WEBVTT 00:00:10.029 --> 00:00:14.029 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the 00:00:14.029 --> 00:00:16.989 disciples, and when he had exhorted them and 00:00:16.989 --> 00:00:21.530 taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia. 00:00:22.149 --> 00:00:24.510 When he had gone through those districts and 00:00:24.510 --> 00:00:28.070 had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece, 00:00:28.289 --> 00:00:32.210 and there he spent three months. And when a thought 00:00:32.210 --> 00:00:36.310 was formed against him by the Jews, as he was 00:00:36.310 --> 00:00:40.390 about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return 00:00:40.390 --> 00:00:44.030 through Macedonia. And he was accompanied by 00:00:44.030 --> 00:00:49.450 Sopater of Berea, the son of Purus, and by Aristarchus 00:00:49.450 --> 00:00:52.990 and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius 00:00:52.990 --> 00:00:57.789 of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus 00:00:57.789 --> 00:01:02.130 of Asia. But these had gone on ahead and were 00:01:02.130 --> 00:01:06.579 waiting for us at Troas. We sailed from Philippi 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:09.900 after the days of unleavened bread and came to 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:14.280 them at Troas within five days, and there we 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:23.079 stayed seven days. In Acts chapter 2, after many, 00:01:23.219 --> 00:01:26.739 many people are converted and brought to Christ, 00:01:26.980 --> 00:01:33.480 we read this. Peter says this to the crowds that 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:37.140 were... Crying out to be saved. And he says this 00:01:37.140 --> 00:01:39.260 to them starting in Acts chapter 2 verse 40. 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:44.299 And with many other words. He solemnly testified 00:01:44.299 --> 00:01:48.719 and kept on exhorting them. Saying be saved from 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:53.159 this perverse generation. So then those who had 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:56.760 received his word were baptized. And that day 00:01:56.760 --> 00:02:01.260 there were added about 3 ,000 souls. They were 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:05.420 continually. devoting themselves to the apostles' 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:10.620 teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:15.539 bread, and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a 00:02:15.539 --> 00:02:19.740 sense of awe, and many wonders and signs were 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:24.159 taking place through the apostles. All of those 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:27.360 who had believed were together and had all things 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:32.229 in common. We'll stop there. In this text we 00:02:32.229 --> 00:02:37.889 see sinners being saved. And what's happening? 00:02:38.069 --> 00:02:43.789 They're leaving the world behind them. And Christ 00:02:43.789 --> 00:02:50.289 is gathering in his people and he's building 00:02:50.289 --> 00:02:55.250 his church. We see people being brought out of 00:02:55.250 --> 00:02:58.810 the world and we see people being brought in 00:02:58.810 --> 00:03:04.889 and added to. the church of Jesus Christ. And 00:03:04.889 --> 00:03:09.250 as they are added to the church, we read that 00:03:09.250 --> 00:03:12.129 they were continually devoting themselves to 00:03:12.129 --> 00:03:15.889 the apostles' teaching and to fellowship and 00:03:15.889 --> 00:03:20.509 to the breaking of bread and to prayer. God saves 00:03:20.509 --> 00:03:24.669 sinners from the consequence and the penalty 00:03:24.669 --> 00:03:29.150 of their sins. He forgives them, He pardons them, 00:03:29.210 --> 00:03:32.370 He justifies them, He makes them new, He makes 00:03:32.370 --> 00:03:34.729 them new creatures, and they live unto His glory, 00:03:34.909 --> 00:03:38.909 and they are brought into these assemblies, these 00:03:38.909 --> 00:03:43.449 congregations, these groups. And those groups 00:03:43.449 --> 00:03:47.729 are churches. And they live in those churches 00:03:47.729 --> 00:03:52.750 throughout their days in this world as trophies 00:03:52.750 --> 00:03:58.219 of God's grace. As trophies of God's mercy. Knowing 00:03:58.219 --> 00:04:00.219 that they are pardoned, that they are forgiven 00:04:00.219 --> 00:04:04.000 in Christ. And living in that grace towards those 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:07.500 they have covenanted together with. And towards 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:12.479 other members of the Christian church as well. 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:18.279 And toward unbelieving sinners outside of the 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:23.449 church. Last week we saw. And we considered really 00:04:23.449 --> 00:04:28.649 Paul's relationship to the churches. We considered 00:04:28.649 --> 00:04:32.050 his ministry, his missionary endeavor, this third 00:04:32.050 --> 00:04:35.790 missionary journey in particular, and what his 00:04:35.790 --> 00:04:40.029 missionary endeavors were characterized by, exhortation 00:04:40.029 --> 00:04:44.730 in the word. We saw that he had this unique relationship 00:04:44.730 --> 00:04:47.930 with local churches and the church universal 00:04:47.930 --> 00:04:53.420 because he is an apostle of Christ. which means 00:04:53.420 --> 00:04:59.839 that Paul had universal authority in every single 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:06.120 local church because he was an apostle. He related 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:10.879 and he interacted with every single local church. 