659 --> 00:39:02.339 And this is why we want to build the church in this particular way. 00:39:02.899 --> 00:39:05.000 We hope that you will trust us. 00:39:06.039 --> 00:39:06.759 And you know what? 00:39:06.760 --> 00:39:09.260 Even if you can't trust us, trust God. 00:39:09.700 --> 00:39:13.440 That God has put us as fallible leaders over you. 00:39:18.600 --> 00:39:23.980 Recognize that God has meant us to be this team with different roles. 00:39:24.220 --> 00:39:27.600 So that we can pursue Christ together. 00:39:29.060 --> 00:39:32.720 And you know, when you do this, this is the end of verse 17. 00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:33.840 It will be a joy. 00:39:33.840 --> 00:39:37.079 It will be a joy for us to lead and not groaning. 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:41.820 When we have this sense of partnership and this sense of being in it together, 00:39:42.260 --> 00:39:46.519 running this race and following Jesus, it's great joy to lead. 00:39:50.860 --> 00:39:52.019 What a good thing. 00:39:52.140 --> 00:39:52.820 The third thing. 00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:55.519 Pay attention, follow the leader, and pray. 00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:59.300 This is what we see in verses 18 and 19. 00:40:00.260 --> 00:40:00.780 Pray. 00:40:01.600 --> 00:40:02.740 Pray for us. 00:40:02.739 --> 00:40:05.439 Oh, church, pray for us. 00:40:06.839 --> 00:40:08.839 This is not an optional thing. 00:40:09.839 --> 00:40:13.919 We need you to pray for us as the leaders of this church. 00:40:14.419 --> 00:40:19.059 We need you to be taking us before the throne of God regularly. 00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:24.719 We need you to pray for us when you're mad at us. 00:40:26.059 --> 00:40:30.900 We need you to pray for us when you're disappointed in us. 00:40:31.239 --> 00:40:36.980 We need you to pray for us when you want to and when you don't. 00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:37.980 Pray for us. 00:40:37.980 --> 00:40:40.740 Pray for our teaching. 00:40:42.240 --> 00:40:44.099 That we would be full of Christ. 00:40:44.840 --> 00:40:48.280 Pray for our relationships and our families and our marriages. 00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:51.880 That Christ would be the center of all of them. 00:40:51.880 --> 00:40:53.039 Pray for us. 00:40:53.180 --> 00:40:53.280 Pray for us. 00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:54.200 Pray for us. 00:40:54.200 --> 00:40:55.640 Pray that we would lead as under預ed. 00:40:57.000 --> 00:41:02.340 That we would always be leading as we stand before our great shepherd. 00:41:02.340 --> 00:41:09.519 Pray for us that we would be following Him every day. 00:41:12.300 --> 00:41:13.920 Pray for our church. 00:41:17.500 --> 00:41:19.579 Friends, God gave us leaders 00:41:19.579 --> 00:41:24.760 so that we will persevere in faith. 00:41:26.260 --> 00:41:28.440 Pray for us that we can play the role 00:41:28.440 --> 00:41:31.019 that God intends for us as your leaders to play. 00:41:32.340 --> 00:41:38.460 And see that this is God's great gift to the church. 00:41:38.920 --> 00:41:41.600 That as we do this together in partnership, 00:41:42.100 --> 00:41:44.360 playing the roles that God has given us to play, 00:41:45.140 --> 00:41:47.800 that we can persevere and not give up. 00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:51.680 That we will be able to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ 00:41:51.680 --> 00:41:54.120 the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:41:54.220 --> 00:41:55.079 Because you know what? 00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:56.680 As I started, I want to end. 00:41:56.820 --> 00:41:58.519 Jesus is the head of this church. 00:41:58.519 --> 00:42:02.639 Jesus is the one for whom all of this exists. 00:42:03.099 --> 00:42:06.039 Listen to some of the words that the writer of the Hebrews has said. 00:42:06.219 --> 00:42:08.059 Because He is the great leader. 00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:11.880 He is the captain who is leading the charge. 00:42:12.239 --> 00:42:14.759 He is the vanguard of the kingdom of God. 00:42:16.219 --> 00:42:20.500 He is the Davidic king who will shepherd His people 00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:23.659 the way that Ezekiel prophesied long ago 00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:25.179 in the passage we read earlier. 