WEBVTT

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 Thank you for having me. I know not all of you have had me in your homes, but a number of you have, and we're very grateful.

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 We've been staying with Joy and Ross last night, and so that was lovely.

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 I guess I wear two hats as well as being the pastor of Egberth Community Church.

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 I'm also chair of the board of Radstock Ministries.

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 I'm on the board with Ralph over there, who is the one who really holds it all together.

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 So I've been doing that for a number of years.

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 Radstock is a network of churches of which you guys are a part, trying to help one another to be involved in church planting projects around the world.

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 And so it's great to be partnering with you guys in the work in Jilan in Kosovo.

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 And I know you were a real encouragement to Naomi and Rich when they came to visit you, so thank you for that.

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 And thank you for having us this weekend.

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 My plan is to be talking a little bit about local church and global mission this morning.

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 And we're going to be darting around different parts of the Bible.

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 So if you've got your Bibles on your laps, that will help you.

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 And I'm going to pray for us as we start asking that the Lord would help us.

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 So let me pray for us.

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 Lord, we do thank you for our fellowship in the Lord Jesus.

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 And we thank you that we meet together in the Lord Jesus' name as brothers and sisters in Christ.

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 And we come together now to open your word that we might be addressed by you together.

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 And so we pray that you'd give us tender hearts, eager ears to listen to what you say in your word.

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 In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 I wonder if you were to make a list of all the things that a local church must do, what would be on it?

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 What things must a local church do?

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 Well, let me suggest a few things.

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 A local church must meet together.

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 The word church in your New Testament means together.

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 So a church must meet together.

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 Another thing a church must do, they must pray together.

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 A church is by definition, as we heard at the outset this morning,

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 a company of people who depend upon the Lord for everything.

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 And that must be expressed in their life together as they come and pray together.

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 We also must open the Bible as well, mustn't we?

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 So we mustn't only just gather and pray.

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 We must open the Bible because not only do we want to speak to God and express our dependence upon God,

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 we also want God to address us and speak to us in his word.

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 So we must open the Bible together.

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 We must study the Bible.

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 We must hear the Bible preached, taught, explained.

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 We want to see the message of the Bible acted out in the Lord's Supper and in baptism.

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 We want to sing the message of the Bible together in the songs that we sing.

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 If we don't open the Bible together, all we're really doing is sharing one another's great ideas.

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 And as much as I love Johnny, I don't want to sit and gather around his great ideas on a Sunday morning.

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 That's not what we're doing, is it?

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 We want to listen to what God says.

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 You know, also our church should love one another.

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 The Lord Jesus says, by this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

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 You know, our love for one another in the life of the church is where the transforming power of the gospel becomes visible to the community around us.

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 As they see people who have no connection with one another, other than their mutual trust in the Lord Jesus and membership of a local church.

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 They see people sacrificing time and money and energy for one another's goods.

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 So we must love one another.

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 We must also reach out to others.

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 Do the work of evangelism.

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 Preach the good news of the Lord Jesus to others.

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 Both publicly as we gather, but also in conversation in the places that the Lord scatters us to during the week.

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 As we reach out to neighbours, friends and colleagues.

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 That they too might hear about the forgiveness and reconciliation that they too can have and find in the Lord Jesus.

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 Now that's the core of what we do.

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 We might do it in slightly different ways.

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 We're in different countries, in different contexts.

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 We do it with different languages, different accents.

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 The music that we sing might be different.

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 The time that we meet, the venue that we meet in might be slightly different.

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 But the truth is that local churches everywhere should do those five things, shouldn't they?

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 They should gather.

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 They should pray.

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 They should hear from God's word.

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 They should love one another.

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 And they should reach out with the gospel.

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 Now let me ask you, if that's true, let me ask you this question.

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 This is the question I want us to deal with together this morning.

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 It's amongst those five things.

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 What place does global mission have?

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 What part does an active concern for the work of Christ amongst the nations have amongst those five things that a local church like this,

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 like our church in Egbert, should be doing?

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 I don't know if you've heard the story of William Carey.

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 William Carey was a brilliant young pastor in the 18th century in Northamptonshire in the Midlands in England.

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 And he, by the age of 21, he had mastered Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Italian, and presumably English as well,

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 whilst also working as a cobbler in a local shop.

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 He was a brilliant, brilliant young man.

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 And he read, I suppose, and these were maybe the Harry Potter of his generation,

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 he was reading the diaries of Captain James Cook,

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 who was the adventurer traveling the world and finding new places.

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 If you've ever read his diaries, they are gruesome.

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 They're basically lists of all the people who died and he threw overboard along his way around the world.

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 Anyway, as William Carey read those diaries, he was fascinated not so much by the new places that Cook was discovering,

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 but by the people, thinking to himself, these people need to hear about Jesus.

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 They're lost.

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 And so troubled by that kind of concern for the nations,

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 Carey turns up at his pastor's fraternal with other ministers from the rural Midlands of England.

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 And he says, what are we going to do?

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 How are we going to reach the nations with the good news of the Lord Jesus?

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 To which he was famously told, and you may have heard of this quote by a guy called Dr. Ryland,

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 young man, sit down when God wants to save the heathen, he'll do it without your aid or mine.

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 Incredible thing for him to say.

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 And hopefully you don't need me to tell you that Dr. Ryland was wrong.

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 History tells us that, at least, doesn't it?

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 William Carey went on to become the father of modern missions,

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 ultimately reaching millions of people with the gospel through the extensions of his ministry

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 in various parts of the world.

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 But even still, I think that despite the fact that because of Carey and people like him,

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 all of us think missions is important.

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 Global missions must feature somewhere in the life of our church.

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 I don't think often we think, how does it actually relate to who we are and what we're doing

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 as a local church?

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 How does it relate to the five things that we know we must do?

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 If the elders said to you, actually, guys, we're going to stop meeting,

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 you'd say, well, we've stopped being a local church.

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 We're going to stop praying.

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 Well, we're not going to be a local church anymore.

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 How does global mission fit in to those things that we should do?

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 Well, to help us answer that question, I've got three points

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 from three different passages in the Bible.

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 So we're going to keep ourselves warm by thumbing through the scriptures.

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 So turn with me first to the book of Romans, to Romans chapter 15,

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 which is on page 1141, if you have a church Bible.

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 And the first point is this.

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 The gospel is a message that wants to travel.

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 Let me say that again.

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 The gospel is a message that wants to travel.

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 Romans chapter 15, I'm going to pick it up in verse 7

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 and read to you down to verse 24.

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 Romans chapter 15, verse 7.

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 The gospel is a message that wants to travel.

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 Paul writes this.

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 Accept one another then, just as Christ accepted you,

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 in order to bring praise to God.

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 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews

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 on behalf of God's truth,

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 so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed,

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 and moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.

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 As it is written,

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 Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles.

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 I will sing the praises of your name.

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 Again it says,

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 Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.

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 And again,

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 Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.

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 Let all peoples extol him.

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 And again, Isaiah says,

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 The root of Jesse will spring up,

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 one who will arise to rule over the nations.

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 In him the Gentiles will hope.

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 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace

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 as you trust in him,

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 so that you may overflow with hope

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 by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters,

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 that you yourselves are full of goodness,

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 filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

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 Yet I have written to you quite boldly on some points

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 to remind you of them again,

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 because of the grace God gave me

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 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.

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 He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God

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 so that the Gentiles might become an offering

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 acceptable to God,

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 sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

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 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus

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 in my service to God.

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 I will not venture to speak of anything

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 except what Christ has accomplished through me

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 in leading the Gentiles to obey God

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 by what I have said and done,

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 by the power of signs and wonders,

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 through the power of the Spirit of God.

