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 Would you turn with me to Hebrews chapter 5, verse 11.

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 We are starting up our series, or restarting up our series in the book of Hebrews.

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 If you were with us last semester, you know that we worked through basically

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 almost the full first five chapters of the book of Hebrews.

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 And what we saw there is that the writer of the book of Hebrews was laying a foundation

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 of Jesus Christ as a supreme, unique, majestic Son of God

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 who had come down to be our high priest.

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 And that's where we ended last semester with this thought ringing in our ears

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 that Jesus has come to be our high priest.

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 And today we're going to pick up right where we left off in Hebrews chapter 5, verse 11.

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 It's page 1003 in your pew Bible if you want to turn there.

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 Let me read this for us.

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 We're going to read through chapter 6, verse 3.

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 Having just talked about Christ as our high priest, he says,

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 About this, we have much to say.

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 And it is hard to explain since you have become dull of hearing.

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 For though by this time you ought to be teachers,

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 you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God.

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 You need milk, not solid food.

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 For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness since he is a child.

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 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

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 Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity,

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 not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

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 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

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 And this we will do if God permits.

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 If you're a fan of TV sitcoms, you might remember last spring as the time when the offbeat, mockumentary Arrested Development returned for a fourth season.

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 Anybody here an Arrested Development fan?

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 Uh-oh, true confessions, we're in church.

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 Put your hands down.

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 No, I'm kidding.

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 It was actually, well, I probably shouldn't say this.

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 It was actually an elder of Trinity at the time that let me borrow all three seasons of Arrested Development on DVD.

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 A great sign of our need of congregational sanctification.

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 Anyway, after being canceled seven years earlier by Fox, in May of last year, Netflix released the newly filmed fourth season all at once for online streaming.

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 And if you missed it, the show follows the dysfunctional Bluth family and their attempts to save the family business from bankruptcy and all sorts of legal trouble.

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 And as the title of the show suggests, nearly all of the adult characters in one way or another have failed to grow up.

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 There's Job, one of the brothers, who instead of helping to run the family business, rides a Segway and tries to make it as a magician.

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 Or an illusionist, as he's so apt to point out.

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 And then there's socially awkward Buster, another brother who pursues various scholarly pursuits like African drumming and anthropology while still living at home with his overbearing mom.

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 And then there's George Sr., the sort of paterfamilias who ends up in prison because he's suspected of fraud and thinks it's a good idea to hide large amounts of cash in the walls of the family's banana stand down on the pier.

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 Creating the unforgettable line, there's always money in the banana stand.

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 And what's fascinating is that the show actually grew in popularity over the seven years after it was canceled.

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 And of course, the show is incredibly funny if you like stupid humor and the mockumentary style was perhaps a bit ahead of its time.

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 But I think that the very idea of a family unable to grow up, being stuck in perpetual arrested development, I think has somehow resonated with our culture more and more.

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 There was something about the silly Bluth family that just maybe struck a chord closer and closer to home.

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 After all, for more than a decade, sociologists have been increasingly aware of a phenomenon that they're calling and have called emerging adulthood, right?

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 No longer are young adults moving smoothly from adolescence into traditional adulthood.

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 Things like getting married or having children or settling into a profession or owning a home.

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 All of these traditional cultural markers that made someone an adult are all being postponed.

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 Now someone in their mid to late 20s is just as likely to be single, living at home, struggling to find their life's purpose, having a hard time nailing down a job,

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 and most likely in their free time, streaming season four of Arrested Development on their parents' Netflix account.

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 Now I'm not going to say that the phenomenon of emerging adulthood is good or bad.

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 In some sense it just is.

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 But there does come a point when we realize that we can't remain children forever.

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 That we have to go on to maturity.

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 That at some point, it's time to grow up.

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 Now our text this morning from Hebrews is a challenge, a challenge spiritually to do just that.

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 The main point is right there in chapter 6, verse 1.

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 Let us go on to maturity.

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 This passage is telling us that it's possible for us as Christians to get stuck in a sort of spiritual Arrested Development.

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 To remain as children, as it were, and to never grow up.

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 But like a good pastor or teacher, like a good spiritual parent, Hebrews is here challenging us, chiding us to grow up and to go on to maturity.

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 As we said, he's getting ready to embark on one of the richest in-depth discussions of the high priesthood of Christ.

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 That will be for their eternal good and for their endurance and for their growth.

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 And yet he's afraid that they're not going to get it.

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 Now there are three points we need to see here in our text about this call to maturity.

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 And here's the outline of what I want us to do this morning.

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 First, we see what kind of maturity we ought to be seeking.

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 Second, why we should be seeking it.

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 And last, how we go after it.

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 So what kind of maturity?

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 Why we should be going after it?

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 And then lastly, how do we do it?

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 So first then, what kind of maturity are we talking about here?

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 What exactly are we to grow up in?

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 And the nanotext is actually pretty specific.

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 It's not just a general kind of spiritual maturity he's talking about.

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 And you see this in verse 11.

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 You see that he wants to explain something to them, but he's afraid they won't understand it because they become dull of hearing or sluggish.

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 In other words, he's afraid their minds aren't sharp and ready to understand what he's going to explain.

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 So that means what we're talking about here is growing up in our knowledge, grasping something with our minds.

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 And then he goes on to tell us what kind of knowledge.

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 And he uses a couple of phrases to describe it.

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 And in each case, he's saying this is something where you're only at the elementary level, but you need to go on.

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 And what is it?

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 In verse 12, how does he describe it?

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 The oracles of God.

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 Now, an oracle is just something that's spoken.

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 This is a common way of referring to the scriptures.

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 He says you're at a basic level, but you need to become more advanced.

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 And then in verse 13, he calls it the word of righteousness.

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 That is the message about God's transforming, saving justice.

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 You're unskilled, he says, but you need to become more and more proficient.

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 And then in 6.1, he calls it the doctrine of Christ, the teaching about Christ.

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 You're just elementary, he says, but you need to go on to maturity.

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 So how do we sum this up?

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 I think like this.

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 This passage is telling us that every Christian ought to make it their business to diligently study the things of God.

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 To be ever increasing in their knowledge of the Christian faith.

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 To be making it our diligent business to be growing in the knowledge of the things of God.

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 Or you might call it our knowledge of Christian theology.

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 Theology just means the study of God.

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 Or you might call it Christian doctrine.

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 Doctrine are things that are taught and things that are believed.

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 This is the kind of maturity that he wants us to pursue.

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 Maturity in our grasp, our knowledge of Christian faith, doctrine, theology.

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 Now clarify.

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 This knowledge that we're being challenged to pursue here isn't something that's disconnected from the central gospel message.

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 It's not as if he's saying that, oh, the gospel is sort of the mere ABC.

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 And then you sort of leave it behind and move on to something else when you want to get really mature.

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 You know, you'll start, I don't know, going into all weird sort of esoteric stuff.

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 No.

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 You know, when he says in verse 6-1, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ.

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 He doesn't mean leave it behind for something else altogether.

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 But to go deeper into it.

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 It's more like a math teacher telling their class, okay, let's leave algebra 1 and go on to algebra 2.

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 And of course, when you get to algebra 2, you're not forgetting all the stuff you learned in algebra 1.

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 But you're expanding it.

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 You're going deeper.

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 You're unpacking its implications.

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 You're seeing more and more and more of what the subject has to hold.

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 And that's what a diligent study of the things of God of Christian doctrine is meant to do.

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 It's meant to take you deeper and deeper into what you've come to know in the gospel.

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 Now consider the gospel, the central message of Christianity of the Bible.

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 Let's just consider it for a second.

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 That there is one true and living God who is holy, just, and good.

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 And that this God created everything to display his beauty and grace and perfections.

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 And that he made you and I, human beings, in his image to especially know him and enjoy him and glorify him.

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 But we've rebelled against our good and just God and have gone our own way.

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 And because God is perfectly just and good, he condemns us to eternal death because of our sin.

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 And will one day come and judge righteously all the earth.

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 But in his great mercy and in his great grace and with the great love with which he loved us,

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 God sent his son, Jesus Christ, who is fully God from all eternity.

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 And he came and became fully human in the incarnation.

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 And on the cross, he died in the place of sinners as their substitute, taking the penalty they deserve.

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 And on the third day, God raised him from the dead to prove that the full payment for sin had been paid.

