1 Thessalonians Faith
Series: STAND FIRM
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 13th October 2018
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-3:10
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 What motivates you to do things for other people?
00:00:05 --> 00:00:09 A couple of months ago, Alyssa had gone away for the weekend.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:13 She'd taken Micah and I was left with the two big kids, Isaac and Tamara.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 And I spent hours cleaning the house.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 And so when Alyssa got home, I was like, look at me.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:23 Look at this house.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 Look at all this cleaning I've done.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 I know, and look, these kids are still alive.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:28 They've been fed.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:32 Even had a play with some other friends.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 The house was cleaner than it had ever been.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 Husbands, have you ever tried to pull this thing off?
00:00:38 --> 00:00:38 Maybe not.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 And the response I was looking for, what I was hoping Alyssa would say was,
00:00:42 --> 00:00:47 Oh, James, you are just the best husband ever.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:49 Thank you so much for doing this.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 You know, you could have just been watching movies with the kids, eating donuts.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:54 But you didn't.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:55 And I am so indebted to you.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 Actually, you know, you should take some time off.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 You're doing a weekend of being a single dad.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:02 That's been hard for you.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 So, you know, here's a pat on the head like a puppy.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 Does anyone think I got that response from Alyssa?
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 I'm not sure if she's in the room to defend herself.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:15 No, she didn't say that.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:16 It was probably much shorter.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:21 But what motivates you to do things for other people?
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 Is it to be praised like me?
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 Is it so that people owe you?
00:01:27 --> 00:01:34 Maybe you want people to butter you up so that, you know, you want people to think more of you than they really do.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:39 Does being a Christian motivate you to love other people?
00:01:40 --> 00:01:41 To serve them and to help them?
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 Or is your motive to try and win God's praise?
00:01:46 --> 00:01:50 You know, does God, do you want God to say, oh, you know, you've worked so hard.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 Let me bless you more.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:57 Is your motive of loving other people to try and make God forget your sin?
00:01:57 --> 00:02:04 Are you motivated to help people so that God thinks higher of you than he does currently?
00:02:05 --> 00:02:12 Today, we're continuing in our series looking at the book of 1 Thessalonians as we think about standing firm.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:20 And last week, we saw how Paul and Silas started this church in Thessalonica before they were driven out.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:26 And so Paul sent Timothy and then this letter to care for this new little church.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 And today, we're looking at the second chapter.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 And we're going to see what motivated Paul to go to this area, to start this church.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:39 What motivated him to love and to serve these people and to send this letter?
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 So I'm going to pray as we look at God's word for us.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:47 Heavenly Father, as we come before your word today,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:54 Lord, I ask that you would help us to have minds that are open,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 hearts that are ready to be challenged,
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 that we would consider our motives,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 that we would think well,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:07 that we would think through your eyes about why we do things, Lord.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 We ask that we would do this for your glory.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:10 Amen.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 And so at the beginning of chapter 2,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 Paul reminds the church of how he came to them.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:17 They had suffered,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:22 Paul had suffered greatly in Philippi because they'd been sharing the good news.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 And they had come to Thessalonica.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 And Paul writes this big list of how they came,
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 but also how they did not come to them.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 So please have a look at me,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 with me at chapter 2, verse 3.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 And if you don't have a Bible open,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 we can get you one,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 but it will also be on the screen.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:49 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 nor are we trying to trick you.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 On the contrary,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:56 we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 We are not trying to please people,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 but God who tests our hearts.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 You know we never used flattery,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 God is our witness.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 We were not looking for praise from people,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 not from you or anyone else.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 Even though as apostles of Christ,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:18 we could have asserted our authority.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:19 Instead,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 we were like young children among you.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:22 Paul says,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 we didn't come with error or impure motive.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:26 It's not a trick.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 We're not trying to please people.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 We're trying to please God.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 We didn't use flattery.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 We didn't use greed.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:37 We're not looking for praise and fame,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 which we could have as apostles.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 But we came like children.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 Why is Paul saying this?
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 He's gone to great lengths here.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 He's taken up a fair chunk of this short book
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 to defend himself.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 And the way this church started.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 Is there people outside the church
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 or even inside the church
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 trying to discredit Paul,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:02 saying,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 oh, that guy,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 he came with tricks,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 he came with sleight of hand
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 to try and steal your money
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 and fool you into believing Jesus?
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 Are people saying that he was a thief
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 going door to door,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 selling the gospel,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 setting up churches
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 to steal people's money?
