New Community
Series: Living in the New World
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 16th August 2020
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 Well, good morning, everyone. It's great to be with you in church here this morning and to connect with you online as well.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 If you've not met me before, my name's Steve Jeffrey. I'm the senior pastor here at St Paul's,
00:00:11 --> 00:00:18 and it's my joy to be able to connect us into the next stage of the book of Acts, which we're journeying through at the moment.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:29 Very few, I think, would argue about the quality of community has declined in society in recent years.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:32 In fact, not just recent years, over quite a number of years.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:42 In fact, one of the biggest social issues in our community here in Chatswood is, in fact, social isolation,
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 as it is for many people in large cities around the world.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:53 There is, if you like, a superficiality to our personal relationships.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:55 But it's not new.
00:00:55 --> 00:01:06 In 1955, in his book, The Sane Society, Eric Fromm, who was a social psychologist, wrote this.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 There is not much love to be found in the world of our day.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:18 There is rather a superficial friendliness concealing a distance, an indifference, and a subtle distrust.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:27 The radical psychologist R.D. Lang wrote in his 1967 book, The Politics of Experience,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:32 we are born into a world where social isolation awaits us.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:38 Before we can even ask such optimistic questions as what is a personal relationship,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:45 we have to ask if personal relationships are even possible in this present situation.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:49 So how do we react when we hear phrases like that?
00:01:49 --> 00:01:57 When we hear things like superficial friendliness and social isolation and emotional isolation, words like that.
00:01:57 --> 00:02:01 These are real issues in our society, in our community.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 And in fact, it may be for you personally right now,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:10 whether maybe even you sitting at home right now, all alone, watching, engaging with this.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:14 I think it's an issue which we've become more aware of.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:24 I'm certainly hearing statements and phrases like feeling disconnected in this COVID-19 season.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:36 We live in a sick society that desperately needs to discover this idea of community and connectedness and relationship.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 There is a sign of hope for us.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:46 The opening chapters of Acts points us to such a community.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:48 It's a special community.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:54 It's called many things, but most frequently in the New Testament, it's called the church.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:58 So we're going to journey today to see what it is.
00:02:58 --> 00:02:59 What is this church?
00:02:59 --> 00:03:04 So if you've got the St. Paul's app, you can open up and you'll see an outline.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 I've got four things.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:10 It was going to be five, but I've narrowed it down to four because the fifth thing was addressed last week.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:16 So four things in Acts chapter 4 verse 32 through to chapter 6 verse 7.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:21 So if you haven't got the St. Paul's app, at the very least, you can open up a Bible and follow along with me on this one.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 There's four things about this new community.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 It's a saved community.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 It's an organic and gracious community.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 It's a disciplined community.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:31 And it's an organized community.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 They're the four things.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:39 So first of all, and foundationally and fundamentally, this new community is a saved community.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 In Acts chapter 2, we saw it a couple of weeks ago.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:43 It's the day of Pentecost.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:51 The apostle Peter gives his first and his greatest sermon, an experience that most preachers don't ever have.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 His first and his greatest sermon.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 And he gets to the application of this sermon in verse 36 of Acts 2.
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 So have a look at that.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 Skip back a couple of chapters for me.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 It says,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 Therefore, this is his application.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 Therefore, let all of Israel be assured of this.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:15 God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 And there's a multitude that are gathered there listening to this sermon from across the Roman Empire,
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 all different cultures and languages.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 And it says they were convicted.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 They came under deep conviction.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:37 Conviction both of their own sin and of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:42 And so they said, Peter, what are we going to do now?
00:04:42 --> 00:04:42 What happens now?
00:04:43 --> 00:04:47 And Peter called the gathering to repent and to be baptized.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:55 And what Luke concludes, he concludes a description of that day by adding in verse 40 of chapter 2,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:59 with many other words, he, that's Peter, warned them.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:05 And he pleaded with them, save yourselves from this corrupt generation.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:12 And those who accepted his message were baptized and about 3 were added to their number that day.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:17 Notice what Peter does is he warns them.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 He pleads with them to be saved.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:25 That's the essential thing that they need to do is to be saved.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:31 And he declares in another sermon he gives, which is also pretty good, in chapter 4, verse 12,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:32 Peter says,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:55 So what Peter's talking about there in Acts 4, and the same experience in Acts 2,
00:05:55 --> 00:06:02 is that what he's talking about is not some kind of optional spiritual experience,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:09 but about a radical moral rescue,
00:06:10 --> 00:06:14 which all of humanity must experience,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 lest they perish under the judgment of their creator God.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 That's what he's talking about.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:28 Jesus Christ is the resurrected, death-defeating, sin-crushing,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:32 relationship with our creator-restoring, Lord of the universe.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 He sits enthroned as king,
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 never to be challenged.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 No greater authority,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 and therefore no other alternative,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 no other rescue plan.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:49 And what Peter says here is,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 in Acts 2 and in Acts 4,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 you neglect Jesus at your peril.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:02 He's saying there is a must about Jesus.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 Not a maybe,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 it's a must.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 Jesus Christ is the most important thing
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 that has happened in the history of the world.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:16 And what you saw in Acts 2,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:23 if you sort of tuned in a little bit to the language of what Peter uses,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 is that Peter divides the world into two groups.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 Only two.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:29 He says,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 save yourself from something.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 Save yourself from a particular community.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 This corrupt generation.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 You are part of a group,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:41 a community.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 And he says,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 save yourself from that community
00:07:44 --> 00:07:49 that lives as if the God of this universe doesn't matter.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 As if Jesus isn't King and Lord of the universe.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 As if he isn't the Messiah.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 Save yourself from that community
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 and join a new community.