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 And that everyone who turns from their sin and trusts in him, who takes him by faith as their Lord and Savior,

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 will have their sins forgiven and be brought into the family of God

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 and be made a part of God's new creation work in the world.

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 Friends, that is the gospel.

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 And when the writer of the book of Hebrews is telling us to go on in maturity in our Christian knowledge,

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 how could he possibly be telling us to leave that behind?

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 There wasn't a sentence of that that was scratching the surface of the depths of its riches.

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 Thomas Goodwin, the 17th century pastor and theologian, once said,

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 The things of the gospel are depths.

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 The things of the gospel are the deep things of God.

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 Too often we're like the Hebrews.

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 We fail to sharpen our minds so that we can plumb the depths of this great good news.

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 We fail to see that what we have as Christians in the gospel is like an ever-radiant jewel

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 that as you turn it and turn it and turn it,

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 more and more brilliance and light and wonders come as the light shines in.

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 Or to use the metaphor in the second half of 6.1,

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 it's like the foundation of a building.

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 And when you're ready to build the first and second stories of a building,

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 you don't just sort of leave the foundation behind,

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 laying in the field, and then build somewhere else.

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 No!

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 You take your start from that foundation.

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 You follow its lines up.

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 And friends, the gospel is solid and secure and deep enough

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 to propel us to the heights of God.

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 Real Christian maturity.

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 Real growth and understanding in Christian doctrine

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 will always be following those foundation lines

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 of gazing into the jewel of the great work of redemption

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 that God has wrought in Christ.

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 Paul says in Corinthians 2.2, he says,

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 he endeavored to know nothing among them

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 except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

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 And that's because Christ crucified, the heart of the gospel,

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 is the wisdom of God and the power of God

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 and the glory of God.

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 And Peter says that the things of the gospel

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 are things into which even angels long and desire to look.

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 And John in Revelation tells us that at the center of the new heavens

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 and the new earth, that in the middle of heaven's praise,

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 where there is ceaseless delight and joy,

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 stands the Lamb, Jesus Christ crucified and risen.

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 You see, friends, Thomas Goodwin was right.

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 The things of the gospel are the deep things of God.

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 And it is the duty of all of us to apply our minds to know it more and more and deeper and deeper.

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 So before we move on, let's hear the challenge of Hebrews this morning.

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 Ask yourself, am I making it my business to diligently study the things of God?

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 Am I making efforts to grow in my knowledge of Christian truth?

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 Or if I'm honest, am I unskilled?

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 Have I not progressed beyond the basic principles?

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 Have I even become dull of hearing?

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 When I think about how I invest my time,

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 does any of my concentrated effort go toward growing in my Christian knowledge?

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 Or am I still, as it were, sort of skiing down the bunny slope

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 and taking the T-bar to the top?

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 When, friends, what God is calling us to

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 is to get into the gondola

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 and go to the top

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 where there's fresh powder

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 and views like you could never imagine.

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 How could we be content

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 with just staying on the bunny slope

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 when that's before us?

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 Let's go on to maturity.

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 Let's make it our business

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 to diligently study the things of God.

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 Every one of us.

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 You'll notice here that he's not just talking to the teachers

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 and the pastors in the midst of the congregation.

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 He's talking to all of them,

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 young and old, male and female,

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 those who have formal education and those who don't.

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 It's addressed to the whole church.

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 Now let's ask the question, why?

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 Why should this be our diligent pursuit?

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 Well, I think the text points us to three reasons

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 why we ought to be doing this.

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 First, it's our nature.

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 He says in verse 12,

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 by this time, you ought to be teachers.

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 By this time,

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 you ought to have grown up.

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 You see, he's pointing us to the fact

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 that it's a natural trajectory in the Christian life

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 that as time passes,

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 our knowledge should be increasing

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 and increasing such

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 that we could even eventually instruct others.

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 You see, when the Holy Spirit

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 does a work of conversion in us,

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 when we come to faith in Christ,

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 a whole new principle gets planted within us.

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 A principle that is a desire within us

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 to want to grow and learn

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 and feast on God's word.

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 You see this in the early church in Acts.

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 The earliest disciples,

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 what were they doing

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 when Peter preaches that first message

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 and then Luke turns

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 and starts describing the church?

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 What's the first thing he says?

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 He says they devoted themselves

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 to the apostles' teaching.

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 It was just part of their nature

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 as disciples.

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 And after all, the word disciple,

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 what does it mean?

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 A student, a learner.

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 To be a Christian by nature,

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 by the nature that the Holy Spirit puts in us,

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 means that we are to seek deeper knowledge

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 of the things of God,

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 to learn and to grow.

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 Isn't that true of the other callings

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.560
 that we have in our lives?

00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.940
 If your profession is to be a doctor,

00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:35.000
 don't you want to naturally excel

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.220
 in the knowledge of medicine

00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.440
 and the human body?

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.460
 You're always learning.

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.000
 Or if you're in business,

00:17:40.080 --> 00:17:41.259
 you want to keep learning

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:43.039
 whatever field that you're in,

00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:45.559
 whatever aspect of the commercial world

00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:45.920
 that you're in,

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.940
 you keep learning and growing and studying.

00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:50.700
 If your profession is to be an auto mechanic,

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:52.059
 you keep learning and growing

00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:53.539
 and studying how cars work.

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:56.740
 If your profession is to be a stay-at-home parent,

00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:58.259
 then you're wanting to excel

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.720
 in the knowledge of raising kids

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.799
 and in child development

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:02.019
 and all those great things.

00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.680
 It's just in the nature

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:05.319
 of our everyday callings

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:07.379
 that we seek to know more and more about it.

00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:10.220
 How much more ought that to be the case

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:12.659
 with our calling to follow Christ?

00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:16.319
 Friends, this is the greatest calling

00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:18.579
 that any human being could have.

00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:21.039
 To be a child of God.

00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:24.619
 To be an ambassador of the King.

00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.839
 That's the privilege of every believer.

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:31.299
 And that means it's the privilege

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.460
 of each and every one of us

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:34.159
 and the natural impulse in us

00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:36.799
 to want to grow in our knowledge

00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.740
 of the things of God.

00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:39.559
 It's not just for pastors.

00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:41.079
 It's not just for elders.

00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:43.179
 It's for all of us.

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.460
 If you're a Christian

00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.859
 and you're not going after

00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:49.539
 an increase in this kind of knowledge,

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:51.099
 then friends,

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:53.159
 you're actually living out of line

00:18:53.159 --> 00:18:54.720
 with your nature.

00:18:56.899 --> 00:18:58.339
 And don't think this is just for people

00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:59.059
 with a high IQ.

00:18:59.199 --> 00:19:00.279
 Maybe some of you are sitting there thinking,

00:19:00.419 --> 00:19:01.220
 man, we're just talking about

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:03.339
 head knowledge and book learning.

00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:06.159
 I mean, is this just for the smart people around?

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.600
 No.

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.840
 It's for all of us.

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:09.820
 You see, friends,

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:12.040
 God is faithful to his children.

00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:15.360
 He will grant you rich insights

00:19:15.360 --> 00:19:16.620
 into his word.

00:19:17.060 --> 00:19:20.420
 He promises to faithfully reward your study.

00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:23.660
 Wasn't it Jesus that taught us to ask

00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:25.160
 and it will be given to you

00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:27.880
 and to seek and you will find

00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:28.900
 and the knock and the door

00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:30.120
 will be open to you.

00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:32.359
 Of course, a sharp intellect

00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:33.619
 is a great gift of God

00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:35.159
 and a means that he can use

00:19:35.159 --> 00:19:36.899
 and something that we should steward well

00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:39.199
 if we find that God has given it to us.

00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:42.500
 But each and every Christian

00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.959
 has something even better

00:19:43.959 --> 00:19:45.519
 than a sharp intellect.

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:49.099
 God's Holy Spirit within you.

00:19:50.919 --> 00:19:52.279
 The natural mind can't even

00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:53.779
 really grasp these things.

00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:56.639
 And yet, God pours his own self into you

00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:58.000
 so that you can know him.

00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:00.539
 It's God, the Holy Spirit,

00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.579
 who brought us to faith

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:02.799
 and he'll work in us

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:04.059
 to cause us to grow

00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:05.400
 in our knowledge of the faith.

