Hello, I'm Shelly
Quinn and we welcome you
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to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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We're so happy to be
here and to get to open up
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the word of God and we're so
happy that you have joined us.
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We do hope that you've
got your Bible and pad,
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and pen, AND your Study Guide.
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We are studying "Oneness
in Christ" this quarter.
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We're talking about unity and
there's nothing more important
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than for the body of
Christ to be united with Him.
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So if you don't have a Study
Guide, even though we're on
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lesson 12, you can still
go to: ABSG.Adventist.org
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and download one of the
digital lessons or you can go
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by the Seventh-day Adventist
Church in your neighborhood,
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and they'll be happy to
give you a copy of this.
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I'm sure they'd be happy if
you joined them for worship.
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I need to introduce to
you, and it's my privilege,
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this panel and I'm just
going to say this up front...
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Every person on this panel
has committed and submitted
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their life to the Lord;
every person on this panel
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is a dear friend and brother
or sister in Christ and it is
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true that people
ask us all the time...
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"Do you all
really love each other?"
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"Do you really
get along this well?"
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Yes, we are a family and so
it is my pleasure to introduce
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my pastor - John
Lomacang, Pastor Ryan Day,
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Jill Morikone and
Pastor Kenny Shelton.
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Before we start, Pastor
Lomacang, would you like
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to have our prayer please? Sure.
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Loving Father in
Heaven, We come to You as
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we open our Bibles.
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We do pray that You'll open
our hearts also and that the
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Holy Spirit will pour into
us today that we can pour out
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according to Your will.
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We pray that you'll calibrate
the minds and hearts of
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those hearing this program
and watching it and may Your
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perfect will be
accomplished as we speak
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of Your glory and Your honor.
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In Jesus name we
pray... Amen... Amen!
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Well today, we are
studying "Oneness in Christ,"
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Lesson 12 and this is:
"Church Organization and Unity"
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So our focus is going to
be... why church organization
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is crucial to the
mission of the church,
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and how church
organization can foster unity.
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Now before I read the memory
text, I'd like to read the verse
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before it because
I think that gives us
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context for the memory text.
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I will begin with Matthew 20:25.
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And Jesus had called
His disciples to Himself
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and here's what He says...
"You know that the rulers
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of the Gentiles lord it
over them, and those who are
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great exercise
authority over them.
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Now here's the memory text,
Matthew 20:26-27 that follows.
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He says, "Yet, it shall not
be so among you; but whoever
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desires to become great among
you, 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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He is talking
about servant leadership.
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And I just want to stop for
a second and tell, you know,
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you may be watching
this... we may be new to you
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this network - I just want
to tell you a little bit about
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Seventh-day Adventist
Christians - we are Protestant
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Christians; we
believe in salvation by grace
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through faith alone in
what Christ Jesus accomplished
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for us on the cross
and our salvation and our
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covenant blessings
come directly, we believe,
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from the Lord our Savior.
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We don't believe that you
have to have a man or a leader
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to receive those
blessings from Christ...
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And so what we see and
how we look at it is that the
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church is God's
creation and it is important,
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and it's something that in
order to receive the mission
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God has given us the
church as a vehicle that He can
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express His purposes,
manifest Himself to the world
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and help bring
salvation to the world.
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So how we believe is
that Jesus Christ is the head
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of the church, but without
church organization our message
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wouldn't be very effective,
would it? That's right.
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So church leaders, can we
all agree, are very important
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but only as they submit and
commit their lives to the Lord,
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and only as they reflect
the attitude of Jesus Christ
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and they are walking
in submission to Him.
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So let' look at Sunday's lesson:
"Christ the Head of the Church"
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In an earlier lesson, we
saw, in the New Testament,
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a metaphor used for the
church is the body and I want to
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read two Scriptures
there... Ephesians 1:22-23.
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Ephesians 1:22 says, "He
put all things under His feet
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and gave Him (talking
about Jesus) to be head over all
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things to the
church which is His body,
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the fullness of Him
who fills all in all."
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So Christ is the head and
then the church is His body.
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And again in Colossians 1:16-18,
we see the same principle
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in Colossians 1:16-18...
"For by Him (talking of Jesus)
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all things were created
that are in heaven and earth
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visible and invisible
whether thrones or dominions or
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principalities or powers.
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All things were created
through Him and for Him.
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And He is before all things,
and in Him all things consist.
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He is the head of
the body, the church..."
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So the church exists and
functions as the spiritual
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body of Christ and
when you think about this,
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He is our head -
Christ would be incomplete
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without the church - a head
without a body is incomplete.
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But the church, the
vital relationship that we
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have is that we are to be
the living and full expression
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of Jesus Christ
on this earth, right?
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So as the head, He is the
source of life for the church,
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and without Him, there would
be no church. That's right.
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So we get our identity
and significance as a church
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from Jesus Christ, He directs
the activities of the church,
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and we're not to be a
dead organization but we're a
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living organism.
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So each church member, though...
think about this for a minute,
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if I can say it right...
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If Christ is the head,
the church is the body,
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how important is it that
we serve, worship and study
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as part of the body?
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See we can't just
go out and do service
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on our own or worship on
our own... I mean I'm not
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saying that we don't
but we cannot forsake
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the assembling of the
saints because, otherwise,
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it would be like -
my little finger saying,
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"Oh I don't want to
be a part of this body,
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I'll go do my
own thing over here."
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Does that make sense? No.
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I hope I'm making sense.
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Alright, I've got the
distinct pleasure of taking
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Ephesians 5:23-27
and expounding on that.
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And I say distinct pleasure
because I know some people
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are going to probably go...
"Oooh, not that scripture."
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I'm going to read
through it very quickly
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and then we will unpack it.
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Ephesians 5:23-27... "For
the husband is head of the wife,
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as also Christ is head of
the church; and He is the Savior
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of the body. Therefore,
just as the church is subject
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to Christ, so let the
wives be to their own husbands
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in everything.
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Husbands, love your
wives, just as Christ also loved
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the church and gave
Himself for her that He might
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sanctify and cleanse her
with the washing of water
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by the word, that He
might present her to Himself a
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glorious church, not
having spot or wrinkle
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or any such thing, but
that she should be holy
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and without blemish."
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Let me start by saying
this, and then we're going
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to get into this and
ladies and gentleman,
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there have been some
really pitifully disturbing
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teachings on this passage
of Scripture and I hope today
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that what you see
as God's perfect plan,
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is going to bring you
hope and promise because
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anytime you have any
creature with two heads,
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what would you
call that? A freak!
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So when a husband and
wife are joined as one,
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there's only one
that can be the head...
00:10:07.24\00:10:09.20
But, you know, this
thought just occurred to me...
00:10:09.24\00:10:11.67
In a church, if Christ isn't the
head - if you've got any other
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head of the church that
is putting themselves equal
00:10:15.84\00:10:19.55
to Christ or above Christ,
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you can't have a
two-headed church
00:10:21.22\00:10:23.55
without having a freak either.
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Alright, so let's
take this apart...
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Verse 23, Ephesians 5:23...
"The husband is head of the
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wife as also Christ is
head of the church and He is
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Savior of the body."
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Paul has a high view of
marriage, that he is showing
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here - he's picturing
marriage being similar to
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the relationship of
Christ and the church,
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and we know the
church is represented as the
00:10:48.18\00:10:51.11
spouse of Christ,
the Bride of Christ.
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And the living union
between Christ and His bride
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is really quite
remarkable, but just as husband
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and wife become one, so
Christ and His body are one.
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And I would say that this is
the biblical ideal for marriage,
00:11:07.30\00:11:12.77
the relationship that needs the
tender and compassionate care,
00:11:13.13\00:11:19.21
and one that is
self-sacrificing.
00:11:19.24\00:11:22.44
Now let's look at verse 24...
"Therefore, just as the church
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is subject to Christ, so
let the wives be to their own
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husbands in everything."
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Submission is merely yielding
to another person's leading,
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and we're patterning ourselves
00:11:40.80\00:11:44.63
after Christ when you think
about this in Philippians 2:5-8,
00:11:44.67\00:11:48.97
where it says, "Let
this mind be in you that was
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in Christ Jesus," and
what was the mind of Christ?
00:11:51.04\00:11:55.31
Total humility!
00:11:55.34\00:11:56.85
He emptied Himself of His
glory; He served the Lord;
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He totally depended
upon the Lord and that's what
00:12:00.35\00:12:03.42
He is saying here - is
that we need to come humbly
00:12:03.45\00:12:07.42
before the Lord
and recognize our total
00:12:07.46\00:12:09.52
dependence on Him.
00:12:09.56\00:12:10.89
That's submission and
submission should distinguish
00:12:10.93\00:12:14.83
the lifestyle of all
Christians, but it should be
00:12:14.86\00:12:19.23
voluntary - Christ
doesn't ask ever or demand
00:12:19.27\00:12:25.31
our submission, it
is a voluntary action
00:12:25.34\00:12:28.91
and He is serving as
our provider and protector.
00:12:28.94\00:12:32.98
So the reason Christ exercises
authority over the church
00:12:33.01\00:12:37.32
is because He serves the church,
00:12:37.49\00:12:39.12
and He saves it and protects it.
00:12:39.15\00:12:41.46
So now let me make the
application to husbands...
00:12:41.49\00:12:44.86
Husbands exert authority
over the family relationship
00:12:44.89\00:12:52.07
by protecting and
caring and meeting
00:12:52.10\00:12:54.90
the needs of their
family, and just like the church
00:12:54.94\00:12:58.34
exhibits a willingness and
a faithfulness and a loyalty
00:12:58.37\00:13:02.21
to Jesus Christ, the wife should
00:13:02.24\00:13:05.35
voluntarily submit
herself to her husband,
00:13:05.41\00:13:10.75
no external coercion and
it doesn't mean that the wife
00:13:10.79\00:13:15.59
is of lesser value than the
husband in the relationship,
00:13:15.62\00:13:20.40
it just simply means that
there could only be one head.
00:13:20.43\00:13:25.93
But now... I know there is
still somebody out there going
00:13:25.97\00:13:29.77
"Uhhh! I don't
like that teaching!"
