Good morning,
friends, welcome again
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to Sabbath School Study
Hour here at the Granite Bay
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Seventh-day Adventist Church
in Sacramento, California.
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Very warm welcome
to our online members
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and our friends
who are joining us
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across the country and
literally around the world
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on the various
television networks.
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We're just delighted
that you have joined us
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for our special Bible study time
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here at our church.
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Very warm welcome to the members
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and the visitors
that are here as well,
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ready to study together.
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Over the past few
weeks, we have been studying
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through a lesson theme,
entitled, "Oneness in Christ."
00:01:04.33\00:01:08.00
We're nearing the end
of our lesson quarterly.
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Today, we are on
lesson number 12,
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which is entitled
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"Church Organization and Unity,"
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very important subject
that we'll be looking at today.
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But before we get to our lesson,
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we'd like our friends to know
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about a free offer that we have.
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It is a book entitled,
"The Church, Is It Babylon?"
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People have
questions about that today.
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We'll be happy
to send this to you.
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All you need to do is call
us on our resource phone line.
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That number is 866-788-3966.
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And you can ask
for offer number 712.
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For those of you
outside of North America
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that would also like to
receive a copy of this book,
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you can download it for free.
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All you'll need to do
is text the code "SH116"
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to the number 40544.
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And, of course, by the
way, if you're in North America,
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you're also
welcome to text that code
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and you can
download a copy of the book,
00:02:04.29\00:02:06.52
"The Church, Is It Babylon?"
00:02:06.52\00:02:08.39
We'll be happy to make
that available for free
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to anyone who contacts us.
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Well, before we
get to our study,
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we always like to begin by
lifting our voices in song.
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I'd like to
invite our song leaders
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to come join me.
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We're going to begin our worship
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singing before Sabbath
school with some Christmas songs
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because it is that
wonderful time of year.
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And we're going to sing
this morning number 119,
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"Angels from the
Realms of Glory."
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We'll sing all four verses
so you can follow along at home
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in your Adventist Church hymnal.
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Thank you so much for singing.
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Dear Father in heaven,
once again we are grateful
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for the
opportunity to gather together
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and study Your Word,
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we're also grateful for
the rain that's falling.
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And just pray
that the Holy Spirit
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would fall upon
our hearts and minds
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to guide us into a
clearer understanding
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of this very important subject
talking about church unity.
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For we ask this
in Jesus' name, amen.
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Our lesson this morning
is going to be brought to us
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by Pastor Doug.
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Happy Sabbath.
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We've got a good lesson today
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talking about church
organization and unity.
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And we're
continuing in our study
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on Oneness in Christ.
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But before we get to that, I
got an exciting announcement.
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We're doing lesson 12 today
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and who knows what
comes after lesson 12?
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Lesson 13.
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And then we're
going into a new quarter
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with the New Year.
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Now here at Granite Bay,
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because we record
the lesson in advance
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for our satellite friends
that broadcast the study,
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we're going to get
into it in December.
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But do you know
what the lesson is?
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It's on Revelation.
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So we're really going
to be excited about that,
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and Pastor Ross and
I are probably going
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to descend into
some wrestling matches
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to see who gets to
teach certain chapters.
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I know this is his favorite.
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His favorite
study is Revelation.
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So I just wanted
you to know about that.
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We'll probably
have our local ones
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that will be out here
at the table next week
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for those that attend here.
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But today, talking
about Oneness in Christ,
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we're in lesson number 12,
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and we're talking about
Church Organization and Unity,
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very practical
subject and important.
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Have a memory verse.
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Memory verses
from Matthew 20:26-27.
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I always appreciate if
you want to say that with me.
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Matthew 20:26-27.
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If you do it right
here out of the quarterly,
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it's in the New
King James version.
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You ready?
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"Yet it shall
not be so among you,
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but whoever desires to
become great among you,
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let him be your servant.
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And whoever desires
to be first among you,
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let him be your slave."
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The theme, the attitude
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of servant leadership
in the Christian Church
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is the principle that
operated in the life of Jesus
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and one that is followed
in the life of His believers.
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We believe in
servant leadership.
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Now when we talk about
Church Organization and Unity,
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we've had some sections in
here, like the first section
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talks about Christ
the head of the church.
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And because Jesus is
the head of the church,
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it doesn't mean that there's
no organization in the church
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and we're all just sort of,
you know, go around like ants.
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You know, the Proverb says
ants have no master or overseer
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but they all seem to
know how to work together.
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And it'd be
wonderful if we said,
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let's just all be spirit-filled,
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then we won't need any
structure in our church.
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We'll all know like little
ants somehow supernaturally know
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what their little job is
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and where they're
supposed to carry their food
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and guard the trail or
whatever it is they do.
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You know, bees have a
queen but we don't know
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that the queen is
issuing email directives
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about what all the
bees are supposed to do,
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but they seem to know.
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Isn't that amazing?
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And some suggest that
if we just have a church
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that's spirit-led,
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we can all work
like bees and ants,
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and where everyone's
just going to show up
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and the spirit's
going to tell us what to do.
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Well, that's a
little idealistic,
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I don't think that's
what the Bible is saying.
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We are all
supposed to be servants,
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and we all have our role,
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we use our
various spiritual gifts,
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but God does have
structure in organization.
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Now you notice that it
says here in the introduction
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that we really don't
follow a hierarchical.
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That's where you
get the word hierarchy,
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form of governance.
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You know, if you were to
point to the Catholic Church,
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Catholic Church in
some respects, it is amazing
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because they've got
like 1.2 billion members
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in the Catholic Church
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and they've got five
levels of administration.
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There are a lot of
companies that marvel
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when they look at
the Catholic Church
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and think, "How do they operate
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this international organization
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with only five
levels of structure?"
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But they do it
quite effectively.
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There are varying levels
of structure in God's Church.
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We're going to
talk about some of that.
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But the first thing
we want to establish is
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who is large and in charge
in the Church of Jesus Christ.
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Who is the leader?
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And under the first section,
under Son, it talks about,
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Christ, the head of the church.
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You already knew the
answer to that, right?
00:09:27.23\00:09:29.86
So someone's
going to look up for me
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in just a moment Ephesians 1:22,
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and I'm going to
read Colossians 1:18.
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"And He is the
head of the body."
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Church is called
the body of Christ.
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"He is the head of
the body, the church,
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who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
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that in all things, He
might have the preeminence."
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So in how many things
does He have the preeminence?
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In all things, Christ
is the head of the church.
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I thought that would be God,
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the Father as the
head of the church.
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But the Bible says Jesus is.
00:10:02.93\00:10:04.40
Now why can it say that?
00:10:04.40\00:10:06.10
I want you to look with me.
00:10:06.10\00:10:08.87
I tell you what, before I
get to that in just a second.
00:10:08.87\00:10:12.07
Let me give you one more verse,
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then we're going to go
to the Ephesians verse.
00:10:13.34\00:10:15.01
Philippians 2:10-11,
"That at the name of Jesus,
00:10:15.01\00:10:19.21
every knee should
bow, of those in heaven,
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and of those on earth,
of those under the earth,
00:10:23.49\00:10:26.96
and that every
tongue should confess
00:10:26.96\00:10:28.92
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of the Father."
00:10:28.92\00:10:31.93
So is there any question?
Who is the head of the church?
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Is it a pastor? Is it a pope?
00:10:35.40\00:10:38.33
Is it a bishop?
00:10:38.33\00:10:40.20
The head of the church is Jesus.
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He has not surrendered
the headship of the church
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to any individual.
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Please read for us your verse.
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Ephesians 1:22-23,
00:10:50.75\00:10:53.75
"And He put all
things under His feet,
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and gave Him to be head
over all things to the church,
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which is His body
and fullness of Him
00:11:00.12\00:11:02.59
who fills all in all."
00:11:02.59\00:11:05.76
You know, when you pay
100% of the cost of something,
00:11:05.76\00:11:10.90
you take title of it
and you become the owner.
00:11:10.90\00:11:14.30
And so what
right does Jesus have
00:11:14.30\00:11:16.14
to be declared the head
of the church all in all?
00:11:16.14\00:11:19.81
He bought it,
00:11:19.81\00:11:21.44
if you want to just put
it in the simplest terms.
00:11:21.44\00:11:23.95
He paid for it.
How much did He pay?
00:11:23.95\00:11:25.98
Did He pay 50%
down or did He pay 100%?
00:11:25.98\00:11:30.25
So how much does He own?
00:11:30.25\00:11:32.45
He owns 100%. He is
the head of the church.
00:11:32.45\00:11:35.26
Now I want to give you
something else to think about,
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another principle that
by virtue of this principle
00:11:37.09\00:11:40.43
makes Him the head of the church
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if you go in your
Bibles to the Gospel of John.
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I think everybody knows this.
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John 1:1.
00:11:46.07\00:11:50.54
You know, you look in
Mark and you look in Matthew,
00:11:50.54\00:11:55.08
they introduce
the birth of Jesus.
00:11:55.08\00:11:59.48
John goes right to
the birth of everything.
00:11:59.48\00:12:03.85
He doesn't go to
the birth of Jesus,
00:12:03.85\00:12:05.22
he goes to the
birth of everything
00:12:05.22\00:12:06.25
when he starts his gospel.
00:12:06.25\00:12:07.59
"In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God,
00:12:07.59\00:12:11.99
and the Word was God.
00:12:11.99\00:12:14.10
He..." Now it's
telling us the Word is a He.
00:12:14.10\00:12:15.96
Who is the He?
00:12:15.96\00:12:18.03
Who is the Word? Jesus.
00:12:18.03\00:12:20.10
You'll notice your
Bibles probably all say
00:12:20.10\00:12:21.80
capital W-O-R-D
00:12:21.80\00:12:23.61
'cause it's a
title, it's not a word.
00:12:23.61\00:12:26.51
The Word is not just a
word. It's talking about a name.
00:12:26.51\00:12:30.58
That's one of His names.
00:12:30.58\00:12:31.65
"The Word became
flesh and dwelt among us."
00:12:31.65\00:12:34.65
It says, "The Word was
with God and the Word was God.
00:12:34.65\00:12:39.62
He was in the
beginning with God."
00:12:39.62\00:12:41.46
And here's a point I
want to especially emphasize,
00:12:41.46\00:12:43.49
verse 3.
00:12:43.49\00:12:44.56
"All things were
made through Him,
00:12:44.56\00:12:48.66
and without Him nothing was made
00:12:48.66\00:12:52.13
that was made."
00:12:52.13\00:12:53.84
By the way, some people
wonder if Jesus is eternal God.
00:12:53.84\00:12:57.94
I believe He is eternal
God because of this verse.
00:12:57.94\00:13:00.28
Because if Christ
at some point was made
00:13:00.28\00:13:02.78
way back in the
infinite recesses of history,
00:13:02.78\00:13:06.08
some argue, you know,
who don't accept the Trinity.
00:13:06.08\00:13:08.28
They say, "Well, you know,
Christ, He came into being.
00:13:08.28\00:13:10.69
He was somehow made."
00:13:10.69\00:13:11.75
They don't like
to use the word made,
00:13:11.75\00:13:12.82
"He was begotten."
