1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:06,240 Well, welcome to the gathering of Redemption Church North 2 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,080 Ogden. Now I specifically said it that 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:13,200 way, the gathering of the church to to make a point because this, 4 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,280 this building, this wonderful blessing of a, of a building 5 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:20,640 here and even this service that we are are in now don't define 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,000 this church. Even the individual believers 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,280 here don't make this, this church. 8 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:34,440 So today we're celebrating our, our, our first year as a church. 9 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:39,440 And so we're going to take just a A1 week hiatus from our study 10 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,560 of the, the Gospel of Matthew that we've been in for the last 11 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,800 probably about six months now to we're going to take a hiatus 12 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:49,080 from that to, to remind ourselves of some important 13 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,240 points. And and I want to take a look at 14 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:55,280 at what does define the church then? 15 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:08,160 It's always me we on there we go. 16 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,640 So this is a this is a quote here from a book that that Eric 17 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:16,960 and John and I have been been reading from from Tom Hicks and 18 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,640 and the section on the church started off like like this. 19 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,560 And I and I really I, I went back and I read it several times 20 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:24,920 and I wanted to share with with you guys here. 21 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,720 It says the church is the bride of Christ joined to him in the 22 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,800 new covenant to receive all his graces, to grow in his likeness, 23 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,880 to worship and commune with him forever and ever. 24 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:39,960 When Adam sinned and the whole human race fell in Adam, God 25 00:01:39,960 --> 00:01:44,520 could justly have left us to die in our sins, but instead He 26 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:50,360 graciously chose a particular people to bring back to Himself. 27 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,480 He did not merely choose individuals, but He chose those 28 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:57,880 individuals to be gathered into a people, His church, to bring 29 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:02,200 them back to Himself as a community of redeemed believers. 30 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:08,039 So this church is the gathering of the people who are committed 31 00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:12,360 to each other in light of and within their relationship with 32 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,840 Jesus. It isn't, it isn't defined 33 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:20,280 simply by attendance to a service or, or you know, in a 34 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,480 building. It is the, it is the gathering 35 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:27,280 of believers with purpose. Now, our word church, you'll 36 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,400 hear this often from the Pope, but we like to talk about Greek 37 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,000 words and things like that. The, the, the word church comes 38 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,240 from the Greek word ecclesia, which specifically means called 39 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,200 out from. And it's, it's very importantly 40 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,520 making the case for the people who have been called out 41 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,120 different from the world. And, and that's who Christians 42 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,440 are by definition, followers of, of Jesus who are different from 43 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:55,200 the world, people who, who prioritize Jesus will and, and 44 00:02:55,200 --> 00:03:00,200 Jesus desires above their own. And one of the reasons why I 45 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,040 want to be careful in communicating this is often I 46 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:08,440 think maybe we take a little bit too much liberty in our approach 47 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:10,960 to church. Common mistake that humanity 48 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,920 makes is to define and value something by the the way that it 49 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:20,800 influences their situation. In our sinful nature, we are 50 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,680 self focused beings. I think every one of us 51 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,080 understands that. So we can quickly form an 52 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,280 opinion about the value of church by our experiences there 53 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:35,400 rather than our purpose there. We can ask questions often 54 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:39,240 things like does the church fit my opinions and and does it fit 55 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,600 my beliefs and, or does it make me feel good? 56 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,560 Right. And because we often use this 57 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,920 incorrect yardstick to measure the value that we associate with 58 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,480 church, we often jump to the incorrect and quite frankly, the 59 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:57,320 unbiblical conclusion that church is optional. 60 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:00,920 Well, let me tell you, my friends, for the believer, it is 61 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,320 not optional. I'd be willing to bet that many 62 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:08,280 of us, if, if not all of us, if we're, if we're honest, have at 63 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,760 some point put significantly more importance on our 64 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:17,040 experience at church than we did on God's purpose for church. 65 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,880 Throughout the New Testament, we have nearly two dozen letters 66 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:27,240 written directly to the various church bodies, to collections of 67 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:29,880 believers, and even to individual believers. 68 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:33,840 And these letters are given to the churches to help them 69 00:04:33,840 --> 00:04:38,960 understand how God expects us to approach our relationship with 70 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:43,520 Him through with other believers, through other 71 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:48,480 believers. In Second Timothy 3, starting in 72 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:53,240 verse one, going through through verse 5, Paul writes some words 73 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,920 of warning to the church. And at the heart of it, it, it 74 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,680 recognizes A facade, right? Like a, a fake front for those 75 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:05,160 Amelia always, you know, accuses me of using big people words, a 76 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,800 facade, you know, a fake front that that looks one way but but 77 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,840 really isn't. And it's speaking to hypocrisy. 78 00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:14,560 And here's what it says in Second Timothy 3. 79 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,600 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times 80 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,400 of difficulty. For people will be lovers of 81 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:26,640 self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient 82 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:31,720 to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, 83 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,600 slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not 84 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:40,240 loving, good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, 85 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,920 lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the 86 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:50,720 appearance of godliness but denying its power, Avoid such 87 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,440 people. And that last verse that that 88 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,200 phrase in there having the appearance of godliness is is 89 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:03,880 talking to hypocrites that say that they are Christian but are 90 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,760 not and guys, this is a letter to the church. 