WEBVTT 00:00:00.980 --> 00:00:08.599 Let's pray. Gracious God, we thank you for your word and as we look at it now, we ask 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:14.120 Father that you would pour out your spirit amongst us so that we get a glimpse of your 00:00:14.120 --> 00:00:20.920 all expansive purposes for this world. Help us, Father, to be your church and we ask it 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:22.260 for your sake. Amen. 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:37.179 Amen. Please be seated. St Paul's Chatswood had its origin just over 108 years ago. We 00:00:37.179 --> 00:00:46.719 began with a Sunday school on the 1st of September 1901, but no one actually turned up. Apparently 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:52.000 the weather was too bad. Three kids turned up the following week and the first official 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:59.600 church service was a couple of months later on the 8th of December 1901. Of course, a 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:05.159 new church doesn't just pop up out of nowhere. There are many things happening over a period 00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:12.819 of time before anything came to be. As always, there were the different motives and agendas 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:17.939 that people have in planning a church. As it turns out, apparently there were some who were 00:01:17.939 --> 00:01:22.899 dissatisfied with ministry at St. Stephen's Willoughby and so wanted to start another church. 00:01:24.019 --> 00:01:28.780 There were those who felt the church was a place for good social activities. It was a 00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:34.900 place for mutual support, friendships, family interaction, cultural pursuits and a healthy 00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:40.280 place for young people of marriageable age. St Paul's the dating service. 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:50.920 On the other hand, there was the evangelism on steam trains running from here towards the 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:56.560 city. A boy riding the district on horseback to break the news of a Sunday school commencing. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:05.240 And there were four young men who in the summer of 1900-102 met weekly for prayer before dawn 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:12.120 out in the bush and spent time walking around potential sites where God would lead them to plant 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:26.539 a church. And here we are today, over 108 years later. A new rector 11 months ago, amalgamation 00:02:26.539 --> 00:02:34.120 of Hope Anglican with St. Paul's at the beginning of January. Another new congregation, a new and 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:41.020 extended staff team, a new mission statement, a new vision before us in Vision 2020. 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:56.200 Even with 108 years of history, there is so much that is new. And so what is it about our origins 00:02:56.199 --> 00:03:05.859 that will define our future? Which one of those agendas will be the one that will define where we'll be 00:03:05.859 --> 00:03:12.439 in the future? Are we gathering because we're ticked off by another church and another ministry? 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:18.179 We're here because of the social, cultural or even dating possibilities? 00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:30.360 Or is it a vision of the fulfillment of God's expansive purposes to proclaim the gospel, to build 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:35.560 his church and to bring everything under the cosmic lordship of Jesus? 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:42.240 What sort of church is St. Paul's chats with? 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:49.319 Our mission statement says that we exist to know Jesus, treasure Jesus and represent Jesus 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:59.900 for God's glory and the joy of all people. Is that us? Are those words actually true for us? 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:09.200 Do we actually exist as a social club or as the purposeful people of God who discover their deepest 00:04:09.200 --> 00:04:14.340 satisfaction and joy in bringing glory to God? 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:22.660 We commenced our series in the book of Acts, the early chapters of Acts, with a picture of God's 00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:29.879 expansive purposes through the Lord Jesus Christ for his world. The promise of Acts chapter 1 verse 8 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:37.279 is that Christ would continue his work and teaching in the world by sending the Holy Spirit to empower 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:45.000 his disciples for their witness in the world. The whole agenda of Acts is in that verse, 00:04:45.459 --> 00:04:51.579 you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem 00:04:51.579 --> 00:04:57.379 and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:04:57.379 --> 00:05:06.000 We have seen as we have ventured through Acts that God has consistently been fulfilling his agenda 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:13.000 through his servants. God's plan is that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ be preached 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:17.040 and that people embrace the Lordship of Christ. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:28.160 And friends, in case you're not aware of it, the task is not yet finished in this world. 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:37.960 There is still a need for adventurous Christians to leave the emotional security and physical safety 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:45.359 of their own society. For people to deliberately to seek to plant churches 00:05:45.359 --> 00:05:50.899 and to win converts in those cultures where there is little or no witness. 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:57.599 Are there any gathered here today who have that as their vision? 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:05.240 Does this church have it as its vision? 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:15.800 And so we end our short series on Acts with that vision before us. 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:22.780 The birth of missionary vision in the churches, or to be more accurate, 00:06:23.520 --> 00:06:28.160 the birth of missionary vision in a church. 