HEARTBEAT
Series: HIS PURPOSE OUR PURPOSE MY PURPOSE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 13th November 2018
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 The last time we gathered together for Heartbeat,
00:00:03 --> 00:00:04 someone said to me afterwards,
00:00:04 --> 00:00:05 you were just so relaxed,
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 and it was just great to see you so relaxed and casual up the front.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 So I'm going to do that again tonight.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:11 Just bear with me for a moment.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:16 OK, ready to go.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:22 So I think 12 months ago,
00:00:23 --> 00:00:24 we sat in this room,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 and we had this in front of us,
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 Heartbeat, November the 8th,
00:00:30 --> 00:00:34 and it was our picture for what was ahead,
00:00:34 --> 00:00:35 it was the input, in fact,
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 the entire input of what I gave and talked about.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:42 It was in the beginning of our series on radical,
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 what it meant to be a radical disciple of the Lord Jesus
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 and the radical choices that we need to make as a church.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:53 And one of the questions that Stuart Wendy put in front of me
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 as we were doing the preparation leading up to this
00:00:57 --> 00:01:01 is it would be good to highlight some of the markers,
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 the changes, the progress we've made in the last 12 months.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 Because if you were here 12 months ago,
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 you would know that this was a time of an element of uncertainty.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 We picked radical because of a chance for us to really,
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 we needed to really focus on what we're doing as a church.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 We just found out that Sam Lowe,
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 one of our ministers here,
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 was leaving after eight years of ministry,
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 and it was a time of change and flux for us
00:01:27 --> 00:01:28 and what it meant.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 And so I think there's a lot,
00:01:31 --> 00:01:32 when I look back at the last 12 months,
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 there is so many things to celebrate,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:35 where 12 months ago,
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 I might have been feeling a little bit uncertain
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 about where we were or where I was
00:01:39 --> 00:01:40 and how we're going to move forward.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 God has just kept pushing us forward
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 and been building momentum throughout the course this year.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:48 And yet at the same time,
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 in many ways, it's been a hard year.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:52 I feel it.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 I feel like it's been a hard year.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 There's been a number of things which have happened,
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 which I didn't want to happen.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 And yet what God does,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 he just uses those times to continue to sharpen us.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:03 And so we, as I said,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 back in November the 8th last year,
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 where plan was to move to two congregations,
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 we've done that.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 And our translation team,
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 which was like two or three people,
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 has grown to,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 we celebrated last time around 14 people,
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 something like that.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 And can I just put out a bit of a thanks here tonight
00:02:21 --> 00:02:22 for Flora and Dorothy,
00:02:23 --> 00:02:28 who have just taken the My Purpose Checkup document
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 and totally translated the thing
00:02:30 --> 00:02:31 in the last week or two
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 or in that timeframe.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 They just got onto it.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:40 And under their own initiative,
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 and I just want to say that is superb.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 That's a massive amount of work.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 So thank you for that.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 So we've seen that change.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:55 We saw miraculously with the provision
00:02:55 --> 00:02:59 of the money we raised on Vision Sunday,
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 as well as the increase we saw in our pledging.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:03 The Barnets,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 which we were not expecting to be able to do this,
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 but Barnets came on full time just after Easter.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 And so we were intending on employing a children's pastor.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 And we've not just got a children's pastor,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 we've got a children's pastor
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 and a maturity pastor wrapped up into one.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:17 And so that's worth celebrating.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 We've just celebrated boom.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 That didn't exist 12 months ago.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 And one of the things of bringing a children's pastor in
00:03:23 --> 00:03:27 was in fact to start an after school kids ministry
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 that has now started.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:32 And I think James has done a phenomenal job in that
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 by building the team first.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 But he spent a lot of time preparing the team,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 building for it.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 And so I'm just so excited about that.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 We were looking to employ Takeshi and John.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 And frankly, you can say boom all you like,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 but no one can say it like Takeshi.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 And he ought to be,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 he's not here, is he?
