WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.540 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:12.640 Amen. 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:16.600 When it's all you have, it's all you'll ever need. 00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:17.800 That's so good, isn't it? 00:00:19.059 --> 00:00:21.900 The blood of Jesus for us. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:23.960 That's our hope. 00:00:24.560 --> 00:00:25.539 That's our joy. 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:26.859 That's why we're here. 00:00:26.859 --> 00:00:30.399 That's why God has called us together as His people. 00:00:31.179 --> 00:00:35.179 We have the great joy this morning to celebrate that. 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:42.240 Also today to celebrate the installation and ordination of elders and deacons here at Southwood. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:44.519 It's an exciting day for us. 00:00:45.120 --> 00:00:48.799 God has called them to lead His church here in this place. 00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:55.340 Before we do that this morning, I want to talk one more time about the mission of the church. 00:00:55.340 --> 00:01:00.860 We've been talking the past few weeks about the purpose for which God has us here. 00:01:01.400 --> 00:01:05.840 What I mean by that is His people individually, where He's placed us. 00:01:06.100 --> 00:01:08.840 His people corporately in the world at all. 00:01:10.100 --> 00:01:13.340 In Southwood in particular, placed here in Huntsville. 00:01:14.379 --> 00:01:19.400 We've heard from different parts of Scripture, from different preachers in the last few weeks, 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:22.160 what God's heart for His church is. 00:01:22.700 --> 00:01:29.880 What's the mission that should drive each of us where we are every day in our individual lives 00:01:29.880 --> 00:01:35.340 and should direct us as a body as we work together for God's glory. 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:39.640 God, through His Word, has given us a number of angles on this, 00:01:39.740 --> 00:01:42.920 images to think about from the last few weeks. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:44.980 What's the mission He gives His church? 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:49.120 Which, review with me for a second, in case you missed one. 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:53.320 We've said things like this, that it all focuses on Jesus, 00:01:54.060 --> 00:01:58.820 where we come needy to Him so that He fills us with His grace to overflowing. 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:02.080 And so we're to be on His mission. 00:02:02.240 --> 00:02:04.340 It's about Jesus, not us. 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:07.439 We're to be on His mission to seek and save the lost, 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:10.879 those who are unwanted, those who are broken, 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:14.620 rather than asking Jesus to bless our missions. 00:02:15.979 --> 00:02:21.439 We said the church seeks the advance of Jesus' kingdom in word and in deed. 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:26.159 So people experience Jesus, they feel the thawing of winter, 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:29.460 and they come to know the true King Himself. 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:35.639 And we've seen that His kingdom advances through passing along the vision of His greatness 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:36.799 to the next generation. 00:02:37.679 --> 00:02:41.079 And His kingdom advances as the church is a buddy bench, 00:02:41.079 --> 00:02:47.419 where the beauty of relationship in God's family removes loneliness in the world. 00:02:48.739 --> 00:02:52.259 Last week, we remembered that we're in spiritual warfare, 00:02:52.699 --> 00:02:59.239 that God has called us to fight in that for the priority and progress of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:02.779 Do you hear the music of the mission of the church 00:03:02.779 --> 00:03:05.299 as I read some of those different lyrics? 00:03:05.300 --> 00:03:08.800 Those are all different ways of getting at the same thing. 00:03:09.700 --> 00:03:11.100 Does it get you excited? 00:03:11.860 --> 00:03:13.680 Do you think, yes, that's why I'm here. 00:03:14.200 --> 00:03:16.600 That's why God has brought us together. 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:21.300 Are you beginning to be renewed in your zeal for why God created you, 00:03:21.380 --> 00:03:22.640 for why He redeemed you? 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:28.520 Not to mention why He brought a bunch of crazy people like us together in the same place. 00:03:29.420 --> 00:03:30.540 What in the world was He doing? 00:03:31.300 --> 00:03:32.320 Why would He do that? 00:03:32.380 --> 00:03:34.020 What does He have for us? 00:03:34.020 --> 00:03:39.659 Listen, I know we've had installations and conferences and parties 00:03:39.659 --> 00:03:43.920 and a lot going on in these few weeks while we've been talking about these things. 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:47.460 I don't want us to miss what He has for us. 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:50.800 I don't want us to miss what all those things are really about. 00:03:51.040 --> 00:03:53.939 Why would we be excited about any of those particular things? 00:03:54.320 --> 00:03:55.719 Why are we here? 00:03:57.200 --> 00:03:59.379 I want to give us one more picture of that this morning. 00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:04.639 It comes from one of the most famous brief descriptions of the church in all of Scripture. 00:04:05.799 --> 00:04:06.859 It's in 1 Timothy. 00:04:07.340 --> 00:04:12.740 In 1 Timothy, Paul is writing to Timothy who's basically the pastor of the church in Ephesus. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:16.300 He's telling Timothy how the church should function. 00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:18.199 How does church work? 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:20.860 He's told him all sorts of things. 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:26.240 In particular, in chapter 3, he has been telling them about the qualifications for church officers. 