00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 How many memberships do you have?
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 I think I've got something like half a dozen memberships at the moment.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:08 I'm a member at Crunch Gym.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:14 I have a subscription to Netflix and Disney Plus at the moment.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 I've been a supporter of sporting teams.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 I need to become a member of the Chatswood RSL
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 because there's a really great Chinese restaurant up the top there.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 I'm part of a wine club.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 I've been part of a coffee club.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 And I dip in and out of these.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 I'll get rid of Disney Plus for a while.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:37 I'll bring it back.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:39 I'll do something else.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:41 I'll give them my dollars.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 I'll be one of their members.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 I'll go on their books to boost up their numbers.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:50 And I'll choose when I go of what I'm part of,
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 of what I give my time to, my attention to.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 And if I don't like it, I'll vote by cancelling my membership,
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 not attending, those kinds of things.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:05 I wonder if it's possible for us that we think of being a church member
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 as just one of any other membership.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 You know, I've been signed up to St. Paul's for a couple of years,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 maybe since I was baptized or maybe I was born into the church.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:17 And I attend.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:18 I give my dollars.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 I'm on their books as a member of the church.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:22 And I dip in and out.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 I'll pause my membership as other things come up and life gets busy.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:31 Maybe I'm still on a trial membership and I'm not really ready to commit yet.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:37 But is it possible that we have our view of what it means to be a part of a church,
00:01:37 --> 00:01:43 a member of church, shaped not by God, but by the world around us?
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 We are in our vision series.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 A time to cast the vision of the church, not just for this year,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:56 but for the next five years of who we want to be as we follow Jesus together.
00:01:56 --> 00:02:00 And we want to be a church who is going deeper into relationship with God
00:02:00 --> 00:02:05 and deeper into relationship with each other as we follow this Jesus.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:11 At the start of the series, Steve told us that as we follow this Jesus,
00:02:11 --> 00:02:16 God has given us three wonderful gifts to help us do that.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:20 The first was the Bible and prayer.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 That because we want to have a relationship with God,
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 God has given us relationship with Him.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:26 We can actually talk to Him.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 We can pray to Him.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:29 We can be in relationship with Him.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 The second gift is the Holy Spirit,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:36 who opens our eyes to see who Jesus is,
00:02:36 --> 00:02:37 to understand who God is,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 who prompts us,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 who calls us to be more like Him,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 who is changing us from the inside.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:49 And the third gift that God has given us to help us as we follow Jesus is the church.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:54 People to help us as we walk towards Jesus.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 Colleagues, brothers, sisters.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 But to understand today, as we look at what it means to be the church,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:02 we're going to see two things.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 First of all, we're going to question, what is the church?
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 And second, what is the point?
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 What is the purpose of church?
00:03:11 --> 00:03:16 And the challenge for us today will be to have God define who the church is
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 and who we are to be.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 And not just to have a superficial membership of the church
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 defined by all of those other memberships that we have in the world,
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 but to take hold of God's gift of the church with both hands.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:34 So let me pray for us as we have a look at what God has to say to us.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:34 Let me pray.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 Heavenly Father, we thank you so much, first of all,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 that we get to know you,
00:03:40 --> 00:03:44 that we get to be people who are yours,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 and that you love us.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 And we thank you that you have gathered us this morning.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 Be with us as we look at your word.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:56 Help us to be ready to have our hearts shaped to be like you
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 and to understand who we are to be as your church.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:00 Amen.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 What even is a church?
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 The building is often called church.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 You know, we're going to church.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 But the church is so much more than that.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 The word means gathering.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:15 And so in the original language,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 anything was that any gathering of people was referred to as a church.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:25 So you could have the church who meets at the side of the soccer pitch
00:04:25 --> 00:04:30 who is made up of shouty parents on a Saturday morning.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:35 You could have a church of oolong tea fanatics.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 Whatever gathering you have,
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 that's where the word church comes from.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:41 But over time,
00:04:42 --> 00:04:46 this word has come to be associated with religious activities
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 and also with the building that we are in.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 But how does God describe his gathering?