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:15.300 He would correspond with local churches. We really 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:18.759 considered Paul's relationship with these local 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:23.069 churches. But we didn't touch so much on the 00:05:23.069 --> 00:05:27.410 companions of the Apostle Paul here in verses 00:05:27.410 --> 00:05:33.350 4 -6. In verses 4 -6 of Acts chapter 20, we're 00:05:33.350 --> 00:05:38.009 introduced to this group of men who are accompanying 00:05:38.009 --> 00:05:43.430 the Apostle. And today I want to consider their 00:05:43.430 --> 00:05:51.069 relationship to local churches. and their relationship 00:05:51.069 --> 00:05:55.970 to the Apostle Paul. So today we're going to 00:05:55.970 --> 00:06:00.709 consider briefly who these men are. We're going 00:06:00.709 --> 00:06:03.350 to consider the reality that they are cooperating 00:06:03.350 --> 00:06:07.250 together. And we're going to consider the basis 00:06:07.250 --> 00:06:13.370 for their cooperation together. So the first 00:06:13.370 --> 00:06:18.569 thing we must do is consider who these men were. 00:06:19.689 --> 00:06:23.449 Their names are given and locations of their 00:06:23.449 --> 00:06:26.629 churches or their region they're from, their 00:06:26.629 --> 00:06:31.730 accompanying geographical correlation, we could 00:06:31.730 --> 00:06:35.670 say, is given. We're told about Aristarchus. 00:06:37.269 --> 00:06:45.850 Aristarchus, in this text, is referenced throughout 00:06:45.850 --> 00:06:50.850 Scripture by the Apostle. as a brother in Christ, 00:06:50.970 --> 00:06:55.990 a fellow prisoner. We see this a little earlier 00:06:55.990 --> 00:06:59.290 whenever the riot in Ephesus took place. Do you 00:06:59.290 --> 00:07:02.110 remember who they first went to and dragged off? 00:07:02.350 --> 00:07:05.930 It was Aristarchus. We're told a little bit later 00:07:05.930 --> 00:07:08.790 in the book of Colossians, and he is referenced 00:07:08.790 --> 00:07:11.790 as a dear brother in Christ, a faithful servant, 00:07:11.870 --> 00:07:18.279 a fellow prisoner of the apostle Paul. We're 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:22.079 told of Tychicus. He is referred to throughout 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:25.220 the New Testament epistles on various occasions. 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:29.899 He is referred to as a fellow servant, but also 00:07:29.899 --> 00:07:33.860 as a messenger or an ambassador that is trusted 00:07:33.860 --> 00:07:37.800 and utilized by the Apostle Paul and local churches 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:44.410 to interact between them. He's referenced. In 00:07:44.410 --> 00:07:47.709 Ephesians chapter 6 verse 21 and at the end of 00:07:47.709 --> 00:07:52.910 Colossians as well. We're told of Trophimus. 00:07:52.990 --> 00:07:56.970 Now we don't know too much about Trophimus. But 00:07:56.970 --> 00:07:58.889 he is referenced a little bit later in the book 00:07:58.889 --> 00:08:03.490 of Acts. And there the crowds used Trophimus 00:08:03.490 --> 00:08:06.769 as an excuse of laying hold and securing Paul. 00:08:06.970 --> 00:08:10.110 Saying that he had brought an Ephesian Gentile 00:08:10.110 --> 00:08:13.959 into the temple. So we know that Trophimus is 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:18.839 a Gentile believer, most likely from Ephesus 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:22.019 where Paul had planted the church, he had preached 00:08:22.019 --> 00:08:27.220 the gospel, and he had been saved. He's referenced 00:08:27.220 --> 00:08:31.699 in 21 -29, a little bit later in the book of 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:37.299 Acts. Then we're told of Timothy, who also accompanies 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:40.799 Paul on this journey. We know a great deal about... 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:44.320 don't we, brothers and sisters? He was like a 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:48.000 son in the faith to the apostle. And the apostle 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.639 Paul was like a father to Timothy. We read 1 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:56.019 and 2 Timothy, the pastoral epistles, where the 00:08:56.019 --> 00:09:00.580 apostle is giving him practical wisdom and theological 00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:03.980 wisdom with regards to pastoral ministry and 00:09:03.980 --> 00:09:08.970 what that looks like for him. So we know a great 00:09:08.970 --> 00:09:11.230 deal about the faithfulness and the character 00:09:11.230 --> 00:09:16.009 and the labors of young Timothy. But then we're 00:09:16.009 --> 00:09:21.269 told of Sophater, Gaius, and Secundus. We don't 00:09:21.269 --> 00:09:25.610 know too much about these brothers. Sophater 00:09:25.610 --> 00:09:28.169 is not mentioned elsewhere. There's another name 00:09:28.169 --> 00:09:31.370 that someone thinks may refer to him, but most 00:09:31.370 --> 00:09:35.460 likely not. There's another Gaius that is mentioned 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:40.259 in Acts chapter 19 during the uproar in Ephesus. 