WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.879 So reading again today from Ephesians 4 verses 1 to 16. 00:00:13.580 --> 00:00:22.140 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 00:00:22.940 --> 00:00:27.800 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:31.980 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:39.460 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you accord to the one hope that belongs to your call, 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:47.980 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:53.579 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 00:00:53.579 --> 00:00:55.579 Therefore it says, 00:00:55.579 --> 00:01:11.959 In saying he ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:19.819 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 00:01:20.699 --> 00:01:26.119 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers 00:01:26.119 --> 00:01:31.379 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 00:01:31.379 --> 00:01:37.339 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, 00:01:37.739 --> 00:01:42.479 to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 00:01:43.119 --> 00:01:47.379 so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves 00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:53.539 and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness into deceitful schemes. 00:01:54.500 --> 00:02:00.640 Father, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:06.039 For whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, 00:02:06.679 --> 00:02:12.280 when each part is working properly, makes the body grow, so that it builds itself up in love. 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:25.159 Well, being the youngest in my family, it's probably not surprising that I wanted to grow up to be like my older brothers. 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:30.180 I'm pretty sure I only got into soccer because my older brother was into soccer. 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:34.939 In high school, I would hang around with my older brothers and their friends, 00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:37.020 and I thought I did a pretty good job of fitting in. 00:02:37.020 --> 00:02:40.200 But Adam Collison was one of those friends. 00:02:40.300 --> 00:02:41.580 You can ask him how well I did. 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:49.060 He told me not too long ago that he saw me as that annoying little brother that lingered around. 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:53.120 I thought I did a good job, but apparently not. 00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:58.520 I wasn't really game to ask Adam whether he still felt that way about me or not. 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:08.400 My year 12 D&T project was, I think, really a chance to learn electronics and software design, 00:03:08.480 --> 00:03:09.680 which my brothers were good at. 00:03:10.500 --> 00:03:14.140 Basically, my brothers did the project for me because I wasn't very good at it. 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:19.920 In many ways, looking back, I wanted to be like my older brother, older brothers. 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:25.280 And at some points, I just failed to live up to them. 00:03:25.859 --> 00:03:32.359 One of my brother's friends would smoke cigarettes, and even though I saw my brother just refused to join in, 00:03:33.019 --> 00:03:35.259 later on I asked that friend for cigarettes. 00:03:36.919 --> 00:03:41.039 I should have followed my brother's example at that point, but I didn't. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:44.959 And then my brothers are really good at maths and physics. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:50.420 But the teacher who taught them maths and physics, and then taught me maths and physics, 00:03:50.980 --> 00:03:53.900 said, he's not like his brothers, is he? 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:58.180 Oh, ouch. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:04.060 Now, the depth of how much I wanted to be like my brothers is probably indicated by the fact 00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:06.840 that I can still remember those words all these years later. 00:04:07.200 --> 00:04:12.719 I really wanted to be good at maths and physics like my brothers, 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:17.819 and I still chose to do physics and try to do extension maths in the HSE, 00:04:18.100 --> 00:04:19.980 and that didn't turn out too well. 00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:24.860 Now, I know that's a small point of failing to live up to them. 00:04:26.540 --> 00:04:30.360 The reason I'm raising all this is that I think whoever we admire, 00:04:32.259 --> 00:04:36.860 the image of the ideal person we look up to is going to capture our hearts 00:04:36.860 --> 00:04:40.220 and then control our lives for better or worse. 00:04:40.220 --> 00:04:47.819 Who we admire just takes hold of our heart and then influences how we live for better or worse. 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:58.199 And I think that family likeness is exactly what God is so passionate about producing in us as a church. 00:04:58.900 --> 00:05:03.400 This is what Ephesians is all about, Ephesians 4 in particular. 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:11.259 God wants us to admire his son, Jesus Christ, and to become like him in every way. 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:18.959 You hear this passion in Paul's words in chapter 4, verse 1. 00:05:19.159 --> 00:05:21.859 He calls himself a prisoner for the Lord. 00:05:23.179 --> 00:05:25.379 Now, that might seem like a negative term, being a prisoner. 00:05:25.919 --> 00:05:28.259 I don't think he's using it negatively at all. 00:05:29.179 --> 00:05:30.819 It's a bit of a play on words. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:35.319 He's saying, my entire life now is controlled by Christ. 00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:37.339 He's just taken hold of me. 00:05:38.420 --> 00:05:40.399 And now I'm a prisoner for him. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:49.300 I think many unbelievers see the church as a man-made invention to control people through fear of punishment. 00:05:49.539 --> 00:05:54.120 But I think even more powerful than threat is if you can win someone over in the heart. 00:05:54.920 --> 00:05:57.879 They'll give you a lot more if you can win someone over. 00:05:57.980 --> 00:05:59.079 And that's what Christ does. 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:02.180 He doesn't control us through fear. 00:06:03.039 --> 00:06:04.579 He loves us first. 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:07.519 And he captures our hearts. 