00:06:29.080 --> 00:06:36.080 According to Luke, the first pioneering steps towards planned cross-cultural mission 00:06:36.080 --> 00:06:41.240 was taken by a single congregation, the church at Antioch. 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:47.519 This is the church that changed the world. 00:06:49.319 --> 00:06:55.120 And unless you were a Jew, God bless you, then this is your mother church. 00:06:57.060 --> 00:07:04.199 As the first Gentile church, this is the church that is to find the heartbeat of the Christian church. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:08.960 And so as we look back to what defines us for the future, 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:13.779 as we look back into our past and what defines us for our future here at St. Paul's, 00:07:13.939 --> 00:07:15.199 I want to take us back. 00:07:15.539 --> 00:07:18.699 I want to take us right back, past 108 years, 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:22.459 right back to Antioch. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:27.019 Our mother church, our ancestry, our bloodline, 00:07:27.359 --> 00:07:30.719 the church that is to define us for the future. 00:07:32.899 --> 00:07:36.979 There are so many things that could be highlighted and celebrated about this church. 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:43.420 Their incredible generosity to the brothers and sisters in Judea in providing resources for them. 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:52.360 Their amazing commitment to send their best leaders off into new ministry adventures 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:57.480 and to actually have their leadership team to send them off into plant other churches. 00:07:57.980 --> 00:07:59.240 Incredible things. 00:07:59.580 --> 00:08:02.900 But there are three things that I want to particularly draw out 00:08:02.900 --> 00:08:05.939 that are closely connected and intertwined. 00:08:05.939 --> 00:08:10.259 These are the things that ought to characterize St. Paul's Chatswood. 00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:17.819 And the first mark of this church at Antioch that needs to characterize us is its focus on mission. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:19.199 Verse 19. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:22.180 Follow along in your service sheet or in your Bibles. 00:08:22.180 --> 00:08:27.680 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:33.940 traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:41.620 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:45.060 telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 00:08:45.059 --> 00:08:51.539 The Lord's hand was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 00:08:52.379 --> 00:09:02.679 11.19 takes us back to chapter 8.1, the scattering of the believers as the result of the persecution related to Stephen's martyrdom. 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:04.759 First of all, there was Philip. 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:11.620 Then there was Peter, who carried the seed of the Christian message into new soil. 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:22.239 Now we see some of these persecuted believers went as far as Antioch, the capital of the Roman province of Syria. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:35.460 Now, merely verbalizing the indwelling witness of Christ in their hearts, I suspect they were not even aware that they were doing anything radical at all. 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:50.500 These unnamed Jews from the island of Cyprus and Cyrene, with no official direction, no human instruction, no precedent to follow, 00:09:51.500 --> 00:10:01.420 nothing but a burning love for the Lord Jesus Christ, took the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ to Antioch 00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:06.879 without realizing the revolutionary greatness of their act. 00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:22.699 They were the first believers to bring the explosive light of the gospel into the pitch black darkness of paganism that was Antioch. 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:39.020 Antioch was evangelized, not by apostles, but by ordinary, average members of Christ's body who were willing to share their faith. 00:10:41.420 --> 00:10:46.140 Wherever these fugitives landed, they kindled a flame. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:50.620 And God, through his spirit, fanned it. 00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:58.920 Sharing Christ to them was as natural as tears to sorrow or a smile to happiness. 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:07.420 Everyday believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, blew away the hold of paganism on needy souls. 00:11:08.540 --> 00:11:10.600 And the result was a great harvest in Antioch. 00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:11.300 Verse 21, 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:17.300 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:19.720 We see it again in verse 24. 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:23.899 A great number of people were brought to the Lord. 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:25.680 It's incredible. 00:11:26.800 --> 00:11:27.680 No apostles. 00:11:28.660 --> 00:11:30.000 No parish council. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:32.879 No ecclesiastical structures. 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:35.639 Just the Lord's hand. 00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:39.279 And a tremendous number of new believers. 00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:48.680 Luke is very careful to stress the sovereign providence of God's mighty hand in the growth of church here. 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:57.179 It was the hand of the Lord that was primarily responsible for the success of this church. 00:11:57.979 --> 00:12:02.899 But it didn't negate the personal witness of the believers. 00:12:05.579 --> 00:12:09.799 He chose to use these people to accomplish his sovereign purposes. 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:15.779 There is absolutely no doubt at all that God could have chosen some other way. 00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:20.699 He could have found some supernatural way to turn these Gentiles to himself. 00:12:20.699 --> 00:12:27.379 But he chose to use the testimony of ordinary, ordinary disciples. 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:30.939 This is his appointed means. 00:12:30.939 --> 00:12:51.480 And for that reason, no church will ever become a missionary church unless it possesses a vigorous grassroots concern for mission to the non-Christian world where it stands. 