00:04:54 --> 00:04:54 Have a look.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 We're going to be jumping around a couple of passages
00:04:57 --> 00:05:01 before we spend a little bit more time in that Hebrews 10 passage.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 So please have your Bibles open, phones.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 There is our church app, which has the outline.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 Or you can grab a Bible.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 If you do not have a Bible,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 get a Bible from the sides,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 one of the brown Bibles.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 We've written in them that they are for you.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 And you've just got to write your name in there.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 Please take one of those and have those.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 We're going to be in 1 Peter 2, verse 10.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 So God, first of all, shows us
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 that the church is universal,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 everywhere, and invisible.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 And it is also visible and local.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 In 1 Peter 2, verse 10, Peter says,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 Once you were not a people,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 but now you are the people of God.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 Once you had not received mercy,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 but now you have received mercy.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 What Peter's doing is he's connecting God's saving people,
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 God's showing mercy to people,
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 with people,
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 with these individuals becoming part of his people.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 He shows mercy,
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 and these Christians are now part of a greater people.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 When we are saved,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 when the Holy Spirit reveals to us who Jesus is
00:06:11 --> 00:06:11 and we follow him,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 we become part of something larger,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 something bigger than us,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 something that is universal,
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 something that is invisible,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:23 the church that is across all time and space,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 that goes into the past,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 and that goes into the future.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 We are part of something that is much larger than us.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:37 Paul talks about this church in Romans 8, verse 15.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 He says,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 The spirit you received does not make you slaves
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 so that you live in fear.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 Rather, the spirit you received
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 brought about your adoption to sonship.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 And so the church is saved
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 as part of this universal group of people
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 who are sons,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 who have the full legal standing
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 of a male heir in Roman culture,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 who have access to everything from the Father.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 And so we are part of God's family as his children
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 across the globe and across time and space.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 And Hebrews 12 talks about this in verse 22.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 You have come to Mount Zion,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 to the city of the living God,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 the heavenly Jerusalem.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 in joyful assembly
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 to the church of the firstborn,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 whose names are written in heaven.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 And so in one sense,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 the church right now is universal and invisible.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 We cannot see the church at the moment.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 We can see us here, sitting here.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 But the church is much larger.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 The church is those who have been adopted
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 into God's family as his children.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 And also,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 the church is also,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 in a spiritual way,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 gathering around God in heaven already.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 There is this spiritual element
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 to the church in heaven.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 And so the Bible,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 just having a look at these couple of verses,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 we can talk more about this if you like later,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 describes the church as
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 one whole people
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 of brothers and sisters
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 made one family
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 who are already in heaven
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 in a spiritual way.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 And this is one of the reasons
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 it is so encouraging
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 to meet another Christian.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 I'm not sure if you've ever met
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 another Christian
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 in a totally random setting.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 There is just something unique.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 It's more than just,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 oh, here's another person
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 who has a similar like to me.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 You know, they follow a sporting team.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 But it's this person
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 also knows the same Jesus.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 They've also been loved
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 by the same Jesus.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 And they know that
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 there's nothing special about them,
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 but they've been saved
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 by the living God.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 There is just something
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 about being part of this family
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 which unites us.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 The youth around Easter
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 are going up to Kik.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 Kik is a gathering of youth
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 from all over New South Wales.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 And they go to Katoomba
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 and there's thousands of them there.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 And it's so encouraging
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 to be part of a youth group
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 of say 30 kids
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 and then to go and see 3 kids
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 and go, oh wow,
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 there are all of these other people
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 who follow the same Jesus as me.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 This is really wonderful.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 This church that we are part of
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 is huge.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:22 It is massive.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 It is universal.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 It's invisible.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 We can't see it.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 But the wonderful truth of it is
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 it doesn't stay invisible.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 It shows up in real
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 and physical locations.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 The universal becomes local.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 The invisible becomes visible.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 The church has a street address.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 This church is on the corner
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 of Fuller's Road
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 and View Street
00:09:47 --> 00:09:47 in Chatswood.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 And there are faces
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 and names of people.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 There's tangible people.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 There's Gary over there.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 I can see Allie.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 There's Leslie in front.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 This church is no longer invisible.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 It's local