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:10.379 And that's what happened to the Apostle Paul. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:12.360 And he wants us to think that way as well. 00:06:13.539 --> 00:06:19.899 The second way he's using that term, prisoner for the Lord, is Paul was literally in prison when he wrote the letter of Ephesians. 00:06:19.899 --> 00:06:22.639 But he wasn't ashamed of that fact. 00:06:23.859 --> 00:06:30.259 Even though being in prison usually carries a lot of shame with it, he wasn't ashamed of being a prisoner for Christ. 00:06:32.679 --> 00:06:36.899 I think it's because he loved Christ so much he's willing to hurt for him. 00:06:36.899 --> 00:06:45.500 I think if you want to get to know what someone really values, look at what they're willing to hurt for. 00:06:47.099 --> 00:06:49.560 That'll show you what someone really values. 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:55.040 We're all a prisoner of something. 00:06:56.199 --> 00:07:00.000 We all have some idea of what the ideal life looks like. 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.720 And whatever it is, we'll sacrifice everything else to get it. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:05.220 Whatever captures your heart. 00:07:06.220 --> 00:07:10.360 Whoever you admire, you will want to be like them. 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:15.860 And everything you'll learn, you'll practice, you'll sacrifice other things to be like them. 00:07:15.860 --> 00:07:21.379 So the question is, what is capturing your heart and my heart? 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:27.020 Are we captured by the Son of God? 00:07:27.740 --> 00:07:29.460 Are we a prisoner for the Lord? 00:07:34.100 --> 00:07:37.900 We're told in chapter 1 that even before the foundation of the world, 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:42.920 we each were chosen to become holy and blameless before God. 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:50.580 He predestined us for adoption, adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ. 00:07:50.660 --> 00:07:54.600 Now as his children, he wants us to become what we are. 00:07:56.080 --> 00:07:59.360 He wants us to grow up in the likeness of our older brother. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.960 What's surprising is the means of how God plans to do that. 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:12.359 He wants us to grow up in the likeness of our older brother. 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:16.279 That's the whole point of this section in chapter 4. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:24.659 The goal of Christ equipping his people for ministry is seen in chapter 13. 00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:27.339 If you've got your Bibles open, have a look at chapter 13. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:28.379 Otherwise, just listen in. 00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:40.759 Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, 00:08:41.059 --> 00:08:47.820 to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:53.799 God's passion for his died-for people is that we would become mature in truth and love, 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:56.419 becoming more and more like his Son. 00:08:56.419 --> 00:09:03.959 Unity in the faith, in the knowledge of God, to maturity, fullness in Christ. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:05.019 That's God's goal. 00:09:05.099 --> 00:09:07.299 He's determined that we'll reach it. 00:09:12.579 --> 00:09:19.199 Now, there's a possibility that recent events in our church have left you disillusioned with the church. 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:24.279 Aren't you tired of the lack of unity in the church? 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:25.699 And it may not just be this church. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:29.259 I am. 00:09:31.939 --> 00:09:33.100 What's the solution, though? 00:09:36.019 --> 00:09:40.279 Have you found that the world has a better solution for unity? 00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:41.839 I haven't come across it. 00:09:43.740 --> 00:09:48.100 There's superficial harmony where everyone agrees, you do you. 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:49.620 That's a common phrase now. 00:09:49.699 --> 00:09:50.339 You do you. 00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:52.220 Just leave me alone. 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:52.759 I'll do me. 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:54.980 Is that unity? 00:09:57.319 --> 00:09:58.159 What's the cost? 00:09:58.340 --> 00:09:59.259 The cost is truth. 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:00.399 There's no more truth. 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:03.319 You've got to throw out truth if you're going to live like that. 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:07.139 And where's the love in the world? 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:08.779 Where's the commitment? 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:11.379 Where's the motivation for forgiveness in the world? 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:14.279 I haven't seen it. 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:15.500 I don't know if you have. 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:27.120 The solution for us not yet being mature and unified in the faith is that we need more of Christ. 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:31.240 We need more truth. 00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:32.879 Verse 13. 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:37.000 We need to see Christ more and know him more. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:44.500 So we attain the unity through the knowledge of the Son of God so that we admire him. 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:46.720 And then we become like him. 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:49.820 So I'll put it this way. 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:51.059 We don't need less church. 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:57.580 We need more church to grow in our unity in truth and love. 00:10:57.580 --> 00:11:05.460 Our God is a serving God at heart. 00:11:06.780 --> 00:11:09.900 We see that with Jesus dying on the cross for us. 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:14.660 David Corderwood introduced the term of perpetual adolescence. 00:11:15.420 --> 00:11:17.080 Just not wanting to grow up. 00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:24.180 Josh Fotheringham, he accidentally called it eternal adolescence. 00:11:25.160 --> 00:11:28.160 Thankfully, we don't have eternal adolescence. 