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 So from Jerusalem all the way round to Illyricum,

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 I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

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 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel

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 where Christ was not known,

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 so I would not be building on someone else's foundation.

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 Rather, as it is written,

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 those who are not told about him will see,

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 and those who have not heard will understand.

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 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

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 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions,

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 and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,

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 I plan to do so when I go to Spain.

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 I hope to see you while passing through,

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 that you will assist me on my journey there

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 after I have enjoyed your company for a while.

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 Now often in Paul's writings,

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 it's not really until you get to the end of them,

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 the end of the books or the end of the letters,

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 that you realise the purpose for which he's writing.

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 So the book of Romans is not written,

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 firstly at least,

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 as a kind of thorough explanation of the gospel,

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 but rather it's written to a local church

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 to persuade them to be involved in Paul's project to reach Spain.

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 The fact is that Paul sees a direct line

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 between his summary and explanation of the gospel

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 in his opening chapters

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 and the Roman church's involvement in his mission to Spain.

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 He sees that connection.

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 So let's see that together.

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 What is it that's going on in the gospel?

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 Look at verse 7.

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 Well, Christ is accepting people, isn't he, in the gospel?

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 Just as Christ accepted you,

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 they are to accept one another.

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 He is welcoming people.

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 In the gospel, sinful, fallen people

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 are welcomed and accepted

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 by a God of righteousness and holiness and perfection.

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 He, in the gospel, brings them into his family,

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 into his people,

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 through Christ's death on the cross.

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 And all of that, verse 7,

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 is to bring praise to God.

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 It's for his glory.

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 Now, we mustn't miss this.

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 This is subtle,

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 but it's meant there as a surprise, I think.

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 It's supposed to be a surprise to us

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 that God in Christ is welcoming Roman people

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 into his family.

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 He is accepting uncircumcised outsiders

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 like the Romans into his people.

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 Christ was, after all, a Jewish Messiah.

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 He is the promised Old Testament saviour,

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 the rescuer of God's people, Israel.

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 But now, says Paul,

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 God, through Christ,

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 is welcoming people in Rome,

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 Roman Christians.

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 How so?

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 Well, verse 8,

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 For I tell you that Christ has become

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 a servant of the Jews

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 on behalf of God's truth,

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 so that the promises made to the patriarchs

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 may be confirmed.

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 Christ came as a servant to the Jews,

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 the circumcised,

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 in order to fulfil promises made

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 to the patriarchs,

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 the Old Testament heroes.

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 But, and there's the mind-blowing truth,

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 the earth-shaking point,

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 so that, what, verse 9,

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 that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.

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 In other words,

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 the very promises of the Old Testament,

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 the servanthood of Christ

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 for the sake of his people,

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 the Jews,

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 was for the very purpose

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 of reaching the Gentiles,

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 the nations.

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 Now, Paul won't leave it there.

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 Instead, he proves the point

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 with a string of Old Testament quotes,

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 linking God's promises

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 to Old Testament patriarchs

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 with this project

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 of reaching the Gentiles,

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 who are ethne,

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 the nations.

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 And here's the thing,

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 God's promises,

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 promises fulfilled in Christ's work

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 on the cross,

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 have within themselves

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 this driving concern

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 to get out to the nations,

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 to go beyond,

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 to reach out.

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 With this goal of welcoming

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 and accepting

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 people in Rome,

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 people in Carigalline,

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 people in Liverpool,

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 into God's family,

00:14:07.520 --> 00:14:09.000
 to the praise and glory

00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:09.720
 of his name.

00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.480
 Imagine it like this

00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:13.000
 for a moment.

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.620
 Imagine you've got a young

00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:16.240
 border collie dog,

00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.460
 a young sheepdog,

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:20.220
 and you're taking her out

00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:21.200
 for a walk on the hill.

00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:23.220
 And she's young,

00:14:23.660 --> 00:14:25.000
 so you've got her on a lead.

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.400
 If anyone's had a puppy,

00:14:26.680 --> 00:14:27.879
 you know that's really important,

00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:28.440
 isn't it?

00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:29.700
 You've got to keep them on a lead

00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:31.000
 because you have no idea

00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:31.680
 what they're going to do

00:14:31.680 --> 00:14:33.280
 if you let go of that lead.

00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:35.379
 But as you walk up the hill,

00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:37.700
 you decide at a particular moment

00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:38.080
 in time,

00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:38.560
 right, okay,

00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:39.360
 now I'm going to do it.

00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:40.560
 I'm going to go for it.

00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:42.900
 I am going to release the lead

00:14:42.900 --> 00:14:44.120
 and see what happens.

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:46.259
 And so you let go of her lead

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.200
 and you unclip her.

00:14:47.280 --> 00:14:47.820
 What does she do?

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.700
 Well, she runs.

00:14:50.300 --> 00:14:52.580
 She runs to go find sheep

00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:54.519
 or anything as near to sheep

00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:55.180
 as she can find

00:14:55.180 --> 00:14:56.500
 and bring them back to you,

00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.420
 whether or not

00:14:57.420 --> 00:14:58.240
 that's what you hoped

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.680
 she would do

00:14:58.680 --> 00:14:59.200
 or whether or not

00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.180
 it's what you had in mind.

00:15:01.040 --> 00:15:02.120
 I've got a Labrador

00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:03.420
 and the first time

00:15:03.420 --> 00:15:04.300
 I let her off the lead,

00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:06.780
 she ran and ate someone's picnic.

00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:07.620
 That's because

00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.960
 that's what Labradors do

00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:10.040
 instead of border collies.

00:15:11.660 --> 00:15:12.800
 But so it is

00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:14.540
 with the Gospel promises, okay?

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.019
 In the Old Testament,

00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.000
 in a sense,

00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.820
 the Gospel promises

00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:19.120
 are kept on the lead

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.080
 for the Jewish nation.

00:15:20.520 --> 00:15:21.860
 But in the work of Christ,

00:15:22.020 --> 00:15:23.260
 the lead is released

00:15:23.260 --> 00:15:24.200
 and boom,

00:15:24.300 --> 00:15:25.200
 it goes to the nations

00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.980
 because that was always in it.

00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:28.500
 That was always the purpose.

00:15:30.400 --> 00:15:30.879
 Unleashed,

00:15:31.020 --> 00:15:32.480
 the Gospel gathers people

00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.480
 from the nations.

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.480
 It's on the loose.

00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:36.960
 It's on the run.

00:15:37.520 --> 00:15:38.920
 It's reaching out to the world.

00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.700
 Now that very fact

00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:42.040
 gets worked out in two ways

00:15:42.040 --> 00:15:43.220
 in the life of the Roman church.

00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:44.480
 In verse 7,

00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:45.980
 it means something very profound

00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:47.019
 for how they meet together.

00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.600
 It says, verse 7,

00:15:48.660 --> 00:15:50.340
 that they should accept one another.

00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:51.820
 It means, doesn't it,

00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.840
 that their local church

00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:53.940
 should accept one another

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.100
 in the same manner

00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:57.040
 in which Christ is accepting them.

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.180
 So that our churches

00:15:59.180 --> 00:16:00.360
 should be welcoming

00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.240
 and friendly

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:02.940
 to people regardless

00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:04.840
 of their nationality or race.

00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:07.460
 Disregarding cultural differences

00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:08.840
 or differences in background

00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:09.480
 or class,

00:16:09.540 --> 00:16:10.680
 our churches should be places

00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:12.479
 where people are welcomed

00:16:12.479 --> 00:16:13.379
 on the basis of

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:15.000
 Christ's welcome of them.