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 Well, it's most likely
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 that Paul was trying
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 to distance himself
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 from other types of people
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 that went around
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 from town to town
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 speaking.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 During this time
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 of the first century,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 there were no movie stars
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 or TV stars,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 obviously.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 There were no reality TV stars.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 There was no singing celebrities
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 like we have
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 in the same way.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:41 The celebrities
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 that they had
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 were philosophers.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 So think of
00:05:45 --> 00:05:45 Aristotle
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 and Plato.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 They're from a couple
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 of hundred years beforehand.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 But philosophers
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 were these professional speakers
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 who would go
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 from town to town
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 and they would present
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 new ideas
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 and new thoughts.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 They would speak
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 and use rhetorical tricks
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 and they would
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 try and keep people
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 interested and engaged
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 in order to make people
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 agree with what they said.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 They would enter cities
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 with great pomp
00:06:13 --> 00:06:13 and ceremony.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:14 They would have
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 these giant audiences.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:16 They would try
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 and get disciples
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 to follow their teaching.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 And ancient sources
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 tell us
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 that the thing
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 that motivated
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 these philosophers
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 was money.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 It was fame.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:29 It was glory.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 It's not really
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 that different
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 to what motivates
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 people to try
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 and become big.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 It's fame.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:37 It's money.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 It's glory.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 And it makes
00:06:40 --> 00:06:40 most sense
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 that Paul is saying
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 he didn't come
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 like one of these philosophers.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 He didn't come
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 to get fame
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 and glory.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:48 He didn't come
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 with impure motive
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 but with
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 the help of God.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 He did not come
00:06:53 --> 00:06:53 with tricks
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 like a motivational speaker
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 or a TED talk
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 designed to
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 emotionally influence people
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 but he came
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 with the good news
00:07:03 --> 00:07:03 of Jesus.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 He didn't come
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 flattering people
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 so that they would
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 like him more.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 He didn't come
00:07:10 --> 00:07:10 with the purpose
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 of gaining money.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 They didn't come
00:07:13 --> 00:07:13 to be praised.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 He didn't come
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 so that at the end
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 of him speaking
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 there would be
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 thunderous applause.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 Make sure you don't
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 do that this morning.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 I know you weren't
00:07:22 --> 00:07:22 going to anyway
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 just to check.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 They didn't come
00:07:26 --> 00:07:26 to get fame
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 and glory
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 but as apostles
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 Paul had met
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 Jesus himself
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 and there is
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 no higher claim
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 than to say
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 that he had met
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 God.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 Instead
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 they came
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 like children
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 and so instead
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 of coming
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 to get fame
00:07:43 --> 00:07:43 and glory
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 the end of the chapter
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 verse 20 says
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 you are our glory
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 and our joy.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 That word glory
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 it's not the usual
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 word glory
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 in reference
00:07:53 --> 00:07:53 to God.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 The word glory
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 here is more
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 like fame.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 So Paul and Silas
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 didn't come to
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 Thessalonica
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 to get fame
00:08:02 --> 00:08:02 and glory
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 for themselves.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 They came
00:08:05 --> 00:08:05 to get
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 the Thessalonians.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 They are the fame
00:08:10 --> 00:08:10 and the glory
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 they wanted.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 Paul didn't come
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 with impure motives.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 He didn't come
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 influenced by pride
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 or greed
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 or a desire
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 for praise.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 I wonder
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 do these things
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 influence
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 our motives?
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 Even when it comes
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 to serving people
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 at church
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 or loving others
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 during the week.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 What are our motives
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 influenced by?
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 We as a church
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 value radical generosity
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 and we want to also
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 have a local impact.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 Imagine if
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 Toys and Tucker
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 is coming up
00:08:46 --> 00:08:46 towards the end
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 of the year.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 Is anybody aware
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 of Toys and Tucker?
00:08:50 --> 00:08:50 Yes?
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 Good.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:51 Some of you?