00:42:25.619 --> 00:42:27.320 Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says 00:42:27.320 --> 00:42:28.860 about what Jesus has done. 00:42:29.079 --> 00:42:30.880 For it is fitting that He, 00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:36.760 for whom and by whom all things exist, 00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:38.500 in bringing many sons to glory, 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:42.019 should make the founder of their salvation 00:42:42.019 --> 00:42:43.559 perfect through suffering. 00:42:44.420 --> 00:42:46.599 Jesus is the founder of our salvation. 00:42:46.780 --> 00:42:47.639 And how did He do it? 00:42:47.639 --> 00:42:48.539 He suffered. 00:42:50.440 --> 00:42:51.639 Therefore, holy brothers, 00:42:51.779 --> 00:42:53.279 you who share in a heavenly calling, 00:42:53.420 --> 00:42:55.219 consider Jesus the apostle, 00:42:56.059 --> 00:42:57.859 the forerunner, 00:42:58.739 --> 00:42:59.480 the captain, 00:42:59.480 --> 00:43:02.659 and high priest of our confession. 00:43:03.539 --> 00:43:05.659 Since then, we have such a great high priest 00:43:05.659 --> 00:43:08.099 who has passed through the heavens, 00:43:08.259 --> 00:43:10.739 Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 00:43:10.859 --> 00:43:13.239 Let us hold fast to our confession. 00:43:13.239 --> 00:43:18.119 Describing Jesus in chapter 5, 00:43:18.519 --> 00:43:20.039 And He, being made perfect, 00:43:20.159 --> 00:43:22.419 became the source of eternal salvation 00:43:22.419 --> 00:43:24.679 for all who obey Him. 00:43:28.199 --> 00:43:30.639 Chapter 6, verses 19 and 20, 00:43:30.719 --> 00:43:34.719 we have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, 00:43:35.039 --> 00:43:37.159 a hope that enters into the inner place 00:43:37.159 --> 00:43:38.079 behind the curtain, 00:43:38.419 --> 00:43:42.019 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, 00:43:42.019 --> 00:43:44.960 having become a high priest forever 00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:46.719 after the order of Melchizedek. 00:43:47.019 --> 00:43:49.759 And finally, chapter 12, verse 2, 00:43:50.659 --> 00:43:55.199 Let us run with endurance the race set before us, 00:43:55.940 --> 00:43:58.420 looking to Jesus, 00:43:59.280 --> 00:44:00.039 the founder, 00:44:00.219 --> 00:44:04.519 that is, the one who has done all to lay the basis for it. 00:44:04.519 --> 00:44:07.280 He has done all that we need for our salvation, 00:44:07.400 --> 00:44:08.420 the founder of it, 00:44:08.599 --> 00:44:09.679 but not only that, 00:44:09.759 --> 00:44:10.920 but the perfecter of it. 00:44:10.920 --> 00:44:12.960 He will take us on this race 00:44:12.960 --> 00:44:15.280 all the way across the finish line 00:44:15.280 --> 00:44:17.019 to heaven and to glory 00:44:17.019 --> 00:44:17.940 and to a city 00:44:17.940 --> 00:44:19.680 whose glory will not end 00:44:19.680 --> 00:44:21.700 and to a home that will last forever 00:44:21.700 --> 00:44:23.800 and to the safety and security 00:44:23.800 --> 00:44:25.420 and glory and joy 00:44:25.420 --> 00:44:27.860 of being with God 00:44:27.860 --> 00:44:29.460 forever. 00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:33.320 The founder and perfecter of our faith, 00:44:33.440 --> 00:44:35.840 who for the joy that was set before Him 00:44:35.840 --> 00:44:37.480 endured the cross, 00:44:37.480 --> 00:44:38.860 despising the shame, 00:44:39.300 --> 00:44:42.699 and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:44:45.599 --> 00:44:47.039 Friends, this is it. 00:44:48.179 --> 00:44:50.199 In the encouragement to persevere 00:44:50.199 --> 00:44:52.039 that the writer of Hebrews has been giving us, 00:44:52.320 --> 00:44:53.679 this is how we can do it. 00:44:54.019 --> 00:44:54.900 Follow your leaders 00:44:54.900 --> 00:44:56.820 because they're meant to point you to Christ 00:44:56.820 --> 00:44:59.240 because Christ has walked the hardest road. 00:45:00.179 --> 00:45:02.480 Christ has walked through the hardest suffering 00:45:02.480 --> 00:45:05.300 and the worst persecution ever. 00:45:05.300 --> 00:45:07.079 He went to the cross 00:45:07.079 --> 00:45:08.679 to die for us, 00:45:08.840 --> 00:45:10.539 to rescue us, 00:45:10.760 --> 00:45:12.099 to purchase us, 00:45:12.199 --> 00:45:13.740 to make us His own. 00:45:16.740 --> 00:45:19.900 He is ultimately our great leader. 