00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.579
 And that is the deposit

00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:08.119
 that each and every one of us has.

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:11.220
 So it's in our nature

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.420
 as Christians

00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:13.640
 to pursue this kind of maturity.

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:15.099
 That's why we should go after it.

00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.420
 But there's a second reason

00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.059
 that we see here.

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.339
 The second reason

00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:20.019
 why we should go after

00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:20.720
 this kind of maturity

00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.519
 is actually,

00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:22.799
 I struggle to find a word for this,

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.559
 but I'm going to say

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:24.400
 it's our protection.

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:26.059
 Now, here's what I mean by this.

00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:27.279
 In verse 14,

00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:28.799
 he says that this sort of maturity

00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.240
 is such that we come

00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:32.099
 to distinguish good from evil.

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.139
 And that means two things.

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:35.099
 On the one hand,

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.119
 it means that an increasing knowledge

00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:38.000
 of Christian doctrine

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:41.319
 helps us to live life well.

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:44.559
 Christian theology was always meant

00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:46.359
 to be practical in its outflow.

00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:50.259
 Doctrine is meant for life.

00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:51.539
 You see this over and over again

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.379
 in the pastoral epistles

00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:53.839
 in 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus.

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:55.019
 Paul speaks again and again

00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:56.619
 of sound doctrine.

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.099
 And by that,

00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:58.500
 he doesn't just mean true doctrine.

00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:00.420
 He means the kind of doctrine

00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:02.200
 that brings soundness,

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.639
 that brings health,

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.980
 that brings rightness

00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:06.339
 to our lives.

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.079
 It's actually kind of funny

00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:10.420
 that we don't see it this way.

00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:12.500
 We often see theology

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:14.059
 as very impractical, don't we?

00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:17.500
 But imagine trying to set off

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.319
 on an expedition

00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:21.000
 through a mountain range

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.599
 without a map,

00:21:23.799 --> 00:21:25.940
 without any sort of GPS

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:27.220
 or map to guide you.

00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.359
 Of course, you know

00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:29.599
 that would be incredibly foolish.

00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:31.140
 After all, what is a map?

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:32.039
 It's a description

00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.839
 of what's real.

00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:35.619
 It's a way of helping us

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.980
 to grasp and understand

00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.880
 what's before us

00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:39.500
 and to put it in perspective

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:41.700
 so that we know how to proceed.

00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.420
 And because maps

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:45.279
 are incredibly, you know,

00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:47.079
 descriptive of what's real,

00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:48.019
 that means they're practical

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.859
 and they're useful.

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.339
 Friends, don't you see

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.099
 that if in Scripture

00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:52.819
 we have the description

00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:54.379
 of what's ultimately real,

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:57.479
 and if Christian theology

00:21:57.479 --> 00:21:58.519
 is helping us

00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.699
 to understand this

00:21:59.699 --> 00:22:00.619
 better and better,

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.479
 then surely it's one

00:22:02.479 --> 00:22:03.719
 of the most practical,

00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:05.199
 the most practical thing

00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:06.419
 we could ever learn.

00:22:07.439 --> 00:22:08.779
 Because it's not just a map

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:10.919
 for this or that city

00:22:10.919 --> 00:22:12.599
 or this or that mountain range.

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.879
 It's the very description

00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:18.840
 of existence and reality itself.

00:22:21.780 --> 00:22:22.640
 That's what Paul means

00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.240
 when he says that,

00:22:23.580 --> 00:22:25.100
 when he says in 2 Timothy 3.16

00:22:25.100 --> 00:22:25.700
 that all Scripture

00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:27.280
 is God-breathed and useful,

00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:29.340
 not just inspired,

00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:31.340
 but eminently practical

00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:32.080
 and useful.

00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:35.260
 Have you ever seen old maps

00:22:35.260 --> 00:22:37.300
 from like, you know,

00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:39.500
 the 13th, 14th century?

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:43.000
 You know, they're kind of funny,

00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:43.440
 aren't they?

00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:45.339
 Because you can usually tell

00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:47.079
 that whatever perspective

00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:48.339
 they're drawn from, right?

00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.640
 You look at an old map

00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.900
 and you see sort of Western Europe

00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:52.140
 and it's all incredibly defined

00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:52.519
 and you think,

00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:53.539
 oh, that could, you know,

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.460
 that could be any old map.

00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.799
 And then you sort of go over

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:57.200
 and there's some white parts

00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.740
 and then there's this sort of blob.

00:22:58.960 --> 00:22:59.700
 You're like, oh,

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.539
 that must be North America.

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:03.480
 I don't know.

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.579
 It looked like a turkey

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.299
 or whatever, you know,

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.659
 they've sort of drawn it as.

00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.339
 And of course,

00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.200
 now we have satellites

00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:10.440
 that can give us a perspective

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.879
 like no one would have imagined

00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:14.700
 in the 1400s, you know?

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.899
 It gives us the perspective

00:23:16.899 --> 00:23:18.899
 to know reality rightly.

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.139
 And don't you see, friends,

00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:21.799
 that's why Scripture

00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.980
 is eminently useful.

00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:25.519
 Because if it's God's Word,

00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.480
 then its perspective

00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.440
 is not limited.

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:33.500
 It doesn't have the confines

00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:35.659
 or the skewed perspective

00:23:35.659 --> 00:23:37.720
 of every other life map

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.779
 that we try to use.

00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.420
 So you see,

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.220
 the more and more we grow

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.720
 in our knowledge

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.379
 of Christian doctrine,

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.759
 the more equipped we are

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:46.339
 to live life well.

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.639
 It's our protection

00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.480
 in that sense.

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:50.319
 It keeps us from foolish living.

00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.839
 It keeps us from stumbling

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:54.480
 into error.

00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:55.700
 And it allows us

00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.700
 to live life well.

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:59.119
 But it's also our protection

00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.059
 in this sense.

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:02.200
 A second sense.

00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:03.839
 Growing in the knowledge

00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:04.619
 of the things of God

00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.460
 also is a protection

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.179
 to help us distinguish

00:24:06.179 --> 00:24:07.019
 good from evil

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.539
 when it comes to

00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:10.139
 false gospels

00:24:10.139 --> 00:24:11.460
 and false teaching.

00:24:12.899 --> 00:24:14.259
 When something comes to you

00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.059
 masquerading

00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.700
 as true Christian belief,

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.460
 when you hear a preacher

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:19.839
 on TV or online,

00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:20.579
 or when you read something

00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:21.799
 on a blog or a magazine,

00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:22.859
 or when you talk to a friend

00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:23.279
 about something

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:23.859
 they've been reading

00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:24.579
 or hearing,

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.240
 friends, all of us

00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.339
 need to have our powers

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.559
 of discernment sharp

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:30.159
 to be able to distinguish

00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:31.220
 true gospels

00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:32.559
 from false gospels,

00:24:32.679 --> 00:24:33.940
 true biblical beliefs

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:35.319
 from false ones.

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.119
 And again,

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.700
 you and I both know

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.899
 this isn't just a job

00:24:39.899 --> 00:24:41.259
 of pastors, right?

00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.619
 In fact,

00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:43.759
 in your everyday life

00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.539
 out in the world,

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.819
 you probably encountered

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.599
 just as much weird

00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.240
 and wacky stuff

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.799
 as I do.

00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.500
 We all need to be growing

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.679
 in our discernment.

00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:52.200
 Otherwise,

00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:53.700
 Paul says in Ephesians,

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.619
 we'll just be blown

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:55.939
 and tossed

00:24:55.939 --> 00:24:57.359
 by every wind

00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.399
 of doctrine.

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:00.819
 And you know,

00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.639
 what's very interesting

00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:02.619
 in the New Testament

00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:04.759
 is that it's not just

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.119
 pastors,

00:25:05.199 --> 00:25:05.619
 although they are

00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.299
 especially held

00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:07.000
 accountable for this,

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.000
 but it's not just pastors

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.819
 that are held accountable

00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.759
 for the doctrinal purity

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.319
 of the church.

00:25:10.899 --> 00:25:12.219
 It's the whole congregation.

00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:14.799
 Think about the book

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.679
 of Galatians.

00:25:16.139 --> 00:25:16.839
 A false teaching

00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:17.979
 has crept into the church.