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 If not,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52 let me tell you
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 what Toys and Tucker
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 is.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 It's where we
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 give to others
00:08:57 --> 00:08:57 out of what God
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 has given us.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 So in particular
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 toys and food,
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 tin food,
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 other food
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 to share
00:09:03 --> 00:09:03 with other people.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:05 And because we
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 want to have
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 the biggest impact,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 imagine that we
00:09:09 --> 00:09:09 as a church
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 devised a little
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 competition.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 Imagine that we
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 said,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:13 okay,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 we wanted to
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 fill the stage
00:09:15 --> 00:09:15 with food
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 and so what
00:09:16 --> 00:09:16 we're going
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 to do is
00:09:17 --> 00:09:17 we're going
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 to compete
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 with our
00:09:19 --> 00:09:19 services.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 We're going
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 to see which
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 congregation can
00:09:22 --> 00:09:22 bring the most
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 food.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 So we're going
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 to compare
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 9.30 and
00:09:26 --> 00:09:26 4 o'clock.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 Now,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 who do you
00:09:28 --> 00:09:28 think is going
00:09:28 --> 00:09:28 to win?
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 I heard someone
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 say 9.30.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:32 Shame on you
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 for saying that.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 But imagine
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 that we say this
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 because we want
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 to have a big
00:09:38 --> 00:09:38 impact.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 We want to have
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 a big local
00:09:40 --> 00:09:40 impact.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 We want to care
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 for people.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 We want to be
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 radically generous.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 And so we
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 compete with
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 each other.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:45 You know,
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 9.30's got to
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 beat 4 o'clock.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:47 You know,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 9.30 we're
00:09:48 --> 00:09:48 going to say,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 come on,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 let's beat
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 them.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 We don't want
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 to let those
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 young people
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 at 4 o'clock
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 beat us.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 And they're
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 going to be
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 saying,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 oh,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 we don't want
00:09:56 --> 00:09:56 to let those
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 families and
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 old people and
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 other people.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 We don't want
00:10:00 --> 00:10:00 to let those
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 people beat us.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 And so we all
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 have to go and
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 spend lots of
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 money and bring
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 it in.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 It's a little
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 bit extra
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 motivation to be
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 generous.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 It's a bit
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 extra motivation
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 to show love.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 But we're all
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 sinful.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 And there's some
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 of us that are
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 highly competitive.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:21 And so,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 you know,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 there's,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 I'll pick on
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 Nick.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 There's Nick,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 and he's down
00:10:26 --> 00:10:26 at Woolies,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 filling up trolley
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 after trolley,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 because,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 do you know
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 what,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 he really wants
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 9.30 to win,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 because,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 you know,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 his kids are
00:10:33 --> 00:10:33 encouraging him
00:10:33 --> 00:10:33 to.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 And so,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 what has gone
00:10:36 --> 00:10:36 from being
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 generous,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 it's now pride
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 and arrogance.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 And,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 you know,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 there's people
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 at 4 o'clock,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 well,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 they don't want
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 to let these
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 kids beat him,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 and so,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 they're filling
00:10:45 --> 00:10:45 up trolley,
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 they're buying
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 toys after toys.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 And all of a
00:10:49 --> 00:10:49 sudden,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 what was initially
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 about serving
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 and being
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 generous and
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 showing the
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 love that God
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 has shown us,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 we're stuck
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 with a motivation
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 of pride
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 and a desire
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 for fame
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 and glory.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 That's what
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 happens when we
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 don't stand
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 firm in faith,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 hope,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 and love.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 Are we
00:11:11 --> 00:11:11 guilty of
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 the same
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 thing?
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 It's a
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 question of
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 motivation.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 Why are we
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 nice to
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 people?
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 Why do
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 people serve
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 morning tea?
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 Why do I
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 lead a community
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 group?
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 Why are you
00:11:23 --> 00:11:23 wearing a
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 snazzy red
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 vest this
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 morning?
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 Why were
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 those people
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 wearing those
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 wonderful
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 high-vis
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 vests out
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 in the rain
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 this morning?
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 Maybe that
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 one's not
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 about the
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 glory,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 maybe they
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 are just
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 serving in
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 the rain.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 Why do
00:11:37 --> 00:11:37 we do
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 what we
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 do?
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 One of
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 the core
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 values of
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 our church
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 is servant
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 leadership,
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 that the
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 heart of
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 the church
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 is the
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 service of
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 God and
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 others,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 selfishly
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 nourishing
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 others,
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 pastoring and
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 equipping and
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 loving others.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 It's character
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 over skills.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 We need to
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 answer the
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 why of what
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 we're doing
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 before we
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 can answer
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 the what
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 question.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 We're to
00:12:05 --> 00:12:05 serve God
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 with all
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 of our
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 life,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 and there
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 are many
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 ways to
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 serve one
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 another,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 particularly
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 here at
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 church.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 And some
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 of them
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 do need
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 to be
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 aware of
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 getting more
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 fame than
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 others.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 I'll pick
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 on Nick
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 again,
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 musicians on
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 stage.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 It's very
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 easy to
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 say,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 oh,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 Nick
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 Freestone,
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 your voice
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 is like
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 that of
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 an angel.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 No?