00:12:51.480 --> 00:13:06.279 If it is not concerned for local evangelism on its doorstep, it is not really concerned for mission thousands and thousands of kilometres away. 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:17.000 And too many churches say that they are a missionary church and they operate like a lighthouse. 00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:24.379 Illuminating far off distance but casting its base in utter darkness. 00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:54.360 Illuminating far off distance. 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:58.379 Six and a half thousand unreached people groups in the world today. 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:06.700 Six and a half thousand unreached groups who have no Christian witness, no church planted there. 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:15.180 And that is out of a total of 16,309 ethno-linguistic groups in the world. 00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:21.139 There is still an enormous task to be achieved. 00:14:22.699 --> 00:14:32.919 And frankly, as I wandered through the streets of Chatswood, I can't help but believe that God has given St. Paul's an unprecedented opportunity. 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:42.860 If not already, then I suspect that representatives from some of those unreached groups are right here. 00:14:43.199 --> 00:14:44.740 We would call them our neighbours. 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:55.600 And yet, unless God ordains it, we will never have contact with them. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:04.040 And unless we are courageous, we will never have contact with them. 00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:10.840 It is quite unlikely that they will ever come to us and ever want to know the gospel. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:14.440 They are blinded to the needs of the gospel. 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:17.700 And so are we asking God to do it? 00:15:18.400 --> 00:15:22.400 Are we asking God in his mighty hand to establish that contact? 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:29.679 Are we fasting and pleading with God to allow us the opportunity to establish that contact, 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:37.199 for him to shift a person's heart to bow the knee to Jesus and confess him as Lord and all, 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:44.959 to partner with us in equipping that person as a church planner and to send them back to their people group 00:15:44.959 --> 00:15:50.899 and to resource and to plan a church and establish it where there is no church? 00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:52.840 Do we have that vision? 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.779 Do we have that vision? 00:16:00.939 --> 00:16:04.500 Maybe two weeks' time in Chatswood Mall is God's time. 00:16:04.819 --> 00:16:11.919 And God can use St. Paul's Chatswood to take it from 6,500 to 6,499. 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:15.840 Is that the vision that's before us? 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:27.899 The second mark of Antioch that needs to define St. Paul's was its focus on establishing the believers in the faith. 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:34.539 God's heart is to keep pushing, keep pushing and keep pushing and keep pushing beyond the fringe. 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:38.980 And he can use all sorts of means to push us beyond the fringe. 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:41.699 It happened with the death of Stephen. 00:16:42.439 --> 00:16:46.100 We kind of don't really want him to do it that way amongst us, 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:52.620 but if that's what it takes, then he can do it to keep pushing us beyond the fringe. 00:16:52.620 --> 00:17:00.200 But the people he uses to lead this are well-established in their understanding of the gospel of grace. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:02.259 Well-established people. 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:14.819 Superficial Christian people or superficial Christian message leads to superficial evangelism. 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:24.879 Shallow Christians result in shallow evangelism and a preaching of an anemic counterfeit of the gospel of grace. 00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:29.339 The church in Jerusalem gets wind of what's happening down in Antioch, 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:34.779 and so they send one of its main men to check it out, Barnabas the encourager. 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:39.960 The one who stood up for Paul and vouched for him in front of the church leaders in Jerusalem. 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:42.599 What a great choice to send down to Antioch. 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:44.159 A man who was open. 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:53.899 Barnabas likes what he sees there, but his concern is that these Christians become well-established in the faith. 00:17:54.899 --> 00:17:58.500 And so he goes and even seeks extra help in order to make it happen. 00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:59.459 Verse 25. 00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:03.039 Then Barnabas went down to Tarsus to look for Saul. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:07.639 I think the last time he saw Saul was about eight to ten years earlier. 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:10.740 There's a long period of time since he last saw him. 00:18:11.060 --> 00:18:12.280 He goes and gets him. 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:13.420 He found him. 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:15.080 He brought him back to Antioch. 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:22.380 So for a whole year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:26.780 Great numbers of people were taught the truth. 00:18:27.300 --> 00:18:28.360 And what were they taught? 00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:35.220 I think Acts 20 verse 27 leads me to believe that they were taught the whole will of God. 00:18:36.800 --> 00:18:39.400 Not just seven basic Bible studies. 00:18:40.080 --> 00:18:42.560 The whole will of God. 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:53.839 The emphasis on establishment is seen again in chapter 14 when the missionaries return, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them and appointing elders. 00:18:55.419 --> 00:19:04.139 Everything that this church does and is comes back to God's grace and the fact that they were well-established in the truth. 