00:25:18.439 --> 00:25:19.699
 And who does Paul write to

00:25:19.699 --> 00:25:20.239
 in that letter?

00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:22.000
 Who does he issue

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.079
 his challenges to?

00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:25.139
 Not just the teachers,

00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:26.839
 the whole congregation.

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.359
 He says,

00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:29.079
 all of you

00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:30.339
 are responsible

00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.740
 to guard

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:34.659
 the doctrinal purity

00:25:34.659 --> 00:25:35.679
 of your congregation.

00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.539
 All of you

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.779
 have a share in this

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.939
 to make sure

00:25:39.939 --> 00:25:40.460
 that we're staying

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.939
 rooted and grounded

00:25:41.939 --> 00:25:43.059
 in what's life-giving

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.059
 and true

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.259
 and beautiful.

00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.259
 So you see,

00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.059
 an increasing knowledge

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.699
 of Christian doctrine

00:25:49.699 --> 00:25:50.619
 then is our protection.

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.799
 It doesn't just protect us

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:53.019
 in our own personal lives

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:53.579
 from foolishness

00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:54.059
 and disaster,

00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:54.660
 but it protects

00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:55.639
 the life of the church

00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:57.000
 and keeps it healthy.

00:25:59.259 --> 00:25:59.619
 Okay,

00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.319
 so why should we

00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.139
 pursue this maturity?

00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:02.200
 Because it's our nature,

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.539
 because it's our protection.

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.579
 But lastly then,

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:05.799
 we should make it

00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:06.400
 our business

00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.339
 to increase

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.619
 in this kind of knowledge.

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.599
 Because frankly,

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:10.879
 friends,

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.680
 it's our joy.

00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:14.820
 You see that

00:26:14.820 --> 00:26:15.240
 in the metaphor

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.940
 of milk

00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.920
 and solid food,

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.299
 don't you?

00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:17.560
 He says,

00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:19.240
 children are just fit

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.900
 for milk,

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.560
 he says.

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.620
 But,

00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.140
 solid food

00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:23.900
 is for the mature.

00:26:24.620 --> 00:26:24.759
 Now,

00:26:24.820 --> 00:26:25.000
 of course,

00:26:25.080 --> 00:26:26.060
 milk is a wonderful thing,

00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:26.299
 right?

00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:26.980
 It's refreshing,

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:28.220
 it's got some protein

00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:28.700
 in there,

00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.820
 my kids love it,

00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.880
 I think they could probably

00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.880
 actually live on milk

00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:32.640
 if we let them.

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.240
 But imagine,

00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.299
 imagine a friend

00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:36.200
 takes you downtown

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.240
 to a nice restaurant.

00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:38.519
 Imagine your favorite restaurant,

00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:39.220
 whatever it is,

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:39.900
 Heirloom,

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:40.560
 Union League,

00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:41.140
 Barcelona,

00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.500
 whatever.

00:26:42.060 --> 00:26:42.780
 And you sit down

00:26:42.780 --> 00:26:43.259
 and your friend says,

00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:43.580
 hey,

00:26:43.780 --> 00:26:44.740
 let me treat tonight,

00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:46.120
 order anything on the menu.

00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.780
 And you look at the menu

00:26:47.780 --> 00:26:48.540
 and the waiter comes

00:26:48.540 --> 00:26:48.980
 and you say,

00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:49.420
 you know what,

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.019
 I think I'll just have

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.900
 a glass of milk,

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:51.920
 thanks.

00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.300
 How absurd.

00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.120
 Just imagine

00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:58.300
 what you're missing out on.

00:26:58.360 --> 00:26:58.960
 You see, friends,

00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:00.700
 God in the gospel

00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.780
 is inviting us

00:27:01.780 --> 00:27:02.800
 to a feast,

00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:05.600
 to solid food

00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:07.640
 that will satisfy you

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:09.080
 and delight you

00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:11.759
 the way only

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:13.859
 real solid food can.

00:27:14.899 --> 00:27:15.599
 God wants us

00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.379
 to grow up,

00:27:16.419 --> 00:27:16.759
 as it were,

00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:17.879
 so we can start

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:19.579
 digging in,

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.859
 so we can taste

00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:22.039
 and see

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:23.019
 that the Lord

00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.799
 is good.

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.119
 How many of us

00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:27.179
 are trying to find

00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:28.199
 soul satisfaction

00:27:28.199 --> 00:27:29.679
 in so many other things?

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.799
 Trying to find

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.980
 our heart's delight

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.619
 in work

00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.819
 or in relationships

00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:35.579
 or in human approval?

00:27:35.679 --> 00:27:36.319
 And of course,

00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:37.039
 we know that

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.899
 when we start sinking

00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:38.519
 into those things,

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.839
 it never works

00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:41.619
 and nothing tastes.

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.740
 And then how often

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.519
 do we come

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:47.279
 to God's table,

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.240
 to God who is

00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:49.559
 the fountain of delights

00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.900
 and we're just

00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.980
 content with milk

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.420
 when he could

00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:54.759
 serve up for us

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:57.059
 the very thing

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:58.299
 that would feed

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.379
 and satisfy

00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:00.639
 our souls.

00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:07.960
 God has given you

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.920
 a mind at all

00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:10.340
 is so that you

00:28:10.340 --> 00:28:11.140
 can know him,

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:13.160
 so that you

00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:14.360
 can behold him

00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:16.420
 and know him

00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.600
 and love him

00:28:17.600 --> 00:28:19.820
 and be awestruck

00:28:19.820 --> 00:28:20.680
 at the wonder

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.560
 of who he is.

00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:24.779
 just like our mouths

00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.579
 are made

00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.599
 to eventually

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:27.359
 grow up

00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:28.379
 and eat solid food,

00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.339
 our minds

00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:30.839
 were given to us

00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:32.500
 so that we might

00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.019
 grow up

00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.940
 and start enjoying

00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:35.139
 the knowledge

00:28:35.139 --> 00:28:35.720
 of God.

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.519
 And you know,

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.119
 sometimes we think

00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:42.000
 as if our increase

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.779
 in the knowledge

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.559
 of Christian doctrine

00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.599
 and theology

00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.519
 will somehow

00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:46.159
 sort of

00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:47.960
 hinder our ability

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:49.059
 to enjoy God.

00:28:49.159 --> 00:28:49.839
 Don't we sometimes think

00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:51.279
 that, ah, if I get caught up

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:53.119
 in those dusty books,

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.319
 if I just spend

00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:55.299
 all my time thinking,

00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.779
 my heart gets sort of

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:58.459
 taken away, right?

00:29:01.199 --> 00:29:02.259
 I mean, am I the only one

00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:02.699
 who sort of

00:29:02.699 --> 00:29:03.519
 has heard that?

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.059
 No.

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:06.099
 It's so boring.

00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.199
 It will just kill

00:29:07.199 --> 00:29:08.000
 my relationship.

00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:08.500
 But friends,

00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.259
 don't you see how silly

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.179
 that is when you step back

00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:10.819
 and think about it?

00:29:12.459 --> 00:29:13.259
 The way that God

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.220
 has constituted us

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.799
 as humans

00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:16.559
 is that yes,

00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.480
 there is head knowledge

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.480
 and there is heart knowledge.

00:29:18.679 --> 00:29:19.740
 There's speculative knowledge.

00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.279
 There's intellect

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.759
 and there is experiential knowledge

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.559
 and knowing something

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.519
 in the depth of your bones

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.460
 and tasting it.

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.480
 Of course.

00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:27.740
 But the way God

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.220
 has made us

00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.500
 is that the pathway

00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.299
 to the heart

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.779
 is through our heads.

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:34.019
 The things that we know

00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:35.000
 are then the things

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.359
 that we can really enjoy.

00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:40.640
 It's like building a fire,

00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.339
 isn't it?

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:42.500
 You see,

00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.759
 growing in our knowledge

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.480
 of the faith

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.240
 is like stacking wood

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.140
 for a bonfire.

00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:47.259
 fire,

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:49.500
 and once the Holy Spirit

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.600
 lights the flame,

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:53.100
 then we'll be glad

00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:54.440
 that we learned

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:56.400
 as much as we possibly could.

