Gifts to Serve
Series: SERVE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 9th November 2019
Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Well, good morning. Keep your Bibles open there at Ephesians chapter 4.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:11 And I've got a sermon outline as well, which you can get on the St. Paul's app,
00:00:11 --> 00:00:12 or if you want one in your hand, there's one there.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:20 And I'm probably following something along that, but who knows, after 17 hours on a flight, we'll see how we go.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:27 Our world has changed quite a lot in the past 75 to 80 years.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:37 For instance, our consumer mentality since the end of World War II has had a positive impact
00:00:37 --> 00:00:44 in that it's helped us kick industry along really well in such a way that the standard of living has risen not just in the West,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:46 but in fact in the world generally.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:54 But the same mentality has also had quite a detrimental impact on society.
00:00:54 --> 00:01:01 Classic example of this is the shift that's happened in advertising and in, for instance,
00:01:01 --> 00:01:07 as one example, military recruitment advertising since World War II today.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:11 And it gives you a picture of the way society has moved.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:17 During World War II, you may have been familiar with this if you were there, which you probably weren't.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:21 But during World War II, there was advertising like,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:25 Uncle Sam wants you in the US.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:26 You've got this sort of stuff.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 I want you.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:31 Another one was the call to duty,
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 to join the army for home and country.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:36 It's my duty.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:37 I'm doing it.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:38 Are you doing it?
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 So it's a guilt people into fulfillment of a duty.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:49 So you sign up and you fulfill your duty to country, to the nation for the good of humanity,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 unless, of course, you are a woman.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 And then in that case, the advertising was,
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 I wish I was a man so that I could fulfill my duty.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 I'm making no comment on that whatsoever.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:06 Similar advertising operated throughout the United States,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, other places like that.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:14 Now, military advertising is this.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:16 Be number one.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 It's about you.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:19 It's focused on you.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:25 Or you be all you can be and come and join the armed forces.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:27 We need you.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:32 And in its worst case, there's this running in the United Kingdom at the moment.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 You, me, me, me, millennials out there,
00:02:35 --> 00:02:39 the military needs you for your self-belief.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:45 We're desperate for you, you-centered people to come and be part of us.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 We are lost without you.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 Be all you can be.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:50 And it's no longer about duty.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 It's no longer about anyone else.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 It's no longer about society, about your country.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:56 It's about you.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 Advertisement is you focus.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 It's a massive shift.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:07 I suppose it should not come as a surprise,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:15 since it's a direct result of the expressive individualism of modern Western culture,
00:03:16 --> 00:03:22 which has replaced the community-first loyalties of previous generations,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 former generations.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:28 Individuals have been taught to be consumers,
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 not only of retailers and merchants,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 but also of institutions and organizations.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:45 Individuals have been shaped by the culture to think of their own happiness and prosperity first,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:55 and to avoid letting commitments to any group or institution become a barrier to finding personal fulfillment.
00:03:56 --> 00:04:07 The concept of service and sacrifice are viewed as psychologically unhealthy in the West.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 One of the things that church planters did,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:14 this is back in the 1990s, around the 2000s,
00:04:14 --> 00:04:18 when the church growth movement was on its peak.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 One of the things they did as a result of the church growth movement
00:04:22 --> 00:04:27 was conduct neighborhood surveys in advance of going in and planting a church into a neighborhood
00:04:27 --> 00:04:33 to see what the values of that neighborhood were
00:04:33 --> 00:04:39 and how the new church could come in and connect with those values.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:46 They would start, get out there, meet the neighborhood,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:52 and the assumption was that if we could start a church to meet the values of our neighborhood,
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 then people would just flock into that.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:58 One neighborhood, having done one of these surveys,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 one pastor went and did these surveys,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 and one neighborhood said that the church that they were looking for,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:09 bottom line, would never ask them to do anything.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 That's the church they're looking for.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 Never make demands on me.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 Never call me to a commitment.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:22 We don't want to minister to anyone we expect to be ministered to.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 Well, there's a great foundation to start a church.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:33 Our modern society, as well as many, I think some churches,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:38 potentially many churches, many members of churches,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:44 are on a collision course with the one who redefined greatness for us.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:53 I come not to be served, but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 That's the foundation of our existence.
