Hello, friends, and welcome
to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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We are on lesson number
10 of our study together,
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"Making Friends for God."
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This particular
lesson is entitled
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"An Exciting Way
to Get Involved."
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I wanna encourage
you to get involved
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by grabbing your Bible,
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and a pen and a
paper to take notes,
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and your Sabbath
School quarterly.
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If you don't have a
quarterly, you can always go
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to your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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They would be delighted
to give you a quarterly
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or you can go to
the following website,
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absg.adventist.org.
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That stands for
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AdultBibleStudyGuide.
Adventist.org
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You can download the lesson
and study along with us today.
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We are so glad
that you have tuned in
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for this study lesson number 10.
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It's hard to believe
we're getting on the other side
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here of our quarterly.
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What an
incredible study it has been.
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This one is an
exciting way to get involved
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talking
specifically about small groups
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and how we see small
groups in the Word of God.
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I wanna introduce
our panel at this time.
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To my left, Brother
Pastor Kenny Shelton,
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so glad to have you here.
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Yeah, always good,
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always a pleasure to
study the Word of God.
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Amen.
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To your left, Pastor Ryan Day,
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so glad to have
you here as well.
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It's always a
blessing to be here.
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Amen.
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I always love studying
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with each one
of these men of God
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and students of the
Word, Pastor John Dinzey,
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so grateful that you
join us this week as well.
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Thank you. It's a
pleasure to be here.
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I have to talk about
New Testament small groups.
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I'm looking forward to it. Amen.
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And last but not
least, Pastor John Lomacang,
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will absorb everything
as it goes down the line
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and grateful that you're here.
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I'll take what's left.
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Small group
dynamics, it's good to be here.
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Yeah. Amen. Thank you.
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Before we go any further
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we wanna go to
the Lord in prayer.
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Pastor Kenny,
would you pray for us.
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Oh, absolutely.
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Most Gracious Heavenly Father,
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what a privilege it is to
be able to come before thee
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and call thee our Father.
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We come before thee
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because we sense
our need of a Savior,
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we sense our need of the
power of the Holy Spirit.
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We invite Your
precious presence to be with us.
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Illuminate our
hearts and our minds
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that we may be
focused upon heaven,
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we may be
focused upon Your Word.
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Lord, we pray be to
Your honor and to Your glory,
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bless everything that
said, everything that's done,
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bless every aspect
of taping this program
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so it'll be for Your
honor and for Your glory.
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Lord, You are in charge,
we turn it all over to You.
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We thank You
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for what You're
going to do in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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An exciting way to get involved.
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God placed us in
community, did He not?
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We need each
other for encouragement
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and support for Bible study
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and prayer for
evangelism and outreach.
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Always two are better than one.
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As we look at
small group evangelism
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and speaking of two
are better than one.
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I wanna start with Ecclesiastes
if you wanna turn there,
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and then we'll jump
into our memory text
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in Sunday's lesson.
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Ecclesiastes 4,
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we're gonna look at verses 9-12.
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Ecclesiastes 4.
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I wanna ask the
question, how do others help us?
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How are we helped by being
in community with other people?
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So let's look at that.
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Ecclesiastes 4:9,
"Two are better than one,
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because they have a
good reward for their labor."
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Two reap you could
say a greater profit,
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two involved in
evangelism is better than one
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because we have different gifts
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because we can offer
encouragement to each other
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because two can spur each other
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to a greater
zeal for Bible study
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and prayer and evangelism.
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Let's read the next verse,
verse 10, "For if they fall,
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one will lift up his companion.
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But woe to him who
is alone when he falls,
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for he has no
one to help him up."
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Two offer
encouragement and help.
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Have you ever been
maybe a bit discouraged
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in doing
outreach or Bible studies
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or reaching out to
someone in your community
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or in your neighborhood?
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It's always good to have
someone else to encourage you,
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not only to
keep following Jesus,
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but to do that evangelism.
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The next verse, verse 11.
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"Again, if two
lie down together,
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they will keep warm, but
how can one be warm alone?"
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Now there might be
many different theological
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interpretations to this,
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but this is what Jill is
gonna give you right now.
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This is my thoughts, okay?
This is my own interpretation.
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When they talk about two
keeping the fire burning,
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I think about the
evangelistic fire,
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I think about the
first love experience
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that we are called to
have with the Lord Jesus.
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Remember in
Revelation the church had what?
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Lost their first love,
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and they were
supposed to recapture that.
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And so I believe that
when you have small groups
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or more than
one person involved,
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that that keeps the fire
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as it were burning
in your heart for Jesus,
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for His Word,
and for evangelism.
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Let's read the last verse.
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Ecclesiastes 4:12.
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"Though one may be
overpowered by another,
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two can withstand him.
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And a threefold cord
is not quickly broken."
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Now of course, we
can indicate that means
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Jesus is at the
center of any relationship
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or any friendship,
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but there's also strength
you could say in numbers.
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I don't know about you,
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but it really
helps me, Pastor Kenny,
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if I have an
exercise partner, right?
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Absolutely.
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If I'm gonna go
out and go running
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or go exercise and
it helps if someone else
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is there to exercise with
me or to have a prayer partner
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or an accountability partner,
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but it also helps to
have evangelism partners.
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And this week we talk
about small group evangelism.
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Let's read our
memory text Matthew 9:37-38.
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Matthew 9:37-38.
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"Then He, Jesus,
said to His disciples,
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'The harvest truly is plentiful,
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but the laborers are few.
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Therefore pray for
Lord of the harvest
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to send out
laborers into His harvest.'"
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On Sunday's lesson,
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we look at "Small
Groups - God's Idea First."
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And the analogy used
on Sunday's lesson is that
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the Godhead the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
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was the very first "small group"
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that we're going
to find in Scripture.
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Now I wanna be very
careful here because
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when you're using
any analogy in regard
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to the
mysterious aspects of God,
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you need to be careful.
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So we're not
trying to make light
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in any sense of
that just discussing
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as the lesson
discussed on Sunday
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that the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit are one,
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are united in
purpose, in, mission, in goal.
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So let's take a look
at some various aspects
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we see throughout Scripture
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where we see the entire Godhead,
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involved together.
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We're gonna start with creation.
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We see that God had
involved in creation.
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So let's look at that.
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We'll start with God the Father.
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Genesis 1:1, you can
turn there if you want,
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or you can just
quote it at home with me.
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The Word of God says,
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"In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth."
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This is God in
contrast to atheism.
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God created alone in
contrast to polytheism.
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He rules over creation
in contrast to pantheism.
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Matter had a beginning
as oppose to materialism."
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Now when it says God created
the heavens and the earth.
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We discussed this a
couple of lessons ago
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that word created Bara',
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meaning God created
something out of nothing.
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Only God can create
something out of nothing.
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In Genesis 1:3,
we see God speaking,
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He says what?
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"Let there be
light,' and there was light."
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God spoke, and it was done.
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Psalm 33:6, "By
the word of the Lord
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the heavens were made,
and all the hosts of them
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by the breath of His mouth."
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God spoke and
worlds came into existence.
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God the Father
was definitely present
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and involved in creation,
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but we also see God the Son,
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Jesus Christ, being present
and involved in creation.
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Hebrews 1:1-2, we referenced
this a couple lessons ago,
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"God, who at various
times and in various ways
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spoke in time past to
the fathers by the prophets,
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has in these last days
spoken to us by His Son,
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whom He has
appointed heir of all things,
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through whom also
He made the worlds."
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God created the worlds what?
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Through Jesus Christ.
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We see that in Ephesians 3:9.
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The New Testament
especially talks about Jesus
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being involved in creation,
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Old Testament references
God a lot in creation.
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New Testament we see Jesus
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as well being
involved in that creative act.
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Ephesians 3:9,
"And to make all see
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what is the
fellowship of the mystery,
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which from the
beginning of the ages
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has been hidden in God
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who created all
things through Jesus Christ."
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The world, all things
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were created
through Jesus Christ.
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We see the same
principle in Colossians 1:15-16.
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Paul says, "He is the
image of the invisible God,
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the firstborn over all creation.
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For by Him all things
were created that are in heaven
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and that are on
earth, visible and invisible,
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whether thrones or dominions
or principalities or powers.
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All things were
created through Him."
00:10:14.24\00:10:17.61
Now that word create, I
know we're New Testament
00:10:17.65\00:10:20.25
and this is Greek,
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but it has the same meaning
as Bara' in the Old Testament.
00:10:21.95\00:10:26.65
The word is
actually from a Latin word,
00:10:26.69\00:10:28.56
it means to make
something out of nothing.
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Now where have we
heard that before,
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to make
something out of nothing?
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So whether it's
in the Old Testament
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or the New Testament,
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talking about God the Father,
or God the Son, Jesus Christ,
00:10:38.23\00:10:41.90
either one,
both of them together
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created
something out of nothing.
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The God the Holy Spirit
was also involved in creation.
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Genesis 1:2, "The earth
was without form, and void,
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darkness was on
the face of the deep.
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And the Spirit of God hovered
over the face of the waters."
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That word Ruach
breath, wind, spirit.
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The Spirit of God hovered
over the face of the waters.
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I think of Psalm
104:30, the Word of God says,
00:11:10.47\00:11:14.84
"You send forth Your
Spirit, they are created,
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and You renew the
face of the earth."
00:11:20.18\00:11:23.04
The Holy Spirit been
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intimately involved in creation,
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but not only were
God the Father, Son,
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and Holy Spirit
involved in creation.
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They were all, we see them
all again at Jesus' baptism.
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That is in Matthew 3.
Let's take a look at that.
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Matthew 3:16-17.
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"When He had been baptized,
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Jesus came up immediately
from the water, and behold,
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the heavens were opened to Him,
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and He saw the Spirit of
God descending like a dove
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and alighting upon Him.
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And suddenly a voice
came from heaven saying,
00:11:55.38\00:11:58.35
'This is My beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.'"
00:11:58.38\00:12:04.55
All three persons of the Godhead
00:12:04.59\00:12:06.69
present at Jesus' baptism.
00:12:06.72\00:12:08.86
Of course, Jesus was.
00:12:08.89\00:12:10.33
He's the one being
baptized, Pastor Kenny.
00:12:10.36\00:12:12.56
Then we hear God the
Father because His voice sounds
00:12:12.59\00:12:16.40
from the heavens, saying,
00:12:16.43\00:12:18.03
"This is My beloved Son
in whom I'm well pleased."
00:12:18.07\00:12:21.70
Wouldn't you love that
to hear that spoken of you?
00:12:21.74\00:12:26.64
This is My beloved child.
00:12:26.68\00:12:29.74
I think about God
speaking to Satan about Job.
00:12:29.78\00:12:32.61
Have you
considered My servant Job?
00:12:32.65\00:12:36.18
What a beautiful thing.
00:12:36.22\00:12:37.55
Then, of course, at
the baptism of Jesus,
00:12:37.59\00:12:39.12
we see the Holy
Spirit descending,
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we see all three present.
00:12:41.89\00:12:43.53
We see the Great Commission,
all three are involved there.
00:12:43.56\00:12:47.06
That's Matthew 28.
00:12:47.10\00:12:49.43
You can probably quote
it if you've watched 3ABN
00:12:49.46\00:12:51.63
'cause we refer
to that quite a bit.
00:12:51.67\00:12:53.67
Matthew 28:19, "Go therefore
00:12:53.70\00:12:57.11
and make
disciples of all nations,
00:12:57.14\00:13:00.14
baptizing them,
just in God," no,
00:13:00.18\00:13:03.55
"in the name of the
Father and of the Son
00:13:03.58\00:13:06.48
and of the Holy Spirit."
