Gathering Nick Freestone
Series: The Journey Home
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 9th April 2017
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 It was my daughter, actually, who helped me figure out where to start this sermon.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:14 This week, when I picked her up from preschool, she presented me with a hand fistful of yellow autumn leaves.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:21 She saw something so special in them, but I saw work.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:23 And I'll tell you why.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 Because we live in a townhouse surrounded by deciduous trees.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:36 Because every April marks this perpetual leave tide, and it just rains down into our backyard.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:43 And the leaves go brown and die quickly, and they stink unless we're consistently cleaning them up quickly.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:50 And even if we keep up with the mess, the leaves still clog the downpipes and drains.
00:00:50 --> 00:01:01 And it feels like whenever I see autumn leaves on the ground, it just reminds me that they serve no good purpose anymore.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:08 But up on the trees above our house, they're beautiful.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:13 The colors changing from green to yellow to orange to red.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 They're also giving life to their tree.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:20 They're way better up there, serving their purpose.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 Leaves are better on a tree.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:28 But then they fall down, and they're blown about by the wind.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 They're dead, and you can see as their colors fade day by day.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:38 I mean, even by the time we got home, that little fistful of leaves that had gone into the bag,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 when we pulled it out to chuck them in the bin, they were brown already.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:50 It's the wind that makes them look alive and move about like they've got somewhere to be.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 And I can tell you that somewhere is my backyard.
00:01:55 --> 00:02:00 All the leaves in Sydney have got somewhere to be, and that's in our little courtyard in Marsfield.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:07 So as I sweep my yard this autumn, or I watch my kids do it for me,
00:02:07 --> 00:02:14 I wish the leaves were back on their trees, better serving their purpose.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 But as I sweep, I'm going to consider my own purpose,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:23 and consider what I should be doing to better serve my purpose.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:34 Because before I knew God, I was just like an autumn leaf blowing about in the breeze.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 I had purpose for my life.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 Purposes which I thought were good.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:46 Work to do, people to see, places to be.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 But then God showed up in my life, and by grace,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 He took me, this dead little useless leaf,
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 and He breathed life back into me.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 Now I've got an eternal future because of God.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:07 No breeze can bring an old dead leaf back to life.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 And the world or myself couldn't breathe life back into myself.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 God acted in love to save me.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 And God wishes that all would be saved,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 and be led and guided on the journey back to Him,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 through confession,
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 of sin,
00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 through the Bible,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:28 through prayer.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:35 These gifts of the Christian life that we've been talking about for the last three weeks.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:40 And the great and glorious news in our passage today
00:03:40 --> 00:03:45 is that God has another gift to help us on this journey.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 And the gift is each other.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 He gathers up these living leaves,
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 people who He has breathed life back into,
00:03:58 --> 00:04:02 and He grafts them back into the lifeblood of a tree,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 altogether beautiful again,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:09 contributing to the mission and the purpose
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 of what God has saved us to do,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:13 together.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 And when we're together, we're better,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 because we serve that purpose.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 And just like the beautiful trees above my house,
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 before those leaves come down,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 God's people,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:27 these people,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 look around,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 these tired Sunday morning people,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 are your gift
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 for the journey home.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 A Christian's purpose
00:04:40 --> 00:04:44 is to glorify God.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 And we discover that purpose
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 through what Jesus did
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 on the cross.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 And to see that,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 and to find out more about this gift
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 that I'm talking about,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 this gift that we are from God,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 open up Hebrews 10.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 If you don't have a Bible,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 people in red vests can frisbee one to you.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:08 This one,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 most of the New Testament is falling apart,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 so I won't frisbee this one to you.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 It will fly over the room
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 like autumn leaves.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 Open up to Hebrews 10,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 verse 19.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 Therefore, brothers and sisters,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 since we have confidence
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 to enter the most holy place
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 by the blood of Jesus,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 by a new and living way
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 open to us
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 for us through the curtain,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 that is,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 his body.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 Since we have a great high priest
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 over the house of God,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 let us draw near to God
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 with a sincere heart
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 and a full assurance
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 that faith brings,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 having our hearts sprinkled
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 to cleanse us
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 from a guilty conscience
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 and having our bodies
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 washed
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 with pure water.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:55 father.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 When I hear that
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 and hear what Jesus
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 has achieved
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 on the cross,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 I imagine
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 myself as that little leaf
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 being grafted
00:06:10 --> 00:06:10 into a tree
00:06:10 --> 00:06:14 like the cross.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:17 The gift
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 of faith
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 and peace
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 comes through
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 the cross
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 of Jesus.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:29 And that brings with us
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 a desire
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 toward God.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 Let us draw near
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 to God.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 We no longer rely
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 on the world
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 or ourselves
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 glorifying the wind
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 for blowing us about.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:44 No.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 We now glorify God.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 The Christian purpose is
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 to do whatever it is
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 that glorifies God.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:53 God.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 So the one key way
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 we can pursue that purpose
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 is gather together
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 and like this passage
00:07:00 --> 00:07:00 says,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 spur one another on
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 toward love