91 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,360 He's he's talking to the church. These people are within the 92 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:16,760 church. When we read Colossians 416 93 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,920 says, and when this letter has been read among you have it also 94 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,440 read in the Church of the Laodiceans and see that you also 95 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:29,080 read the letter from Laodicea. See, these apostles were through 96 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,440 the divine Spirit of God, delivering direction to the 97 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:37,560 churches with authority, but not just to the churches that it was 98 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,200 addressed to. They clearly intended these 99 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:44,960 letters to be shared amongst all churches and used as guidelines 100 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:49,960 for their conduct. So we can also use these letters 101 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:54,680 to help us understand God's schematic, if you will, for his, 102 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,400 his church. And all too often these days 103 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,200 and, and really, you know, for the last two millennia, people 104 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:07,040 have felt at liberty to, to redesign and to, to re envision 105 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,720 the church ignoring the fact that that these letters were 106 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,120 given to us to to help us understand those God-given 107 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,880 guidelines. And Paul says as much when he 108 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:21,720 writes in his first letter to Timothy in in first Timothy 3 109 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,200 verses 14 and 15. He says, I hope to come to you 110 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:29,120 soon, but I'm writing these things to you so that if I 111 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:34,720 delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household 112 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:38,080 of God, which is the Church of the living God, a pillar and 113 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,840 buttress of truth. And again, Paul isn't talking 114 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,400 about a physical building and yet he makes it clear that the 115 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:49,160 church is a pillar and and buttress of truth. 116 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,320 You know, pillar and buttress are are synonyms for supports, 117 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,200 right? Like those those columns that 118 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,440 you would see that would hold up a a roof. 119 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,920 And he's saying that the church supports the the truth. 120 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:06,000 Paul's right in this because he is keenly aware that people can 121 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:10,840 and will come to different opinions regarding how they view 122 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:18,080 church, what the responsibility is to the church, and why it 123 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:21,720 matters. Now maybe that seems silly to 124 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,040 think that people might come to church with the idea that they 125 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:28,400 can act however they wish or that that worship may be done in 126 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,720 whatever way suits them. But we've probably all seen 127 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:34,679 that. We've probably all seen many 128 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:40,120 times in one manner of another. Even with it laid out plainly in 129 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,960 Scripture, there are still often differing opinions about how 130 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,080 these things are carried out and and interpreted. 131 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:50,680 In fact, I mean, we, we see examples of silliness that 132 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:54,520 people bring towards their to towards church all the time. 133 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:59,800 We can see it on the Internet, the mockery that people make of 134 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:03,560 of this process. As I said, I think we often take 135 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:06,400 too much liberty in our approach to church and, and, and so I 136 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,880 believe that we should often look back to these epistles to 137 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,080 do a check up on ourselves and and ensure our ideas and 138 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,640 opinions are in line with Scripture. 139 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,720 And that's why we're doing it here on our, on our anniversary, 140 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:22,720 we before we launched, we spent weeks, months going through 141 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,640 these things of what a healthy church is, because we wanted to 142 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:29,120 plant a healthy church when we want to stay a healthy church 143 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,240 and we want to, to grow healthier as a church. 144 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,960 And then we want to spin off and, and, and, and send out 145 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,960 other healthy churches. So we want to do this, this, 146 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:45,760 this this review often as we as we as we continue to grow. 147 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,000 And I believe there is scriptural evidence that tells 148 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,920 us a lot about the makeup of church, what we should hope to 149 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:54,120 aspire to as a body of believers and and what God has planned for 150 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:55,480 his church. So today I want to start off 151 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:59,160 with a a passage that we see at the very beginning of the New 152 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,880 Testament church in the book of Acts that we just read from just 153 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:07,400 right before I came up here, part of what was read anyways in 154 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:13,840 Acts chapter 2 and it said it this is just verse 42. 155 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,280 We read 42 to 47, but verse 42 is what I want to focus on 156 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:18,480 today. It says, and they devoted 157 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:22,600 themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to 158 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,360 the breaking of bread and the prayers. 159 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:30,960 This passage, guys, is not describing life outside of the 160 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,640 church, but rather it's describing the life of those who 161 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:35,920 were a part of the church already. 162 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,480 And I, I want to work through this verse today as we continue 163 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:43,480 to, to define and grow as God's church, our, ourselves. 164 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:47,120 And I, I and, and I think that that's the, you know, the main 165 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:51,240 thing that we, we can pull out of this passage and others that 166 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,560 support it is that throughout Scripture, there is a 167 00:10:53,560 --> 00:10:58,080 demonstrated devotion and, and commitment to worship, to 168 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:03,400 obedience and discipleship that Scripture calls the church to. 169 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,640 And God uses that devotion to grow his church. 170 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:10,240 But before we get into these 4 characteristics, let's define 171 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,480 that word, that word that we see in that passage, devoted, right? 172 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:17,640 What is devotedness? Well, here's what the here's 173 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,720 what the dictionary says. Devotedness is the quality of 174 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,680 being dedicated, loyal and committed to a person, cause or 175 00:11:24,680 --> 00:11:28,040 activity, often to the point of placing their needs or interests 176 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:32,000 above 1's own. It implies a deep affection, 177 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:37,120 steadfastness, and an unwavering dedication as seen in a lifelong 178 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:41,840 commitment. That doesn't seem wavering it or 179 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,760 or short lived. That seems more than just a 180 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,400 passing interest that we would show in a right. 181 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,000 And let's remember that that Jesus at the time that this was 182 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:56,320 written, Jesus has has just been publicly beaten and crucified. 