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:29.139 Very appropriate for this morning. 00:04:29.259 --> 00:04:33.099 What these men who are to serve as elders and deacons are to be marked by. 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:36.800 And the whole purpose of all the things he writes about. 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:38.419 How we conduct ourselves in worship. 00:04:38.420 --> 00:04:40.439 Why we pray. 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:42.699 Why we need godly leaders. 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:46.199 Timothy says all of that is about this. 00:04:46.300 --> 00:04:48.960 1 Timothy 3 at verse 14. 00:04:50.700 --> 00:04:52.680 I hope to come to you soon. 00:04:53.180 --> 00:04:56.200 But I am writing these things to you so that if I delay, 00:04:56.620 --> 00:04:59.600 you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God. 00:05:00.200 --> 00:05:02.500 Which is the church of the living God. 00:05:03.100 --> 00:05:06.259 A pillar and buttress of the truth. 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:07.920 The grass withers. 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:08.899 The flowers fade. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:12.159 But these words of our God will stand forever. 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:13.039 Pray with me. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:21.459 God, our desire is that we be a church that follows your word. 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:26.920 That we would be passionate about the things that you're passionate about. 00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:31.639 That we would order ourselves in the way that you would have us to be ordered. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:34.480 That our priorities would be your priorities. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:37.120 That we would love what you love. 00:05:39.460 --> 00:05:41.640 Father, that's not who we are by nature. 00:05:41.840 --> 00:05:44.700 And so we need your spirit to come. 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:46.580 To meet with us. 00:05:46.700 --> 00:05:47.819 To speak to us. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:49.900 To speak loudly to our hearts. 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:51.920 Challenge our hearts. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:53.819 Inspire our hearts. 00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:58.960 That we indeed would be as zealous for your glory as we ought. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:03.479 Would you do that work as we open your word together this morning. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:05.299 Not for our sake. 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:07.779 Not so Southwood would be the best church around. 00:06:08.159 --> 00:06:11.599 But so that your name would be made great through us. 00:06:12.359 --> 00:06:14.019 We ask it in Jesus' name. 00:06:14.919 --> 00:06:15.259 Amen. 00:06:17.039 --> 00:06:17.899 The church. 00:06:19.179 --> 00:06:22.359 A pillar and buttress of the truth. 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:25.400 A pillar and buttress of the truth. 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:26.860 What does that mean? 00:06:28.139 --> 00:06:29.840 That's a famous description. 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:31.400 A one-liner. 00:06:31.740 --> 00:06:33.680 But what is Paul talking about? 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:39.220 First, let's make sure we're clear what Paul means when he writes of the truth. 00:06:39.740 --> 00:06:43.759 If we're to be a pillar and buttress of the truth, what is the truth? 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:48.759 The truth here in this passage is the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:52.980 Of who Jesus is as the promised Messiah and the King. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:56.319 And of what he has done as the Savior of the world. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:59.379 It's the message about him. 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:04.079 The verses following these clarify that for us in this passage. 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:11.120 But that's how Paul uses the truth throughout these pastoral letters that he writes to Timothy and others. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:15.120 He talks about the truth in several contexts. 00:07:15.840 --> 00:07:20.459 And it's always the gospel message that he's referring to. 00:07:21.220 --> 00:07:22.199 Over and over. 00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:25.160 In 1 Timothy 1, he says it this way. 00:07:25.280 --> 00:07:26.000 Verse 15. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:29.800 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:35.780 That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost. 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:40.500 That's the truth, he says there in chapter 1. 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:46.420 It's the glorious news that we get to celebrate and remember every week in our corporate gathering. 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:49.660 And every day in our relationships with each other. 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:50.639 In our lives. 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:53.040 The truth that though we are sinners. 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:55.740 That we are great sinners. 00:07:57.060 --> 00:07:58.800 We have a greater Savior. 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:02.319 That's the good news of Jesus. 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:06.839 That although there is nothing in us to commend us to God. 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:13.339 Though we could rightly feel ashamed to walk into his presence to pray this morning. 00:08:14.599 --> 00:08:20.179 Jesus, the Son of God, has died for our sins and given us his perfect record. 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:24.399 So that we are God's sons and daughters by faith in him. 00:08:25.299 --> 00:08:26.299 That's the good news. 00:08:26.779 --> 00:08:29.779 That when God looks at you this morning, he's delighted. 00:08:31.259 --> 00:08:32.799 Delighted when he looks at you. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.979 Not because you just gave a big check a few minutes ago. 00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:40.199 Not because you dressed really well this morning. 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:47.059 But because he sees Jesus who paid it all for you. 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:51.099 Who dressed you in the beautiful robes of his righteousness. 00:08:51.459 --> 00:08:57.120 So that your God sees him and you are beautiful when he looks at you. 00:08:57.579 --> 00:08:58.719 That's good news, isn't it? 00:08:59.579 --> 00:09:00.859 It's not what you've done. 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:05.980 It's what Jesus has done for you that establishes your relationship with the Father. 00:09:06.259 --> 00:09:10.320 The true King has come to set wrongs right. 00:09:10.580 --> 00:09:12.200 To fix what is broken. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:13.820 To remove our loneliness. 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:17.680 To restore all of creation to the way God intended it. 00:09:18.659 --> 00:09:22.300 Including and especially our relationship with our Heavenly Father. 00:09:23.139 --> 00:09:24.680 That's the truth. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:27.360 And some of you need to hear that. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.120 And rejoice in that. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:30.519 And rest in that. 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:33.379 And completely tune me out for the next few minutes. 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:36.000 That's honestly, that shouldn't be too hard. 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:38.500 Just stop there. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.039 Praise the Lord. 00:09:40.560 --> 00:09:41.720 That's the truth. 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:44.620 That's the good news that we have. 00:09:45.700 --> 00:09:49.100 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 00:09:49.300 --> 00:09:51.300 Of whom I am the foremost. 00:09:52.300 --> 00:09:53.259 Praise the Lord. 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:53.340 Lord. 00:09:55.179 --> 00:10:03.439 It's important to know that the church here in this passage is spoken of not merely as the arbiter of truth in general. 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:08.039 Not merely as responsible for many true things. 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:09.659 Although that is the case. 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:13.399 But particularly the truth about Jesus. 00:10:14.100 --> 00:10:16.120 The good news that's about Him. 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:17.939 That He came to restore. 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:20.460 To save even the greatest sinners. 00:10:20.460 --> 00:10:22.400 Don't miss that. 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:28.920 And one other perhaps obvious aspect of this that we shouldn't miss this morning. 00:10:29.780 --> 00:10:33.259 The church is not itself the truth. 00:10:34.340 --> 00:10:37.879 The church is the pillar and buttress of the truth. 00:10:38.560 --> 00:10:40.639 Not in itself the truth. 00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:44.780 The church is about something else. 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:51.039 It's a good reminder to us that it's not ourselves that we proclaim but Christ. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:51.699 Right? 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:55.019 That it's not ultimately about us. 00:10:55.939 --> 00:11:01.600 The church has been known for a very condescending attitude that says we're the truth. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:03.000 We're right. 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:05.319 And we're going to let you hear about it. 00:11:05.339 --> 00:11:07.259 And we want you to know how wrong you are. 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:10.799 When we make ourselves the truth. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:13.139 That attitude comes quickly. 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:16.200 The church is not the truth. 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:20.240 The church is the household of the living God. 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:23.019 It's where God Almighty dwells. 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:28.419 So that the church is a gathering of people about something else more important than themselves. 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:31.059 And their own individual preferences. 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:33.740 And how they'd like to see things done. 00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:37.940 The church is a gathering of people about the glory of God. 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:39.539 Not of Southwood. 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:41.620 About the message of Jesus. 00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:44.060 Not the message of will. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:48.960 So what is the church's relationship to the truth? 00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:54.299 If we're not ourselves the truth, how do we relate to the truth of Jesus? 00:11:54.560 --> 00:11:57.580 What does it mean to be a pillar and buttress of the truth? 00:11:58.419 --> 00:12:03.080 Those Greek words are, as they appear in English, architectural terms. 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:06.500 And if you're like me, that may not mean a lot to you. 00:12:06.580 --> 00:12:08.060 I don't know a lot of architecture. 00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:11.040 But a pillar and a buttress of the truth. 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:12.820 You can think of it as a building. 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:15.420 And you'll have the appropriate image in your mind. 00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:19.480 With pillars and buttresses which often come off to the side. 00:12:19.780 --> 00:12:20.500 Holding it up. 00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:21.520 Supporting it. 00:12:21.800 --> 00:12:23.720 So that the structure is strong. 