00:11:29.220 --> 00:11:31.139 We will be mature one day. 00:11:33.040 --> 00:11:38.600 But I think if we don't want to grow to be like Jesus, I think there can only be one reason for that. 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:40.340 We don't admire him enough. 00:11:42.540 --> 00:11:46.160 Because if we did admire him, we would want to grow up to be like him. 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:48.560 We've got to know him better. 00:11:49.180 --> 00:11:53.120 And that's why the word of God is so central to everything we do as a church. 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:02.440 But as I was preparing this week, to be honest with you, I felt like a hypocrite. 00:12:02.700 --> 00:12:10.879 This passion to become like Jesus, for you to become like Jesus, it's not very strong all the time in my own heart. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:17.799 So I reckon that one of the first steps to ministry is actually confessing that to God. 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:24.360 I don't have this passion, as I should, as often as I should, as consistently as I should. 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:28.639 I think we need to confess that, seeking forgiveness. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:33.200 And the second thing is ask God to make Christ dwell in our hearts through faith. 00:12:33.820 --> 00:12:35.060 That's what Paul does in this letter. 00:12:35.419 --> 00:12:37.379 He prays amazing prayers. 00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:38.700 God fill us. 00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:41.019 That resurrection power fill us. 00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:42.919 Changes from the inside. 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:46.519 And then he gets busy working, trusting God to answer his prayers. 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:51.279 I think that's the start of ministry. 00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:54.019 We need that admiration of Christ. 00:12:54.579 --> 00:12:55.840 And we can't produce it ourselves. 00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:57.220 We need God to give it to us. 00:12:57.220 --> 00:13:11.700 And once we admire Christ, or as we grow in our admiration of Christ, we're going to share his passion for his church, his household, his body. 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:17.879 And from there, opportunities for serving are just going to explode. 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:20.759 You'll see them everywhere you walk. 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.399 Every conversation. 00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:24.540 Everyone you bump into. 00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:30.839 But it all comes from that passion. 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:34.259 That admiration of Christ. 00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:47.059 So for basically the rest of our time, I just wanted to give a snapshot of the opportunities that are there for us to be servants like Christ. 00:13:47.059 --> 00:13:55.179 I think ministry is both bringing others into the body and building up those in the body. 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.539 It's both those things. 00:13:56.539 --> 00:14:04.559 The priority here in Ephesians is our love for one another in the church. 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:10.039 And Jesus said in John's Gospel, the world will know you're my disciples if you have love for one another. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:12.979 I reckon we saw this earlier this year. 00:14:13.719 --> 00:14:15.779 If you remember Chris and Jess's wedding. 00:14:17.459 --> 00:14:20.659 Jess's sister came along and visited us at Grace. 00:14:20.739 --> 00:14:24.319 And what she was impressed by wasn't anything up front. 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:32.000 It was just so many people were happily helping out Chris and Jess to make their wedding happen. 00:14:32.640 --> 00:14:34.240 And she was just blown away by that. 00:14:35.820 --> 00:14:41.580 That community, that genuine community that would happily give up so much for them. 00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:50.080 The world will see that we're his disciples if we love one another. 00:14:51.820 --> 00:14:54.080 And the ultimate goal of our Nova meals. 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:55.259 What is that? 00:14:55.780 --> 00:14:57.960 These women are going through awful times. 00:14:58.060 --> 00:15:01.680 We want them to feel loved by receiving a meal from someone in the community. 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:04.280 We want them to know they're not alone. 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:06.940 But surely we're giving them more than meals. 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:08.520 Surely our goal is more than that. 00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:10.080 We want them to come into the church. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:12.840 Not because we're trying to build our own organisation. 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:16.120 But because God's church is his people. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.040 To know God. 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.540 To come into eternal life. 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:21.920 We want them to know God's love, in other words. 00:15:22.060 --> 00:15:22.400 Ultimately. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:27.160 So the church is central to all we do. 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:32.060 We want the goal of evangelism is to bring people into God's household. 00:15:33.280 --> 00:15:34.560 And it doesn't stop there. 00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:36.080 We've all got maturing to do. 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:39.060 I have a lot of maturing to do. 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:41.199 So you guys have no time to waste. 00:15:42.239 --> 00:15:43.679 You need to encourage me. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.779 You need to convict me. 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:46.159 You need to support me. 00:15:46.959 --> 00:15:47.879 Obviously not just me. 00:15:48.099 --> 00:15:50.399 We all have lots of maturing to do. 00:15:52.479 --> 00:15:55.919 It's not for lack of opportunity that we don't minister. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:16:01.679 How do we mature? 00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:05.319 It's not just those up front. 