00:13:12.82\00:13:13.89
It's the same thing.
00:13:13.89\00:13:15.16
If you were not, then you are,
you've been made by the Father.
00:13:15.16\00:13:20.00
But if all things
were made by Christ,
00:13:20.00\00:13:21.60
He didn't make Himself.
00:13:21.60\00:13:24.13
So one reason He's the
head is because He redeemed it.
00:13:24.13\00:13:28.87
Another reason He's the
head is because He created it.
00:13:28.87\00:13:33.44
And so it's like that story
we tell sometimes to the kids
00:13:33.44\00:13:38.75
about the little boy
that made a little sailboat,
00:13:38.75\00:13:41.48
he used to sail in a
pond, and he loved it.
00:13:41.48\00:13:45.79
But one day, a breeze came along
00:13:45.79\00:13:47.79
and it carried it
away and he couldn't get it
00:13:47.79\00:13:50.43
and he had to leave.
00:13:50.43\00:13:52.33
Well, a few days later, he
saw that his little sailboat
00:13:52.33\00:13:55.26
was in the local
pawn shop in the window.
00:13:55.26\00:14:00.10
And then he went in and
he said, "That's my boat."
00:14:00.10\00:14:02.60
And he said, "Well,
someone brought it in,
00:14:02.60\00:14:03.71
sold it to him,
so it's mine now."
00:14:03.71\00:14:06.27
And so the boy worked
so he can get enough money
00:14:06.27\00:14:08.28
to buy his boat back.
00:14:08.28\00:14:09.68
Now after he
bought his boat back,
00:14:09.68\00:14:10.75
on the way home,
00:14:10.75\00:14:11.81
he said "You're
mine for two reasons."
00:14:11.81\00:14:13.42
He said, "I made you
and I bought you back."
00:14:13.42\00:14:16.65
And so we belong to
Jesus by virtue of creation
00:14:16.65\00:14:19.72
and redemption.
00:14:19.72\00:14:21.52
And so He is the head,
00:14:21.52\00:14:23.93
He has earned the
right to be the head.
00:14:23.93\00:14:27.76
Another verse here, Hebrews 2:7.
00:14:27.76\00:14:33.23
"You've made him a
little lower than the angels."
00:14:33.23\00:14:35.27
Now I want to pause right here.
00:14:35.27\00:14:37.81
Who knows "You made Him
00:14:37.81\00:14:40.11
a little lower than the angels?"
00:14:40.11\00:14:41.41
Is that a New Testament
verse or an Old Testament verse?
00:14:41.41\00:14:45.61
Paul in the New
Testament is in Hebrews
00:14:45.61\00:14:48.95
quoting from the
Psalms in the Old Testament
00:14:48.95\00:14:51.52
that's talking about man
00:14:51.52\00:14:53.89
being made a little
lower than the angels.
00:14:53.89\00:14:55.46
Humans are made a
little lower order
00:14:55.46\00:14:57.86
in power and
strength than the angels,
00:14:57.86\00:15:00.86
the ministering spirits.
00:15:00.86\00:15:01.96
We're better than the angels
00:15:01.96\00:15:03.03
and that we're made
in the image of God,
00:15:03.03\00:15:04.97
but angels have more
power than humans do physically,
00:15:04.97\00:15:08.94
and they may have some
abilities we don't have.
00:15:08.94\00:15:11.11
Angels can't
procreate like we can.
00:15:11.11\00:15:13.98
We're made in the image
of God in a special sense.
00:15:13.98\00:15:17.75
But now in Hebrews when
Jesus is quoting David Psalm,
00:15:17.75\00:15:21.52
"You made Him a little
lower than the angels,"
00:15:21.52\00:15:22.88
is he talking about humanity
or is he talking about Jesus?
00:15:22.88\00:15:27.76
This is a verse about Jesus.
00:15:27.76\00:15:30.09
He is saying
that He became a man
00:15:30.09\00:15:33.13
made a little
lower than the angels.
00:15:33.13\00:15:34.56
So the one who made
the angels made Himself,
00:15:34.56\00:15:37.57
not only equal with man
00:15:37.57\00:15:39.13
but lower than the
angels that He made.
00:15:39.13\00:15:41.57
The angels are the
ministering spirits of God
00:15:41.57\00:15:44.37
and yet Christ made
Himself lower than the angels.
00:15:44.37\00:15:48.44
"You've crowned Him
with glory and honor,"
00:15:48.44\00:15:50.21
he's still quoting the Psalm,
00:15:50.21\00:15:51.55
"and set Him over
the works of your hands.
00:15:51.55\00:15:54.25
You put all things in
subjection under His feet,
00:15:54.25\00:15:57.15
for that He put
all things under Him,
00:15:57.15\00:16:01.19
He left nothing
that is not put under Him
00:16:01.19\00:16:04.33
but now we do not yet see
all things yet put under Him."
00:16:04.33\00:16:07.60
In other words, the
world is still in rebellion,
00:16:07.60\00:16:09.33
but the day is coming
when every knee will bow,
00:16:09.33\00:16:11.57
everything will be
in subjection to Christ.
00:16:11.57\00:16:13.60
Jesus is the head of the church.
00:16:13.60\00:16:16.14
1 Corinthians 11:13
"But I want you to know
00:16:16.14\00:16:19.51
that the head of
every man is Christ
00:16:19.51\00:16:21.54
and the head of woman is man
and the head of Christ is God."
00:16:21.54\00:16:25.85
So even in heaven, does it seem
that they recognize an order?
00:16:25.85\00:16:31.29
Now are God, the Father,
Son, and Spirit equal in power?
00:16:34.16\00:16:38.69
Are they eternal?
00:16:38.69\00:16:40.53
Are they all knowing?
00:16:40.53\00:16:42.66
But do they seem to recognize
00:16:42.66\00:16:44.37
that there is a
difference in authority somehow?
00:16:44.37\00:16:49.00
Christ always
looks to the Father
00:16:51.57\00:16:54.44
as the final authority.
00:16:54.44\00:16:56.28
Why does the Bible say,
00:16:56.28\00:16:57.58
"God so loved the
world He gave His Son?"
00:16:57.58\00:17:00.45
God, that would be
the Father, correct?
00:17:00.45\00:17:02.68
"So loved the world He gave.
00:17:02.68\00:17:04.65
So does He have the
prerogative to give?
00:17:04.65\00:17:08.62
When it says, "The
Father has committed
00:17:08.62\00:17:11.13
all judgment to the Son..."
00:17:11.13\00:17:13.19
Well, in order for the Father
00:17:13.19\00:17:14.23
to commit all
judgment to the Son,
00:17:14.23\00:17:15.63
the Father must have some
kind of authority to do that.
00:17:15.63\00:17:19.80
You're still with me?
00:17:19.80\00:17:21.30
And so... And you always see...
00:17:21.30\00:17:23.71
Never do you have the
Father and the Son saying,
00:17:23.71\00:17:25.87
"Worship the spirit."
00:17:25.87\00:17:26.94
Do you know that?
00:17:26.94\00:17:27.98
There are some denominations
that make a big deal
00:17:27.98\00:17:29.51
about worshiping the spirit,
but please show me in the Bible
00:17:29.51\00:17:31.71
where we are to
worship God, the Spirit?
00:17:31.71\00:17:33.21
We had songs about it, I
said, "Show me in the Bible."
00:17:36.02\00:17:38.12
Silence 'cause
the Father and the Son
00:17:40.52\00:17:44.16
are always talking about...
00:17:44.16\00:17:45.63
Well, if the Son
is always saying,
00:17:45.63\00:17:46.70
"Worship the Father,"
00:17:46.70\00:17:47.73
the Father says,
"Worship the Son,"
00:17:47.73\00:17:48.76
but you never hear where
the Father and the Son say,
00:17:48.76\00:17:50.27
"Worship the spirit,"
'cause the spirit's purpose
00:17:50.27\00:17:52.73
is to direct worship
to the Father and the Son.
00:17:52.73\00:17:56.17
That's His office not
to draw it to himself.
00:17:56.17\00:17:58.84
So now we're delving into things
00:17:58.84\00:18:00.08
that are way over our head.
00:18:00.08\00:18:01.58
But let's get
into the next section
00:18:01.58\00:18:04.75
where it talks
about servant leadership.
00:18:04.75\00:18:07.55
Now this is where you see things
00:18:07.55\00:18:09.65
that are a little different.
00:18:09.65\00:18:12.62
The concept of
servant leadership
00:18:12.62\00:18:14.49
did not begin with Jesus.
00:18:14.49\00:18:16.73
The concept of
servant leadership
00:18:16.73\00:18:19.26
is where you got a
general in an army,
00:18:19.26\00:18:22.76
and the general says,
00:18:22.76\00:18:24.07
"We need to dig foxholes
here along the frontline,"
00:18:24.07\00:18:28.30
and the soldiers salute
and they get their shovels,
00:18:28.30\00:18:31.41
but the general
picks up a shovel too
00:18:31.41\00:18:34.11
and he starts to dig.
00:18:34.11\00:18:36.64
Those soldiers will work
the hardest for that general
00:18:36.64\00:18:41.18
because he identifies with them.
00:18:41.18\00:18:43.55
It doesn't mean he
stops being the leader,
00:18:43.55\00:18:46.19
but he is also a servant leader.
00:18:46.19\00:18:49.26
And I remember, I had a friend,
he still is a friend, that...
00:18:49.26\00:18:54.93
a talented musician...
00:18:54.93\00:18:56.36
Before he was a Christian,
00:18:56.36\00:18:57.43
he played with
groups like Chicago,
00:18:57.43\00:18:59.10
and some of you
know who that is.
00:18:59.10\00:19:00.24
I mean he was a
tremendous guitarist.
00:19:00.24\00:19:02.70
And I was doing an evangelistic
meeting with him one time
00:19:02.70\00:19:06.24
and after the meeting,
people were breaking down
00:19:06.24\00:19:08.61
and taking up the
speakers and the wires
00:19:08.61\00:19:09.98
'cause we had to
vacate the premises,
00:19:09.98\00:19:12.41
and I'm visiting
with the interest
00:19:12.41\00:19:15.15
and my friend was
helping break down.
00:19:15.15\00:19:16.69
He came over and said,
"Doug, you're goldbricking it."
00:19:16.69\00:19:19.75
And goldbricking
is sort of a term
00:19:19.75\00:19:21.49
that's used in the
concert music industry
00:19:21.49\00:19:24.69
where that the "performer"
00:19:24.69\00:19:27.76
was acting like a
useless gold brick
00:19:27.76\00:19:30.37
and all the other
people did the work.
00:19:30.37\00:19:33.00
And so he used
to always tease me.
00:19:33.00\00:19:34.34
If I was not helping
break down with everybody else
00:19:34.34\00:19:36.94
after the
evangelistic program, he says,
00:19:36.94\00:19:38.61
"You're being a gold brick."
00:19:38.61\00:19:40.71
Now God's servants
are not to be gold bricks.
00:19:40.71\00:19:47.42
Now does a pastor have
some authority in the church,
00:19:47.42\00:19:51.32
or an elder, or a deacon?