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 and good deeds.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 So gathering together
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 is a key thing
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 for Christians
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 and that's why
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 we're here right now.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 That's why we do
00:07:11 --> 00:07:11 community groups.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 That's why you catch up
00:07:13 --> 00:07:13 for coffee
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 and actually connect
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 with one another
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 and hear about
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 what's going on
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 in each other's lives.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 It's through
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 gathering together
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 that helps
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 this purpose
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 of glorifying God
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 thrive.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 So let me say
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 four things
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 from our passage
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 today
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 about gathering.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 First thing,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 take note
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 that in verse 25
00:07:37 --> 00:07:41 the Bible commands
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 that we not
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 give up meeting
00:07:44 --> 00:07:44 together
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 on this journey.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 while we might
00:07:48 --> 00:07:48 be saved
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 individually
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 we confess
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 to God
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 and we read
00:07:52 --> 00:07:52 and we pray
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 and we can do
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 that on our own
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 we're told
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 to do the journey
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 home
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 together.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 We need to read
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 this
00:08:02 --> 00:08:02 and obey it
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 and here's why.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 I can't read
00:08:07 --> 00:08:07 this
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 and obey it
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 and show up
00:08:10 --> 00:08:10 to church
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 and gather
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 together
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 on my own.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 I need you.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 You can't
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 show up
00:08:18 --> 00:08:18 to a community
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 group
00:08:19 --> 00:08:19 excited
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 to gather
00:08:20 --> 00:08:20 together
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 and pray
00:08:21 --> 00:08:21 with one
00:08:21 --> 00:08:21 another
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 and hear
00:08:22 --> 00:08:22 God speak
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 and do
00:08:23 --> 00:08:23 life together
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 and be the
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25 only one
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25 who shows
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25 up.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 We can't
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 obey this
00:08:29 --> 00:08:29 passage
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 without each
00:08:30 --> 00:08:30 other.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:32 We need
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 to obediently
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 commit
00:08:34 --> 00:08:34 to meeting
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 together
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 together.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 Second,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:39 take note
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 of that
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 scary word
00:08:41 --> 00:08:41 there in
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 verse 25
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 straight after
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 as some
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 are in the
00:08:45 --> 00:08:45 habit
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 of doing.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 People have
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 in this
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 passage here
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 it says
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 people have
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 habitually
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 given up
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 meeting
00:08:58 --> 00:08:58 together.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:00 Now habits
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 are really
00:09:01 --> 00:09:01 hard to
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 break.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 They are
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 a dependability
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 pattern
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 in our
00:09:07 --> 00:09:07 lives.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 But God
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 can break
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 bad habits.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:11 He has the
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 power to break
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 any habit.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 But note
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 here in
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 this
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 passage
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 that there
00:09:16 --> 00:09:16 is no
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 space
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 for
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 personality
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 or
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 preference
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 to get
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 in the
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 way of
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 obeying
00:09:25 --> 00:09:25 God
00:09:25 --> 00:09:25 here
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 in his
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 call
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 for us
00:09:28 --> 00:09:28 to meet
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 together.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 Whatever
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 our
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 habitual
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 rebellion
00:09:33 --> 00:09:33 against
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 meeting
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 together
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 is
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 then it's
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 unhelpful
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 and a
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 spurning
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 of a
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 critical
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 gift
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 that God
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 gives us
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 for the
00:09:43 --> 00:09:43 journey.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 Now I've
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 spoken to
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 Christians
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 professing
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 Christians
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 people who I
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 love and care
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 for who have
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 literally said to
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 me and I'm
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 quoting them
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 here they've
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 said that
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 they're not
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 Bible study
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 people.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 And another
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 I'm just not
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 suited to
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 church going.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 I've even
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 heard Christians
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 explain themselves
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 by saying
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 we prefer
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 doing church
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 on our
00:10:14 --> 00:10:14 own.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 How is
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 there room
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 for those
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 attitudes
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 to stand
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 if we want
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 to bother
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 reading this
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 verse and
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 obey it?