00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:07.079 It's the whole body. 00:16:07.199 --> 00:16:08.339 Have a look at verse 16. 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.819 Let's be reminded of that again. 00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:13.099 Verse 16. 00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:17.159 From Christ our head, the whole body, joined and held together by every joint. 00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:18.500 Every joint. 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.919 With which it is equipped. 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:24.959 When each part is working properly. 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:30.339 Makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:35.559 So how do we build one another up? 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:37.639 Verse 15 tells us. 00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:45.539 Instead of just being tossed around by all these different ideas in the world about what is really valuable about life and God. 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:56.000 But verse 15, rather speaking the truth in love, we're to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. 00:16:57.860 --> 00:17:00.879 So literally that phrase is truthing in love. 00:17:01.579 --> 00:17:08.359 I like that because I think it breaks down any distinction between practical acts of love and speaking. 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:10.819 It's just truthing in love. 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:28.079 So if you think of in Galatians, when Paul rebukes Peter, because Peter, when the Jews turned up to the church, he separated himself from the non-Jews and didn't eat with them anymore. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:37.839 Choosing where he sat and who he did or didn't eat with was an expression of the gospel or a lack thereof in Peter's case. 00:17:37.919 --> 00:17:39.119 So Paul rebuked him. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:40.919 That's not the gospel. 00:17:41.219 --> 00:17:43.939 The gospel has broken down every divide between us. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:48.079 Even who you eat with should be demonstrating truth. 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:54.219 So our practical acts of love should demonstrate truth. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:57.199 And obviously our words should be filled with the truth. 00:17:58.419 --> 00:18:02.839 And I was particularly convicted by Ephesians 4.29 when I was at uni. 00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:07.659 Have a look at Ephesians 4.29. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:14.299 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths. 00:18:15.219 --> 00:18:18.919 But only such as is good for building up. 00:18:19.919 --> 00:18:24.719 As fits the occasion that it may give grace to those who hear. 00:18:25.719 --> 00:18:30.339 Every word, every joke you tell should be for the sake of building up. 00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:37.679 Every word has the goal of building up. 00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:47.379 Not just making each other feel good about ourselves, but expressing the gospel truth and grace that help each other grow in our faith. 00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:50.840 Always the goal of building up. 00:18:50.840 --> 00:18:52.940 Perhaps that's going deeper in relationship. 00:18:54.060 --> 00:18:55.280 That's part of building up. 00:18:56.780 --> 00:18:59.820 This doesn't mean quoting the Bible in every conversation. 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:05.879 But it does mean pushing each other towards the truth in the gospel. 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:14.800 So let me give you a snapshot of what this truthing in love looks like. 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:21.540 While my dad was stuck in New Zealand, the borders cutting him off from his family. 00:19:22.800 --> 00:19:27.240 There were people in his church in Invercargill that demonstrated the truth. 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:31.759 So on a Tuesday night, a couple had him over for dinner, a meal. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:35.859 On a Thursday night, another couple had him over for a meal. 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.880 They were from the church. 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:45.099 And I was really thankful that the church family there looked after him while he was cut off from us. 00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:48.620 And they really are his family in Christ. 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:54.839 So they demonstrated the truth through providing that meal and sharing that meal. 00:19:55.059 --> 00:20:06.019 But he said to me the other day that more than that, the best part of that was when they discussed God's word together and prayed together. 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:08.259 Because that was the source of their unity. 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:14.759 What really helped him was focusing on the goodness of God. 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:23.819 So they demonstrated the truth through the meal and they spoke the truth. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:27.279 Sharing their basis of unity together. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.759 And now I reckon we can all do things like that. 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.619 That's pretty simple. 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:36.519 Our home can be one of the best places for ministry. 00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:40.440 You don't need fancy meals. 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:44.920 You don't need, you just need sausages and salad. 00:20:45.080 --> 00:20:45.620 That's fine. 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:48.980 Or maybe just salad if they're vegetarian. 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.740 You don't need a spotless house. 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:54.480 Let's be real with each other. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.580 We've got dirty houses. 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:58.960 You just need truthing and love. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:08.360 Now I think ministry is also formal and informal. 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:15.399 I think we can sometimes assume when we use the word ministry that it requires a formal role like being a small group leader. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.759 That's ministry. 