00:19:51.32\00:19:53.49
I mean we're not the deacons
00:19:53.49\00:19:55.42
invested with a
degree of authority.
00:19:55.42\00:19:57.83
You remember,
there was a dispute
00:19:57.83\00:19:59.53
that certain widows
felt like the Jewish widows
00:19:59.53\00:20:01.66
were getting more
than the gentile widows
00:20:01.66\00:20:04.17
and there, you know,
Peter and the apostles
00:20:04.17\00:20:06.00
were getting
caught into these disputes
00:20:06.00\00:20:07.64
and having to mitigate
the problems and finally
00:20:07.64\00:20:10.57
they said, "Look,
it's not appropriate
00:20:10.57\00:20:11.84
that we leave the Word of God,"
00:20:11.84\00:20:13.14
by the way, this is
Acts 6, "and serve tables."
00:20:13.14\00:20:17.41
So they said, "Let's
choose out among you seven men
00:20:17.41\00:20:20.42
that we respect
for their judgment,
00:20:20.42\00:20:22.08
their dedication to
point them over this business."
00:20:22.08\00:20:25.42
And so they prayed,
they laid hands on them.
00:20:25.42\00:20:27.46
What was meant by that?
00:20:27.46\00:20:29.52
They invested them with
some leadership authority.
00:20:29.52\00:20:32.79
Does that make sense?
00:20:32.79\00:20:34.36
So once Peter, James,
and John, and the apostles
00:20:34.36\00:20:36.93
went off to do their
preaching and their praying
00:20:36.93\00:20:39.93
and there was some contest
or some problem to be resolved
00:20:39.93\00:20:44.01
about the
distribution of the offerings
00:20:44.01\00:20:46.47
to the various widows,
00:20:46.47\00:20:48.71
did the deacons have authority?
00:20:48.71\00:20:50.85
Yes. They did.
00:20:50.85\00:20:52.31
But what does
the word deacon mean?
00:20:52.31\00:20:55.68
It's Greek for servant.
00:20:55.68\00:20:58.62
They were servants.
00:20:58.62\00:21:00.56
They were leaders but
they were servant leaders.
00:21:00.56\00:21:04.83
And you know, the
deacon is actually...
00:21:04.83\00:21:08.33
two of them...
00:21:08.33\00:21:09.40
Well, there's
three of the deacons
00:21:09.40\00:21:10.50
that appeared later.
00:21:10.50\00:21:12.00
Do you know
what their names are?
00:21:12.00\00:21:15.04
They're all named
when they were ordained
00:21:15.04\00:21:17.04
in Acts 6.
00:21:17.04\00:21:18.54
But three of them,
their names pop up later.
00:21:18.54\00:21:24.28
Barnabas wasn't a
deacon. He was a good man.
00:21:24.28\00:21:27.42
He became almost an apostle,
but he was not a deacon.
00:21:27.42\00:21:30.05
So you got Stephen.
00:21:30.05\00:21:32.49
Remember that
name, first martyr?
00:21:32.49\00:21:34.46
Stephen ends up
becoming a preacher
00:21:34.46\00:21:36.89
and he gets
killed for his preaching.
00:21:36.89\00:21:39.13
Philip is not
only called the deacon,
00:21:39.13\00:21:42.06
but later he's called the what?
00:21:42.06\00:21:43.57
An evangelist.
00:21:47.04\00:21:48.64
Come on, you
guys, read your Bibles.
00:21:48.64\00:21:50.77
This is...
00:21:50.77\00:21:53.11
An evangelist, right?
00:21:53.11\00:21:55.34
And the Bible says,
"Philip had four daughters
00:21:55.34\00:21:57.25
that did prophesy."
00:21:57.25\00:21:59.88
That means they taught also.
00:21:59.88\00:22:02.38
And so Philip, he
starts out as a deacon
00:22:02.38\00:22:04.25
but later you see him preach.
00:22:04.25\00:22:05.75
Philip's the one who
baptizes the Ethiopian treasure.
00:22:05.75\00:22:09.69
So did they have some authority?
00:22:09.69\00:22:12.16
They were given that, right?
00:22:12.16\00:22:13.60
Did Jesus invest the apostles
00:22:13.60\00:22:16.13
with authority above
the regular disciples?
00:22:16.13\00:22:20.84
Did He? He did and
that was recognized.
00:22:20.84\00:22:24.71
And so saying that
Christ is the head of the church
00:22:24.71\00:22:27.98
does not mean
that it is a church
00:22:27.98\00:22:29.88
without
structure or organization.
00:22:29.88\00:22:32.51
So that's the point
we're wanting to make here.
00:22:32.51\00:22:35.95
Let's talk a little more
about servant leadership.
00:22:35.95\00:22:38.39
Matthew 18:1, "At that time,
00:22:38.39\00:22:42.66
the disciples
came to Jesus saying,
00:22:42.66\00:22:45.06
'Who is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven?'"
00:22:45.06\00:22:46.86
Now why were they
asking that question?
00:22:46.86\00:22:49.10
Why did they want to
know who was the greatest?
00:22:49.10\00:22:51.93
Did they want to know if Jesus
was greater than the Father
00:22:51.93\00:22:54.47
or was Jesus
greater than angels?
00:22:54.47\00:22:56.94
Or were they
asking about among them?
00:22:56.94\00:23:00.61
They're wondering
where they're going to be.
00:23:00.61\00:23:02.91
Now keep in mind,
they're picturing something
00:23:02.91\00:23:07.92
on the biblical
model of King David.
00:23:07.92\00:23:11.42
You know, David started
out through killing Goliath.
00:23:11.42\00:23:13.66
He worked his way up,
pretty soon he's king.
00:23:13.66\00:23:15.72
The mighty men around David
00:23:15.72\00:23:18.43
who started out
as this ragtag group,
00:23:18.43\00:23:21.46
the ones who came to
David, have you ever read that?
00:23:21.46\00:23:23.70
It says, "Everybody in
debt and everybody discontent,
00:23:23.70\00:23:26.63
they followed him."
00:23:26.63\00:23:28.04
And he becomes
like this Robin Hood
00:23:28.04\00:23:30.11
and he turns this group
of misfits into mighty men.
00:23:30.11\00:23:33.68
They're later
called David's mighty men,
00:23:33.68\00:23:35.68
and they end up
holding positions of leadership
00:23:35.68\00:23:37.98
in his kingdom.
00:23:37.98\00:23:39.01
They become his
captains, and his generals,
00:23:39.01\00:23:41.02
and his
counselors, and this scribes,
00:23:41.02\00:23:43.39
his mighty men.
00:23:43.39\00:23:44.55
So the apostles
are thinking, "Hey,
00:23:44.55\00:23:46.45
I wonder what role I'll
have in the new kingdom."
00:23:46.45\00:23:49.06
And you know, Peter's
thinking, "I want to be general.
00:23:49.06\00:23:51.96
I can use a sword."
00:23:51.96\00:23:53.46
And you know, John is thinking,
"I want to be the chief scribe,
00:23:53.46\00:23:56.77
the secretary for the nation."
00:23:56.77\00:23:58.20
And Judas said, "I want
to be treasurer," right?
00:23:58.20\00:24:01.00
And so they're all wondering
00:24:01.00\00:24:02.47
what their position is
going to be in this kingdom.
00:24:02.47\00:24:04.64
And they're thinking on,
you know, a king's cabinet.
00:24:04.64\00:24:08.68
So that's what they're asking.
00:24:08.68\00:24:09.74
"Who's going to be
greatest in the kingdom?"
00:24:09.74\00:24:11.18
Jesus knew what
they were thinking.
00:24:11.18\00:24:13.48
"He called a little child to him
00:24:13.48\00:24:16.22
and set him in the midst of them
00:24:16.22\00:24:18.49
and said,
'Assuredly I say to you,
00:24:18.49\00:24:20.82
unless you are converted
and become as little children,
00:24:20.82\00:24:24.49
you will by no means
enter the kingdom of heaven.
00:24:24.49\00:24:27.50
Therefore, whoever humbles
himself as a little child,
00:24:27.50\00:24:31.93
he is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven.'"
00:24:31.93\00:24:34.80
So the emphasis here...
00:24:34.80\00:24:35.90
Now you and I have all known
00:24:35.90\00:24:36.97
some children
are not 100% humble.
00:24:36.97\00:24:40.51
But Jesus is, you
know, talking about children
00:24:40.51\00:24:42.41
that back then were taught to,
00:24:42.41\00:24:44.15
you know, be seen and not heard,
00:24:44.15\00:24:46.25
be respectful, and humble and...
00:24:46.25\00:24:48.32
So He's addressing a problem.
00:24:51.49\00:24:53.59
What's the opposite of humility?
00:24:53.59\00:24:56.62
Pride.
00:24:56.62\00:24:57.76
What causes
problems in relationships?
00:24:57.76\00:25:02.36
Pride.
00:25:02.36\00:25:03.43
I've done a little
bit of marriage counseling
00:25:03.43\00:25:05.90
and in almost every case,
00:25:05.90\00:25:07.37
you know what
causes the arguments?
00:25:07.37\00:25:10.61
Pride.
00:25:10.61\00:25:11.64
Someone's got to
have the last word,
00:25:11.64\00:25:13.01
someone's got to be right,
00:25:13.01\00:25:14.04
someone can't say they're sorry,
00:25:14.04\00:25:16.01
and pride's at the
foundation of that.
00:25:16.01\00:25:17.88
But it's not just in marriages,
it's in organizations.
00:25:17.88\00:25:21.55
Someone doesn't
get the promotion,
00:25:21.55\00:25:22.98
they think they should have,
00:25:22.98\00:25:24.62
someone doesn't get
elected to the office,
00:25:24.62\00:25:26.29
they think they should retain,
00:25:26.29\00:25:28.42
and there are
feelings, their pride is hurt
00:25:28.42\00:25:31.33
and you have all kinds
of discontent and problems.
00:25:31.33\00:25:34.86
And so Jesus is
saying, "No, in My kingdom,
00:25:34.86\00:25:37.30
whoever is going
to be the greatest,
00:25:37.30\00:25:38.47
he needs to be
like a little child."
00:25:38.47\00:25:40.30
Another similar verse.
00:25:40.30\00:25:41.90
Matthew 20,
00:25:41.90\00:25:44.07
"Jesus called them
to Himself and said,
00:25:44.07\00:25:46.17
'You know the
rulers of the Gentiles
00:25:46.17\00:25:48.04
lord it over them,
00:25:48.04\00:25:49.44
and those who are great,
exercise authority over them.'"
00:25:49.44\00:25:51.81
They order each other around
and they flaunt their authority
00:25:51.81\00:25:55.28
and they abused their authority.
00:25:55.28\00:25:58.05
"Yet it will
not be so among you,
00:25:58.05\00:26:00.49
but whoever desires
to be great among you,
00:26:00.49\00:26:02.89
let him be your servant."
00:26:02.89\00:26:04.76
Now you notice, He's not saying,
00:26:04.76\00:26:06.49
nobody is a great.
00:26:06.49\00:26:08.76
He's saying, "Whoever is great,
00:26:08.76\00:26:10.63
he must be a servant."