183 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:02,200 All of the apostles except John were later martyred for their 184 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:03,960 beliefs. These disciples in the early 185 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:07,480 church and Acts were not participating in their faith 186 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:12,080 lukewarm. They were devoted, it said. 187 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:16,840 So what were they devoted to? That's we'll get to hear the the 188 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:22,280 first point is they were devoted to the apostles teaching as they 189 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:25,200 wanted this teaching, they craved it. 190 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:30,200 Our Acts 2 passage that that we read comes right on the heels of 191 00:12:30,560 --> 00:12:33,800 of the apostle Peter giving a powerful sermon at the end, 192 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,440 after he gives a sermon, people ask, well, well, what should we 193 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,720 do? And and Peter's response is 194 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,600 repent and be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. 195 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:50,440 It's a question all of us have asked or will ask at some point 196 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:53,640 in our life when we hear the gospel is well, then what should 197 00:12:53,640 --> 00:13:01,320 I do as a response to that? Repent of your sins and be 198 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:07,960 baptized. And, and after that, Peter goes 199 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,160 on and says, this is what being called by God. 200 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:16,320 This is what being set apart by God is and it says that about 201 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:20,360 3000 people were added to the church that day, added to the 202 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,960 body of of believer. So no wonder they were devoted 203 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,960 to the apostles teaching. They were teaching something 204 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:34,240 powerful. They were teaching the Bible and 205 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:38,200 the people wanted that. They wanted to hear God's word 206 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:44,560 and and Psalm 42 verses one through 2 says as a deer pants 207 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:48,120 for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you. 208 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:52,840 Oh God, my soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 209 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:58,600 See guys, we, we learn more about God by hearing from God. 210 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:04,120 And that's what this is. This is where we hear from God 211 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:10,040 about God. There's a recognition that there 212 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:14,920 is a supremacy of Scripture over our feelings, over our, our, 213 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:19,400 our, our opinions, even over the opinions of others over other 214 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,600 writings that are not Scripture. This is supreme. 215 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:28,880 Romans 10 verse 17 says so. Faith comes from hearing and 216 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,640 hearing through the word of Christ. 217 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,960 We pant like like a deer pants for, for water. 218 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:43,440 We pant for, for, for, for God. We thirst for, for knowing God. 219 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,520 And that faith in God comes from hearing the the message. 220 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:51,080 And the message is heard through the delivery of the word about 221 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:54,000 Jesus. And I believe biblical preaching 222 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,120 must be centered on Jesus because all of the Bible is 223 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,400 about Jesus. Now, of course, if you were to 224 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,360 go through and pick a, a specific verse or, or section or 225 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:06,800 something, it might be about a, an individual person or a group 226 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:11,560 or, or an event or something. But in context, within the 227 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:16,200 totality of the text, it is all centered on Jesus. 228 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:21,080 Now today's message is, is a topical message, meaning that, 229 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:26,320 that I've, I've developed this sermon on a topic that we as 230 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,560 pastors chose on, on, on the church, right? 231 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:33,760 As opposed to what we would generally prefer to do, which is 232 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:37,320 expository preaching, going verse by verse through God's 233 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:42,200 word and learning what and, and how God gave us the message in 234 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:46,200 context and not skipping over the tough topics or simply 235 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,920 making the message what we want it to be. 236 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,880 This was exemplified a lot for Eric the last couple weeks 237 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:59,040 preaching on, on, on murder and hatred and adultery and lust, 238 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:00,840 right? That those are those were heavy. 239 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:02,560 There was a heaviness about that. 240 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,280 And he didn't get to skip over it and make it be what he 241 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,240 wanted. He had to preach the truth. 242 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:13,320 What, what the gospel says. Now, let me just say, how can 243 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:15,200 how? Let me ask this rhetorical 244 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,160 question. But I'd like you guys to think 245 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:18,640 about this as you go about your week. 246 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:24,840 And I don't want to make anybody feel guilty if this is you, but 247 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,520 how can you be sure of what the pastor is saying? 248 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,480 What I'm saying up here is an accurate representation of the 249 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,880 scripture that I'm referencing. Unless you follow along in your 250 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,600 Bible, right? It would be very easy for me to 251 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,360 put anything I want up here. And if you're not in your Bible 252 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:44,200 reading and making sure that I'm saying it right or that I'm 253 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,600 representing it right, how can you hold me accountable and make 254 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:51,160 sure that what I am feeding you and your family is, is right? 255 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:55,360 Biblical preaching requires a high view of, of Scripture. 256 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,280 And if you've read our statement of faith and, and I hope you 257 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,600 have done that or I hope that you would make a time to do 258 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:03,920 that, you'll see that that it says the Scriptures are the 259 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:08,280 authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life 260 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,839 practice and doctrine. And we would be the healthiest 261 00:17:11,839 --> 00:17:15,119 if each of you had your Bible open today. 262 00:17:15,319 --> 00:17:18,160 And we're following me in these passages and ensuring that the 263 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,720 pastor is properly handling the text. 264 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:24,520 We can't have a hands off approach to pastors. 265 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:28,240 Church has a responsibility to hold pastors to the standard 266 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:32,480 laid out in Scripture, both in qualification and in 267 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,240 responsibility. So part of this biblical 268 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,480 preaching, a part of the apostles teaching is 269 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,320 understanding that pastors have an important role. 270 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,480 In Ephesians 4 verses 11 and 12, it says, and he gave the 271 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:50,400 apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and 272 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:54,400 teachers to equip the Saints for the work of ministry, for 273 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:58,840 building up the body of Christ. Now that word shepherd, there is 274 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:04,000 the same word that's used pastor or overseer or elder, It's the 275 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:08,080 same, the same word there. And you know, Scripture says 276 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:11,360 that there are qualifications to be a pastor. 