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:19.040 I think, however, sometimes in our passion for mission, mission particularly for the mission that God has given us, we make the mistake of the thinking that the church should just be concerned with evangelism. 00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:21.580 That that's our primary business. 00:19:22.520 --> 00:19:26.880 As if somehow the establishment of new believers is not important. 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:31.060 The mission-minded church at Antioch would not agree. 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:37.019 The church of God is to be well-established then and now. 00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:49.819 Under God's direction, pressing out with the gospel of grace to the next street, the next suburb, the next city, the next country. 00:19:54.579 --> 00:20:00.659 What part are you playing in establishing the believers in the faith at St. Paul's Chatswood? 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:03.339 Do you think it's my job? 00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:05.899 Chris's job? 00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.359 John Dunn's job? 00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:15.899 Who here will establish Nicky in the faith? 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:17.379 Sorry for pointing you out there. 00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:22.500 Who here will establish Nicky in the faith? 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:35.119 St. Paul's, therefore, also needs to be a church defined by, I think, the third mark of this church in Antioch, and that is its leadership. 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:40.140 Verse 24 says that Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:47.319 Chapter 3, verse 1 says that the church in Antioch, there were prophets and teachers. 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:53.159 It's Barnabas' character, not his skill, that stands out here. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:21:02.220 It would seem to me that this church's leadership was also bent towards the ministry of the word of God in having both prophets and teachers. 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:14.660 Leaders who live the word of God, who stand out in their character, not their skill, and who minister the word of God for the establishment of the church. 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:27.100 It is probably not surprising then that after this church was well established in the truth, they became so sensitive to the leading of God and responding generously. 00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:35.379 It was while five leaders were worshipping and fasting that the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to them. 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:44.659 In Luke 5, verse 35, Jesus makes it clear that such fasting is appropriate after the bridegroom has gone. 00:21:45.699 --> 00:21:53.379 And the early church probably saw fasting as a means of preparing to hear the guiding voice of God. 00:21:53.380 --> 00:22:00.280 To hunger, not just in their stomach, but to hunger for God's leading. 00:22:02.340 --> 00:22:08.760 Here is a well-taught church showing clear evidence of God's grace in its repentance and faith, 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:15.080 but it also shows a sensitive, careful hearing of the prophetic word, 00:22:16.020 --> 00:22:19.180 either through a human prophet or directly from the Spirit. 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:27.640 And in both cases, the response of the church show how seriously they took God's direction. 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:35.380 I want to be a church that hungers for God's leading. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:43.560 I want to be surrounded by leadership and staff, parish council, wardens. 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:57.319 I want us to put into place nominators, synod reps who are sensitive to God's leading and hungering for God's leading 00:22:57.319 --> 00:23:02.200 as we take step by step moving forward into Vision 2020. 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:10.600 I suspect that Saul, Barnabas and the other leaders in Antioch would have been asking the question, 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:11.779 where to now? 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:14.620 We're from Antioch. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:21.140 What is the next big thing that you have on our agenda, Lord? 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:28.480 You could call it master planning, if you like. 00:23:30.060 --> 00:23:34.940 And most of the questions that we need to answer are not explicitly answered in the Bible. 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:40.700 The ones with clear biblical answers don't need leadership team to discern. 00:23:40.820 --> 00:23:42.140 It's pretty clear from the scriptures. 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:48.580 Most of the questions that are pressing on us are, do we start a new mission venture? 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:51.079 Do we plant another church? 00:23:51.439 --> 00:23:53.339 When, how, who, where? 00:23:54.159 --> 00:23:57.199 Should we redevelop this site and what should it look like? 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.919 And how much money should we spend on it? 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:03.079 Should we purchase those properties over the road or the ones down the next suburb? 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:05.359 What is the next staff requirement? 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:07.079 Should we start a school here? 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:10.259 What sort of congregation should we plant next? 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:18.359 Those are the thousands and thousands and thousands of decisions that we face every day as a church. 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.699 And year after year. 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:24.339 Those are the nature of the questions that leadership teams grapple with. 00:24:25.139 --> 00:24:28.719 And the Bible is not explicit on the answer of those questions. 00:24:29.219 --> 00:24:34.099 And with the weight of such decisions upon us as a church, 00:24:35.219 --> 00:24:38.539 I want to be calling us as a church to be prayerful, 00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:40.319 fasting, 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:42.980 and hungering for God's leading. 