00:13:29.80\00:13:32.01
But let's look at this,
Ephesians 5:25... "Husbands
00:13:32.04\00:13:35.84
love your wives, just as
Christ also loved the church,
00:13:35.88\00:13:38.31
and gave Himself for her."
00:13:38.35\00:13:39.75
Christ is held up as the
ideal model for a husband.
00:13:39.78\00:13:44.09
He loves the church - He
gave Himself up for her, so the
00:13:44.12\00:13:48.09
husband is to love the wife
with a self-sacrificing love.
00:13:48.12\00:13:52.03
He is to love the wife in
such a way that there's no
00:13:52.06\00:13:56.77
self-indulgent behavior and
the same spirit of self-denial
00:13:56.80\00:14:03.54
regarding no sacrifice
being too great for the
00:14:03.57\00:14:07.58
benefit of the
family's spiritual development.
00:14:07.61\00:14:11.71
The tense in the Greek,
"love," indicates a love
00:14:11.75\00:14:15.98
that continues and this
is more than just a family
00:14:16.02\00:14:20.82
affection or a sexual passion...
00:14:20.86\00:14:23.69
This is a deliberate attitude
that leads to actions concerning
00:14:23.73\00:14:29.83
the benefit of others -
that you want to make certain
00:14:29.86\00:14:33.40
of their well-being.
00:14:33.44\00:14:35.17
So in this one chapter it says,
"Husbands should love their
00:14:35.20\00:14:39.94
wife as Christ loved the church,
as he loves his own body."
00:14:39.97\00:14:43.24
But then in verse 31-33...
With a love that transcends
00:14:43.28\00:14:47.52
all other human relationships.
00:14:47.55\00:14:51.69
So then He says that he
might sanctify her and cleanse
00:14:51.72\00:14:54.72
her with washing by the word.
00:14:54.76\00:14:56.56
I'm out of time -
let me just say this...
00:14:56.59\00:14:58.63
I am blessed to have a
very godly husband, he loves me
00:14:58.66\00:15:05.03
like Christ loves the church.
00:15:05.07\00:15:06.63
He wants to see me become
all I can be in Christ Jesus.
00:15:06.67\00:15:12.07
He is a wonderful man
and even though I am a type A
00:15:12.11\00:15:17.41
personality and a leader
and "a race-horse" he calls me,
00:15:17.45\00:15:21.72
I voluntarily submit to
him because it's not always
00:15:21.75\00:15:28.32
got to be his way.
00:15:28.36\00:15:29.82
What we do is - we
discuss things... if we need a
00:15:29.86\00:15:32.86
tiebreaker, he is the tiebreaker
00:15:32.89\00:15:35.43
and I allow his
decision to stand.
00:15:35.46\00:15:39.77
Wow. Amen! Thank
you Shelley. Well said.
00:15:39.80\00:15:42.47
You know, that took a lot
because you are a type A. Yes!
00:15:42.50\00:15:45.91
And J.D. is our teddy bear. Yes!
00:15:45.94\00:15:49.54
He's everybody's teddy
bear, he says... "Well, yes,"
00:15:49.58\00:15:53.62
and we love J.D. tremendously.
00:15:53.65\00:15:55.45
And with all the gifts
and skills that God has given
00:15:55.48\00:15:58.32
to you, that's so
wonderful to hear that you are
00:15:58.35\00:16:00.76
endorsing, (Oh, absolutely),
the position that the Bible
00:16:00.79\00:16:03.93
has established, but I want
to also say the combination of
00:16:03.96\00:16:08.06
you and J.D.
together is combustible.
00:16:08.10\00:16:10.70
That means you
shine for the Lord,
00:16:10.73\00:16:12.47
and praise God for
that. Amen, thank you.
00:16:12.50\00:16:14.07
And I, too, since
we're all confessing...
00:16:14.10\00:16:17.21
I don't know what
you can confess about...
00:16:17.24\00:16:18.57
you know, you think
about yours. I will.
00:16:18.61\00:16:22.34
I have, because of my
public persona, have had to
00:16:22.38\00:16:26.78
pull my wife out of the
shadows - because it's easy
00:16:26.82\00:16:30.19
to be in the shadows, you
know, when you have a husband
00:16:30.22\00:16:33.12
that sings, and preaches
and teaches and is known
00:16:33.15\00:16:36.02
as I have been known
for the number of years.
00:16:36.09\00:16:38.99
But I've said, when I
meet people, I've said,
00:16:39.03\00:16:41.93
... You know, a lot of people
say, "Was that John Lomacang's
00:16:41.96\00:16:43.50
wife? I say, "No,
her name is "Angela,
00:16:43.53\00:16:46.47
and she works for 3ABN Radio,
she has her own ministry."
00:16:46.50\00:16:49.74
And it was so
wonderful, we were just recently
00:16:49.77\00:16:51.57
in Australia and it was
so nice in Sydney, Australia,
00:16:51.64\00:16:54.81
a gentleman approached us
and he said, "Hey, I want to
00:16:54.84\00:16:57.71
take a picture," and Angie
said, "Hold on, let me get my
00:16:57.75\00:16:59.91
husband," and
he said, "No, you!"
00:16:59.95\00:17:02.42
He said, "I watch, I
listen to your radio program.
00:17:02.45\00:17:05.25
I love your radio program."
00:17:05.29\00:17:06.86
And I said, "Honey, go ahead,
00:17:06.89\00:17:09.02
enjoy the
moment, it's beautiful."
00:17:09.06\00:17:11.13
And he sat next to
her for the whole service
00:17:11.16\00:17:14.20
while I preached, and he
sat there just proudly...
00:17:14.23\00:17:16.80
and then he sent her an email,
00:17:16.83\00:17:18.17
"Your Facebook friend, the
one who took a picture with you
00:17:18.20\00:17:20.20
when you were in Australia."
00:17:20.24\00:17:21.57
And then we did the marriage
seminar together in Michigan.
00:17:22.30\00:17:25.04
And so, I really
believe that when the Lord took
00:17:25.07\00:17:30.21
the rib from the side of Adam,
before sin entered the world,
00:17:30.25\00:17:34.35
his intention was that
they'll be united together
00:17:34.38\00:17:37.72
to complete the image of
God in the human race. Amen!
00:17:37.75\00:17:40.62
And so, therefore, we here
at 3ABN, at least I know that
00:17:40.66\00:17:43.32
this is my commitment
and I believe that's the same
00:17:43.36\00:17:45.89
about each one of those
who are here on this panel,
00:17:45.93\00:17:47.76
we believe that
we shine together...
00:17:47.80\00:17:50.20
we win together;
we lose together;
00:17:50.23\00:17:51.90
we're victorious
together; we shine together;
00:17:51.93\00:17:53.67
we enjoy
together; we cry together;
00:17:53.70\00:17:55.04
we study together,
and togetherness is what
00:17:55.07\00:17:57.24
servant leadership is really
all about. Absolutely! Amen!
00:17:57.27\00:18:00.08
You know, there's a passage
in this lesson on Monday,
00:18:00.11\00:18:02.88
December 17th,
"Servant Leadership" is
00:18:02.91\00:18:06.92
vitally important and servant
leadership is diverse because
00:18:06.95\00:18:11.89
it always depends on the leader.
00:18:11.92\00:18:13.66
One of the frightening things
that Jesus had to confront
00:18:13.69\00:18:16.12
was the fact that when
He leaves, He's leaving
00:18:16.16\00:18:18.56
His church in charge
of these guys. Laughter
00:18:18.59\00:18:22.46
He says, Man, we gotta
have a Pentecost before I
00:18:22.50\00:18:24.93
could send them out because,
you know, you have two sons
00:18:24.97\00:18:28.40
whose mom said, "Could
you sit one at the right
00:18:28.44\00:18:30.87
and one at the left,"
and He's thinking... "Ohh."
00:18:30.91\00:18:33.74
And then He has another one,
00:18:33.78\00:18:35.11
Peter, "Lord, I'll
follow you even to death."
00:18:35.14\00:18:37.71
"Can you partake of the
cup I'm going to partake of?"
00:18:37.78\00:18:40.42
"I can't." Well you will.
00:18:40.45\00:18:41.95
And Peter ends up... well
you know the rest of the story.
00:18:41.98\00:18:45.12
Peter goes through his
terrible breakdown of denying
00:18:45.15\00:18:50.16
the Lord and then he
runs, John and Peter run
00:18:50.19\00:18:53.80
to the tomb on the
day of resurrection...
00:18:53.83\00:18:56.26
Peter wasn't running to
find out whether or not the Lord
00:18:56.30\00:18:58.53
was risen, he was
running because he KNEW the Lord
00:18:58.57\00:19:01.87
was risen and He
wanted forgiveness.
00:19:01.90\00:19:04.14
He wanted that reconciliation
and what a leader he became.
00:19:04.17\00:19:06.88
A man whose mind
was in first gear,
00:19:06.91\00:19:10.01
and whose mouth was
in fifth gear became the
00:19:10.05\00:19:12.45
spokesperson on
the day of Pentecost.
00:19:12.48\00:19:14.25
And his leadership
was beyond estimation
00:19:14.28\00:19:17.85
for the New Testament Church.
00:19:17.89\00:19:19.35
Well let's look at
some examples here...
00:19:19.39\00:19:22.32
In Mark 9:33, I want you
to see this and it says...
00:19:22.36\00:19:28.46
During His ministry with
His disciples, Jesus repeatedly
00:19:28.50\00:19:31.63
experienced moments when
He probably felt exasperated
00:19:31.67\00:19:35.47
by the envy for
power they seemed to have.
00:19:35.50\00:19:39.04
Dangerous! What's the saying?
00:19:39.07\00:19:41.24
"Power corrupts and absolute
power corrupts absolutely."
00:19:41.28\00:19:45.08
Power is a dangerous thing.
00:19:45.11\00:19:46.98
I've often said, "It's
dangerous to be at the top...
00:19:47.02\00:19:49.85
It takes a humble
spirit to be at the top.
00:19:49.88\00:19:51.55
It takes a humble person to even
know that they're at the top.