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:43.639 It's most likely not the same Gaius that is mentioned 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:47.000 here. And what we know about Secundus is that 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:52.460 most likely he is a slave who has been saved 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:57.019 and converted because Secundus was a name or 00:09:57.019 --> 00:10:00.299 a title that was given to slaves, meaning secondary, 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:06.590 second. subservient to the master, essentially. 00:10:06.850 --> 00:10:11.309 So he's probably a slave that was saved in Paul's 00:10:11.309 --> 00:10:17.450 preaching labors. Now, also in this group is 00:10:17.450 --> 00:10:21.289 Luke. We can't forget that. He includes himself, 00:10:21.450 --> 00:10:25.289 though he doesn't mention his name. And then, 00:10:25.350 --> 00:10:29.529 of course, there's the apostle Paul. Now, these 00:10:29.529 --> 00:10:34.940 men... If they're with Paul, obviously that says 00:10:34.940 --> 00:10:39.419 something about their character. It says something 00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:44.000 about their integrity, about who they are. But 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:48.639 we're also told in this text about their affiliation 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:53.340 or their association with local churches. They 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:58.399 are not simply there for their own purposes. 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:02.379 They're not simply traveling with the apostle 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:09.360 for their own cause and agenda. Sophater of Berea 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:13.019 is associated with the church at Berea or in 00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:17.940 Macedonia. Aristarchus and Secundus are associated 00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:21.559 with Thessalonica. What church would that be, 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:27.299 brothers and sisters? The Thessalonians. Gaius 00:11:27.299 --> 00:11:32.129 of Derbe. Timothy is associated with Lystra in 00:11:32.129 --> 00:11:37.090 the book of Acts or the areas of Galatia. Tychicus 00:11:37.090 --> 00:11:39.750 and Trophimus are associated with the province 00:11:39.750 --> 00:11:45.090 of Asia, most likely Ephesus and the church at 00:11:45.090 --> 00:11:49.129 Ephesus and churches in that area. We don't know 00:11:49.129 --> 00:11:56.129 exactly which church Luke is affiliated or associated 00:11:56.129 --> 00:12:01.570 with. Commonly, It is thought that he is a member 00:12:01.570 --> 00:12:07.470 of the church at Philippi. So we have these men 00:12:07.470 --> 00:12:13.149 who are present, but they're present in a representative 00:12:13.149 --> 00:12:18.070 capacity. Most certainly, brothers and sisters, 00:12:18.149 --> 00:12:20.590 we find these men, these companions of the apostle, 00:12:20.929 --> 00:12:26.090 being referenced in 2 Corinthians 8, verses 23 00:12:26.090 --> 00:12:32.120 -24. And we'll go ahead and turn there and read 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:37.799 that. This is the Apostle Paul writing. And he 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:42.159 says this in chapter 8, verses 23 and 24. And 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:44.840 this is within that section where he is expounding 00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:51.080 on the Jerusalem fund, the Jerusalem collection 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:55.500 for the saints at Jerusalem, the poor needy saints. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.440 And here's what he says, starting in verse 23. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:03.679 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:08.299 among you. As for our brethren, they are messengers 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:14.860 of the churches, a glory to Christ. Therefore, 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:18.700 openly before the churches, show them the proof 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:23.360 of your love and of our reason for boasting about 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:27.639 you. Who are these messengers? They are men. 00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:30.720 They are representatives of local churches in 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:34.940 a variety of regions that are accompanying the 00:13:34.940 --> 00:13:39.899 Apostle Paul to deliver the funds to Jerusalem, 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:43.500 brothers and sisters. This whole section in 2 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:46.919 Corinthians 8 -9, Paul is wanting accountability 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:52.559 with regards to delivering the funds to Jerusalem. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:55.820 And he wants the churches to provide men, and 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:59.399 many of them have provided men to go with him, 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:03.460 representatives from their local assembly, to 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:07.500 deliver the funds that he has raised. So here 00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:12.120 we have these brothers, these seven men that 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:21.399 are listed. Here we have Sophater, Aristarchus, 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:26.399 Segundus. Gaius and Timothy and Tychicus and 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:30.480 Trophimus. And we have Luke and Paul. And what 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:35.419 are they doing? They are working together on 00:14:35.419 --> 00:14:39.440 behalf of their local churches accompanying the 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:46.139 Apostle Paul to deliver funds. Now, if their 00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:51.379 churches chose them to accompany the Apostle, 00:14:51.710 --> 00:14:55.929 as a means of accountability to deliver the funds. 00:14:56.649 --> 00:15:00.070 Again, this says something about their character 00:15:00.070 --> 00:15:04.769 and who they were. So knowing a little bit about 00:15:04.769 --> 00:15:07.590 who they were and a little bit about what they 00:15:07.590 --> 00:15:14.710 were doing, we have to secondly recognize the 00:15:14.710 --> 00:15:20.549 fact that These brothers were cooperating or 00:15:20.549 --> 00:15:27.110 working together for the gospel. And it wasn't 00:15:27.110 --> 00:15:30.629 just these brothers. Remember, they are representing 00:15:30.629 --> 00:15:35.870 what? Their local churches. So we don't just 00:15:35.870 --> 00:15:40.490 find seven men. We find many churches cooperating 00:15:40.490 --> 00:15:45.070 together for the purpose of the gospel. Now, 00:15:45.090 --> 00:15:47.309 in order to understand this cooperation and the 00:15:47.309 --> 00:15:50.570 nature of it, I think it's helpful to get a little 00:15:50.570 --> 00:15:52.889 bit of the background for the Jerusalem Collection 00:15:52.889 --> 00:15:56.429 and the nature of this work that they were all 00:15:56.429 --> 00:15:59.850 involved in. Now, when we think about the Jerusalem 00:15:59.850 --> 00:16:02.529 Collection, I'm sure that we've all heard of 00:16:02.529 --> 00:16:04.990 it, we've all heard it mentioned, and we've seen 00:16:04.990 --> 00:16:08.190 it in our Bible reading. It's referenced where 00:16:08.190 --> 00:16:11.029 Paul's talking about funds or gifts or donations. 00:16:12.649 --> 00:16:16.909 So why was the apostle spearheading this endeavor 00:16:16.909 --> 00:16:22.429 to raise money for the church at Jerusalem? Well, 00:16:22.509 --> 00:16:26.070 if we think about the nature of the church in 00:16:26.070 --> 00:16:31.330 Jerusalem, that church is in a highly, a densely 00:16:31.330 --> 00:16:37.909 populated Jewish area in Jerusalem. Which means 00:16:37.909 --> 00:16:41.440 that there's also a highly... dense population 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:44.519 of Christians because if we remember early on 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:48.120 in the book of Acts, lots of sinners were saved 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:52.539 in Jerusalem, which meant there was a great deal 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:58.080 of social ostracization of those believers. There 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:01.799 was real need because these Christians, these 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:04.559 saints in Jerusalem that were a part of that 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:08.319 church, most likely being made up and composed 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:13.700 of Jewish They didn't have access to the jobs 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:17.579 that everybody else did. They didn't have access 00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:20.240 to the food and the opportunities that everybody 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.500 else did because they were a part of the way. 