00:05:56 --> 00:06:03 Now, if you've just joined us, we're in our annual vision series.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:07 We are in Ephesians because this letter is about the church,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 it's about who we are as a people.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 We are God's new society.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 We are God's family, a new creation, a new humanity,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 characterized not by walls of hostility and division,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 but by unity and peace.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 And we saw in the first couple of chapters of Ephesians
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 that we have, as a new humanity,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 these wonderful blessings in the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:35 It's because of the good news of what Jesus has achieved for us.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 It's the gospel.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 It's on the back of your service sheet.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 And the gospel, this good news,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:46 is the foundation of what we believe at St. Paul's,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 and it is life-changing.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 Let me just put it to you in case you haven't got time to read it.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:55 The gospel is the good news that God sent his son,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 the Lord Jesus Christ, in the world to live a perfect life,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 to die as a substitute for sinners,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 to absorb the anger of God,
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 to take away our guilt and our shame,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 provide the gift of right standing before God,
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 and to give eternal life and joy
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone,
00:07:14 --> 00:07:18 apart from any works of obedience on our behalf.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:21 And that statement,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 from that statement,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 from the grasping of that gospel,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:31 multitudes of blessings flow to those who embraced it in Jesus.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 As we saw last week,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 one of those is,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:40 God transforms our character in such a way
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 that he becomes our new identity
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 and he fills us up from the inside
00:07:46 --> 00:07:49 and grows us in humility at the very least.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 So we're back in Ephesians 4 today.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 We're going to spend three weeks here.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 And to see that the gospel,
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 through the gospel,
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 because of the gospel,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 God also doesn't just fill us up
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 and give us a new identity and a character,
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 but also gives us gifts,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 his gifts,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 to serve.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 We saw it in chapter 2, verse 10.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 As a consequence of God's work of salvation,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 it says,
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 we are God's handiwork,
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 created in Christ Jesus,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 to do good works,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 which God prepared in advance for us to do.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 Now, I've been emphasizing our unity in Jesus
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 over the past couple of weeks.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 Now, let's have a look at our diversity.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 We are not clones.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 Yes, there is one faith, one baptism,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:44 but our unity does not mean uniformity.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 In verse 7, Paul writes,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 to each of us,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:54 grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 And grace here means the ability to perform
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 the task that God has given us to do.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 In chapter 3, verses 7 and 8,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 Paul says that his apostleship
00:09:09 --> 00:09:13 came with the gift of God's grace.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 The point for us is this.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:21 Each of us who are in Jesus
00:09:21 --> 00:09:25 has received this enabling grace
00:09:25 --> 00:09:31 in the exact proportion that Christ gave it.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 And the message of this verse
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 is that that's all of us who are in Jesus.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 No exceptions at all.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:45 All of us have a serving grace
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 which has been given to us
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 by Christ in perfect measure.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:55 That is, we all have a special part to perform.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 Some have put the diversity of gifts
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 that have been given
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 to God's people from Jesus
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 into three broad categories.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 Prophetic gifts,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 priestly gifts,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 and kingly gifts.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 Prophetic gifts are abilities
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 based on understanding
00:10:17 --> 00:10:20 and articulating biblical truth.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 They are the gifts
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 that represent God to others.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 The gifts that represent God to others.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 And are marked by boldness and clarity.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 Things like evangelism,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 teaching, speaking, discernment, prophecy.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 Priestly gifts
00:10:35 --> 00:10:39 are abilities based on understanding
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 a supply
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 and to supply basic needs.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 To understand and supply basic needs.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 They represent God to the world.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 And are marked by things like
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 sympathy and sacrifice and care,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 encouragement,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 helping, pastoring, mercy,
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 those kinds of things.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 Kingly gifts
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 are abilities based on
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 understanding direction
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 and whole group needs.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 They represent Christ's vision,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 his vision,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 to others.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 And are marked by wisdom,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 practicality,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 leadership,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 things like apostles,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:23 founders of ministries,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 leadership,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 administration,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 wisdom,
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 faith,
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 courage.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 when you put it all together,
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 and I think one of the
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 clues here
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 is that it is
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 very rare,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 extremely rare
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 for anyone
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 to have all three
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 of those categories
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 in equal measure.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 Extremely rare.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:52 when you put it all together,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 each person's
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 person's gifting
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 is as unique
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 as a thumbprint.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 The implication
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 is that there is a ministry
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 that only you
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 can do.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 Spiritual gifts
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 fit you
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 for the mission
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 in life
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 that God
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 has given you.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:16 Paul goes on
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 to say
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 in verses
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 8 and 10
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 that not only
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 do we have
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 a special grace,
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 but our
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 individual graces
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 have
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 a spectacular
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 origin.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 Have a look at it.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 Verse 8.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 This is why it says
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 when he ascended
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 on high,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 he led captives
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 in his train
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 and gave gifts
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 to men.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 What does
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 he ascended
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 mean?