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 Okay,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 sorry,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 mate.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 To say,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 who was
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 playing guitar
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 this morning?
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 Nick,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 your guitar
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 skills bring
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 tears to
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 my eyes.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 hearts.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 How do
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 we do
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 this kind
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 of thing
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 all the
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 time?
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 How does
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 Nick
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 respond?
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 How does
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 other Nick
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 respond when
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 we say
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 these kinds
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 of things?
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 Do they
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 say,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 yes,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 I do
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 sound like
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 an angel,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 don't I?
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 Or would
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 they be
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 saying something
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 like,
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 yes,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 God has
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 gifted me
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 and I'm
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 so
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 pleased I
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 can serve
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 you and
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 the church?
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 We need
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 to continue
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 to check
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 our heart
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 and our
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 motives to
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 make sure
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 there isn't
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 praise creep,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 to make sure
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 that fame
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 isn't creeping
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 into our
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 motivations.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 What may
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 have started
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 out years
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 ago with
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 the best
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 of intentions
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 may have
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 become an
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 idol,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 our God
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 that brings
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 us pleasure
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and joy
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 and happiness.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 How bad
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 would it be
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 to realize
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 in years
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 time that
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 instead of
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 serving at
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 church for
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 God's glory
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 to build
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 his kingdom,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 we've been
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 building our
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 own kingdom,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 getting praise
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 for us,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 which is
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 fickle and
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 will all
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 come tumbling
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 down.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 So Paul
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 has showed
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 us how
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 he came
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 and how
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 he did
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 not come.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 He didn't
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 come with
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 impure
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 motives.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 And he
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 shows us
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 now a bit
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 more about
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 how he
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 did come
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 to Thessalonica.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 Have a
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 look at
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 verse 7,
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 the second
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 half of
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 verse 7
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 with me.
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 Just as
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 a nursing
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 mother cares
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 for her
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 children,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 so we
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 cared for
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 you,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 because we
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 loved you
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 so much.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 We were
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 delighted to
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 share with
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 you not
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 only the
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 gospel of
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 God,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 but our
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 lives as
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 well.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 Surely you
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 remember,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 brothers and
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 sisters,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 our toil and
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 hardship.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 We worked
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 night and
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 day in
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 order not
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 to be a
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 burden to
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 anyone while
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 we preached
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 the gospel
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 to you.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 You are
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 witnesses,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 and so is
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 God,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 of how
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 holy,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 righteous,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 and blameless
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 we were
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 among you
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 who believed.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 For you
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 know that
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 we dealt
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 with each
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 of you
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 as a
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 father deals
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 with his
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 own
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 children,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 encouraging,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 comforting,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 and urging
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 you to live
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 lives worthy
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 of God,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 who calls
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 you into
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 his kingdom
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 and glory.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 One of the
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 things I've
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 really loved
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 about spending
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 time in
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 1 Thessalonians
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 is seeing
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 how much
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 Paul really
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 loves these
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 people.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 He uses
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 the most
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 intimate
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 language.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 He refers
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 to himself
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 as a
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 nursing
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 mother,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 caring
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 for her
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 own
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 children.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 This was
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 a time
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 where the
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 people that
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 had financial
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 resources,
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 they would
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 have a
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 nursing
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 mother.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 They would
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 get a
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 wet nurse
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 so they
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 wouldn't
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 have to
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 feed their
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 own
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 child.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 So they
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 would get
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 a wet
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 nurse to
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 look after
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 their baby.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 But Paul
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 hasn't come
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 like a
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 wet nurse
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 to look
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 after someone
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 else's
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 baby.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 He's like
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 a wet
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 nurse
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 looking after
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 his own
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 child.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 It's not
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 a financial
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 transaction.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 It's not
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 something that
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 Paul had
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 to do
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 just because
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 God had
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 sent him
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 there.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 Paul and
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 Silas loved
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 these people
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 so much
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 and they
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 were delighted
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 to share
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 their lives
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 with them.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 Paul didn't
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 just come
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 and get up
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 and preach
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 on the
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 Sabbath,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 maybe visit
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 a couple
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 people during
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 the week
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 and have
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 tea.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 He shared