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:49.279 So what sort of church is St. Paul's Chatswood? 00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:53.139 I think it's, I don't think it's forced, 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:57.919 but each one of our family values is reflected in this church at Antioch. 00:24:57.920 --> 00:25:00.900 Not all explicitly, 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.519 but humble authenticity, 00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.820 radical generosity, 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.600 servant leadership, 00:25:06.560 --> 00:25:07.900 local and global impact, 00:25:08.080 --> 00:25:08.980 devotion to prayer, 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:11.039 and Christ-centered Bible saturation. 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:14.019 They're not all explicit, 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.720 but they're there. 00:25:16.320 --> 00:25:18.840 Are they the things that define us as a church? 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:21.180 Are they truly the things that define us as a church? 00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:23.480 How would you define us? 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:28.100 Or more importantly, 00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:32.500 how would the community of Chatswood define us, 00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:33.840 do you think? 00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:39.140 How would God define us? 00:25:41.560 --> 00:25:43.460 Do you know what I think one of the most wonderful, 00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:48.840 heartwarming statements in this text here, 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:50.680 and I think it's almost a throwaway line. 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.580 You just read over it. 00:25:51.600 --> 00:25:52.759 You don't take much notice of it. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:55.980 But it's so incredible when you look at it. 00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.980 It's there in verse 26. 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:03.519 The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:07.920 You see, 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:16.259 this church at Antioch was like a flower in a bog. 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:20.200 It was like a flower growing out of a bog. 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:22.000 It's like this beautiful green, 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.799 putting green, 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.920 if you like, 00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:28.039 in the vastness of Death Valley Desert. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:36.259 This church was so foreign to this bleak environment 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:40.539 that it actually altered the vocabulary of the city. 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:45.240 And from there, 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.059 the entire world. 00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:51.420 When God's people live for Christ 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:53.259 in such power 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.940 and such depth 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:57.019 that those around them 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.639 have to strive 00:26:58.639 --> 00:27:00.980 to come up with a new term 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:03.839 in order to describe what they see, 00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:05.619 what do you call that? 00:27:05.619 --> 00:27:09.699 Amazing. 00:27:11.159 --> 00:27:12.219 That's what you call it. 00:27:15.719 --> 00:27:17.719 Perhaps there was jesting and mocking, 00:27:18.719 --> 00:27:20.519 a little bit of an edge to this nickname. 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:22.619 Perhaps it was a bit of rage 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:24.359 because these people 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:26.159 were such a contradiction 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:28.680 to the ethos of Antioch. 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.259 The new term, 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:32.900 part Greek, 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.720 part Latin, 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:36.140 was actually a mongrel name. 00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.680 But it said it all. 00:27:42.040 --> 00:27:42.680 Christian. 00:27:44.580 --> 00:27:46.060 Followers of Christ. 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:51.980 Christ was so much 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.819 on these believers' lips 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:57.500 that they lived so much like Christ. 00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:01.339 There was no name 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.599 that could describe them. 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:05.139 So we had to think of one. 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.460 What name 00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:12.359 would the people of Chatswood 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:15.440 give to the people of St Paul's? 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:20.659 Imagine 00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:22.299 if there was such 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.700 a spiritual dynamic 00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:25.139 operating amongst us 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:26.940 causing people 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.919 to come up 00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:29.000 with a new name 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.419 to describe 00:28:30.419 --> 00:28:32.299 that bunch of lunatics 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:34.440 at St Paul's Chatswood. 00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:40.059 Alexander the Great 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:40.960 once learned 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:43.460 that in his army 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.599 that there was another 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.319 Alexander. 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.659 Alexander, 00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:48.659 who was a notorious coward. 