00:19:51.59\00:19:53.62
But if you know that
you're at the top, you have to
00:19:54.52\00:19:56.99
ask yourself, "Lord, it's
a long way down, I'll only
00:19:57.03\00:20:01.50
want to be up
here for Your glory."
00:20:01.53\00:20:03.50
And so that's something that
it's a dangerous position to
00:20:03.53\00:20:06.47
occupy, but when
the Lord is with you,
00:20:06.50\00:20:09.20
He'll make that
position a safe one.
00:20:09.24\00:20:11.57
The apostles appeared to
be anxious to become powerful
00:20:11.61\00:20:14.41
leaders of Jesus' kingdom.
00:20:14.44\00:20:16.34
And so here we
are in Mark 9:33-34...
00:20:16.38\00:20:19.91
"Then He came to Capernaum,
and when He was in the house
00:20:19.95\00:20:24.72
He asked them,
"What was it you disputed
00:20:25.09\00:20:29.52
among yourselves on the road?"
00:20:29.56\00:20:31.49
But they kept silent, for
on the road they had disputed
00:20:31.53\00:20:35.96
among themselves who
would be the greatest."
00:20:36.00\00:20:39.83
And He had to break
that down before He got them
00:20:39.87\00:20:43.07
to be able to become leaders.
00:20:43.10\00:20:47.11
Also Matthew 20:25-28... It
says, "But Jesus called them
00:20:47.14\00:20:53.98
to Himself and said, "You
know that the rulers of the
00:20:54.02\00:20:57.75
Gentiles lord it over them,
(that's lord their authority)
00:20:57.79\00:21:00.92
and those who are great
exercise authority over them.
00:21:00.96\00:21:05.19
Yet it shall not be
so among you; but whoever
00:21:05.23\00:21:08.86
desires to become great among
you, let him be your servant.
00:21:08.90\00:21:13.47
And whoever desires
to be first among you,
00:21:13.50\00:21:16.97
let him be your slave...
(that means indelibly connected
00:21:17.01\00:21:22.04
to the well-being of
the people around him
00:21:22.08\00:21:25.11
or people around her)
just as the Son of Man
00:21:25.15\00:21:28.12
did not come to be
served, but to serve,
00:21:28.15\00:21:30.25
and to give His
life a ransom for many."
00:21:30.29\00:21:32.79
So, a couple of points I want
to bring out about leadership.
00:21:32.82\00:21:35.29
First, leadership comes
through servanthood. Yes.
00:21:35.32\00:21:38.73
Leadership comes
through servanthood.
00:21:38.76\00:21:41.03
Like the parent would
say, "It's not do what I say,
00:21:41.06\00:21:43.67
but do what I do."
00:21:43.70\00:21:45.03
That's why the servant of
the Lord, Ellen White, says...
00:21:46.74\00:21:48.67
"The church cannot rise
any higher than its leadership.
00:21:48.70\00:21:52.37
And if there's a fog in
the pews, there's a mist
00:21:52.41\00:21:58.81
in the pulpit." Amen!
00:21:58.85\00:22:02.38
Secondly, leadership comes
not only through servanthood,
00:22:02.42\00:22:05.25
the person, but leadership
comes through service,
00:22:05.29\00:22:08.72
not just the position
I hold, but what do I do?
00:22:08.76\00:22:11.59
and serving others is
what God has called us to do.
00:22:11.63\00:22:15.46
Servanthood must
have service to follow it.
00:22:15.50\00:22:19.53
Worldly leadership
speaks from the top down,
00:22:19.57\00:22:22.40
but Christian leadership
speaks side-by-side. Amen!
00:22:22.44\00:22:26.68
Side-by-side,
they walk together.
00:22:26.71\00:22:28.74
When Jesus was on
the road to Emmaus,
00:22:28.78\00:22:30.61
He walked
side-by-side with them.
00:22:30.65\00:22:32.61
He didn't hover over
them, nor did He pull them
00:22:32.65\00:22:35.12
under the ground to
speak in a dark place,
00:22:35.15\00:22:36.92
He walked side-by-side,
that's Christian leadership.
00:22:36.95\00:22:39.15
Worldly
leadership - lead by command.
00:22:39.19\00:22:43.29
Christian leadership - lead
by example. Amen! That's good.
00:22:43.32\00:22:47.00
And that's why it's so vitally
important - when a person
00:22:47.03\00:22:48.83
is in a position of leadership,
it's important that they
00:22:48.86\00:22:51.60
live a life circumspect
before people so that people
00:22:51.63\00:22:54.60
will say, "Look at how
that person lives," not just
00:22:54.64\00:23:00.41
what a person says
because what a leader says
00:23:00.44\00:23:03.58
could bring fear into somebody's
heart, but what a leader
00:23:03.61\00:23:06.78
lives can bring confidence
into somebody's heart. Amen!
00:23:06.82\00:23:09.78
You gotta live the example.
00:23:09.82\00:23:11.39
And 1 Peter 2:21 says...
"For to this you were called,
00:23:11.72\00:23:18.79
because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us
00:23:18.83\00:23:22.86
an example, that you
should follow His steps."
00:23:22.90\00:23:27.27
Steps not only to
Christ but steps with Christ.
00:23:27.30\00:23:31.94
And also, 1 Thessalonians
1:6... "You became followers
00:23:31.97\00:23:37.08
of us and of the Lord,
having received the word in much
00:23:37.11\00:23:42.05
affliction, with joy
of the Holy Spirit..."
00:23:42.08\00:23:45.49
"You became followers
of us and of the Lord,"
00:23:45.52\00:23:48.32
that's something that
is very humbling to say.
00:23:48.36\00:23:50.66
You became followers
of us and of the Lord...
00:23:50.69\00:23:52.86
Now Shelley, you made a point,
I want to emphasize here...
00:23:52.89\00:23:55.56
You can't be... Do I
follow them or the Lord?
00:23:55.60\00:23:58.33
Do you follow them or the Lord?
Do I follow them or the Lord?
00:23:58.37\00:24:00.37
He said, as a person
converted, you became followers
00:24:00.40\00:24:03.10
of us and of the Lord which
meant, "I'm following Him too."
00:24:03.14\00:24:06.74
That's a very
significant point to bring out.
00:24:06.78\00:24:09.84
And Ellen White says in
"Desire of Ages," p.550...
00:24:09.88\00:24:13.82
"Christ was establishing a
kingdom on different principles.
00:24:13.85\00:24:17.35
He called men not to
authority but to service,
00:24:17.39\00:24:20.49
the strong to bear the
infirmities of the weak.
00:24:20.52\00:24:23.43
Power, position,
talent, education place their
00:24:23.46\00:24:27.10
possessor under the
greater obligation to serve
00:24:27.13\00:24:31.97
His fellows."
00:24:32.00\00:24:33.57
So when you have power,
talent, position, education...
00:24:33.60\00:24:36.17
you have a greater
obligation in service.
00:24:36.20\00:24:39.61
That's why we have to make
sure that servanthood is not
00:24:39.64\00:24:42.34
something that we
crave, but something that we
00:24:42.38\00:24:45.71
desire to
reflect Christ through.
00:24:45.75\00:24:48.15
Servanthood is
vitally important.
00:24:48.18\00:24:50.09
I didn't even get to John
13, but it simply says that...
00:24:50.12\00:24:54.46
"The servant is not
greater than his master, neither
00:24:54.52\00:24:58.19
is he who is sent greater
than the one that sends."
00:24:58.23\00:25:01.86
The Lord has sent me and I
want to tell you... all of us as
00:25:01.90\00:25:05.23
servant-leaders, He sends
us for His lambs among wolves,
00:25:05.27\00:25:10.14
and to be among
wolves, we have to have the
00:25:10.17\00:25:13.01
Chief-servant, the One who
came to serve, we have to have
00:25:13.04\00:25:16.41
Christ with us so
that we can survive.
00:25:16.44\00:25:18.61
And John 13, says He left
as an example and we should do
00:25:18.65\00:25:22.78
as He has done.
00:25:22.82\00:25:24.72
That's the kind of
servant I want to be. Amen!
00:25:24.75\00:25:27.86
Oh and that was just wonderful
John, thank you so much.
00:25:27.89\00:25:32.09
We are going to
take just a quick break.
00:25:32.13\00:25:34.50
Stay tuned and we
will be right back.
00:25:34.53\00:25:36.20
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Oh welcome back, we're
ready to start on Day Two,
00:26:12.27\00:26:15.24
"Preserving Church Unity," Ryan.
00:26:15.27\00:26:17.47
Amen... alright.
00:26:17.51\00:26:18.91
Well, Pastor John is
going right along with mine,
00:26:18.94\00:26:23.28
because once we
understand servant leadership
00:26:23.31\00:26:27.18
as leaders in the church...
you know, once we grasp
00:26:27.22\00:26:31.15
the concept of that,
then we have to put it
00:26:31.19\00:26:33.62
to practice in not only
our independent daily lives,
00:26:33.66\00:26:37.23
but also in the church among
our brethren as church leaders.
00:26:37.26\00:26:40.16
And Tuesday's lesson...
"Preserving Church Unity,"
00:26:40.20\00:26:43.47
is really focusing on
church leadership and it's more
00:26:43.70\00:26:48.20
highlighting church leaders
such as pastors and elders.
00:26:48.24\00:26:51.74
And so, after studying through
the lesson, I was able to
00:26:51.77\00:26:55.81
make a very short
but very profound list of
00:26:55.84\00:26:59.28
responsibilities
for church leaders.
00:26:59.31\00:27:02.38
And #1, I came up with
this one and then we're going to
00:27:02.42\00:27:04.95
kind of go through these
texts together because I believe
00:27:04.99\00:27:07.19
they are vitally
important for today's time.
00:27:07.22\00:27:10.26
#1... Study the word diligently.
00:27:10.29\00:27:13.60
A church leader will
be a student of the Bible,
00:27:13.63\00:27:18.47
will be someone
constantly studying
00:27:18.50\00:27:20.44
Scripture and
upholding its values.