00:26:10.63\00:26:13.47
See, in the
world, we always think
00:26:13.47\00:26:15.54
God's best gifts are
on the highest shelves.
00:26:15.54\00:26:18.81
But in God's
economy, the best gifts
00:26:18.81\00:26:21.14
are on the lowest shelves.
00:26:21.14\00:26:23.18
You don't get them
by reaching higher,
00:26:23.18\00:26:24.88
you get them by kneeling.
00:26:24.88\00:26:28.15
In the world, we
think you measure success
00:26:28.15\00:26:30.59
by how many people serve
you, but in God's Kingdom,
00:26:30.59\00:26:34.86
you measure success
by how many do you serve.
00:26:34.86\00:26:38.69
And so it's just a whole
different way of thinking.
00:26:38.69\00:26:41.40
But it doesn't mean
there is no authority,
00:26:41.40\00:26:43.60
or organization, or
leadership, there is,
00:26:43.60\00:26:47.14
but the leaders
must be servants.
00:26:47.14\00:26:49.57
I worked with a
pastor, I will not name,
00:26:49.57\00:26:51.67
in a church and
that I will not name.
00:26:51.67\00:26:54.78
And the people love
this pastor because...
00:26:54.78\00:26:58.58
He was an
associate I worked with.
00:26:58.58\00:27:01.45
Whatever was happening,
he was not a gold brick.
00:27:01.45\00:27:05.45
After potluck, he
was in the kitchen
00:27:05.45\00:27:07.32
doing dishes with everybody.
00:27:07.32\00:27:09.36
Before the
potluck, he was setting up.
00:27:09.36\00:27:12.26
When there was a work be,
00:27:12.26\00:27:13.70
he was out there
working on the grounds.
00:27:13.70\00:27:15.86
When there was no work be,
00:27:15.86\00:27:18.00
he was out there
working on the grounds.
00:27:18.00\00:27:21.17
He would be the one
who would stay behind
00:27:21.17\00:27:23.30
and fold the bulletins.
00:27:23.30\00:27:25.67
He was somebody who just...
00:27:25.67\00:27:27.58
You could always see him
very happy being a servant
00:27:27.58\00:27:31.45
and yet he had
authority as a pastor.
00:27:31.45\00:27:35.45
And people respected him
00:27:35.45\00:27:37.72
because he proved his authority
00:27:37.72\00:27:42.82
as a Christian leader by
his willingness to serve.
00:27:42.82\00:27:47.13
And so this is the principle
that Jesus is giving us here,
00:27:47.13\00:27:49.96
and we've got some
more scriptures on that
00:27:49.96\00:27:51.33
we're going to share.
00:27:51.33\00:27:52.80
Matter of fact, in a moment,
00:27:52.80\00:27:53.87
someone's going
to read 1 Peter 5.
00:27:53.87\00:27:57.37
You'll have that one,
okay? I'm going to read...
00:27:57.37\00:28:01.81
And then the final part
of this is in Matthew 20:28.
00:28:01.81\00:28:05.41
"Just as the Son of Man
did not come to be served,
00:28:05.41\00:28:09.25
but to serve,
and to give His life
00:28:09.25\00:28:10.65
a ransom for many."
00:28:10.65\00:28:13.32
You notice that
Jesus didn't travel around
00:28:13.32\00:28:16.69
with attendants that were
carrying him on the leader
00:28:16.69\00:28:19.76
and shining his shoes and...
00:28:19.76\00:28:25.40
A lot of you...
00:28:25.40\00:28:28.47
I've been places to preach,
00:28:28.47\00:28:30.11
I got to be
careful what I say here.
00:28:30.11\00:28:31.97
I've been
places to preach before
00:28:31.97\00:28:34.31
where the church leaders
were assigning me bodyguards.
00:28:34.31\00:28:39.01
It kind of made me nervous.
00:28:39.01\00:28:41.02
I said, "I don't
want any bodyguards."
00:28:41.02\00:28:43.82
And I had fun sometimes,
they'd give them to me anyway.
00:28:43.82\00:28:46.65
I tried to run away from them,
00:28:46.65\00:28:48.62
and they're trying
to chase me around.
00:28:48.62\00:28:50.36
They were so
afraid for my safety
00:28:50.36\00:28:52.43
'cause they're so
used to other evangelists
00:28:52.43\00:28:54.56
from their divisions coming
in and they want to be served,
00:28:54.56\00:28:57.97
like they're, you know...
00:28:57.97\00:28:59.83
"Can we do this is or this?"
00:28:59.83\00:29:01.07
It's like they get their
own little entourage of servants
00:29:01.07\00:29:03.17
that run around
do whatever they ask.
00:29:03.17\00:29:05.41
And I thought, "I don't
think Jesus operated that way."
00:29:05.41\00:29:10.61
Philippians 2:7,
"But He made Himself,"
00:29:10.61\00:29:15.22
Jesus, "made
Himself of no reputation,
00:29:15.22\00:29:18.32
taking the form
of a bondservant,
00:29:18.32\00:29:21.06
and coming in
the likeness of men
00:29:21.06\00:29:23.26
and being found in
the appearance as a man,
00:29:23.26\00:29:26.03
He humbled Himself
00:29:26.03\00:29:27.30
and became obedient
to the point of death."
00:29:27.30\00:29:30.63
Now who was the
greatest of Jacob's sons?
00:29:30.63\00:29:34.77
Joseph. Good.
00:29:38.04\00:29:40.81
Who of Jacob's
sons understood best
00:29:40.81\00:29:44.01
what it was to be a servant?
00:29:44.01\00:29:47.42
Joseph.
00:29:47.42\00:29:49.08
Did Joseph become a slave?
00:29:49.08\00:29:52.62
Did Joseph serve in a prison?
00:29:52.62\00:29:55.32
He learned...
00:29:55.32\00:29:56.49
He served there on a farm,
he served in Potiphar's house,
00:29:56.49\00:29:59.43
he served his father,
00:29:59.43\00:30:00.96
he was out doing an
errand for his father
00:30:00.96\00:30:02.50
when he was
betrayed by his brothers.
00:30:02.50\00:30:04.57
Joseph spent
years, rigorous years,
00:30:04.57\00:30:08.50
finding out what it
meant to be a slave.
00:30:08.50\00:30:11.44
And because he learned
00:30:11.44\00:30:12.77
how to serve in
the lowest positions,
00:30:12.77\00:30:16.85
he was qualified to
serve in the highest position.
00:30:16.85\00:30:20.58
He went in one day from
being a slave in a prison...
00:30:20.58\00:30:23.32
Think about what
slaves in prisons do.
00:30:23.32\00:30:26.89
I don't think too long about it
00:30:26.89\00:30:28.06
'cause I'm sure
it's not pleasant.
00:30:28.06\00:30:30.19
And he went from that to
having 50 men run before him
00:30:30.19\00:30:33.56
with a chariot,
probably golden chariot.
00:30:33.56\00:30:36.70
So...
00:30:36.70\00:30:38.57
But God prepared
him for that position
00:30:38.57\00:30:40.60
because he understood
what it meant to serve.
00:30:40.60\00:30:44.17
You know, the reason that the
soldiers of Alexander the Great
00:30:44.17\00:30:47.21
were willing to
follow him into battle
00:30:47.21\00:30:49.51
is because he would get
right down in with the troops
00:30:49.51\00:30:53.95
and helped them haul firewood
and helped them build the fire
00:30:53.95\00:30:56.52
and he'd charge off into battle.
00:30:56.52\00:30:57.79
He would be in the front of...
00:30:57.79\00:30:59.69
He'd go point in a battle.
00:30:59.69\00:31:02.06
Alexander the
Great, one historian says,
00:31:02.06\00:31:03.59
"He would try to be
the first one over the wall
00:31:03.59\00:31:05.63
to conquer a city,"
and that's the one...
00:31:05.63\00:31:07.50
And he did get
wounded once or twice.
00:31:07.50\00:31:09.76
But his soldiers were so
afraid that they'd lose him,
00:31:09.76\00:31:12.97
they would not let
him get ahead of him
00:31:12.97\00:31:14.74
and they would charge ahead
00:31:14.74\00:31:15.87
because he was
willing to serve with them.
00:31:15.87\00:31:18.27
And so like I said, the
concept of servant leadership
00:31:18.27\00:31:20.94
is not totally new.
00:31:20.94\00:31:22.48
All right, please
read for us your verse.
00:31:22.48\00:31:25.55
1 Peter 5:2-3,
00:31:25.55\00:31:29.95
"Shepherd the flock of
God which is among you,
00:31:29.95\00:31:32.59
serving as overseers,
00:31:32.59\00:31:34.59
not by compulsion but willingly,
00:31:34.59\00:31:37.23
not for
dishonest gain but eagerly,
00:31:37.23\00:31:39.96
nor as being lords
over those entrusted to you,
00:31:39.96\00:31:43.03
but being
examples to the flock."
00:31:43.03\00:31:45.70
Amen.
00:31:45.70\00:31:46.87
There's something
that Peter is saying here
00:31:46.87\00:31:48.74
that is very important
about church organization.
00:31:48.74\00:31:53.21
In a lot of
worldly organizations,
00:31:53.21\00:31:55.84
you've got different levels
00:31:55.84\00:31:57.35
and there's different pay scales
00:31:57.35\00:31:58.98
according to those levels
00:31:58.98\00:32:00.22
and different benefit packages
according to those levels.
00:32:00.22\00:32:02.68
And with the more
authority, there's more pay
00:32:02.68\00:32:04.95
and ostensibly more benefits.
00:32:04.95\00:32:07.59
But Peter said that
should have nothing to do
00:32:07.59\00:32:11.63
with your service for Christ.
00:32:11.63\00:32:13.50
It is still a
wonderful thing to me,
00:32:13.50\00:32:15.83
I've never fully gotten over,
that I got involved in ministry
00:32:15.83\00:32:18.93
before I was hired as a pastor,
00:32:18.93\00:32:20.84
and they weren't
paying me anything.
00:32:20.84\00:32:22.70
And I was happy as I could be.
00:32:22.70\00:32:24.07
Don't tell them that
00:32:24.07\00:32:25.14
'cause they might
want to change their mind.
00:32:25.14\00:32:26.47
But I was happy as I
could be doing it for nothing
00:32:26.47\00:32:30.58
because I enjoyed it so much,
00:32:30.58\00:32:32.01
to be able to teach and preach
and now get paid to do it.
00:32:32.01\00:32:36.22
I just, it's
like, I pinch myself,
00:32:36.22\00:32:38.15
"Am I really
actually getting paid to do
00:32:38.15\00:32:40.66
what I was doing for nothing?"
00:32:40.66\00:32:41.69
That's wonderful.
00:32:41.69\00:32:42.99
I think it was
Will Rogers who said,
00:32:42.99\00:32:44.29
"Figure out what you want to do
00:32:44.29\00:32:45.36
and find a way to
get paid to do it."
00:32:45.36\00:32:49.26
But in the church,
something I've noticed is
00:32:49.26\00:32:55.24
the more that it
becomes a profession
00:32:55.24\00:32:57.14
and people get paid,
00:32:57.14\00:32:58.31
they start doing it as a
career and not from the heart.