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 and it's tangible.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 And so Paul,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 when he writes letters
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 to the church,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 they're to specific churches.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 It's to the letter,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 to the church of God
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 in Corinth,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 to the church in Galatia,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 to the church of the Thessalonians
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 in Thessalonians.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 In Thessalonians.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 I can't even say that word.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 It's okay.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 I'll just skip it.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 I'll get it later.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 The church shows up
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 in a time and in a place.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 If we're really part of God's body,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 the church,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 it doesn't just stay
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 an abstract idea
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 up in the clouds.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 I'm a part of the church.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 We don't just
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 get baptized into a church
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 and then never go again
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 and say,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 oh yeah,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 I'm a member of that church.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 I was baptized there.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 When we are part
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 of the heavenly church,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 the family of God,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 it shows up on earth
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 in a time and space
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 at 9 a.m.,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 at 11 a.m.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 on a Sunday morning
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 in Chatswood.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 Being a member
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 of the universal
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 and invisible church
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 must become visible
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 in regular local gatherings.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 The church is those
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 that God has called out
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 to be His,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 to be His family.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 Brothers and sisters
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 who show up
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 and meet together regularly.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 I think there's a helpful way
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 to understand this
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 and this is through McDonald's.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 Does anybody love Maccas?
00:11:21 --> 00:11:25 No, the younger people
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 are nodding.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 Yeah, James,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 yeah, James.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 Thank you, dear brother.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 That's why we need
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 to support you,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 to help you.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 Maccas has got a franchise model.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 It's universal.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:37 It's everywhere.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 It's everywhere on the planet.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 I'm sure there'll be
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 one on the moon soon.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 Head office
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 sets the color scheme.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 They set
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 what the staffing conditions
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 are going to be like.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 They set the type
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 what the stores look like.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 But you don't go
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 to the head office
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 to get a cheeseburger.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 You've got to go
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 to a local store.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 You've got to go
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 to the one in the
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 Chatswood Interchange
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 across from the train station
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 if you want to get
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 a cheeseburger.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 I can't say
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 that I go to Maccas
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 unless I actually turn up.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 Unless I actually,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 you know,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 walk in the door
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 and push the buttons
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 because you don't really
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 talk to the people
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 there anymore.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 The local
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 and universal church
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 is like McDonald's.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 Hopefully,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 we don't make you feel sick
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 in 30 minutes or less.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 But the church
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 is universal.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 It's everywhere
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 across all time and space.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 It's in heaven
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 in a spiritual way.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 It's on every continent.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 But I can't say
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 that I'm part of a church
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 unless I show up.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 Being part of the church
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 means that I show up.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 And here at St. Paul's,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 we get to rub shoulders
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 with people
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 from the universal church.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 not all of it
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 but an expression of it.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 And so,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 being a member
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 of this church
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 means
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 you're also part
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 of the church
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 everywhere.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 And so,
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 what is a church?
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 A church is
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 universal.
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 It's invisible
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 but it doesn't
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 stay that way.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 It becomes visible
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 and it becomes local
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 when we turn up.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 It's a gathering
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 of God's people
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 in a time and space.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 Now,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 I know what I'm supposed
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 to do when I go to McDonald's.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 When I go there,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 I'm usually there to eat
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 or if I'm on a long car trip,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 I'm there to use the bathroom.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 And there,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 that's what McDonald's is for.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 But what is the church
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 supposed to do?
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 What's the purpose of it?
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 We're all here together
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 in one room.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 What is the point?