00:13:06.51\00:13:09.75
All three, intimately
involved not only in creation,
00:13:09.78\00:13:14.32
but in the work of redemption.
00:13:14.36\00:13:16.49
And if we think about
this concept of small groups,
00:13:16.52\00:13:19.49
and as we discuss
throughout this week,
00:13:19.53\00:13:21.73
this lesson,
we'll be talking about
00:13:21.76\00:13:23.60
the purpose of small
groups really being evangelism,
00:13:23.63\00:13:26.67
clearly we can do in reach
00:13:26.70\00:13:28.04
and we can encourage
and edify each other.
00:13:28.07\00:13:30.47
That is a beautiful thing.
00:13:30.51\00:13:31.87
We can encourage each
other to study the Word of God
00:13:31.91\00:13:34.38
and pray together,
that is a beautiful thing,
00:13:34.41\00:13:36.68
but the purpose is evangelism
00:13:36.71\00:13:40.22
to reach out to a
lost and dying world.
00:13:40.25\00:13:43.39
2 Timothy 2, we
know the heartbeat of God
00:13:43.42\00:13:47.56
is that all would
come to repentance,
00:13:47.59\00:13:50.39
all would be saved.
00:13:50.43\00:13:51.76
2 Timothy 2:3-4,
00:13:51.79\00:13:54.26
"For this is good and acceptable
00:13:54.30\00:13:56.36
in the sight of God our Savior,
00:13:56.40\00:13:58.73
who desires,"
just a couple people,
00:13:58.77\00:14:01.17
no, "he desires
all men to be saved
00:14:01.20\00:14:04.37
and to come to the
knowledge of the truth."
00:14:04.41\00:14:07.78
And then, of
course, 2 Peter 3:9,
00:14:07.81\00:14:09.81
"God is not willing
that any should perish,
00:14:09.84\00:14:13.15
but that all should
come to repentance."
00:14:13.18\00:14:16.62
So God the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit,
00:14:16.65\00:14:18.99
they are one in
purpose, one in mission,
00:14:19.02\00:14:23.66
and what is the mission?
00:14:23.69\00:14:25.03
From the foundation of
the world set in place,
00:14:25.06\00:14:28.66
God would send His Son Jesus,
00:14:28.70\00:14:32.90
as the propitiation for
our sins, the sacrifice,
00:14:32.93\00:14:37.77
the blood of Jesus
00:14:37.81\00:14:39.14
so that we could
spend eternity with Him.
00:14:39.17\00:14:42.88
And it's the Holy Spirit,
00:14:42.91\00:14:44.38
the power of the
indwelling spirit
00:14:44.41\00:14:46.68
in your life and in
mine that empowers us,
00:14:46.72\00:14:49.48
that changes us,
00:14:49.52\00:14:50.85
that transforms us
into the image of Jesus
00:14:50.89\00:14:53.36
and sends us
forth as His witness.
00:14:53.39\00:14:56.86
Pastor Kenny.
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:14:56.89\00:14:58.83
I know all that stuff
00:14:58.86\00:15:00.20
just trying to soak
it up like a sponge.
00:15:00.23\00:15:02.10
We need to, this is
all good information.
00:15:02.13\00:15:04.47
And lessons are really good too.
00:15:04.50\00:15:06.00
We know that God's
blessing your heart too.
00:15:06.03\00:15:08.60
Monday's lesson
"Small Groups in Scripture."
00:15:08.64\00:15:12.57
You know, I think probably
as we go back years ago,
00:15:12.61\00:15:15.68
when I can be
corrected on my thoughts,
00:15:15.71\00:15:17.91
when you said small group,
sometime it was a little bit,
00:15:17.95\00:15:21.45
it seemed to be
offensive or hurt certain folks
00:15:21.48\00:15:23.92
that maybe
didn't understand about
00:15:23.95\00:15:25.35
small groups in Scripture,
00:15:25.39\00:15:27.16
when it said it's
kind of small group,
00:15:27.19\00:15:28.52
well, this is
kind of an offshoot,
00:15:28.56\00:15:29.89
this is another group over here.
00:15:29.92\00:15:31.26
But I'm thankful to
find it in Scripture
00:15:31.29\00:15:33.16
that we can bank and say
this is a good foundation,
00:15:33.19\00:15:35.46
which we can use.
00:15:35.50\00:15:36.83
So the Bible gives us an example
00:15:36.87\00:15:38.57
of small groups coming together,
00:15:38.60\00:15:40.54
notice, to study, to praise,
00:15:40.57\00:15:43.77
you know, and
certainly to pray together.
00:15:43.81\00:15:45.87
Small groups
provide opportunities
00:15:45.91\00:15:47.94
that large groups,
00:15:47.98\00:15:49.54
you know, that
can't afford that.
00:15:49.58\00:15:50.91
Some people don't
wanna go to a small church
00:15:50.95\00:15:52.98
or small group
because they feel like
00:15:53.01\00:15:54.65
they're lost
sometime in a bigger group.
00:15:54.68\00:15:56.75
Not everybody feels
that way, but some do.
00:15:56.79\00:15:58.65
So each one in a small
group is able to use their gift
00:15:58.69\00:16:02.52
that God has given
them maybe in a way
00:16:02.56\00:16:04.06
they couldn't do
in a larger place.
00:16:04.09\00:16:05.96
Those small groups
00:16:05.99\00:16:07.33
then provide
simply a fellowship,
00:16:07.36\00:16:09.50
spiritual growth,
and problem solving.
00:16:09.53\00:16:12.37
I like that in the
lesson problem solving.
00:16:12.40\00:16:14.34
And that's not problem
making, problem solving.
00:16:14.37\00:16:18.44
We are totaling, this
is by group specialist.
00:16:18.47\00:16:21.34
I didn't even know
they had group specialist.
00:16:21.38\00:16:24.41
They have group
specialist that studies groups
00:16:24.45\00:16:26.38
and so on and how
many should be in it?
00:16:26.41\00:16:28.02
And I wonder where
they got their information,
00:16:28.05\00:16:30.05
kind of interesting,
group specialist is simply said
00:16:30.09\00:16:32.72
that the perfect group
or small group would be
00:16:32.75\00:16:35.16
between 6 and 12
people, kind of interesting.
00:16:35.19\00:16:37.99
That's it because
00:16:38.03\00:16:39.36
that's where
everybody can participate
00:16:39.39\00:16:40.80
and no one gets left
out and so on so forth.
00:16:40.83\00:16:43.57
That's the numbers in between.
00:16:43.60\00:16:45.37
Those are the
ones that Jesus used,
00:16:45.40\00:16:46.74
isn't that right?
00:16:46.77\00:16:48.10
And Moses used in
forming their groups
00:16:48.14\00:16:51.07
when Jesus simply went
made the call, you know,
00:16:51.11\00:16:52.77
come on, come follow Me.
00:16:52.81\00:16:54.14
It was good.
00:16:54.18\00:16:55.51
So I wanna just give a
couple passage of scripture
00:16:55.54\00:16:57.18
if it's all right because
it supports the small groups,
00:16:57.21\00:17:01.65
and we call them having
church in a house or in a home.
00:17:01.68\00:17:05.29
And so first one is Romans 16:5.
00:17:05.32\00:17:07.99
Romans 16:5.
00:17:08.02\00:17:10.76
Now I'm not trying to
make any point other than
00:17:10.79\00:17:12.29
what the Word of God says here.
00:17:12.33\00:17:14.16
You know, I
believe there's some people
00:17:14.20\00:17:15.56
who cannot get out,
00:17:15.60\00:17:16.93
or some people who, you know,
00:17:16.97\00:17:18.30
there's no church
anywhere near them or whatever.
00:17:18.33\00:17:20.37
And so they're
gonna have to meet.
00:17:20.40\00:17:21.97
And I think the Bible
00:17:22.00\00:17:23.41
is very clear where
Christ's presence is.
00:17:23.44\00:17:25.94
That's where His
church is, so it's okay.
00:17:25.97\00:17:28.01
Romans 16:5 says,
00:17:28.04\00:17:30.71
"Greet the church
that is in their house."
00:17:30.75\00:17:33.48
So just using few
words there, greet what?
00:17:33.52\00:17:36.05
The church that is in, where?
That's in their house, good.
00:17:36.08\00:17:39.95
Early Christians
had no church, did they?
00:17:39.99\00:17:43.83
So they met in house.
00:17:43.86\00:17:45.19
They relied upon
members, the hospitality,
00:17:45.23\00:17:50.37
that they would
open their doors and say
00:17:50.40\00:17:51.87
we have a small group here,
00:17:51.90\00:17:53.27
we don't have a
building anywhere
00:17:53.30\00:17:54.64
so just come to my
house we'll have church,
00:17:54.67\00:17:56.84
we'll sing some songs,
00:17:56.87\00:17:58.21
we'll read some
scripture and praise God.
00:17:58.24\00:18:00.04
Now notice this,
Acts 12:12 is interesting,
00:18:00.08\00:18:04.15
is simply it says this,
there was a prayer meeting
00:18:04.18\00:18:07.05
held at Mary's house.
00:18:07.08\00:18:09.98
This was the mother of John.
00:18:10.02\00:18:11.92
So there was a prayer meeting,
00:18:11.95\00:18:13.29
there was a group
that came together,
00:18:13.32\00:18:15.16
you know, mother of...
00:18:15.19\00:18:18.09
John. Yeah, was it John?
00:18:18.13\00:18:20.00
Okay, 1 Corinthians 16:19.
00:18:20.03\00:18:23.30
1 Corinthians 16:19 says,
00:18:23.33\00:18:26.74
and it talks about
Aquila and Priscilla,
00:18:26.77\00:18:28.97
they had a
church in their house.
00:18:29.00\00:18:32.07
Why?
00:18:32.11\00:18:33.44
Because church buildings
00:18:33.48\00:18:34.81
were not common until
about the 2nd century.
00:18:34.84\00:18:38.11
And so then people begin
to go and begin to expand,
00:18:38.15\00:18:41.45
but this worked
out rather nicely
00:18:41.48\00:18:43.55
because the chance to grow
Jesus use small groups, why?
00:18:43.59\00:18:48.06
Thought He could
keep them close to Him.
00:18:48.09\00:18:49.92
He could teach
them and show them
00:18:49.96\00:18:52.06
and certainly put them out there
00:18:52.09\00:18:53.43
so they could evangelize.
00:18:53.46\00:18:54.80
Another passage of
scripture in Colossians 4:15
00:18:54.83\00:18:57.70
simply says
this, what do you say?
00:18:57.73\00:18:59.23
It talks about,
"Salute the brethren
00:18:59.27\00:19:01.07
and the church
which is in the house."
00:19:01.10\00:19:04.04
So to me, there's
biblical foundation
00:19:04.07\00:19:05.77
that we can say, "Okay,
00:19:05.81\00:19:07.14
then in
beginning God said there,
00:19:07.18\00:19:08.51
you'd have the house and,
you know, church in houses,
00:19:08.54\00:19:10.91
it's okay to do that."
00:19:10.95\00:19:12.35
And I really believe
and I'm very encouraged
00:19:12.38\00:19:14.78
by what I hear
in leadership today,
00:19:14.82\00:19:17.09
encouraging home churches or,
00:19:17.12\00:19:19.62
you know, where
you can't get out
00:19:19.65\00:19:20.99
anywhere else is
to come together,
00:19:21.02\00:19:22.46
study the Word of God,
00:19:22.49\00:19:23.83
and then branch out and to go.
00:19:23.86\00:19:25.19
So I'm encouraged by that.