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:29.420 And so first, these words mean protecting the truth. 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:31.759 Protecting the truth. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:35.259 Strengthening it and giving it a firm foundation. 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:37.700 So that it is protected against decay. 00:12:37.939 --> 00:12:40.580 And doesn't crumble into disrepair. 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:43.899 Paul speaks this way in 2 Timothy. 00:12:43.899 --> 00:12:48.860 When he talks about guarding the deposit that's been entrusted to us. 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:51.919 Protecting the message of Jesus. 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:53.819 The gospel of grace. 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:56.759 So that the truth of God's word is preserved. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:13:02.120 This means we don't allow false teaching about Jesus to creep in. 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:07.259 This means we don't allow ideas and practices to be added to Jesus. 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:08.740 And do it our own way. 00:13:08.819 --> 00:13:10.840 And so detract from his glory. 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:14.580 This means we must learn. 00:13:14.939 --> 00:13:17.919 And always be learning of God's word. 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:21.939 So that we can defend the purity of the gospel from attack. 00:13:21.940 --> 00:13:28.340 The church of God has been entrusted with protecting the message of Jesus that we were just talking about. 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:32.760 That we say is so glorious and we find great joy in and we're charged to protect it. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:39.420 The church in our day has failed in many ways to protect the truth of God from error. 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:47.579 To defend the clear message of scripture from the tantalizing lies of the prosperity gospel for example. 00:13:48.439 --> 00:13:55.459 From the self-promoting lies of legalistic righteousness and performance Christianity. 00:13:56.819 --> 00:14:05.120 From the lies of liberal theology and a naturalistic worldview that would compromise on the uniqueness of Christ. 00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:06.839 And the authority of the Bible. 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:13.560 And from many, many others we failed to protect the truth. 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:19.280 But you know sometimes in our zeal for this protector role. 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:25.200 In our fear that we may fail as a church in defending the truth. 00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:28.220 The church has fashioned itself into a fortress. 00:14:28.780 --> 00:14:33.540 Within which we can guard the truth very closely and very safely. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:39.620 From which we can launch out our truth missiles into a lost and confused world occasionally. 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:41.519 When we think they need a dose of this. 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:43.699 We'll just launch that out from the fortress. 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:49.759 And so our job becomes to make sure no one dirties the truth with their grubby hands. 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:51.779 That they can't get close enough to touch it. 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:56.219 It's one of those times we also confuse ourselves with the truth. 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:58.719 And think we need to be protected from them too. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:01.519 We're not the truth. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.980 So we protect the truth by hiding it behind our fortress. 00:15:07.779 --> 00:15:09.000 And let me be clear. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:14.700 It is our job to protect the truth of God from the error that so easily creeps in. 00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:21.740 But one way to protect something valuable is by hiding it where no one knows it or sees it. 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:27.680 And that hopefully only the people who figure out where it is will be safe people who won't ever mess it up. 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:29.980 That's one way to protect something that's valuable. 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:33.879 There's another way to protect something valuable, isn't there? 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:38.919 You can actually put it up somewhere where everyone can see it. 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:43.659 So it's constantly being protected by people guarding it and watching it. 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:45.980 Think of the crown jewels of England, right? 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:50.659 They don't hide them in a secret vault, although that's one way to protect something. 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:55.480 They have them out where they're closely watched and guarded by all sorts of people. 00:15:55.899 --> 00:16:02.459 Everyone can see them and they're valuable, but you can't take them because they're always watched carefully. 00:16:03.699 --> 00:16:06.500 That's actually the picture that this passage gives us. 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:14.059 That the church as the pillar and buttress of the truth is an image not merely of protecting the truth, 00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:16.299 but of promoting the truth. 00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:21.039 To hold it up, to hold it out for all to see. 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:28.559 I was going to say to promulgate the truth, but I wasn't really sure what that meant, although it sounded good. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:30.099 So I went with promote. 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:37.240 But the idea is the truth resting firmly atop the pillar, right? 