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:24.740 They were a part of the church. They associated 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:29.619 with Christ. So they had real, substantial, meaningful 00:17:29.619 --> 00:17:33.640 needs in their life that needed to be met. But 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:36.220 we also know from Acts chapter 11 that there 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:41.269 was a famine that was severe. In Jerusalem. So 00:17:41.269 --> 00:17:46.710 why does Paul. Do this? Why is he gathering funds 00:17:46.710 --> 00:17:50.809 to bring money. To the Jewish saints. Who are 00:17:50.809 --> 00:17:55.970 in need. At the Jerusalem church. Now this is 00:17:55.970 --> 00:18:00.390 mentioned throughout. The New Testament. We see 00:18:00.390 --> 00:18:04.670 it mentioned in several places. We see that it's 00:18:04.670 --> 00:18:10.779 mentioned in. Romans 15, 25 -27. The end of Romans, 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:14.640 Paul is talking and making an appeal about this 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:19.180 Jerusalem fund. 1 Corinthians 16, 1 -4, where 00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:23.339 Paul gives them instructions on giving. He's 00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:27.019 talking largely about the Jerusalem collection 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:33.039 for the saints in Jerusalem. He references this. 00:18:34.250 --> 00:18:38.369 Also in 2 Corinthians 8 -9 where he's appealing 00:18:38.369 --> 00:18:41.769 to them to give from the heart out of generosity 00:18:41.769 --> 00:18:46.750 because Christ has been gracious to us. We see 00:18:46.750 --> 00:18:50.269 that it's referenced here in Acts with the messengers. 00:18:51.029 --> 00:18:53.990 But we also find that it's referenced a little 00:18:53.990 --> 00:18:57.450 later on in the book of Acts where Paul is giving 00:18:57.450 --> 00:19:00.069 an explanation. He says, after many long years 00:19:00.069 --> 00:19:04.430 I've come to bring gifts and alms. my people 00:19:04.430 --> 00:19:10.089 here in Jerusalem. The purpose of this was to 00:19:10.089 --> 00:19:13.549 meet real needs in the life of the Jewish saints, 00:19:13.630 --> 00:19:21.170 but Paul had a much bigger scheme in mind as 00:19:21.170 --> 00:19:23.869 he was doing this. Why was he a fundraiser, brothers 00:19:23.869 --> 00:19:28.170 and sisters? Why did he want the Gentile churches 00:19:28.170 --> 00:19:33.920 around the Mediterranean world To show their 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:37.220 love and to prove their love to the Jewish church 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:41.640 in Jerusalem. What would that do to bridge the 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:47.720 gap between the Jewish believers and the Gentile 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:51.680 believers? Paul was working for the unification 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:57.500 of the church as a whole. Paul was working to 00:19:57.500 --> 00:20:00.839 bring cohesiveness. to the body of Christ and 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:05.160 the known world at that time. This is a big project 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:08.000 that Paul has going on, brothers and sisters. 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:10.880 And we have these brothers, these companions, 00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:14.160 who are caught up in this. And all the local 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:18.019 churches, not all of them, but the churches we 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:21.720 know of that are participating, they're involved 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:25.960 in it. What would this require of them to be 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:29.410 involved in this? Well, they'd have to orchestrate 00:20:29.410 --> 00:20:33.970 travel plans with the apostle. Very literally 00:20:33.970 --> 00:20:37.750 and very practically, it meant giving money to 00:20:37.750 --> 00:20:42.869 this shared cause. It meant sacrificing as a 00:20:42.869 --> 00:20:46.130 church for the greater good of the whole church, 00:20:46.490 --> 00:20:50.710 the church universal. It would require time. 00:20:51.589 --> 00:20:54.029 We can think about these seven brothers who are 00:20:54.029 --> 00:20:56.589 the companions of Paul on this trip. they would 00:20:56.589 --> 00:21:00.250 have been gone for an extended period away from 00:21:00.250 --> 00:21:03.609 their local churches, so the local churches would 00:21:03.609 --> 00:21:06.250 have been lacking those leading men in their 00:21:06.250 --> 00:21:09.950 congregation for extended periods. Most likely 00:21:09.950 --> 00:21:16.089 this meant sharing pulpits with other men. It 00:21:16.089 --> 00:21:19.250 would have cost these churches and these individuals 00:21:19.250 --> 00:21:24.809 to cooperate in very real, very practical ways. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:31.019 There were practical implications. But it's important 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:36.740 for us to understand there was a very real, a 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:42.740 very vital relationship and cooperation between 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:47.819 these early churches and the New Testament. When 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:50.880 we think about the New Testament, we don't just 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:53.720 think about one church, do we, brothers and sisters? 