00:29:56.600 --> 00:29:57.440
 And we'll want to keep

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.340
 throwing logs

00:29:58.340 --> 00:29:59.120
 onto the fire

00:29:59.120 --> 00:30:00.380
 as it gets brighter

00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:01.300
 and brighter

00:30:01.300 --> 00:30:02.280
 and hotter

00:30:02.280 --> 00:30:03.220
 and hotter.

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:07.319
 as we stand

00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:07.940
 and wonder

00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:09.360
 of God's perfections,

00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.519
 of His work

00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:11.400
 on the cross,

00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:13.900
 of the things

00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:14.299
 that He's doing

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:14.779
 in us

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.339
 and through us

00:30:15.339 --> 00:30:16.140
 by His Spirit.

00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:18.920
 How often do we think

00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:19.580
 our relationship

00:30:19.580 --> 00:30:20.040
 with God

00:30:20.040 --> 00:30:21.060
 has grown cold

00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:22.180
 when in reality

00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:22.700
 we haven't been

00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:24.060
 putting any fuel

00:30:24.060 --> 00:30:25.540
 into the furnace?

00:30:27.320 --> 00:30:27.720
 No, friends,

00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:28.520
 we should delight

00:30:28.520 --> 00:30:29.080
 in learning

00:30:29.080 --> 00:30:29.640
 more and more

00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:30.340
 about God,

00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:31.420
 not so our heads

00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.220
 can be puffed up,

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.259
 but so that our hearts

00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.000
 can burn brighter

00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.720
 and truer

00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.540
 with love for Him.

00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:36.660
 You see, friends,

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.300
 you pursue

00:30:37.300 --> 00:30:38.700
 this kind of maturity,

00:30:39.080 --> 00:30:40.360
 this increasing knowledge

00:30:40.360 --> 00:30:41.020
 of the faith,

00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:42.320
 and it's ultimately

00:30:42.320 --> 00:30:43.180
 for your joy

00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:44.420
 in God.

00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:47.800
 So let's wrap up then.

00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:49.300
 We've seen what,

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.160
 we've seen why,

00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:51.300
 let's end with how.

00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:52.519
 How do we pursue

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.980
 this kind of maturity?

00:30:54.100 --> 00:30:55.160
 How do we grow up

00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:56.100
 in this way?

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:58.380
 And three basic things,

00:30:58.840 --> 00:30:59.840
 three sort of headings.

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.920
 The first is

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:03.360
 the diligent study

00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:03.980
 of God's Word.

00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.800
 This is evident

00:31:04.800 --> 00:31:05.460
 from the passage,

00:31:05.560 --> 00:31:05.840
 isn't it?

00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.480
 The very thing

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:07.519
 He's rebuking them for

00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.500
 is that they're still

00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.539
 mere babes

00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.480
 in their understanding

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.539
 of God's Word

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.080
 and the Gospel.

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.279
 So if we're going

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:13.900
 to remedy this,

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.400
 we have to do it

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:15.420
 to devote ourselves

00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:16.340
 to diligent study

00:31:16.340 --> 00:31:16.840
 of the Word.

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.900
 And for starters,

00:31:18.080 --> 00:31:19.800
 that means taking advantage

00:31:19.800 --> 00:31:21.620
 of any opportunity

00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:22.740
 where the Word of God

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:23.600
 is being opened

00:31:23.600 --> 00:31:24.800
 and taught rightly.

00:31:25.840 --> 00:31:26.960
 You're obviously here

00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:28.060
 for our 10 o'clock service.

00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.500
 This is a good place

00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.060
 to start.

00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:31.120
 You're here,

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:31.759
 but think about it.

00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:32.800
 How can you make

00:31:32.800 --> 00:31:34.160
 even better use

00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:34.900
 of this time?

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.480
 Let me suggest

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.700
 two very simple things.

00:31:38.820 --> 00:31:39.080
 One,

00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.680
 take the sermon card

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:42.080
 in the pew home with you.

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.240
 We just printed them

00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:43.720
 out this week.

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.180
 They're fresh

00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.740
 off the presses.

00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:46.240
 Take it home with you.

00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.579
 Read the upcoming

00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.319
 sermon text

00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.339
 at least once

00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:50.059
 in the week

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.900
 before the service.

00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:53.039
 And start asking yourself

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.059
 as you read the passage

00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:54.980
 that's coming up,

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.940
 what does it reveal

00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:57.680
 about God?

00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.700
 What does it reveal

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.240
 God has,

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:01.160
 what God has done

00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:02.160
 for us in Christ?

00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.019
 And what would it mean

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:05.019
 to live in response

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.839
 to those things?

00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.259
 And then,

00:32:08.339 --> 00:32:09.200
 during the service,

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.000
 or right after

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.660
 our services,

00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:12.620
 mark down

00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:14.259
 one or two things

00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:15.800
 that God is teaching you.

00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:17.680
 Maybe it's a truth

00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:19.200
 about Him

00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:19.640
 that's become

00:32:19.640 --> 00:32:20.560
 especially real

00:32:20.560 --> 00:32:21.240
 to your heart.

00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:23.560
 Maybe it's a question

00:32:23.560 --> 00:32:24.200
 you have,

00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:26.279
 a line for further inquiry.

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.460
 Maybe it's an action

00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.259
 you need to take.

00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:31.300
 Maybe it's a sin

00:32:31.300 --> 00:32:32.180
 you need to confess

00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:32.779
 to God

00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.660
 and to someone

00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:34.580
 that you've wronged.

00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:37.079
 I guarantee you

00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.879
 that you will get

00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:39.279
 more out of these services

00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:40.099
 by doing those

00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:41.439
 two simple things.

00:32:41.919 --> 00:32:43.279
 It will only take you

00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:44.960
 not a lot of time.

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:47.259
 But of course,

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.299
 if you start doing that,

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.379
 why stop with

00:32:49.379 --> 00:32:50.199
 the 10 o'clock service,

00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:50.480
 right?

00:32:50.939 --> 00:32:52.159
 Why not come

00:32:52.159 --> 00:32:53.179
 at 9 o'clock

00:32:53.179 --> 00:32:54.240
 to Sunday school?

00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:56.619
 I mean,

00:32:56.639 --> 00:32:57.279
 think about it.

00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.639
 We got a new class

00:32:59.639 --> 00:33:00.779
 starting up next week.

00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:02.419
 It's about walking

00:33:02.419 --> 00:33:03.179
 in the Spirit.

00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:05.320
 I mean,

00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:05.759
 how many of you

00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.700
 think you're proficient

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:07.519
 and experts

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:08.200
 at walking in the Spirit?

00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:08.820
 None of us.

00:33:09.060 --> 00:33:10.380
 Come and learn

00:33:10.380 --> 00:33:11.259
 about this most

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.460
 central topic.

00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:14.140
 It's vital to your life.

00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.200
 I mean,

00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:15.620
 most of us

00:33:15.620 --> 00:33:16.640
 have to be at work

00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:18.620
 earlier than 9 a.m.,

00:33:18.620 --> 00:33:18.880
 right?

00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.160
 How many of you

00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:20.900
 have to be in the office

00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:22.519
 before 9 a.m.?

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:24.700
 Okay,

00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.160
 you all have

00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:25.980
 awesome offices.

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:26.799
 I'm going to go work

00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:27.320
 where you work.

00:33:29.080 --> 00:33:29.840
 It's nice.

00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:30.380
 Man,

00:33:31.320 --> 00:33:32.259
 what a lazy culture.

00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:32.680
 No,

00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:35.680
 and not only

00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.000
 does it start

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.860
 at 9 o'clock,

00:33:37.100 --> 00:33:38.160
 there's child care

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.779
 next door

00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:41.100
 for all ages.

00:33:42.360 --> 00:33:42.620
 I mean,

00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:43.539
 if you've got little kids,

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.220
 that's practically

00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:44.799
 a date,

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.340
 right?

00:33:45.580 --> 00:33:46.680
 It's like a TED Talk

00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:47.400
 for your soul.

00:33:47.560 --> 00:33:48.440
 Show up at 9.

00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:50.940
 And of course,

00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.759
 once you fill up

00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:52.680
 on Sunday mornings,

00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:55.340
 here's a crazy thought.

00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:56.859
 why not come back

00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:58.000
 on Sunday nights

00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.559
 when we dig

00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:00.539
 into another

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:01.779
 passage of Scripture?