00:27:20.47\00:27:22.40
We get this from 2 Timothy
2:15 and I'm just going to read
00:27:22.44\00:27:26.78
the very first
portion of this verse.
00:27:26.81\00:27:28.54
It says, "Study to show
thyself approved unto God."
00:27:28.58\00:27:33.21
We don't study to show
ourselves approved necessarily
00:27:33.25\00:27:36.38
first and foremost to
the people... first unto God,
00:27:36.42\00:27:39.95
and then, of course, after we
have studied to show ourselves
00:27:39.99\00:27:42.42
approved unto God, then,
of course, it bleeds over
00:27:42.46\00:27:45.43
into the laity and into
the people but study the word
00:27:45.46\00:27:48.73
diligently - a church
leader is someone who pours
00:27:48.76\00:27:51.00
themselves into the
word of God constantly.
00:27:51.03\00:27:54.10
#2... Allow the Scripture
to interpret Scripture. Amen!
00:27:54.14\00:27:59.81
Allow God to interpret God!
00:27:59.84\00:28:02.28
That's important and a
lot of times, as leaders,
00:28:02.31\00:28:05.28
as preachers or
ministers, we tend to sometimes
00:28:05.31\00:28:10.62
give our own
perspective, our own opinion,
00:28:10.65\00:28:12.85
and while I believe
that commentary is good,
00:28:12.89\00:28:16.42
and as we all give our
commentary and understanding
00:28:16.46\00:28:18.76
of Scripture, it should
be backed and established
00:28:18.79\00:28:21.26
upon Scripture.
00:28:21.30\00:28:22.96
Notice the second part of
2 Timothy 2:15, it says...
00:28:23.00\00:28:26.63
"Study to show
thyself approved unto God,
00:28:26.67\00:28:29.40
a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed,
00:28:29.44\00:28:31.94
(and then notice this next part)
00:28:31.97\00:28:33.31
rightly dividing
the word of truth."
00:28:33.34\00:28:36.41
Well how do we rightly
divide the word of truth?
00:28:36.44\00:28:39.38
What does the Bible say?
00:28:39.41\00:28:40.75
And so that famous verse in
Isaiah 28:10, it tells us...
00:28:40.78\00:28:45.45
"For precept
must be upon precept,
00:28:45.49\00:28:47.92
precept upon
precept, line upon line,
00:28:47.96\00:28:51.43
line upon line,
(and then I love this)
00:28:51.46\00:28:53.60
here a little, there a little."
00:28:53.63\00:28:55.43
When we read a text that seems
to be hard to understand...
00:28:55.46\00:28:58.13
Growing up in church, I saw
this a lot from individuals,
00:28:58.83\00:29:02.37
and I've even done it
myself for many years...
00:29:02.40\00:29:04.21
we want to read a text
and almost like we're reading
00:29:04.24\00:29:06.17
a novel or reading a
story and just apply our own
00:29:06.21\00:29:08.64
interpretation of that,
but the best thing to always
00:29:08.68\00:29:11.51
do is always say, "What
does the Bible say about this?
00:29:11.55\00:29:14.48
What does God
have to say about this?
00:29:14.52\00:29:16.52
If I don't understand it,
surely there are other texts
00:29:16.55\00:29:19.02
in the Scripture that clearly
explained this text so that I
00:29:19.05\00:29:22.59
don't have to add
my own faulty mentality
00:29:22.62\00:29:26.03
or ideology to it.
00:29:26.06\00:29:27.56
#3... This is vitally
important. Be faithful
00:29:27.60\00:29:31.87
according to the word of God.
00:29:31.90\00:29:34.14
A true genuine church
leader will always be faithful
00:29:34.17\00:29:38.97
to and by the word of God.
00:29:39.01\00:29:41.68
Notice Titus 1:9 and again,
I'm going to read the first
00:29:41.71\00:29:45.18
part of this as we
kind of break it down.
00:29:45.21\00:29:47.38
It says, "Holding fast the
00:29:47.42\00:29:49.42
faithful word as
he has been taught."
00:29:49.45\00:29:54.22
Pastor, I think you, above
all people and Pastor Kenny,
00:29:54.92\00:29:57.46
you guys would know that as
a church leader, you want to
00:29:57.49\00:30:00.70
hold fast to the truth that God
has taught you through His word,
00:30:00.73\00:30:04.33
and you want that to
bleed over from your sermons;
00:30:04.37\00:30:06.03
you want it to be
projected to the people;
00:30:06.07\00:30:07.90
you want to hold fast
to the faith of the word,
00:30:07.94\00:30:10.67
and I saw that to be
very, very important.
00:30:10.71\00:30:13.27
Notice #4 says... this is
my fourth principle or fourth
00:30:13.31\00:30:17.35
responsibility of
a church leader...
00:30:17.38\00:30:19.15
A church leader should
be able to bring conviction
00:30:19.18\00:30:22.45
and exhortation through
Biblical Doctrine. That's good.
00:30:22.48\00:30:26.52
I want to emphasize
that... "Biblical Doctrine"
00:30:26.55\00:30:29.59
Notice what the second
part of Titus 1:9 says...
00:30:29.62\00:30:33.76
and I'm going to read
it from the beginning here.
00:30:33.80\00:30:35.30
"Hold fast the faithful
word as he has been taught
00:30:35.33\00:30:38.63
that he may be able by (there's
that word) sound doctrine
00:30:38.67\00:30:43.37
both to exhort and
convict those who contradict."
00:30:43.41\00:30:47.31
We have to just, you
know, be honest here...
00:30:48.44\00:30:51.51
there's a little bit of
a contradiction sometimes
00:30:51.55\00:30:53.62
among our brethren
within the church community
00:30:53.65\00:30:56.05
and well it's going to
happen from time-to-time.
00:30:56.08\00:30:58.09
And Jesus said there would be
wheat and there would be tares,
00:30:58.12\00:31:00.26
but we are unified in our faith
and in the biblical principles
00:31:00.29\00:31:04.13
of God's word and we
cannot as leaders, as ministers
00:31:04.16\00:31:08.00
be ashamed to bring that
conviction and exhortation
00:31:08.03\00:31:12.30
through biblical knowledge. Yes.
00:31:12.33\00:31:13.67
Now it's often told and
we often have the mentality
00:31:13.70\00:31:16.60
or it's customarily said
within the ranks of Christianity
00:31:16.64\00:31:20.11
that the Holy Spirit
brings the conviction
00:31:20.14\00:31:22.44
not the person, right?
00:31:22.48\00:31:24.18
You'll hear people
say, "Let the Holy Spirit
00:31:24.21\00:31:26.58
do the convicting,
you just preach the word,"
00:31:26.61\00:31:28.55
and that is true, but
there is an application clearly
00:31:28.58\00:31:32.79
through Scripture that
communicates to us that
00:31:32.82\00:31:35.46
a minister can bring
conviction, not that it's
00:31:35.49\00:31:37.79
coming from himself or
herself, but in this case,
00:31:37.83\00:31:41.16
we know that from
the word, the word alone,
00:31:41.20\00:31:44.13
is the conviction brought,
of course, by the Holy Spirit.
00:31:44.17\00:31:46.74
And, I found this right
here, Jesus says in Matthew 4:4,
00:31:46.77\00:31:51.04
as we know He said, "It is
written, man shall not live
00:31:51.07\00:31:54.68
by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds
00:31:54.71\00:31:58.48
from the mouth of God." Amen!
00:31:58.51\00:32:00.65
Another famous passage that
I think when we're thinking of
00:32:02.15\00:32:06.65
counsel to a church
leader, a counsel to a minister,
00:32:06.69\00:32:10.03
a pastor, an elder -
there's no better passage to
00:32:10.06\00:32:13.90
receive proper counsel
for ministers than that
00:32:13.93\00:32:16.33
found in 2 Timothy
4:2-5, where we see Paul giving
00:32:16.36\00:32:21.70
counsel to Timothy and he
says here and I love the very
00:32:21.74\00:32:24.94
first three words
here... "Preach the word."
00:32:24.97\00:32:29.24
I remember hearing that, a
famous C. D. Brook sermon...
00:32:29.28\00:32:32.28
He just rings it, you
know, to these young ministers
00:32:32.31\00:32:35.28
who are
graduating from seminary...
00:32:35.32\00:32:36.65
"Preach the WORD!" his
says, "Preach the word!"
00:32:36.69\00:32:38.89
"... Be instant in
season and out of season.
00:32:38.92\00:32:41.49
Reprove, rebuke, exhort
with all longsuffering and
00:32:41.52\00:32:45.59
(there's that
word again) doctrine."
00:32:45.63\00:32:48.46
So it's not that we, in
and of ourselves - it's not our
00:32:48.50\00:32:52.93
responsibility to go point out
everyone's little, individual
00:32:52.97\00:32:56.81
problems or faults,
but, yes, we bring reproof,
00:32:56.84\00:33:01.28
the rebuke comes and the
exhortation comes from the word,
00:33:01.31\00:33:04.91
sharing of the word of God.
00:33:04.95\00:33:06.35
The message is coming
from God, not necessarily from
00:33:06.38\00:33:09.28
the individual person.
00:33:09.32\00:33:10.92
It goes on to say... "For
the time will come (and this is
00:33:10.95\00:33:12.95
prophecy - this is a
prophetic message and we need
00:33:12.99\00:33:16.09
to understand this and
at no other time from the
00:33:16.12\00:33:20.96
beginning of history to
now, is this more applicable
00:33:21.13\00:33:24.13
for our time than now.
00:33:24.17\00:33:25.50
It says, "For the time
will come when they will not
00:33:25.53\00:33:27.94
endure (and there it
is again) sound doctrine.
00:33:27.97\00:33:30.57
Notice the emphasis on doctrine.
00:33:30.61\00:33:32.64
We live in a time
today, this great ecumenical
00:33:32.67\00:33:35.31
movement that's occurring
around us where everyone
00:33:35.34\00:33:37.71
is just playing down doctrine.
00:33:37.75\00:33:39.08
No doctrine, no doctrine, just
love and hope and, you know...