00:16:16.819 --> 00:16:18.099
 So we must do that.

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:20.359
 But more than just that,

00:16:20.439 --> 00:16:21.379
 look at how it works out

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.459
 in Paul's life.

00:16:22.859 --> 00:16:23.779
 Jump towards the end

00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.719
 of the section that we read

00:16:24.719 --> 00:16:26.059
 in verses 19 and 20.

00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:28.099
 Look at what Paul says.

00:16:28.479 --> 00:16:29.179
 Here Paul says

00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:30.579
 that he's finished the work

00:16:30.579 --> 00:16:31.359
 in Jerusalem

00:16:31.359 --> 00:16:32.219
 and all the way around

00:16:32.219 --> 00:16:32.839
 to Illyricum,

00:16:33.959 --> 00:16:34.919
 modern day Albania.

00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:37.639
 He's fully proclaimed Christ

00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.959
 in all those places, he says.

00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.639
 Which is an astounding thing

00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.120
 for him to say.

00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:42.220
 This is one man saying

00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.659
 all the way from Jerusalem

00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:44.279
 all the way around

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.360
 to modern day Albania.

00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.980
 I've preached the gospel

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:48.980
 and proclaimed Christ fully

00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:49.779
 in all those places.

00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:52.480
 Now I don't think he means

00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.860
 that everybody in those regions

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.879
 have become Christians.

00:16:55.819 --> 00:16:56.919
 Nor does he mean,

00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:57.460
 I don't think,

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.379
 that there's no more

00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:59.159
 fruitful work

00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:00.500
 even that he could do

00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.179
 in those places.

00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.240
 But it's finished

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.799
 because of Paul's ambition,

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.700
 verse 20,

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.480
 to keep pressing on

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.099
 with the gospel

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.019
 to tell it to people

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:10.460
 who've never heard.

00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.540
 A project where ultimately

00:17:12.540 --> 00:17:13.500
 he wants the church

00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.240
 to help him in.

00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:15.759
 See, this is the second

00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:16.620
 implication, isn't it,

00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:17.380
 for the church.

00:17:17.800 --> 00:17:18.500
 Not only are they

00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:20.000
 to be accepting of people

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:21.280
 irrespective of where

00:17:21.280 --> 00:17:21.860
 they're from,

00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:23.300
 the second implication

00:17:23.300 --> 00:17:24.300
 is that they should be

00:17:24.300 --> 00:17:25.259
 involved with Paul

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:25.800
 in the project

00:17:25.800 --> 00:17:26.660
 of taking the gospel

00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:27.580
 to other people

00:17:27.580 --> 00:17:28.800
 regardless of where

00:17:28.800 --> 00:17:29.380
 they are.

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:32.340
 Deliberately going beyond

00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:32.980
 the boundaries

00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:34.320
 of their own church

00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:36.040
 for no other reason

00:17:36.040 --> 00:17:37.080
 other than the fact

00:17:37.080 --> 00:17:37.740
 that they believe

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.400
 the gospel.

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:40.579
 They believe the gospel

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.279
 which is like this

00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:42.039
 border collie

00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:42.880
 who's on the loose

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:44.140
 running free

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:45.200
 and rounding up people

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:45.920
 from the nations,

00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:47.319
 bringing them into

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:48.380
 God's global family.

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:50.839
 Bringing glory to God.

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.059
 And this is interesting,

00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:52.380
 isn't it?

00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:53.819
 Bringing glory to God,

00:17:53.900 --> 00:17:54.380
 says Paul,

00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:55.960
 not simply by the

00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:57.620
 sheer number of people

00:17:57.620 --> 00:17:58.599
 who are saved,

00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.279
 but by the spread

00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:01.220
 around the world

00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:02.359
 of those who are saved.

00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:04.399
 So Paul leaves behind

00:18:04.399 --> 00:18:05.439
 fruitful ministry

00:18:05.439 --> 00:18:06.519
 where more people

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.740
 would become Christians

00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:09.500
 and will become Christians

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.479
 as the church reached them,

00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:12.019
 but Paul leaves that ministry

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:13.339
 because he's concerned

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.039
 about God's glory

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:15.019
 and the spread

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:18.339
 to every corner

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.139
 of the globe.

00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.059
 You see,

00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:21.000
 here's the thing for us

00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.879
 as a church family.

00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:24.279
 If you will preach

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:24.699
 the gospel,

00:18:24.919 --> 00:18:25.659
 believe the gospel,

00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.879
 gather around the gospel

00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:27.459
 as a church,

00:18:27.699 --> 00:18:28.859
 it will do this work

00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:29.500
 amongst us

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:30.240
 because the gospel

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.219
 has this power

00:18:31.219 --> 00:18:31.939
 within it.

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.779
 It will send us

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:34.599
 out to the nations.

00:18:35.479 --> 00:18:36.699
 It will give us

00:18:36.699 --> 00:18:37.359
 in itself

00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.519
 an otherwise

00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:40.859
 inexplicable concern

00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:41.939
 for people

00:18:41.939 --> 00:18:43.139
 who are unlike us

00:18:43.139 --> 00:18:43.679
 in places

00:18:43.679 --> 00:18:44.799
 that we have never been.

00:18:45.419 --> 00:18:46.199
 Not because we're

00:18:46.199 --> 00:18:47.379
 adventurous types,

00:18:47.899 --> 00:18:48.759
 but because the message

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.279
 of the gospel

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.879
 which has welcomed us

00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:51.799
 into God's family

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:53.639
 gives us in itself

00:18:53.639 --> 00:18:54.359
 this concern

00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:55.819
 to reach the nations

00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:56.939
 with the good news

00:18:56.939 --> 00:18:57.519
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:18:58.419 --> 00:18:59.299
 So that's the first point.

00:18:59.379 --> 00:19:00.299
 The gospel has that

00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.419
 spreading power within it.

00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:02.960
 Second point

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.340
 and second passage,

00:19:04.800 --> 00:19:05.660
 the local church

00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:06.680
 is a mission agency

00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.640
 for the world.

00:19:08.100 --> 00:19:08.580
 The good thing

00:19:08.580 --> 00:19:09.060
 with this passage

00:19:09.060 --> 00:19:09.700
 is you only have to

00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:10.700
 turn one page

00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.200
 in your Bible

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.160
 to find it.

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.080
 It's 1 Corinthians,

00:19:13.800 --> 00:19:14.300
 which is,

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:14.960
 if you've closed

00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.300
 your Bible,

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:17.019
 page 1144.

00:19:18.380 --> 00:19:19.539
 The local church

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.660
 is a mission agency

00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.340
 for the world.

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.519
 Now,

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.340
 as we come

00:19:24.340 --> 00:19:24.960
 to 1 Corinthians,

00:19:25.080 --> 00:19:25.759
 it's going to help us

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:26.200
 just to know

00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:27.420
 a little bit of background.

00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:29.140
 the church

00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:29.660
 in Corinth

00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:31.279
 was a mess.

00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.160
 I think that's

00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:33.300
 the most simple summary.

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.519
 It was a mess.

00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:35.259
 You're told in the book

00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:35.660
 of Acts

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.279
 that Paul

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.460
 planted the church,

00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.320
 but it seems to have

00:19:38.320 --> 00:19:39.000
 quickly run into

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.560
 difficulties.

00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.380
 And the letter

00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:42.120
 of 1 Corinthians

00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:42.759
 is written

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.840
 to the Corinthian church

00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:44.460
 on the back

00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.240
 of two things.