277 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,280 Are you familiar with those qualifications? 278 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:18,400 Again, just a rhetorical question to maybe think about 279 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:20,600 this week. Are you familiar with the 280 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,960 qualifications that you're supposed to hold me to that 281 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,840 you're supposed to hold John and Eric to that we find in 282 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:30,960 Scripture. Here they are first Timothy 3 283 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:33,920 verses one through 7 there this isn't the only place that they 284 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:35,960 are. This is just one of the places 285 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,680 that we that we find them in first Timothy 3 verses one 286 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:41,600 through 7 it says the saying is trustworthy. 287 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:44,640 If anyone aspires to the office of overseer again, that's 288 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,320 shepherd pastor. He desires a noble task. 289 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,080 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach. 290 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:54,640 The husband of one wife, sober minded, self controlled, 291 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:59,360 respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not 292 00:18:59,360 --> 00:19:02,840 violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of 293 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,000 money. He must manage his own household 294 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:11,160 well, with all dignity, keeping his children submissive. 295 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:14,720 For someone does not know how to manage his own household. 296 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:16,800 How will he care for God's church? 297 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,920 He must not be a recent convert or he may become puffed up with 298 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,880 conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 299 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:26,040 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders so that 300 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:30,120 he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 301 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:36,520 As this is important not just for the elders to know, but for 302 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:40,000 all of us to know, to hold them accountable to this standard. 303 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:45,680 Let me just a couple months back, we had vacation Bible 304 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:48,040 school here that, that we held here. 305 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:53,120 And I, I got to witness something and I shared this 306 00:19:53,120 --> 00:19:55,960 with, with a couple of people. I, I actually pointed it out and 307 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:04,040 I got to watch John as, as I, I watched him maneuver through one 308 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,200 of his boys was just having a moment right as, as all of our, 309 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,160 our kids do. And I watched from across the 310 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:13,920 room. I told John this and I, I told 311 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:15,920 Noel this and I told a couple of people that day. 312 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:20,360 I said we're blessed. To be able to watch this and I 313 00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:23,800 got to see him, sorry, John, to throw you out here like this, 314 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:28,760 but we got, I got to see him parent his child through a, a, a 315 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:32,880 little bit of a hardship, right? For a, for a small child, it was 316 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,280 a hardship for him. And I got to see him with 317 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:39,000 compassion and care. I got to see his shepherding 318 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,160 first hand. And I thought that was a 319 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:47,360 blessing to be able to watch, to be able to be in relationship 320 00:20:47,360 --> 00:20:53,880 with each other, to be able to see this man exemplify the 321 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:55,920 things that we talk about, the things that we teach. 322 00:20:56,120 --> 00:20:57,800 And it was my honor to be able to watch. 323 00:20:57,800 --> 00:20:59,600 And I don't mean to embarrass him by that. 324 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:01,880 And I didn't know that I was going to get emotional about it, 325 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:05,960 but it was beautiful. And it's it's part of our family 326 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:09,640 to be able to be part of this, to grow from that. 327 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:14,800 OK, so we know what the qualifications are, but what's 328 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:17,320 their job? You ever wondered that what's 329 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:22,320 the job of a pastor? Well, in Hebrews 13, verse 17, 330 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:27,240 it's here's this passage that helps to to define to clear up 331 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,640 and define the roles of the pastors in in in one way. 332 00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:34,720 And it says obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are 333 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:38,760 keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an 334 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,160 account. Let them do this with joy and 335 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,440 not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 336 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,440 Now, I guys, I'll just tell you, I'm a guy who doesn't like 337 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:53,040 people telling me what to do. Some of you have experienced 338 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:54,760 this. Some of you have experienced 339 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:58,920 this today, and I'm sorry. Amen. 340 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:07,360 I said I was sorry, but we get to see this. 341 00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:11,760 The, the our pastors are, are those who are going to stand in 342 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:15,520 front of our Lord and Savior and give an account one day for 343 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:19,160 their shepherding, for their watching over the souls in this 344 00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:22,440 room. And that's hard work. 345 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,680 But it says here, let them do this with joy and not with 346 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,120 groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 347 00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:33,200 So when a, when a pastor, when a shepherd comes and speaks to you 348 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:39,640 and speaks the gospel to you in whatever ways that you need to 349 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,360 hear, know that that's an act of love. 350 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:51,960 In Ephesians 4, that passage that that I, I, I mentioned just 351 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:56,520 a bit ago, it says also to, to equip the Saints for the work of 352 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,280 the ministry. And that work, that work of, of 353 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,720 the ministry can be divided up into, into two main categories, 354 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:08,880 discipleship and evangelism. Discipleship in a nutshell, is 355 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,960 our relationship with and to the body of believers. 356 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,880 And evangelism is sharing the gospel with the unbelieving 357 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,120 world. And we'll talk about this more 358 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:23,640 in our next point here, which is that what those first disciples 359 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:30,880 were also devoted to fellowship. Now, the Greek word that's used 360 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,480 here is the word Koinonia. We've mentioned this many times. 361 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,120 We'll, we'll mention it, you know, a million more over the 362 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:38,360 years. And, and Koinonia means the 363 00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:41,760 close association between persons, emphasizing what is 364 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:45,320 common between them. So, So what is common amongst 365 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,840 those who belong to Christchurch? 