00:03:54 --> 00:03:55 He's studying for exams.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 I'm assuming he shouldn't have been here.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:01 But yeah, so we've been able to employ these guys
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 and they've done a fantastic job
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 and helped in a big way in the transition
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07 from three congregations to two
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 and turning us more transcultural.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 We got a faculty approved to move furniture.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 That went through.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 10 years ago, that would have been a bun fight.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 Now it's not.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 Now it's actually a move forward
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 forward because we wanted to see more and more people
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 seated in this building here in the gospel.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 So while we haven't broken the 200 barrier,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 which we talked a lot about this time last year.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 In fact, the goal for that was to do it between,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 you know, 2018 and the end of 2020.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:47 2020, we have building momentum in that direction.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 And it's fabulous.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:55 So we're now almost halfway through our vision series for this year.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:59 As you know, our theme is His Purpose, Our Purpose, My Purpose.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:04 And I was asked a really good question
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 about a week or so ago, a couple of weeks ago.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 And the question was,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 why this, why now?
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 Why this, why now?
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 Why His Purpose, Our Purpose, My Purpose?
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 Why this and why now?
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 And my answer is,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 because it's all about breaking the 200 barrier.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 That's why we're doing it now.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 In case you're new to this,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 the 200 barrier is, if you like,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:36 a cultural barrier that the vast majority of churches face.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 Very few, in fact,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 something like only 10% of churches
00:05:42 --> 00:05:46 will ever break the cultural barrier of 200 members.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 I introduced it to us at Heartbeat last year
00:05:50 --> 00:05:54 and set the goal that we'd break it before the end of 2020.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:58 The 200 barrier is where a church,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:04 either deliberately or just by the fact of inertia,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 decides, subconsciously or consciously,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 to stick below 200 members
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 because it's the way they like things to be.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 And I said,
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 God may choose to never grow St. Paul's,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:25 but for us to deliberately limit the size of the members of St. Paul's,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:29 I find that morally, spiritually reprehensible.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 We've got to do everything that we can to grow God's kingdom.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:38 And so one of the key aspects of breaking the 200 barrier
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 was the need to align the church
00:06:40 --> 00:06:44 around the mission, vision, values and strategy of the church.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:48 That's one of the key elements of breaking the 200 barrier.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 And there's at least about eight of them,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 but this is one of the key ones.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:57 Alignment is about all ministry pulling in the same direction.
00:06:57 --> 00:07:01 What happens when every ministry pulls in the same direction
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 is that it forces out the personal agendas
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 and the personal preferences
00:07:07 --> 00:07:11 that abound in churches that prefer to stay small.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:18 And it causes us to focus on God's mission.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 That's what it does.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 And so that's what this vision series is about.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 It's about alignment.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:30 It's about giving us clarity on our purpose,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 on how St. Paul's, in fact, not just St. Paul's purpose,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 but how St. Paul's, in fact, structures itself,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:42 how we balance and how we resource these five purposes.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 The ministry one's hiding behind me here
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 because ministry is what we're doing tonight.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 So it's balancing these five purposes.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 In fact, at this heartbeat last year,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:56 I mentioned six crucial decisions churches need to make
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 in order to grow in size and depth.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:04 And three of them have to do with this one, ministry.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:10 Have to do with leadership, service, ministry choices.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:15 The course that some of you have been introduced by me,
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 from me, called Breaking 200 Without Breaking You,
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 mentions eight key strategies for breaking the 200 barrier.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:27 Five of the eight have to do with this one,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 the way we think about ministry,
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 the way ministry gets done.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 And that's our focus tonight.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:39 And the shift that we are looking to do in the next 12 months
00:08:39 --> 00:08:45 is to move away from a church of individuals
00:08:45 --> 00:08:51 filling roles on rosters, plugging gaps, doing a task,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:57 to being a church where we do all of the work of service within teams.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 That is, we're doing it together.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:04 We're serving together as opposed to me just doing my bit
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 that I want to do in my time.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:11 Now, this is simply a flow on from what we looked at last Sunday.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 If you were here on Sunday,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 you would have heard from me
00:09:16 --> 00:09:23 about Christ-exalting connectedness in God's family.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:30 God's intention is for all of humanity to magnify him.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 That's week one.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:36 Week two, God's intention is to draw us together in order to magnify him.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 Week three, which is coming up,
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 now that he's drawn us together to magnify him,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 what is his intent for each one of his children?