00:19:25.23\00:19:26.56
Want to turn my Bible to Book
of Exodus, Exodus Chapter 18.
00:19:26.59\00:19:30.07
I wanna read this,
00:19:30.10\00:19:31.43
I think it's
very, very important,
00:19:31.47\00:19:32.80
several verses, verses 24-25,
00:19:32.83\00:19:38.57
no, 21-25, Exodus Chapter 18.
00:19:38.61\00:19:43.21
Always like say,
notice what the Bible says.
00:19:43.24\00:19:45.31
Notice what the Bible says here.
00:19:45.35\00:19:46.92
It says,
"Moreover, thou shalt provide
00:19:46.95\00:19:50.32
out of all the people
able men, such as," what?
00:19:50.35\00:19:54.26
"Fear God, men of truth,"
00:19:54.29\00:19:56.06
this is Exodus 18
remember starting verse 21.
00:19:56.09\00:19:59.26
Notice this,
"hating covetousness,
00:19:59.29\00:20:01.00
and place such over them,
to be rulers of thousands,
00:20:01.03\00:20:04.27
rulers of
hundreds, rulers of," what?
00:20:04.30\00:20:06.00
"Fifties, and rulers of tens."
00:20:06.03\00:20:09.10
Now verse 22,
00:20:09.14\00:20:10.87
"And let them judge
the people at all seasons,
00:20:10.91\00:20:13.34
and it shall be,
that every great matter
00:20:13.38\00:20:15.74
that they shall bring unto thee,
00:20:15.78\00:20:17.11
but every matter small
matter they shall judge,
00:20:17.15\00:20:20.08
so shall it be
easier for thyself,
00:20:20.12\00:20:22.92
and they shall bear
the burden of thee."
00:20:22.95\00:20:25.45
Now who's really speaking?
00:20:25.49\00:20:26.82
What's going on here?
You remember the background?
00:20:26.86\00:20:29.32
Wasn't this Moses's
father-in-law Jethro?
00:20:29.36\00:20:31.83
It is coming without...
00:20:31.86\00:20:33.19
You think about
if you went to Moses,
00:20:33.23\00:20:35.23
you know, the man of
God, Moses the man, right?
00:20:35.26\00:20:37.80
And then you
would, the father-in-law,
00:20:37.83\00:20:39.17
he can come and say,
"Look, I've got some advice."
00:20:39.20\00:20:40.97
You know what a meek man
he was, what a man of God
00:20:41.00\00:20:43.67
because he was willing to
listen the burdens were heavy,
00:20:43.71\00:20:46.74
and he needs some help.
00:20:46.78\00:20:48.94
Verse 23 says, "If
thou shalt do this thing,
00:20:48.98\00:20:51.91
and God command thee so,
00:20:51.95\00:20:54.05
then shalt thou
be able to endure,
00:20:54.08\00:20:56.08
and all the people
shall," notice this,
00:20:56.12\00:20:57.95
"also go to
their place in peace.
00:20:57.99\00:21:01.36
So Moses hearkened
00:21:01.39\00:21:02.72
to the voice of
his father-in-law,
00:21:02.76\00:21:04.09
and did all that he had said.
00:21:04.13\00:21:06.26
Moses chose what
able man out of Israel,
00:21:06.29\00:21:09.10
made them heads over the people,
00:21:09.13\00:21:10.60
rulers thousands,
rulers over hundreds,
00:21:10.63\00:21:12.83
rulers over fifties,
and rulers over ten."
00:21:12.87\00:21:15.70
So here's where
it really developed.
00:21:15.74\00:21:17.11
We read here,
heavy responsibility
00:21:17.14\00:21:19.67
here was resting on the
leaders of God's Church,
00:21:19.71\00:21:23.04
God's movement, I
mean, it gets to be head.
00:21:23.08\00:21:25.15
There's some people who
like that responsibility.
00:21:25.18\00:21:27.68
There's some
people who, in fact,
00:21:27.72\00:21:30.19
nothing can be done
unless it's approved by them
00:21:30.22\00:21:32.52
and run by them,
but here real wisdom
00:21:32.55\00:21:34.86
is simply that we get counsel,
00:21:34.89\00:21:36.96
we get help
because the work is great.
00:21:36.99\00:21:40.30
And we need help so
that we can go about doing
00:21:40.33\00:21:42.46
what God is, you
know, impressed us to do
00:21:42.50\00:21:45.13
not get caught up
in some of the things
00:21:45.17\00:21:46.50
that need to be done,
00:21:46.53\00:21:47.87
but not what maybe
we're supposed to be doing.
00:21:47.90\00:21:49.77
Moses tried to shoulder
all of this responsibility,
00:21:49.80\00:21:53.27
too heavy, it would crush him
00:21:53.31\00:21:55.14
if he continued on the
way, his family saw it,
00:21:55.18\00:21:58.05
that I'm sure the
other leaders saw it.
00:21:58.08\00:21:59.41
And so naturally,
00:21:59.45\00:22:00.78
they want to
step out and to help.
00:22:00.82\00:22:02.58
And so Jethro
came in with a plan
00:22:02.62\00:22:04.82
to distribute the work,
00:22:04.85\00:22:06.52
even told Moses to
appoint rulers over what?
00:22:06.55\00:22:09.42
Thousands and over
hundreds and fifties and tens.
00:22:09.46\00:22:12.49
Notice this, all,
notice the word circle,
00:22:12.53\00:22:15.66
all in the camp of Israel
00:22:15.70\00:22:17.73
became at the beginning
a part of a group of ten.
00:22:17.77\00:22:22.30
Kind of
interesting. All were involved.
00:22:22.34\00:22:24.41
Again, we saw small groups.
Leaders must be qualified.
00:22:24.44\00:22:27.94
I like that part, you
know, what is a leadership?
00:22:27.98\00:22:30.58
He said, "There's
qualifications here.
00:22:30.61\00:22:33.11
Men should be as fear
God, men who have been.
00:22:33.15\00:22:36.38
I wanna call it born
again, men who are...
00:22:36.42\00:22:38.29
You just don't grab somebody
and stick them into office
00:22:38.32\00:22:40.66
because you don't
have anybody else.
00:22:40.69\00:22:42.56
Somebody said,
"I'll take the job.
00:22:42.59\00:22:44.69
If I'll take the job
if no one else will do it.
00:22:44.73\00:22:48.36
I said to them
at a board meeting
00:22:48.40\00:22:49.96
then you don't get it."
00:22:50.00\00:22:51.63
Maybe that's a
little loud, isn't it?
00:22:51.67\00:22:53.00
What they were
going to take it pastor
00:22:53.03\00:22:54.60
because no one else would do it.
00:22:54.64\00:22:56.50
You know, they're not gonna
do a good job if they do that.
00:22:56.54\00:22:58.87
Yeah, you have to want to
do it for the cause of Christ,
00:22:58.91\00:23:02.11
not because no
one else will take it.
00:23:02.14\00:23:03.61
So he chose men that fear God,
00:23:03.65\00:23:08.25
men who were born again,
00:23:08.28\00:23:09.98
men who were
converted, notice, men of truth,
00:23:10.02\00:23:14.19
notice it, hating
covetousness, and so on.
00:23:14.22\00:23:16.93
They would judge people in
all seasons in small things,
00:23:16.96\00:23:19.23
and the big things
would go back to Moses,
00:23:19.26\00:23:21.70
but notice that reminds
me so much of 1 Timothy 3,
00:23:21.73\00:23:26.57
where you get the
qualifications of deacons
00:23:26.60\00:23:28.97
and deaconess
word and elders, right,
00:23:29.00\00:23:30.64
bishops of the
church, their qualifications,
00:23:30.67\00:23:33.38
and, you know,
words never hurry anyone
00:23:33.41\00:23:35.84
into that office,
they have to be proven,
00:23:35.88\00:23:38.01
they should be proven men,
00:23:38.05\00:23:39.38
and, you know, in
the cause of Christ.
00:23:39.41\00:23:42.18
And, well, I know
of the qualification
00:23:42.22\00:23:43.55
I'll probably get in
trouble if I say that,
00:23:43.59\00:23:44.92
but one of the
qualifications simply says that
00:23:44.95\00:23:46.65
they need to rule
their own house well.
00:23:46.69\00:23:48.82
That's going to
disqualify quite a few
00:23:48.86\00:23:50.19
as far as I'm concerned.
00:23:50.23\00:23:51.56
That's just me.
Let me go with that.
00:23:51.59\00:23:53.43
Later when we're
choosing the 70 elders.
00:23:53.46\00:23:56.67
It's okay to have
a personal opinion,
00:23:56.70\00:23:58.07
isn't that right?
00:23:58.10\00:23:59.43
Based upon experience and things
00:23:59.47\00:24:00.80
that you've seen so on so,
00:24:00.84\00:24:02.17
that says it in the Word of God,
00:24:02.20\00:24:03.54
then what we're gonna do?
00:24:03.57\00:24:04.91
We're gonna stick with it.
00:24:04.94\00:24:06.27
That's what it
says all of the things.
00:24:06.31\00:24:07.64
Okay.
00:24:07.68\00:24:09.01
Moses lay the solemn charge
on these men choosing the 70,
00:24:09.04\00:24:10.65
you know, elders,
00:24:10.68\00:24:12.05
and it's still good
for the church today.
00:24:12.08\00:24:14.02
And I wish we had
more time we agree that,
00:24:14.05\00:24:15.48
but just jot it
down, Deuteronomy 1:16-17.
00:24:15.52\00:24:21.02
This is good counsel.
00:24:21.06\00:24:23.73
We're not too big
to receive counsel.
00:24:23.76\00:24:26.63
It's good we come
together as a grace of God,
00:24:26.66\00:24:29.63
we counsel, we pray together.
00:24:29.66\00:24:31.57
And, you know, and God is sure
to give us the right answers,
00:24:31.60\00:24:35.04
but never get to high horse
00:24:35.07\00:24:36.50
that we can't
listen to other people
00:24:36.54\00:24:38.67
or not listen to God,
God, all He wants to do
00:24:38.71\00:24:41.58
is to help us in this work.
00:24:41.61\00:24:43.31
He wants to
alleviate lot of the burdens
00:24:43.35\00:24:44.91
that many people carry
that need not carry them.
00:24:44.95\00:24:47.82
And let's go about the
business of winning souls
00:24:47.85\00:24:50.29
in the kingdom of God.
00:24:50.32\00:24:51.65
That's why we
are here. Praise God.
00:24:51.69\00:24:54.39
We have the Word
and we go to the Word,
00:24:54.42\00:24:56.52
isn't that right?
00:24:56.56\00:24:57.89
We learn from the
Word and by God's grace,
00:24:57.93\00:24:59.29
we follow the Word.
00:24:59.33\00:25:01.13
Amen.
00:25:01.16\00:25:02.50
Thank you so much, Pastor Kenny.
00:25:02.53\00:25:03.87
We're gonna take a short
break and we'll be right back
00:25:03.90\00:25:06.03
with more study of small groups.
00:25:06.07\00:25:08.04
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Welcome back to our
study dealing with small groups
00:25:43.34\00:25:45.97
as we see evident
throughout Scripture.
00:25:46.01\00:25:48.11
We'll pick it up
with Tuesday, Pastor Ryan,
00:25:48.14\00:25:49.94
"Organized for Service."
00:25:49.98\00:25:51.31
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:25:51.35\00:25:52.68
I'm excited about this one.
00:25:52.71\00:25:54.05
Lots of information and
little time to cover it in,
00:25:54.08\00:25:56.58
but that's okay.