00:33:39.11\00:33:42.65
and all of that is
great, but we should not forsake
00:33:42.68\00:33:46.45
the doctrines
of Scripture. Amen!
00:33:46.49\00:33:48.26
The Bible makes it very
clear... "They will not endure
00:33:48.29\00:33:50.53
sound doctrine, but after
their own lusts shall they
00:33:50.56\00:33:52.66
heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears;
00:33:52.69\00:33:56.13
and they shall turn away
their ears from the truth,
00:33:56.16\00:33:58.93
and shall be turned
unto fables. That's right.
00:33:58.97\00:34:01.64
(and I love this last line,
this is coming from verse 5
00:34:01.67\00:34:04.37
of 2 Timothy 4) But watch
thou in... how many things?
00:34:04.41\00:34:07.71
ALL things, endure afflictions,
do the work of an evangelist,
00:34:07.74\00:34:11.68
make (and I love this) make
full proof of thy ministry."
00:34:11.71\00:34:16.28
So this is vitally important
for all of us as church
00:34:16.32\00:34:19.22
leaders to comprehend.
00:34:19.25\00:34:20.92
2 Timothy 3:16, (my time
is getting away, I have so
00:34:20.96\00:34:24.49
much to say but I'm going to
endure till the end, here we go)
00:34:24.53\00:34:27.73
It says here in 2 Timothy
3:16, "All Scripture is given by
00:34:27.76\00:34:31.83
inspiration of...
who? Of course, of God.
00:34:31.87\00:34:34.54
And it is profitable for
(there's that word again)
00:34:34.57\00:34:37.14
doctrine for
reproof, for correction,
00:34:37.17\00:34:39.34
for instruction
in righteousness."
00:34:39.37\00:34:41.48
So, does the
correction come from Ryan?
00:34:41.51\00:34:43.75
Does the correction
come from Pastor John?
00:34:43.78\00:34:45.65
Does the correction
come from Shelley? No.
00:34:45.68\00:34:47.65
You know, when we go
and we are sharing with our
00:34:47.68\00:34:49.55
brethren, perhaps maybe it
is a corrective or reproving
00:34:49.58\00:34:52.75
message, but if it's done
in humbleness, if it's done
00:34:52.79\00:34:55.46
with the Spirit of Christ,
obviously, that reproof comes
00:34:55.49\00:34:58.49
from God - it comes from
the word and that's how we
00:34:58.53\00:35:00.93
should receive that.
00:35:00.96\00:35:03.00
You know I want to spend this
last minute just talking about
00:35:03.03\00:35:06.74
some weaknesses in the
church that has occurred
00:35:06.77\00:35:09.70
because of a lack
of proper leadership...
00:35:09.74\00:35:12.04
And this isn't being critical,
it's just simply stating
00:35:12.07\00:35:14.48
the fact that we need a
revival, we need God in our
00:35:14.51\00:35:17.78
lives every single day.
00:35:17.81\00:35:19.15
#1... We have a false gospel.
00:35:19.18\00:35:21.15
Much of this contention
and disunity that we have
00:35:21.18\00:35:24.85
is based on the fact
that there's a false gospel
00:35:24.89\00:35:27.22
floating around in our churches.
00:35:27.26\00:35:28.72
This idea that we
cannot have victory over sin...
00:35:28.76\00:35:31.63
it's important, God wants
us to have victory over sin,
00:35:31.66\00:35:34.36
and Christ provides that if
we look to Him and we allow His
00:35:34.40\00:35:38.10
word to speak to us.
00:35:38.13\00:35:39.47
Our sanctuary message...
sometimes it's being attacked.
00:35:39.50\00:35:42.10
It seems like
it's being snuffed out.
00:35:42.14\00:35:43.81
It is through the sanctuary...
what does the Bible say?
00:35:43.84\00:35:46.01
Psalm 77:13, "Thy way, O
God is in the sanctuary."
00:35:46.04\00:35:49.91
And of course, the
last one I wrote here...
00:35:49.94\00:35:51.68
Christian standards and
principles - There's a practical
00:35:51.71\00:35:54.48
living of Biblical Christianity.
00:35:54.52\00:35:56.32
My friends, this all comes
by not adhering to the Bible
00:35:56.35\00:35:59.49
clearly and it's
teachings and not having a
00:35:59.52\00:36:02.06
Christ-centered home.
00:36:02.09\00:36:03.43
I pray for all of us,
that we will center ourselves
00:36:03.46\00:36:05.99
on the gospel of Jesus
and we will stand as leaders
00:36:06.03\00:36:08.80
focused and pointing
towards Christ at all times.
00:36:08.83\00:36:12.57
Amen! Amen! Amen!
00:36:12.60\00:36:14.70
Thank you so much Pastor Ryan.
00:36:14.74\00:36:16.57
What an incredible message;
we're having church! Amen!
00:36:16.60\00:36:19.41
I just feel that and I
hope you feel that at home too.
00:36:19.44\00:36:22.64
Building on that, my
portion is Wednesday which is:
00:36:22.68\00:36:26.51
"Church Discipline"
00:36:26.55\00:36:29.45
Now that's kind of a heavy
word and we don't even like
00:36:29.48\00:36:31.92
to address that, to be
honest, and we don't like
00:36:31.95\00:36:33.92
to think about
that or talk about that.
00:36:33.96\00:36:35.82
I divided this day
into three portions.
00:36:35.86\00:36:38.19
We're going to
talk about the problem
00:36:38.23\00:36:39.86
with church discipline;
the purpose of church
00:36:39.89\00:36:44.47
discipline and then the
procedure for church discipline.
00:36:44.50\00:36:49.37
So we'll look at the
problem, the purpose,
00:36:49.40\00:36:51.74
and then the procedure.
00:36:51.77\00:36:53.11
And now you say,
"What would be the problem
00:36:53.14\00:36:55.18
with church discipline?
00:36:55.21\00:36:56.54
Well the problem is that
church discipline goes against
00:36:56.58\00:36:59.21
our culture
today, do you know that?
00:36:59.25\00:37:02.48
Even in today's culture,
Pastor Kenny, it's a problem
00:37:02.52\00:37:05.49
to discipline your
own children, let alone
00:37:05.52\00:37:07.72
something going
on in the church!
00:37:07.76\00:37:09.09
In today's culture, we don't
like the word "discipline."
00:37:09.12\00:37:11.86
We like acceptance
and tolerance of everyone.
00:37:11.89\00:37:15.53
"Allan Bloom," he is
a secular philosopher,
00:37:15.56\00:37:18.27
he's not even a
Christian, and he said this...
00:37:18.30\00:37:20.80
"Tolerance built on the
assumption of moral relativism
00:37:20.84\00:37:24.41
not truth, has become
the chief virtue in America.
00:37:24.44\00:37:28.51
So "tolerance not
truth" has become what people
00:37:28.54\00:37:33.21
promote... that
is our culture today.
00:37:33.25\00:37:35.88
It seems today to
judge behavior or philosophy
00:37:35.92\00:37:39.95
as evil seems to be unthinkable.
00:37:39.99\00:37:42.72
It seems we're being prejudiced
or we're being closed-minded.
00:37:42.76\00:37:47.76
Church discipline also goes
against our desire to feel like
00:37:47.80\00:37:51.33
"I want to love you
as my brother in Christ,
00:37:51.37\00:37:53.87
so therefore, I'd
better not say anything,
00:37:53.90\00:37:56.57
or I better not do anything."
00:37:56.60\00:37:58.31
That comes from a false
sense of what love really is.
00:37:58.34\00:38:03.68
If someone was headed toward
a cliff, you wouldn't say,
00:38:03.71\00:38:06.11
"Oh, I don't want to offend
you; I don't want to hurt you;
00:38:06.15\00:38:10.09
I don't want to say anything."
00:38:10.12\00:38:11.55
I'll let you go over the cliff.
00:38:11.59\00:38:13.56
We'd say... what?
WATCH OUT! BE CAREFUL!
00:38:13.59\00:38:16.49
Grab them if you
have to... to keep them
00:38:16.52\00:38:19.13
from going over the cliff.
00:38:19.16\00:38:21.70
You know, just like
if a home was on fire...
00:38:21.73\00:38:23.93
you wouldn't drive by and
say, "Okay, I'll just go by."
00:38:23.97\00:38:27.34
Here in Thompsonville, a
little town, Greg was driving in
00:38:27.37\00:38:30.31
to work in his pickup
truck, and there was a home
00:38:30.34\00:38:32.44
in Thompsonville on fire.
00:38:32.47\00:38:34.01
And now, he could have
said, "Okay I'll drive by,
00:38:34.04\00:38:36.64
I'm sure the
Thompsonville Fire Department,
00:38:36.68\00:38:38.88
Pastor Kenny, is
handling this matter,
00:38:38.91\00:38:40.72
and I'm doing my own thing."
00:38:40.75\00:38:42.38
But instead, he stopped
his pickup, he grabbed a little
00:38:42.42\00:38:45.02
sledgehammer and he
jumped out and he ran up
00:38:45.05\00:38:47.72
to the house; went around
the back - there was a glass
00:38:47.76\00:38:50.39
window in the back
door and he broke it with a
00:38:50.43\00:38:52.33
sledgehammer and he
went in and opened it and the
00:38:52.36\00:38:54.53
whole house was on fire.
00:38:54.56\00:38:55.90
And he's running and looking
for people because what if
00:38:55.93\00:38:59.77
someone was in
there? That's right.
00:38:59.80\00:39:01.77
And it turned out that
the person was already out,
00:39:01.80\00:39:04.21
praise the Lord for
that, but church discipline
00:39:04.24\00:39:07.01
goes against our desire
to be loving toward others,
00:39:07.04\00:39:09.24
but that is a
false sense of love.
00:39:09.28\00:39:12.11
So church
discipline is important.
00:39:12.15\00:39:13.75
That is the problem
today with church discipline,
00:39:13.78\00:39:16.55
that people want to avoid it.
00:39:16.58\00:39:18.02
Now let's look at the purpose...
00:39:18.05\00:39:19.45
What is the purpose
of church discipline?