366 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:55,120 Well, here at at Redemption, John shared this with me just 367 00:23:55,120 --> 00:23:57,120 the other day. All of our different serve teams 368 00:23:57,120 --> 00:24:00,720 and our and our, our areas of ministry, we have purpose 369 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,840 statements or mission statements so that we can be always 370 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,800 reminded why are we doing this? What is the specific goal of 371 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:09,880 this team of this area of ministry? 372 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:12,960 How do we honor God and serve other people in this? 373 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:17,360 And this is this was the one for our worship services that we are 374 00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:20,640 in now. Is this to gather as the visible 375 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:24,480 church on the Lord's Day to glorify God and to encourage and 376 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,640 equip the Saints through the singing, reading, praying, 377 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:29,680 preaching and displaying of the Word? 378 00:24:30,120 --> 00:24:35,920 See, there is intentionality and and purpose behind what we do 379 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:38,520 together. And not just at Redemption North 380 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:42,200 Ogden, but as the Universal Church has the big body of 381 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,160 believers, there's intentionality and purpose 382 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,240 behind our fellowship with each other. 383 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:53,480 What's common with amongst us is being a faithful follower of 384 00:24:53,480 --> 00:25:02,120 Jesus, of being a Christian. But the fact is, according to 385 00:25:02,120 --> 00:25:05,440 the Pew Research Center, I just, I just read this this week and 386 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:10,120 it wowed me. 63% of Utahns claim to be Christian. 387 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:16,840 Tragically, guys, that's not what Jesus says. 388 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:19,920 He didn't specifically talk about the state of Utah, but 389 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:24,360 here's what he said in Matthew 7, verses 21 through 23. 390 00:25:24,360 --> 00:25:27,760 And this is some people think that this is the scariest, one 391 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:31,040 of the scariest things, you know, in all of the Bible. 392 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,320 Here's what it says. Not everyone who says to me, 393 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:38,400 Lord Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but the one who does 394 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:42,000 the will of the of my Father who is in heaven on that day. 395 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,400 Many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name 396 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,480 and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your 397 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:53,600 name and then I will declare to them, I never knew you depart 398 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:55,960 from me, you workers of lawlessness. 399 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:02,360 Many people admire Jesus. Many people enjoy you know his 400 00:26:02,360 --> 00:26:04,360 teachings. They they they read the Bible, 401 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,400 they they have bumper stickers about it. 402 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:11,640 Whatever they would say that they follow much of what he 403 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,520 says, but we don't get to pick and choose what we believe. 404 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:19,720 We don't get to redefine who Jesus is an equal but distinct 405 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:22,440 part of the triune God. Like like Eric mentioned in that 406 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:26,320 in that prayer a little bit ago, we don't get to indiscriminately 407 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:31,400 submit to some parts of God's word and then just throw out the 408 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,680 rest. We don't get to to add to it and 409 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,920 change the path and plan of salvation and cheapen his 410 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:38,920 sacrifice by elevating our works. 411 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:45,600 We don't get to do that. A true Christian is a person who 412 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,960 has has put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus 413 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:54,160 Christ, including his death on the cross as payment for our 414 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:56,400 sins and his resurrection on the third day. 415 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:01,960 That's what's common between those in the church rather than 416 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:07,480 just at the church. Maybe that's not you. 417 00:27:09,120 --> 00:27:13,240 In fact, maybe even hearing that and realizing that you fall in 418 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,160 the category of those people that Jesus is talking about in 419 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,160 this passage. Maybe maybe that's the first 420 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:20,280 time that you've ever heard that. 421 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:23,920 Maybe it scares you. Maybe it even offends you. 422 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,880 And I can understand that guys, but I can categorically tell you 423 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:33,000 that it would be far more offensive to you if I stood up 424 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,800 here and tickled your ears with a watered down message. 425 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:44,280 But please, please understand this, there is still time to 426 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:51,160 become part of Jesus Church. There is time to be part of the 427 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:54,640 bride of Christ. But the fact is, none of us know 428 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:57,760 how long we have here on earth. So I hope that you will make 429 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:01,320 this a priority of your life today because there is something 430 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:06,680 joyfully wonderful that we want you to be a part of. 431 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:12,480 If you were here with us a year ago, when, when we when we 432 00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:17,480 planted, when we launched, you might remember that the that the 433 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:22,680 Apostle Paul used this word Koinonia a few times in his joy 434 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,320 filled letter to the church at Philippi that we studied for the 435 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,840 first like seven months that we that we were here. 436 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,960 He talked about that that word several times and and we see 437 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:37,120 that in in Philippians 1 verses 3 through 5, he says, I thank my 438 00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:40,960 God in all my remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine 439 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,880 for you all making my prayer with joy because of your 440 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,480 partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 441 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:49,960 Now a partnership is the word Koinonia. 442 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:53,760 This like minded fellowship is something that Paul is 443 00:28:53,760 --> 00:29:01,680 prayerfully thankful for. Guys, listen to this fellowship 444 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:03,680 with our church family is not a chore. 445 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:08,080 It is not something that we would choose to avoid. 446 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:12,840 It is a blessing. If we are in a place of 447 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:17,520 resenting the fellowship, then we're in a place of significant 448 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:23,520 spiritual need. In Chapter 2, Paul goes on and 449 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,680 implores the readers to recognize that their fellowship 450 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:30,840 with Jesus should be demonstrated outwardly amongst 451 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:34,720 them toward each other as well. In verses one and two he says, 452 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:37,960 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from 453 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:42,080 love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and 454 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:45,360 sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having 455 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:49,640 the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 456 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,640 So again we see Koinonia translated here as 457 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:57,240 participation. We are called to be living out 458 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:02,440 the example that we see in Jesus going on in Philippians 388 459 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:05,240 through 10. He says in order that I may gain 460 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:09,000 Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own 461 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,920 that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith 462 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:15,320 in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith 463 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:19,360 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and 464 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:23,560 may share his sufferings becoming like him in death. 