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:44.620 You can picture that the way a building does, the way a house with pillars is resting atop of it and supported by it, 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:47.740 where everyone can see what's propped up on the pillar. 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:51.680 It should be seen by all, not hidden in a fortress. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:17:00.659 Yes, the false teaching should be fended off and guarded against, but the truth of Jesus should be proclaimed from the rooftops, so to speak. 00:17:02.359 --> 00:17:05.059 Kids, do you know that song, This Little Light of Mine? 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.419 Does anybody know that one? 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.059 Raise your hand. 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.859 Hold your finger up, not your hand. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.119 Yep. 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:12.720 This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. 00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:16.659 Do you know what that, there's a verse that comes after that. 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:18.419 Kids, can you help me with this? 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:20.620 It says, hide it under a bushel? 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:23.640 I didn't hear you. 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:24.840 Hide it under a bushel? 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:26.300 No. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:28.500 Thank you for helping, parents. 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.340 We'll work on that. 00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:32.400 We'll work on that dialogue. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:34.800 No. 00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:39.340 Kids, do you know what that little song means when it's saying that? 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:41.460 You may have known it for a long time. 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:51.779 What it's saying is that when you trust Jesus, when Jesus lives in you, you want everyone else to know and love Jesus too. 00:17:52.340 --> 00:17:53.920 That's really what that song means. 00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:59.420 That you're having a relationship with Jesus and trusting him to save you. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.880 He comes in you. 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:05.799 The light of Jesus in you is something you want everyone else to see so that they know and love him. 00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:09.079 Jesus said that in Matthew chapter 5, didn't he? 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:12.339 Jesus said this to his followers. 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:14.119 You're the light of the world. 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:17.399 A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:23.619 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand and it gives light to all in the house. 00:18:24.159 --> 00:18:31.039 In the same way, by the same analogy, Jesus says, the same one we use in kids' songs. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:38.700 Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 00:18:39.659 --> 00:18:41.039 Hide it under a bushel? 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.500 No. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.019 No way. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:46.579 That's not who we are. 00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:54.079 If the good news of Jesus really is the good news we say we believe it is, put it up on top of the pillar, right? 00:18:54.079 --> 00:19:00.399 In every conversation, in every relationship, in every aspect of your life. 00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:03.839 Let others see it, hear of it, experience it. 00:19:04.399 --> 00:19:10.339 Not to praise you, not so you can be so wonderful, but to praise your Father in heaven. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.339 He's the good one. 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.879 Not you, right? 00:19:13.659 --> 00:19:14.259 Not me. 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:23.240 Put the truth of the good news of Jesus up on that pillar that they too might know, love, and trust Jesus. 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:25.700 That's the mission of the church. 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:29.079 That's who we're charged to be. 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:32.279 A pillar and buttress of the truth. 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:35.319 We've been talking about it for several weeks now. 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:38.579 I'd simply ask you this morning, is that your mission? 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:41.859 Is that your passion? 00:19:41.859 --> 00:19:49.479 I love the quotation from Ray Ortlund that we used as our meditation this morning. 00:19:50.939 --> 00:20:03.759 It's time for us Christians to stop perceiving church as a weekend option and start seeing it as ground zero for world reconciliation. 00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:05.419 Let me read that again. 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:16.000 It's time for us Christians to stop perceiving church as a weekend option and start seeing it as ground zero for world reconciliation. 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:18.660 Ground zero for world reconciliation. 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.660 Is that a new idea he came up with? 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:21.920 No. 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:27.779 I'd suggest to you it's an old one, as old as at least this passage and the rest of God's word. 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:30.180 That's the task we've been given. 