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 A new society.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 A new group.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 Saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 And what Peter declares,
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 and as the New Testament declares,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 in fact,
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 what the whole Bible declares,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 what Christianity declares,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 is there's only two groups of people.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:16 You're either in one corrupt group that rejects God
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 or you're in the group that has been saved by Jesus Christ.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 On either community.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:26 And so for the early Christians in Acts,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 being saved by Jesus
00:08:28 --> 00:08:33 was a matter of leaving a community under judgment
00:08:33 --> 00:08:38 to finding refuge and joy
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 and hope and life and forgiveness
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 and new salvation
00:08:42 --> 00:08:46 in the community of those who have been saved by Jesus Christ.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:51 Christians are bound together
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 as a new people
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 because of our common salvation.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 There is no such thing
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 as isolated,
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 go it alone,
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 choose my journey,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 my commitment levels,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 Christianity.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 I do not get an option.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 It is not up to me
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 to choose what I think level of commitment
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 I will give and won't give.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:16 Those are the defining things
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 of the corrupt generation,
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 not the new community
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 under the Lordship of Jesus.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 And Christians are bound together
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 as a new people
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 because of a common salvation.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 They have a new common salvation
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 and that common salvation
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 trumps everything
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 because there's not much else
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 that they necessarily have in common.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 But it's enough.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:40 Chapter 4, verse 32,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 all the believers
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 were one in heart and mind.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 They were made up of believers.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:45 This new community
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 is made up of believers
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 who differed in opinions
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 on a whole range of different things.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 Who to vote for?
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 Not that they did it back in those days,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 but who to vote for?
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 Food, clothing, language, customs,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 all kinds of different personal opinions.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 They were, however, united
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 in one fundamental,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 most important thing
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 that rose above every other difference
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 and that is that Jesus
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 is Lord of all
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 and he's the Messiah who saved us.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 We make him the main thing.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:20 We are bound together
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 because of our common salvation.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:28 1982, British Airways Boeing 747-200
00:10:28 --> 00:10:32 was flying at a very high altitude.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 You know, your cruising altitude
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 over Indonesia
00:10:35 --> 00:10:39 flying to New Zealand,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 I think from memory.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 And what the crew could not see
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 as they were flying the plane
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 was this cloud of volcanic ash
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 right in their flight path.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 Mount Galganan in Indonesia
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 had erupted just days before
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 and there's this huge cloud
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 of volcanic ash
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 which back in those days
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 were not picked up on radar
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 and then when the plane
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 flew through the volcanic ash,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 what it did was,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 was in a couple of minutes
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 clogged up all four of its engines
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 and shut them down.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 So this 747 became a,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 what is technically a glider now
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 and it was gliding in the air.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 You can imagine the silence of this
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 for 16 minutes.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 16 minutes,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 no, under no power whatsoever
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 and descending at a kilometre per minute.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 Or something like that.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 Every certain minutes.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 Fast anyway.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 Most people sitting on that plane
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 in that moment
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 were convinced they were going to die.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 They grabbed bits of paper
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 and pens as they could
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 and scrawled notes
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 to family members
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 in the hope that in the wreckage
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 those notes would be found.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 Amazingly,
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 because of a fluke thing
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 that the captain did in that moment
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 in deciding to descend faster,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 which is against all logic,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 actually the descent going faster
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 unclogged the engines
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 which allowed him to restart the motor.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 It is now,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 you can look it up,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 it is now in the Guinness Book of Records
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 as the longest unpowered flight
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 by an aircraft
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 not designed to fly unpowered.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 Now,
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 if you are sitting on that plane
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 in that moment
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 when after 16 minutes of silence
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 all of a sudden,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 boom,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 the engines kick in,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 the excitement,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 you start gaining altitude
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 and eventually you land safely.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 You have a new lease on life.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 Everything changes in that moment.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 And so what did the passengers
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 on this plane do?
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 They formed a club.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 It's known as the Galganan Gliding Club.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 The Galganan Gliding Club.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 They get together annually
00:12:57 --> 00:13:00 on the date of the flight
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 and they celebrate life together.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 That's what they do.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 That's their whole existence,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 to celebrate a new lease on life.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:11 To be saved by Jesus
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 is to be a member
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 of his saved community.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 Church is not what you attend.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 Church is what you belong to.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 Church is who you are.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 You now have been redefined.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 Saved into the new community
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 of the saved.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 Secondly,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 we see that this new community
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 that has been graciously saved
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 by the Lord Jesus Christ
00:13:33 --> 00:13:36 becomes an organically
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 gracious community
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 under the power
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 of the Holy Spirit.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 Verse 32 again.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 No one,
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 this is this new community,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 no one claimed
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 that any of their possessions
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 was their own.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 But they shared everything
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 that they had.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 Then down in verse 34,
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 there was no needy persons
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 among them
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 for from time to time
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 those who owned land
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 or houses sold them,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 bought the money
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 from the sales
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 and put it at the apostles' feet.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 And it was distributed
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 to anyone
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 who had need.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 Joseph,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 a Levi from Cyprus,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 whom the apostles
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 called Barnabas,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 which means son of encouragement,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 sold a field
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 that he owned
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 and bought the money
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 and put it
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 at the apostles' feet.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 This is not
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 an early form of communism.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 That's not what's going on here.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:34 Did you notice
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 the high degree
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 of voluntary commitment
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 that these believers
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 displayed towards each other?