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 That's our second point
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 for today.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 What is the purpose
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 of the church?
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 As we saw in 1 Peter,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 our God is showing
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 mercy to people,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 calling a people
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 to himself.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 The church is
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 a restoration
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 of the vertical relationship,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 of God restoring
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 the relationship
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 with us,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 his people.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 It's a restoration
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 of the vertical.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 Humanity and God
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 are reconciled.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 But there's also
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 a horizontal reconciliation
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 that happens
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 as the church.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 The purpose of the church
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 is to bring unity,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 unity to a scattered,
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 diverse,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 very different collection
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 of warring people.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 Church is the reconciliation
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 between God and people,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 but also the reconciliation
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 of people and people,
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 bringing people
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 back to unity.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 And so in Ephesians chapter 2,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 I've got a couple of passages
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 from Ephesians 2,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 so go to Ephesians 2,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 verse 11.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 Paul says,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 Paul says,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 therefore,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:36 remember that formerly
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 you who are Gentiles
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 by birth
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 and called uncircumcised
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 by those who call themselves
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 the circumcision,
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 which is done in the body
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 by human hands,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 remember that at that time
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 you were separate from Christ,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 excluded from citizenship
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 in Israel,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 and foreigners
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 to the covenant
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 of the promise,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 without hope
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 and without God
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 in the world.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 So all people
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 were scattered
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 and divided
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 from each other.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 There was real painful
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 division between people groups,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 between the Jews
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 and the Gentiles,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 between the Gentiles
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 and the Gentiles,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 between countries
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 and ethnicities.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 But,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 verse 13,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 but now in Christ Jesus,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 you who were once
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 far away
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 have been brought near
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 by the blood of Christ.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 For he himself
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 is our peace
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 who has made
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 the two groups one.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 He's destroyed the barrier,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 the dividing wall
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 of hostility,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 by setting aside
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 in his flesh
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 the law
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 with its commands
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 and regulations.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 His purpose
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 was to create
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 in himself
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 one new humanity
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 out of the two,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 thus making peace.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 And in one body
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 to reconcile both of them
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 to God through the cross
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 by which he put to death
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 their hostility.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 And so Jesus
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 gathers to himself
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 people who now
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 have peace.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 The dividing walls
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 that people have put up
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 between each other,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 between nations,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 between ethnicities,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:03 between next door neighbours,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 big fences,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 these get torn down
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 in Jesus.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 God's great plan
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 is to gather people
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 to himself
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 to restore that
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 vertical relationship,
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 but also
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 to restore people
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 to each other.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 And so this,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 so that people would know
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 how great God is.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 God puts warring
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 people together,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 the lion
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 and the lamb,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 and they don't tear
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 each other apart,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 there is actually peace.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 In Jesus,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 wars have been ended,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 people who have been
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 divided
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 have been brought
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 back together.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 together.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 And so before the church
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 is about us,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 the church is about
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 seeing what God
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 has already done
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 and giving him
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 the glory.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 We are,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 you only have to
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 look around
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 at the different
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 ethnicities in the church
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 and go back
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 a hundred years
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 and think about
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 the wars that were
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 fought based on
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 countries and nations
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 to realise that
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 our God does
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 wonderful things.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 if the US
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 president,
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 Joe Biden,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 is able to
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 unite his
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 divided country
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 even in a small way,
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 it'll be amazing.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 The US at the moment
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 is divided on
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 social issues,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 healthcare,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 Democrats versus
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 Republicans,
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 on so many issues.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 But if the US
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 president is able
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 to bring a sense
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 of unity back
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 to the United States,
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 they'll be carving
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 his face
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 on Mount Rushmore.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 He will have
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 done a great job.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 But what God
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 has done in Jesus
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 is far,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 far greater.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 He has united
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 people across
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 time and space,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 different languages,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 ethnicities,
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 personal preferences,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 and he has brought
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 us together
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 in one family.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 Not a family
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 at war with itself,
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 one with peace.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 That is who we are
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 to be.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 One showing
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 God's awesomeness
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 in bringing peace.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 A multi-ethnic,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 multi-generational,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 socio-economically
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 diverse gathering
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 of people declaring
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 that Jesus is Lord
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 for God's glory.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 That is who we are
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 to be.