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 Except that
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 he also
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 descended
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 to the lower
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 earthly regions.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 He who
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 descended
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 is the very one
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 who ascended
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 higher than
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 all the heavens
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 in order to
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 fill the whole
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 universe.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 Now what Paul
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 is doing there,
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 he's borrowing
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 a line
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 from
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 Psalm
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 68
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 verse 18.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 In Psalm
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 68
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 verses 16
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 17
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 just before
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 it,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 God
00:13:12 --> 00:13:15 sets
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 his
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 sight
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 on
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 Mount
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 Zion
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 and moves
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 as it says
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 there
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 with tens
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 of thousands
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and thousands
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 of thousands
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 of chariots
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 up the slopes
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 of Jerusalem
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 in victory
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 leading
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 captives
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 in his train
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 and receiving
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 gifts
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 from
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 humanity.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 So Paul
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 takes that
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 image
00:13:45 --> 00:13:48 and
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 he shifts
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 it.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 He changes
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 it from
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 the conquering
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 king to
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 Jerusalem
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 receiving
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 gifts from
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 humanity
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 for being
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 the conquering
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 king
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 to now
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 the conquering
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 king
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 throwing out,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 casting out
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 gifts to
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 humanity.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 The triumphant
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 Christ
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 gave
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 gifts
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 to people.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 He's simply
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 borrowing the
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 image of
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 Psalm 68
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 and applying it
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 to Christ
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 coming into
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 this world
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 and his
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 return to
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 heaven.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 The fact
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 that he
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 ascended
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 is another
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 way of
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 indicating
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 the humiliation,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 his humility
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 of coming
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 into
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 this world.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 His
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 descent
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 to earth
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 meant that
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 he set
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 aside
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 the
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 independent
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 exercises
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 or the
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 independent
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 exercise
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 of his
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 eternal
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 divine
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 attributes.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 Submitting
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 the exercise
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 of those
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 attributes
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 to the
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 father's
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 will.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 he went
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 down
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 and down
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 and down
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 in humility
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 and became
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 man.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 And he
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 went further
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 down still
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 to death
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 on a cross.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 This is
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 Philippians
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 chapter 2.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 Death
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 on the cross
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 and actually
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 becoming sin
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 for us.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 But then
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 he burst
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 up in
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 exultation
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 so that now
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 he fills
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 the whole
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 universe
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 as the
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 conquering
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 king
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 and joyously
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 lavishes
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 gifts upon
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 his children.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 And what
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 are the
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 gifts
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 he gives
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 his
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 children?