00:09:43 --> 00:09:49 He wants every one of his children to grow up into the likeness of his true son.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 He wants all of his children that he brings into his family
00:09:53 --> 00:09:57 that he gathers to himself to grow up into the likeness of his son,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 to have the character of his son.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:03 Week four is that he doesn't want us just to grow up into the likeness of his sons.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:08 He wants us to grow up into the ministry service attitude of his son.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 That's God's internal purposes.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 And when he builds up his church in that way,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 he sends us out into mission.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 That's week five.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 So let me just take you to the Bible really quickly on this one
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 and the idea of teams.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 Jesus modeled something for us in terms of relationships.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 From all of his hundreds of followers,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 he chose 72 for a special ministry.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 Luke chapter 10, he sends them out two by two.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 Doesn't send them out by themselves, sends them out two by two.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 And Jesus knows,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 Jesus himself didn't,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:45 knew that you could not know 70 people closely.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 And so he also,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 amongst that 72,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 had his 12 for a closer partnership in life and ministry,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:56 where he specifically instilled stuff and did things with them that he didn't do with the 72.
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 In Mark chapter 3, verse 14,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 it says he appointed 12,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:06 designating them apostles that they might be with him.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 But even 12 are sometimes too much,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 and especially if you're an introvert.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:17 And so Jesus has a closer bond with Peter, James and John,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 just three of the 12.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 And on a number of occasions,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:28 it was just those three who had a special time of development with Jesus.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 Often, in fact,
00:11:30 --> 00:11:34 at the most significant times of Jesus' life and ministry,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 those three were there.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:42 And sometimes even three is more than some kinds of friendships will allow.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 And Jesus seemed to have a particular bond with John,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 which John mentioned several times in his gospel,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 because he got an opportunity to do that.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 The disciple who Jesus loved.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 By the way, that's me.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 I'm talking about you.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 Don't know what it says about the other 11,
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 but anyway.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 But five times in his gospel,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 he refers to himself as the disciple who Jesus loved.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 And so Jesus had his crowds,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 he had his 72,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 he had his 12,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 he had his three,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 and he had his one.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:14 And as he put his mission and his church in motion,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:18 he not only modeled these various levels of relationship,
00:12:18 --> 00:12:22 he sent his ambassadors out into teams
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 with different levels of relationship.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 See, life and ministry for Jesus
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 was life and ministry together.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 It was not even for him,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 it was a solo affair.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 Life and ministry for him
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 was life and ministry together.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 Then you get to the Apostle Paul
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 and he follows the same pattern.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 Christian ministry appears,
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 is a ministry together,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 service together.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 I don't think it's an accident
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 that in every single church,
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 the Apostle Paul planted,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 go and read Acts on this,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 he appointed not one elder and pastor,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 but multiple elders.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 And when Paul and Barnabas,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 they had their tiff and they fell out,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 and they were wondering what to do
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 with John Mark who abandoned them
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 on the first mission,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 these two giants of the faith
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 did not have a falling out and disappear
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 and do their own thing.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 They formed new teams,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 got the blessing of the church,
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 and then they were sent out.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 Barnabas took Mark with him,
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 he sailed to Cyprus,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 Paul chose Silas,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:31 and he departed in Acts 15, 39, 40.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:36 When he met Timothy in Acts 16,
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 he asked Timothy to travel with him
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 as his ministry co-worker,
00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 even though Timothy was the junior,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 learner,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 just a kid,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 learning still.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 And over the next six years,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:57 of the 13 letters that Paul wrote,
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 he addresses them to the churches
00:14:00 --> 00:14:04 as coming from him and Timothy,
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 even though Paul was the one who wrote.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:12 He wanted to send it from the team.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 Now, of course,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 the pattern of our life together
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 is not just a matter of ministry,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 strategy,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 or partnership.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 I said on Sunday,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25 the New Testament is just,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 is just this dominance
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 of connectedness language.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 And so I want to take us
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 to one of those passages now,
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 really quickly,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 1 Corinthians 12,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 12 to 27.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 If you've got your Bibles,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 if you've got Bibles apps or whatever,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 open them up now.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 I'm going to jump through this really quickly.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 I want to see six things,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 briefly,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 this is not six,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 this is not a six-point sermon,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 it's not double length,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 this is six things,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 really briefly,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 that highlight
00:14:51 --> 00:14:55 about life together in here.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 So,
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 first of all,
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 it says,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 the church is a body
00:15:01 --> 00:15:04 that's made up of many parts.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 Made up of many parts.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 And without the parts,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 there is no body.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 Church is made up of many body,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 many parts.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 It's a body made up of many parts,