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:04.419
 There's even a Q&A time

00:34:04.419 --> 00:34:05.119
 after the sermon

00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:05.720
 on Sunday nights

00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:06.139
 so you can try

00:34:06.139 --> 00:34:06.919
 to stump the preacher.

00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:08.219
 Come on,

00:34:08.319 --> 00:34:08.739
 come.

00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:10.019
 We can sharpen

00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:10.559
 one another

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.659
 and keep our edge

00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:12.799
 as we engage

00:34:12.799 --> 00:34:13.960
 the Word of God.

00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:15.679
 You see,

00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:16.739
 the place to start,

00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:18.059
 too often we jump

00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:18.719
 straight to,

00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:19.360
 you know,

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.440
 do your quiet time.

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:20.760
 But you know,

00:34:20.780 --> 00:34:21.639
 the place to start

00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:22.619
 is to start availing

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:23.700
 yourself of the opportunities

00:34:23.700 --> 00:34:24.599
 when God's Word

00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:25.380
 is being opened

00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:26.420
 and being taught

00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:27.700
 so you can come

00:34:27.700 --> 00:34:28.840
 and be prepared to come.

00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:30.780
 But of course,

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.159
 second,

00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:32.500
 once we're availing

00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.360
 ourselves of those

00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:33.840
 opportunities,

00:34:34.200 --> 00:34:35.300
 start reading the Word

00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:35.860
 on your own.

00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:37.079
 I know many of you

00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:37.820
 are doing this

00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:39.260
 and it's so encouraging

00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:40.440
 to me when I meet

00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.200
 with many of you

00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:42.420
 and you're telling me

00:34:42.420 --> 00:34:43.340
 about how you're reading

00:34:43.340 --> 00:34:44.240
 the Word on your own.

00:34:44.720 --> 00:34:45.780
 Keep up the good work,

00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.619
 brothers and sisters.

00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:48.380
 But if you haven't

00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:49.139
 started this,

00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:49.740
 start

00:34:49.739 --> 00:34:51.059
 there are plenty

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:51.919
 of reading plans

00:34:51.919 --> 00:34:52.199
 out there

00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:53.000
 if you need structure

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:54.159
 or you can just start

00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:55.059
 by reading the New Testament.

00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:56.359
 It's not rocket science.

00:34:56.459 --> 00:34:57.239
 Just get in

00:34:57.239 --> 00:34:58.339
 and start reading.

00:34:59.000 --> 00:34:59.979
 But of course,

00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:01.439
 where we do need

00:35:01.439 --> 00:35:02.500
 some guidance sometimes

00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.679
 is that we shouldn't

00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.799
 just be reading it

00:35:04.799 --> 00:35:05.299
 but we should be

00:35:05.299 --> 00:35:06.539
 taking it in.

00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.619
 We need to be making

00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:09.759
 observations

00:35:09.759 --> 00:35:10.839
 about what we read,

00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:12.059
 making connections,

00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.679
 asking questions,

00:35:14.399 --> 00:35:15.339
 sharpening our minds

00:35:15.339 --> 00:35:16.119
 for the task.

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.699
 When we read,

00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.439
 we ought to be asking

00:35:18.439 --> 00:35:19.000
 things like,

00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:21.479
 what's the flow

00:35:21.479 --> 00:35:22.119
 of thought here?

00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:23.759
 What ideas or words

00:35:23.759 --> 00:35:24.279
 are repeated?

00:35:24.779 --> 00:35:25.919
 What's the main theme?

00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.899
 What's the main idea

00:35:26.899 --> 00:35:27.619
 of this section?

00:35:28.399 --> 00:35:28.899
 How does it fit

00:35:28.899 --> 00:35:29.719
 in the context of the book?

00:35:29.839 --> 00:35:30.319
 How does it fit

00:35:30.319 --> 00:35:30.719
 in the context

00:35:30.719 --> 00:35:31.439
 of the whole Bible?

00:35:32.739 --> 00:35:33.500
 What's unfamiliar?

00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:34.679
 What don't I understand?

00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:36.559
 What's confusing?

00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:38.199
 And then, friends,

00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:39.299
 once you get an insight,

00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:41.719
 once you get a question answered,

00:35:41.839 --> 00:35:42.619
 mark it down

00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:43.859
 and meditate

00:35:43.859 --> 00:35:44.939
 on what you've read.

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:46.119
 I remember reading

00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:46.619
 an old Puritan

00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.319
 on that practice

00:35:47.319 --> 00:35:48.319
 of biblical meditation

00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:49.059
 and he used

00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:49.900
 this awesome illustration.

00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:50.640
 I couldn't forget it

00:35:50.640 --> 00:35:51.519
 because it was so graphic.

00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:53.260
 Living in agricultural culture,

00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:53.539
 right?

00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.200
 He said,

00:35:54.680 --> 00:35:54.980
 you know,

00:35:55.160 --> 00:35:56.440
 when you get the manure

00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:57.559
 for your fields,

00:35:58.300 --> 00:36:00.019
 you've got to spread it around.

00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:01.480
 And he says,

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.100
 it's the same way

00:36:02.100 --> 00:36:03.039
 with reading the word.

00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:04.420
 When you get something,

00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.980
 you've got to spread it around.

00:36:06.380 --> 00:36:07.340
 I know it's a little graphic.

00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.100
 We live in a city.

00:36:08.160 --> 00:36:08.940
 We don't like manure.

00:36:09.120 --> 00:36:10.200
 But that's it, friends.

00:36:10.220 --> 00:36:11.220
 You need to take it in

00:36:11.220 --> 00:36:12.200
 and you need to start

00:36:12.200 --> 00:36:12.980
 spreading it around,

00:36:13.140 --> 00:36:13.800
 thinking on it,

00:36:14.120 --> 00:36:14.800
 mulling it over,

00:36:15.160 --> 00:36:16.220
 going deep with it.

00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:18.059
 And then remember

00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:19.159
 that maturity means

00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:20.439
 the ability to distinguish

00:36:20.439 --> 00:36:21.239
 good from evil.

00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:22.119
 Theology is meant

00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:23.359
 to flow into practice.

00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:26.899
 Start asking yourselves questions.

00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:27.699
 This is probably

00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:28.739
 one of the most important questions

00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:29.199
 you can ask

00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:29.819
 as you're reading the Bible.

00:36:30.259 --> 00:36:32.439
 Why is God showing me this today?

00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:35.919
 Why do I need to hear this right now?

00:36:36.839 --> 00:36:38.699
 Is there a command I need to obey?

00:36:39.799 --> 00:36:40.939
 Is there an example

00:36:40.939 --> 00:36:41.819
 I need to follow?

00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:43.619
 Is there a warning

00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:44.399
 that I need to heed?

00:36:44.439 --> 00:36:45.819
 A promise I need to take heart?

00:36:45.820 --> 00:36:47.640
 A truth about God

00:36:47.640 --> 00:36:49.519
 that I've just seemed to forgot

00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:50.559
 that I need to remember?

00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:53.720
 And again, write it down.

00:36:54.080 --> 00:36:55.600
 Begin logging the things

00:36:55.600 --> 00:36:57.180
 that God is teaching you.

00:36:58.420 --> 00:36:58.960
 And you know,

00:36:59.019 --> 00:36:59.720
 while we're thinking about

00:36:59.720 --> 00:37:01.360
 diligently studying God's Word,

00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:03.220
 let me recommend to you

00:37:03.220 --> 00:37:05.840
 reading good Christian books.

00:37:07.160 --> 00:37:08.500
 This is another way

00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:09.600
 of engaging God's Word.

00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:10.980
 If you want a recommendation,

00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:12.000
 that's why we've got

00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:13.120
 the bookstall downstairs.

00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:15.199
 Or talk to one of the pastors.

00:37:15.299 --> 00:37:17.119
 Or talk to your small group leader.

00:37:17.259 --> 00:37:18.579
 Ask them for a good book

00:37:18.579 --> 00:37:19.920
 that will help you grow

00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:21.059
 in your knowledge

00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:22.460
 of the things of God.

00:37:23.279 --> 00:37:24.239
 If you want just one

00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:25.000
 quick recommendation,

00:37:25.179 --> 00:37:26.559
 let me recommend to all of you,

00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:28.519
 J.I. Packer's Knowing God.