00:25:56.62\00:25:57.95
You don't have to say
it though, Brother Kenny,
00:25:57.99\00:25:59.32
that as you were setting that,
00:25:59.35\00:26:01.62
and bringing that
lesson out beautifully
00:26:01.66\00:26:03.16
about the small
groups in churches, you know,
00:26:03.19\00:26:04.99
churches being essentially
in homes in the first century.
00:26:05.03\00:26:07.90
It's powerful to think
the fact that Jesus Christ,
00:26:07.93\00:26:11.07
and His disciples were driven
out of His own house, right?
00:26:11.10\00:26:14.67
And they had to
literally go relocate.
00:26:14.70\00:26:17.74
And they basically ended
up having church on a mountain
00:26:17.77\00:26:20.48
under an olive
tree, which is powerful.
00:26:20.51\00:26:23.24
I mean, I guess
you could say where,
00:26:23.28\00:26:25.15
you know, if you're
looking for the churches
00:26:25.18\00:26:26.51
where the people are, right?
00:26:26.55\00:26:28.08
That's where they
are, where they...
00:26:28.12\00:26:29.45
Hey, that's kind of similar
to what your uncle said that
00:26:29.48\00:26:31.89
some powerful words
wherever I go, there I am.
00:26:31.92\00:26:35.62
Well, wherever... Powerful.
00:26:35.66\00:26:37.06
Wherever I go, there I am.
00:26:37.09\00:26:38.43
Wherever the
church is, there they are.
00:26:38.46\00:26:40.76
That's where the people
of God. Praise the Lord.
00:26:40.80\00:26:42.26
Amen.
00:26:42.30\00:26:43.63
I don't know why I
felt the need to say that,
00:26:43.67\00:26:45.00
but that just
worked out perfectly there.
00:26:45.03\00:26:47.10
Talking about organized service,
00:26:47.14\00:26:49.40
we organize and
small groups for service
00:26:49.44\00:26:51.84
and the body of Christ
must function properly.
00:26:51.87\00:26:55.38
And we're gonna be reading
00:26:55.41\00:26:56.81
from 1 Corinthians Chapter 12
00:26:56.85\00:26:59.51
specific verses 12-26.
00:26:59.55\00:27:03.59
So this is a passage
we've already referenced,
00:27:03.62\00:27:06.32
Jill had, I remember
doing a previous lesson
00:27:06.35\00:27:09.02
where you had brought
this particular passage
00:27:09.06\00:27:10.66
out very well.
00:27:10.69\00:27:12.03
We're simply gonna do
a little bit of review,
00:27:12.06\00:27:13.40
but we're gonna
highlight a few things
00:27:13.43\00:27:14.76
as well in
reference to organization
00:27:14.80\00:27:16.93
for the purpose of
serving within the church.
00:27:16.97\00:27:20.34
And so again, 1
Corinthians 12:12-26.
00:27:20.37\00:27:25.17
And so notice what the
Bible begins to say in verse 12.
00:27:25.21\00:27:28.04
It says, "For as the body is one
00:27:28.08\00:27:30.68
and has many members,
00:27:30.71\00:27:32.88
but all the
members of that one body,
00:27:32.91\00:27:34.98
being many, are one
body, so also is Christ."
00:27:35.02\00:27:39.89
That's powerful.
00:27:39.92\00:27:41.26
"For by one Spirit,
00:27:41.29\00:27:42.62
we were all
baptized into one body,
00:27:42.66\00:27:45.39
whether Jews or
Greeks, whether slaves or free,
00:27:45.43\00:27:49.20
and have all been made
to drink into one Spirit."
00:27:49.23\00:27:53.70
I like that, that
unity the one aspect,
00:27:53.74\00:27:55.90
and then verse 14.
00:27:55.94\00:27:57.27
"For in fact the body is
not one member but many."
00:27:57.31\00:28:01.14
And I think that's
kind of a thesis statement
00:28:01.18\00:28:03.61
that would really sum this up
00:28:03.65\00:28:04.98
is that while
we are many people,
00:28:05.01\00:28:07.28
we are still one body.
00:28:07.32\00:28:09.78
And I love the
fact that, you know,
00:28:09.82\00:28:11.15
the unity aspect
is emphasized here
00:28:11.19\00:28:13.49
because isn't that
00:28:13.52\00:28:14.86
what Christ prayed for
in the Garden of Gethsemane
00:28:14.89\00:28:16.29
before being arrested
and taken to the cross?
00:28:16.32\00:28:18.96
He would pray, Lord, you know,
00:28:18.99\00:28:20.43
let them be one
as me You and Me,
00:28:20.46\00:28:23.03
Father are one.
00:28:23.06\00:28:24.50
And so Christ is bringing,
00:28:24.53\00:28:25.87
through the Spirit Christ
is bringing this out to Paul
00:28:25.90\00:28:28.60
here in 1
Corinthians Chapter 12.
00:28:28.64\00:28:30.51
Again, emphasizing
the oneness of the body,
00:28:30.54\00:28:33.64
but yet functioning,
you know, with many members.
00:28:33.68\00:28:37.35
Notice what it continues
on in verse 15 and onwards.
00:28:37.38\00:28:40.25
It says, "If
the foot should say,
00:28:40.28\00:28:42.88
'Because I am not a hand,
00:28:42.92\00:28:45.42
I am not of the body,'
00:28:45.45\00:28:47.19
is it therefore not of the body?
00:28:47.22\00:28:49.92
And if the ear should
say, 'Because I am not an eye,
00:28:49.96\00:28:53.23
I am not of the body,'
00:28:53.26\00:28:54.96
is it therefore not of the body?
00:28:55.00\00:28:57.77
If the whole body were an eye,"
00:28:57.80\00:28:59.93
and we visualize
that a little bit
00:28:59.97\00:29:01.30
in a previous lesson,
00:29:01.34\00:29:02.67
can't imagine the
whole body being an eye,
00:29:02.70\00:29:04.04
be rather something
interesting to look at
00:29:04.07\00:29:06.88
whether what he says right here.
00:29:06.91\00:29:09.04
"If the whole body were an
eye, where would be the hearing?
00:29:09.08\00:29:13.72
If the whole were hearing,
where would be the smelling?"
00:29:13.75\00:29:17.75
And then notice verse 18.
00:29:17.79\00:29:19.12
"But now God
has set the members,
00:29:19.15\00:29:21.99
each one of them,
00:29:22.02\00:29:23.43
in the body just as He pleases."
00:29:23.46\00:29:26.23
And I wanna emphasize that.
00:29:26.26\00:29:28.33
We are functioning together,
00:29:28.36\00:29:30.47
yes, in one body, many,
many people in one body,
00:29:30.50\00:29:34.30
but notice, who
does the setting,
00:29:34.34\00:29:36.74
who does the distributing
of the different services
00:29:36.77\00:29:41.11
in the small groups as He wills?
00:29:41.14\00:29:42.84
It's God.
00:29:42.88\00:29:44.25
He says here,
00:29:44.28\00:29:45.61
"In the body
just as He pleases."
00:29:45.65\00:29:47.32
So it's fascinating to me,
00:29:47.35\00:29:49.02
as we brought this
up earlier in a study
00:29:49.05\00:29:51.35
that there's people
that will, you know, say,
00:29:51.39\00:29:52.72
"Well, you know,
00:29:52.75\00:29:54.09
I don't really wanna serve here,
00:29:54.12\00:29:55.46
I want to serve over there.
00:29:55.49\00:29:56.83
I envy those who
get to serve in this
00:29:56.86\00:29:58.19
or get this particular
position or that position or,
00:29:58.23\00:30:00.36
you know, we squander and
we quarrel over, you know,
00:30:00.40\00:30:03.53
these little bitty issues."
00:30:03.57\00:30:04.90
But yet in a sense,
00:30:04.93\00:30:06.27
what we're
essentially saying is God,
00:30:06.30\00:30:07.64
you misplaced me.
00:30:07.67\00:30:09.00
You put me somewhere
that I don't wanna be, right?
00:30:09.04\00:30:11.24
And so you're challenging God,
00:30:11.27\00:30:12.81
but He has put you
there just as He pleased.
00:30:12.84\00:30:15.81
In verse 19, it says,
00:30:15.84\00:30:17.18
"And if they
were all one member,
00:30:17.21\00:30:19.28
where would the body be?"
00:30:19.31\00:30:22.15
Now let's go to
verse 20 and onward.
00:30:22.18\00:30:24.39
"But now indeed
there are many members,
00:30:24.42\00:30:26.92
again, yet one body."
00:30:26.96\00:30:28.29
He establishes that
clearly throughout this passage.
00:30:28.32\00:30:31.43
"And the eye
cannot say to the hand,
00:30:31.46\00:30:33.13
'I have no need of you,'
00:30:33.16\00:30:34.60
nor again the head to the
feet, 'I have no need of you.'
00:30:34.63\00:30:38.10
No, much rather,
those members of the body
00:30:38.13\00:30:41.20
which seem to be
weaker are necessary."
00:30:41.24\00:30:45.64
And then verse 23.
00:30:45.67\00:30:47.01
Notice this, "And
those members of the body
00:30:47.04\00:30:49.68
which we think to
be less honorable,
00:30:49.71\00:30:52.95
on these we
bestow greater honor,"
00:30:52.98\00:30:56.52
like that's powerful,
00:30:56.55\00:30:57.89
but to think that
someone might think in
00:30:57.92\00:30:59.59
that way like, you
know, I'm in a higher position
00:30:59.62\00:31:01.72
or I'm in a greater position,
00:31:01.76\00:31:03.09
and they're in a
less important position
00:31:03.12\00:31:04.83
or, you know,
00:31:04.86\00:31:06.19
they're not as
honorable as where I am,
00:31:06.23\00:31:08.26
but get some
people may have that
00:31:08.30\00:31:10.00
stinking thinking in their head,
00:31:10.03\00:31:11.60
but notice God
brings, He brings it up here.
00:31:11.63\00:31:13.60
He says, "Look, we bestow
00:31:13.64\00:31:15.24
upon those
people greater honor."
00:31:15.27\00:31:17.47
And our unpresentable parts
00:31:17.51\00:31:19.57
as pastor brought
out in a previous lesson.
00:31:19.61\00:31:21.78
The unpresentable
parts have greater modesty,
00:31:21.81\00:31:24.31
those people who
are under the stage
00:31:24.35\00:31:25.95
or behind the stage may
not be in the public eye,
00:31:25.98\00:31:28.55
they're doing a great
work for the Lord as well.
00:31:28.58\00:31:31.29
Verse 25, "That there
should be no schism in the body,
00:31:31.32\00:31:34.69
but that the members should have
00:31:34.72\00:31:36.12
the same care for one another."
00:31:36.16\00:31:38.83
And then I love how
this passage ends here
00:31:38.86\00:31:40.40
or this particular segment ends,
00:31:40.43\00:31:41.76
it says, "And if
one member suffers,
00:31:41.80\00:31:44.07
all members suffer within it,
and if one member is honored,
00:31:44.10\00:31:47.70
all members rejoice in it."
00:31:47.74\00:31:49.87
I love that beautiful
system of organization
00:31:49.90\00:31:53.68
that is established here.
00:31:53.71\00:31:55.74
And what's interesting to me
00:31:55.78\00:31:57.11
is when you study
this particular passage,
00:31:57.15\00:31:59.11
you will see that
God likens the service
00:31:59.15\00:32:01.25
or the organization
00:32:01.28\00:32:02.62
of the small
groups into systems.
00:32:02.65\00:32:04.32
He likens it, kind of
He uses the body analogies,
00:32:04.35\00:32:07.32
He uses anatomy analogies.