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 but without the parts,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 there is no body.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 I went looking for my Mr. Potato Head today.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 When I say mine,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 it's the kids.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 You know,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 it was beside my bed,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 but not anymore.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 I went looking for it today,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 because it would have been great
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 to have it here in front of us,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 but imagine Mr. Potato Head
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 and
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 with just the body,
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 but no bits attached to him.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 That's the picture here,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 that it's not a body
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 without the parts.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 Number two,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 verse 12,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 the unity of the body
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 is achieved
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 through the diversity
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 of the parts.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 That is both the diversity
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 of the people
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 and the diversity
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 of the gifting
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 of the people.
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 Verse 12,
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 the body is a unit,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 though it be made up
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 of many parts,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 and though all its parts
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 are many,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 they form one body.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 So,
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 you'd have Mr. Potato Head,
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 you'd put all the arms on
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 and the hat on
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 and the legs on
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 and nose and the ears
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 and everything,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 you go,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 there it is.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 It's now looking
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 like it did on the box.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 It's functional.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 Number three,
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 third point,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 the diversity of the parts,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 all the diversity of the parts,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 all the difference of the parts,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 serve the unity
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 and the function of the body.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 So,
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 verse 14,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 now the body is not made
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 of one part,
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 but a many.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 If the foot should say,
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 because I'm not a hand,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 I do not belong to the body,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 it would not for that reason
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 cease to be part of the body.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 And if the ear should say,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 because I'm not an eye,
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 I do not belong to the body,
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 it would not for that reason
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 cease to be part of the body.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 If the whole body were an eye,
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 where would the sense of smell be,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 or sense of hearing be?
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 What?
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 Yeah, that's right.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 If all I couldn't hear,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 that's right.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 It's the Bible right here?
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 If the whole body were an ear,
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 where would the sense of smell be?
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 And so,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 if you had my Mr. Potato Head here
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 and just had all the arms,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 you go,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 well,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 that's dysfunctional.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 That doesn't,
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 and yet,
00:17:25 --> 00:17:29 that's how we often work church to be.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 We often have church in that way.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:36 When we work church to be the homogenous unit principle,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 where we like,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 gather with like,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 then it looks like a dysfunctional,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 weird looking Mr. Potato Head.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:45 Number four,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 all the parts need each other
00:17:47 --> 00:17:51 if the body is to function correctly.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 In other words,
00:17:53 --> 00:17:56 whatever your part is in the body,
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 don't ever say,
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 I have no need for that other part over there.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 Verse 20,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 the eye cannot say to the hand,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 I don't need you.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 And the head cannot say to the feet,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 I don't need you.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 On the contrary,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 those parts of the body
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 that seem to be weaker
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 are indispensable.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 And the parts that we think are less honorable,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 we treat with special honor.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:23 And the parts that are unpresentable
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 are treated with special modesty,
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 while our presentable parts
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 need no special treatment.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:31 But God has combined the members of the body
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 and has given greater honor
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 to the parts that lack it.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 So the negative warning here
00:18:36 --> 00:18:39 is don't say,
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 I don't need those other bits.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 I don't need those other bits.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 Paul says here
00:18:50 --> 00:18:54 that those who we view as weaker
00:18:54 --> 00:18:59 or unnecessary or unimportant
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 are absolutely necessary.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 every,
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 I mean,
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 this church functions
00:19:06 --> 00:19:09 on the gifts of so many people
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 working together.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 Sunday by Sunday,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 you see that.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 There is so many things
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 that happen in the background
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 that you don't even see,
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 that you know.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 And without those things
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 not functioning,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 the place starts to fall apart
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 real quick.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:29 see what happens
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 if the person
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 who normally cuts the grass
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 doesn't turn up
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 for three weeks.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 The so-called unnecessary bits.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 See what happens then.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 The person who
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 most of you don't see