00:21:55.500 --> 00:22:00.180 There's not just one church, that's it. No, the 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:03.759 New Testament presents to us a vast network of 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:09.200 various and diverse local churches that are interacting 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:14.279 and sharing and working together that is supporting 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:19.420 and strengthening and cooperating for one cause, 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:25.390 the gospel of Jesus Christ. And this in spite 00:22:25.390 --> 00:22:31.630 of great differences. There were great differences 00:22:31.630 --> 00:22:35.529 in these churches. Think about the church at 00:22:35.529 --> 00:22:40.609 Jerusalem and Antioch. One is a Gentile church 00:22:40.609 --> 00:22:46.029 that has diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. 00:22:46.109 --> 00:22:48.809 And then there's the Jewish church in Jerusalem. 00:22:50.130 --> 00:22:53.539 Brothers and sisters, this... Working together, 00:22:53.700 --> 00:23:00.900 this cooperation required them to place the gospel 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:07.619 above and over some of their preferences, some 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:11.720 of the secondary things, some of the cultural 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:14.779 aspects or the situational or circumstantial 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:18.299 aspects in the life of their church. in order 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:21.180 to encourage and strengthen and benefit and bless, 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:25.180 and to be benefited and to be blessed by other 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:29.680 local churches. We might think that this is the 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:34.119 only example of local churches working together 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:37.400 in the New Testament. But there's actually a 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:42.880 plethora of examples in the Bible. Think about 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:48.630 all the times that... People are greeting one 00:23:48.630 --> 00:23:53.029 another at the end of epistles. Greet so -and 00:23:53.029 --> 00:23:57.549 -so. Give them my love. Blessings upon them. 00:23:57.630 --> 00:24:01.369 So -and -so greet so -and -so. Why is that, brothers 00:24:01.369 --> 00:24:04.509 and sisters? Because there's a very real relationship 00:24:04.509 --> 00:24:08.690 between the two. They shared support in the life 00:24:08.690 --> 00:24:13.670 of missionaries. We find that maybe two or three 00:24:13.670 --> 00:24:17.730 churches would give and support one missionary 00:24:17.730 --> 00:24:21.109 or two missionaries. Or maybe when a missionary 00:24:21.109 --> 00:24:23.569 is traveling through this area, this church will 00:24:23.569 --> 00:24:26.369 provide housing in this part of the trip, and 00:24:26.369 --> 00:24:28.930 this church will provide housing in that part 00:24:28.930 --> 00:24:34.049 of the trip. There's very real interaction. They 00:24:34.049 --> 00:24:39.670 gave letters of commendation to other local churches. 00:24:40.089 --> 00:24:43.269 Why did they do this? Do you remember in Acts? 00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:46.480 Where Apollos comes and there's Priscilla and 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:49.859 there's Aquila. There's Priscilla and Aquila 00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:54.420 working with Apollos. They don't know. But they 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:57.220 believe that he has a genuine profession. Though 00:24:57.220 --> 00:25:02.839 he is negligent in a few things with regards 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:09.119 to John's baptism. They work with him. They interact 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:12.700 with him. And then they send a letter. to the 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:18.339 churches of Achaia, to command Apollos. The book 00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:24.079 of Philemon is one big letter that Paul and his 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:27.240 co -workers are sending to a church to command 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:32.019 Onesimus, a slave to that body. There's interaction 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:36.019 among the... There's no question about it. Maybe 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:42.079 the best example... Of this cooperation. Apart 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:46.619 from the Jerusalem collection. Is the Jerusalem 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:51.420 conference. In Acts chapter 15. Now what's going 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:55.660 on in Acts chapter 15. We have lots of churches. 00:25:56.039 --> 00:26:01.480 Coming together for one multi -day. Conference 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:05.859 essentially. To hash out doctrine and truth. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:11.160 They're working together. to gain doctrinal clarity 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:15.799 with regards to the gospel of Jesus Christ and 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:19.140 what is required of Christians in the world at 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:23.460 that time, brothers and sisters. There's example 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:29.700 after example after example. This was a real 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:36.039 relationship between churches and churches. And 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:42.940 this was the norm. In the apostolic age. What 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:48.420 does this teach us? About Christ's design. And 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:54.960 Christ's will for local churches. We believe 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:57.480 wholeheartedly. And we believe that the scripture 00:26:57.480 --> 00:27:02.339 teaches. That churches are independent. And self 00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:05.940 -governed. Brothers and sisters. That is what 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:09.490 we believe as a local church. That is what our 00:27:09.490 --> 00:27:13.049 foundational documents teach. That is what our 00:27:13.049 --> 00:27:16.750 confession of faith states. That churches are 00:27:16.750 --> 00:27:19.269 independent, but hear me well, brothers and sisters, 00:27:19.450 --> 00:27:26.950 independent church does not mean isolated. There's 00:27:26.950 --> 00:27:31.250 a difference between being autonomous and being 00:27:31.250 --> 00:27:37.079 insular. There's a difference between being independent 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:44.240 and being isolated. Christ's will for his church 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:47.359 is that they be independent and self -governed, 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:52.599 but not isolated and insular from other like 00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:58.319 -minded local churches. Do you believe that a 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:04.880 Christian can survive? holy and completely and 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:09.079 be a healthy, God -fearing, godly, holy believer, 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:13.200 all by themselves, never rubbing elbows with 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:15.779 other believers, never seeing the light of day, 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:18.819 never coming to church, never worshiping. You 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:22.240 cannot be a healthy, vibrant, holy believer if 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:25.259 that is you or another person that professes 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:29.920 the name of Christ. Now, take that same principle. 00:28:31.309 --> 00:28:35.269 and apply it to a local body, brothers and sisters. 00:28:36.430 --> 00:28:41.950 It is Christ's will that local bodies have fellowship 00:28:41.950 --> 00:28:47.109 and cooperate with other local bodies who are 00:28:47.109 --> 00:28:53.829 like -minded. Not exactly the same, but not too 00:28:53.829 --> 00:28:58.769 terribly different either. So we see a clear 00:28:58.769 --> 00:29:03.259 doctrine. and precedent in the New Testament 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:09.740 church. That there is a visible and outward and 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:15.720 practical cooperation and fellowship among like 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:22.460 -minded New Testament churches. Now, we have 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:27.859 to also, and most importantly, most significantly, 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:37.279 Consider the basis of this cooperation. Because 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:40.099 this leads us into all kinds of questions, doesn't 00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:45.980 it? Well, who do I cooperate with? Who does a 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:53.400 church work with? What is the basis that churches 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:59.160 have to come together on? What are the grounds? 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:03.839 That local churches establish this cooperation 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:09.279 and this fellowship upon. Do we just fellowship 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:13.359 with anybody and everybody? Do we go to the nearest 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:16.180 and closest local churches God provides opportunity 00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:18.079 and just say, hey, we're going to fellowship 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:22.900 with you? We want to work with you? No, brothers 00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:27.259 and sisters. We have to remember in this text. 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:32.019 These companions that the apostle is working 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:38.960 with, they're with who? Who are they fellowshipping 00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:43.059 with? Who are they cooperating with? Who are 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:49.039 they working alongside of? They're working alongside 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:54.619 of the apostle Paul. Do you remember what Paul 00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:56.819 says at the beginning of the book of Galatians? 