00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:46.840
 One is a report

00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.980
 from Chloe's people

00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:49.560
 or Chloe's household,

00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.220
 as it gets called

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.960
 in chapter 1,

00:19:52.300 --> 00:19:53.539
 who have sent back

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.800
 news to Paul

00:19:54.800 --> 00:19:55.480
 of what's really

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.339
 going on in Corinth.

00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.339
 The second thing

00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:59.000
 that seems to have

00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.519
 happened is that

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.420
 a letter has been

00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:01.180
 written by the

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.839
 Corinthian church

00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:03.059
 to Paul,

00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:04.920
 and Paul is answering

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.640
 some of the things

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.240
 that come out

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.299
 in that letter.

00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:08.380
 Now,

00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.339
 as you read

00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:10.240
 through 1 Corinthians,

00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:10.720
 you're obviously

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.880
 only getting one half

00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:12.599
 of that conversation,

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:12.819
 aren't you?

00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.740
 It's like listening

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.140
 to someone,

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:14.539
 you're not supposed

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:14.799
 to do this,

00:20:14.860 --> 00:20:15.420
 listening to someone's

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:15.799
 telephone call,

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.319
 but if you listen

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.140
 to someone's

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.799
 telephone call

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.599
 on the train,

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.220
 you're only hearing

00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:19.779
 their half

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.599
 and you're piecing

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:20.960
 together.

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:22.299
 But as you read

00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:22.900
 1 Corinthians,

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:24.000
 you can piece together

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.720
 what seems to be

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.519
 happening in Corinth

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:27.200
 from Paul's

00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:28.079
 responses to them.

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.579
 So they are split

00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.259
 along the lines

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.039
 of personality.

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.180
 Some people

00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.380
 are following Paul,

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.079
 others are Polis,

00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:35.920
 others Cephas,

00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.140
 you know,

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:38.120
 he's my hero.

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.700
 Added to that,

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.299
 they're boasting

00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:41.539
 about sexual immorality.

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.420
 It seems that a man

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.539
 is sleeping with his

00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.019
 step-mom,

00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:46.100
 and though the world

00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:46.620
 around them

00:20:46.620 --> 00:20:47.299
 is ashamed of that,

00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:48.480
 the Christian church

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:48.920
 seems to think

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:50.440
 this is a great

00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.339
 example of Christian

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:51.799
 freedom.

00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.440
 And Paul is

00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.579
 outraged.

00:20:55.100 --> 00:20:55.960
 In another section,

00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:56.519
 church members

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.079
 are taking one

00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:57.819
 another to court

00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.740
 in legal battles,

00:20:59.100 --> 00:20:59.880
 not because they've

00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:01.039
 done great

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.759
 offences against

00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.039
 one another,

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:02.819
 these are small

00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.420
 matters that they

00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:03.980
 should be able to

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.519
 resolve in the

00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.120
 local church,

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:05.980
 but instead they're

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.539
 taking them to

00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:06.900
 court.

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.440
 And if all of that

00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:09.960
 wasn't enough,

00:21:10.360 --> 00:21:11.039
 they're also getting

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.299
 drunk as they share

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.920
 the Lord's Supper.

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.200
 I think this is

00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:15.200
 probably the

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.460
 highlight or the

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:16.819
 low light,

00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:17.779
 the low light of

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.180
 1 Corinthians,

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:18.900
 as Paul says,

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:19.339
 do you know what,

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.059
 when you guys share

00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:20.559
 the Lord's Supper,

00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.000
 it would be better

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.640
 if you didn't bother.

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:22.920
 Better if you didn't

00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:23.100
 bother.

00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:25.379
 So bad are your

00:21:25.379 --> 00:21:26.000
 meetings together.

00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:27.619
 Now into all of

00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:29.679
 that mess comes the

00:21:29.679 --> 00:21:30.719
 letter of 1 Corinthians

00:21:30.719 --> 00:21:32.039
 and Paul says some

00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.699
 really surprising

00:21:32.699 --> 00:21:33.099
 things.

00:21:33.419 --> 00:21:34.099
 So let me just read

00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:34.819
 the first three

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.119
 verses.

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.559
 We're only going to

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.099
 look at the first

00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.119
 three verses.

00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:38.779
 1 Corinthians

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.559
 chapter 1.

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:41.319
 Paul called to be an

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.059
 apostle of Christ

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:43.180
 Jesus by the will

00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:44.500
 of God and our

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.639
 brother Sosthenes.

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:47.079
 To the church of

00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.779
 God in Corinth,

00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:50.379
 to those sanctified

00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:51.299
 in Christ Jesus

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.420
 and called to be

00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:53.619
 his holy people,

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.279
 together with all

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.059
 those everywhere

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.879
 who call on the

00:21:56.879 --> 00:21:58.059
 name of our Lord

00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.839
 Jesus Christ,

00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.139
 their Lord and

00:22:00.139 --> 00:22:00.660
 ours.

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.240
 Grace and peace

00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.399
 to you from God

00:22:03.399 --> 00:22:04.940
 our Father and the

00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:06.039
 Lord Jesus Christ.

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.159
 Christ.

00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:08.879
 Now I think the

00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:10.480
 first surprise there

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.819
 is that Paul thinks

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:13.559
 that this church is

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:15.000
 sanctified,

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.460
 made holy.

00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.240
 In other words,

00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:20.559
 and it gets expanded

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.379
 in these opening

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:21.980
 verses of

00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:23.460
 Thanksgiving from

00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:25.019
 verses 4 to 9,

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.200
 Paul looks on at

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.200
 the chaos of the

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.039
 Corinthian church,

00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:29.659
 all those things

00:22:29.659 --> 00:22:30.240
 going on,

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.659
 and he sees them

00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:33.019
 as holy people,

00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:33.900
 saints,

00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.660
 he says.

00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:36.920
 That's brilliant,

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.420
 isn't it?

00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:39.140
 Paul there is

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:41.240
 showing his

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.500
 confidence in the

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.740
 gospel to take

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.680
 sinful,

00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.240
 broken,

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.120
 fallen people

00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:47.540
 and wash them

00:22:47.540 --> 00:22:48.540
 clean of their sin,

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.800
 that they might

00:22:49.800 --> 00:22:51.240
 stand before God

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:52.460
 as absolutely

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.860
 sanctified,

00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:54.380
 holy.

00:22:55.540 --> 00:22:55.800
 You know,

00:22:55.820 --> 00:22:56.300
 this morning,

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.000
 if you're struggling

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.680
 as a Christian,

00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.580
 if you're losing

00:22:59.580 --> 00:23:00.500
 in your fight

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:00.960
 with sin,

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.880
 if you feel this

00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:03.019
 morning like a

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.859
 hopeless failure,

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.759
 or maybe this

00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.279
 morning you're not

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.940
 a Christian and

00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:07.339
 you think,

00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.859
 I could never be

00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:09.460
 good enough to be

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:09.920
 a Christian.

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.079
 Well,

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:11.960
 then you must hear

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.140
 this from 1

00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:13.960
 Corinthians chapter

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.400
 1.

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.240
 Paul believes

00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.220
 that the power

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:17.819
 of the gospel

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:19.099
 takes sinful,

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:19.599
 fallen,

00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.480
 broken people

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.420
 like you and me

00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:23.039
 and makes us

00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:24.160
 stand before God

00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:25.420
 as sanctified

00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.240
 people,

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.200
 holy people,

00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.319
 who in Christ

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.140
 have everything

00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:30.580
 that we need.

00:23:31.520 --> 00:23:32.400
 It's astounding,

00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:34.140
 absolutely stunning.