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 if that's
00:10:26 --> 00:10:26 you or
00:10:26 --> 00:10:26 you know a
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 Christian who
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 habitually avoids
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 gathering with
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 God's people
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 in whatever way
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 that is
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 then you
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 or they
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 are really
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 missing out.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 Be ready to
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 be wrong
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 about how you
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 approach
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 meeting together
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 and just
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 because it's
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 a habit
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 doesn't mean
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 that habit
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 is a good
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 thing.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 So here's
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 why obedience
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 and breaking
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 that bad
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 habit of
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 avoiding
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 meeting
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 together
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 are
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 important
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 because
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 the day
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 is
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 approaching.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 Look at
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 the end of
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 verse 25
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 there.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 It says
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 meet together
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 and then
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 all the
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 more
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 as you
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 see
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 the day
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 approaching.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 This is
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 point three.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 God wants
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 us to be
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 meeting together
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 more frequently
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 as the
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 day
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 approaches.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 Now that
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 day
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 is
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 Christ's
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 second
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 coming.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 That day
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 is drawing
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 near.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 But how
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 do we
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 know?
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 How do
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 we know
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 that we're
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 nearing
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 the day?
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 It's a pretty
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 good question
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 because I
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 needed help
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 answering that
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 and I got
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 some help
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 from John
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 Piper this
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 week that
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 was really
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 helpful and
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 he would
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 send us
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 to Matthew
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 24
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 verse 12
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 where Jesus
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 is describing
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 in that
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 chapter
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 what is
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 going to
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 happen
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 before he
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 comes again.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 What the
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 coming age
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 that before
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 his coming
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 is going to
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 look like.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 And it
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 says there
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 in the
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 second half
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 of verse
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 12.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 The love
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 of most
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 will grow
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 cold.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 Do you
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 look around?
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 Maybe around
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 this room?
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 Do you look
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 at Christians
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 around the
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 place?
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 Do you look
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 in your own
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 life and see
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 love for God
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 and love for
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 people growing
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 cold?
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 I look
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 at when
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 I was first
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 saved and I
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 first knew
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 Jesus and I
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 wonder where
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 that excitement
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 and love for
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 other people
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 has gone
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 in my life.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 I'm really
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 challenged
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 because I feel
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 like my love
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 is cooling
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 off.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 And to add
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 to that
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 I'm over
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 30 now so
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 I feel like
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 I'm able
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 and old
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 enough to
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 kind of look
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 at the friends
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 around me and
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 see a trend.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 And the
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 friends of
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 mine who I
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 knew who
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 were gunning
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 for God
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 when they
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 were 20
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 have a
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 frozen love
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 of God
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 when they're
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 30.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 Not all
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 of them
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 but some
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 of them.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 And I see
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 the cooling
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 of Christian
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 hearts all
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 over the
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 world around
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 me.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 And I see
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 it in some
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 of the members
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 of this
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 church.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 I've got to
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 be honest.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 I think the
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 day is drawing
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 near.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 I read
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 Matthew 24
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 verse 12
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 and I
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 agree.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 So we
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 need to be
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 meeting together
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 more frequently.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 As the
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 passage implies
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 it's the
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 benefit of
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 meeting together
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 that we
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 actually need
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 as the
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 day is
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 drawing near.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 And the
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 benefit is
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 this.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 Have a look
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 back in our
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 passage at
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 verse 24.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 the culmination
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 of meeting
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 together will
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 be our
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 collective
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 growth in
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 love and
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 good deeds.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 That's why we
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 meet together.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 That's why we
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 need to meet
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 together more
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 frequently.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 We need to
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 heat up our
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 cooling love
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 for God
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 and for each
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 other.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 How does
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 gathering with
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 other Christians
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 grow this
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 active visible
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 love for God
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 and for each
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 other?