00:32:58.31\00:33:02.48
We can't lose the
spirit of volunteerism
00:33:02.48\00:33:06.15
and service in the church.
00:33:06.15\00:33:08.45
If everybody get
paid for everything,
00:33:08.45\00:33:10.75
you end up with hirelings.
00:33:10.75\00:33:13.29
What I mean by that
is they're not doing it
00:33:13.29\00:33:14.82
'cause they love the
sheep, they're hired shepherds,
00:33:14.82\00:33:18.16
they're doing it for a career.
00:33:18.16\00:33:19.36
And if the wolf comes, they say,
00:33:19.36\00:33:20.70
they'll find
another job, "Not my sheep."
00:33:20.70\00:33:23.93
But if they love the
sheep... It's like David.
00:33:23.93\00:33:26.87
He loved his father, he
loved his father's sheep.
00:33:26.87\00:33:29.24
And when the bear came,
00:33:29.24\00:33:30.24
he put his life on the
line to save the sheep.
00:33:30.24\00:33:33.54
That's what Jesus said.
00:33:33.54\00:33:34.61
"The good shepherd,
00:33:34.61\00:33:35.78
he'll lay down his
life to save the sheep"
00:33:35.78\00:33:38.28
'cause he's not a hireling.
00:33:38.28\00:33:40.55
In the church, you don't
want people that are doing it
00:33:40.55\00:33:42.48
for what Peter
calls filthy lucre.
00:33:42.48\00:33:45.35
You don't want people
to be doing it for gain,
00:33:45.35\00:33:47.39
you want people to be doing it
'cause their hearts are in it,
00:33:47.39\00:33:49.82
it's a ministry.
00:33:49.82\00:33:51.59
And I've noticed, you know,
00:33:51.59\00:33:52.63
as soon as you
start paying volunteers,
00:33:52.63\00:33:56.16
the other
volunteers start saying,
00:33:56.16\00:33:58.63
"Well, that guy was a volunteer,
00:33:58.63\00:33:59.90
now he's getting
paid, I want to get paid."
00:33:59.90\00:34:01.50
And pretty soon the whole spirit
00:34:01.50\00:34:03.20
of sacrifice and
service can be destroyed.
00:34:03.20\00:34:07.04
People need to be doing it.
00:34:07.04\00:34:08.24
The early churches,
I mean they all did it
00:34:08.24\00:34:11.98
just because of love.
00:34:11.98\00:34:13.55
There are a lot of
places in the world
00:34:13.55\00:34:14.88
where the church is
entirely run by the members
00:34:14.88\00:34:17.65
and there is no money
that comes from outside.
00:34:17.65\00:34:21.42
They do it because
they love the message,
00:34:21.42\00:34:23.36
they love the Lord
and just got to be careful
00:34:23.36\00:34:25.83
that we don't get
where it's a career.
00:34:25.83\00:34:29.50
He says, "Not
for dishonest gain,
00:34:29.50\00:34:31.67
but eagerly,
00:34:31.67\00:34:33.10
not as being
lords over the flock,
00:34:33.10\00:34:35.84
but examples to the flock."
00:34:35.84\00:34:39.51
Luke 9:46,
00:34:39.51\00:34:41.71
"Then a dispute arose among them
00:34:41.71\00:34:43.58
as which of them
would be the greatest.
00:34:43.58\00:34:45.78
And Jesus perceiving the
thoughts of their heart."
00:34:45.78\00:34:49.65
Now this is giving
you a little more insight
00:34:49.65\00:34:51.45
into what we
read there in Matthew.
00:34:51.45\00:34:54.82
Evidently, and this is probably
during the last week or so
00:34:54.82\00:34:58.26
of Christ's ministry.
00:34:58.26\00:35:01.40
They were on
their way to Jerusalem,
00:35:01.40\00:35:02.66
they figured Jesus,
00:35:02.66\00:35:03.70
you know, maybe it was
after the triumphal entry,
00:35:03.70\00:35:05.47
and He's getting ready to
establish Himself as a king,
00:35:05.47\00:35:08.20
and the disciples were thinking,
00:35:08.20\00:35:09.67
"Any day now He's
going to hand out a list
00:35:09.67\00:35:11.87
and tell us what our
cabinet positions are.
00:35:11.87\00:35:14.91
And you know I want to be
00:35:14.91\00:35:16.85
on His right hand
and His left hand."
00:35:16.85\00:35:18.05
Remember, James and John,
they went, one place says,
00:35:18.05\00:35:20.62
James and John came,
from the other places,
00:35:20.62\00:35:22.48
the mother...
00:35:22.48\00:35:23.55
They sent their
mother and said, "My sons,"
00:35:23.55\00:35:26.32
you know, how
could He say no to Mom?
00:35:26.32\00:35:28.66
And she said, "They want
to sit on your right hand
00:35:28.66\00:35:30.09
and your left
hand in Your kingdom.
00:35:30.09\00:35:31.59
I mean they
started out following You
00:35:31.59\00:35:33.03
before You picked
all the other apostles.
00:35:33.03\00:35:34.96
They were right
there at the very beginning
00:35:34.96\00:35:36.36
and hopefully You're
not going to forget that.
00:35:36.36\00:35:38.23
You'll be loyal and
give them a position
00:35:38.23\00:35:39.70
on Your right and left,"
that meant great authority.
00:35:39.70\00:35:43.20
And Jesus said, "You
don't know what you're asking.
00:35:43.20\00:35:46.47
Are you able to be
baptized with my baptism
00:35:46.47\00:35:48.88
and drink the cup I must drink?"
00:35:48.88\00:35:50.38
"Oh, yeah, yeah,
sure. Yeah, yeah."
00:35:50.38\00:35:52.38
They had no idea
what He was talking about.
00:35:52.38\00:35:55.18
They wanted the authority,
00:35:55.18\00:35:56.38
they didn't want the baptism
that comes with the authority.
00:35:56.38\00:35:58.45
The baptism was a
baptism of suffering.
00:35:58.45\00:36:01.82
And I always
thought it was interesting,
00:36:01.82\00:36:03.63
of those two apostles
that came to Jesus saying,
00:36:03.63\00:36:06.09
"We want
positions on your right hand
00:36:06.09\00:36:07.83
and on your left hand."
00:36:07.83\00:36:08.90
What were their names?
00:36:08.90\00:36:10.80
James and John.
00:36:10.80\00:36:12.43
Who was the
first apostle to die?
00:36:12.43\00:36:14.84
Beside Judas.
00:36:14.84\00:36:16.24
Judas died at
his own hand. James.
00:36:16.24\00:36:19.64
You can read in Acts 12.
King Herod beheaded James.
00:36:19.64\00:36:23.18
Who was the last of
the apostles to die?
00:36:23.18\00:36:25.68
John. Isn't that interesting?
00:36:25.68\00:36:28.32
So they did. They were...
00:36:28.32\00:36:29.88
And John was a prisoner,
00:36:29.88\00:36:30.92
they both suffered for the Lord.
00:36:30.92\00:36:33.76
So it needs to be done
from that Christ like spirit.
00:36:33.76\00:36:39.73
So they're arguing,
"Who is the greatest?"
00:36:39.73\00:36:42.46
And Jesus
perceived their thoughts.
00:36:42.46\00:36:43.77
He knew what they
were arguing about.
00:36:43.77\00:36:46.50
And He said, "Whoever receives
00:36:46.50\00:36:48.07
this little child in
My name, receives me.
00:36:48.07\00:36:50.77
Whoever receives
me, Him who sent me,
00:36:50.77\00:36:53.94
for he who is least
among you, he will be great."
00:36:53.94\00:36:59.18
The one who is willing to serve.
00:36:59.18\00:37:01.08
Again, Mark 9,
"He came to Capernaum.
00:37:01.08\00:37:05.02
And when He was in
the house, He said,
00:37:05.02\00:37:06.76
'What was it you disputed
among yourselves on the road?'
00:37:06.76\00:37:10.29
But they kept
silent," they were ashamed,
00:37:10.29\00:37:12.39
"for on the road, they
disputed among themselves
00:37:12.39\00:37:14.46
who would be the greatest.
00:37:14.46\00:37:16.40
And He down and He
called the 12 and He said,
00:37:16.40\00:37:18.37
'If anyone desires to be first,
00:37:18.37\00:37:20.30
he shall be the last of
all and servant of all.'"
00:37:20.30\00:37:23.44
And then again, He
puts the child in them.
00:37:23.44\00:37:25.81
So servant
leadership is not the same thing
00:37:25.81\00:37:30.68
as no leadership.
00:37:30.68\00:37:33.31
Some people say,
"Well, in the Christianity,
00:37:33.31\00:37:34.98
you know, we just
have servant leadership,
00:37:34.98\00:37:36.32
it means no one's
really the leader."
00:37:36.32\00:37:38.09
Servant leadership
means they're all leaders
00:37:38.09\00:37:40.19
but they should lead by
example willing to serve.
00:37:40.19\00:37:45.46
Now we're talking
about organization,
00:37:45.46\00:37:48.83
we're talking about unity in
and through the organization.
00:37:48.83\00:37:52.40
There are a couple of extremes.
00:37:52.40\00:37:54.07
One extreme is that a person
00:37:54.07\00:37:55.70
has a very
hierarchal church model
00:37:55.70\00:38:00.08
where the pastor
sees himself as the pope,
00:38:00.08\00:38:02.61
or dictator, or
the conference leaders,
00:38:02.61\00:38:05.85
you know, it's very
heavy handed administration,
00:38:05.85\00:38:08.65
everyone's ordered around,
and it's not through example
00:38:08.65\00:38:12.29
and consensus
and praying together
00:38:12.29\00:38:14.59
that you come to your vision.
00:38:14.59\00:38:17.73
So that would be one extreme.
00:38:17.73\00:38:19.03
The other extreme is,
there's really no leadership
00:38:19.03\00:38:21.53
that we all just kind of
pray and we, you know, say
00:38:21.53\00:38:25.00
"All right, you know,
what should we do today?"
00:38:25.00\00:38:27.67
Have you ever run
into someone that says,
00:38:27.67\00:38:29.30
"You know, I believe in Jesus,
00:38:29.30\00:38:31.31
but I don't believe
in church organization.
00:38:31.31\00:38:34.51
I don't believe in
religious organization."
00:38:34.51\00:38:35.98
Have you ever...
00:38:35.98\00:38:37.05
"I'm spiritual,
00:38:37.05\00:38:38.11
but I don't support
religious organization."
00:38:38.11\00:38:41.15
People who say
00:38:41.15\00:38:42.22
they do not support
religious organization
00:38:42.22\00:38:44.15
are really saying, "I
support disorganization,"
00:38:44.15\00:38:47.56
because you only
have two choices.
00:38:47.56\00:38:50.13
If you say, "I
don't want to be part
00:38:50.13\00:38:51.79
of any religious organization,"
00:38:51.79\00:38:53.66
you're saying,
"I want to be part
00:38:53.66\00:38:54.73
of a disorganized religion."
00:38:54.73\00:38:57.63
But is God disorganized?
00:38:57.63\00:39:00.37
God is not the
author of confusion.