00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:35.880
 Christ so

00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:36.880
 comprehensively

00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.680
 deals with sin,

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.520
 even the sin

00:23:38.520 --> 00:23:39.000
 that we still

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.740
 struggle with,

00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:40.940
 that we can be

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.900
 called saints.

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.460
 But the second

00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:45.620
 surprise really

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:47.080
 is there in the

00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:47.800
 word together

00:23:47.800 --> 00:23:48.840
 in verse 2.

00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.560
 Look at what's

00:23:50.560 --> 00:23:51.200
 happening here.

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.500
 The Corinthian church

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.340
 in all their mess

00:23:53.340 --> 00:23:54.120
 are sanctified,

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.720
 they're called

00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.540
 saints,

00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:56.900
 but they are

00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.960
 together.

00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:58.079
 together.

00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.340
 You notice that

00:23:59.340 --> 00:23:59.700
 they are,

00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:00.680
 his holy people

00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:02.079
 faint together

00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:03.400
 with all those

00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:03.980
 everywhere who

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.519
 call on the name

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:04.900
 of our Lord

00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:05.660
 Jesus Christ.

00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.200
 Let me try and

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:07.920
 explain the shock

00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.259
 of that.

00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:10.160
 This doesn't

00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:10.799
 happen so often

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:11.299
 in our house

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.319
 anymore because

00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:13.180
 our children

00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:13.799
 have grown up

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.200
 to the stage

00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:15.299
 where they now

00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:16.440
 wash their

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:16.819
 hands.

00:24:17.620 --> 00:24:18.360
 But when they

00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:19.240
 were little,

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.480
 we have four

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.539
 daughters and

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:21.920
 when they were

00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.460
 really little,

00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:23.019
 it would not

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.900
 be uncommon for

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:24.259
 one of them

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:24.680
 to have a

00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:25.360
 vomiting bug.

00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:27.240
 And what you

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.699
 know if you've

00:24:27.699 --> 00:24:28.759
 got a number

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.459
 of small children

00:24:29.459 --> 00:24:29.919
 in your house

00:24:29.919 --> 00:24:30.399
 is that once

00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:30.799
 one of them

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.399
 starts vomiting,

00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.000
 it's not going

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.459
 to be very long

00:24:32.459 --> 00:24:33.719
 before another

00:24:33.719 --> 00:24:34.199
 one starts

00:24:34.199 --> 00:24:34.439
 vomiting.

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.000
 And when another

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.479
 one starts,

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:35.979
 it's not going

00:24:35.979 --> 00:24:36.179
 to be long

00:24:36.179 --> 00:24:36.399
 before.

00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.279
 And anyway,

00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:38.240
 it's terrible,

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:38.679
 isn't it?

00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:39.579
 It's the worst

00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:40.000
 thing ever.

00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:42.219
 Passing children

00:24:42.219 --> 00:24:42.979
 between my wife

00:24:42.979 --> 00:24:43.899
 and I to hold

00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:44.240
 them over the

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:44.740
 toilet because we

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.479
 wanted also to

00:24:45.479 --> 00:24:45.759
 throw up.

00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:46.539
 It's like the

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.299
 worst week of

00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:48.539
 our lives.

00:24:48.899 --> 00:24:50.179
 So we instituted

00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:51.079
 this rule in our

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:52.519
 house which is if

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:52.919
 you have a

00:24:52.919 --> 00:24:53.519
 vomiting bug,

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.859
 you are limited

00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.940
 to your room

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:57.660
 or the toilet.

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.599
 Nowhere else.

00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:00.639
 If you're going

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.180
 to be sick,

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.539
 run to the toilet

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.359
 but you're otherwise

00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.000
 confined to your

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.799
 bedroom and no

00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.319
 one else in the

00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:05.660
 family is going

00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:06.139
 to have anything

00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:06.879
 to do with you

00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:08.019
 until you're

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.259
 better.

00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.400
 That's the

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.000
 compassion of

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.359
 our family for

00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:11.559
 you.

00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:14.119
 And we do that

00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:14.619
 because we want

00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:15.359
 to stop the

00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:16.079
 spread, don't

00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:16.259
 we?

00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:17.139
 We want to stop

00:25:17.139 --> 00:25:17.579
 this getting

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.180
 through everybody

00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:18.599
 because it

00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:19.200
 would be terrible.

00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:21.200
 Now I think

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:22.059
 that if I've been

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.679
 in the Apostle

00:25:22.679 --> 00:25:23.599
 Paul's shoes,

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.339
 the first thing

00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:25.879
 that I wanted

00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:26.500
 to say to the

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.159
 Corinthian church

00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:28.740
 is just don't

00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.319
 have anything to

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:29.740
 do with anybody

00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.379
 else please.

00:25:31.619 --> 00:25:32.859
 This stuff that

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.200
 you're doing,

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.639
 please don't have

00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:35.099
 anything to do

00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:35.399
 with anybody

00:25:35.399 --> 00:25:35.879
 else.

00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:37.480
 You've got the

00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.159
 church equivalent

00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:38.839
 of a vomiting

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.259
 bug.

00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:40.579
 Get yourself

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.639
 sorted, limit

00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:42.319
 yourselves to

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:43.079
 your own room

00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:44.059
 and when you're

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.079
 sorted then by

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.899
 all means engage

00:25:45.899 --> 00:25:46.419
 with what's going

00:25:46.419 --> 00:25:46.879
 on in the rest

00:25:46.879 --> 00:25:47.440
 of the world.

00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.899
 But he doesn't

00:25:48.899 --> 00:25:49.599
 say that at all

00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:49.919
 does he?

00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:51.140
 He says

00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:52.039
 rather right at

00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.460
 the beginning

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.140
 that they are

00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:54.759
 together with

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.539
 saints, with

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.500
 other holy

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.539
 people around

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.140
 the nations.

00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:59.180
 They trust in

00:25:59.180 --> 00:25:59.800
 the same gospel,

00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.860
 they hope in

00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:01.660
 the same saviour.

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.019
 Now those are

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.840
 not empty words

00:26:03.840 --> 00:26:04.279
 for Paul.

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.160
 He's not kind

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:05.640
 of trying to

00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:06.800
 inspire them to

00:26:06.800 --> 00:26:07.320
 say something

00:26:07.320 --> 00:26:07.960
 that's not quite

00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.539
 true of them,

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.460
 to make them

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.160
 feel better.

00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:11.840
 Instead as you

00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:12.400
 read through the

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.460
 letter it has a

00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.380
 real practical

00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:15.759
 outworking in the

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.140
 life of the

00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:16.980
 Corinthian church.

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.440
 As you go

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:18.920
 through the letter

00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.560
 you realise that

00:26:19.560 --> 00:26:20.140
 not only is

00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:20.980
 Paul responding

00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.620
 to Chloe's

00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:23.100
 report, not

00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:23.519
 only is he

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.120
 responding to

00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:24.640
 this letter

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.060
 that he's

00:26:25.060 --> 00:26:26.640
 received, also

00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.680
 those might be

00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.580
 the occasion of

00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:29.080
 his letter but

00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:30.019
 the purpose of

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.860
 his letter is

00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:31.779
 to inspire the

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.720
 Corinthian church

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.680
 to give money

00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.500
 to the Jerusalem

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:36.840
 church, to host

00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:37.660
 Timothy as he

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.220
 comes to visit

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.759
 them, to send

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.900
 people along with

00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:41.800
 Paul to take

00:26:41.800 --> 00:26:42.700
 money and

00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.500
 greetings to the

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:43.860
 church in

00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:45.360
 Jerusalem, providing

00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.259
 people to travel.