465 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:27,320 Paul goes he even goes so far as to proclaim that that 466 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:31,240 fellowship, this Koinonia I keep mentioning that they are called 467 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:35,800 to is so wonderful a thing to experience that he even desires 468 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:39,360 to fellowship with Jesus in his suffering and death. 469 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:45,280 So what does this devotion to fellowship look like in our busy 470 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,920 lives? Well, at the end of the the the 471 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:51,200 first point, I shared those two examples of what the the 472 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:53,960 shepherd and teacher is equipping us to do. 473 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:57,400 I said evangelism and discipleship. 474 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:03,120 Right now, those those two things are are utilized in our 475 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:04,520 fellowship. They're a big part of it. 476 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:11,600 Excuse me. Evangelism, as I said, is 477 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:13,920 sharing the gospel with the unbelieving worlds. 478 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:20,360 Now, if any of you have ever faced a, a daunting medical 479 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:24,160 diagnosis and had a doctor come in and say, hey, hey, we have a 480 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:27,800 really good chance of, of beating this right? 481 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:30,600 They, that doctor would have, they have some enthusiasm and 482 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:33,480 sharing the treatment plan with you because there's hope in it. 483 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,120 And then evangelism, we have a similar dynamic. 484 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:41,000 We are sharing the answer the the the treatment or the cure 485 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:44,600 with a sick world and we should be enthused about that. 486 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:50,320 Now I don't know what the actual stats are on how many people are 487 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:53,840 truly Christian in our in our community or or in our state or 488 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:55,560 in in that you know the whole world. 489 00:31:55,800 --> 00:32:06,920 What I do know is that there are far too many that are not that 490 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:08,960 fact should break our hearts wide open. 491 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:18,360 People in your life, maybe in your home, in your the cubicle 492 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:21,120 next to you, the house crossed the fence. 493 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,360 People in your life that are desperate to hear the good news 494 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:29,320 of Jesus. And guys, if you if you use the 495 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:36,240 excuse of I don't know how to go and share it with them, then 496 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:41,880 fellowship with other believers. Be devoted to being equipped for 497 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:44,440 the work of the ministry and don't put anything. 498 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:49,320 Don't put anything else in a higher priority than being a 499 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:53,760 part of that Koinonia with the body of believers and with God. 500 00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:01,320 Discipleship, as I mentioned, is our relationship with and, and, 501 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:04,160 and to the body of believers. Now, guys, this is where we get 502 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:07,400 to experience and demonstrate those characteristics that we've 503 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:10,520 seen in Jesus in his life and ministry and the things that 504 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:14,000 those characteristics about God that we see all through through 505 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,320 Scripture. We get to teach each other. 506 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:20,840 We get to come alongside each other as we experience life and 507 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:26,160 the and the stuff, you know, the stuff that comes with life. 508 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:32,160 We get to we get to give grace when it isn't deserved and we 509 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:36,040 get to be forgiven when it isn't owed to us. 510 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:40,840 We get to step in and serve other people and we get to tire 511 00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:43,280 ourselves out. We get to wear ourselves out 512 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:48,080 completely working to, to to help each other. 513 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:53,920 And that is not a bad thing. All of this, all of this 514 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:58,440 experience with each other, being Christ's church, being his 515 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:04,200 body, allows us to add depth and context and, and, and clarity to 516 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:06,320 the characteristics in the example of Jesus. 517 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:10,560 We get to know him better ourselves. 518 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:16,040 So that's the point. All of this points back to Jesus 519 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:23,360 and our relationship with him. OK, Now besides being devoted to 520 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:27,320 growing together with other disciples is a devotion to one 521 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,440 of the ordinances that mark out being set apart. 522 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:34,080 And that's our Third Point here today, which is their devotion 523 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:37,159 to the Lord's Supper. Now we observe 2 ordinances here 524 00:34:37,159 --> 00:34:40,440 at Redemption Church. An ordinance just simply being a 525 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:44,280 ceremony or a rule. I guess you could call those 526 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:48,560 those, those ordinances that we observe our baptism and the 527 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:52,360 Lord's Supper. Now we did a stand alone sermon 528 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:55,639 on each of these ordinances back in I think it was February. 529 00:34:56,320 --> 00:35:00,640 You can go and find those those recordings of those sermons. 530 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:03,760 And I would recommend that you do if you have questions about 531 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:07,560 either of these two things. But in in our in our Acts 2 532 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:11,080 passage that we focused on today, it only mentions the the 533 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:13,760 disciples being devoted to the Lord's Supper. 534 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:18,680 So what's the deal with that? Well, as I mentioned, that 535 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:22,280 passage is describing those who were already part of the body 536 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:25,480 and, and you know, Eric has put it a couple of times before from 537 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:29,320 up here, he's explained faith and baptism is like a person 538 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:32,760 walking through the front door. And the Lord's Supper is the 539 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:36,000 family meal. Obviously you can't be a part of 540 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,480 a family meal if you're not part of the family yet. 541 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:42,960 Well, baptism is a ceremony that we do upon someone placing their 542 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:45,600 faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and 543 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:50,240 being born again. Scripture says for that new 544 00:35:50,240 --> 00:35:52,960 believer to go and be baptized as a public declaration of their 545 00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:55,760 new faith. That is the entry into the body 546 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:58,720 of believers, into the family. The Lord's Supper, then, is a 547 00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:02,040 ceremony done for those within the body of believers. 