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 Voluntary commitment.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 Private ownership
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 was recognised,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 but no one pressed
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 their rights
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 to private ownership.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 This is spontaneous.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 It is extraordinary generosity.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 It's organic.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 It's not structured,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 not planned.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 There's no
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 sell your property campaign
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 going on here.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 There's no campaign
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 by the apostles.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 Their sharing
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 was selfless,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 it was sacrificial
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 and it was voluntary.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 There's no law
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 imposing these standards.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 This is simply
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 a desire
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 that has grown
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 in them
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 because of the work
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 of the Holy Spirit
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 in their life
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 and God's radical generosity
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 to them
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 in the Lord Jesus.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 This is a church
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 that has
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 a social conscience.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 It didn't appear
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 to be a strategy
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 for growth.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 It was simply
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 an organic,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 spontaneous expression
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 of the love
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 of the Holy Spirit
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 had poured
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 into their hearts.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 And what's more,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 crucially,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 there is no evidence
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 that the early church
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 confused this ministry,
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 this ministry
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 of meeting people's needs
00:15:46 --> 00:15:50 with the evangelistic task
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 in which Jesus
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 had given them
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 to proclaim
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 the good news
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 to all peoples
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 to the ends of the earth.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 No confusion.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 Verse 33,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 right in the middle
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 of all this,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 with great power,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 the apostles
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 continued to testify
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 to the resurrection
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 of the Lord Jesus.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 Resurrection truth
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 is the key
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 to this new community.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 The historical bodily
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 resurrection of Jesus
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 means that everything
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 that Jesus declared
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 about his identity
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 as God
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 and all of his saving plans
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 are for humanity
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 and his lordship
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 over all the universe
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 are right.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 They're right.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 He's vindicated.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 And this early church
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 didn't substitute
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 social action
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 with proclaiming
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 that truth.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 Nor did they
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 merge social action
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 with proclaiming
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 that truth.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:50 they preached
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 the love
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 of God
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 in Jesus Christ
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 in the context
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 of a community
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 that had demonstrated
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 the love practically.
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 They'd been captivated
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 by the gospel
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 and it overflowed
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 in their life together.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 Thirdly,
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 this new community
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 is a disciplined community.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 Up until now,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 the picture
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 that we have
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 of the church
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 is love
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 and spontaneity
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 and organic life.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 This is
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 really attractive
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 for those
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 who prefer church
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 to be free
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 from regulations
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 and budgets
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 and structures
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 and organisation
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 and strategic plans
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 and just to be
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 free
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 to come and go
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 as we please
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 and just spontaneous
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 to where
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 the spirit
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 might lead us.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 Some love
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 the language
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 of organism
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 as a church
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 and particularly
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 push back
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 against
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 it's not
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 an organisation
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 it's an organism
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 as if those
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 two things
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 are the polar
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 opposites.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 It's true
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 the church
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 is an organism
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 it is a living
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 thing.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 It's certainly
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 not a machine
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 and it's not
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 a company
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 it's not a business
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 but while
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 Christ's body
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 like our
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 human body
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 is not
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 a machine
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 that does
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 not mean
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 that there's
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 no order
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 or control.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 We all
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 have what
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 they call
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 a central
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 nervous system.
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 Central
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 nervous system.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 Our bodies
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 are not
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 random
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 collections
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 of limbs
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 each doing
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 their own
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 thing
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 randomly.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 The church
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 is not
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 modelled
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 on the
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 precise
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 movements
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 of a
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 computerised
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 robot
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 nor
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 on the
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 haphazard
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 antics
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 of a
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 mentally
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 deranged
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 monkey.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 Organisation
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 and discipline
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 are no
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 substitute
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 for life
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 but they
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 are
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 indispensable
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 an
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 indispensable
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 condition
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 for effective
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 living.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 A healthy
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 church
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 is an
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 organised
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 disciplined
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 organism
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 and
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 ironically
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 it was
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 the
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 organic
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 spontaneous
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 welfare
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 of the
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 early
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 church
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 that
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 highlighted
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 the
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 importance
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 of its
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 discipline
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 and its
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 organisation.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 Have a look
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 chapter 5
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 verse 1
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 Now a
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 man named
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 Ananias
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 together
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 with his
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 wife
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 Sapphira
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 also
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 sold
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 a piece
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 of
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 property.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 With
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 his
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 wife's
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 full
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 knowledge
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 he
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 kept
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 back
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 part
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 of
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 the
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 money
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 for
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 himself
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 but
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 bought
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 the
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 rest
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 at
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 the
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 apostles
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 feet.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 So
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 this
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 incident
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 brought
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 the
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 issue
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 of
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 discipline
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 to a
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 head
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 for the
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 early
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 church.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 How the
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 church
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 dealt
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 with
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 this
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 moment
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 of
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 corruption
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 and
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 sin
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 was
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 vital
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 for
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 its
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 long-term
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 effectiveness
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 as a
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 new
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 community.