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 His
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 gifts
00:15:42 --> 00:15:45 as
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 prophet,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 priest
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 and king.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 He gives
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 abundant
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 gifts
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 to his
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 church
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 and gives
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 his people
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 power to
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 fulfill
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 their
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 gifts.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 The gifts
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 and enabling
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 grace which
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 we have
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 have been
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 given to
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 us by the
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 conquering king
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 as he has
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 apportioned
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 them.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 They come
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 from the
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 conquering king.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 There's no
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 room for
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 rivalry and
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 jealousy here.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:17 they are
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 given with
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 great
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 expectation on
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 his part
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 for he
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 expects us
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 to use
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 those gifts
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 to bring
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 power and
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 victory in
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 the church.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 He expects
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 those gifts
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 to be used
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 to advance
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 his work
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 in the
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 world.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 Not your
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 glory.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:48 gifts he
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 gives us
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 are his
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 gifting to
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 complete his
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 mission.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 We carry
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 on his
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 work.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 At the
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 beginning of
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 the book
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 of Acts,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 it says
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 there,
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 Luke says
00:16:58 --> 00:17:02 about his
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 gospel,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 we've heard
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 already about
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 all that
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 Jesus began
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 to do
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 and teach.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 And now
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 in the
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 book of
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 Acts,
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 his mission
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 continues on
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 as he
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 continues to
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 do and
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 teach through
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 his disciples
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 in the
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 world.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 The use
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 of the
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 gifts of
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 grace that
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 God has
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 apportioned
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 to us
00:17:26 --> 00:17:29 is also,
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 according to
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 Ephesians 4,
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 how we make
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 every effort
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 to maintain
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 the unity
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 that we have
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 in Jesus.
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 So,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 first of
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 all,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 character,
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 growing
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 downward as
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 Jesus did
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 in humility,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 bearing with
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 one another
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 in love,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:48 and also
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 the exercising
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 of gifts
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 to one
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 another.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 The bottom
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 line here is
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 that every
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 Christian is
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 in ministry
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 through the
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 church.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 No one,
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 no one,
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 did you hear
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 it?
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 Let me just
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 say,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 how was it?
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 Not a
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 single soul
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 who is
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 in Christ
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 is merely
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 a consumer
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 of services.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 Everyone
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 is also
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 a distributor
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 of services.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 Although we
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 are different
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 in the
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 ministry,
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 we do.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 Ephesians 4,
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 verses 11 and
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 12 gives us
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 a glimpse
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 into the
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 relationship.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 It's just a
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 brief glimpse.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 There's other
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 bits of the
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 New Testament
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 unpacked this,
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 but a brief
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 glimpse,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 relationship
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 between church
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 leaders and
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 church members,
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 between those
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 who are in
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 vocational
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 ministry and
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 those who
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 are as
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 members of
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 the church.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 Verse 11
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 reads,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 Christ himself
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 gave the
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 apostles,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 the prophets,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 the evangelists,
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 the pastors,
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 and the
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 teachers.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 So why
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 did Christ
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 give these
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 to the
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 church?
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 Verse 12,
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 to equip
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 his people
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 for works
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 of service.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 The word
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 service there
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 is interchangeable
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 with the
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 word ministry.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 What's the
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 end goal
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 of God
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 giving church
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 leaders to
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 equip his
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 people for
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 the ministry?