00:39:19.49\00:39:21.92
I think it's threefold,
Ryan covered this so well...
00:39:21.96\00:39:25.39
#1... To preserve
the purity of doctrine.
00:39:25.43\00:39:28.06
You did a great job
talking about the importance
00:39:28.10\00:39:30.77
of the purity of doctrine.
00:39:30.80\00:39:32.67
This is especially important
in the end of time when every
00:39:32.70\00:39:36.27
wind of doctrine is blowing.
00:39:36.30\00:39:39.37
It's important to preserve
the church from apostasy,
00:39:39.41\00:39:43.88
and from false
teachings, Jude verse 3, says...
00:39:43.91\00:39:47.95
"Contend earnestly for the faith
once delivered to the saints."
00:39:47.98\00:39:52.95
The word "contend" in the
Greek means to "struggle for,
00:39:52.99\00:39:56.22
or earnestly contend,"
but literally it implies
00:39:56.26\00:39:58.79
"a struggle as in a battle."
00:39:58.83\00:40:01.76
So in other words, we
don't roll over and play dead
00:40:01.80\00:40:04.67
when there is apostasy,
when there are doctrines
00:40:04.70\00:40:09.37
that are not in line
with the word of God. Amen!
00:40:09.40\00:40:12.37
It is important, as church
leadership, to address that.
00:40:12.41\00:40:16.78
When there is
something entering the church,
00:40:16.81\00:40:18.88
Pastor John, within the church
here, that is not in line with
00:40:18.91\00:40:21.98
God's word, I know that
is your goal to make sure we
00:40:22.02\00:40:24.92
preserve the purity of the
doctrine within the church,
00:40:24.95\00:40:27.92
and that's not with leaders
in the local church area,
00:40:27.96\00:40:30.16
but I'm talking the
entire church as well. Amen!
00:40:30.19\00:40:33.13
#2... Purpose of
church discipline.
00:40:33.16\00:40:35.46
Preserve the purity of
church life and practice.
00:40:35.50\00:40:39.70
So not just doctrine, we also
have to look at how we live.
00:40:39.73\00:40:44.91
The church is to be as it
were, Pastor Kenny, "a light
00:40:44.94\00:40:47.74
set on a hill." Right?
Yes. Matthew 5 tells us that.
00:40:47.78\00:40:51.38
The purpose of the church...
00:40:51.41\00:40:52.85
The church is, in 1 Peter
2:9, "A chosen generation,
00:40:52.88\00:40:56.79
a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, His own special
00:40:56.82\00:41:00.29
people." And why is that?
00:41:00.32\00:41:02.32
That we should show forth
the praises of Him who called us
00:41:02.36\00:41:05.33
out of darkness into
this marvelous light. Yes.
00:41:05.36\00:41:08.80
So God called the
church to show His character,
00:41:08.83\00:41:13.97
to reveal His purity to
the world and when there is
00:41:14.00\00:41:18.81
(I want to say this carefully)
when there is immorality,
00:41:18.84\00:41:23.11
when there is a stain on
the church body as a whole
00:41:23.14\00:41:29.15
in some area - it could
be immorality, it could be
00:41:29.18\00:41:31.79
something else - practice
in life that brings pain to
00:41:31.82\00:41:36.93
the heart of God but it
brings discredit to the name of
00:41:36.96\00:41:41.33
Christ within the world.
00:41:41.36\00:41:43.26
So the second purpose
of church discipline is to
00:41:43.30\00:41:45.23
preserve the purity of
church life and practice.
00:41:45.27\00:41:48.60
The third purpose is to
show love toward and restore
00:41:48.64\00:41:54.21
the person who has erred. Amen!
00:41:54.24\00:41:56.24
The purpose of it
is reconciliation.
00:41:56.28\00:41:59.21
The purpose is redemption.
00:41:59.25\00:42:01.48
Love is not
opposed to discipline
00:42:01.52\00:42:03.35
as we already talked about.
00:42:03.39\00:42:04.85
Hebrews 12:6 says...
"For whom the Lord loves,
00:42:04.89\00:42:08.52
He chastens or scourges...
And scourges every son
00:42:08.56\00:42:12.83
whom He receives."
00:42:12.86\00:42:14.20
Verse 11 says, "Now no
chastening for the present
00:42:14.23\00:42:16.77
seems to be joyous...
(I know I don't like that,
00:42:16.80\00:42:19.20
right) but it seems
painful, nevertheless afterward
00:42:19.23\00:42:24.24
... what happens? It
yields the peaceable fruit
00:42:24.27\00:42:26.68
of righteousness and those
who have been trained by it."
00:42:26.71\00:42:31.31
Sin destroys people;
sin destroys relationships;
00:42:31.35\00:42:36.18
we are to show love toward and
seek to restore those who are
00:42:36.22\00:42:40.99
in error. Amen!
00:42:41.02\00:42:42.52
To be indifferent toward
a sinning brother or sister
00:42:42.56\00:42:46.46
is actually to hate that
person, not to love that person.
00:42:46.49\00:42:50.77
And you know, that's pivotal,
it's a pivotal shift in my own
00:42:50.80\00:42:54.30
experience because, naturally,
I don't like confrontation,
00:42:54.34\00:42:57.34
so I would rather
say... I won't say anything.
00:42:57.37\00:43:00.18
But actually, that's
showing hate toward that person
00:43:00.21\00:43:04.01
instead of the love of God.
00:43:04.05\00:43:06.11
So now we're
talking about "procedure"
00:43:06.15\00:43:07.92
in the last moments we have.
00:43:07.95\00:43:09.38
What is the procedure
for church discipline?
00:43:09.42\00:43:12.42
Turn with me to Matthew
18, and we talked about this
00:43:12.45\00:43:15.99
a couple of weeks ago,
Matthew 18, Pastor Kenny,
00:43:16.02\00:43:18.93
you did a great job
on that. Matthew 18.
00:43:18.96\00:43:21.76
In the procedure for
church discipline, we will go
00:43:21.80\00:43:26.00
through this but
it's a private meeting;
00:43:26.03\00:43:27.87
then it's a private meeting
with a couple of witnesses;
00:43:27.90\00:43:31.51
then it's a public
meeting with the church;
00:43:31.54\00:43:34.24
then it's a public
separation from the church;
00:43:34.28\00:43:37.65
then public restoration
if there is repentance. Yes.
00:43:37.68\00:43:43.62
So first is a private meeting.
00:43:43.65\00:43:45.25
We see that in Matthew
18:15, "Moreover if your brother
00:43:45.29\00:43:49.32
sins against
you, go and tell him
00:43:49.36\00:43:50.93
his fault between
you and him alone.
00:43:50.96\00:43:52.46
If he hears you, you
have gained your brother."
00:43:52.49\00:43:55.43
Now I find this
interesting, Pastor Kenny,
00:43:55.46\00:43:57.70
if I'm the one who
feels like I was wronged,
00:43:57.73\00:43:59.93
I'm the one who should take the
initiative in reconciliation.
00:43:59.97\00:44:04.31
It's not the one who did
the wrong, it's the other one.
00:44:04.34\00:44:06.98
Did you notice that?
00:44:07.01\00:44:08.34
And I am to reach out with love
and humility when I do that.
00:44:08.38\00:44:13.95
1 Timothy 5:1-2 says...
"Do not rebuke an older man,
00:44:13.98\00:44:18.39
but exhort him as the
father, younger men as brothers,
00:44:18.42\00:44:22.49
older women as mothers,
younger women as sisters
00:44:22.52\00:44:25.66
with all purity."
00:44:25.69\00:44:27.43
And we are not called to
gossip to other people about it.
00:44:27.46\00:44:31.67
And often, Pastor Ryan, we
even gossip when we think...
00:44:31.70\00:44:34.90
"Oh, there's someone we
need to really praying for..."
00:44:34.94\00:44:38.17
THAT is gossip!
Because it's just a way to
00:44:38.21\00:44:41.01
cloak gossip and
share it with someone else.
00:44:41.04\00:44:43.91
You know, Matthew
7 says, "Judge not
00:44:43.95\00:44:46.88
that you be not judged.
For what judgment you judge,
00:44:46.92\00:44:49.92
you will be
judged; with what measure
00:44:49.95\00:44:51.62
you use, it will be
measured back to you."
00:44:51.65\00:44:54.32
Sometimes people take that
and say, "Okay then, I'm not
00:44:54.36\00:44:58.19
supposed to say anything,"
but if you go on in Matthew 7,
00:44:58.23\00:45:01.70
it says, "Don't give what
is holy to dogs and don't cast
00:45:01.73\00:45:05.80
pearls before swine."
00:45:05.83\00:45:07.24
That means there's some sort
of judgment going on if you're
00:45:07.27\00:45:09.54
identifying swine or if
you're identifying who a dog is.
00:45:09.57\00:45:12.97
So what this is talking
about, in Matthew 7, is don't
00:45:13.01\00:45:16.81
have hypocritical
criticism that tears down
00:45:16.85\00:45:19.68
someone else while you
seek to build yourself up.
00:45:19.71\00:45:22.65
So first we go individually.
00:45:22.68\00:45:24.82
Second, we take one or two
witnesses; take the pastor,
00:45:24.85\00:45:28.32
take an elder, take
someone else in the church.
00:45:28.36\00:45:30.76
The goal here is still
reconciliation and repentance.
00:45:30.79\00:45:34.26
Third, a public
meeting with the church.
00:45:34.30\00:45:37.43
It says, "If he refuses to hear
them, tell it to the church."
00:45:37.47\00:45:40.54
The goal at this point is still
reconciliation and redemption.
00:45:40.57\00:45:45.17
If they still refuse, public
separation from the church
00:45:45.21\00:45:49.61
and the Bible says to
treat them as a heathen
00:45:49.64\00:45:51.48
or a tax collector, but,
you know, when Jesus walked
00:45:51.51\00:45:53.75
this earth, He associated
with heathens and tax collectors
00:45:53.78\00:45:57.29
for the purpose of
reconciliation and redemption.