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:35.400 We are to implore the world on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:37.799 2 Corinthians 5.20 00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:39.960 That's what it means to be the church. 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:43.539 To be about the mission that God has given to his people. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:55.000 To be the church doesn't mean that we consider dressing up and coming to a building once a week while otherwise keeping the truth of Jesus Christ to ourselves. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:57.819 That's playing church. 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:01.000 Not being the church. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:07.900 Being the church means being a pillar and buttress of the truth, promoting it. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:13.079 Because everyone must know in every context of the good news of King Jesus. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.900 That's being the church. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:20.400 Alex and Suzanne Saron were here with us last week. 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:24.019 They're on mission to be the church in France. 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:30.139 In France, where Alex told some of you last week that there are atheists. 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:38.200 And in light of the recent terror attacks over there, many of these atheists have been starting to ask questions about God. 00:21:38.639 --> 00:21:46.879 And even though the terror attacks themselves came from people connected with Islam, who are they finding to answer their questions about God? 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.460 Muslims. 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:48.579 Muslims. 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:56.940 That more of them are converting to Islam than to Christianity because there are more Muslims around that they can find to answer their questions. 00:21:57.299 --> 00:22:01.420 And the Sarens are on mission being the church there. 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:06.180 I talked to one of our elderly members recently. 00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:07.980 He lives in a retirement home. 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:11.240 He's on mission being the church there. 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:19.820 There are a lot of people around him who are nearing the end of their life and are without hope for what comes next. 00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:23.439 He said it can be a dark and depressing place sometimes. 00:22:23.679 --> 00:22:28.599 And he loves to go around and spend all day talking with people about Jesus. 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:37.859 Telling them about the truth, the hopeful message that Jesus offers them life and hope after this life. 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:40.059 He's on mission. 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:42.619 He's being the church there. 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:50.239 You don't have to go to France or go to a retirement home to be the church. 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:55.359 But you do have to be on mission to be the church. 00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:58.159 Are you on mission in Huntsville? 00:22:58.899 --> 00:22:59.939 In your neighborhood? 00:23:00.239 --> 00:23:01.219 In your workplace? 00:23:02.439 --> 00:23:07.179 Has our Christianity become a weekend option for our social calendars? 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:11.900 Church is an event that takes place at 1030 on the convenient Sundays. 00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:25.720 Or is church, is being called out to be a gathering of God's people, is church for you ground zero for world reconciliation because we're on mission together? 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:33.560 A city on a hill, a pillar holding out the truth of Jesus until everyone knows and experiences our Savior. 00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:36.960 We won't run out of time on that mission. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:39.240 There will always be more to do. 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:48.700 The story is told of a dangerous seacoast where lots of ships used to wreck. 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:52.100 And they would crash on those shores. 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:57.039 And in that area of the world, there was a small life-saving station. 00:23:57.480 --> 00:24:00.340 Just a little hut with one tiny boat. 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:11.379 But there were several people who took that boat and went out on rescue missions, looking for those day and night they would go out, searching for those lost at sea. 00:24:11.939 --> 00:24:14.539 They saved many lives in their little boat together. 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:19.559 And many of those stayed and joined in the life-saving work at the mission. 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:27.940 But that little mission, that station grew because some of those people started to join them and there were more of them. 00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:30.119 And so over time, things changed. 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:34.720 First changes came because they were so thoughtful of others. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:43.440 They wanted to make their little hut into a place that was a better refuge for people being rescued from the shipwreck on sea. 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:54.120 And so a new building, a little bit larger, was furnished with beds for them and some furniture so that they could actually experience the refuge as they came in. 00:24:54.119 --> 00:25:00.239 But over time, what happened was that they began to think more of themselves than they did of others. 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:08.979 They began to so enjoy their new environment, this beautiful building that they'd created, it became a wonderful gathering spot for them. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:13.939 And they loved the members of the station getting together to spend time in it. 00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:18.459 And so they did that often and they began to think of it more as a club. 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:23.779 In fact, as they got older, many of the members didn't enjoy going out on the missions anymore. 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:27.360 So they hired others to run the boats they'd accumulated for them. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:31.779 One night, there was a large ship that wrecked on the sea. 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:37.039 And some of the people who were running the boats brought in many who were dying. 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:40.720 And it was a particularly bad evening and they were wet. 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:42.559 Many of them had gotten sick. 00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:44.079 They were dirty. 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:50.539 And among those rescued were many of different skin colors who spoke different languages from them. 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:55.779 And it made the clubhouse not exactly the way they pictured it. 00:25:55.859 --> 00:26:06.240 In fact, before they even had a meeting, some had erected a shower house outside so that any future people rescued could be cleaned up before they brought them in to muddy the clubhouse. 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:12.500 The next meeting of the membership split them down the middle. 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:20.400 Some arguing that these life-saving missions were unpleasant and an interruption to the real activities of the club. 00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:25.420 And others insisting that life-saving was the very purpose for which they existed. 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:32.900 That group lost the vote though and they moved down the coast to build their own life-saving station. 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:36.920 Only to see the same pattern happen there a few years later. 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:39.319 Here's the epilogue to this story. 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:47.259 If you visit that seacoast today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:51.119 Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:53.960 But now most of the people drown. 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:59.279 Southwood, we are a church. 00:27:00.659 --> 00:27:01.319 We exist. 00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:02.059 We exist. 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:07.659 The very purpose of our existence is to be a pillar and buttress of the truth. 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:17.139 To proclaim the good news of Jesus and the advance of his kingdom to everyone all around us and throughout the world. 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:21.519 God has privileged us with getting to labor on his mission. 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.519 God has given us a mission. 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:30.900 So each of us must consider how we order our individual lives for that mission rather than our own. 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:32.240 It's a hard question. 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:34.619 We more naturally think of our own missions. 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:37.139 What will that mean for our schedule? 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:39.059 For our family? 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.619 For our money? 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.279 Hard questions. 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:45.559 Elders and deacons. 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:49.460 Something for you particularly this morning. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:28:00.019 As you pray and plan for us corporately this coming weekend, you must keep God's mission for his church our priority. 00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:06.819 You must make decisions focused on the extension of Christ's kingdom, not our own. 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:14.559 You must lead us to think first of the needs of others, the souls of our neighbors, ahead of our own comforts. 00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:16.220 Pray for that. 00:28:17.419 --> 00:28:19.960 Congregation, pray for us as we meet. 00:28:21.139 --> 00:28:30.579 May Southwood increasingly be a people through whom the truth, the good news of Jesus Christ is protected and promoted for the glory of God. 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.700 Let's pray. 00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:40.500 God, your word is not unclear about our mission. 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:43.359 We've heard it over and over. 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:47.679 We've heard it in different ways and at different times. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:51.559 Might we be more than hearers of your word? 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:55.859 Might we also be doers of your word? 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:59.700 Those who are so changed by it that we live differently. 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:14.059 Might we be so overwhelmed by the glory and the greatness of our Savior that we want our children, that we want our neighbors, that we want our coworkers and even our enemies to know his love. 00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:28.319 Would you work that your kingdom would come here in our hearts, that it would come as our passion and priority, that it would come in Huntsville and throughout this world, that your name would be made great. 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:32.679 Father, your kingdom come here as it is in heaven. 00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:34.960 We ask in Jesus' name. 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.379 Amen. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:44.139 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org.