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 There is
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 a need
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 for
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 discipline
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 and
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 for
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 standards
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 in
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 God's
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 new
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 community
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 unless
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 it
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 would
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 degenerate
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 into
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 something
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 which is
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 no
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 different
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 from
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 the
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 corrupt
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 community
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 from
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 which
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 it
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 has
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 been
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 saved.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 In
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 verse 4
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 Peter
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 points out
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 that
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 Ananias
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 and
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 Sapphira
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 were
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 under
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 no
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 obligation
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 whatsoever
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 to sell
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 their
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 field
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 nor
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 were
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 they
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 required
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 to
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 donate
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 all
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 the
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 proceeds
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 of
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 the
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 field
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 to
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 the
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 church
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 which
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 leads
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 me
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 to
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 believe
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 that
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 their
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 motive
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 in
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 this
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 behaviour
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 is
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 not
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 greed
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 they're
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 not
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 driven
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 by
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 greed
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 here
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 they're
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 not
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 forced
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 to
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 do
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 this
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 it's
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 most
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 likely
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 that
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 they
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 were
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 motivated
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 by
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 jealousy
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 or
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 the
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 coveting
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 of
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 reputation
00:20:42 --> 00:20:45 the
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 coveting
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 of
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 reputation
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 being
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 seen
00:20:48 --> 00:20:52 by
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 others
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 and
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 praised
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 by
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 others
00:20:53 --> 00:20:56 so it's
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 quite
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 possible
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 it's
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 narcissistic
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 behaviour
00:20:58 --> 00:21:01 at the end
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 of chapter
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 four
00:21:01 --> 00:21:03 we see
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 Barnabas
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 did the
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 same
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 thing
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 that he
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 sold
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 the property
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 gave it
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 all to
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 the
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 apostles
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 and he
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 received
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 a whole lot
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 of praise
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 for it
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 I can
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 imagine
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 he's
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 been
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 held
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 up
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 people
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 look
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 to
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 him
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 he's
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 a
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 model
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 disciple
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 fantastic
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 work
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 people
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 are
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 encouraged
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 to give
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 a new
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 name
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 the son
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 of
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 encouragement
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 and I
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 would
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 suggest
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 that
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 Ananias
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 and Sapphira
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 wanted the
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 reputation
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 that
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 Barnabas
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 had
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 they
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 loved
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 the
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 applause
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 that he
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 received
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 they
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 wanted to
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 be
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 known
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 as
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 philanthropists
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 too
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 they
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 wanted to
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 be ranked
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 with
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 Barnabas
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 in the
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 esteem
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 of the
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 Christian
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 community
00:21:41 --> 00:21:44 but they
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 wanted both
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 the money
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 and the
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 esteem
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 and so
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 they hatched
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 a plot
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 a deception
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 in an attempt
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 to fool
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 the church
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 and God
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 but they
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 were wrong
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 verse 4
00:21:56 --> 00:21:58 this is
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 Peter
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 what made
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 you think
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 of doing
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 such a
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 thing
00:22:02 --> 00:22:05 you have
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 not lied
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 just to
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 human beings
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 but to
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 God
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 himself
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 when
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 Ananias
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 heard this
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 he fell
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 down
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 dead
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 immediately
00:22:14 --> 00:22:17 just like
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 his wife
00:22:18 --> 00:22:22 now the
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 savageness
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 of this
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 judgment
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 shocks many
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 Christians
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 today
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 it also
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 shocked the
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 early community
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 it says
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 great fear
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 seized them
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 not just the
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 Christians in the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 community
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 but the
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 surrounding
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 community
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 who were
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 not there
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 Christians
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 looking at
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 the Christian
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 community
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 great fear
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 seized them
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 as well
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 and yet
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 it did
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 not hinder
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 the progress
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 of the
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 gospel
00:22:45 --> 00:22:48 it's
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 possible
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 that Luke
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 had in
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 mind here
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 the similar
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 incident
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 in the
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 book of
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 Joshua
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 in the
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 Old Testament
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 we read
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 in Joshua
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 chapter 7
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 that of
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 Achan
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 who stole
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 some
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 treasure
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 from Jericho
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 which was
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 supposed to be
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 dedicated
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 to God
00:23:06 --> 00:23:09 he steals
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 it
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 hides it
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 under
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 his
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 tent
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 and as
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 a result
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 the
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 Israelite
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 community
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 was suffering
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 defeat
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 after