00:45:57.32\00:46:01.16
And finally, when
there is repentance,
00:46:01.19\00:46:03.79
IF there is repentance,
Lord, we pray there is
00:46:03.83\00:46:06.29
repentance, then there
is public restoration. Amen!
00:46:06.33\00:46:09.36
Amen! Amen! Well put!
Praise the Lord for that!
00:46:09.40\00:46:12.50
The lesson has been very
good, I have surely enjoyed here
00:46:12.53\00:46:15.37
because church organization
and unity is what I put
00:46:15.40\00:46:18.44
down here and then, of
course, our lesson for today is:
00:46:18.47\00:46:20.88
"Organizing for Mission"
00:46:20.91\00:46:22.64
I thought that's my
part here on Thursday.
00:46:22.68\00:46:25.78
And I always feel like,
you know, God's man or woman,
00:46:25.81\00:46:28.82
we should be on a
mission for Jesus.
00:46:28.85\00:46:30.92
Every day of my life, I
get up, I'm on a mission.
00:46:30.95\00:46:33.42
I want to, like, get my
bag packed and I want to put my
00:46:33.46\00:46:36.16
Bible, you know, in the truck
because there's going to be
00:46:36.19\00:46:38.79
a warfare that's going to go on.
00:46:38.83\00:46:41.20
There are three words
that just stick out with these
00:46:41.23\00:46:42.90
passages here -
"Organizing for Mission,"
00:46:42.93\00:46:45.37
I'm going to use a
word that may not be in the
00:46:45.40\00:46:47.24
dictionary, I'm going to
make it up so just... alright.
00:46:47.27\00:46:50.54
You're going to receive
it right by the grace of God.
00:46:51.47\00:46:53.68
The three words noted
here is "organized," right,
00:46:53.71\00:46:57.75
and then "unified," and
then "missionide." Laughter.
00:46:57.78\00:47:03.62
That's great! Are you
still with me? We are.
00:47:03.65\00:47:05.35
"Missionide," that
means ready for a mission
00:47:05.39\00:47:07.39
and we need to be "missionide,"
ready to have that in our
00:47:07.42\00:47:09.62
heart and in our mind."
That's what we're here for.
00:47:09.66\00:47:11.99
Mission to me is
just simply an outreach.
00:47:12.03\00:47:14.06
We need to have an outreach.
00:47:14.10\00:47:15.43
Pastors get up and
they say, "Preach till
00:47:15.46\00:47:16.90
you're blue in the face."
00:47:16.93\00:47:18.27
Trying to get people
excited and to get out and
00:47:18.30\00:47:20.70
do some kind of
mission, missionary work...
00:47:20.74\00:47:22.20
reach out for the people,
give the gospel - the good news,
00:47:22.24\00:47:25.74
the truth that we have
been talking about here,
00:47:25.77\00:47:27.64
it's so beautiful!
00:47:27.68\00:47:29.01
I mean, I'm elated each
time I hear truth that's spoken.
00:47:29.04\00:47:31.88
Someone told me the other day...
00:47:31.91\00:47:33.31
You folks are not
protesting enough!
00:47:33.35\00:47:34.72
I said, "Every time you preach
the truth, every time you tell
00:47:34.75\00:47:39.55
the truth, you are
protesting against error." Amen!
00:47:39.59\00:47:42.59
Are you still with
me? That's every time.
00:47:42.62\00:47:44.59
So I think we're
protesting against evil.
00:47:44.63\00:47:47.00
You know, a familiar
passage of Scripture, we realize
00:47:47.03\00:47:48.90
in the Bible, it's a very
good one in Matthew 28:18-20...
00:47:48.93\00:47:53.84
He simply said, "And Jesus
spake unto them, "All power is
00:47:53.87\00:47:57.61
given unto me in
heaven and in earth."
00:47:57.64\00:47:58.97
And then this is so
familiar, "Go ye... what?
00:47:59.01\00:48:01.28
therefore and teach
00:48:01.31\00:48:03.11
all nations, baptizing
in the name of the Father,
00:48:03.14\00:48:05.88
(notice this) the Son and
the Holy Ghost teaching them
00:48:05.91\00:48:09.15
to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you,
00:48:09.18\00:48:11.72
and, lo, I am with you always
even unto the end of the world."
00:48:11.75\00:48:14.59
This was Jesus'
farewell as He was
00:48:15.39\00:48:18.13
getting about ready to leave.
00:48:18.16\00:48:19.56
He was telling
that "we should go,"
00:48:19.59\00:48:21.00
and I think we need to
look at this... four words
00:48:21.03\00:48:23.73
very quickly - I just picked
out, you would do the same
00:48:23.77\00:48:25.93
thing is simply
"go." We know this.
00:48:25.97\00:48:28.17
This was the great command.
00:48:28.20\00:48:30.21
The great command,
Kenny, is "go," not sit,
00:48:30.24\00:48:32.91
not recline back, but "go."
00:48:32.94\00:48:34.58
Put your running shoes on!
00:48:34.61\00:48:36.31
We don't need the clodhoppers
on now, we need tennis shoes on.
00:48:36.34\00:48:40.08
We need to be running
with this gospel message...
00:48:40.12\00:48:42.58
as soon as you hear it, I
can sense it from each one
00:48:42.62\00:48:46.25
of you here and regardless
if it's been 20 years since you
00:48:46.29\00:48:49.12
have or 30 or 5 years
or whatever it might be,
00:48:49.16\00:48:51.29
you put running shoes on
because you know time is short,
00:48:51.33\00:48:54.40
and we've got to make
haste while there's still day.
00:48:54.43\00:48:56.90
The command "go" to the
Christian world what give them
00:48:56.93\00:48:59.47
... this end message -
this is what it's all about.
00:48:59.50\00:49:02.47
Jesus talked about,
we said twelve disciples,
00:49:02.50\00:49:04.74
well, eleven listened to Him.
00:49:04.77\00:49:06.21
You know, we look at -
they learned in the school
00:49:06.24\00:49:08.71
of Christ... now the apostle,
Mark 3:14, talks about that.
00:49:08.74\00:49:12.85
Mark 3:14 tells in the beginning
"He ordained twelve, it says.
00:49:12.88\00:49:16.48
This is what it is and
that they should be with Him
00:49:16.52\00:49:19.35
that He might send
them forth to preach."
00:49:19.39\00:49:21.92
What did Jesus grab, as it
were... "Come and follow Me,
00:49:21.96\00:49:24.83
come and follow Me."
He wanted to train and
00:49:24.86\00:49:26.59
teach them so they might go out
00:49:26.63\00:49:27.96
and give this
message to the world. Amen!
00:49:28.00\00:49:30.00
#2... The point
here is, make disciples.
00:49:30.03\00:49:32.10
We know that we go and
then we make disciples.
00:49:32.13\00:49:34.50
We teach - that's
what it means, isn't it?
00:49:34.54\00:49:36.50
So we have a responsibility
to share this good news,
00:49:36.54\00:49:41.14
and every time I hear
it, I get excited about it
00:49:41.18\00:49:43.55
because it just
concretes it for me.
00:49:43.58\00:49:46.35
It's just like - give it
the acid test and then the truth
00:49:46.38\00:49:49.42
is really going to shine,
it's really going to come out
00:49:49.45\00:49:51.25
bright and we need to
be doing that right now.
00:49:51.29\00:49:54.46
That is part of what
God has asked us to do.
00:49:54.49\00:49:56.99
Matthew 5:13-16,
moving quickly...
00:49:57.03\00:50:00.40
Jesus tells us
(notice this) I love this!
00:50:00.43\00:50:03.10
He said, "Ye are
the salt of the earth!"
00:50:03.13\00:50:05.47
Why would He look,
Pastor, at any of us and I hear
00:50:05.50\00:50:08.17
Him say, "You are
the salt of the earth."
00:50:08.20\00:50:09.64
Look at me and
say, "You are the scum
00:50:09.67\00:50:11.01
of the earth and
He would be right!
00:50:11.04\00:50:12.37
Hmm - somebody is not with me.
00:50:12.41\00:50:14.24
Why? Because the Bible
said, "There's none good, no,
00:50:14.28\00:50:16.18
not one; there's none
righteous, no, not one."
00:50:16.21\00:50:18.61
We realize it's through Him,
but this is how He looks at us
00:50:18.65\00:50:22.38
in the love that He has for me.
00:50:22.42\00:50:23.79
Shelley, He looks at you
and He says, "Oh My girl,
00:50:23.82\00:50:25.89
you are the light of
the world," think about it.
00:50:25.92\00:50:28.76
Light of the world and
then He says, "Let your light
00:50:28.79\00:50:31.96
so shine before men."
00:50:31.99\00:50:33.90
But how beautiful that is, "Let
your light shine before men."
00:50:33.93\00:50:36.73
He said we're the
"Salt of the earth."
00:50:37.73\00:50:39.77
I say - how wonderful that is!
00:50:39.80\00:50:41.64
He's trusting you,
He's trusting me to be
00:50:41.67\00:50:43.57
the salt of the earth.
00:50:43.61\00:50:45.11
Jesus said to His
disciples, He says to us...
00:50:45.14\00:50:48.44
You are my
preservative, salt was.
00:50:48.48\00:50:54.22
You are my preservative.
00:50:54.25\00:50:56.25
You're going to preserve
what I've laid out here for us.
00:50:56.28\00:50:59.05
How beautiful that is!
00:50:59.09\00:51:00.69
You are My Oooo,
you're My seasoning!
00:51:00.72\00:51:04.06
You're My flavoring - that we
all like a little bit sometimes.
00:51:04.09\00:51:08.66
Do you get it?
Yeah, we get that!
00:51:08.70\00:51:10.03
You're my purifying influence.
00:51:10.07\00:51:13.23
Now think how
beautiful that is in this world.
00:51:13.27\00:51:15.70
And you are to remain
in close contact with Me,
00:51:15.74\00:51:20.08
and with My fellowman.
00:51:20.11\00:51:22.11
This is where it's
all going to work out,
00:51:22.14\00:51:23.95
close fellowships.
00:51:23.98\00:51:25.41
Salvation - Our fellowman
is, to me, is my primary
00:51:25.45\00:51:30.12
responsibility.