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 Let me
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 explain.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 We
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 fight
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 unbelief
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 together.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 Beneath
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 that target
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 of love
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 that we
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 want to
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 grow in,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 that we
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 want to
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 continue
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 in,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 is the
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 target
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 of faith.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 And the
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 opposite of
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 faith is
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 unbelief.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 Unbelief
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 infests our
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 heart and
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 chokes our
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 faith.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 Without faith
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 we have no
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 reason to
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 desire to
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 love one
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 another or
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 love our
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 saviour.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 Creeping
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 unbelief turns
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 our love
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 cold.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 But out of
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 faith,
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 love grows.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 Our faith
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 fuels courage
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 for good deeds,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 to serve,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 to act,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 to be selfless,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 to love
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 others.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 love our
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 faith.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 We must
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 help each
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 other fight
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 unbelief.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 It's the
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 one-on-one,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 it's the
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 small group,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 or it's the
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 big gathering,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 where we get
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 to eyeball
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 one another
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 and remind
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 one another
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 of God's
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 good gospel
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 and his
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 promises
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 toward us,
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 strengthening
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 one another
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 in our
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 faith.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 Look back
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 at the
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 passage,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 verse before
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 what Jimmy
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 read.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 Have a look
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 what it
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 says.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 It says,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 let us
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 together,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 let's get
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 together and
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 hold unswervingly
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 to the hope
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 that we
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 profess.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 It's
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 together that
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 unbelief can
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 be defeated
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 and so our
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 love can
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 grow.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 And ultimately,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 so that God
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 is glorified.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 We want to
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 obey God.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 We want to
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 defeat and
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 denounce the
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 habitual sin of
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 not wanting
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 to meet
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 together and
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 meet more
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 and more
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 frequently
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 together and
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 fight against
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 our love
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 growing cold.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 This is the
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 last point I
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 want to share
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 from this
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 passage.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 We need
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 to be
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 intentional
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 to gather
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 together.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 I can tell
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 you we
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 cannot
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 accidentally
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 meet up
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 enough.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 Just,
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 oh,
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 hi,
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 hi,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 just meet
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 up at
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 the shops.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 Enough,
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 as Christians,
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 for this
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 to work.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 So,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 more frequently
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 means
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 planning,
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 effort and
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 time and
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 shared commitment
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 to meeting
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 together,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 for love to
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 flourish amongst
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 us.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 Now,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 I just want to
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 pause here
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 and say that
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 I'm not
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 someone who
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 is good
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 at this
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 intentional
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 bit.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 moment.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 I once
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 had a
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 friend of
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 mine who
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 came to
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 me at
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 this point
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 where their
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 love was
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 growing so
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 cold that
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 anxiety and
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 depression and
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 doubt,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 they felt like
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 their faith was
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 being pulled
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 away from
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 them.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 And I said
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 some helpful
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 things.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 I said,
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 go to God's
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 word and
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 build your
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 confidence in
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 God.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 I said,
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 invest time
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 in prayer
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 that will
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 help you
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 assure you
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 of God's
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 love for
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 you.
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 He will
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 meet you
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 there.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 You go do
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 that.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 That's pretty
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 much what I
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 said.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 And they
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 probably
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 tried.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 But boy,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 did I miss
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 the encouragement
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 of this
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 passage.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 You see,
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 while I
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 said good
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 things,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 I could
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 have prayed
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 with them.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 I could
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 have opened
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 the Bible
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 with them.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 I could
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 have offered
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 reminders of
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 the promises
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 of God
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 with them.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 Gone with
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 them to
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 community
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 group.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 Gone with
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 them to
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 counselling.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 Gone with
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 them to
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 help build
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 peace in a
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 broken
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 relationship.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 If I'd
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 been with
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 them, it
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 would have
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 been better.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 We're
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 better off
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 when we're
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 together.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 We're
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 better off
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 when we get
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 together and
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 sing, when
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 we pray
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 together in
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 song, to
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 proclaim the
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 good news
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 loudly together
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 for all to
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 hear, for
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 people out
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 there and
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 for us to
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 hear, encouraging
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 our hearts with
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 the sounds of
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 many others in
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 agreement that
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 God is worthy
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 of our praise
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 above all
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 things.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 We're
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 better off
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 when we get
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 together and
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 pray and we
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 bring our
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 needs and
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 our petitions
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 and our
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 unbridled
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 hearts cry
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 together to
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 God.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 We're
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 better when
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 we get
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 together to
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 hear God's
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 word, discovering
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 God in the
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 Bible, discussing
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 truths that
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 unwind the
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 deceptions of
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 this world, and
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 working together
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 to read this
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 road map.