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 defeat
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 after
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 defeat
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 in battle
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 and Joshua
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 goes to
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 God
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 in the
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 ark of
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 the
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 covenant
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 and
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 prays to
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 God
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 what are
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 you doing
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 the glory
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 of your
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 name
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 is going
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 to be
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 hindered
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 here
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 the more
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 that we
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 suffer
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 defeat
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 people are
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 going to
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 laugh at
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 us
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 and they're
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 going to
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 laugh at
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 you
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 the advance
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 of your
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 kingdom
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 is going
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 to be
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 hindered
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 here
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 and God
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 be true
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 to your
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 name
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 resolve
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 the
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 problem
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 and
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 there's
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 Joshua
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 get up
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 it's not
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 my problem
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 it's yours
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 there's sin
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 in the
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 community
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 I haven't
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 broken my
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 promises
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 you guys
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 have broken
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 yours
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 there's sin
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 in your
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 community
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 and this
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 is right
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 at the
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 very beginning
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 as the
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 people of
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 God
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 cross over
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 the Jordan
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 river
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 and start
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 as the
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 new
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 community
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 people
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 in
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 their new
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 home
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 very
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 similar
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 situation
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 here in
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 the book
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 of Acts
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 as this
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 new
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 community
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 begins
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 as the
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 new
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 community
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 of
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 God's
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 people
00:24:12 --> 00:24:16 what
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 happened
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 in
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 Joshua
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 7
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 is
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 the
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 deception
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 is
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 discovered
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 Achan
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 and his
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 family
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 are
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 executed
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 for their
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 crime
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 against
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 God
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 and all
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 their
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 possessions
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 burnt
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 and their
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 name
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 wiped
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 out
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 their
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 name's
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 wiped
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 out
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 and the
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 point of
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 Joshua
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 7
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 and the
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 point
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 of
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 Acts
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 5
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 here
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 is that
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 we are
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 a disciplined
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 community
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 to fulfill
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 the purpose
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 that God
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 has for
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 his
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 saved
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 community
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 they must
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 maintain
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 a much
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 higher
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 standard
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 of conduct
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 than is
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 tolerated
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 in the
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 world
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 around
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 us
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 and so
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 it is
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 a dreadful
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 thing
00:24:57 --> 00:24:59 when the
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 church
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 has
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 as an
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 institution
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 the
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 stain
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 that
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 it
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 has
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 they
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 have
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 wandered
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 far
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 away
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 from
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 being
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 the
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 community
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 of
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 God's
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 people
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 and
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 under
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 the
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 lordship
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 of
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 Jesus
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 God's
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 people
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 must
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 be
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 different
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 their
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 moral
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 standards
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 must
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 be
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 maintained
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 we have
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 been
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 saved
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 from
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 one
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 corrupt
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 generation
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 being
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 made
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 in the
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 image
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 of
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 the
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 Lord
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 Jesus
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 and
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 so
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 therefore
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 personal
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 and corporate
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 holiness
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 absolutely
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 matters
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 to
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 every
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 local
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 church
00:25:29 --> 00:25:34 and so
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 at the
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 beginning
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 of this
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 new
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 community
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 as it
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 was
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 in
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 Joshua
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 7
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 and now
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 in
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 Acts
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 5
00:25:39 --> 00:25:42 an
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 example
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 is
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 made
00:25:42 --> 00:25:46 of
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 God's
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 priorities
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 God
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 will not
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 have
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 the purity
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 of his
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 church
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 adulterated
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 by
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 hypocrisy
00:25:54 --> 00:25:58 now
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 sometimes
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 there are
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 anxiety
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 prone
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 Christians
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 who
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 accuse
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 themselves
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 of
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 hypocrisy
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 unnecessarily
00:26:07 --> 00:26:11 that is
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 I think
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 it is
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 natural
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 for when
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 the spirit
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 of God
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 is working
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 in your
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 life
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 that you
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 become
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 aware
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 of the
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 sinfulness
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 that's
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 in your
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 life
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 and
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 when we
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 become aware
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 of our
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 sinfulness
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 and become
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 acutely
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 aware
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 of our
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 sinfulness
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 is that
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 we can