00:45:21.480 --> 00:45:23.800 God has given the church 00:45:23.800 --> 00:45:24.940 the gift of leaders 00:45:24.940 --> 00:45:27.199 so that we might know 00:45:27.199 --> 00:45:29.019 this great leader more and more. 00:45:29.019 --> 00:45:30.659 And as we do that, 00:45:30.739 --> 00:45:32.440 we might persevere in faith 00:45:32.440 --> 00:45:34.480 and bring Him glory 00:45:34.480 --> 00:45:35.480 and honor 00:45:35.480 --> 00:45:36.460 in all that we do. 00:45:36.599 --> 00:45:37.159 Let's pray. 00:45:47.920 --> 00:45:48.440 Jesus, 00:45:48.659 --> 00:45:49.579 You are the same 00:45:49.579 --> 00:45:49.960 yesterday, 00:45:50.199 --> 00:45:50.440 today, 00:45:50.559 --> 00:45:51.019 and forever. 00:45:53.000 --> 00:45:53.559 God, 00:45:53.619 --> 00:45:54.259 we thank You 00:45:54.259 --> 00:45:55.219 that You have given 00:45:55.219 --> 00:45:56.239 the church leaders. 00:45:57.480 --> 00:45:57.739 God, 00:45:57.739 --> 00:45:58.759 we pray for the leaders 00:45:58.759 --> 00:45:59.599 in this church 00:45:59.599 --> 00:46:00.879 that You would, 00:46:01.699 --> 00:46:02.359 Lord, 00:46:02.479 --> 00:46:03.539 enable us, 00:46:04.659 --> 00:46:04.919 Lord, 00:46:04.979 --> 00:46:07.079 to fulfill all of these responsibilities, 00:46:07.419 --> 00:46:08.059 to teach 00:46:08.059 --> 00:46:09.719 and to shepherd, 00:46:10.479 --> 00:46:11.779 to live lives 00:46:11.779 --> 00:46:12.839 worthy of imitating. 00:46:13.539 --> 00:46:13.679 Lord, 00:46:13.739 --> 00:46:15.500 we pray that You would make us 00:46:15.500 --> 00:46:18.679 Christ-soaked people. 00:46:21.159 --> 00:46:21.579 Lord, 00:46:21.639 --> 00:46:22.639 we pray for our church. 00:46:23.719 --> 00:46:23.839 Lord, 00:46:23.839 --> 00:46:25.019 we pray that we would follow 00:46:25.019 --> 00:46:25.619 the leaders 00:46:25.619 --> 00:46:26.839 that God has given us. 00:46:27.739 --> 00:46:28.159 Lord, 00:46:28.159 --> 00:46:29.459 we pray that You would 00:46:29.459 --> 00:46:30.919 create in us 00:46:30.919 --> 00:46:32.119 a sweet partnership 00:46:32.119 --> 00:46:33.259 of encouraging 00:46:33.259 --> 00:46:34.779 and exhorting 00:46:34.779 --> 00:46:35.500 and teaching 00:46:35.500 --> 00:46:36.879 and instructing 00:46:36.879 --> 00:46:37.759 and modeling, 00:46:40.039 --> 00:46:41.259 persevering in faith, 00:46:42.659 --> 00:46:43.899 clinging to Jesus, 00:46:44.599 --> 00:46:46.279 that we together 00:46:46.279 --> 00:46:47.859 would go to Jesus 00:46:47.859 --> 00:46:48.979 outside the camp 00:46:48.979 --> 00:46:50.339 bearing His reproach 00:46:50.340 --> 00:46:52.200 because we know 00:46:52.200 --> 00:46:53.200 that with Him, 00:46:53.880 --> 00:46:54.340 Lord, 00:46:54.440 --> 00:46:55.180 there is a city 00:46:55.180 --> 00:46:55.940 yet to come 00:46:55.940 --> 00:46:57.700 that will be for us 00:46:57.700 --> 00:46:58.720 a home forever. 00:47:00.420 --> 00:47:01.700 We can persevere 00:47:01.700 --> 00:47:02.260 in faith 00:47:02.260 --> 00:47:03.440 through the worst trials 00:47:03.440 --> 00:47:06.160 because we know 00:47:06.160 --> 00:47:07.160 that He has already 00:47:07.160 --> 00:47:07.960 run the race 00:47:07.960 --> 00:47:09.980 and He will bring us home. 00:47:11.980 --> 00:47:13.039 We pray these things 00:47:13.039 --> 00:47:13.780 in Jesus' name. 00:47:14.260 --> 00:47:14.480 Amen. 00:47:14.480 --> 00:47:14.579 Amen. 00:47:14.579 --> 00:47:14.640 Amen. 00:47:14.640 --> 00:47:14.660 Amen. 00:47:14.660 --> 00:47:14.700 Amen. 00:47:14.700 --> 00:47:14.720 Amen. 00:47:14.720 --> 00:47:14.760 Amen. 00:47:14.760 --> 00:47:16.640 Amen. 00:47:16.640 --> 00:47:16.660 Amen. 00:47:16.660 --> 00:47:16.700 Amen. 00:47:16.700 --> 00:47:18.579 Amen. 00:47:18.579 --> 00:47:18.600 Amen. 00:47:18.600 --> 00:47:20.320 Amen. 00:47:20.320 --> 00:47:21.900 So worship team comes up. 00:47:22.900 --> 00:47:25.280 We're going to sing again 00:47:25.280 --> 00:47:26.400 a response song. 00:47:26.900 --> 00:47:29.039 This is a song 00:47:29.039 --> 00:47:30.400 that is calling the church 00:47:30.400 --> 00:47:32.000 to stand up 00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:33.720 and to follow Jesus, 00:47:34.420 --> 00:47:35.059 our captain. 00:47:36.059 --> 00:47:37.160 So please stand 00:47:37.160 --> 00:47:37.920 as we sing together.