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 who weeds the gardens.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:49 How quickly it would deteriorate.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 How quickly people would say,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 well,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 no one's living there.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 Verse 22,
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 on the contrary,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 those parts of the body
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 that seem to be weaker
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 are indispensable.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 They're not just optional,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 they're necessary.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 Not just helpful,
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 they are necessary.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 Number five,
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 let's have the same care
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 for one another
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 so that,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 this is verse 25,
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 so that there should be
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 no division in the body
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 but that its parts
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 should have equal concern
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 for each other.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 If one part suffers,
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 every part suffers with it.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 If one part is honoured,
00:20:26 --> 00:20:29 every part rejoices with it.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:35 These verses are all about
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 what James would call
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 favouritism.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 Certain parts
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 that we'd want to honour
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 over more,
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 others,
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 James would say,
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 no, no,
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 there's no favouritism
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 with the church
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 and this is saying
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 care for everyone equally,
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 honour all equally.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 It's no mistake
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 that this description
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 of the body
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 is immediately followed
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 by 1 Corinthians 13.
00:20:58 --> 00:21:01 The great chapter of love.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 Whatever our gifting,
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 it is only effective
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 if it is used in love.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 Number six,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 if only my Sunday sermons
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 move this quickly.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 Number six
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 is an encouragement
00:21:13 --> 00:21:16 to trust in God
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 who composes the body
00:21:18 --> 00:21:21 as he wills to compose it.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 To trust God for this.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 Verse 18,
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 in fact,
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 God has arranged
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 the parts in the body,
00:21:28 --> 00:21:31 every one of them,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 just as he wanted them to be.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:39 Let's give thanks to God
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 that he has chosen,
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 that he has ordered,
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 that he has appointed,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:45 that he has distributed gifts
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 at his goodwill
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 for the unity of the church.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50 That ought to encourage us,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 it ought to humble us,
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 regardless of whether
00:21:53 --> 00:21:55 we hold a prominent place
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 or we don't have
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 a prominent place
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 in the body.
00:21:57 --> 00:22:00 God has given you
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 your place.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 And yet,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:08 this text
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 ends
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 with this
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 final challenge.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 We're told in verse 18
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 that God arranged the parts
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 to everyone
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 that he wants them to be,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 but somehow,
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 verse 18
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 doesn't negate
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 verse 31
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 where Paul says,
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 but eagerly desire
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 the greater gifts.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 In other words,
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 grow up
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 in your service.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 Now,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 you can't get
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 the greater gifts
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 unless God chooses
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 to give them to you,
00:22:43 --> 00:22:46 but presumably here,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 their earnest desire
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 and preparing
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 of themselves
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 is seen
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 as a preliminary
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 to receiving
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 the greater gift,
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 at least in some cases.
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 And so,
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 the challenge here,
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 I think,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 and this is something
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 we're intending on
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 deliberately picking up,
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 quite intentionally picking up
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 in the next 12 months
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 in St. Paul's,
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 is to,
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 is the challenge
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 to go further,
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 the challenge
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 to train,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 to develop,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 to equip others,
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 to recruit,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 to seek new opportunities
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 to serve.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 That's the individual
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 challenge for us all.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 And,
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 and the other thing
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 that we're seeking to do
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 is that this
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 connectedness
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 and interdependency
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 culture
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 that you see
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 in the New Testament,
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 the language
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 of the New Testament,
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 is something
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 that we traditionally
00:23:37 --> 00:23:40 really emphasize
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 through community groups
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 and we're going to
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 continue to emphasize
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 that through community groups
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 when everyone in the community
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 groups and connected,
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 but it's also
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 the way we want to see
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 our ministry done
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 amongst us.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 Connectedness.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 Working as part
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 of a team.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 Can I just divert
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 a little bit here
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 and emphasize
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 this point?