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 I don't know
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 about you, but
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 I often need
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 help figuring out
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 a map.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 I'm pretty
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 good, pretty
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 good, but I
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 don't know
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 Sydney very
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 well, and I
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 need a lot
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 of help.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 We need
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 help to
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 figure out
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 the journey
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 home.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 And at
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 St. Paul's,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 our gatherings
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 look like this.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 That's one way
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 of gathering
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 together.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 We're every
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 age group,
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 including the
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 youngest this
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 week.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 Every generation,
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 every language,
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 every culture,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 every gender,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 anyone can
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 come together
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 and celebrate
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 God.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 In our
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 community
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 groups, which
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 are even
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 more than
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 just Bible
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 study for us
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 here at St.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 Paul's, where
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 we live it
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 out together,
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 where we live
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 the Bible out
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 together and
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 pray and carry
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 one another's
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 burdens.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 And the list
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 goes on.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 Whether it be
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 catch-ups or
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 dinners or
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 coffees or
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 funerals or
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 lunch breaks,
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 in the battle
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 against unbelief,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 doing that
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 together.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 Whatever that
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 looks like at
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 St. Paul's,
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 we do that.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 We meet
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 together in
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 whatever way
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 that is.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 And we call
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 this treasuring
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 Jesus together.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 If you've been
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 around St.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 Paul's long
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 enough, or
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 even more than
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 one week, you've
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 probably heard
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 treasuring Jesus
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 together, you
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 might be tired
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 of hearing it.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 This is what it
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 says on our
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 website.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 In St.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 Paul's, we
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 believe that
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 the people
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 whom Jesus
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 has called
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 into relationship
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 with himself
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 are his
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 church and
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 not an
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 institutional
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 building.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 For in an
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 age of
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 individualism,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 we value
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 vigilance and
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 accountability
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 in treasuring
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 Jesus together.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 We are
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 convinced as
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 a church that
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 in this time,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 we need
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 each other
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 all the more,
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 like Hebrews
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 10 says.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 So let me
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 encourage you
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 to go find
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 that core value
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 outside, to go
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 read it on our
00:21:19 --> 00:21:21 website, pursue
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 love and good
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 deeds, pursue
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 love that's
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 active together
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 as we encourage
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 each other in
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 faith and foster a
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 community of love
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 that we can see
00:21:33 --> 00:21:36 and that the
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 world around us
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 can see.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 guys, gathering
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 in this way
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 glorifies God.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 Matthew 5, 16
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 says,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 let your light
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 shine before
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 others that
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 they may see
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 your good
00:21:48 --> 00:21:51 deeds and
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 glorify your
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 Father in
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 heaven.
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 Can you see
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 that the
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 gathering together
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 to fight this
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 unbelief serves
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 the purpose of
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 bringing glory to
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 God?