548 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:05,760 So the Lord's Supper was first instituted the night before 549 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:08,000 Jesus was arrested and crucified, and he gathered 550 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:12,040 together with his believers to observe a Passover meal. 551 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:14,800 But he led them through something a little bit different 552 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:17,160 too. While they were eating, Jesus 553 00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:19,240 took some some bread and he blessed it. 554 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:22,920 And he told the disciples that the bread signified his body 555 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:26,680 that would be given for them his his his body that would be 556 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:32,440 brutally ripped open and beaten. And they gave him wine to drink. 557 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:34,880 And he said, this wine represents a new covenant in my 558 00:36:34,880 --> 00:36:36,560 blood, which is poured out for many. 559 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:41,240 And Jesus told them to do this in remembrance of him and his 560 00:36:41,240 --> 00:36:43,520 sacrifice that he was about to make. 561 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:47,400 Now, this was hours before the crucifixion, so they couldn't 562 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:51,760 possibly comprehend the, the, the hatred and the violence that 563 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:55,200 they were about to witness. But but these were two very 564 00:36:55,440 --> 00:37:01,200 tangible and visible examples of symbolism in the broken bread 565 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:05,480 and the and the blood red wine that Jesus told them to do. 566 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:10,360 To intentionally gather with other believers to hold these 567 00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:14,920 representations in their hands and to reverently look back at 568 00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:23,280 the single most horrific and and terrible and wonderful and 569 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:25,960 beautiful act that anyone would ever do. 570 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:32,840 And to remember that it was it was done for us, for those of us 571 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:36,840 who have entered into the body of believers to look back on an 572 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:40,960 act that was meant for for us. It was meant for to cover my 573 00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:45,000 sins and and to also serve as a reminder of the peaceful and 574 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:49,280 safe perfect Kingdom that awaits us where we get to spend 575 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:53,680 eternity with our Savior. Guys, it would be irreverent to 576 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:57,080 bring people in to participate in this, that we're not yet 577 00:37:57,400 --> 00:38:00,040 participating in the common faith. 578 00:38:01,880 --> 00:38:09,240 John 635 Jesus talking and says, Jesus said, I am the bread of 579 00:38:09,240 --> 00:38:11,120 life. Whoever comes to me shall not 580 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:14,840 hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 581 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:19,360 The disciples were devoted to the Lord's Supper because it 582 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:25,080 reminded them of their fellowship with Jesus and with 583 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:27,360 another, with one another in Jesus. 584 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:31,440 And so we get to our final point, the last thing that's 585 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:35,640 listed in Acts 242 that the early church devoted themselves 586 00:38:35,640 --> 00:38:38,160 to, which was a devotion to prayer. 587 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:40,360 Excuse me. And and prayer is a little bit 588 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:42,800 different in, in each of these other areas. 589 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:46,280 We experience something from each other through our common 590 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:50,120 relationship with Jesus. And although there's there, 591 00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:54,040 there is value to corporate prayer, right prayer meetings 592 00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:56,160 and and prayer groups. We have a prayer group that 593 00:38:56,160 --> 00:39:01,960 meets at at 9:30 every Sunday morning down the hall, which 594 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:03,960 you're invited to. I'd like to see you next week. 595 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:09,160 But but there's value to all of that that we can benefit from 596 00:39:12,040 --> 00:39:16,760 because, you know, our, our our prayers are are US communicating 597 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:19,600 to God. They aren't a way though they 598 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:23,400 aren't a way to passively aggressively say things to each 599 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:26,240 other under the guise that we're talking to God, right? 600 00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:29,760 I think we've probably all experienced that a time or two. 601 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:33,880 They aren't a means for us to to brag about our own holiness like 602 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:36,920 the the Pharisee praying on the street corner. 603 00:39:37,560 --> 00:39:41,240 So we pray together as a body for each other. 604 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:45,320 But does God hear all of our prayers? 605 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:49,520 I might challenge your beliefs about prayer here. 606 00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:55,720 And first, John, well, so, so let me just say this prayer is 607 00:39:55,720 --> 00:39:59,760 only for those who believe that God is personal and who want a 608 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:04,480 personal relationship with him. Christians know prayer works 609 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:08,480 because they have encountered a God who who declares talk to me 610 00:40:08,520 --> 00:40:11,400 and I will listen, right. And the apostle? 611 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:17,280 John confirms this in in first John 5 verses 14 and 15 says, 612 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:20,360 and this is the confidence that we have toward him that if we 613 00:40:20,360 --> 00:40:22,880 ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 614 00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:26,680 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that 615 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:30,120 we have the requests that we have asked of him. 616 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:33,360 Now, in itself, that passage might seem to suggest that God 617 00:40:33,360 --> 00:40:36,760 hears the prayers of everyone. And, and, and to a point I'd 618 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:39,240 agree. He knows everything. 619 00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:42,520 So he knows what you know, what your requests and your prayers 620 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:45,120 are. But first, John was a a letter 621 00:40:45,120 --> 00:40:49,240 written to Christians. So where it says we, we should 622 00:40:49,240 --> 00:40:53,080 remember that, that it's a letter to the church calling 623 00:40:53,080 --> 00:40:57,120 them to refine their their theological understanding and to 624 00:40:57,120 --> 00:40:59,000 heighten their devotional intensity. 625 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:04,680 In the book of James, that was that was also written to 626 00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:08,000 Christians, but in the in the context of, of delineating 627 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:12,640 between those truly living for God and those who were living 628 00:41:12,640 --> 00:41:15,520 like the world but weren't actually following Jesus. 629 00:41:15,720 --> 00:41:20,720 So in in James chapter 4 verse 3, it says when you ask, you do 630 00:41:20,720 --> 00:41:24,480 not receive because you asked with wrong motives, that you may 631 00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:27,720 spend what you get on your pleasures. 632 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:33,480 In Proverbs 28, nine, it says if anyone turns a deaf ear to my 633 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:36,800 instruction, even their prayers are detestable. 634 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:41,360 So in in that first one in James 4/3 it it says that our prayers 635 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:44,120 might not be answered. And in this one in Proverbs 28 636 00:41:44,440 --> 00:41:49,680 it it it says that that God doesn't necessarily enjoy your 637 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:52,480 prayers right If you are rebellious. 638 00:41:53,480 --> 00:41:58,760 And then in Isaiah 1, verse 15 says the Lord says when you 639 00:41:58,760 --> 00:42:02,000 spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you. 640 00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:04,960 Even when you offer many prayers, I'm not listening. 