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 Verse 12
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 again.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 Keep reading.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 So that the
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 body of
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 Christ
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 may be
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 built.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 Christ
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 gives the
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 leaders to
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 equip the
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 members for
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 the works
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 of ministry
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 in such a
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 way that the
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 whole body
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 of Christ
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 gets built.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 We all
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 have a
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 ministry.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 Leaders
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 have primarily
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 an equipping
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 ministry and
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 members have
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 primarily a
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 doing ministry
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 but we all
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 are called to
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 minister together
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 as Christ
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 has apportioned
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 it to build
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 his church.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 So we
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 should not
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 think of
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 the local
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 church as
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 being the
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 manly
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 ferry.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 On the
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 ferry you
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 get on the
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 ferry and
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 you have a
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 few staff who
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 get you from
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 point A to
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 point B or
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 it's like the
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 airplane that a
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 few of us just
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 flew back on
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 yesterday.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 The vast
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 majority of
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 people sitting
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 on that
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 airplane are
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 passengers.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 We're getting
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 fed and
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 watered and
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 everything else
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 and there's a
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 few people up
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 the front doing
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 the driving of
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 the thing,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 flying of it,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 whatever you want
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 to call it,
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 and a few other
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 people helping
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 out, get on,
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 people serving
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 snacks and
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 cleaning stuff
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 up.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 But the vast
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 majority are
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 consumers of
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 services.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 Everyone else is
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 sitting there
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 passively in the
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 seats, awaiting
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 to arrive the
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 destination and
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 taking some
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 photos along the
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 way.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:55 The local
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 church is
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 much more
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 like a
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 sailing boat
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 in the
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 Sydney to
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 Hobart yacht
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 race.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 Everyone on
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 board has a
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 crucial role
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 to play and
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 frankly there are
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 no passengers
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 on those
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 yachts heading
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 to Hobart once
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 a year.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 No passengers
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 catching a lift
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 to Hobart to
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 visit some
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 family.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 You're a dead
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 weight is what
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 you are.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 The captain's
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 job on that
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 is to set
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 the course,
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 to direct the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 crew, to do
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 their part and
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 to work together
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 to reach a
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 goal.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 All of God's
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 people are
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 called to be a
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 corporate
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 priesthood,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 either an
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 equipping ministry
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 or a doing
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 ministry.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 Throughout
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 history the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 church has been
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 built on a
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 foundation of
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 diversity.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:53 It was
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 interesting to
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 hear one
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 person at
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 the conference
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 say their
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 biggest loss
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00 in their
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 church,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 the biggest
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 loss in their
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 church when
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 they moved from
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 being a
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 monocultural
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 church to a
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 multi-ethnic
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 church,
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 they said was
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 from the
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 majority culture
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 that had been
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 used to being
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 served and a
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 multi-ethnic
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 church now meant
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 we needed to
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 serve one
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 another.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 And so they
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 just upped and
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 moved to a
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 church where
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 they would get
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 the services
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 they heard,
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 the music they
00:22:28 --> 00:22:31 wanted, the
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 liturgy they
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 wanted.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 They just upped
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 and moved.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 The foundation
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 for them was
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 I am here to
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 be served.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 God works
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 with diversity
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 and quite
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 ironically he
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 uses that to
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 build our
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 unity.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 Did you notice
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 that in verse
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 12?
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 So that the
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 body of Christ
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 may be built
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 up until we
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 all reach
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 unity in the
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 faith and in
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 the knowledge of
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 the Son of God
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 and become
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 mature.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 It's a
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 beautiful image.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 The image I
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 have here is
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 of an
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 orchestra.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 Now I'm
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 fairly clueless
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 when it comes
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 to music.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 I don't
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 have a lot
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 of skill
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 set in that
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 regard.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 The first
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 time I went
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 to watch an
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 orchestra was
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 at the Sydney
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 Opera House
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 and I did it
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 to impress Nat.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 That's the
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 reason I was
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 there.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 In fact I
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 might have
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 even bought
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 the tickets
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 in order to
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 be even more
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 impressive.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 If I went to
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 watch an
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 orchestra nowadays
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 it would be to
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 impress Nat.
00:23:36 --> 00:23:40 I do remember
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 sitting in my
00:23:40 --> 00:23:42 seat at the
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 Sydney Opera
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 House and
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 watching them
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 tune and warm
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 up before the
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 whole thing got
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 going.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 It was like
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 all this
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 racket of
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 noise that was
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 going on.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 It did not
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 sound right at
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 all.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 Then the
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 conductor
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 walked on
00:23:58 --> 00:24:01 and started.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 Wow.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 It was
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 music.
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 All their
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 little different
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 bits coming
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 together.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 All the
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 diversity of
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 instruments coming
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 together and
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 it was
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 fantastic.
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 And I
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 enjoyed it.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 God's design
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 for us is to
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 be different.