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 God, the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 light of our
00:22:04 --> 00:22:07 gathering, whatever
00:22:07 --> 00:22:10 way that is, helps
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 us fulfill our
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 purpose as
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 Christians as we
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 encourage one
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 another in faith and
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 grow in our
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 dependence and our
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 glorying in our
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 God who has saved
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 us together.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 As we do that, we
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 are a light to our
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 community and they
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 see God and glorify
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 him too.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:31 I think that's a
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 picture of a
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 tree in full
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 bloom in autumn
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 as the leaves
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 change that makes
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 people go, oh,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 wow.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 So that's why we
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 gather as Christians
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 at St. Paul's and
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 ultimately that we
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 grow in faith and
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 glorify God and
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 that many more
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 would too.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 As we grow in
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 faith, let me say
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 also that three
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 incredible things
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 are going to
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 increase in your
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 life if we're
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 treasuring Jesus
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 together more and
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 more.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 I can promise you
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 these.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:11 First, you are
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 going to encounter
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 God himself
00:23:14 --> 00:23:17 regularly in ways
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 that you can see
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 as easily as the
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 people sitting
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 right next to you
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 today.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:27 God's Spirit is
00:23:27 --> 00:23:30 given and stays
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 with you when you
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 become a Christian
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 and that will
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 never change.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 Jesus promised that
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 he will never leave
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 you an orphan in
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 John 14, one of my
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 favorite chapters of
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 the Bible, that his
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 Spirit would stay
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 with us.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 Christian, he is
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 with you.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 Look at verses
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 19 and 20.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:52 We are welcomed
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 into God's
00:23:53 --> 00:23:56 presence through
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 the death and
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 resurrection of his
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 Son in our place
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 and we enjoy that
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 presence of power in
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 the person of his
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 Spirit.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 And that's
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 incredible.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:11 And, and
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 there's a mysterious
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 problem in Matthew
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 18, 20 and
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 elsewhere in the
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 Bible that says,
00:24:15 --> 00:24:17 when two or more
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 are gathered in my
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 name, there will I
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 be with them.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 Two or three or
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 small or large
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 number, there
00:24:25 --> 00:24:27 Jesus will be.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 This is mysterious
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 considering God
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 has already promised
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 that with every
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 Christian he will be
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 in them.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 So what is this
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 extra thing?
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 What is it?
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 On the simplest
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 reading of it, and
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 I'm good at
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 simple.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 And the simplest
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 reading that I can
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 understand from that
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 extra promise that
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 when people meet
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 together, Jesus
00:24:53 --> 00:24:56 would be there, I
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 think Jesus is
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 saying something
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 like this.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 I might be putting
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 words in his mouth,
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 but I think these
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 would be true.
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 I think Jesus is
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 saying, I am
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 living and working
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 in each of your
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 lives, and when
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 you were together,
00:25:14 --> 00:25:17 you will see me in
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 each other.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 When your brother
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 shows up and hugs
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 you, when he hears
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 your nan has passed
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 away, I am there.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 When your sister
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 forces you to take a
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 home-cooked meal
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 because she wants to
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 take one thing off
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 your infinite list
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 because your husband's
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 away and you've got
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 three kids at home on
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 your own, I am there.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:41 Whenever you see the
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 love of God displayed
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 in each other, I am
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 there.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:49 Guys, when we fight
00:25:49 --> 00:25:51 sin together, fail
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 and grow together,
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 rebuke and restore
00:25:54 --> 00:25:57 one another, as Jesus
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 shapes us and we
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 gather, then we see
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 him in each other.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 Jesus isn't
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 promising some
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 second level, a
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 second phase of
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 the presence of
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 God.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 Rather, we see the
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 evidence of his
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 work in each other
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 and he is more
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 present and more
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 visible in each
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 other.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 We encounter God
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 when we get
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 together, when we
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 gather, as we see
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 Jesus' work in each
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 of our lives, in a
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 way that we can't if
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 we're on our own.
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 The second
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 incredible thing that
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 I want to promise
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 you guys is that
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 when we gather, we're
00:26:40 --> 00:26:42 going to be stronger
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 and sharper together.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 Ecclesiastes 4,
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 verse 10 to 12,
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 says,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 two are better than
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 one because they
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 have a good return
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 for their labour.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 If either of them
00:26:55 --> 00:26:57 falls down, one can
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 help the other up.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 But pity anyone who
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 falls down and has no
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 one to help him up.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:04 Also, if two lie
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 down together, they'll
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 keep warm.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:08 But how can one
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 keep warm alone?
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 Though one may be
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 overpowered, two can
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 defend themselves and
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 a cord of three
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 strands is not
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 easily broken.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 We are stronger
00:27:21 --> 00:27:23 together because when
00:27:23 --> 00:27:27 you, when you are
00:27:27 --> 00:27:29 doing well as a
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Christian and full of
00:27:30 --> 00:27:32 faith, you are able
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 to extend your hand
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 to someone who is
00:27:35 --> 00:27:37 not and together
00:27:37 --> 00:27:40 fight unbelief.
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 And you, you are
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 stronger because in
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 your darkest hour,
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 you're not alone.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 And you can rely on
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 your brothers and
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 sisters who will step
00:27:52 --> 00:27:54 into your mess with
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 you and be there
00:27:55 --> 00:27:58 and remind you of
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 God's promises and
00:27:59 --> 00:28:01 call you to keep the
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03 faith with them.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 We're stronger
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 together and we're
00:28:05 --> 00:28:07 sharper together.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:10 Proverbs 27, 17.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 As iron sharpens
00:28:12 --> 00:28:14 iron, so one person
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 sharpens another.