00:32:07.36\00:32:09.62
In other words, you know,
our human body is made up of
00:32:09.66\00:32:12.33
multiple different systems.
00:32:12.36\00:32:14.20
And it's not limited to the ones
00:32:14.23\00:32:15.70
that I'm about to mention,
but I'm thinking of, you know,
00:32:15.73\00:32:17.50
the digestive system,
the cardiovascular system,
00:32:17.53\00:32:20.20
the respiratory
system, the nervous system,
00:32:20.24\00:32:21.97
the skeletal system.
00:32:22.00\00:32:23.77
What would happen if we remove
00:32:23.81\00:32:25.47
the skeletal
system from the body?
00:32:25.51\00:32:27.91
If you took out all
the tendons and the joints
00:32:27.94\00:32:29.51
and the bones
and you removed it,
00:32:29.54\00:32:30.91
what would you have left?
00:32:30.95\00:32:32.28
That would be crazy
to think about, right?
00:32:32.31\00:32:33.65
The body wouldn't
be able to stand it,
00:32:33.68\00:32:35.15
but it would just be a
limber, power flub, right,
00:32:35.18\00:32:38.15
or what, I don't know
00:32:38.19\00:32:39.52
if that's the
correct word to say,
00:32:39.55\00:32:40.89
but essentially, that's
exactly what God is saying here.
00:32:40.92\00:32:43.39
He says you remove
one of these systems,
00:32:43.43\00:32:45.36
that if it doesn't
function properly in
00:32:45.39\00:32:47.10
and of itself as a
combined organized system,
00:32:47.13\00:32:50.17
then the rest of
the body suffers for it.
00:32:50.20\00:32:51.97
Could you imagine
that if somebody obviously
00:32:52.00\00:32:54.47
cardiovascular
system fails them?
00:32:54.50\00:32:56.60
The rest of the body follows.
00:32:56.64\00:32:58.47
Spiritual gifts,
now here's the point.
00:32:58.51\00:33:00.54
Spiritual gifts are like
00:33:00.58\00:33:01.91
the different parts of the body.
00:33:01.94\00:33:03.75
They function best
00:33:03.78\00:33:05.11
when organized
into systems or groups.
00:33:05.15\00:33:07.88
So if everyone is functioning
00:33:07.92\00:33:09.32
within their
smaller grouped system
00:33:09.35\00:33:11.29
that is
organized for the purpose
00:33:11.32\00:33:13.19
of
functionality and advancement,
00:33:13.22\00:33:15.42
then the entire
body functions well,
00:33:15.46\00:33:17.73
at the same time,
00:33:17.76\00:33:19.09
they cannot function at
all long-term on their own.
00:33:19.13\00:33:22.76
They must work
together organized
00:33:22.80\00:33:24.50
within their
system of functionality
00:33:24.53\00:33:26.37
for the whole body
to function properly.
00:33:26.40\00:33:28.80
Like the body, the
church functions best
00:33:28.84\00:33:32.64
from a small group standpoint,
00:33:32.67\00:33:34.64
I love this quote here
00:33:34.68\00:33:36.01
that is brought
out in the lesson
00:33:36.04\00:33:37.75
from Testimonies of the Church,
volume 7, page 21 and 22.
00:33:37.78\00:33:41.68
I love this.
00:33:41.72\00:33:43.22
As she says in
the opening sentence,
00:33:43.25\00:33:44.82
"The formation
of small companies
00:33:44.85\00:33:47.12
as a basis of Christian
effort has been presented to me
00:33:47.16\00:33:52.03
by One who cannot err."
00:33:52.06\00:33:54.46
So she's saying right up front,
00:33:54.50\00:33:55.83
what I'm about to tell
you about the functioning
00:33:55.86\00:33:57.83
of God's Church in
smaller group systems?
00:33:57.87\00:34:00.47
She says, this was not
just something I cooped up,
00:34:00.50\00:34:02.97
this was given to me by the one
00:34:03.00\00:34:04.71
who cannot err,
obviously this comes from God.
00:34:04.74\00:34:07.04
She goes on to say,
00:34:07.08\00:34:08.41
"If there is a large
number in the church,
00:34:08.44\00:34:10.61
let the members be
formed into small companies,
00:34:10.65\00:34:13.58
to work not only
for the church members,
00:34:13.62\00:34:16.95
but for unbelievers."
00:34:16.99\00:34:18.85
That's powerful.
00:34:18.89\00:34:20.22
We are to not just function,
00:34:20.26\00:34:21.82
we're just each
other within the church
00:34:21.86\00:34:24.39
as perhaps a club would
00:34:24.43\00:34:26.26
because the church isn't a club.
00:34:26.29\00:34:27.96
You know, we're
here to serve each other
00:34:28.00\00:34:29.76
and all of those
outside of the body as well.
00:34:29.80\00:34:31.73
She goes...
00:34:31.77\00:34:33.10
She said, goes on to
say, but also for unbelievers.
00:34:33.13\00:34:35.80
"If in one place
there are only two or three
00:34:35.84\00:34:38.97
who know the truth,
let them form themselves
00:34:39.01\00:34:41.78
into a band of workers."
00:34:41.81\00:34:44.65
I love that.
00:34:44.68\00:34:46.01
"Let them keep their
bond of union unbroken,
00:34:46.05\00:34:48.48
pressing together
in love and unity,
00:34:48.52\00:34:51.55
encouraging one
another to advance,
00:34:51.59\00:34:54.59
each gaining
courage and strength
00:34:54.62\00:34:56.73
from the
assistance of the others."
00:34:56.76\00:35:00.53
So basically in conclusion,
00:35:00.56\00:35:02.43
and the little time I have left,
00:35:02.46\00:35:03.87
small group
ministry is ordained by God
00:35:03.90\00:35:07.50
to enable each
church member to grow,
00:35:07.54\00:35:10.31
spiritually
experience, warm fellowship,
00:35:10.34\00:35:13.54
and utilize their God
given gifts in service.
00:35:13.58\00:35:17.35
Now unfortunately,
00:35:17.38\00:35:18.71
this plan doesn't
always function well
00:35:18.75\00:35:21.72
within the church for
many different reasons,
00:35:21.75\00:35:24.25
whether it be power, hungry,
00:35:24.29\00:35:25.62
dictators who want
to do things their way,
00:35:25.65\00:35:28.42
but really,
ultimately it comes down
00:35:28.46\00:35:30.03
that I find is usually
00:35:30.06\00:35:31.49
the system
doesn't function properly
00:35:31.53\00:35:33.53
because, you know,
the lack of revival,
00:35:33.56\00:35:35.70
the lack of personal dedicated
daily devotion to Christ,
00:35:35.73\00:35:39.20
if we are connected
00:35:39.23\00:35:40.57
and in tune
with the Holy Spirit,
00:35:40.60\00:35:41.94
and the Holy
Spirit is truly leading
00:35:41.97\00:35:43.37
and guiding us, then
this small group system
00:35:43.41\00:35:45.84
for the purpose of
service will function properly
00:35:45.87\00:35:48.91
and God's Church will grow
00:35:48.94\00:35:50.61
and it will advance
according to His plan.
00:35:50.65\00:35:54.08
Amen. Amen.
00:35:54.12\00:35:55.45
Praise the
Lord. Praise the Lord.
00:35:55.48\00:35:57.29
You know, I sense
that each one of you
00:35:57.32\00:35:59.49
could keep on
going, if time would allow,
00:35:59.52\00:36:03.63
but my part is to Wednesday
00:36:03.66\00:36:06.90
"New Testament Small
Groups" in the lesson.
00:36:06.93\00:36:10.57
And as we look
at the Book of Acts,
00:36:10.60\00:36:13.10
we noticed that the
"Church exploded in growth.
00:36:13.13\00:36:17.17
In a few short years it grew
from small groups of believers
00:36:17.21\00:36:21.28
to tens of
thousands of worshipers."
00:36:21.31\00:36:23.01
As the lesson brings out.
00:36:23.04\00:36:24.85
And one of the
contributing factors
00:36:24.88\00:36:26.55
for the rapid growth of
the New Testament Church
00:36:26.58\00:36:29.58
was their small
group organization.
00:36:29.62\00:36:32.59
Now I want to
underline and highlight,
00:36:32.62\00:36:36.83
underline and highlight that
00:36:36.86\00:36:39.06
we're talking about small groups
00:36:39.09\00:36:40.63
as a New Testament
example that we see here.
00:36:40.66\00:36:45.13
This by no means says that
00:36:45.17\00:36:46.97
we are not to unite
in churches together.
00:36:47.00\00:36:50.81
This small group ministries
is done during the week,
00:36:50.84\00:36:55.51
and you come
together on the Sabbath day
00:36:55.54\00:36:57.55
to worship together
00:36:57.58\00:36:58.91
all the small
groups come together,
00:36:58.95\00:37:01.05
and this will be of
encouragement to believers.
00:37:01.08\00:37:05.25
What a blessing
00:37:05.29\00:37:06.62
when we think of the
General Conference session,
00:37:06.65\00:37:09.52
when groups of believers
00:37:09.56\00:37:12.79
come from all over
the world, unite together,
00:37:12.83\00:37:16.80
and, you know, we've seen places
00:37:16.83\00:37:18.63
where we have 50,000 believers,
00:37:18.67\00:37:21.07
70,000, I think at one
time we had close to 80,000.
00:37:21.10\00:37:24.97
What a blessing to see people
00:37:25.01\00:37:26.41
from different
cultures together,
00:37:26.44\00:37:28.24
worshiping God, and singing.
00:37:28.28\00:37:30.75
We have this hope that
burns within our heart,
00:37:30.78\00:37:34.22
what a blessing.
00:37:34.25\00:37:35.65
And, of course, this is,
00:37:35.68\00:37:37.32
you can sing the same
song in a little group
00:37:37.35\00:37:39.62
and it's a blessing,
00:37:39.65\00:37:40.99
but when you see the
great company of believers,
00:37:41.02\00:37:44.09
it's a tremendous blessing that
00:37:44.13\00:37:45.83
we should have
the opportunity to...
00:37:45.86\00:37:49.46
Example, if you have never gone
00:37:49.50\00:37:50.83
to a General Conference session,
00:37:50.87\00:37:52.20
the next one
make it a point to go.
00:37:52.23\00:37:54.60
So let's continue here
as we go to Acts 18:1-5,
00:37:54.64\00:37:59.81
you will notice some things here
00:37:59.84\00:38:02.91
that Paul brings out.
00:38:02.94\00:38:05.08
And there are many lessons
00:38:05.11\00:38:06.72
we can gather from these verses.
00:38:06.75\00:38:08.08
We're gonna go to Acts 18:1-5.
00:38:08.12\00:38:11.65
And these are the words we find,
00:38:11.69\00:38:13.02
"After these
things Paul departed
00:38:13.05\00:38:14.62
from Athens and went to Corinth.
00:38:14.66\00:38:16.93
And he found a
certain Jew named Aquila,"
00:38:16.96\00:38:20.46
and some people say
Aquila, "born in Pontus,
00:38:20.50\00:38:23.10
who had recently come from Italy
00:38:23.13\00:38:25.37
with his wife Priscilla
00:38:25.40\00:38:26.74
because Claudius had
commanded all the Jews
00:38:26.77\00:38:29.34
to depart from
Rome, and he came to them.
00:38:29.37\00:38:31.94
So, because he
was of the same trade,
00:38:31.97\00:38:34.31
he stayed with them and worked,
00:38:34.34\00:38:36.14
for by occupation
they were tentmakers.