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:20.659 But turning up to small group isn't ministry. 00:21:21.179 --> 00:21:23.679 I think we can somehow slip into that divide. 00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:27.819 But serving is formal and informal. 00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:30.699 I think that's the point of the human body. 00:21:30.979 --> 00:21:35.039 We're not really told what all the gifts and all the components are in the church. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:40.379 I think that's so that we don't get stuck in this rigid idea of what service is. 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:45.079 It's going to look very different according to the people and the needs in the community. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.740 So we need the formal roles. 00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:56.599 And the elders are planning to do some training for up front things like Bible reading and praying and kids talk soon to raise up more people. 00:21:56.599 --> 00:22:00.459 So I'm saying it now for you to think about when the time comes. 00:22:00.699 --> 00:22:02.299 We do need those formal roles. 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:04.639 But not everyone needs to be up front. 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:08.240 It would be chaos if we all tried to get up front. 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:14.799 We need most service happens not up front, not in formal roles. 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:22.699 So I'm going to steal an example from Tim Keller from a person in his church. 00:22:23.959 --> 00:22:25.939 So let me quote Keller for a minute. 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:28.900 Fred, I'm guessing that's not his real name. 00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:31.799 Fred has been attending a small group for months. 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:38.600 At one point he realises that he assesses the value of the group strictly on what he gets out of it. 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:44.779 He then decides to begin preparing well and praying for the group. 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:52.360 When he comes, he looks for opportunity to help the Bible study leader by making good contributions 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:56.919 and for ways to speak the truth in love so others are encouraged and help to grow. 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:01.659 So no formal role. 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:07.500 But someone like Fred would be essential to our small groups if we turned up ready to contribute. 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:18.420 Let's not underestimate the power of setting a good example and just everyday words. 00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:25.660 And ministry can be planned and spontaneous. 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:33.980 When it comes to planning, I wonder before you arrive at church, do you have a plan of who you want to speak to after the service? 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:36.540 I'm not saying you have to do it. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:38.300 I'm just saying it could be a good thing to do. 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:44.480 Maybe you have one or two people you just want to catch them before you leave. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:50.139 I think we should all have our newcomers radar on all the time. 00:23:50.659 --> 00:23:54.759 Because it is really hard to walk into a group of people for the first time. 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.200 It's really hard. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:24:00.200 I hope you might not have done it recently, but it's really hard. 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:02.359 We should have our newcomer radar on. 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:06.000 I think it's good to have one or two people in mind to talk to. 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:08.799 But of course we have those spontaneous conversations as well. 00:24:10.439 --> 00:24:14.479 And let's take that as God's providence that he wants us to build them up in that conversation too. 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:21.439 It can be good to plan meals with people in advance, a couple of weeks in advance. 00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:24.539 Because on the day, you probably just don't feel like it. 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:26.979 You just want to go home and put the Netflix on. 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:32.440 But if you prepare in advance, I think it's better. 00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:39.680 Some friends of ours in Japan, they were saying that to actually catch up with someone, 00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:41.500 you've got to book ahead two months. 00:24:42.860 --> 00:24:45.019 We expect someone to be busy for a week or two. 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.539 Two months in advance. 00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:50.099 If you're in Japan, you have to be planned to do ministry. 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:55.980 Of course there's spontaneous opportunities as well. 00:24:56.980 --> 00:25:00.599 Andrew Wilkinson, he's up in Tamworth today. 00:25:00.860 --> 00:25:04.240 But Wilco was saying to me the other day, he was playing goalkeeper in soccer. 00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:04.940 I wasn't there. 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:08.740 But here he is in goalkeeper, five a side. 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:12.680 So they're booting the ball from one or two metres away near his face. 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:16.259 And there's guys behind him asking him, 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:19.339 what does EV stand for in your team name? 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:21.519 And he said, oh, that means evangelical. 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.759 He's like, evangelical? 00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.519 What's that? 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:27.000 Oh, it's our church that I go to. 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:30.940 Instead of shutting the conversation down, they kept asking him questions. 00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:33.019 What church do you go? 