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 question our
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 place amongst
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 God's
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 people
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 do we
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 belong
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 here
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 am I
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 a hypocrite
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 because I've
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 identified
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 sin
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 hypocrisy
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 is different
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 hypocrisy
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 is a
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 deliberate
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 pretense
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 it's
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 deliberately
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 pretending
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 to be
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 something
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 that you
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 are not
00:26:45 --> 00:26:48 you see
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 what makes
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 this incident
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 in Acts
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 5
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 so serious
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 is the
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 deceit
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 that made
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 this crime
00:26:55 --> 00:26:57 so horrendous
00:26:57 --> 00:27:00 open deceit
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 attempt to
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 fool God
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 and to
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 fool others
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 in the
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 church there
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 is no
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 expectation
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 of perfection
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 the church
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 is a hospital
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 for sinners
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 it's not a
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 shop window
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 for ready
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 made
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 angels
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 the one
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 thing the
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 church does
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 have a right
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 though to
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 is to
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 expect that
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 every member
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 be honest
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 about where
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 they are
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 in their
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 relationship
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 with God
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 that's what
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 we should
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 expect
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 it is
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 those who
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 cloak
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 their sin
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 under the
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 mask of
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 moral
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 respectability
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 that the
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 church
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 must
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 discipline
00:27:35 --> 00:27:37 and keep
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 a watch
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 out over
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 each other
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 for
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 the church
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 must
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 discipline
00:27:42 --> 00:27:45 now I'm
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 glad that we
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 have a core
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 value that
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 addresses this
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 issue
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 specifically
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 but as a
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 value it's
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 got to be
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 practiced
00:27:51 --> 00:27:53 it's got to
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 shape the
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 culture for
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 us here at
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 St Paul's
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 it's got to
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 be written
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 not just on
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 our walls
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 but in our
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 hearts as
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 well
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 it's called
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 humble
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 authenticity
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 because we
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 are a
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 saved
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 community
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 at the
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 very least
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 what that
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 should tell
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 us is that
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 we needed
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 saving from
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 something
00:28:07 --> 00:28:10 that should
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 humble us
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 to know
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 that this
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 plan of
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 God's
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 salvation
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 is so
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 grand
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 because our
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 problem is
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 so deep
00:28:16 --> 00:28:18 we can't
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 fix it
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 ourselves
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 that nothing
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 less than the
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 creator God
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 had to jump
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 in and solve
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 it
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 that should
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 break your
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 heart
00:28:23 --> 00:28:28 humble
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 authenticity
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 says that
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 as a
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 church
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 we are
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 committed
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 to
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 communicating
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 in large
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 and small
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 group
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 settings
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 with
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 honesty
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 authenticity
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 and transparency
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 and being
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 vulnerable
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 with our
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 imperfections
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 that encourage
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 candor
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 and not
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 concealment
00:28:42 --> 00:28:46 that's the
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 community
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 that we
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 hold
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 ourselves
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 up to
00:28:49 --> 00:28:54 so lastly
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 so we're a
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 saved community
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 an organic
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 and gracious
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 community
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 a disciplined
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 community
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 and lastly
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 we're an
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 organised
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 community
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 hot on the
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 heels of
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 the first
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 discipline
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 place for
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 the church
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 is the
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 first business
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 meeting in
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 Acts chapter
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 6
00:29:08 --> 00:29:10 now this
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 section in
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 Acts 6
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13 begins with
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 a reference
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 to growth
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 in verse
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 1
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 it says
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 now in
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 these days
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 when the
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 disciples were
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 increasing
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 and then if
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 you jump
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 right to
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 the end
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 of it
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 in verse
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 7
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 it says
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 and the
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 word of
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 God
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 increased
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 and the
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 number of
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 the disciples
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 multiplied
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 greatly
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 in Jerusalem
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 and a
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 great many
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 of the
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 priests
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 were obedient
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 to the
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 faith
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 so what
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 is sandwiched
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 between
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 those
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 two
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 statements
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 where the
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 growth of
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 the church
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 is documented
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 and celebrated
00:29:40 --> 00:29:42 are two
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 threats
00:29:42 --> 00:29:44 there's two
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 threats
00:29:44 --> 00:29:47 two threats
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 to the
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 effectiveness
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 of the
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 church's
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 mission
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 and also
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 how both
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 those threats
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 were overcome
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 so the
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 first threat
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 is the
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 more obvious
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 one
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 it's the
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 conflict
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 between the
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 Greek speaking
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 Jews
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 and the
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 Aramaic
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 speaking
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 Jews
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 there's a
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 major tension
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 point for
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 the early
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 church
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 the Greek
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 speaking
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 Jews
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 weren't
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 quite
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 culturally
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 at home
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 with the
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 the real
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 Jews
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 you know