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:46.339
 people.

00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:48.839
 Now I

00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.279
 turned you to

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:49.680
 1 Corinthians

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.059
 because I

00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:50.379
 think that's

00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:50.619
 the most

00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.460
 surprising example

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.480
 of this, but

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.059
 actually as you

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:53.500
 work through the

00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:53.920
 New Testament

00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.740
 you see this is

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.879
 time and again

00:26:55.879 --> 00:26:56.579
 the New Testament's

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.299
 assumption about

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.299
 the work of the

00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:59.059
 local church in

00:26:59.059 --> 00:26:59.720
 global missions.

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.039
 It is the

00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.819
 responsibility of

00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:04.200
 local church, even

00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:05.460
 really messy local

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:05.980
 church like

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:07.779
 Corinthian church, it's

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:10.180
 their responsibility to

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.279
 do mission, global

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.640
 mission.

00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.680
 The local church is

00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.259
 God's mission

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.140
 agency to take the

00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.640
 gospel to the

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:16.000
 nations.

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.039
 Ordinary local

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.279
 churches pay for

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:20.059
 missions, host and

00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.900
 receive missionaries,

00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.519
 send missionaries, take

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.480
 collective responsibility

00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.359
 for the work of the

00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:25.700
 gospel, not only in

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.500
 their own place but

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.359
 beyond them in the

00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:27.759
 nations.

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:30.000
 Now there isn't a

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:31.339
 separate agency set up

00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:31.980
 in the New Testament

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:33.480
 to do this job, instead

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.680
 it belongs to ordinary

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.960
 local churches.

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:39.099
 We turn to William

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:40.259
 Carey in the 18th

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.079
 century for a

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.359
 moment.

00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.000
 It's interesting

00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:43.960
 isn't it that Carey

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.460
 set up the Baptist

00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.539
 Missionary Society

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.579
 because of the

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.400
 failure of the local

00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:48.920
 church.

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.019
 He went to that

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.980
 minister's fraternal to

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.500
 inspire local churches to

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.079
 engage in global

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.360
 mission.

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:55.840
 He came away and set up

00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.640
 the Baptist Missionary

00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.740
 Association because none

00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.640
 of them could be

00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.440
 persuaded to be

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.100
 involved.

00:28:01.340 --> 00:28:02.240
 Now arguably the

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.200
 fruit of 200 years of

00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.700
 mission agencies has

00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:07.720
 been accidentally I

00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.660
 think that local

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.680
 churches can feel like

00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.680
 that responsibility has

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.480
 somehow been lifted

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.200
 from their shoulders.

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:16.019
 So we wouldn't say

00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.460
 with Dr.

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.019
 Ryland, you know,

00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:18.920
 young man sit down

00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.039
 when God so pleases to

00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:21.240
 save the heathen he'll

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.860
 do it without your

00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:22.559
 help or mine.

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:24.160
 What we tend to say is

00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:25.180
 local churches you sit

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.759
 down because the

00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.519
 mission agencies are

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.339
 going to do it for you.

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.680
 That's not what the

00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.620
 New Testament says.

00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:31.660
 The New Testament tells

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.799
 us that local churches

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:34.059
 like your church here,

00:28:34.120 --> 00:28:34.759
 like our church in

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:36.640
 Egbert, should not assume

00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.559
 that anyone else is doing

00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.559
 this job for them.

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:40.399
 but rather it belongs

00:28:40.399 --> 00:28:40.919
 to us.

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:42.019
 It's our responsibility

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.240
 to build relationships,

00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:45.200
 to engage, to receive,

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.879
 to learn, to send, to go.

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:49.359
 Which means, doesn't it,

00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:50.559
 that our local church

00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:51.519
 gatherings have this

00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.859
 really odd dynamic to

00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:53.079
 them.

00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.440
 Not only are we really

00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.480
 concerned to gather

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.839
 together because that's

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.559
 what it means to be

00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.619
 church and we want to

00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:59.759
 gather together, but

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.799
 actually also there's

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.779
 this strange dynamic of

00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.740
 also wanting to push

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.740
 some people out.

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.919
 Not because we don't

00:29:05.919 --> 00:29:07.679
 like them, not because

00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.700
 they don't fit in,

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:11.160
 rather because before

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.220
 God we've come to the

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.360
 conclusion that these

00:29:13.360 --> 00:29:14.180
 individuals might be

00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.160
 better serving somewhere

00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:15.980
 else for the sake of

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.360
 the gospel.

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:21.220
 There is a grindy shaped

00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:22.680
 hole in our church in

00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:22.920
 Egbert.

00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:28.220
 And yet we are persuaded

00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.360
 as a local church that

00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:30.299
 they are better serving

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.880
 the gospel over in

00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.460
 Kosovay.

00:29:33.580 --> 00:29:34.700
 Better for them, it's

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.380
 better for our local

00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:36.220
 church and it's better

00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:37.299
 for the church there in

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:37.799
 Kosovay.

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:40.139
 And that's our calling,

00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:40.480
 isn't it?

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:43.019
 God doesn't simply call

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:44.759
 individuals into mission,

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.779
 he calls local churches

00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:48.159
 to be responsible for

00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:50.399
 missions so that together

00:29:50.399 --> 00:29:51.639
 they feel this burden.

00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:53.359
 We have a responsibility

00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:55.519
 beyond our own borders to

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.619
 take the gospel into

00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.839
 places where it's not yet

00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:59.639
 been heard, to preach

00:29:59.639 --> 00:30:00.180
 Christ.

00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:02.200
 And maybe you should go.

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:06.279
 That's the second thing.

00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:06.640
 Okay?

00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.740
 Local churches are global

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.420
 mission agencies.

00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:10.960
 Third thing, mission

00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:13.279
 mindedness is for every

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.059
 church member.

00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:15.819
 Mission mindedness is for

00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.580
 every church member.

00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:17.380
 And for that we're going

00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:18.299
 to turn to the book of

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.140
 Philippians.

00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.460
 So turn forward a few

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:20.840
 pages.

00:30:24.840 --> 00:30:25.920
 I'm going to get you a page

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.720
 number in a second.

00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:29.660
 These pages in your church

00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:30.860
 Bibles really stick together.

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:32.660
 Maybe you don't use them

00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.460
 very much, Johnny.

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:33.839
 Is that right?

00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:36.860
 Okay, Philippians we were

00:30:36.860 --> 00:30:37.600
 looking at, which is page

00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:39.140
 1178.

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:41.200
 1178.

00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:44.059
 Now Paul's letter to the

00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:44.519
 Philippians.

00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:46.279
 We're having an overview of

00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:47.779
 Romans, Corinthians and

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.759
 Philippians this morning.

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:53.400
 Paul's letter to the

00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:54.940
 church in Philippi is

00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:56.099
 centred around this word

00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:56.759
 mind.

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:57.460
 Okay?

00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:00.259
 Not so much just your

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:02.779
 brain, but minds as in

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:05.140
 attitudes, your heart,

00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:07.700
 the controlling idea about

00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:09.099
 what your life is for.

00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:10.940
 That's what Philippians is

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.379
 all about.

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.200
 So that's why you get the

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:13.500
 verses like, for me to live

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:15.059
 is Christ, to die is gain.

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.859
 This is what is the

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:18.379
 controlling centre of your

00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:18.700
 life?

00:31:18.800 --> 00:31:20.660
 What is your life all about?

00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:23.080
 And he uses a special word

00:31:23.080 --> 00:31:24.000
 for it, which does come at

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.960
 other times in the New

00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:26.560
 Testament, but it's here

00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:28.460
 no less than ten times.