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 But when we
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 get put
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 together we
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 come up with
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 a harmony
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 that is
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 absolutely
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 impossible
00:24:35 --> 00:24:37 when we're
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 all the
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 same.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 That's the
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 genius of
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 God.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 It's because
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 we are so
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 different that
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 we need
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 each other.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 That means
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 we are all
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 involved in
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 the ministry
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 to prepare
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 God's people
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 for works
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 of service.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 When you
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 use your
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 gifts that
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 God has
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 given you to
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 strengthen me
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 instead of
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 gratifying
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 yourself and
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 when I use
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 my God
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 given gifts
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 to strengthen
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 you instead
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 of gratifying
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 myself,
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 then our
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 diversity will
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 build us
00:25:10 --> 00:25:12 up into a
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 beautiful harmony
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 in truth and
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 love rather
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 than fragmenting
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 us.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 Serving is
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 putting the
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 needs of
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 others ahead
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 of our own
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 or putting
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 the needs of
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 the community
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 ahead of our
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 individual needs.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 things.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 And this
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 day of
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 age of
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 consumerism,
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 what Jesus
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 is saying
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 here, what
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 Paul is
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 saying here
00:25:38 --> 00:25:40 is like a
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 fist in
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 the face.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 This is so
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 countercultural
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 what we're
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 seeking to do
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 here.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 Totally
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 countercultural.
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 Why would
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 you do
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 this?
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 Well, there
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 are a few
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 personal benefits.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 benefits.
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 The first
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 benefit is
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 self-knowledge.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 Don't think
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 you know your
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 real gifts and
00:26:03 --> 00:26:05 capacities until
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 you do a
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 whole lot of
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 humble serving
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 in many
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 different capacities
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 across generations
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 and across
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 cultures.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 Don't think you
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 know your true
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 self until that
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 happens.
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 We've already
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 seen this in
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 this series
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 already.
00:26:17 --> 00:26:20 only as you
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 do that
00:26:22 --> 00:26:25 with others
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 you'll come to
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 understand your
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 own self more.
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 The second
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 benefit is
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 community.
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 When you
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 approach the
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 church as a
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 consumer, that
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 is only to
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 get your
00:26:33 --> 00:26:35 needs met,
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 only to get
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 your needs
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 met, you
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 are in
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 solitary mode
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 of being.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 Solitary mode
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 of being.
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 And you know
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 what happens?
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 You sit on
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 the sideline
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 complaining that
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 your needs are
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 never getting
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 met.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 You come
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 with a
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 consumer mindset
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 and you'll be
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 critical of the
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 church because
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 they're never
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 meeting your
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 needs.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 They're never
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 coming up to
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 standard.
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 It's a
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 consistent thing.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 And then you
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 walk out the
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 door and go,
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 I'm on the
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 conveyor belt to
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 leave because I'm
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 not here to serve,
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 not here to connect,
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 not here to build
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 anyone.
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 I'm on the
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 conveyor belt to
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 leave to the
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 next church.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 Throwing grenades
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 at the
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 previous one
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 until you
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 discover that
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 the next church
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 you go to has
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 got exactly the
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 same problems.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 And the
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 problem is
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 you.
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 You're a
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 consumer.
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 When you
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 reject the
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 consumer mindset,
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 serving will
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 draw you out of
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 yourself and
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 into relationships.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 relationships.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 The third
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 benefit is the
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 fulfillment and
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 joy of those
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 relationships and
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 especially seeing
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 others touched
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 through you.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 Deb highlighted
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 this last week.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 Or seeing
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 something great
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 happening through
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 the part that
00:27:55 --> 00:27:57 you play in
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 the body of
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 Christ.
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 Paradoxically,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 if you serve
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03 primarily for the
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 benefits to
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 yourself, then
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 it actually isn't
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 serving and you
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 don't get the
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 benefits.
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 The only
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 workable dynamic
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 for every member
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 ministry is
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 Mark 10, 45
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 and the
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 standard that
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 Jesus set.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 Because Jesus
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 served you in
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 such a radical
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 way, you have a
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 joyful need to
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 serve.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:29 It's a form of
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 praise that
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 doesn't fully
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 enjoy what
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34 admires until
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 it expresses
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 itself in
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 service.