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 the
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 the Aramaic
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 speaking
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 Jews
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 the full
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 blooded
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 Jews
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 there was
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 a great
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 rivalry
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 even though
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 they both
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 sat in
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 the Jewish
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 camp
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 they were
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 both
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 there's a
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 great
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 rivalry
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 between
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 these
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 two
00:30:25 --> 00:30:27 cultures
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 Jewish
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 cultures
00:30:27 --> 00:30:29 they had
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 their own
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 churches
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 their own
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 synagogues
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 that they
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 met in
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 they weren't
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 connected
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 together
00:30:33 --> 00:30:35 when the
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 gospel hits
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 town
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 when Jesus
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 and the
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 good news
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 of salvation
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 him hits
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 town
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 the church
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 the new
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 community
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 is formed
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 from both
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 of those
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 groups
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 both
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 those
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 groups
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 become
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 one
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 in the
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 new
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 church
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 the new
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 community
00:30:49 --> 00:30:52 the early
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 church
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 is a
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 multi-ethnic
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 and economically
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 diverse
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 church
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 and the
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 tragedy
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 here in
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 Acts 6
00:30:58 --> 00:31:00 is the
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 cultural
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 rivalry
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 the cultural
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 rivalry
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 was
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 perpetuated
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 within the
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 new
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 community
00:31:07 --> 00:31:09 that Jesus
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 had
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 established
00:31:09 --> 00:31:12 and the
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 apostles
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 were on
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 it
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 they
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 could
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 rightly
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 see
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 that the
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 corporate
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 witness
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 of the
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 church
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 and the
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 spread
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 of the
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 word of
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 God
00:31:22 --> 00:31:24 was at
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 stake
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 here
00:31:25 --> 00:31:28 if people
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 weren't
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 cared for
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 and the
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 murmuring
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 continued
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 then the
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 church
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 would come
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 into
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 disrepute
00:31:35 --> 00:31:37 that's the
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 first threat
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 to the
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 spread of
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 the word
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 of God
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 the
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 second
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 threat
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 to the
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 church's
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 mission
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 is even
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 bigger
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 than that
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 threat
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 and
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 it's not
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 as obvious
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 in the
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 text
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 the second
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 threat
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 is solving
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 the first
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 threat
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 in the
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 wrong way
00:31:59 --> 00:32:01 that's the
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 second threat
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 and it
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 seems to me
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 that Luke
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 thinks
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 that the
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 second threat
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 is actually
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 bigger than
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 the first
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 threat
00:32:09 --> 00:32:11 and I
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 say that
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 because the
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 way that
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 he links
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17 verse 2
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 the word
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 of God
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 and the
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 word of
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 God in
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 verse 7
00:32:22 --> 00:32:24 in verse 2
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 he quotes
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 the apostles
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 as saying
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 that leaving
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 the ministry
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 of the word
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 of God
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 would be
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 a mistake
00:32:32 --> 00:32:35 and in
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 verse 7
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 he reports
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 in fact
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 I would
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 suggest
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 he celebrates
00:32:39 --> 00:32:41 the impact
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 of the
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 apostles
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 not leaving
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 the word
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 of God
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 the word
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 of God
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 spread
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 the number
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 of disciples
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 in Jerusalem
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 increased
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 rapidly
00:32:51 --> 00:32:53 and a
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 large number
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 of priests
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 became obedient
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 to the
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 faith
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 his point
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 is that
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 the word
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 of God
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 kept spreading
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 and bearing
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 fruit
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 because the
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 apostles
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 did not
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 make the
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 strategic
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 mistake
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 of leaving
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 their calling
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 to fix
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 a pressing
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 pastoral
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 problem
00:33:09 --> 00:33:12 he is
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 saying here
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 that it is
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 so right
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 that the
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 apostles
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 focus
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 stayed on
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 the ministry
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 of the word
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 and prayer
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 the major
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 threat to
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 the church's
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 mission
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 is whatever
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 threatens
00:33:24 --> 00:33:26 the word
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 of God
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 spreading
00:33:27 --> 00:33:30 so what
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 the apostles
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 do is they
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 delegate the
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 ministry of
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 meeting the
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 needs to a
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 group and
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 they focus
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 themselves on
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 their primary
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 calling
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 now there is
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 no hint
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 in Acts
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 at all
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 there is no
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 hint that
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 the apostles
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 the ministry
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 of the food
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 distribution was
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 somehow below
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 them
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 not even a
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 hint of that
00:33:48 --> 00:33:50 there is not
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 even a hint
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 that the apostles
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 didn't love
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 or care
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 for the
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 widows
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 because they
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 did not
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 distribute
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 the food
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 personally
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 not even
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 the widows
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 complained about
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 the apostles
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 not distributing
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 the food
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 personally
00:34:01 --> 00:34:05 in fact it
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 seems that the
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 widows and the
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 whole church
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 were satisfied
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 their care
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 had been
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 offered under
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 the leadership
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 of the apostles
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 even though it
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 wasn't the
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 apostles doing
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 it personally
00:34:14 --> 00:34:16 so the