00:31:29.320 --> 00:31:31.300
 The word phronium is this

00:31:31.300 --> 00:31:33.980
 word for mind or attitude.

00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.260
 And it comes scattered

00:31:36.260 --> 00:31:37.380
 through the letter, but it's

00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:38.800
 clustered three times in

00:31:38.800 --> 00:31:39.560
 chapter two.

00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:41.640
 So let me read a bit of

00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:42.580
 chapter two to you.

00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:43.920
 Let me start at verse one.

00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.200
 Look at what he says.

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.720
 Therefore, if you have any

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.740
 encouragement from being

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:50.799
 united with Christ, if any

00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:52.279
 comfort from his love, if

00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:54.299
 any common sharing in the

00:31:54.299 --> 00:31:55.980
 spirit, if any tenderness

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:57.660
 and compassion, then make

00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:59.779
 my joy complete by being,

00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:00.960
 here's the word, like

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:02.700
 minded, having the same

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:04.059
 love, being one in spirit

00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:05.480
 and of one, here's the word

00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:06.519
 again, mind.

00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:08.579
 Do nothing out of selfish

00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:10.339
 ambition or vain conceit,

00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.960
 but rather in humility value

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:14.100
 others above yourselves, not

00:32:14.100 --> 00:32:14.880
 looking to your own

00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:16.740
 interests, but each of you to

00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.519
 the interests of the

00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:17.920
 others.

00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:20.019
 In your relationships with

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:21.440
 one another, have the same,

00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:23.160
 here's the word, mindset as

00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:25.279
 Christ Jesus, who being in

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.559
 very nature God did not

00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:28.059
 consider equality with God

00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:29.359
 something to be used to his

00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:29.960
 own advantage.

00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:32.259
 Rather, he made himself

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:32.799
 nothing.

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:35.120
 By taking the very nature of

00:32:35.120 --> 00:32:36.240
 a servant, being made in

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:38.279
 human likeness and being found

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.579
 in appearance as a man, he

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:41.420
 humbled himself by becoming

00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:43.240
 obedient to death, even death

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:43.859
 on a cross.

00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:46.699
 Therefore God exalted him to

00:32:46.699 --> 00:32:48.039
 the highest place and gave him

00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:49.119
 the name that is above every

00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:50.639
 name, that at the name of

00:32:50.639 --> 00:32:52.519
 Jesus every knee should bow in

00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.779
 heaven and on earth and under

00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:55.379
 the earth, and every tongue

00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:57.519
 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is

00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:59.659
 Lord to the glory of God the

00:32:59.659 --> 00:33:00.039
 Father.

00:33:01.939 --> 00:33:03.579
 Now that word appears, doesn't it,

00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:05.419
 like I mentioned, twice in verse

00:33:05.419 --> 00:33:08.099
 two and then again in verse five.

00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.119
 But it's all the same thing,

00:33:10.159 --> 00:33:10.459
 isn't it?

00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:12.759
 Paul's point is that the driving

00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:15.000
 passion and purpose, the

00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:17.180
 mindedness that we have towards

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:19.200
 our lives as Christians should

00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:19.819
 be what?

00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:23.279
 Should be the same as the Lord

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.100
 Jesus is.

00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:26.880
 And how do we know what the Lord

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:29.059
 Jesus' mindset was towards his

00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:29.319
 life?

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:31.860
 What was Christ's controlling

00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:33.360
 thought about his life?

00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:36.019
 Well it's seen, isn't it, there in

00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:37.180
 verses six to eleven.

00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:40.220
 His mind and his attitude is the

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:41.640
 attitude which took him to the

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:44.200
 cross, which emptied himself.

00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:46.259
 He did not consider equality with

00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.560
 God something to use to his own

00:33:47.560 --> 00:33:48.700
 advantage, but rather he made

00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.440
 himself nothing.

00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:52.600
 In other words, the controlling

00:33:52.600 --> 00:33:55.360
 attitude of Christ's mind is this.

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:58.860
 It's one of self-sacrifice for the

00:33:58.860 --> 00:34:00.980
 purpose of the eternal salvation of

00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.380
 others.

00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.259
 Do you see that?

00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:05.660
 I am going to sacrifice myself,

00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:08.539
 says the Lord Jesus, so that others

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:10.539
 might be saved eternally.

00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:14.260
 And that attitude, verse nine, means

00:34:14.260 --> 00:34:16.360
 that when God sees Christ, he says,

00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:17.800
 this is the one.

00:34:18.240 --> 00:34:19.700
 This is the one whose name is above

00:34:19.700 --> 00:34:20.680
 every name.

00:34:21.180 --> 00:34:23.340
 Bow to this name because in seeing

00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:25.260
 this self-sacrifice for the eternal

00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:28.480
 well-being of others, you see God in

00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:29.159
 the flesh.

00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:32.260
 Now the point of the letter of the

00:34:32.260 --> 00:34:33.700
 Philippians is that that is supposed

00:34:33.699 --> 00:34:35.379
 to be the heart attitude of the

00:34:35.379 --> 00:34:35.980
 church.

00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:41.159
 That is our mindedness towards one

00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:41.480
 another.

00:34:42.879 --> 00:34:45.219
 So the word mind is there in chapter

00:34:45.219 --> 00:34:46.859
 four, verse 10, where it's

00:34:46.859 --> 00:34:48.679
 translated, I think, concern,

00:34:48.839 --> 00:34:49.079
 probably.

00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:50.939
 Chapter four and verse 10.

00:34:51.379 --> 00:34:52.679
 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that

00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:54.019
 at last you will need your concern,

00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:55.859
 your mindedness towards me of

00:34:55.859 --> 00:34:56.819
 self-sacrifice.

00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:59.099
 Indeed, you were concerned but had no

00:34:59.099 --> 00:35:00.379
 opportunity to show it.

00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.759
 Now they've given him a gift.

00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:04.300
 So Paul writes to the Philippian

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:06.240
 church to say, thank you for being

00:35:06.240 --> 00:35:08.440
 so minded towards me that you are

00:35:08.440 --> 00:35:10.600
 sacrificing of yourself for the

00:35:10.600 --> 00:35:12.380
 eternal well-being, not simply of me

00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:14.740
 and my perseverance, but of that of

00:35:14.740 --> 00:35:16.100
 others as I tell them the gospel.

00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:18.900
 So he writes to say thank you.

00:35:19.700 --> 00:35:21.380
 He says in chapter one, verse seven, I

00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:24.320
 think where it's translated feel, he

00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:26.440
 says it's right for me to feel this way

00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:26.860
 about you.

00:35:27.160 --> 00:35:29.800
 I am minded like this towards you,

00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:31.100
 the Philippian church, that I am going

00:35:31.100 --> 00:35:33.420
 to sacrifice of myself for your

00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.480
 eternal well-being.

00:35:37.240 --> 00:35:38.100
 So here it is.

00:35:38.160 --> 00:35:39.740
 We see it supremely in Christ and his

00:35:39.740 --> 00:35:40.400
 work on the cross.

00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:42.019
 You see it in the Philippians' love for

00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:42.260
 Paul.

00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:43.900
 You see it in Paul's love for the

00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:44.300
 Philippians.

00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:46.500
 Self-sacrificial service for the

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.720
 eternal well-being of others.

00:35:48.260 --> 00:35:50.120
 A willingness to give that others

00:35:50.120 --> 00:35:51.660
 might hear and know Christ.

00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:53.760
 But the question for us this morning

00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:56.600
 is who is meant to have that mind?