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 service.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 So, finally,
00:28:40 --> 00:28:42 this is all
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 going to
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 encourage you to
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 sign up to
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 serve.
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 I want to
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 suggest three
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 broad ways
00:28:49 --> 00:28:51 that, ways to
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 serve God at
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 this church, which
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 would be the
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 same as any
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 church, but let
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 me make it
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 specific about
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 this church.
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 James has
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 already mentioned
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 them, time,
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 talents and
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 treasures.
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 Firstly, time.
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 Easiest way to
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 serve God with
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 your time is
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 frankly to turn
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 up and engage
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 with another
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 individual who's
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 different from
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 you.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 That's the
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 easiest way.
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 Don't
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 underestimate the
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 role you play
00:29:14 --> 00:29:16 by turning up
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 and going across
00:29:17 --> 00:29:19 barriers to
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 engage with
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 another individual.
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 Take the time to
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 talk, to
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 encourage, to
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 listen, to
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 pray.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 As you speak the
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 truth in love to
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 them, you are
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 ministering to
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 them.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 When you think of
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 ministry at a
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 church, we
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 normally think of
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 formal ministry
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 sense, a
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 position on a
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 team or a
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 specific role on
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 a roster or
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 something like
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 that.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 That's a very
00:29:41 --> 00:29:44 small portion of
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 the ministry that
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 happens at St.
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 Paul's.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 A small portion.
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 And it's not the
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 starting point for
00:29:54 --> 00:29:57 ministry, nor the
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 end point of
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 ministry.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 The informal
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 ministry is what
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03 happens outside of
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 the formal
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 structures and
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 gatherings of
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 St.
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 Paul's.
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 And it is
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 absolutely crucial
00:30:08 --> 00:30:13 for building each
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 other up.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 It takes time, it
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 takes effort.
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 But ministry
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 doesn't stop there
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 though.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 And I do want to
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 encourage you to
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 join a ministry
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 team.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 And it's already
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 been pointed out
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 there on the
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 wall.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 You can grab
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 some information.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 There's a table
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 out in the middle
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 of the atrium to
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 sign up and get
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 involved.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 involved.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 I would say do
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 it today.
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 We're going to
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 keep hitting you
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 with it the next
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 time it is, but do
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 it today.
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 Get involved.
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 Say no to my
00:30:38 --> 00:30:40 selfishness.
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 Say no to my
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 individuality and get
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 involved in others.
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 You're also
00:30:54 --> 00:30:56 accountable for your
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 time to others.
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 service.
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 When you're part of
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 a ministry team,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 you don't put the
00:31:01 --> 00:31:06 time in, then
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 others have to
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 carry the load.
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 There might be an
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 opportunity for some
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 of you who, because
00:31:12 --> 00:31:14 of life circumstances,
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 are able to give
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 larger chunks of
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 time and ministry
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 to this church.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 In a previous
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 church I belonged
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 to, a teacher
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 retired.
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 In fact, he was
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 my science
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 teacher.
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 Not that I
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 tried to remind
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 him of that.
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 We didn't have a
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 great relationship.
00:31:31 --> 00:31:34 But he retired at
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 normal retirement age
00:31:35 --> 00:31:38 for a teacher and
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 immediately got
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 himself ordained into
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 the Anglican church to
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 serve his local church
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 in a full-time
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 capacity, now that
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 he'd retired.
00:31:45 --> 00:31:47 And he still
00:31:47 --> 00:31:49 ministers there in
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 his early 80s,
00:31:50 --> 00:31:52 still ministers, I
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 think, four days a
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 week doing ministry
00:31:54 --> 00:31:57 in that church as
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 part of the staff
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 team.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 Secondly, talents.
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 Bibles uses the
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 language of gifts.
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 I'm going to launch
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 more into this a bit
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 next week and we
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 talked about it
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 already today, so I'm
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 not going to go
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 further into talents
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 and gifts.
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 Third, and the
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 final way you can
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 serve God in this
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 world is with your
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 treasure.
00:32:15 --> 00:32:21 next Sunday is, no,
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 two Sundays time is
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 Vision Sunday.