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.539 Where is it? 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:35.799 What do you do there? 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:37.660 They just started asking questions. 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:41.619 Here he is in goalkeeper, having this witnessing opportunity. 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.799 Talk about spontaneous. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:51.000 So ministry can obviously be planned. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.919 It can be spontaneous. 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:57.519 One last thing I just want to point out the obvious when it comes to planning. 00:25:58.539 --> 00:26:01.899 If you don't show up, it's really hard to serve. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.759 I think we need to plan to be there. 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:08.319 Sunday afternoon. 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:08.940 Sorry. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.519 That's blocked out. 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:12.359 I'm committed already. 00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:16.879 Now, I know there's some good reasons not to turn up to things. 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:19.079 Don't hear me wrong. 00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:21.819 But let's plan ahead to serve one another. 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.980 Let's block out the time. 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:30.579 And I know that sometimes we just like fall into church exhausted. 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:33.680 Some of you might be only just keeping your eyes open. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.740 Maybe all of you right now. 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:38.319 But just turning up can be an encouragement. 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.400 Just turning up. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:43.059 And you can let others serve you. 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:44.940 And that's okay too. 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:50.880 So what if you're weak? 00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:52.320 And this is my last point. 00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:55.420 What if you're weak and debilitated? 00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:58.420 Do you have anything to offer? 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:07.240 Maybe you're mentally and emotionally drained or you're just really, really tired or stressed. 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:11.059 Or maybe you're just so sick you can't turn up. 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:15.500 Do you have anything to offer? 00:27:18.659 --> 00:27:19.700 I think so, yeah. 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:23.039 I think you might have the most to offer. 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:26.899 Let me tell you a story to try and illustrate this. 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:33.059 So while I was in Sydney, a friend at Bible College, he struggled with chronic fatigue. 00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:36.039 And it got better. 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:39.519 And so he decided, okay, I'm going to do it. 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.500 Let's go to Bible College. 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.940 He signed up for the three-year course. 00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:44.900 But a few weeks in, the chronic fatigue just hit him hard. 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:47.359 And he just couldn't go to his classes. 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:52.319 He could barely have a five-minute conversation. 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:54.819 He was just exhausted after five minutes. 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:58.720 He couldn't come to the common room to eat meals. 00:27:58.900 --> 00:28:00.160 He couldn't show up. 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:05.140 But let me just share how he encouraged me. 00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:09.820 First of all, his dependence on God was just, it was necessary. 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:13.460 It was so obvious that he had to depend on God. 00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:17.060 And that encouraged me to see myself in the same way. 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.740 I'm just as dependent. 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:26.820 More than that, when he spoke, he only had a few words he had the energy to say. 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:28.599 But when he spoke, he made every word count. 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:32.720 It just carried a weight to it that was encouraging. 00:28:33.159 --> 00:28:34.779 His prayers were to the point. 00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:39.679 It just brought eternity into the room. 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:47.460 But because he was debilitated, it also meant that I had to step up sometimes. 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.799 I had to pray for him. 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:53.100 I had to learn what it meant to look after him as my friend. 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:57.580 I didn't know at first how to care for someone with chronic fatigue. 00:28:57.579 --> 00:29:03.839 So he actually has provided me the opportunity to step up. 00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:09.919 And I think he taught me more fully the theology that we talk about all the time, 00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:12.399 that our righteousness has to come from Christ. 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:15.619 This guy could not do anything to earn his righteousness. 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:17.119 He couldn't even read his Bible. 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.799 It was just too taxing. 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:22.359 What could he do to earn his righteousness? 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.179 He couldn't. 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.259 But we don't have to. 00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:26.539 That's the gospel, isn't it? 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:29.039 Christ has given us his righteousness. 