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 I've been here
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 for
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 nine and a half years.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:07 possibly
00:24:07 --> 00:24:10 the greatest delight
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 I have had
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 as a senior minister
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 of St. Paul's
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 is the team
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 that I work with
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 day by day.
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 That,
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 that's for me,
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 stands out
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 as the high point
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 of my nine and a half years
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 at St. Paul's.
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 Without a doubt.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 And I would extend that
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 to talk about
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 wardens and parish council
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 as well.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 Without a doubt.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:37 I have the privilege
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 of working with
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 a number of staff
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 and,
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 and a good number
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 of staff
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 over
00:24:42 --> 00:24:45 the time
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 that I've been here
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 and a good number
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 of that,
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 those staff
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 for some time
00:24:49 --> 00:24:51 who have
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 all contributed
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 to my growth
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 as a disciple
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 and contributed
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 to me
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 in ministry,
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 in sharpening
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 my ministry skills.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 We have worked
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 closely together.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 I said to someone
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 recently,
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 when Sam left,
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 it really hurt me
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 in the sense of
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 I really felt
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 his loss.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 Think about this.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 I work with him
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 for five days a week.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 We traveled,
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 as I said,
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 I think it is farewell.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 I've been in hotel rooms
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 more with Sam
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 than anyone else
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 apart from Nat.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 We work together
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 closely
00:25:23 --> 00:25:27 five days a week
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 for eight years.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 That's equivalent
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 of 40 years
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 of Sundays.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 That's equivalent
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 of 40 years
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 of Sundays.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 Together,
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 as a staff team,
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 we have had
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 greater impact
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 than any of us
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 could have had
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 individually
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 exercising our gifts.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 We have collectively
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 deepened
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 and expanded
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 the ministry
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 of St. Paul's.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 I want to suggest
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58 that the reason
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 that we continue
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 to push forward
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 as a church
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 is because
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 you have
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 a phenomenal
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 staff team.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 I'm not talking
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 individually.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 Every one of us
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 individually
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 is weak
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 and we have
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 our failings
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 and our blind spots
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 and our
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 bits where we're
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 not gifted at.
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 But collectively,
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 we are strong.
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 we are strong.
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 And collectively,
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 we've had a greater
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 impact than any of us
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 could have done
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 by ourselves.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 And I would suggest
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 that collectively,
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 we have deepened,
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 we've expanded
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 the ministry.
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 God has made us
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 all very differently
00:26:42 --> 00:26:45 and yet collectively,
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 we make up
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 for our weaknesses.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 We've all grown
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 together in
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 gospel conviction.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 We've grown
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 together in
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 character
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 and we've grown
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 together in
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 ministry competencies.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 We have
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 fellowship,
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 we have
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 encouragement,
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 we have fun
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 and we share
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 the burdens
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 and the joys
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 of life.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 Sometimes it feels
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 more like the
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 burdens and the joys
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 but we share the
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 burdens and the
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 joys of life.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:13 If you've never
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 noticed it before
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 and this is
00:27:16 --> 00:27:18 not,
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 if you think
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 this is me
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 being proud
00:27:21 --> 00:27:23 then forgive me
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 for that
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 but just hear
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 the point.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 We have
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 modelled
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 something,
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 the staff team
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 over the last
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 nine years or so
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 and particularly
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 increasingly so
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 in the last
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 four years
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 have modelled
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 something as
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 a staff team
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40 that the church
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 should see,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 acknowledge
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 and duplicate
00:27:45 --> 00:27:48 in all its
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 ministry teams.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 I think it's
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 the best
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 illustration I
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 can throw in
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 front of you.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 It needs to be
00:27:53 --> 00:27:55 duplicated in
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 every ministry
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 team.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 We want to
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 see it deployed.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 We are modelling
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 something that we
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 want deployed
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 across the church.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 everyone
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 serving as
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 part of a
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 team,
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 loving each
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 other,
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 growing in
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 character,
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 in competency
00:28:10 --> 00:28:12 and together
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 you will
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 achieve more.