00:39:00.37\00:39:03.37
The Bible says
in 1 Corinthians 14,
00:39:03.37\00:39:04.94
"Let all things be
done decently and in order."
00:39:04.94\00:39:08.58
There should be an order,
there should be a function.
00:39:08.58\00:39:10.48
But I tell you,
things work a lot better
00:39:10.48\00:39:14.48
when we're organized.
00:39:14.48\00:39:16.02
Have you noticed that?
00:39:16.02\00:39:17.45
If you've got
people that have the gift
00:39:17.45\00:39:19.35
of organization, administration
00:39:19.35\00:39:21.12
and they can get
everything organized,
00:39:21.12\00:39:23.39
it's great when...
00:39:23.39\00:39:26.03
A little later
today, if you don't know,
00:39:26.03\00:39:27.23
we're having a
special Christmas program,
00:39:27.23\00:39:29.06
everyone's
invited, 6 o'clock here.
00:39:29.06\00:39:31.13
And those involved,
00:39:31.13\00:39:32.83
it's quite an
active organization to have
00:39:32.83\00:39:34.84
the choirs come up,
00:39:34.84\00:39:35.90
sing the notes
at the right time,
00:39:35.90\00:39:37.14
the musicians change places,
00:39:37.14\00:39:39.21
and you'll have a
beautiful program,
00:39:39.21\00:39:41.28
I'm trusting,
00:39:41.28\00:39:42.34
because there's a lot of
organization and planning
00:39:42.34\00:39:46.01
that goes into it, right?
00:39:46.01\00:39:47.78
It's true of God's
work in His church,
00:39:47.78\00:39:50.29
in our plans for outreach,
in our plans for in reach,
00:39:50.29\00:39:54.46
and discipleship,
and mentoring people,
00:39:54.46\00:39:57.99
it's great to have a
plan and be organized
00:39:57.99\00:40:00.40
and then implement the plan.
00:40:00.40\00:40:02.33
So being spiritual
00:40:02.33\00:40:04.90
and believing in
the headship of Christ
00:40:04.90\00:40:07.00
does not mean
that we don't believe
00:40:07.00\00:40:09.34
in church organization.
00:40:09.34\00:40:11.47
We can't get
anywhere without that.
00:40:11.47\00:40:15.91
For example, Exodus 18,
Moses, believe it or not,
00:40:15.91\00:40:22.92
when he first led the
children out of Egypt,
00:40:22.92\00:40:24.82
they were a nation of slaves,
00:40:24.82\00:40:25.99
they had been ordered
around by the Egyptians
00:40:25.99\00:40:27.82
for hundreds of years, they
had no internal organization.
00:40:27.82\00:40:30.99
Now they've just escaped,
they're in the wilderness,
00:40:30.99\00:40:33.56
and it's a little bit of chaos.
00:40:33.56\00:40:34.93
I'm so glad to hear
00:40:34.93\00:40:35.96
that even they
struggled with a little chaos.
00:40:35.96\00:40:39.50
Moses'
father-in-law comes along,
00:40:39.50\00:40:41.27
and he's someone who
has given Moses advice,
00:40:41.27\00:40:43.91
so he's older than Moses.
00:40:43.91\00:40:46.21
He watches what's going on.
00:40:46.21\00:40:48.64
He sees
everybody milling around,
00:40:48.64\00:40:50.15
they don't even get
into a line, you know,
00:40:50.15\00:40:51.65
and they're all trying
to get Moses' attention,
00:40:51.65\00:40:53.15
they get all
these different disputes
00:40:53.15\00:40:54.58
that are happening
in the various tribes
00:40:54.58\00:40:55.98
and in their families,
00:40:55.98\00:40:57.05
and their goat
ran off with my sheep,
00:40:57.05\00:40:59.15
and whatever's
happening, you know.
00:40:59.15\00:41:01.32
And it's
probably a lot of chaos.
00:41:01.32\00:41:02.92
They got all the goats
and herds and sheep inside,
00:41:02.92\00:41:04.69
they're all co-mingling,
00:41:04.69\00:41:05.73
they're fighting
over water and resources.
00:41:05.73\00:41:07.96
So he's disputing these things
00:41:07.96\00:41:09.80
and he sits from
morning till night
00:41:09.80\00:41:12.70
trying to advise them on how
to resolve all their conflict.
00:41:12.70\00:41:16.24
And Jethro, very kindly,
he takes his son-in-law aside,
00:41:16.24\00:41:18.87
now his son-in-law is 80 years.
00:41:18.87\00:41:21.08
He takes Moses
aside, he says, "Son,
00:41:21.08\00:41:22.88
let me give you
a little advice."
00:41:22.88\00:41:24.45
He says, "You are
going to wear yourself out.
00:41:24.45\00:41:25.88
This is not how to
run an organization."
00:41:25.88\00:41:29.32
He said, "You need to delegate."
00:41:29.32\00:41:32.45
He said, "Here's my advice..."
00:41:32.45\00:41:34.22
You find this in Exodus 18,
00:41:34.22\00:41:37.06
"You shall select from
all the people able men,
00:41:37.06\00:41:39.69
such as fear God, men of
truth, hating covetousness,"
00:41:39.69\00:41:42.80
'cause you don't
them to be bribe,
00:41:42.80\00:41:44.43
you want them to have
good, unbiased judgment,
00:41:44.43\00:41:48.10
"hating covetousness
00:41:48.10\00:41:49.27
and place them over the people
to be rulers of thousands,
00:41:49.27\00:41:52.74
rulers of
hundreds, rulers of fifties,
00:41:52.74\00:41:54.64
rulers of tens," have
these different levels
00:41:54.64\00:41:57.31
so they can
spread out the concerns.
00:41:57.31\00:41:59.38
"Let them judge
the people at all times
00:41:59.38\00:42:01.38
and it will be
that every great matter,
00:42:01.38\00:42:03.28
you're the Supreme Court,
00:42:03.28\00:42:04.35
they'll come to you
with the big matters,
00:42:04.35\00:42:06.15
they'll bring you
every small matter,
00:42:06.15\00:42:07.99
they themselves will judge.
00:42:07.99\00:42:09.12
It'll be easier for you
00:42:09.12\00:42:11.19
for they will bear
the burden with you
00:42:11.19\00:42:12.89
as God will be with
you, God will bless you."
00:42:12.89\00:42:14.83
And you know
what, God told Moses,
00:42:14.83\00:42:16.90
"Listen to your father-in-law.
00:42:16.90\00:42:18.13
That's good
advice," and he did it.
00:42:18.13\00:42:20.64
Now they then had
a special meeting.
00:42:20.64\00:42:22.57
They prayed and
the Spirit of God
00:42:22.57\00:42:23.91
came down on the 70 elders.
00:42:23.91\00:42:25.47
Some of you remember
that story in the Bible.
00:42:25.47\00:42:27.28
God gave them His Holy Spirit,
00:42:27.28\00:42:30.18
combined with
their natural gifts
00:42:30.18\00:42:31.75
of administration,
judgment, and leadership,
00:42:31.75\00:42:33.82
they became organized.
00:42:33.82\00:42:35.92
They had to get organized
00:42:35.92\00:42:36.99
'cause it was a
mess up to that point.
00:42:36.99\00:42:40.02
So does God
believe in organization?
00:42:40.02\00:42:43.09
And it's through organization,
you often have unity.
00:42:43.09\00:42:46.36
But the organization must
be spirit and servant driven.
00:42:46.36\00:42:52.13
Jesus said, "If I
your Lord and master
00:42:52.13\00:42:53.90
have washed your feet,
00:42:53.90\00:42:55.74
should you wash
one another's feet?"
00:42:55.74\00:42:58.17
Is there anything a
leader in the church should say,
00:42:58.17\00:43:00.18
"Well, I'm the
pastor, I don't do that,"
00:43:00.18\00:43:03.88
or should all of us
be willing to do anything
00:43:03.88\00:43:06.08
that needs to be done?
00:43:06.08\00:43:08.18
See, we're all on a
level playing field,
00:43:08.18\00:43:10.35
nobody is worth
more or better than
00:43:10.35\00:43:13.22
or more valuable to
God than anybody else.
00:43:13.22\00:43:17.29
Salvation is equal
within the Christian Church.
00:43:17.29\00:43:20.70
It doesn't matter if
you're a male or a female,
00:43:20.70\00:43:23.47
slave or free, black or white,
Greek or Jew or barbarian,
00:43:23.47\00:43:29.07
the Bible tells us
that we're all equal
00:43:29.07\00:43:32.21
when it comes to the
availability of salvation,
00:43:32.21\00:43:34.88
and we should demonstrate that.
00:43:34.88\00:43:37.98
There's a quote
here in the lesson
00:43:37.98\00:43:39.21
from the book Desire of Ages,
I thought was good, page 550.
00:43:39.21\00:43:42.38
"Christ was
establishing a kingdom
00:43:42.38\00:43:44.55
on different principles.
00:43:44.55\00:43:46.12
He called men not to
authority but to service.
00:43:46.12\00:43:49.36
The strong to bear the
infirmities of the weak,
00:43:49.36\00:43:51.96
power, position,
talent, education
00:43:51.96\00:43:53.93
place in their possessor
under the greatest obligation
00:43:53.93\00:43:55.76
to serve his fellows."
00:43:55.76\00:43:59.03
Whatever power,
ability a person might have
00:43:59.03\00:44:01.67
is given to serve.
00:44:01.67\00:44:04.31
All right,
preserving the unity...
00:44:04.31\00:44:06.91
Now someone's going to
read for me in a moment,
00:44:06.91\00:44:08.74
Titus?
00:44:08.74\00:44:10.48
2 Timothy 2:15,
00:44:10.48\00:44:12.98
"Be diligent to
present yourselves
00:44:12.98\00:44:15.12
approved to God
00:44:15.12\00:44:16.69
a worker who does
not need to be ashamed
00:44:16.69\00:44:19.05
rightly dividing
the word of truth."
00:44:19.05\00:44:21.69
What is one of the most
sure ways to preserve unity?
00:44:21.69\00:44:26.03
I just gave you the
answer in that verse.
00:44:26.03\00:44:28.83
Rightly dividing
the word of truth.
00:44:28.83\00:44:32.47
God wants us to
be united in truth.
00:44:32.47\00:44:36.27
The truth will set you free.
00:44:36.27\00:44:38.14
You know the
Bible actually says...
00:44:38.14\00:44:39.41
I know it sounds like
kind of cookie-cutter theology
00:44:39.41\00:44:42.01
but Paul says, "Be sure
you speak the same thing."
00:44:42.01\00:44:46.48
God wants us to
have a united message.
00:44:46.48\00:44:49.18
Is that right?
00:44:49.18\00:44:50.25
Now does that mean
00:44:50.25\00:44:51.29
that we should
never have any freedom
00:44:51.29\00:44:52.55
to think
differently about anything?
00:44:52.55\00:44:54.99
No.
00:44:54.99\00:44:56.09
And you know, within our church,
00:44:56.09\00:44:57.29
there is some diversity of
thought on something, you know?