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:33.759 I think my relationship with him helped me grasp that a bit more. 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:42.960 I hope you can see that God used his debilitation to encourage my faith, 00:29:43.399 --> 00:29:44.240 to build me up. 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:49.500 God works his power through our weakness. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:54.420 Even when you're debilitated, 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:57.400 you are an essential member of the body of Christ. 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:59.980 So urge us all on in faith and love and hope. 00:30:03.800 --> 00:30:08.120 Okay, so that's a snapshot of opportunities that I think we have for service. 00:30:08.300 --> 00:30:10.480 Can I just finish very briefly? 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:14.660 I think there's a danger in a sermon like this. 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:21.440 I think there's a danger that we naturally think that we have to do things for God to accept us. 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:24.700 I think we just naturally believe that. 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:29.579 I often find myself thinking, if I do this for you, God, you owe me. 00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:31.839 That's not service. 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:33.940 That's not the mindset we're meant to have. 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:42.080 Being able to serve is always God serving us. 00:30:42.600 --> 00:30:46.600 God is always serving us, even in giving us opportunities to serve. 00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:49.640 Now, I want to show that in three ways through Ephesians. 00:30:50.840 --> 00:30:52.279 It's always God's grace. 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:59.519 Now, first of all, in chapter 2, we're told plainly that we were happily just going along with the rest of the world, 00:30:59.620 --> 00:31:00.420 living for ourselves. 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:02.200 We were dead towards God. 00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:09.700 We wouldn't even have good works to do if God didn't first make us alive. 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:13.740 It's by grace we have been saved and made alive. 00:31:14.600 --> 00:31:17.620 Verse 10 of chapter 2, we're created for good works. 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:19.560 Created for good works. 00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:21.660 It's by grace that we can even do any good. 00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:25.200 That's the first way it's by grace. 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:30.559 The second way it's by grace is that he provides us with what we need to serve. 00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:34.039 He promises that in chapter 4, verse 7. 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:37.559 Grace is given to each one as he apportions it. 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:43.080 We need to trust that he provides what we need when we're serving. 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:45.180 It's never in our own strength. 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:46.480 It's always his grace. 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:50.480 It's always what he gives, and then he gets the glory for it. 00:31:50.480 --> 00:32:00.019 And the third way that God is serving us is that God is a servant-hearted God. 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:07.400 By providing opportunities to serve, that is the very way that we're going to grow up to be like Christ. 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:16.320 He's always serving us when he gives us opportunities to serve. 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.740 It's a gift. 00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:20.840 A gift of grace. 00:32:23.040 --> 00:32:26.960 So brothers and sisters, let's be captured more and more by our older brother. 00:32:27.600 --> 00:32:28.560 Let's admire him. 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:35.079 We need to go deeper in knowing him so that that passion overflows in serving, 00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:37.799 and opportunities are endless. 00:32:39.899 --> 00:32:41.500 Each part needs to do our bit. 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:43.179 Let's become like our older brother. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:45.859 Will you pray with me? 00:32:45.859 --> 00:33:06.939 Father, we forgive us for not admiring your son as we ought to, 00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:10.219 how quickly our heart goes to other things. 00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:12.779 Forgive us for that. 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:15.960 We thank you that you don't leave us where we are, 00:33:16.639 --> 00:33:20.420 but that you're committed to taking hold of our hearts 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:24.899 and forming us into the likeness of your son. 00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:28.599 Lord, how good it will be when we are finally there, 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:38.200 when we are fully and finally united household in truth and love. 00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:40.940 Lord, we look forward to that day. 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:46.559 In the meantime, please, yeah, take hold of our hearts. 00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:48.880 Grab and capture us. 00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:52.100 Spur us on, each one of us, wherever we're at. 00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:56.460 I pray that you would speak to each one of us and urge us on to serve 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.860 so that we might grow up together. 00:33:58.380 --> 00:34:02.620 Lord, please bring glory to your name through the love and the truth 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:03.860 that is in this church. 00:34:04.580 --> 00:34:05.580 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:34:05.860 --> 00:34:06.120 Amen. 00:34:06.120 --> 00:34:06.220 Amen. 00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:11.500 не Tiger 00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:12.220 die 00:34:12.220 --> 00:34:12.619 Changi 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:12.659 Hillary 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:14.700 stadt