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 with them
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 the gospel
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 but his
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 life.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 Again,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 Paul didn't
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 come like
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 the professional
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 speakers,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 coming and
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 staying in
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 five-star
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 hotels,
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 maybe coming
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 down and seeing
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 the people to
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 sign a few
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 autographs.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 He gave
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 the message
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 but his
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 life as
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 well to
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 the church.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 Paul came
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 like a
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 father,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 encouraging,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 comforting and
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 urging the
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 people to
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 live lives
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 worthy of
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 God.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 And as we
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 saw last
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 week and
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 again today,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 Paul and
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 Silas came
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 and shared
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 the gospel
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 in the midst
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 of intense
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 persecution,
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 this persecution
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 that eventually
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 led them to
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 be run out
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 of town.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 Paul continues
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 this intimate
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 family language,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 verse 14.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 For you,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 brothers and
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 sisters,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 became imitators
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 of God's
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 churches in
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 Judea,
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 which are in
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 Christ Jesus.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 You suffered
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 from your own
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 people the same
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 things those
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 churches suffered
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 from the Jews.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 Brothers and
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 sisters, you
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 suffered the same
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 thing as
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 everyone else.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 They suffered
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 persecution just
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 like the Jews
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 who'd become
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 Christians.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 He doesn't
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 explicitly state
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 it, but it's
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 likely that
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 some people
00:16:56 --> 00:16:59 were persecuted
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 by their
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 families,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 possibly even
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 kicked out
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 by their
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 families.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 And when
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 people are
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 forced to
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 leave a
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 family,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 Christianity
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 has the
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 unique gift
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 of being able
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 to welcome
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 them into
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 a new
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 family,
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 one that
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 has close
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 relationships,
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 brothers and
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 sisters from
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 every tribe,
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 every race,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 every tongue.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 It's one of
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 the things
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 we've been
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 celebrating
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 here today,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 that we
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 are
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 transcultural,
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 that this
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 family comes
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 from all
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 places.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 And it's
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 so important
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 that this
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 new family
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 starts.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 And it's
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 not just
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 cousins,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 but it's
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 intimate
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 relationships
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 that Paul
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 is celebrating
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 here with
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 the church.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 There was a
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 Lifeline study
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 done a couple
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 of years ago
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 that said
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 that 80%
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 of people
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 thought that
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 loneliness
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 was increasing.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 We are
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 increasingly
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 connected
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 through technology,
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 but we are
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 also increasingly
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 disconnected
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 from the people
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 around us.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 Even sitting
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 in a crowd
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 of people
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 like here
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 at church
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 today or
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 at a party,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 we can feel
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 profoundly
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 alone,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 whether married
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 or single,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 whether you
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 have many
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 friends or
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 not.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 And Paul
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 gives us
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 an antidote
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 to loneliness.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 He delighted
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 to share
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 his life
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 with people.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 He delighted
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 to share
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 his life.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 Is church
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 just the place
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 that you
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 visit on a
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 Sunday?
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 Is it
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 just where
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 you come
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 to,
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 to spend
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 some time
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 with God
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 and then
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 leave?
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 I love
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 doing church
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 with all of
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 you on a
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 Sunday,
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 but that's
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 only part
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 of what
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 church is.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 It has
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 to go
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 beyond
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 Sunday.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 It has
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 to even
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 go beyond
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 community
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 groups or
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 Bible studies
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 as we
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 meet in
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 the week.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 Maybe
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 you're
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 thinking to
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 yourself,
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 well,
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 yeah,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 I can only
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 come on
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 Sundays.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 I can't
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 even make
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 community
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 groups.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 I'm
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 really
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 busy.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 There's
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 too many
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 things going
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 on in
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 my life
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 right now.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 I don't
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 have the
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 energy
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 for it.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 Paul was
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 trained as
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 a Pharisee,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 and yet he
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 also had a
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 trade as a
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 tent maker.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 And so he
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 took this
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 trade around
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 with him.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 He had a
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 job that
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 he worked
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 around the
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 church, the
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 people, his
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 dearly loved
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 family that he
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 delighted in.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 His job
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 worked around
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 what he was
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 doing in the
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 church.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 How often do
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 we chase our
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 job, our
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 career, our
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 future, the
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 future of our
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 kids, based
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 on what we
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 want?