641 00:42:04,960 --> 00:42:09,800 Your hands are full of blood as the the early church was devoted 642 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:14,800 to prayer because they wanted their hearts to be in line with 643 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:19,120 Jesus heart like like that Psalm that I mentioned earlier that 644 00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:22,920 said that there's that their their souls pant for God like a 645 00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:29,280 deer pants for a flowing stream. Prayer is is our wrecked hearts 646 00:42:29,280 --> 00:42:35,640 crying out to God for for what only God can provide through 647 00:42:35,720 --> 00:42:39,440 humility, not pride, not because he owes it to us right, but 648 00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:44,080 because it's only him who can give it to us when we recognize 649 00:42:44,080 --> 00:42:46,240 that our hearts are are are wrecked. 650 00:42:46,640 --> 00:42:53,240 And so in closing in John 17 immediately before Jesus was 651 00:42:53,240 --> 00:42:56,960 betrayed by Judas and and arrested by the soldiers and the 652 00:42:56,960 --> 00:43:00,000 and the Pharisees and the scribes, Jesus prayed this in 653 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:04,600 verse 11 of of chapter 17. He said, Holy Father, protect 654 00:43:04,600 --> 00:43:08,440 them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that 655 00:43:08,440 --> 00:43:13,560 they may be one as we are one. This is Jesus, this is the Son 656 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:16,480 praying to the Father, distinctly different, yet 657 00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:19,920 absolutely unified in the Godhead. 658 00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:23,160 And that the prayer that he prayed, this intercessory 659 00:43:23,160 --> 00:43:27,800 prayer, meaning that it was on our behalf that Jesus offered 660 00:43:27,800 --> 00:43:33,920 moments before dying for his followers, was for unity amongst 661 00:43:33,920 --> 00:43:39,360 them in him. And after his death and 662 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:45,040 resurrection, his gift to his followers was the church body. 663 00:43:45,840 --> 00:43:50,760 Now, as we read in that that first quote that I shared early 664 00:43:50,760 --> 00:43:55,120 on in the in the the message, it said he graciously chose a 665 00:43:55,120 --> 00:43:57,400 particular people to bring back to himself. 666 00:43:57,720 --> 00:44:00,920 He did not merely choose individuals, but he chose those 667 00:44:00,920 --> 00:44:04,920 individuals to be gathered into a people, his church, to bring 668 00:44:04,920 --> 00:44:09,960 them back to himself as a community of redeemed believers. 669 00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:16,880 So my hope for you today is that you see in scripture that that 670 00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:19,760 the church is not a chore forced upon us. 671 00:44:19,760 --> 00:44:23,400 It's not a man made institution designed to exercise sinful 672 00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:27,840 power and position. You might have read in some meme 673 00:44:27,840 --> 00:44:29,520 on Facebook or something like that. 674 00:44:33,680 --> 00:44:38,320 It is a God-given opportunity to live out the ideals and and the 675 00:44:38,320 --> 00:44:41,560 principles that Jesus demonstrated every moment of his 676 00:44:41,560 --> 00:44:47,520 life and an invitation to grow closer to him, to his to his 677 00:44:47,520 --> 00:44:49,560 glory and, and, and for our good. 678 00:44:51,520 --> 00:44:55,520 And we primarily focused today on, on what the early church was 679 00:44:55,520 --> 00:45:01,160 devoted to in our message from, from verse 42 in, in Acts 2, 680 00:45:01,160 --> 00:45:03,200 right? But, but in our Scripture 681 00:45:03,200 --> 00:45:06,600 reading before the message, it went on to describe what 682 00:45:06,600 --> 00:45:10,880 happened as a result of that devotion. 683 00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:14,400 And, and it it said, so this would have been verses 43 684 00:45:14,400 --> 00:45:18,280 through 47, it said. And awe came upon every soul, 685 00:45:18,280 --> 00:45:21,400 and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles, 686 00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:24,400 and all who believed were together and had all things in 687 00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:26,200 common. And they were selling their 688 00:45:26,200 --> 00:45:28,760 possessions and belongings and distributing the the the 689 00:45:28,760 --> 00:45:33,400 proceeds to all as any had need. And day by day, attending the 690 00:45:33,400 --> 00:45:35,600 temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they 691 00:45:35,600 --> 00:45:39,240 received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising 692 00:45:39,240 --> 00:45:42,360 God and having favor with all the people. 693 00:45:42,640 --> 00:45:46,160 And the Lord added to their number day by day, those who 694 00:45:46,400 --> 00:45:54,480 were being saved. So our challenge then is to step 695 00:45:54,480 --> 00:45:59,680 up our, our devotion to the apostles teaching and to 696 00:45:59,720 --> 00:46:03,280 fellowship and to the breaking of bread, the Lord's Supper. 697 00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:07,680 We'll do this next week here on, on Sunday morning and and our 698 00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:11,280 devotion to prayer, right. And historically, we see that 699 00:46:11,520 --> 00:46:18,600 that that God uses that devotion to grow his church. 700 00:46:20,600 --> 00:46:25,000 We are the bride of Christ. We should we should be preparing 701 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:27,480 ourselves for the the coming groom. 702 00:46:27,480 --> 00:46:31,880 It's not about our, our programming at church or our 703 00:46:31,880 --> 00:46:36,240 digital resources or, or having services that that you know, 704 00:46:36,240 --> 00:46:40,360 resemble a concert or a lounge act at a casino. 705 00:46:41,040 --> 00:46:46,560 So let's demonstrate to God and the world that we are set apart, 706 00:46:46,840 --> 00:46:50,360 that we are devoted to God's will rather than ours. 707 00:46:50,360 --> 00:46:54,360 And let's see if the Lord adds to our numbers day by day, those 708 00:46:54,360 --> 00:46:56,840 who are being saved. Will you guys pray with me? 709 00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:02,640 Lord, I thank you for your for, for your body of believers. 710 00:47:02,640 --> 00:47:06,640 I thank you for the people in this room or that you that you 711 00:47:06,640 --> 00:47:10,640 picked that you gathered together to live life together 712 00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:15,640 in your name because of you in a way to the best of our ability 713 00:47:15,640 --> 00:47:19,240 to to to demonstrate those characteristics, those traits, 714 00:47:19,600 --> 00:47:21,880 those examples that we saw in you. 715 00:47:21,880 --> 00:47:28,040 Lord I as we as we continue to grow and moving into our second 716 00:47:28,040 --> 00:47:30,560 year and subsequent years. Lord, I I ask that you would 717 00:47:30,560 --> 00:47:33,960 continue to grow us that you would continue to to have us 718 00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:39,920 look to to be looking joyfully and and I thirstily. 719 00:47:39,920 --> 00:47:42,360 I don't know if that's a word thirstily towards the apostles 720 00:47:42,360 --> 00:47:45,680 teaching that we would that we would crave your word and we 721 00:47:45,680 --> 00:47:48,720 would crave hearing the preached word on the Lord's day. 722 00:47:48,720 --> 00:47:51,400 Lord, that we would look forward to the gathering, to the 723 00:47:51,400 --> 00:47:54,600 fellowship that we get to experience with one another and, 724 00:47:54,880 --> 00:47:58,560 and, and, and really truly the mess that comes with that 725 00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:02,080 sometimes because it's in that mess that we get to experience 726 00:48:02,080 --> 00:48:04,680 those, those things like grace, have forgiveness, like I 727 00:48:04,680 --> 00:48:07,960 mentioned earlier, or help us to look forward to the breaking of 728 00:48:07,960 --> 00:48:11,600 bread together to the communion of looking back at your 729 00:48:11,600 --> 00:48:15,960 sacrifice that you did that you gave for us all those years ago. 730 00:48:16,800 --> 00:48:21,320 And looking forward to the Kingdom that we have for so many 731 00:48:21,560 --> 00:48:27,680 for eternity to look forward to. And Lord, as we, as we pray, 732 00:48:27,680 --> 00:48:31,280 help us, Lord, to be in tune with you to, to bear our hearts 733 00:48:31,280 --> 00:48:32,760 with you. We know that you already know 734 00:48:32,760 --> 00:48:35,480 what's in our heart. But Lord, help us to come to you 735 00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:38,680 in, in knowing that communication is an important 736 00:48:38,680 --> 00:48:41,920 part of a relationship, Lord, that we want to develop the 737 00:48:41,920 --> 00:48:45,000 habit of sharing with you what's on our mind, our struggles, our 738 00:48:45,000 --> 00:48:48,800 fears, our concerns, our hopes, our dreams, whatever it is. 739 00:48:48,800 --> 00:48:54,680 But in order to, to tell you, Lord, what we feel and what we, 740 00:48:54,840 --> 00:48:58,760 what we worry about, and then preparing our hearts as we go 741 00:48:58,760 --> 00:49:00,440 back to your word to hear from you, Lord. 742 00:49:00,440 --> 00:49:04,600 And we, we just hope that that through all of this, you use us 743 00:49:04,600 --> 00:49:08,920 as a body to grow your body that you would continue in, in 744 00:49:08,920 --> 00:49:13,080 pleasant view in North Ogden in Utah to help us to have 745 00:49:13,080 --> 00:49:16,360 influence, to be able to reach people and grow your Kingdom 746 00:49:16,360 --> 00:49:20,040 just like those, those disciples got to experience that amazing 747 00:49:20,040 --> 00:49:25,160 growth of, of, of numbers in those in those early days. 748 00:49:25,160 --> 00:49:26,360 And we know it's not about numbers. 749 00:49:26,360 --> 00:49:29,240 But Lord, we want as many people as possible to know you and be 750 00:49:29,240 --> 00:49:32,680 in relationship with you. And so we give this service to 751 00:49:32,680 --> 00:49:36,320 you and the future of this church to you in Jesus name, 752 00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:36,960 Amen.