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 And that's why
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 I was thrilled
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 to have the kids
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 back in church
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 with us this morning
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 because they are part
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 of who we are
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 as a church.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 They are not something
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 we push over to one side
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 because they're noisy
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 and distracting.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 They are part of
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 who we are
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 as the church.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 That is the big picture
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 purpose of church,
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 of what being a part
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 of following Jesus
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 means here at St. Paul's.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 The author of the letter
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 to the Hebrews
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 gets more specific for us,
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 more practical
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 about the purpose
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 of the church
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 for each other.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 So please turn to
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 Hebrews chapter 10,
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 starting in verse 19.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 It should also be
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 on the screen.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 Verse 19,
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 Therefore,
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 brothers and sisters,
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 since we have confidence
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 to enter the most holy place
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 by the blood of Jesus,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 by a new and living way
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 open for us
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 through the curtain
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 that is his body,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 since all that Jesus
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 has done,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 since all that he has done
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 in his death
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 and resurrection,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 his blood,
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 the author to the Hebrews
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 has a series
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 of let us statements.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 Let us together
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 as a group
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 do these things.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 Verse 22,
00:19:27 --> 00:19:30 Let us draw near to God
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 with a sincere heart
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 and with a full assurance
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 that faith brings.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 Let us draw near to God.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 We follow the Lord
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 with faith
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 only because of the work
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 of the Holy Spirit
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 in our hearts
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 and we can understand
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 who this God is
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 by the inspiration
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 of the Holy Spirit
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 as we read his word.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 And so whenever we gather,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 we gather as a church
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 around this Jesus
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 and him revealed
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 in the Bible.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 That is why,
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 without a doubt,
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 week in, week out,
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 we read the Bible.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 When Steve or I preach
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 or when anybody else
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 is on the pulpit,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 we point to the Bible.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 I'm calling you
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 to be reading the Bible
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 as we read.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 These are just not
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 my thoughts in isolation,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 but I want you to see
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 what God's word
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 has for us today.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 And so we draw close
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 to God as the church,
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 growing in faith
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 around his word.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 Verse 22 continues,
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 having our hearts
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 sprinkled to cleanse us
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 from a guilty conscience
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 and having our bodies
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 washed with pure water.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 This understanding
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 that we as people
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 have been made pure
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 by Jesus,
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 this is why often
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 we will say
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 a confession together,
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 acknowledging that
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 we are sinful people,
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 but we have a great God
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 who has dealt
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 with our sin.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 And so we remind
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 each other of that.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 Verse 23,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:53 let us hold unswervingly
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 to the hope we profess
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 for he who promised
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 is faithful.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 We remind each other
00:21:00 --> 00:21:02 about who our hope
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 is in
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 so that we can hold
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 to this hope.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 So at the start
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 of our service,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 Debbie led us in
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 in a creed
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 from Colossians
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 to say this is who
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 our Jesus is
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 that we follow
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 so that we can
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 hold fast to him.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:21 verse 24 continues,
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 and let us consider
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 how we may spur
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 one another on
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 toward love
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 and good deeds.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 Let us be continuing
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 to encourage each other.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 How can you be loving people?
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 How can we be doing
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 good deeds?
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 How can we be made
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 more like Jesus
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 today and every day?
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 These are both more
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 than what happens
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 in our church services,
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 but not less.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 Up here,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 from the pulpit,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 we get to encourage
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 each other
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 to worship God,
00:21:49 --> 00:21:52 to be in the word,
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 be praying,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:55 but also after the service
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 as the church.