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 And then we
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 fit church
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 around that.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:38 For
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 Alyssa and
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 I, we
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 were faced
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 with a
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 tough decision
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 in January
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 of this
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 year.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 We had an
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 opportunity to
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 take up a
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 job with a
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 really great
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 church, with
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 a great
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 team, and
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 a great
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 boss and
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 mentor as
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 well.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 It's you
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 guys, I'm
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 talking about
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 you guys, if
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 you didn't
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 know.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 Sorry, I was
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 being a little
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 bit too subtle
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 there.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 But there
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 was a cost.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 There was a
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 cost to our
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 family to
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 come back
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 and rejoin
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 this church
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 family that
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 we loved from
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 the year we'd
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 spent here in
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 2014.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 A cost would
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 be that we
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 would have to
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 leave our
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 church family
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 at St.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 Aidan's, but
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 we would also
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 have to move
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 a lot further
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 away from
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 our families.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 Our families
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 live in
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 Wollongong.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 Most of them
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 live there.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 And so moving
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 here is twice
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 the distance.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 Depending on a
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 day with
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 traffic and
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 weather, we
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 are a long
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 way away from
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 our family.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 We are not
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 the only ones
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 that have
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 made ministry
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 decisions to
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 be further
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 away from
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 family.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 But moving
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 here would
00:20:45 --> 00:20:47 mean that we
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 were further
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 away from our
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 family, that we
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 wouldn't get to
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 see them as
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 much as we
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 wanted to, that
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 our kids
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 wouldn't get to
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 see their
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 grandparents and
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 cousins as
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 much.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 And it was
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 painful for us.
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 things.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 But it's also
00:21:01 --> 00:21:03 a joy that we
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 could rejoin our
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 family here at
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 St. Paul's.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 It was a decision
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 to move away from
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 our personal
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 family, but to
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 rejoin this church
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 family that we
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 loved and missed
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 and longed to be
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 with again.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 And so we don't
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 just want this to
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 be a Sunday
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 thing.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 We could have
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 commuted from an
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 hour away if it
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 was just a Sunday
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 thing.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 We don't want
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 to just see you
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 once or twice a
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 week.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 We want to
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 delight in sharing
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 our lives with
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 you, our kids'
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 lives as we
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 share the gospel.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 Was it painful
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 leaving our church
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 and moving away
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 from family?
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 Yes, it was.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 But we have
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 family here too.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 At least there
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 is a group of
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 people that could
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 be a family
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 together.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 The Apostle
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 Paul has
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 bared his
00:21:56 --> 00:21:58 soul as he
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 delighted to
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 share his
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 entire life
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 and gospel
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 with the church.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 He defended
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 the way that he
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 came and
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 shared the gospel
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 and served
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 them.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 Paul was
00:22:08 --> 00:22:11 motivated by
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 Jesus'
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 model.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 Jesus didn't
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 come for fame
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 or to gain
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 glory or
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 fortune, but
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 he valued us
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 over his own
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 life.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 And so Paul
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 imitates Jesus
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 valuing
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 what God
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 values,
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 valuing other
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 people.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 So let me
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 encourage you,
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 know that other
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 people are made
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 in the image of
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 God.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 They are worth
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 loving and
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 serving.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 You shouldn't
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 need a motivation
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 of pride and
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 glory to love
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 and serve other
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 people.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 It is who we
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 are to be.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 Be challenged
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 to share your
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 life with people
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 so that you can
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 say with Paul
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 that people are
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 your delight.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 And when you
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 serve, watch
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 out for that
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 praise creep,
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 that fame creep,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 that just ever
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 so gently
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 creeps into
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 the way we
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 serve and love
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 other people.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 Serve people
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 and God out
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 of love, but
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 not for profit.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 Let me pray.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 Let me pray.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:16 Dear Heavenly
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 Father, you
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 have loved us
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 so much.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 Your Son,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 Jesus, served
00:23:22 --> 00:23:24 us so much
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 that he valued
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 us above
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 his own life.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 Heavenly
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 Father, help
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 us to be
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 motivated by
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 the same
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 thing.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 Lord, help
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 us to be
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 radically
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 generous.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 Lord, help
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 us desire to
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 have an impact
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 here with
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 your gospel.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 help us
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 desire to
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 share our
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 lives with
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 people as
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 Paul did,
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 not for our
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 glory, but
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 for yours,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 Lord.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 Father, we
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 long to be
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 motivated not
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 for ourselves,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 but to see
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 your kingdom
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 grow.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 Help us to
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 check our
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 hearts and
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 change our
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 hearts, Lord,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 so that we
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 can grow more
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 like your
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 Son every
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 day.