00:44:57.29\00:44:59.39
You ask 10 pastors
00:44:59.39\00:45:00.80
what they think about Daniel 11,
00:45:00.80\00:45:02.76
you might get 11 answers.
00:45:02.76\00:45:06.33
You ask, you
know, about 1,44,000
00:45:06.33\00:45:09.60
or some of these
difficult chapters
00:45:09.60\00:45:11.87
you might find in
Zechariah 14 or in Ezekiel,
00:45:11.87\00:45:15.48
people I respect might
have a little different slant
00:45:15.48\00:45:17.38
because, you know,
00:45:17.38\00:45:18.38
some things are a
little foggier than others.
00:45:18.38\00:45:20.22
But there are
foundational truths
00:45:20.22\00:45:23.52
that we should be united on.
00:45:23.52\00:45:25.09
And if we're
united on those truths,
00:45:25.09\00:45:26.76
there will be unity.
00:45:26.76\00:45:28.86
All right, you
see what I'm saying?
00:45:28.86\00:45:30.59
They're the ones that, you know,
00:45:30.59\00:45:31.66
are really going to make
a difference from day to day
00:45:31.66\00:45:33.60
in how we live and operate.
00:45:33.60\00:45:35.83
If someone here says,
00:45:35.83\00:45:36.93
"Well, I think the
Sabbath should be Sunday,"
00:45:36.93\00:45:38.40
someone says, "I
think, it should be Saturday."
00:45:38.40\00:45:39.80
Is that right away
going to cause a problem?
00:45:39.80\00:45:42.17
Yeah. We're not going to
be meeting together, are we?
00:45:42.17\00:45:45.07
So I mean we got to
be agreed on some basics
00:45:45.07\00:45:48.58
or you're going to
have all kinds of chaos.
00:45:48.58\00:45:50.21
Please read for us.
00:45:50.21\00:45:52.65
Titus 1:9.
00:45:52.65\00:45:55.52
"Holding fast the faithful
Word as he has been taught
00:45:55.52\00:45:59.29
that he may be
able, by sound doctrine,
00:45:59.29\00:46:02.39
both to exhort and
convict those who contradict."
00:46:02.39\00:46:06.93
So there should be the
elders, Titus is being told,
00:46:06.93\00:46:10.47
should have some leadership
00:46:10.47\00:46:11.93
to be able to teach
sound solid doctrine.
00:46:11.93\00:46:14.30
There should be
exhortation that takes place.
00:46:14.30\00:46:17.14
I'm going to read 2 4:2.
00:46:17.14\00:46:20.14
"Preach the word.
00:46:20.14\00:46:21.21
Be ready in
season and out of season.
00:46:21.21\00:46:23.31
Convince, rebuke, exhort..."
00:46:23.31\00:46:27.55
Now what's
encompassed in the word rebuke?
00:46:27.55\00:46:32.39
That would talk about a parent
maybe telling their child,
00:46:32.39\00:46:35.72
"You're not
supposed to shoplift."
00:46:35.72\00:46:38.69
You're admonishing
them, you're telling them
00:46:38.69\00:46:42.06
"That's not the right behavior,"
00:46:42.06\00:46:44.37
you're confronting them.
00:46:44.37\00:46:45.53
That's what's
encompassed in the word rebuke.
00:46:45.53\00:46:47.70
Is there some authority
00:46:47.70\00:46:49.00
connected with
being able to rebuke?
00:46:49.00\00:46:51.34
Yeah.
00:46:51.34\00:46:52.44
Should parents be
rebuked by their children?
00:46:52.44\00:46:55.48
Sometimes, we are, but I think
00:46:55.48\00:46:57.48
that would be a
little disrespectful.
00:46:57.48\00:47:00.05
And so he said, "You know,
exhort," and how do you do it,
00:47:00.05\00:47:04.95
"with long
suffering and teaching.
00:47:04.95\00:47:07.42
Be patient for
the time is coming
00:47:07.42\00:47:09.32
when they're not going
to endure sound doctrine.
00:47:09.32\00:47:11.96
A good teacher will tell them
00:47:11.96\00:47:13.29
what their ears
are itching to hear."
00:47:13.29\00:47:15.63
But he's saying, "We
should preserve the unity
00:47:15.63\00:47:18.67
by clear biblical teaching."
00:47:18.67\00:47:20.57
We make a big emphasis
on that here at Granite Bay.
00:47:20.57\00:47:24.04
Church discipline, now
this is a difficult section
00:47:24.04\00:47:29.48
because you do
have an organization,
00:47:29.48\00:47:30.75
at some point,
00:47:30.75\00:47:31.81
you need to make tough decisions
00:47:31.81\00:47:33.08
and there needs
to be discipline,
00:47:33.08\00:47:34.98
there needs to
be accountability.
00:47:34.98\00:47:36.75
Jesus said in Matthew
18, if there's a brother,
00:47:36.75\00:47:39.32
after you talk
to him personally,
00:47:39.32\00:47:40.79
and then you take
with him two or three...
00:47:40.79\00:47:43.63
Matthew 18:16, "You
take one or two more
00:47:43.63\00:47:47.03
that by the mouth of
two or three witnesses,
00:47:47.03\00:47:48.76
every word might be established.
00:47:48.76\00:47:50.10
If he refuses to hear
them, tell it to the church.
00:47:50.10\00:47:54.44
If he refuses to hear them...
00:47:54.44\00:47:55.94
You have church
business meeting...
00:47:55.94\00:47:57.97
Let him to be to
you like a heathen
00:47:57.97\00:47:59.61
and a tax collector."
00:47:59.61\00:48:00.71
He is out there in the world,
00:48:00.71\00:48:01.98
he's no more part
of your organization.
00:48:01.98\00:48:05.31
They would call that
being disfellowshipped.
00:48:05.31\00:48:09.48
"We know there was
authority," Acts 15:6,
00:48:09.48\00:48:11.95
"Now the apostles
and elders came together
00:48:11.95\00:48:14.22
to consider a matter."
00:48:14.22\00:48:15.26
When they had a
difficult subject,
00:48:15.26\00:48:16.69
they'd bring
together the leadership,
00:48:16.69\00:48:18.56
they would debate
what the issues were,
00:48:18.56\00:48:20.33
they'd come to some resolution,
00:48:20.33\00:48:21.96
they always did it in
a servant leader spirit.
00:48:21.96\00:48:26.30
And you can read...
00:48:26.30\00:48:27.54
Here's a difficult
verse in 1 Corinthians 4:7
00:48:27.54\00:48:30.51
background...
00:48:30.51\00:48:33.14
Or 1 Corinthians 5:4-7.
00:48:33.14\00:48:36.51
Young men in the church
00:48:36.51\00:48:37.65
was having an
affair with his stepmother,
00:48:37.65\00:48:41.02
and the church was
just laughing about it.
00:48:41.02\00:48:43.99
They weren't
doing anything about it,
00:48:43.99\00:48:45.45
and Paul was
outraged and he said,
00:48:45.45\00:48:47.66
"You got to deal
with that person."
00:48:47.66\00:48:49.52
He said, "In the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:48:49.52\00:48:51.89
when you are gathered
together along with my spirit
00:48:51.89\00:48:54.60
with the power of
our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:48:54.60\00:48:56.63
deliver such a one to Satan
00:48:56.63\00:48:59.00
for the destruction of the flesh
00:48:59.00\00:49:00.54
that his spirit might
be saved in the Lord."
00:49:00.54\00:49:02.27
That means put
him out of the church.
00:49:02.27\00:49:04.34
If he's going to go
live according to the flesh,
00:49:04.34\00:49:06.57
but hopefully he'll come
to his senses and be saved.
00:49:06.57\00:49:09.08
If you let him
continue in the church
00:49:09.08\00:49:10.68
thinking this is
okay, you can destroy him.
00:49:10.68\00:49:13.05
You put him out of the church,
00:49:13.05\00:49:14.25
it's the redemptive thing to do,
00:49:14.25\00:49:15.85
there's some consequences.
00:49:15.85\00:49:17.35
He will hopefully say,
"You know, what have I done?"
00:49:17.35\00:49:22.02
He'll repent
and he can be saved.
00:49:22.02\00:49:24.49
It says, "Your
glorying is not good.
00:49:24.49\00:49:25.86
Do you not know
that a little leaven
00:49:25.86\00:49:27.30
leavens the whole lump?
00:49:27.30\00:49:28.46
Therefore, purge
out the old leaven."
00:49:28.46\00:49:30.83
He's saying,
"Purge this out of you,"
00:49:30.83\00:49:33.07
because it's like
having an akin in the camp.
00:49:33.07\00:49:35.04
God cannot bless
00:49:35.04\00:49:37.14
when the church
knowingly ignores outright
00:49:37.14\00:49:41.18
and open apostasy in its ranks.
00:49:41.18\00:49:44.21
It's kind of like
you're endorsing it.
00:49:44.21\00:49:46.72
So he said, "You have
to have church discipline."
00:49:46.72\00:49:48.88
I mean, what does it do
when a person says, "Hey,
00:49:48.88\00:49:52.32
praise the Lord,
I just got baptized.
00:49:52.32\00:49:53.89
I'm a member of the
Granite Bay Church."
00:49:53.89\00:49:55.52
And they're telling
their friends in the bar
00:49:55.52\00:49:56.79
and they've got a
cigar in one hand,
00:49:56.79\00:49:57.89
their drink in the other,
00:49:57.89\00:49:58.89
and they're listening
to their worldly music.
00:49:58.89\00:50:01.26
"Oh, so that's what
they believe over there."
00:50:01.26\00:50:04.27
And if a church never
takes any kind of stand
00:50:04.27\00:50:06.57
on things like that,
00:50:06.57\00:50:07.94
what does it do to your
witness in the community?
00:50:07.94\00:50:10.64
You have to...
There has to be standards.
00:50:10.64\00:50:12.44
Now you work with the
person, you're patient,
00:50:12.44\00:50:15.24
you're redemptive,
00:50:15.24\00:50:17.35
but at some
point, you've got to say,
00:50:17.35\00:50:18.68
"Look, brother, sister,
00:50:18.68\00:50:20.75
you either
believe or you don't."
00:50:20.75\00:50:23.12
And the Bible very
clearly tells us that.
00:50:23.12\00:50:27.82
Titus 3:10-11,
"Reject a divisive man
00:50:27.82\00:50:31.96
after the first and
the second admonition,
00:50:31.96\00:50:34.10
knowing that such a
person is warped and sinning,
00:50:34.10\00:50:36.40
being self-centered,"
00:50:36.40\00:50:37.37
giving them some
opportunities but eventually
00:50:37.37\00:50:41.27
you need to deal with it.
00:50:41.27\00:50:43.04
And then finally,
and I talked about this,
00:50:43.04\00:50:45.01
Organizing for a Mission.
00:50:45.01\00:50:47.41
It's so important
that we get organized.
00:50:47.41\00:50:49.54
When they sent out the apostles,
00:50:49.54\00:50:50.85
Jesus sent them out two by two,
He gave them clear instructions
00:50:50.85\00:50:54.15
about how to go,
where to stay, what to take.