00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:30.859
 If you haven't read that book,

00:37:30.900 --> 00:37:31.619
 or if it's been a while

00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:32.359
 since you've read it,

00:37:32.619 --> 00:37:34.440
 get a copy and read it

00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:35.500
 and mark it up

00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.339
 and find a friend

00:37:36.339 --> 00:37:37.219
 to read it with.

00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:40.480
 You will be blessed by it.

00:37:41.399 --> 00:37:42.179
 The point in reading

00:37:42.179 --> 00:37:42.839
 good Christian books

00:37:42.839 --> 00:37:44.099
 is to learn from brothers

00:37:44.099 --> 00:37:44.759
 and sisters who are

00:37:44.759 --> 00:37:45.879
 further along than we are,

00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:47.679
 who can help us see things

00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:48.539
 in the Word that we might not

00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.399
 see for ourselves.

00:37:51.839 --> 00:37:53.099
 And of course, I know,

00:37:53.179 --> 00:37:53.879
 I know,

00:37:54.359 --> 00:37:56.099
 finding the time

00:37:56.099 --> 00:37:58.019
 is always the great hurdle

00:37:58.019 --> 00:37:59.339
 in reading Scripture

00:37:59.339 --> 00:38:00.099
 for ourselves

00:38:00.099 --> 00:38:01.139
 and digging into

00:38:01.139 --> 00:38:02.059
 good Christian literature.

00:38:03.399 --> 00:38:03.939
 But you know,

00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:05.840
 I'm sure,

00:38:05.960 --> 00:38:07.059
 I kind of did a little

00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:08.039
 experiment this week

00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:08.820
 as I was getting ready

00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:09.400
 for this sermon.

00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:11.360
 I'm sure that if each of us

00:38:11.360 --> 00:38:12.780
 looked through our day,

00:38:13.240 --> 00:38:14.900
 we could probably identify

00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:16.720
 15 to 20 minutes

00:38:16.720 --> 00:38:18.639
 that we could start redirecting

00:38:18.639 --> 00:38:20.260
 towards these kind of practices.

00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:23.000
 Just think of how easy it is

00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:24.780
 to spend 15 or 20 minutes

00:38:24.780 --> 00:38:26.119
 playing Candy Crush

00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:26.900
 on your iPhone

00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:28.920
 or Clash of Clans.

00:38:29.220 --> 00:38:30.000
 Any Clash of Clanners

00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:30.400
 out there?

00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:31.079
 Nope.

00:38:31.240 --> 00:38:32.320
 Okay, I'm the only one.

00:38:32.700 --> 00:38:33.159
 All right.

00:38:33.940 --> 00:38:36.740
 I mean, it's easy, right?

00:38:39.240 --> 00:38:40.400
 You're waiting for the bus.

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:41.980
 You know,

00:38:42.260 --> 00:38:43.659
 you just come home from work.

00:38:44.220 --> 00:38:45.619
 You're on your coffee break.

00:38:45.820 --> 00:38:46.179
 Whatever.

00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:49.019
 Why not get a good book to read?

00:38:49.119 --> 00:38:49.840
 Why not get the Bible

00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:50.539
 on your device?

00:38:50.700 --> 00:38:51.900
 Greg talked about that last week.

00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:53.559
 Of course, it's not wrong

00:38:53.559 --> 00:38:54.500
 to play a game on your phone.

00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:55.619
 It's not wrong to do

00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:56.460
 a little bit of diversion

00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.139
 now and then.

00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.240
 But friends,

00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:59.300
 the reality is

00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:00.700
 growth in this kind of maturity

00:39:00.700 --> 00:39:01.900
 is going to take some effort.

00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:03.360
 In fact, in verse 14,

00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:04.539
 did you notice how he describes it

00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.200
 in verse 14?

00:39:05.680 --> 00:39:07.460
 Training by constant practice.

00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:09.440
 It's an athletic imagery.

00:39:10.500 --> 00:39:11.720
 It's going to take some sweat

00:39:11.720 --> 00:39:12.280
 and hard work

00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:13.260
 to get into a new routine.

00:39:13.380 --> 00:39:14.420
 It's going to feel difficult

00:39:14.420 --> 00:39:15.079
 at times.

00:39:15.700 --> 00:39:16.539
 Just like training

00:39:16.539 --> 00:39:17.500
 for an athletic event.

00:39:18.500 --> 00:39:19.059
 At times,

00:39:19.079 --> 00:39:19.980
 you're going to want to stop

00:39:19.980 --> 00:39:21.380
 and just do something else.

00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:23.660
 But just like athletes,

00:39:24.200 --> 00:39:25.720
 you need to keep your eyes

00:39:25.720 --> 00:39:26.380
 on the fact

00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:27.480
 that it's worth it.

00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:32.440
 The joy of knowing God

00:39:32.440 --> 00:39:33.519
 is before you, friends.

00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:34.880
 Of sitting down at his table

00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:36.599
 and feasting on solid food.

00:39:36.599 --> 00:39:39.099
 The joy of looking to Jesus

00:39:39.099 --> 00:39:40.940
 and running the race

00:39:40.940 --> 00:39:41.880
 with endurance.

00:39:42.440 --> 00:39:42.579
 Friends,

00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:43.820
 this is the path

00:39:43.820 --> 00:39:45.659
 of eternal satisfaction.

00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:48.820
 And just like a good workout

00:39:48.820 --> 00:39:50.280
 makes us feel more alive.

00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:51.059
 Don't you feel better

00:39:51.059 --> 00:39:51.579
 after you've been

00:39:51.579 --> 00:39:52.360
 on the stupid treadmill

00:39:52.360 --> 00:39:53.119
 for 20 minutes?

00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:55.659
 So hard spent time

00:39:55.659 --> 00:39:56.059
 in the Word

00:39:56.059 --> 00:39:57.799
 will make us feel more alive

00:39:57.799 --> 00:39:58.619
 to God.

00:39:58.659 --> 00:39:59.480
 I guarantee it.

00:40:00.859 --> 00:40:01.659
 So how do we get

00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:02.299
 this kind of maturity?

00:40:02.539 --> 00:40:03.440
 We devote ourselves

00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:04.119
 to studying the Word.

00:40:04.359 --> 00:40:05.139
 I said there's three things.

00:40:05.199 --> 00:40:05.920
 The last two are going to be quick.

00:40:06.279 --> 00:40:06.599
 Second,

00:40:06.699 --> 00:40:07.480
 we have to study the Word

00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:08.019
 in community.

00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:09.420
 Notice how the author says,

00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:10.699
 let us go to maturity.

00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:12.659
 And this we will do

00:40:12.659 --> 00:40:13.380
 if God permits.

00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:15.619
 Our growth is a community project.

00:40:16.239 --> 00:40:17.079
 And that's why

00:40:17.079 --> 00:40:17.759
 it is important

00:40:17.759 --> 00:40:19.039
 if at all possible

00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:20.679
 to be gathering together

00:40:20.679 --> 00:40:21.819
 in smaller groups

00:40:21.819 --> 00:40:22.940
 that you can meet with

00:40:22.940 --> 00:40:24.240
 to regularly discuss

00:40:24.240 --> 00:40:25.039
 the things of God.

00:40:25.700 --> 00:40:27.119
 Maybe it's a midweek small group

00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:27.679
 like you can find

00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:28.639
 on the back of the bulletin.

00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:30.059
 Maybe it's a standing date

00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:30.539
 that you have

00:40:30.539 --> 00:40:31.700
 with a few Christian friends

00:40:31.700 --> 00:40:32.380
 where you're committed

00:40:32.380 --> 00:40:33.539
 to talking about the Word.

00:40:33.880 --> 00:40:34.679
 Whatever it is,

00:40:34.860 --> 00:40:36.280
 you won't grow in maturity

00:40:36.280 --> 00:40:37.079
 without it.

00:40:38.500 --> 00:40:39.880
 It's like a rowing team, right?

00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:41.820
 You put one guy out there

00:40:41.820 --> 00:40:42.559
 in one of those boats

00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:43.559
 and he's only going to be able

00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:44.639
 to row so fast.

00:40:45.099 --> 00:40:46.480
 But you get a whole team

00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:48.240
 in one of those long, thin boats

00:40:48.240 --> 00:40:49.559
 and you get them in unison

00:40:49.559 --> 00:40:50.860
 and they're gliding

00:40:50.860 --> 00:40:51.780
 across the water.