00:28:16 --> 00:28:19 consider Sam Lowe,
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 right?
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 He's not here, so
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 this is easy.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:27 He has an incredible
00:28:27 --> 00:28:29 gift for getting to
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31 the heart of a big
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 chunk of a complicated
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 section of this.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:37 And this way of
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 gently explaining it,
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 there's never
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 condescending or
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 arrogant or self
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 glorifying.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 He invites joy in the
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 complicated passages
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 and fosters our
00:28:46 --> 00:28:48 excitement in the
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 Word of God.
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 So that the next
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 time that I read my
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 Bible, I have this
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 renewed zeal and
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 understanding in it.
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 Now I can tell you
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 that unlike him, I'm
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 not good at that.
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 I can tell you what I
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 think, but I'm not
00:29:03 --> 00:29:05 sharp like Sam is.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 Because Sam's care
00:29:06 --> 00:29:08 for me, for you,
00:29:08 --> 00:29:10 for us, to know the
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 God behind the words
00:29:12 --> 00:29:16 makes me want to do
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 the same.
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 It sharpens me.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 When I get the
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 chance to lead and
00:29:20 --> 00:29:22 encourage people in
00:29:22 --> 00:29:26 the Word, I want to
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 do the same.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 When Sam explains the
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 Bible to me, I'm
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 rebuked and encouraged,
00:29:33 --> 00:29:35 but I'm learning and
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 I'm glorifying God for
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 him and I'm being
00:29:37 --> 00:29:39 sharpened so that when
00:29:39 --> 00:29:43 I do the same, his
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 iron sharpens me.
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 We're stronger and
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 we're sharper together.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 And lastly, I think
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 this is the most
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 exciting thing.
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 I can promise all of
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 you that when you
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 gather together, you
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 are going to get a
00:29:55 --> 00:29:57 glimpse of heaven
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 itself.
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03 We're headed home up
00:30:03 --> 00:30:05 this mountain pass where
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 it looks like it snows
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 because it's got a
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 yellow dotted line.
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 But we're headed home
00:30:09 --> 00:30:12 to heaven where we're
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 going to be together
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 with God.
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 Now, this is an
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 amazing passage to
00:30:17 --> 00:30:19 read on a day like
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 Palm Sunday.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 Revelation chapter
00:30:21 --> 00:30:24 7 from verse 9.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:43 We're going to be
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 gathered around his
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 throne, singing and
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 praising and
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 worshipping and
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 sharing our eternal
00:30:48 --> 00:30:50 joy and closeness to
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 God, beholding his
00:30:51 --> 00:30:53 perfection, holiness and
00:30:53 --> 00:30:55 majesty together.
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 All peoples together,
00:30:58 --> 00:31:00 all preferences of
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 worship, all together.
00:31:03 --> 00:31:05 I really do find it
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 beautiful and humbling
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 that I get to read that
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 passage on Palm Sunday
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 when we remember, like
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 Jeevi said, that
00:31:10 --> 00:31:12 foreshadowing that one
00:31:12 --> 00:31:14 day Jesus, like when he
00:31:14 --> 00:31:16 rode into Jerusalem, is
00:31:16 --> 00:31:18 going to save and unite
00:31:18 --> 00:31:20 all the people as
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 their king.
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 And while today we
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 might not have palm
00:31:23 --> 00:31:26 branches, it's an
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 amazing thing to look
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 forward to.
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 If we're going to
00:31:30 --> 00:31:35 gather together in
00:31:35 --> 00:31:37 heaven like that, that
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 makes our little
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 imperfect gatherings like
00:31:40 --> 00:31:42 right now an
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 opportunity to get a
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 glimpse, a sketch, a
00:31:44 --> 00:31:47 brief little flash of the
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 gloriously bright future
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 that's in store for us.
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 Now, I've got to say,
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 our gatherings are not
00:31:51 --> 00:31:54 perfect and not
00:31:54 --> 00:31:57 anywhere near the hope
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 we have in store for
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 us in heaven.