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 quick issue
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 here for us
00:34:18 --> 00:34:20 is entirely
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 a question
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 of calling
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 this is a
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 vital
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 principle
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 for us
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 as a
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 church
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 God
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 calls
00:34:27 --> 00:34:29 all of
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 his
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 saved
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 new
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 community
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 to be
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 people
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 in the
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 ministry
00:34:33 --> 00:34:35 all of
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 us
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 he calls
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 different
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 people
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 to different
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 ministries
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 each
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 calling
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 and
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 ministry
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 is to
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 work
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 together
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 to in
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 order
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 for in
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 order
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 that the
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 word of
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 God
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 would
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 increase
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 and spread
00:34:47 --> 00:34:49 and the
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 new
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 community
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 grow
00:34:50 --> 00:34:52 that's
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 God's
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 agenda
00:34:53 --> 00:34:56 and Luke
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 celebrates the
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 solution of
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 the apostles
00:34:58 --> 00:35:00 the two
00:35:00 --> 00:35:00 threats are
00:35:00 --> 00:35:00 overcome
00:35:00 --> 00:35:02 both
00:35:02 --> 00:35:04 were utterly
00:35:04 --> 00:35:04 crucial
00:35:04 --> 00:35:06 either of
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 these threats
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 could have
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 undermined the
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 church and
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 ended its
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 amazing growth
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 and the
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 solution here
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 was the
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 diversity
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 of gifting
00:35:14 --> 00:35:16 diversity
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 of calling
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 working
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 together to
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 see the
00:35:19 --> 00:35:19 influence of
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 the word of
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 God spread
00:35:20 --> 00:35:23 that's the
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 way we
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 organise the
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 pursuit of
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 our vision
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 here at
00:35:25 --> 00:35:27 St Paul's
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 pursuit of
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 our vision
00:35:29 --> 00:35:29 our ministry
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 is that we
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 are staff
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 led
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 we are parish
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 council guided
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 and we are
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 church member
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 enacted
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 everyone
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 involved
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 in the
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 community
00:35:38 --> 00:35:40 in order to
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 see the
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 word of
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 God spread
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 and increase
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 that is
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 you've heard me
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 say this
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 before
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 we are not
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 the manly
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 ferry
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 where there's
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 a few
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 people
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 on the
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 boat
00:35:50 --> 00:35:52 doing the
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 key jobs
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 to get us
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 from point
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 A to B
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 and the
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 rest of us
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 are sitting
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 there reading
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 our phones
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 scrolling through
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 the phones
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 reading the
00:35:59 --> 00:36:01 taken photos
00:36:01 --> 00:36:03 we are not
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 the manly
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 ferry
00:36:03 --> 00:36:05 we are more
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 akin to a
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 yacht
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 in the
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 Hobart
00:36:08 --> 00:36:10 yacht race
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 on boxing
00:36:11 --> 00:36:11 day
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 everyone on
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 board has a
00:36:13 --> 00:36:13 vital part to
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 play
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 there are no
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 passengers
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 if you are a
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 passenger
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 you manage to
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 stay away
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 you get
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 tossed overboard
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 we cannot
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 cope with
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 extra weight
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 we're a
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 racing yacht
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 with everyone
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 has a vital
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 part to
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 play
00:36:24 --> 00:36:26 all different
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 but all
00:36:27 --> 00:36:27 crucial in
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 order to
00:36:28 --> 00:36:28 achieve the
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 goal of
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 seeing God's
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 new
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 community
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 grow
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 the word
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 of God
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 increase
00:36:34 --> 00:36:34 and spread
00:36:34 --> 00:36:37 so let me
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 just say
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 if you're a
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 Christian
00:36:38 --> 00:36:40 you have a
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 crucial part
00:36:41 --> 00:36:41 to play in
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 God's
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 eternal plan
00:36:43 --> 00:36:43 of his
00:36:43 --> 00:36:43 new
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 community
00:36:44 --> 00:36:46 I've got to
00:36:46 --> 00:36:46 keep coming
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 back to this
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 again and
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 again and
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 again
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 your life
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 is so much
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 bigger than
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 a good job
00:36:50 --> 00:36:50 an understanding
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 spouse
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 non-delinquent
00:36:52 --> 00:36:52 kids
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 good friends
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 and active
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 social life
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 it is so much
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 bigger than
00:36:56 --> 00:36:56 beautiful gardens
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 and nice
00:36:57 --> 00:36:57 holidays
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 and fashionable
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 clothes
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 you are part
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 of something
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 immense
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 something that
00:37:02 --> 00:37:02 began before
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 you were born
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 something that
00:37:04 --> 00:37:04 will continue
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 long after
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 you die
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 God is
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 rescuing
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 fallen
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 scattered
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 sinful
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 humanity
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 the corrupt
00:37:11 --> 00:37:11 generation
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 he's rescuing
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 people from
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 one generation
00:37:13 --> 00:37:15 one community
00:37:15 --> 00:37:17 into a new
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 community
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 of saved
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 people that
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 will be his
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 community of
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 people forever
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 and he's shaping
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 us into the
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 image of his
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 much loved son
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 the Lord Jesus
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 Christ
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 for his
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 glory
00:37:27 --> 00:37:29 he gathers
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 you to
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 himself
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 to his
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 new society
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 his new
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 community
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 so that
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 you might
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 pursue
00:37:36 --> 00:37:38 his agenda
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 for time
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 and eternity
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 let's pray
00:37:41 --> 00:37:45 father God
00:37:45 --> 00:37:47 we ask that
00:37:47 --> 00:37:48 you would
00:37:48 --> 00:37:48 please pour
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 out your
00:37:49 --> 00:37:49 holy spirit
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 now upon
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 us your
00:37:51 --> 00:37:51 people
00:37:51 --> 00:37:53 to give
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 us hearts
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 to hear
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 and to do
00:37:55 --> 00:37:56 your word
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 and to meet
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 each other's
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 needs
00:37:58 --> 00:37:59 would you
00:37:59 --> 00:38:00 also build
00:38:00 --> 00:38:01 this church
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 and overcome
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 the obstacles
00:38:03 --> 00:38:05 to the spread
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 of the word
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 of God
00:38:06 --> 00:38:06 the good news
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 of salvation
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 in Jesus
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 Christ
00:38:08 --> 00:38:10 grant that
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 there would
00:38:11 --> 00:38:11 be such
00:38:11 --> 00:38:11 liberty
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 and such
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 freedom
00:38:13 --> 00:38:13 and such
00:38:13 --> 00:38:14 anointing
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 and obedience
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 and holiness
00:38:16 --> 00:38:18 that your
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 word does
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 not return
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 void
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 but instead
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 spreads
00:38:22 --> 00:38:24 and you
00:38:24 --> 00:38:25 are glorified
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 forever
00:38:26 --> 00:38:29 in Jesus
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 name
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 come now
00:38:30 --> 00:38:31 and do
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 your work
00:38:31 --> 00:38:32 amongst us
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 and continue
00:38:33 --> 00:38:33 to do
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 your work
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 and shape
00:38:35 --> 00:38:35 us as your
00:38:35 --> 00:38:36 new community
00:38:36 --> 00:38:38 amen