00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:51.000 Alexander, 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:52.059 the man who conquered 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.519 the world 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.679 at the age of 23, 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.379 called the soldier 00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.179 before him 00:28:56.179 --> 00:28:56.579 and said, 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:58.619 is your name Alexander 00:28:58.619 --> 00:29:00.119 and have you been 00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:01.319 named after me? 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:03.440 The trembling coward 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:03.899 said, 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:04.700 yes sir, 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:06.700 my name is Alexander 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:08.399 and I have been 00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:09.399 named after you. 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:11.540 and the great general 00:29:11.540 --> 00:29:12.440 paused for a moment 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:13.019 and he said, 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.680 then I suggest 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.180 to you 00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:15.980 Alexander 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:17.940 either be brave 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:19.519 or change your name. 00:29:25.080 --> 00:29:26.519 Either be brave, 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:29.800 either be Christian 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:31.740 St Paul's Chatswood 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:35.440 or change your name. 00:29:37.899 --> 00:29:39.019 Once St Paul's 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.659 was a young, 00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.720 newly founded 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:42.299 North Shore Antioch 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:44.899 and we praise God 00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:45.599 that in his 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:48.559 108 years 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:50.240 this church 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:50.839 has been 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.519 a passionate 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.099 sending 00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:53.759 and strengthening 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:55.099 Jerusalem church. 00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:58.139 but as we sit 00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:58.839 here today 00:29:58.839 --> 00:30:01.519 I think we know 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.219 that some of that 00:30:02.219 --> 00:30:03.019 has been lost 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:06.679 but praise God 00:30:06.679 --> 00:30:09.939 not all of it 00:30:09.939 --> 00:30:12.519 and as we launch 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.339 into the future 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:15.259 my deep commitment 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:17.480 my heartfelt prayer 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.799 and with God's 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.359 enabling 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:21.599 I and the leadership 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:22.719 of St Paul's 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:24.819 will make us 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.980 worthy of the name 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:27.720 Christiane 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:30.660 follower of Christ. 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.360 Let's pray. 00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:39.880 Our gracious Father 00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:41.259 help us to be 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.720 loyal, 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.700 brave, 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:43.799 committed 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.799 followers of Christ 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.680 who refuse 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:46.680 to turn back 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:48.240 who dare 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.240 to stand firm 00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:51.100 and to make 00:30:51.100 --> 00:30:52.039 Christ's name 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:52.420 known 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.400 to all around 00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:55.220 who desire 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.940 with your 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:57.680 divine enabling 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.880 to shine the light 00:30:58.880 --> 00:30:59.539 of the glory 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:00.320 of Christ 00:31:00.320 --> 00:31:02.539 in a dark, 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:04.140 dark world. 00:31:05.340 --> 00:31:06.800 We ask you 00:31:06.800 --> 00:31:07.240 Father 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.200 that in your 00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:09.320 great providence 00:31:09.320 --> 00:31:10.640 with your mighty hand 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:12.060 that you might 00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:13.039 open up to us 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:14.180 new horizons 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.700 of your expansive 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.279 purposes 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:17.180 in this world. 00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:20.000 Save people 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.900 and build your church 00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:21.340 we pray. 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.720 Amen. 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:22.799 Amen.