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 As we gather outside,
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 as we continue
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 to gather here,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 as we go off for coffee,
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 as we stand outside
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 and watch our kids play,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 we get to encourage
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 each other,
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 to spur each other
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 on to love
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 and good deeds,
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 to remind each other
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 of the hope
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 that we have.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:15 The last in this list
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 of let us's
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 is in verse 25.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 Let us
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 not give up
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 meeting together,
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 as some are
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 in the habit of doing,
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 but encouraging
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 one another
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 and all the more
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 as you see
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 the day approaching.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 The author of the Hebrews
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 is speaking about
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 the tension between
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 the local
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 and the universal church.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 It's the thought
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 that says,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 I'm a Christian,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 I can just stay
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 at St. Pillow
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 this morning,
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 comfortable in my bed.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 I can just read my Bible
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 and pray at home,
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 God can still talk to me.
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 I'm a Christian,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:53 I'm part of the church,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 the universal church,
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 and this is true.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 But it isn't true
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 in isolation
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 from being part
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 of the local church.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 In previous years,
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 I may have encouraged you
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 to be more regular
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 at church,
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 so that you can be
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 encouraged to love
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 and good deeds
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 and you can encourage
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 others to love
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 and good deeds.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 In previous years,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 I may have done that.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 But the problem for us
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 in the last year
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 is that we've been able
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 to meet,
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 we've been unable
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 to do what the author
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 of the Hebrews
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 commands us to do.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 The church building
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 was closed.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 We couldn't do
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 what this says.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 We had to stop
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 meeting together.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 And we adapted
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 really well.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 We moved online.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 We started streaming
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 our services
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 on YouTube.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 We had community groups
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 over Zoom.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 And now we continue
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 to live stream
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 our services.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 And it's really wonderful
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 for those who are unable
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 to come and join
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 in person,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 for those who are looking
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 to see what church is like.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 Our dear brother,
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 Nick Freestone,
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 two weeks ago,
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 had surgery
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 and he couldn't be with us.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 But as he said,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 I loved that I could
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 still see what was happening.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 I could still,
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 in a sense,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 be part of church
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 by watching at home.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 But since our return
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 from COVID,
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 there is a different
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 challenge before us.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 We can face
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 the temptation
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 of thinking that
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 being part of a church
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 equals watching
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 a service.
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 Thinking that
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 watching a video
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 of church
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 is the same
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 as being part
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 of a church.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 Now,
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 we actually want
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 to increase
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 the amount
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 of people watching.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 It's one of our goals
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 that we want.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 We want so many people
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 watching the YouTube
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 live stream
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 that people are getting
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 to know who we are
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 as a church
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 and can get to know Jesus.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 But the live stream,
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 the YouTube videos,
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 have a purpose.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 If you have a friend
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 who is interested
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 in finding out
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 about what church
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 looks like,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 what goes on
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 in a service,
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 you can direct them
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 to youtube.com
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 slash St. Paul's Chatswood
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 and they can check it out.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 But watching a service
00:25:00 --> 00:25:02 is not being part
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 of a church.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 I think for us,
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 our view of church
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 can be impacted
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 by TV habits.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 I can watch and binge
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 whatever I like.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 And I think
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 watching church
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 can be like
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 watching a sport.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 So I could go
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 to an AFL game.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 Let's say I'm going
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 to go and watch
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 the Swans play.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 I think,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 correct me if I'm wrong,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 Rach,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 the AFL season
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 is starting back soon.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 Yes,
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 thank you dear sister.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 I could go
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 to the game
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 and watch it play
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 in the rain
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 and in the cold
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 in the middle
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 of the winter.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 Or I could watch it
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 at home
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 in the comfort
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 of my lounge.