00:38:36.18\00:38:38.55
And he reasoned
00:38:38.58\00:38:39.91
in the synagogue every Sabbath,"
00:38:39.95\00:38:41.72
there they work together,
00:38:41.75\00:38:43.22
"and persuaded
both Jews and Greeks.
00:38:43.25\00:38:45.45
When Silas and Timothy
had come from Macedonia,
00:38:45.49\00:38:47.96
Paul was
compelled by the Spirit,
00:38:47.99\00:38:50.03
and testified to the Jews
that Jesus is the Christ."
00:38:50.06\00:38:53.83
So we see here is
that and the Book of Acts
00:38:53.86\00:38:56.77
several individuals are
named and the things they do.
00:38:56.80\00:38:59.63
Let's go over to
the Book of Acts 20:1-4.
00:38:59.67\00:39:04.57
And here in
Acts 20:1-4, we have,
00:39:04.61\00:39:08.34
"After the uproar had ceased,
00:39:08.38\00:39:10.25
Paul called the
disciples to himself,
00:39:10.28\00:39:11.95
embrace them,"
what embrace them?
00:39:11.98\00:39:14.85
Yes, "embrace them,
00:39:14.88\00:39:16.32
and departed to
go to Macedonia."
00:39:16.35\00:39:17.99
That's a part of
what believers did.
00:39:18.02\00:39:20.96
They even met each
other with a holy kiss.
00:39:20.99\00:39:23.73
"Now when he had
gone over that region
00:39:23.76\00:39:26.26
and encouraged
them with many words,
00:39:26.29\00:39:29.33
he came to Greece and
stay there three months.
00:39:29.36\00:39:32.00
And when the Jews
plotted against them
00:39:32.03\00:39:33.74
as he was about
to sail to Syria,
00:39:33.77\00:39:36.10
he decided to
return through Macedonia.
00:39:36.14\00:39:38.91
And Sopater of Berea
accompanied him to Asia
00:39:38.94\00:39:42.21
also Aristarchus and
Secundus of the Thessalonians,
00:39:42.24\00:39:46.85
and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy,
00:39:46.88\00:39:48.95
and Tychicus and
Trophimus of Asia."
00:39:48.98\00:39:51.62
So you see people
00:39:51.65\00:39:52.99
from different
cultures meeting together
00:39:53.02\00:39:55.42
and worshiping
God studying together.
00:39:55.46\00:39:58.96
It is a blessing.
00:39:58.99\00:40:00.56
This is, as you heard,
00:40:00.60\00:40:03.23
is to say something
of God's divine order
00:40:03.26\00:40:06.43
from one that cannot err.
00:40:06.47\00:40:08.87
This is a blessing to people.
00:40:08.90\00:40:10.81
What happens when
you are in small groups,
00:40:10.84\00:40:12.64
as you have heard,
00:40:12.67\00:40:14.18
people get to know
one another better,
00:40:14.21\00:40:16.14
you know, and they have
00:40:16.18\00:40:18.41
more opportunity to
participate together.
00:40:18.45\00:40:21.05
And, you know,
I've heard that 6 to 12
00:40:21.08\00:40:23.89
is a good number
for small groups.
00:40:23.92\00:40:26.22
If it grows beyond 12,
00:40:26.25\00:40:27.59
then you should
form another group.
00:40:27.62\00:40:30.46
And so this is after God's order
00:40:30.49\00:40:34.90
that these groups
fortify one another,
00:40:34.93\00:40:36.90
strengthen one another.
00:40:36.93\00:40:38.27
Sometimes in a
large group setting,
00:40:38.30\00:40:39.70
imagine a
church of 1,000 people.
00:40:39.73\00:40:41.94
And you say,
"Well, let's go ahead
00:40:41.97\00:40:43.64
and ask that who wants to
give a testimony for the Lord?"
00:40:43.67\00:40:46.14
Well, you have 1,000 people,
00:40:46.17\00:40:47.91
how long are you gonna be there?
00:40:47.94\00:40:49.38
If everyone really has
an opportunity because we,
00:40:49.41\00:40:52.75
there are scriptures that
say that God daily loads us
00:40:52.78\00:40:55.52
with benefits so each person
00:40:55.55\00:40:57.15
should have something to
testify and glorify God for.
00:40:57.19\00:41:00.69
So the small
groups provide people
00:41:00.72\00:41:02.59
with an opportunity for
their talents to develop,
00:41:02.62\00:41:05.36
opportunity to share to
read the scriptures together.
00:41:05.39\00:41:08.40
And one key element is
prayer, prayer, much prayer.
00:41:08.43\00:41:14.40
And sometimes we
meet together in groups,
00:41:14.44\00:41:17.21
and there's just
too much talking,
00:41:17.24\00:41:18.57
too much talking.
00:41:18.61\00:41:19.94
We need to spend
more time in prayer,
00:41:19.97\00:41:22.41
and the study of God's Word.
00:41:22.44\00:41:24.88
And I would like
to, I'm trying to see
00:41:24.91\00:41:29.22
how I can divide the time
00:41:29.25\00:41:30.59
here to share
something miraculous with you.
00:41:30.62\00:41:33.56
And so let's go ahead
and I'm gonna read to you
00:41:33.59\00:41:38.03
from Manuscript Releases
00:41:38.06\00:41:42.56
12, 241, page 241.
00:41:42.60\00:41:45.23
"My mind has been dwelling
upon the subject of prayer.
00:41:45.27\00:41:48.27
Little groups should gather
and seek the Lord earnestly.
00:41:48.30\00:41:52.47
We are, as a people,
00:41:52.51\00:41:54.74
sadly neglecting
this means of grace.
00:41:54.78\00:41:59.85
Christ declares, and
the words were spoken
00:41:59.88\00:42:02.48
after His resurrection,
'All power is given unto Me
00:42:02.52\00:42:04.95
in heaven and in earth.'
00:42:04.99\00:42:06.32
And because of this power,
00:42:06.35\00:42:08.32
He adds the great
gospel commission.
00:42:08.36\00:42:10.29
'Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations,
00:42:10.33\00:42:12.56
baptizing them in
the name of the Father,
00:42:12.59\00:42:15.13
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost,
00:42:15.16\00:42:16.87
teaching them to
observe all things
00:42:16.90\00:42:18.80
whatsoever I have commanded you,
00:42:18.83\00:42:20.64
and lo, I am with you always,
00:42:20.67\00:42:23.00
even unto the
end of the world.'"
00:42:23.04\00:42:25.74
And so, small
groups is something that
00:42:25.77\00:42:29.64
we find in the New Testament
00:42:29.68\00:42:31.45
as something that
worked well for the church.
00:42:31.48\00:42:35.32
It works well today.
00:42:35.35\00:42:37.29
In some places, it
seems a little difficult
00:42:37.32\00:42:39.39
because for example,
00:42:39.42\00:42:40.76
you think of places
like Chicago, Los Angeles,
00:42:40.79\00:42:42.96
Miami, I've heard of people
00:42:42.99\00:42:46.83
that travel over
an hour to get home,
00:42:46.86\00:42:49.60
by the time you get home
and you eat and, you know,
00:42:49.63\00:42:52.17
when can you do
these small groups.
00:42:52.20\00:42:54.30
And so we have to find a place
because this is a blessing,
00:42:54.34\00:42:59.04
find the time when
these small groups can work
00:42:59.07\00:43:02.18
because it is a
blessing for the church.
00:43:02.21\00:43:04.45
Now I wanna tell you about Peru.
00:43:04.48\00:43:07.48
Peru for many years,
00:43:07.52\00:43:09.92
the Union would
meet together and say,
00:43:09.95\00:43:11.95
"Well, let's see as a
territory of churches,
00:43:11.99\00:43:15.72
how many do you believe?"
00:43:15.76\00:43:17.26
And so they would set a goal
00:43:17.29\00:43:18.66
this year, we wanna win
00:43:18.69\00:43:20.03
X amount of thousands of people.
00:43:20.06\00:43:22.56
And so every year,
they will look how do we do?
00:43:22.60\00:43:25.70
And so the goal was here,
00:43:25.73\00:43:28.10
and the souls or people
that have been won was here,
00:43:28.14\00:43:31.47
and they kept
having trouble reaching,
00:43:31.51\00:43:33.81
reaching this goal.
00:43:33.84\00:43:35.18
And they have
started lowering to come up
00:43:35.21\00:43:37.11
where the people were
really coming in to see,
00:43:37.15\00:43:41.28
okay, we only if they
set a goal for 20,000,
00:43:41.32\00:43:44.09
and only reach 18,000,
then you keep adjusting.
00:43:44.12\00:43:49.39
So somebody say,
"Well, we need to
00:43:49.42\00:43:51.69
let's do a study to see
00:43:51.73\00:43:53.06
how we can best
organize ourselves."
00:43:53.09\00:43:55.13
And they discovered
the Small Group Ministry.
00:43:55.16\00:43:58.30
And we had the
opportunity to go there.
00:43:58.33\00:44:01.10
We had an evangelistic campaign
00:44:01.14\00:44:04.01
that was broadcast on
3ABN in the year 2000.
00:44:04.04\00:44:07.78
We had the
opportunity to go to Lima, Peru
00:44:07.81\00:44:09.81
Pastor Alejandro
Bullon was preaching.
00:44:09.84\00:44:12.28
And at that
time, Elder Jan Paulsen
00:44:12.31\00:44:16.28
was President of
the General Conference.
00:44:16.32\00:44:18.75
And on Friday evening,
00:44:18.79\00:44:23.59
Pastor Jan Paulsen
00:44:23.63\00:44:25.16
had the opportunity to
baptize two individuals
00:44:25.19\00:44:29.36
because the Lord did a
great and mighty things,
00:44:29.40\00:44:33.23
they noticed that when
they organized themselves
00:44:33.27\00:44:35.10
into small groups,
00:44:35.14\00:44:36.57
they set the goal
and they past a goal.
00:44:36.60\00:44:38.71
So now they have
to bring the goal up,
00:44:38.74\00:44:40.48
and they set the
goal and they past a goal.
00:44:40.51\00:44:42.38
And this is what's
about the third year
00:44:42.41\00:44:43.88
when Jan Paulsen was there.
00:44:43.91\00:44:45.61
And he baptized two individuals.
00:44:45.65\00:44:47.75
And when he did this,
00:44:47.78\00:44:49.12
they reached 27,100
people baptized in one year.
00:44:49.15\00:44:53.59
So they said this
is amazing. This works.
00:44:53.62\00:44:56.49
So we had the opportunity
00:44:56.52\00:44:57.86
to be in a meeting
president of unions
00:44:57.89\00:45:00.63
and conferences came
from all over South America.
00:45:00.66\00:45:04.07
And they listened
to what did you do
00:45:04.10\00:45:06.13
to make this happen?
00:45:06.17\00:45:07.50
And they presented
that we organized ourselves
00:45:07.54\00:45:09.40
into small groups.
00:45:09.44\00:45:10.94
And they
presented the plan they had,
00:45:10.97\00:45:12.94
they had a time for singing,
00:45:12.97\00:45:14.61
they had a time for
sharing testimonies,
00:45:14.64\00:45:17.25
they had a time for prayer,
00:45:17.28\00:45:18.95
they will study
the Bible together
00:45:18.98\00:45:20.92
a systematic study of
the topics of the Bible,
00:45:20.95\00:45:23.99
and this is what
made the difference,
00:45:24.02\00:45:26.69
and then somebody said,
"Hey, hey, I have a question."
00:45:26.72\00:45:28.76
One of the
conference president's ask.
00:45:28.79\00:45:30.76
Yes, said the
union president for Peru.