00:51:30.15\00:51:32.22
I want all of us to feel
that our primary responsibility
00:51:32.25\00:51:36.02
is to win souls
for Jesus Christ.
00:51:36.06\00:51:37.63
We know He does it all,
but I said a long time ago,
00:51:37.66\00:51:40.10
when we started ministry,
I said, "Lord, I can't do
00:51:40.13\00:51:42.40
this, can't do that,
don't have that, don't have..."
00:51:42.43\00:51:44.40
He said, "Exactly right,
you can't even speak properly,
00:51:44.43\00:51:46.63
but that's alright." He
said, "I'll do it for you."
00:51:46.67\00:51:49.07
You show up and you've
done your study, you do what
00:51:49.10\00:51:52.81
can, you show up and
then I'll take mess you're
00:51:52.84\00:51:54.91
getting ready to make
and I'll make it where people
00:51:54.94\00:51:56.51
can hear it, understand it,
and the conviction will come."
00:51:56.54\00:51:58.98
That was the deal
we made many years ago,
00:51:59.01\00:52:00.75
and we still keep that deal.
00:52:00.78\00:52:02.32
No, He never dared to show
up if you haven't studied...
00:52:02.35\00:52:04.72
and tried to do
it. We know that.
00:52:04.75\00:52:07.39
The gospel that came to
Matthew 24 is going to be
00:52:07.42\00:52:09.46
preached... how
far? To all the world.
00:52:09.49\00:52:11.99
Yeah, for a
witness and then the end.
00:52:12.03\00:52:14.16
Number 4 is to be baptized.
00:52:14.20\00:52:16.53
So you go forth, you go
and then you teach and then you
00:52:16.56\00:52:20.40
baptize and you make disciples.
00:52:20.44\00:52:23.17
That's a pretty simple
mission, the way it looks to me.
00:52:23.20\00:52:25.77
And that's what I think
the pastors and the teachers
00:52:25.81\00:52:27.88
always try to instill upon
every person who is out there,
00:52:27.91\00:52:30.88
go and let's get
with the program here.
00:52:30.91\00:52:32.81
Anchored,
rooted in Jesus Christ.
00:52:32.85\00:52:35.92
We need to have a
missionary spirit.
00:52:35.95\00:52:38.72
You can read a lot of
things, we won't have time for.
00:52:38.75\00:52:40.69
The "Spirit of Prophecy"
says all the time, "The church
00:52:40.72\00:52:43.09
needs a missionary spirit."
00:52:43.12\00:52:45.59
We need the Holy Spirit of God.
00:52:45.63\00:52:47.06
We need to realize that
it should be part of our
00:52:47.10\00:52:50.10
character as part of
what we do is in the church.
00:52:50.13\00:52:52.90
I read something here,
it's kind of interesting,
00:52:52.93\00:52:54.64
some of this comes from
the "Spirit of Prophecy" here,
00:52:54.67\00:52:56.81
and you can throw it
out if you don't like it.
00:52:56.84\00:52:58.37
It's okay because, you
know, some people don't like
00:52:58.41\00:53:01.01
things - it's hard to
digest certain things even if it
00:53:01.04\00:53:03.45
be true and it's
5-Testimonies, part of this...
00:53:03.48\00:53:06.41
It says, "There is no place...
and I'm talking about this now,
00:53:06.45\00:53:09.75
"There's no place for the
slothful in the great work."
00:53:09.78\00:53:13.19
In this world, there is
no place for the slothful.
00:53:13.22\00:53:15.19
There's no place
for the self-indulgent.
00:53:15.22\00:53:17.83
There's no place for
those who are incapable of
00:53:17.86\00:53:21.36
(notice this) making
life a success in any calling.
00:53:21.40\00:53:25.40
This really gets
down to it, oh boy!
00:53:25.43\00:53:27.57
No place for the half-hearted.
00:53:27.60\00:53:30.97
Men who are not fervent
in spirit willing to endure
00:53:31.01\00:53:35.54
hardness, opposition, reproach
or death for Christ sake.
00:53:35.58\00:53:40.75
The "Spirit of Prophecy"
said that there's no place
00:53:40.78\00:53:42.78
in the work of Christ for that.
00:53:42.82\00:53:44.19
I see as I look for that,
I've flunked a few of those,
00:53:44.62\00:53:48.36
and the only thing I can
do and I encourage you if you
00:53:48.39\00:53:50.26
happen to flunk some of these
things here because sometimes
00:53:50.29\00:53:52.59
it might have been half-hearted.
00:53:52.63\00:53:54.86
I only go to God...
and we've been talking
00:53:54.90\00:53:56.50
about prayer and the
power of prayer... "Oh God
00:53:56.53\00:53:58.80
forgive me for
being half-hearted...
00:53:58.83\00:54:00.34
set me on fire!
Set me on fire so I
00:54:00.37\00:54:02.80
won't be able to sit down."
00:54:02.84\00:54:04.17
You know, everywhere I
go, I'm going to scream
00:54:04.21\00:54:05.67
and blow the trumpet so
loud that somebody is going
00:54:05.71\00:54:07.54
to hear and it's going
to wake the dead. Amen!
00:54:07.58\00:54:09.11
And that's what
we should be doing.
00:54:09.14\00:54:10.48
Notice the article goes
on and it talks about...
00:54:10.51\00:54:12.95
In Christian
ministry, (now check this one)
00:54:12.98\00:54:16.02
In Christian ministry,
(now I better not even say it)
00:54:16.05\00:54:19.95
Well, in Christian ministry,
listen Pastor, in Christian
00:54:19.99\00:54:23.32
ministry there is
no place for drones.
00:54:23.36\00:54:26.59
Drones! You know
drone, drone bee.
00:54:26.63\00:54:29.40
The male bee, you know why?
00:54:29.43\00:54:32.23
Because they don't work,
they live off of everybody else.
00:54:32.27\00:54:35.74
Did you get that here?
Thank you for clarifying.
00:54:35.77\00:54:38.37
You know what, (I'll
say it a different way),
00:54:38.41\00:54:40.98
they don't sting! Ooo.
00:54:41.01\00:54:44.21
There's no place for drones
in the ministry of Christ.
00:54:44.25\00:54:48.32
They don't
sting, they don't work,
00:54:48.35\00:54:50.42
in other words,
they are loafers.
00:54:51.72\00:54:56.93
Okay, I know it's a
little too much for somebody.
00:54:56.96\00:54:59.09
And it goes on, it says...
because too many of us are
00:55:00.36\00:55:02.60
doing slipshod
work; we're careless,
00:55:02.63\00:55:05.03
we're irreverent - they would
be better - I might have to
00:55:05.07\00:55:08.00
quit on this one...
They would be better
00:55:08.04\00:55:10.61
tilling the soil than
teaching the sacred word of God.
00:55:10.64\00:55:14.81
So if you're not serious
about it... (preach it brother)
00:55:14.84\00:55:19.21
go get another job.
00:55:20.22\00:55:21.92
I mean, really, if
we're not serious...
00:55:21.95\00:55:23.52
you think that's being
smart, that's really not smart!
00:55:23.55\00:55:25.72
READ the servant of Christ,
how she says how we're living
00:55:25.75\00:55:29.46
in this time and how
we need to be SO tuned in
00:55:29.49\00:55:32.93
to the end and how
close it is that if you're not
00:55:32.96\00:55:36.13
really serious about pastors
and teachers and leaders,
00:55:36.16\00:55:38.77
you're always looking
at... you don't want to
00:55:38.80\00:55:40.34
be unified; you don't
want to work together;
00:55:40.37\00:55:41.84
you don't love this message;
really, really it would be
00:55:41.90\00:55:44.97
better for you to go...
just get another job because God
00:55:45.01\00:55:48.04
is calling for those
who are going to be workers
00:55:48.08\00:55:50.21
and good worker bees for Him.
00:55:50.25\00:55:52.25
Remember, no drones
in the service of God.
00:55:52.28\00:55:56.05
Oh boy, that's a wakeup call
00:55:56.08\00:55:57.82
to some church
leaders, isn't it?
00:55:57.85\00:56:00.52
We see how important church
organization is crucial to the
00:56:03.39\00:56:09.00
mission and also it is
crucial to developing unity.
00:56:09.06\00:56:14.60
Quick closing
thought from each of you...
00:56:14.64\00:56:17.01
Wow, I tell you... it's
amazing, I'm just so blessed by
00:56:17.04\00:56:20.28
what we talked about here today.
00:56:20.31\00:56:21.74
I'm just going to
say... "Be what you will want
00:56:21.78\00:56:25.31
others to emulate." Amen! Amen!
00:56:25.35\00:56:28.98
My closing
thought would simply be...
00:56:29.02\00:56:32.92
This was on church
organization and unity...
00:56:32.95\00:56:36.22
What better way to unify
God's people than through
00:56:36.26\00:56:38.89
the principles of God's word.
00:56:38.93\00:56:40.30
Faith comes by hearing
and hearing by the word,
00:56:40.33\00:56:43.37
so always point to the word
and you're pointing to Jesus.
00:56:43.40\00:56:47.27
Jesus came to redeem
us; He came to set us free;
00:56:47.30\00:56:50.04
He came to purify us;
He came to sanctify us;
00:56:50.07\00:56:53.04
and to reconcile us
to the Father. Amen!
00:56:53.07\00:56:56.28
Said simply, "Go,
teach, baptize, make disciples,
00:56:56.31\00:57:00.02
and there's no room for drones.
00:57:00.05\00:57:02.98
You know, I think that it
has occurred to me how important
00:57:03.02\00:57:07.62
it is that we pray
for our church leaders,
00:57:07.66\00:57:12.13
and I just want to challenge
you because time is short.
00:57:12.16\00:57:16.26
Pray for your church leaders,
hold them before the Lord.
00:57:16.30\00:57:19.40
Our prayer for you is grace
of our Lord and Savior Jesus
00:57:19.43\00:57:22.74
Christ, the love of the
Father and the fellowship of the
00:57:22.77\00:57:25.24
Holy Spirit is with you always.
00:57:25.27\00:57:27.74