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 The only problem
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 is that being
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 at church
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 might feel like
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 we're just sitting.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 We're just watching
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 what's going on
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 up here.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 But church
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 is actually
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 more like
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 we're on the field
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 together.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 We're actually
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 doing something
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 together.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 The author
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 of the Hebrews
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 has continuously
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 encouraged us,
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 let us
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 do these things
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 together.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 Let us
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 hold each other
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 accountable.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 Let us
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 love each other,
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 call each other
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 to love and good deeds.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:09 And we can't do that
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 if we're at home.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 We actually
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 have to turn up
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 in a time
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 and space
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 as the local church.
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 We are together
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 for the church's benefit
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 and for the individuals
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 as well
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 as part of the whole.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:25 And we can't do that
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 if we stay at home.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 We're actually
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 a man down
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 if we,
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 a person down
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 if we stay at home.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 Together
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 as a church
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 we draw near to God
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 reminding each other
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 of what the blood
00:26:38 --> 00:26:40 of Jesus has done.
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 And so let us
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 hold to that hope.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 Let us spur
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 one another
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 onto love and good deeds
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 all the more
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 as the day approaches
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 when Jesus is going
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 to return.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 And we need to do this
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 because times are hard.
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 Times are hard now.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 Times are going
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 to be hard tomorrow.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 More and more
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 as Christians move
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 to the periphery
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 of society
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 as society moves away
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 from its Christian foundations.
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 And we need each other.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 It's why
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 this church
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 has the value
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 of treasuring
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 Jesus together.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 It is so important.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 Let me read
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 this value.
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 Every member
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 of St. Paul's
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 has been led
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 individually
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 by the Spirit of God
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 to receive Jesus Christ
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 as the Lord,
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 Saviour
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 and Supreme
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 Treasure of our lives.
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 The Holy Spirit
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 gathers us
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 from all variety
00:27:23 --> 00:27:25 of individual backgrounds
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 and unites us together
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 as one body of Christ.
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 We believe
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 the people
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 whom Jesus
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 has called
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 into relationship
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 with himself
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 from every tribe,
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 language,
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 nation and generation
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 are his church
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 and not an institution
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 or building.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 In an age
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 of individualism,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 we value
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 vigilance
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 and accountability
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 in treasuring
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 Jesus together
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 as his diverse people.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 this is who
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 we want to be
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 as a church.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 Going deeper
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 in discipleship
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 and in relationship
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 with God
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 and deeper
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 in relationship
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 together.
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 It's about
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 our togetherness
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 as a dynamic
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 spiritual community
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 hand in hand
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 following
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 and treasuring
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 Jesus together.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 For those
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 who are unable
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 to gather
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 who are watching
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 this right now,
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 I don't mean
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 to make you feel guilty.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 I just want
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 to point out
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 that you are
00:28:17 --> 00:28:19 missing something
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 about being here
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 as part of this church.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 You are missing out
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 on how God
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 has designed
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 us as people
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 and how God
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 has designed
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 the church
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 to be together.
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 Because there is
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 something unique
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 about this
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 universal church
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 which becomes local.
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 Let me encourage you,
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 don't stop
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 gathering together.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 This vision series
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 is not meant
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 to be a hammer blow
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 to make you feel
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 guilty about
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 how much you
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 don't read the Bible
00:28:47 --> 00:28:50 or how much you pray
00:28:50 --> 00:28:52 or how close you feel.
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 But four weeks ago
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 Steve set out
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 the vision
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 that we want
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 to be people
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 who are following
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 Jesus.
00:28:58 --> 00:29:00 Reading the Bible
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 and speaking to God
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 because they are
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 wonderful things
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 that God
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 has gifted us with
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 by the power
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 of the Holy Spirit
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 and we get to do
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 this together
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 as the church.