00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:53.940
 It's the same

00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:55.440
 in our life together with God.

00:40:56.059 --> 00:40:57.840
 We need to get into a boat together

00:40:57.840 --> 00:40:59.559
 and it takes a little work

00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:00.400
 to get into unison.

00:41:00.519 --> 00:41:01.079
 I get it.

00:41:01.360 --> 00:41:03.099
 But once you hit a stride,

00:41:03.780 --> 00:41:04.400
 oh friends,

00:41:04.500 --> 00:41:06.119
 the deeper and deeper you'll go.

00:41:08.200 --> 00:41:08.860
 But second,

00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:09.720
 we also need to put

00:41:09.720 --> 00:41:10.980
 what we're learning to use.

00:41:11.740 --> 00:41:12.720
 By this time,

00:41:13.079 --> 00:41:14.780
 you ought to be teachers,

00:41:15.039 --> 00:41:15.579
 he says.

00:41:16.880 --> 00:41:18.260
 Are you seeking ways

00:41:18.260 --> 00:41:19.320
 to share what you're learning

00:41:19.320 --> 00:41:19.940
 with others?

00:41:19.940 --> 00:41:22.139
 Every educational theorist

00:41:22.139 --> 00:41:22.460
 will tell you

00:41:22.460 --> 00:41:23.740
 that one of the best ways

00:41:23.740 --> 00:41:24.559
 to learn

00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:26.159
 is by having to teach it

00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:26.760
 to other people.

00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:28.900
 And you especially learn best,

00:41:29.019 --> 00:41:29.480
 I found,

00:41:29.639 --> 00:41:30.480
 when you have to teach it

00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:30.880
 to other people

00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:32.460
 who aren't necessarily like you,

00:41:32.720 --> 00:41:33.820
 who are at a different age

00:41:33.820 --> 00:41:35.659
 or from a different walk of life.

00:41:37.539 --> 00:41:37.920
 Friends,

00:41:37.940 --> 00:41:38.559
 I can assure you

00:41:38.559 --> 00:41:39.599
 that if you jump in

00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:41.360
 to the children's church rotation

00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:43.099
 or the youth ministry

00:41:43.099 --> 00:41:44.079
 Sunday school rotation,

00:41:44.179 --> 00:41:45.300
 even once a month,

00:41:45.599 --> 00:41:46.659
 God will use it

00:41:46.659 --> 00:41:47.940
 to grow you in maturity

00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:49.079
 in your knowledge

00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:49.980
 of Christian doctrine.

00:41:51.539 --> 00:41:52.339
 It's easy to make

00:41:52.339 --> 00:41:53.379
 simple things complex,

00:41:53.639 --> 00:41:54.699
 but take the complex

00:41:54.699 --> 00:41:55.460
 and deep things of God

00:41:55.460 --> 00:41:56.339
 and make them simple

00:41:56.339 --> 00:41:58.159
 and you will grow like fire.

00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:00.980
 But even if you don't

00:42:00.980 --> 00:42:01.539
 get involved there,

00:42:01.559 --> 00:42:02.399
 are you looking for ways

00:42:02.399 --> 00:42:02.879
 to be building

00:42:02.879 --> 00:42:03.719
 into other Christians,

00:42:04.299 --> 00:42:05.279
 to be doing good

00:42:05.279 --> 00:42:06.119
 to them spiritually?

00:42:07.359 --> 00:42:08.519
 Is there even just

00:42:08.519 --> 00:42:10.039
 one person right now

00:42:10.039 --> 00:42:10.639
 that you could be

00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:12.659
 intentionally taking the time

00:42:12.659 --> 00:42:13.500
 to meet with,

00:42:13.839 --> 00:42:15.679
 to talk about spiritual things?

00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:17.579
 It doesn't have to be forced.

00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:19.199
 You can talk about

00:42:19.199 --> 00:42:19.919
 other stuff too.

00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:20.679
 That's okay.

00:42:21.500 --> 00:42:22.440
 But be intentional

00:42:22.440 --> 00:42:24.699
 about asking one or two

00:42:24.699 --> 00:42:25.779
 just good questions

00:42:25.779 --> 00:42:27.099
 about what you're reading

00:42:27.099 --> 00:42:27.659
 in the Word,

00:42:28.199 --> 00:42:29.079
 what God's teaching you

00:42:29.079 --> 00:42:29.739
 in your life

00:42:29.739 --> 00:42:31.099
 so that you can encourage

00:42:31.099 --> 00:42:31.659
 one another

00:42:31.659 --> 00:42:33.199
 and grow in your maturity.

00:42:35.980 --> 00:42:36.839
 So in order to start

00:42:36.839 --> 00:42:37.819
 moving forward

00:42:37.819 --> 00:42:38.980
 in this kind of depth

00:42:38.980 --> 00:42:39.719
 of the knowledge of God,

00:42:39.759 --> 00:42:40.419
 we have to be devoted

00:42:40.419 --> 00:42:41.039
 to the Word

00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:42.379
 and we have to be doing it

00:42:42.379 --> 00:42:42.919
 in community.

00:42:43.259 --> 00:42:44.079
 But lastly,

00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:45.599
 we have to do it

00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:46.960
 in dependence on God.

00:42:48.219 --> 00:42:48.659
 Do you see how

00:42:48.659 --> 00:42:49.420
 the passage ends?

00:42:50.139 --> 00:42:50.440
 He says,

00:42:50.539 --> 00:42:51.199
 this we will do,

00:42:51.259 --> 00:42:52.500
 that is go on to maturity,

00:42:52.860 --> 00:42:54.159
 if God permits.

00:42:55.319 --> 00:42:56.420
 At the end of the day,

00:42:56.960 --> 00:42:58.400
 our knowledge of God

00:42:58.400 --> 00:42:59.920
 comes from God

00:42:59.920 --> 00:43:01.579
 and it depends upon Him.

00:43:02.440 --> 00:43:04.779
 We are dependent upon Him,

00:43:05.579 --> 00:43:06.019
 you see.

00:43:07.159 --> 00:43:08.779
 We can't learn anything

00:43:08.779 --> 00:43:09.739
 about God

00:43:09.739 --> 00:43:11.679
 unless He reveals it to us.

00:43:11.679 --> 00:43:13.399
 But you see,

00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:14.279
 that doesn't put us

00:43:14.279 --> 00:43:15.419
 in a helpless state

00:43:15.419 --> 00:43:18.539
 because God has given us

00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:19.779
 His Holy Spirit

00:43:19.779 --> 00:43:22.099
 and He wants us to know Him.

00:43:22.500 --> 00:43:23.779
 From the cross of Christ

00:43:23.779 --> 00:43:25.719
 flows the Spirit of Christ

00:43:25.719 --> 00:43:27.119
 for all who believe

00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:28.579
 and the Spirit will help us

00:43:28.579 --> 00:43:29.699
 overcome our inertia

00:43:29.699 --> 00:43:31.279
 and our dullness of hearing

00:43:31.279 --> 00:43:32.339
 and He'll help us

00:43:32.339 --> 00:43:32.980
 to make

00:43:32.980 --> 00:43:34.399
 and even find the time

00:43:34.399 --> 00:43:35.259
 to devote to the Word

00:43:35.259 --> 00:43:36.319
 and commit to community.

00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:39.580
 He'll help us.

00:43:40.360 --> 00:43:41.460
 We can depend on Him

00:43:41.460 --> 00:43:42.340
 and we ought to be

00:43:42.340 --> 00:43:43.500
 prayerfully dependent on Him

00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:44.860
 as we move forward.

00:43:46.260 --> 00:43:47.340
 So let us pray.

00:43:47.480 --> 00:43:48.500
 Let us depend on Him.

00:43:49.680 --> 00:43:51.059
 And as Paul promised elsewhere,

00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:53.700
 He who began a good work in you

00:43:53.700 --> 00:43:56.100
 will carry it on to completion

00:43:56.100 --> 00:43:58.660
 at the day of Jesus Christ.

00:44:00.240 --> 00:44:00.840
 Let's pray.

00:44:00.840 --> 00:44:00.880
 Let's pray.

00:44:00.880 --> 00:44:00.900
 Let's pray.

00:44:06.320 --> 00:44:36.300
 Let's pray.