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 But I've got to say that
00:32:02 --> 00:32:04 everyone together singing
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 wholeheartedly to God of
00:32:06 --> 00:32:08 his wondrous grace toward
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 us, you can't tell me
00:32:09 --> 00:32:11 that's not a little
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 picture of heaven, a
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 little glimpse.
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 The last few times we've
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 had heartbeat and people
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 have been praying, it's
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 been impossible to stop
00:32:19 --> 00:32:21 you from praying.
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 The night just goes on
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 and on and on and on.
00:32:25 --> 00:32:27 Those prayers are like an
00:32:27 --> 00:32:29 echo that bounce down this
00:32:29 --> 00:32:31 road, calling us on,
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 showing us what's going to
00:32:32 --> 00:32:35 happen soon, reminding us
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 of where we're going to go.
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 And finally, let me just
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 encourage you in this.
00:32:40 --> 00:32:51 Hebrews 3, verse 12,
00:32:51 --> 00:32:54 see to it, brothers and
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 sisters, that none of you
00:32:55 --> 00:32:57 has a sinful, unbelieving
00:32:57 --> 00:32:59 heart that turns away from
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 the living God.
00:33:00 --> 00:33:02 But encourage one another
00:33:02 --> 00:33:06 daily, as long as it is
00:33:06 --> 00:33:09 called today, that none of
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 you may be hardened by
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 sin's deceitfulness.
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 Unbelief is fought
00:33:14 --> 00:33:17 together, daily.
00:33:19 --> 00:33:21 Christian gatherings of
00:33:21 --> 00:33:24 all kinds is our daily
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 encouragement.
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 It's our daily goal.
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 It's what gets us out of
00:33:27 --> 00:33:29 bed in the morning, in the
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 pursuit of glorifying God
00:33:30 --> 00:33:33 and loving him, each other
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 and loving the world around
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 us.
00:33:34 --> 00:33:38 So here, Hebrews 10, obey,
00:33:38 --> 00:33:41 meet together, get out of
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 the habit of going through
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 life and doing it alone.
00:33:45 --> 00:33:47 Chase more time together,
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 because we desperately need
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 it.
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 Getting up every day with
00:33:50 --> 00:33:52 your purpose in mind and
00:33:52 --> 00:33:55 intentionally building one
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 another up in faith.
00:33:56 --> 00:33:58 Fight your own unbelief with
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 others.
00:34:00 --> 00:34:02 We're given this beautiful
00:34:02 --> 00:34:04 gift, guys, this mess of
00:34:04 --> 00:34:06 random, beautiful, purposeful
00:34:06 --> 00:34:08 people that I see here this
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 morning.
00:34:09 --> 00:34:11 We see God in these people.
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 We're strengthened and
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 sharpened by them.
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 And we get a glimpse of
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 heaven when we get together
00:34:16 --> 00:34:16 with them.
00:34:18 --> 00:34:20 So this week, every day, go
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 and do one of all of these
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 together.
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 Together.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 Celebrate.
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 Proclaim.
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 Praise.
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 Pray.
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 Preach.
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 Confess.
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 Change.
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 Love.
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 Serve.
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 Grow.
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 Enjoy.
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 Feel.
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 Share.
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 Support.
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 Disciple.
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 Baptize.
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 Sing.
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 Give.
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 Honor.
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 Sweat.
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 Struggle.
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 Weep.
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 Care.
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 Carry.
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 Bow.
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 Gasp.
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 Laugh.
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 Turn.
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 Marry.
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 Welcome.
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 Commission.
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 Hug.
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 Dance.
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 Eat.
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 Drink.
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 Cook.
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 Clean.
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 Build.
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 Study.
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 Discuss.
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 Discover.
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 Rebuke.
00:34:51 --> 00:34:51 Restore.
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 Light.
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 Amplify.
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 Paint.
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 Design.
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 Record.
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 Retell.
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 Treasure.
00:35:00 --> 00:35:00 Jesus.
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 Together.
00:35:03 --> 00:35:11 And maybe as you see the autumn leaves changing colour or as you sweep them up this autumn and shake your head.
00:35:12 --> 00:35:14 Remember that we're on this journey home together.
00:35:16 --> 00:35:21 And we hold unswervingly together to the hope that we profess.
00:35:22 --> 00:35:24 For he who promised is faithful to us.
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 Amen.
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 Amen.