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 It's Vision Sunday
00:32:27 --> 00:32:29 where we ask our
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 people here at St.
00:32:30 --> 00:32:32 Paul's, you, their
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 church family, to make
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 a financial pledge for
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 the ministry of St.
00:32:35 --> 00:32:37 Paul's into 2020 and
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 to continue for this
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 vision to go forward.
00:32:40 --> 00:32:42 We're also asking you
00:32:42 --> 00:32:44 to give us, in two
00:32:44 --> 00:32:47 Sundays time, $75 to
00:32:47 --> 00:32:49 support the work of
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 developing the gifting
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 of others to serve
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 God's global mission.
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 Wherever these people
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 might go in vocational
00:32:55 --> 00:32:58 ministry, I would love
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 them to leave St.
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 Paul's, if they're not
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 here, to leave St.
00:33:01 --> 00:33:03 Paul's with God's vision
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 for his church that he
00:33:03 --> 00:33:05 has here to take it
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 wherever he has, has
00:33:06 --> 00:33:08 sends them to be unifying
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 for their neighborhood.
00:33:11 --> 00:33:13 No less than five times
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 in the New Testament, the
00:33:14 --> 00:33:16 language of supporting a
00:33:16 --> 00:33:19 missionary or supporting a
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 church financially is
00:33:20 --> 00:33:22 described as ministry,
00:33:23 --> 00:33:25 described as a service.
00:33:25 --> 00:33:29 Some of us here have a
00:33:29 --> 00:33:32 special gift of giving.
00:33:32 --> 00:33:34 It's part of what God has
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 given you in displaying,
00:33:36 --> 00:33:38 disseminating his gifts to
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 us.
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 Some of us here have a
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 special gift of giving.
00:33:41 --> 00:33:43 And I would be encouraging
00:33:43 --> 00:33:45 you in two Sundays time to
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 use that gift of giving.
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 But regardless of that,
00:33:51 --> 00:33:53 every single Christian has
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 been called into it.
00:33:54 --> 00:33:56 It might not be your gift,
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 but it is your duty.
00:34:00 --> 00:34:02 So exercise it in two
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 Sundays time.
00:34:05 --> 00:34:07 A key ministry that all of
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 God's people are involved
00:34:08 --> 00:34:10 in, regardless of their
00:34:10 --> 00:34:12 gifting, is to use our
00:34:12 --> 00:34:15 treasure to serve the
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 conquering king and his
00:34:16 --> 00:34:16 mission.
00:34:20 --> 00:34:22 Now, like our gifting, it
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 is something we do in
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 differing degrees.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 We give according to what
00:34:26 --> 00:34:29 we have rather than what
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 we have not.
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 The principle that I like to
00:34:32 --> 00:34:35 use here is unequal giving
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 but equal sacrifice.
00:34:38 --> 00:34:40 Our act of giving is an act
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 of worship.
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 This is why the Bible calls
00:34:43 --> 00:34:45 us to give from our first
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 fruits and to live on the
00:34:46 --> 00:34:48 rest rather than giving God
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 what is left over.
00:34:49 --> 00:34:52 If God has saved you in
00:34:52 --> 00:34:54 Jesus Christ and gathered
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 you to himself, his
00:34:55 --> 00:34:57 purpose is to grow you to
00:34:57 --> 00:34:59 be like Jesus in both his
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 character and his work.
00:35:01 --> 00:35:03 And so my final call for you
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 is to get behind the vision
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 of this church.
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 It is unique in our context.
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 We are seeking to do
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 something here which is
00:35:10 --> 00:35:12 unique for our context.
00:35:13 --> 00:35:15 Get behind it, serve it,
00:35:15 --> 00:35:17 serve God with your time,
00:35:17 --> 00:35:19 your talents and your
00:35:19 --> 00:35:19 treasures.
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 So
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 please
00:35:21 --> 00:35:24 share your
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 passions and your
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 talents and your treasures.
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 Your core
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 también
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 your talents and your
00:35:27 --> 00:35:29 treasures.