00:50:54.15\00:50:58.39
The apostles, when
they prayed as they set out,
00:50:58.39\00:51:01.42
Paul and Barnabas
or Silas and Paul,
00:51:01.42\00:51:04.89
there was an organization,
00:51:04.89\00:51:06.19
they had a
mission, marching orders,
00:51:06.19\00:51:08.10
Jesus in the Great Commission.
00:51:08.10\00:51:09.90
Matthew 28, Mark 16,
00:51:09.90\00:51:12.33
he tells us what our mission is.
00:51:12.33\00:51:13.94
And we are to be organized
and trained for that mission.
00:51:13.94\00:51:18.04
And so it's
through being organized
00:51:18.04\00:51:20.88
that God is able
to accomplish it, so.
00:51:20.88\00:51:23.68
But we want to be a
spirit-led organization.
00:51:23.68\00:51:27.68
If the church gets to
the place where we think,
00:51:27.68\00:51:30.92
"If we only had more
money, we could do more good."
00:51:30.92\00:51:34.02
Well, money is helpful.
00:51:34.02\00:51:35.69
Or if we think if
we had better machines,
00:51:35.69\00:51:37.46
better
equipment, better buildings,
00:51:37.46\00:51:40.20
most cases, you know
what the Lord is waiting for?
00:51:40.20\00:51:43.40
Better men and women.
00:51:43.40\00:51:45.40
And there's no
limit to what He can do
00:51:45.40\00:51:46.77
if He's got better men
and women for the mission.
00:51:46.77\00:51:48.90
Amen.
00:51:48.90\00:51:50.17
Well, I think we've
run out of time for today.
00:51:50.17\00:51:52.24
Next week is going to be
00:51:52.24\00:51:53.58
our last lesson
in this quarterly.
00:51:53.58\00:51:55.44
I want to remind you,
before I go off the air,
00:51:55.44\00:51:57.21
we do have a gift book.
00:51:57.21\00:51:59.01
I've got it
buried here somewhere.
00:51:59.01\00:52:01.18
You'll enjoy this.
The Church, Is It Babylon?
00:52:01.18\00:52:04.39
The Church, Is It Babylon?
00:52:04.39\00:52:06.19
Do you want me to answer
that? You got to get the book.
00:52:06.19\00:52:10.09
Ask for offer
number 712 when you call.
00:52:10.09\00:52:12.49
If you call the phone
number, it's 866-788-3966.
00:52:12.49\00:52:17.20
And you can
download this also for free
00:52:17.20\00:52:19.53
right now and read it.
00:52:19.53\00:52:21.07
Just text "SH116,"
00:52:21.07\00:52:24.47
you text "SH116" to 40544
00:52:24.47\00:52:29.21
and you can
download this, read it.
00:52:29.21\00:52:30.81
And if you order a hard copy,
00:52:30.81\00:52:32.35
read it and
share it with a friend.
00:52:32.35\00:52:34.22
God bless you, friends.
00:52:34.22\00:52:35.78
And Lord willing,
we'll study His Word together
00:52:35.78\00:52:37.52
again next week.
00:52:37.52\00:52:38.59
Did you know Amazing
Facts has a free Bible school
00:52:39.79\00:52:42.69
that you can do from the comfort
00:52:42.69\00:52:43.99
of your own home?
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It includes 27 beautifully
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00:52:45.06\00:52:48.53
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00:52:48.53\00:52:50.60
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00:52:50.60\00:52:53.27
by calling 1-844-215-7000.
00:52:53.27\00:52:56.64
That's 1-844-215-7000.
00:52:56.64\00:52:59.91
Amazing Facts changed lives.
00:53:07.45\00:53:10.29
My life was in turmoil.
00:53:15.52\00:53:17.86
My wife and I were
fighting all the time.
00:53:17.86\00:53:19.96
I got away from
everything and everybody.
00:53:19.96\00:53:22.63
I don't know. I just...
00:53:22.63\00:53:23.70
I always had this
emptiness in my heart.
00:53:23.70\00:53:26.03
I don't want it filled.
00:53:26.03\00:53:27.50
I just felt like I
went through my whole life,
00:53:27.50\00:53:29.40
you know, just
searching for something.
00:53:29.40\00:53:32.47
And my father died.
And that ruined me a lot.
00:53:32.47\00:53:35.21
My father didn't
believe in suicide
00:53:35.21\00:53:37.18
and I didn't want to live
but rather than disrespect him,
00:53:37.18\00:53:41.38
I decided I would
just become so mean
00:53:41.38\00:53:43.08
if someone else
would do it to me
00:53:43.08\00:53:44.52
and I wouldn't have to.
00:53:44.52\00:53:45.59
So I joined the army thinking,
00:53:45.59\00:53:47.36
"What better
placed to get killed
00:53:47.36\00:53:48.69
than in the army?"
00:53:48.69\00:53:49.76
And while I was in the
army, my daughter got injured,
00:53:49.76\00:53:52.53
she was in an accident.
00:53:52.53\00:53:55.36
And she was
blind and paraplegic,
00:53:55.36\00:53:58.40
and it's just like I felt
00:53:58.40\00:54:00.24
the whole world
was coming down on me.
00:54:00.24\00:54:02.30
One morning, I
just really got mad
00:54:02.30\00:54:05.07
and I gave God a cuss
like you wouldn't believe.
00:54:05.07\00:54:07.91
I said, "I'm not
Moses, not Abraham, you know,
00:54:07.91\00:54:11.18
I don't put my
sandals on just like they do.
00:54:11.18\00:54:14.82
I'm a man."
00:54:14.82\00:54:15.85
I don't want to know
why this is happening to me.
00:54:15.85\00:54:18.19
I just want to know if
it's happening for a reason.
00:54:18.19\00:54:21.22
If you tell me right now
this is all for a reason,
00:54:21.22\00:54:23.96
then you can stacking on me
from here to the end of time,
00:54:23.96\00:54:27.76
and I would
never complain again.
00:54:27.76\00:54:31.07
And then a little TV came on.
00:54:31.07\00:54:33.57
I'd been sitting here
just static all night long.
00:54:33.57\00:54:36.67
And there is this minister,
when he pops up and he says,
00:54:36.67\00:54:39.74
"Today's lesson is
from the Book of Job.
00:54:39.74\00:54:41.54
God only lets those
suffer that He loves the most."
00:54:41.54\00:54:44.81
And I said, "Well, that's
all you have to say, Lord,
00:54:44.81\00:54:46.15
I appreciate it."
00:54:46.15\00:54:47.22
From that day forward,
I knew that He was there
00:54:47.22\00:54:50.19
and He was in my life,
and that He would help me.
00:54:50.19\00:54:54.16
I went to prison just
almost immediately after that.
00:54:54.16\00:54:58.19
I was in prison
for aggravated assault.
00:54:58.19\00:55:00.46
I was in one of
the worst prisons
00:55:00.46\00:55:02.43
in the state of Kansas City.
00:55:02.43\00:55:03.60
It was full of gang activity.
00:55:03.60\00:55:06.10
I got my throat
cut, 52 stitches.
00:55:06.10\00:55:09.70
In my neck, I
could take those fingers
00:55:09.70\00:55:11.14
and stick them all,
could come out of my mouth.
00:55:11.14\00:55:13.27
I'd gone to the library that day
00:55:13.27\00:55:14.78
because it was probably
about the only thing to do.
00:55:14.78\00:55:18.31
When I ran
across this little book
00:55:18.31\00:55:19.81
called The Richest Caveman.
00:55:19.81\00:55:21.52
This book is
hilarious, but it is great.
00:55:21.52\00:55:25.52
I'm sitting here with
this big beard and thinking,
00:55:25.52\00:55:27.39
"Hey, I know what it's like
to look like a caveman," but...
00:55:27.39\00:55:30.86
I'm not an educated
person, I guess, you should say,
00:55:30.86\00:55:33.26
but I'm a simple guy.
00:55:33.26\00:55:34.86
I'm just really a simple guy.
00:55:34.86\00:55:36.63
That's what I loved
about Doug Batchelor
00:55:36.63\00:55:38.93
because this guy is just
straight out as you can get.
00:55:38.93\00:55:43.84
And my wife and I,
00:55:43.84\00:55:44.94
we've kept contact
through all these years,
00:55:44.94\00:55:47.94
and so much was going on.
00:55:47.94\00:55:52.28
And I told her, I said, "Listen,
00:55:52.28\00:55:54.02
this is the center
of my world right now."
00:55:54.02\00:55:58.02
And I said, "I really want you
to be involved in it with me.
00:55:58.02\00:56:01.19
I need it."
00:56:01.19\00:56:02.22
And I said, "You will too
00:56:02.22\00:56:03.53
if you ever just
take hold of it."
00:56:03.53\00:56:05.56
I told my wife, I said, "Listen,
00:56:05.56\00:56:06.86
I've got this Amazing
Facts Bible study going here,
00:56:06.86\00:56:10.27
and this is the best way for you
00:56:10.27\00:56:12.33
to get this
information, I think,
00:56:12.33\00:56:15.57
because it's broken down
and they give you questions
00:56:15.57\00:56:20.94
and to make you look
for these things, you know?
00:56:20.94\00:56:25.05
It's not anyone telling
you, you find it on your own,
00:56:25.05\00:56:28.28
and they teach you
actually use the Bible."
00:56:28.28\00:56:31.09
She was there
faithfully, every Wednesday
00:56:31.09\00:56:34.02
until we decided, you know...
00:56:34.02\00:56:37.03
She wanted to be baptized
also. She saw it coming around.
00:56:37.03\00:56:41.40
The choice was made.
00:56:41.40\00:56:43.00
In October 4, 2014, my
wife and I were baptized
00:56:43.00\00:56:47.64
in the water at the same time.
00:56:47.64\00:56:50.14
And we started our
walk together, I guess,
00:56:50.14\00:56:54.54
you would say.
00:56:54.54\00:56:55.61
I went through everything
00:56:55.61\00:56:57.18
that a man could
possibly go through, I guess.
00:56:57.18\00:57:00.52
From marital trouble,
loss of family members,
00:57:00.52\00:57:04.99
death in my family,
my children were harmed,
00:57:04.99\00:57:07.86
and my daughter was
handicapped for life,
00:57:07.86\00:57:11.43
I went to prison,
00:57:11.43\00:57:13.36
but still I kept my word to God
00:57:13.36\00:57:16.87
that He could stack it
on me as much as He wanted
00:57:16.87\00:57:19.83
and I'd never question Him again
00:57:19.83\00:57:21.27
and I didn't.
00:57:21.27\00:57:23.30
But I can say this much,
00:57:23.30\00:57:25.24
He never put nothing on
me that I couldn't handle,
00:57:25.24\00:57:28.98
and He walked
with me through it all.
00:57:28.98\00:57:31.28
And I like to say that
anyone who is in prison
00:57:31.28\00:57:36.85
not to give up, don't lose hope.
00:57:36.85\00:57:39.49
Put your faith in
the Lord and study.
00:57:39.49\00:57:42.99
You seek Him and
He will seek you.
00:57:42.99\00:57:44.89
And my name is Charlie
Green, and I want you to know
00:57:44.89\00:57:47.83
that you and Amazing
Facts have changed my life.
00:57:47.83\00:57:51.00