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 Every
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 member of
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 St Paul's
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 serving as
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 part of a
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 team on
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 purpose.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 Now,
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 I have
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 gone over
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 my time
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 already.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:32 Do you
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 want to
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 just watch
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 the video
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 for a
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 little bit?
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 Is that
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 alright?
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 And then I'll
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 come back.
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 Let's have a
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 break there.
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 So it is
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 turning into a
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 sermon.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 The six
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 points are
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 over by the
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 way.
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 So this
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 is just a
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 bit of a
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 taster for
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 team ministry
00:28:49 --> 00:28:51 if we can
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 get that
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 up.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 Before we
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 do,
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 let me just
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 hit a couple
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 of things.
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 As we
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 move on,
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 one of the
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 things I
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 said some
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 time ago
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 was that
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 each church
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 needs clear
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 expectations on
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 what are we
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 expecting for
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 our disciples.
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 So what's
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 our discipleship
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 pathway?
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 What does it
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 mean to grow
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 up to be a
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 member of
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 this church
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 and to
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 grow as a
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 disciple of
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 this church?
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 And secondly,
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 what is the
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 ministry pathway?
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 I'm happy to
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 say that both
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 of those things
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 have now been
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 developed for
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 St Paul's.
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 The
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 discipleship
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 pathway,
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 it's right
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 there,
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 it's up in
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 front of me,
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 it's up there,
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 has been
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 developed.
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 And you'll
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 notice that
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 each one of
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 these five
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 purposes is
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 reflected up
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 there.
00:29:33 --> 00:29:35 The goal we
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 have for every
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 member of St
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 Paul's,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 including myself,
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 is to continue
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 to reassess,
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 am I on
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 purpose?
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 For God's
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 purpose,
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 for my life,
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 for this
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 church,
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 am I aligning
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 myself with
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 it?
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 Am I growing
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 in each one?
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 Which is my
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 weakness one that
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 I need to work
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 on and have a
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 plan in the
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 next six months,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 12 months,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 to get better
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 at that
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 particular
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 purpose,
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 whatever it
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 is.
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 And so you've
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 seen that
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 rolling out
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 through the
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 course of
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 this vision
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 series.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 I want to
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 commend James
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 again for
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 that and
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 developing that
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 for us.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 Secondly,
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 on your
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 seats,
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 you've got
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 this big
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 thing.
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 You'll
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 notice that
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 all of our
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 ministry teams
00:30:10 --> 00:30:13 are connected
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 in one way or
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 another to our
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 five purposes.
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 purposes.
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 And this is
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 just a snapshot,
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 if you like,
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 a visual image.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 Thanks, Jess,
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 for putting this
00:30:23 --> 00:30:26 together of how
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 every ministry
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 at St. Paul's
00:30:28 --> 00:30:30 is connected to
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 one of these
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 purposes,
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 bringing greater
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 alignment to
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 every single
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 ministry team.
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 You know where
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 you fit,
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 what your purpose
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 is,
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 and how your
00:30:39 --> 00:30:41 purpose fits
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 into the
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 mission and
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 vision of
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 St. Paul's.
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 That's what
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 this is all
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 about.
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 Not every
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 single ministry
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 team is there,
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 and you'll
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 notice there
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 are two
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 things,
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 such as
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 ministry
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 support,
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 which is
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 not quite
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 red,
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 it's an
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 orange,
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 it's out
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 there a
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 little bit.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 Ministry
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 support's
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 job is
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 effectively
00:30:57 --> 00:30:59 to support
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 the five
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 purposes,
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 and next
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 gen,
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 because it
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 is a
00:31:03 --> 00:31:05 unique
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 ministry
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 and that
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 certain
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 requirements
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 are there
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 because you're
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 leading young
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 people,
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 it sits
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 over slightly
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 to one
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 side,
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 and because
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 of the age
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 of the people
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 that are there,
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 it sits to
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 one side.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 However,
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 all five
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 purposes get
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 worked out
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 in next-gen
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 ministry.