00:35:58.720 --> 00:36:01.780
 Does that mind belong just to the

00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:03.520
 really keen Christians in church?

00:36:04.620 --> 00:36:05.080
 Well no.

00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:07.980
 Chapter two, as we read together, it

00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:10.320
 comes from being united with Christ.

00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:12.640
 It comes from our fellowship with the

00:36:12.640 --> 00:36:12.880
 Spirit.

00:36:13.040 --> 00:36:14.420
 It comes from our inclusion in the

00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.420
 Lord Jesus Christ.

00:36:16.060 --> 00:36:18.440
 And in chapter three, verse 15, it's

00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:21.059
 there's such a view of things, which is

00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:23.380
 the same word, that every mature

00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:24.420
 Christian should take.

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:28.099
 In other words, this is the DNA of

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.780
 every Christian.

00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:33.500
 When Johnny was over in October, I

00:36:33.500 --> 00:36:35.400
 think it was, or November, preaching

00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:37.039
 in Liverpool, he had the privilege of

00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:37.840
 meeting my dad.

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:40.179
 My dad doesn't live in Liverpool, but

00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:41.840
 he was around helping me fit a new

00:36:41.840 --> 00:36:42.200
 shower.

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:46.460
 And despite our best intentions, we

00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:47.780
 intended to finish before Johnny

00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:48.280
 arrived.

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:50.100
 But we hadn't.

00:36:50.620 --> 00:36:52.200
 So Johnny got the privilege of seeing

00:36:52.200 --> 00:36:54.740
 my dad and I messing around in DIY.

00:36:55.740 --> 00:36:57.180
 But one of the things that Palfremen

00:36:57.180 --> 00:37:00.900
 really love is practical stuff.

00:37:01.260 --> 00:37:05.720
 So we love doing jobs together, and we

00:37:05.720 --> 00:37:07.800
 love practical presence for one another.

00:37:08.200 --> 00:37:09.540
 Now my dad never phones me up and says,

00:37:09.620 --> 00:37:10.140
 how are you doing?

00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:12.140
 Phones me up and says, what are you

00:37:12.140 --> 00:37:12.440
 doing?

00:37:13.120 --> 00:37:14.900
 Is there a job that we can do together?

00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:17.760
 This year for Christmas, my dad's

00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:20.760
 dad bought me a wax oil spray gun so I can

00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:22.460
 spray rust proofing on my car.

00:37:22.720 --> 00:37:23.080
 Brilliant.

00:37:24.220 --> 00:37:25.240
 It's the way we're made.

00:37:25.720 --> 00:37:27.940
 Palfremen think practical is best.

00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:30.800
 That's just our family likeness, right?

00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:33.200
 So if you meet any of us, that's what we're

00:37:33.200 --> 00:37:33.620
 like.

00:37:34.560 --> 00:37:37.180
 Now in a sense, that's what Paul is saying

00:37:37.180 --> 00:37:39.960
 about the Christian in Philippi.

00:37:40.640 --> 00:37:43.520
 It's not practical wax oiling.

00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:46.300
 It's self-sacrificial service for the eternal

00:37:46.300 --> 00:37:47.000
 well-being of others.

00:37:47.219 --> 00:37:49.880
 That's the DNA of Christ, and it's the DNA of

00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:51.780
 every single Christian in church.

00:37:52.579 --> 00:37:54.259
 That is to be our mind.

00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:58.639
 A mind which lies behind every pure missionary

00:37:58.639 --> 00:37:59.079
 endeavor.

00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:03.019
 The mind in every individual Christian is to be

00:38:03.019 --> 00:38:03.420
 in me.

00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:04.280
 It's to be in you.

00:38:04.280 --> 00:38:06.560
 It's to be in every single person who trusts in

00:38:06.560 --> 00:38:08.880
 Christ, which looks at the eternal well-being of

00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:11.660
 others, even outside their own church, and says,

00:38:12.280 --> 00:38:14.480
 that eternal well-being is worth my personal

00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:15.260
 sacrifice.

00:38:17.460 --> 00:38:20.000
 Which means, doesn't it, that the part of

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:24.120
 discipleship for every Christian is seeing that

00:38:24.120 --> 00:38:26.640
 they have a responsibility for the gospel beyond

00:38:26.640 --> 00:38:27.360
 themselves.

00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:30.099
 At the cost of their own comfort.

00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:33.400
 That normal Christian living, normal Christian

00:38:33.400 --> 00:38:37.519
 discipleship, is not simply that the extreme

00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:40.160
 Christians go, in a sense, but the ordinary

00:38:40.160 --> 00:38:42.059
 Christian discipleship is that we're all involved

00:38:42.059 --> 00:38:43.000
 in that process.

00:38:44.280 --> 00:38:47.860
 You know, you might not leave Caroline, but still

00:38:47.860 --> 00:38:50.059
 your self-sacrificial love for others that they

00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:52.240
 might hear about Jesus will work its way out in

00:38:52.240 --> 00:38:53.539
 practical ways in your life.

00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:54.840
 As you give.

00:38:55.280 --> 00:38:56.000
 As you pray.

00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:58.219
 As you share news and information.

00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:03.039
 So let's just wrap this up and end where we

00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:05.780
 started before the rain gets so heavy you can't

00:39:05.780 --> 00:39:06.280
 hear me.

00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:09.099
 As a local church, we are gathering, we're

00:39:09.099 --> 00:39:10.699
 praying, we're listening to God's word, we're

00:39:10.699 --> 00:39:11.960
 loving and we're reaching out.

00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:14.840
 What place does global mission have in those

00:39:14.840 --> 00:39:15.480
 five things?

00:39:17.199 --> 00:39:20.119
 Well, actually, it invades every single one of

00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:20.860
 them, does it not?

00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:25.619
 You know, as we gather, we gather with a view to

00:39:25.619 --> 00:39:28.859
 scattering ourselves broader than just our own nation.

00:39:29.279 --> 00:39:31.279
 That more people would hear the gospel.

00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:35.940
 As we pray, we pray not simply just for ourselves and

00:39:35.940 --> 00:39:36.579
 our own needs.

00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:37.679
 Of course we pray for those.

00:39:38.019 --> 00:39:40.319
 But we realise we have a responsibility for the needs

00:39:40.319 --> 00:39:42.219
 beyond our own church, for others' needs.

00:39:42.299 --> 00:39:43.440
 So we pray for them too.

00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:48.279
 As we listen to God's word, we listen to the message of

00:39:48.280 --> 00:39:51.460
 the gospel, which is not just about a small saviour for my

00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:52.720
 own personal salvation.

00:39:53.100 --> 00:39:55.680
 It's about a global saviour who's reaching out to the

00:39:55.680 --> 00:39:58.960
 nations, a message which has within itself this expulsive

00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:01.880
 power to get to the very corners of the world.

00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:07.580
 As we love, we love not just one another in this room, but we

00:40:07.580 --> 00:40:12.519
 love others that they too might hear the gospel.

00:40:12.519 --> 00:40:17.860
 And as we reach out, certainly we reach out in the streets

00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:21.340
 around us, but also we realise that we have a responsibility to

00:40:21.340 --> 00:40:23.840
 reach the nations beyond us as well.

00:40:24.659 --> 00:40:26.719
 Let me pray as we close.

00:40:26.719 --> 00:40:37.519
 Heavenly Father, we thank you so much that in the Lord Jesus we see

00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:41.659
 this message which belongs not simply to us, but it belongs to the

00:40:41.659 --> 00:40:45.719
 nations, that they might hear of the welcome that they can receive in

00:40:45.719 --> 00:40:46.799
 the Lord Jesus Christ.