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 With colleagues,
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 with close friends,
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 dear brothers
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 and sisters
00:29:14 --> 00:29:16 to walk with you
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 towards Jesus
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 in all of life.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 In December 2020,
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 Kenyan runner
00:29:22 --> 00:29:24 Abel Mutai
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 was the first
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 to cross the finish line
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 in a cross-country race
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 in Spain.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 At least,
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 he thought he was
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 the first
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 to cross the line.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 Ivan Fernandez Anaya,
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 who is the man
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 you can see behind him,
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 a Spanish competitor,
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 was right behind Mutai
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 and he knew better.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 He knew
00:29:42 --> 00:29:44 that the Kenyan runner
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 Abel hadn't actually
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 finished the race.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 He thought he'd finished
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 but he hadn't gotten
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 across the line
00:29:49 --> 00:29:51 and Ivan,
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 the Spanish man,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 had a chance.
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 He thought,
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 I could have taken over.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 I could have won
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00 but instead of taking
00:30:00 --> 00:30:02 advantage of the situation,
00:30:02 --> 00:30:04 he plowed into him,
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 ran into him
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 and he gestured.
00:30:05 --> 00:30:07 He urged him forward
00:30:07 --> 00:30:09 to finish the race.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 He could have stolen it
00:30:11 --> 00:30:13 but he encouraged him on.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 We are not quite
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 like those two runners.
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 We are more like
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 the runners in this photo.
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 We are part of a pack,
00:30:23 --> 00:30:25 a big group of people,
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 different ages,
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 ethnicities,
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 genders.
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 We are more like
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 the people running
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 in this photo,
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 running together
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 to Jesus,
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 urging one another on.
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 Come on,
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 you've fallen over.
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 Get up.
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 Let me help you get up.
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 I'm not going to leave you.
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 The finish line is here.
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 Jesus is here.
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 Let's go together.
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 Are you part
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 of this church?
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 Are you part
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 of this church
00:30:52 --> 00:30:54 maybe with a trial membership?
00:30:57 --> 00:30:59 Are you deeply connected
00:30:59 --> 00:31:01 to people in this church?
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 Have you opened
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 your life
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 to actually allow
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 other people
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 to come in
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 so that they can
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 urge you on
00:31:09 --> 00:31:12 when you fall down
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 so that you can
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 urge others on?
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 First of all,
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 get connected
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 into a community group.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 Come and see me.
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 Join a team.
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 Join a team
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 to serve
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 with other people
00:31:23 --> 00:31:25 as we follow Jesus.
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 Go and drink coffee.
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 Invite somebody out.
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 The person sitting
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 next to you,
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 if you don't know them,
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 get to know them.
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 We can try
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 to run this race
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 following Jesus
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 on our own,
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 but our God
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 hasn't designed us
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 that way.
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 He has given
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 to each of us
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 each other.
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 The church,
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 one body,
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 local
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 and universal,
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 showing the world
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 how good this God
00:31:51 --> 00:31:53 is in uniting us
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 as we charge
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 towards him.
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 Let me pray.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 Amen.
00:31:57 --> 00:32:00 Heavenly Father,
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 we ask that we
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 would be that type
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 of church.
00:32:05 --> 00:32:07 That we would not
00:32:07 --> 00:32:09 try to go it
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 on our own
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 in faith,
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 thinking that we
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 are an island,
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 but Lord,
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 you have given us
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 each other.
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 Lord,
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 we ask that you
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 would help us
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 to walk together,
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 run together,
00:32:21 --> 00:32:24 to be people
00:32:24 --> 00:32:26 who are aware
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 of the needs
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 of the community
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 of believers
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 around us
00:32:30 --> 00:32:32 so that we can
00:32:32 --> 00:32:34 spur each other on.
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 Father,
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 give us much
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 patience and compassion
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 to love each other.
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 Lord,
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 help us to get
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 to know each other
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 deeply.
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 Lord,
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 help us to be
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 a community
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 that welcomes
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 people in,
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 but also
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 wants to know
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 each other,
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 to walk together
00:32:51 --> 00:32:53 so that we
00:32:53 --> 00:32:55 can follow you
00:32:55 --> 00:32:57 with all of our lives
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 and all of our hearts,
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 Lord.
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 We ask this
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 in your son's name
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 and for your glory.
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 Amen.