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 We just
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 want to
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 separate them
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 out and
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 make them
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 slightly
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 distinct because
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 there are
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 certain higher
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 requirements for
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 leaders in
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 that area.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 So ministry
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 teams,
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 we've got
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 alignment as
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 a disciple,
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 where you
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 fit.
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 As a
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 disciple,
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 my expectation
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 as a member
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 of St. Paul's
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 is to grow
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 in these
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 five purpose
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 areas.
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 Where do I
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 serve?
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 In one of
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 the teams,
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 in one of
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 the five
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 purpose areas,
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 and our
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 goal for
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 every member
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 is that when
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 you are in
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 a ministry
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 team,
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 if you move
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 over to
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 ministry pathway
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 now,
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 is that you
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 will know
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 at what
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 level you
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 fit,
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 who you
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 report to,
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 and what
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 your job
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 description and
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 expectations are
00:32:01 --> 00:32:03 within that
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 ministry team.
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 So that's the
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 ministry pathway.
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 We like to
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 see everyone
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 fit into the
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 ministry pathway,
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 and on
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 top of that
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 is that what
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 sits over the
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 top of a
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 ministry pathway
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 interacting with
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 a ministry
00:32:17 --> 00:32:19 pathway is
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 ministry grid,
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 which is what
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 that lady just
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 mentioned in the
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 video.
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 It's a whole
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 training program
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 that's,
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 it's an online
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 training program
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 designed to
00:32:29 --> 00:32:31 develop you in
00:32:31 --> 00:32:33 whatever part of
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 the ministry
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 pathway you
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 fit.
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 And so the
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 intention as you
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 move forward
00:32:40 --> 00:32:42 is not to
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 hand someone,
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 there's your job
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 description,
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 we need you to
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 help out at
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 boom,
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 we'll see you
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 if something
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 goes wrong.
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 And there's
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 your job,
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 go and fill
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 that function.
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 Ministry is
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 part of your
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 discipling,
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 it's part of
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 your connectedness
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 of growing a
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 disciple of the
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 Lord Jesus.
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 And so our
00:33:01 --> 00:33:03 plan as we
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 move into,
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 to roll it out
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 totally between
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 now and the
00:33:06 --> 00:33:08 end of next
00:33:08 --> 00:33:10 year is for
00:33:10 --> 00:33:12 every person
00:33:12 --> 00:33:14 to know where
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 they fit in
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 ministry teams,
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 to be placed in
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 ministry teams,
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 to know where
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 they fit in
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 that ministry
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 team,
00:33:19 --> 00:33:21 to be developing
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 in that ministry
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 team and to be
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 coached in that
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 ministry team so
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 that you've got
00:33:25 --> 00:33:27 relational connection
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 as you develop.
00:33:28 --> 00:33:30 That's the plan
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 to roll out,
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 that's our major
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 agenda,
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 is to get the
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 members of St.
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 Paul's engaged
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 and on purpose
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 in the next
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 12 months.
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 We see it as
00:33:39 --> 00:33:41 crucial in us
00:33:41 --> 00:33:41 breaking the
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 200 barrier.
00:33:43 --> 00:33:45 So, by this
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 time next year,
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 I would love to
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 be standing in
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 heartbeat and for
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 everyone here to
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 be able to say,
00:33:51 --> 00:33:54 I know what my
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 role is,
00:33:55 --> 00:33:57 I know how this
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 role serves the
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 vision,
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 I know how this
00:34:00 --> 00:34:02 role is connected
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 to the purpose,
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 one of the five
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 purposes,
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 I'm on a
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 team,
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 I know every
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 member of my
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 team,
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 I know who my
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 leader is,
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 and I'm being
00:34:16 --> 00:34:16 coached and
00:34:16 --> 00:34:18 developed personally
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 and intentionally
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 by my leader.
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 That's what I'd
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 like to see by this
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 time next year.