00:45:30.79\00:45:33.16
How is it that, we
noticed that or we noticed that
00:45:33.19\00:45:36.70
there seems to
be unity among you,
00:45:36.73\00:45:39.53
how did you achieve this?
00:45:39.57\00:45:42.00
And so he gave an answer.
00:45:42.04\00:45:44.97
And to me, it was
clear that the answer was,
00:45:45.01\00:45:49.18
we are meeting together,
we are praying together,
00:45:49.21\00:45:52.51
and studying
together and the results
00:45:52.55\00:45:54.72
is unity in God's Church.
00:45:54.75\00:45:56.62
Amen. Wow.
00:45:56.65\00:45:58.65
Wow. Thank you so much.
00:45:58.69\00:46:00.02
Thank you for... Great story.
00:46:00.06\00:46:01.39
Given me all that I need
to code and put this together.
00:46:01.42\00:46:04.13
I wanna come at this
unity idea of small groups
00:46:04.16\00:46:06.93
from a completely
different perspective,
00:46:06.96\00:46:09.03
pointing out
what each group needs
00:46:09.06\00:46:11.13
and what they
need to be cautious of.
00:46:11.17\00:46:13.54
Now it's possible
to be in small groups
00:46:13.57\00:46:15.87
and be together but be dead.
00:46:15.90\00:46:21.48
Ezekiel 37.
00:46:21.51\00:46:23.48
Let's go and see a
picture of Israel the way
00:46:23.51\00:46:26.75
that God didn't
want them to become.
00:46:26.78\00:46:29.22
They went small
groups. There was no division.
00:46:29.25\00:46:35.02
Everybody
finally agreed together.
00:46:35.06\00:46:38.13
There were no arguments.
00:46:38.16\00:46:40.00
No one was trying
to leave the church.
00:46:40.03\00:46:42.73
No one had a
thought that conflicted
00:46:42.76\00:46:45.67
with the other person's thought,
00:46:45.70\00:46:47.80
but they were all dead.
00:46:47.84\00:46:50.34
They were a valley of dry bones.
00:46:50.37\00:46:53.21
So there's unity,
00:46:53.24\00:46:56.24
then there's unity the
way God wants it to be?
00:46:56.28\00:46:59.41
So I like to point this out
00:46:59.45\00:47:00.78
a couple of very
important points,
00:47:00.82\00:47:02.15
you may have heard the story,
00:47:02.18\00:47:03.52
but just very quickly
walk with me, Ezekiel 37,
00:47:03.55\00:47:05.89
"The hand of the Lord," verse 1,
00:47:05.92\00:47:08.52
"came upon me and brought me
out in the Spirit of the Lord,
00:47:08.56\00:47:11.79
and sent me down in
the midst of the valley,
00:47:11.83\00:47:13.36
and it was full of bones.
00:47:13.40\00:47:15.00
Then He caused me to pass
by them all around, and behold,
00:47:15.03\00:47:18.83
there were very
many in the open valley,
00:47:18.87\00:47:20.80
and indeed they were very dry.
00:47:20.84\00:47:24.41
And He said to me, 'Son of
man, can these bones live?'"
00:47:24.44\00:47:27.31
And he answered like a,
he answer like a good pastor.
00:47:27.34\00:47:31.05
"Oh, Lord, you know.
00:47:31.08\00:47:33.55
And he said to me,
'Prophesy to these bones,
00:47:33.58\00:47:37.72
preached to them, say
to them, O dry bones."
00:47:37.75\00:47:41.16
What's the first step
00:47:41.19\00:47:43.96
in bringing people back to life?
00:47:43.99\00:47:46.83
"Hear the word of the
Lord!" That's the first step.
00:47:46.86\00:47:50.43
Verse 5, "Thus says the
Lord God to these bones,
00:47:50.47\00:47:56.00
'Surely I will cause
breath to enter into you,
00:47:56.04\00:47:58.61
and you shall live."
00:47:58.64\00:47:59.97
What's the second step?
God has to breathe on them.
00:48:00.01\00:48:04.21
The word has to
be first imparted.
00:48:04.25\00:48:06.51
This is in all groups,
00:48:06.55\00:48:08.05
then the Lord has
to breathe upon them.
00:48:08.08\00:48:10.32
He breathed upon Adam
the breath of life and Adam
00:48:10.35\00:48:12.65
became a living soul.
00:48:12.69\00:48:14.46
Without groups,
without the word,
00:48:14.49\00:48:17.03
and without the
breath of God in the midst
00:48:17.06\00:48:18.53
are just a valley of dry bones.
00:48:18.56\00:48:20.80
So don't just have
groups for the sake of groups
00:48:20.83\00:48:22.86
because this group was together,
00:48:22.90\00:48:24.23
nobody conflicted,
00:48:24.27\00:48:25.60
the rich and the
poor were together.
00:48:25.63\00:48:27.20
Nobody, there was no disharmony.
00:48:27.24\00:48:29.34
They all finally agreed,
no Republicans, no Democrats,
00:48:29.37\00:48:33.31
they were all in
the same location.
00:48:33.34\00:48:35.11
Nobody argued, but
they were all dead.
00:48:35.14\00:48:38.25
So it may look
perfectly unified,
00:48:38.28\00:48:40.35
but when the Lord's
Word is not imparted,
00:48:40.38\00:48:43.08
and the caution is
some groups get together,
00:48:43.12\00:48:45.85
and they omit the
necessity of God's Word,
00:48:45.89\00:48:48.82
they get together to
have the pastor for lunch.
00:48:48.86\00:48:54.13
That's what I'm talking about.
00:48:54.16\00:48:55.50
They're doing too
much talking, you see.
00:48:55.53\00:48:56.87
Right.
00:48:56.90\00:48:58.23
They get together to gossip,
00:48:58.27\00:48:59.60
to talk about all the
problems in the church,
00:48:59.63\00:49:01.24
they talk about
what they don't like,
00:49:01.27\00:49:03.24
they talk about how things
could be done differently.
00:49:03.27\00:49:05.27
And all they do is
represent a valley of dry bones
00:49:05.31\00:49:08.71
because the Word of
God is not being imparted.
00:49:08.74\00:49:11.21
The Lord will not
breathe on His people,
00:49:11.25\00:49:13.85
unless the Word of
God is imparted first.
00:49:13.88\00:49:16.69
The next thing He has to
do is He has to change the way
00:49:16.72\00:49:18.85
we look in His presence.
00:49:18.89\00:49:20.22
He has to give us
His righteousness.
00:49:20.26\00:49:21.72
Verse 6, "I will put sinew
you and bring flesh upon you,
00:49:21.76\00:49:26.43
cover you with skin
and put breath in you,
00:49:26.46\00:49:29.23
and you shall," what?
00:49:29.26\00:49:30.60
"Live.
00:49:30.63\00:49:31.97
Then you shall know
that I am the Lord."
00:49:32.00\00:49:33.80
Some people don't have
a relationship with God,
00:49:33.84\00:49:35.40
don't know who He is
00:49:35.44\00:49:36.77
because He has not
covered them with His righteous.
00:49:36.81\00:49:39.37
The word, the spirit,
00:49:39.41\00:49:41.84
and then He has to cover
us with His righteousness.
00:49:41.88\00:49:44.28
"So I prophesied,"
verse 7, "as I was commanded,
00:49:44.31\00:49:47.22
and as I
prophesied, there was a noise,
00:49:47.25\00:49:49.45
and suddenly a rattling,
00:49:49.48\00:49:51.69
and the bones came
together, bone to bone."
00:49:51.72\00:49:54.99
You know what?
00:49:55.02\00:49:56.36
If a group is
too quiet, it's dead.
00:49:56.39\00:49:58.63
That's right. It's a fact.
00:49:58.66\00:50:00.00
Yeah. Come on. Am I right?
00:50:00.03\00:50:01.80
Don't say that too loud.
00:50:01.83\00:50:03.16
But have some
noise in the group.
00:50:03.20\00:50:04.93
I cannot stand.
00:50:04.97\00:50:07.10
You know, Ellen
White uses this phrase
00:50:07.14\00:50:08.47
in the Book Evangelism.
00:50:08.50\00:50:09.84
She says, sometimes
the message is going forth.
00:50:09.87\00:50:11.44
I mean, I talk
like a New Yorker,
00:50:11.47\00:50:12.91
sometimes the
message is going forth.
00:50:12.94\00:50:14.94
And she says people
00:50:14.98\00:50:16.31
won't even open
their mouth and bark.
00:50:16.34\00:50:19.75
She called them dead dogs.
00:50:19.78\00:50:22.08
She said the Word of
God is being imparted
00:50:22.12\00:50:23.69
and they won't
even agree with it,
00:50:23.72\00:50:25.29
they won't even bark.
00:50:25.32\00:50:28.42
The word bark means amen.
00:50:28.46\00:50:30.19
Now not that is
a cultural omission
00:50:30.23\00:50:32.13
or commission or a
necessity or not a necessity.
00:50:32.16\00:50:37.17
A man, you know, if
you want to see a preacher,
00:50:37.20\00:50:40.84
if you wanna see
a preacher, preach.
00:50:40.87\00:50:43.81
Somebody once said,
00:50:43.84\00:50:45.17
a dog will not
bite to you say sit 'em
00:50:45.21\00:50:47.58
and a preacher
will really preach
00:50:47.61\00:50:48.94
if you say amen.
00:50:48.98\00:50:50.31
There was a rattling.
00:50:53.18\00:50:54.55
Verse 8.
00:50:54.58\00:50:55.92
"Indeed I looked, the sinew
and the flesh came upon them,
00:50:55.95\00:50:59.12
and the skin covered them,
00:50:59.15\00:51:00.72
but there was
no breath in them."
00:51:00.76\00:51:02.66
They needed something else.
00:51:02.69\00:51:04.13
The Lord gave
them physical life,
00:51:04.16\00:51:06.63
but some groups
that have physical life
00:51:06.66\00:51:08.63
don't have spiritual life,
00:51:08.66\00:51:11.03
and then he went
on to say very clearly
00:51:11.07\00:51:13.27
what needed to be done.
00:51:13.30\00:51:14.64
Verse 9, "And
He also said to me,
00:51:14.67\00:51:16.20
'Prophesy to the breath,
prophesy son of man, and say,
00:51:16.24\00:51:18.77
to the breath,
'Thus says the Lord,
00:51:18.81\00:51:20.14
'Come from the four winds,
00:51:20.18\00:51:21.51
O breath, and
breathe on these slain,
00:51:21.54\00:51:23.85
and they will live.''"
00:51:23.88\00:51:25.21
As, you know, verse 10,
00:51:25.25\00:51:27.52
"So I prophesied and
breath came into them,
00:51:27.55\00:51:29.82
and they lived, and
stood upon their feet,
00:51:29.85\00:51:32.02
an exceedingly great army."
00:51:32.05\00:51:33.39
The steps of a
small group living is God
00:51:33.42\00:51:38.06
has to call them
through His Word,
00:51:38.09\00:51:40.73
then the Spirit of God has
to bring them back to life,
00:51:40.76\00:51:43.93
then they have to be
covered by His righteousness,
00:51:43.97\00:51:46.63
then He has to fill
them with His spirit.
00:51:46.67\00:51:48.34
Until those four steps
happen in every small group,
00:51:48.37\00:51:51.21
they are nothing but
a valley of dry bones
00:51:51.24\00:51:53.27
unified for no
purpose whatsoever.
00:51:53.31\00:51:55.18
The truth. So did I say that?
00:51:55.21\00:51:57.91
Yes. You said it.
00:51:57.95\00:51:59.28
The things we must
avoid in small groups.
00:51:59.31\00:52:01.68
Let's first start
the positive things
00:52:01.72\00:52:04.19
of small groups.
00:52:04.22\00:52:05.59
Positive things,
when Pastor Finley
00:52:05.62\00:52:08.59
cited Acts 20:17-32.
00:52:08.62\00:52:11.69
I'm just gonna go ahead
00:52:11.73\00:52:13.06
and summarize
what those brought out.
00:52:13.09\00:52:15.00
The positive aspects of a
group that has the Word of God
00:52:15.03\00:52:19.07
that has been
given physical life,
00:52:19.10\00:52:21.74
that means they get
together for a viable purpose,
00:52:21.77\00:52:24.34
that also has the
righteousness of Christ
00:52:24.37\00:52:27.48
operating among them and
that has the Spirit of God
00:52:27.51\00:52:30.25
functioning in and through them.
00:52:30.28\00:52:32.18
Notice what
happens in that group.
00:52:32.21\00:52:34.65
They intercede for others.
00:52:34.68\00:52:37.32
They pray about mutual concerns.
00:52:37.35\00:52:40.06
These are all
brought out in Acts 20:17-32.
00:52:40.09\00:52:45.33
They share warm fellowship,
00:52:45.36\00:52:48.36
the difference
between fellowship
00:52:48.40\00:52:51.00
and friendship is
the Spirit of God.
00:52:51.03\00:52:53.64
Don't go to church
looking for friends.
00:52:53.67\00:52:56.07
You might find a friend,
00:52:56.10\00:52:57.44
but his
friendship is conditional
00:52:57.47\00:52:58.81
until it's koinonia.
00:52:58.84\00:53:00.51
Koinonia brings a unity.
00:53:00.54\00:53:02.78
Koinonia is the sin
that holds us together,
00:53:02.81\00:53:05.65
but friendship
changes only as you agree
00:53:05.68\00:53:08.15
with the other individual.
00:53:08.18\00:53:09.72
The other thing is
study the Word of God.
00:53:09.75\00:53:12.92
They were equipped for service,
a small group that just meets
00:53:12.95\00:53:16.32
for the purpose of
being a small group,
00:53:16.36\00:53:18.36
and does not have a
mission for service is a group
00:53:18.39\00:53:21.13
that has no function whatsoever.
00:53:21.16\00:53:23.57
When you look at the way
00:53:23.60\00:53:24.93
that churches
grow around the world,
00:53:24.97\00:53:26.37
now we know in
America, the pastors of America
00:53:26.40\00:53:29.57
have been made to
be expect him to do all
00:53:29.60\00:53:32.14
in many congregations
00:53:32.17\00:53:33.51
and if he's not doing it
all, the church has not grown.
00:53:33.54\00:53:35.24
And I've asked the question,
"What's your minister's name?"
00:53:35.28\00:53:37.55
And people said,
"Pastor John Dinzey."
00:53:37.58\00:53:41.88
I said, "Really?
What's the pastor's name?"
00:53:41.92\00:53:44.72
Pastor Lomacang.
And you know what?
00:53:44.75\00:53:47.66
The Lord says that
00:53:47.69\00:53:49.96
we must equip the
church for ministry.
00:53:49.99\00:53:54.30
So if you ask the question,
what's the minister's name?
00:53:54.33\00:53:57.47
Please put your own
because we are all ministers.
00:53:57.50\00:54:01.80
Workmen created in
Christ Jesus for good work.
00:54:01.84\00:54:04.74
If a small group also not
only equipping for service,
00:54:04.77\00:54:07.71
but they help protect
00:54:07.74\00:54:09.28
each other
against false teachers.
00:54:09.31\00:54:12.41
When you get
together, make sure that
00:54:12.45\00:54:13.78
what you discuss the doctrinally
00:54:13.82\00:54:16.02
is accepted by
the church at large.
00:54:16.05\00:54:19.12
Did you hear that?
00:54:19.15\00:54:20.49
Because a lot of people
take these outside opinions
00:54:20.52\00:54:22.59
by people on the internet
and on YouTube and on Facebook,
00:54:22.62\00:54:25.83
and they build a doctrine
on the ideologies of a person
00:54:25.86\00:54:28.86
who doesn't even have a flock.
00:54:28.90\00:54:30.93
And I've discovered
that independent ministries
00:54:30.97\00:54:32.73
that don't have
sheep to tend to,
00:54:32.77\00:54:35.40
can cut up anybody
else's sheep and walk away.
00:54:35.44\00:54:38.67
That's why you have these people
00:54:38.71\00:54:40.04
that speak the way they do
00:54:40.08\00:54:41.41
because they don't
have a flock to answer to.
00:54:41.44\00:54:43.21
They're only putting
this stuff on YouTube
00:54:43.24\00:54:44.85
to get you upset
with their organized body.
00:54:44.88\00:54:47.18
Can you imagine?
00:54:47.22\00:54:48.55
They say they don't
support organized religion?
00:54:48.58\00:54:51.05
Who do you know
support disorganized religion?
00:54:51.09\00:54:54.22
That's the only other option.
00:54:54.26\00:54:55.59
Some people said,
00:54:55.62\00:54:56.96
"I don't like
organized religion."
00:54:56.99\00:54:58.33
Well, the Lord
never intended the church
00:54:58.36\00:54:59.69
to be disorganized religion.
00:54:59.73\00:55:01.76
Okay.
00:55:01.80\00:55:03.13
So the positive impact is
00:55:03.16\00:55:04.53
and they participate
together in outreach activities.
00:55:04.57\00:55:07.60
Now, avoid
these negative things.
00:55:07.64\00:55:11.21
Internal plotting
against other groups,
00:55:11.24\00:55:14.91
or against the church,
00:55:14.94\00:55:16.28
or against the conference,
or against the leaders,
00:55:16.31\00:55:18.51
or against other
members you don't like.
00:55:18.55\00:55:21.18
Also, don't use the opportunity
00:55:21.22\00:55:23.92
of small groups
to divide the church
00:55:23.95\00:55:26.29
and draw away
disciples after yourself
00:55:26.32\00:55:29.19
because Paul and
Peter warned about that,
00:55:29.22\00:55:32.03
that some people only
have these small groups
00:55:32.06\00:55:35.66
so that they could draw
people out of your church,
00:55:35.70\00:55:37.27
your church, your
church, your church,
00:55:37.30\00:55:39.10
and create their own movement.
00:55:39.13\00:55:40.84
And we are living in the
day and age where the devil
00:55:40.87\00:55:43.10
has unplugged many
people from the power source.
00:55:43.14\00:55:46.84
So here's the benefit.
00:55:46.88\00:55:48.98
Make a difference for Christ,
00:55:49.01\00:55:50.91
remain united by
using your gifts,
00:55:50.95\00:55:53.42
focus on the power of
the spirit for outreach.
00:55:53.45\00:55:56.05
And don't forget
00:55:56.08\00:55:57.42
without the
righteousness of Christ,
00:55:57.45\00:55:59.19
the small group has
no power whatsoever.
00:55:59.22\00:56:03.22
Amen. Thank you
so much, Pastor John.
00:56:03.26\00:56:05.69
I took notes
there. That's powerful.
00:56:05.73\00:56:08.16
I wanna give each one of
you a moment to share something
00:56:08.20\00:56:10.23
about your day or
about this week in general.
00:56:10.27\00:56:11.83
Pastor Kenny.
00:56:11.87\00:56:13.20
I think, you know,
what I've heard is good.
00:56:13.23\00:56:14.97
It's ringing bells for me.
And there maybe some questions.
00:56:15.00\00:56:18.07
Somebody might just simply
say, you know, this small group,
00:56:18.11\00:56:21.04
again, maybe they
can't go anywhere else,
00:56:21.08\00:56:22.54
maybe they're inside the house,
00:56:22.58\00:56:23.91
or maybe those
come into their house.
00:56:23.95\00:56:25.28
You know, can they
be part of God's church?
00:56:25.31\00:56:27.75
Absolutely, Acts of
the Apostles, 11 says,
00:56:27.78\00:56:29.65
"From the
beginning faithful souls
00:56:29.68\00:56:31.32
have constituted
the church on earth."
00:56:31.35\00:56:33.56
Upward Look, 315,
"The church is those
00:56:33.59\00:56:35.92
that love God and
keep His commandments."
00:56:35.96\00:56:38.19
Amen. I agree
with that for sure.
00:56:38.23\00:56:40.70
Yeah, I would say, I
would just be reminded that
00:56:40.73\00:56:42.23
the Scripture tells us that
Christ is the head of the body,
00:56:42.26\00:56:45.57
which is the church,
and if we just remove self
00:56:45.60\00:56:48.10
out of the way and allow Christ
to lead the church, you know,
00:56:48.14\00:56:51.14
the body would
function a whole lot better.
00:56:51.17\00:56:52.57
Amen. Absolutely.
00:56:52.61\00:56:53.94
Amen. Amen.
00:56:53.98\00:56:55.34
Well, I like to say that
00:56:55.38\00:56:58.61
church meeting together is good,
00:56:58.65\00:57:01.78
small groups
meeting together is good.
00:57:01.82\00:57:04.89
God organized the
first small groups
00:57:04.92\00:57:07.02
that is families.
00:57:07.06\00:57:08.49
So I wanna urge our people
to consider family worship,
00:57:08.52\00:57:12.89
very important whether you
have a family with children,
00:57:12.93\00:57:15.23
whether husband and wife.
00:57:15.26\00:57:17.13
This is your small
group to begin with
00:57:17.17\00:57:19.17
because your family's
your first missionary field.
00:57:19.20\00:57:22.27
Amen.
00:57:22.30\00:57:23.94
And small groups exists
00:57:23.97\00:57:26.21
for three reasons to
lead people to Jesus,
00:57:26.24\00:57:29.94
to nurture their faith in Jesus,
00:57:29.98\00:57:32.25
and to equip them
to witness for Jesus.
00:57:32.28\00:57:35.58
Matthew 5:16,
00:57:35.62\00:57:36.95
"Let your light
so shine before men,
00:57:36.99\00:57:38.95
that they may
see your good works,
00:57:38.99\00:57:41.16
and glorify your
Father which is in heaven."
00:57:41.19\00:57:43.12
Amen.
00:57:43.16\00:57:44.49
Thank you so much, Pastor
John, Pastor Johnny, Ryan,
00:57:44.53\00:57:47.46
and Pastor Kenny.
00:57:47.50\00:57:48.83
Thank you for
sharing from your heart
00:57:48.86\00:57:50.30
and your own journey with Jesus
00:57:50.33\00:57:52.47
and your study
of the Word of God.
00:57:52.50\00:57:54.34
And we're always delighted
when you can join us as well.
00:57:54.37\00:57:57.91
I'm reminded of Psalm
133, David the Psalmist says,
00:57:57.94\00:58:01.61
"Behold, how good
00:58:01.64\00:58:03.48
and how pleasant
it is for brethren,"
00:58:03.51\00:58:06.08
we could say ancestors,
"to dwell together in unity."
00:58:06.11\00:58:10.32
So God calls us
not to be a dead church
00:58:10.35\00:58:13.05
as Pastor John reminded us,
00:58:13.09\00:58:14.72
but we are to be
living by the Word of God,
00:58:14.76\00:58:18.26
breathed on by the Holy Spirit,
00:58:18.29\00:58:20.80
and empowered to share Him
with a lost and dying world.
00:58:20.83\00:58:25.23
Join us again next
week for lesson number 11,
00:58:25.27\00:58:28.50
"Sharing the Story of Jesus."
00:58:28.54\00:58:30.37