00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:01.420 Even if I or an angel from heaven should preach 00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:07.380 to you another gospel, let him be anathema, cursed, 00:31:07.619 --> 00:31:13.200 condemned eternally. Let a curse be upon him 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:17.220 if he preaches another gospel other than the 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:20.640 one I preached. Do you think Paul took apostolic 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:30.319 doctrine seriously? He did. So if these men are 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:35.279 working, fellowshipping, and cooperating with 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:38.859 the Apostle Paul, then brothers and sisters, 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:42.799 what does that necessarily assume and require 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:46.519 of these companions? That there is agreement 00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:52.079 in apostolic doctrine and truth. Do you remember 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:56.960 in Acts chapter 2, verse 42? We'll go ahead and 00:31:56.960 --> 00:32:03.240 turn there. Acts 2 .42, it says this. They were 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:07.339 continually devoting themselves to the apostles' 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:17.680 teaching or doctrine and to fellowship. Devotion 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:24.440 to doctrine, teaching, truth precedes the fellowship. 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:29.339 There would be no fellowship among the early 00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:34.660 believers if there was not first agreement in 00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:44.240 apostolic doctrine and truth. Unity in truth 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:52.380 must precede any meaningful or effective cooperation 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:58.039 or fellowship or relationship among believers 00:32:58.039 --> 00:33:03.859 and among local bodies and churches, brothers 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:08.640 and sisters? This is a very relevant question, 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:12.319 isn't it? This is a very relevant topic for us 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:19.160 to consider. Listen, we live in the day of tolerance, 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:26.789 empathy, relativism, and acceptance. Don't we, 00:33:26.849 --> 00:33:31.730 brothers and sisters? Have you heard those words 00:33:31.730 --> 00:33:36.549 lately? Have you heard the culture and the world 00:33:36.549 --> 00:33:39.529 pressing in with those terms and pressing in 00:33:39.529 --> 00:33:41.730 with those concepts and pressing in with those 00:33:41.730 --> 00:33:47.609 ideas? Tolerance? And what does that mean? It 00:33:47.609 --> 00:33:49.950 doesn't mean just allowing. It means accepting. 00:33:53.789 --> 00:33:57.359 Accepting a person's... Differences in views 00:33:57.359 --> 00:34:01.960 and perspectives as your own. And saying, great, 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:07.180 that's wonderful, that's perfect. What about 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:12.579 this idea of being relative? I've heard so many 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:16.199 times in the last year, my truth is my truth 00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:20.679 and your truth is your truth. What's the purpose 00:34:20.679 --> 00:34:23.739 of that? The fact that we can have a relationship 00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:28.000 and fellowship. despite differences in truth. 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:36.800 What does the Bible say about true unity, brothers 00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:40.559 and sisters? The Bible and the Word of God in 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:44.119 this text teaches us that there is no unity whatsoever 00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:51.179 apart from apostolic doctrine and truth. Unity... 00:34:51.610 --> 00:34:55.829 precedes any cooperation or any fellowship in 00:34:55.829 --> 00:35:00.809 the Christian sense, and especially as a corporate 00:35:00.809 --> 00:35:05.849 body. So what is apostolic doctrine, brothers 00:35:05.849 --> 00:35:09.969 and sisters? What's the authoritative proclamation 00:35:09.969 --> 00:35:14.829 and explanation of the person and the work of 00:35:14.829 --> 00:35:19.570 Jesus Christ? His life? His death? his resurrection, 00:35:19.969 --> 00:35:23.710 his ascension, and his return, and how one receives 00:35:23.710 --> 00:35:30.050 this, which is by faith. That's apostolic doctrine 00:35:30.050 --> 00:35:34.789 and truth. It is the faith, once for all, handed 00:35:34.789 --> 00:35:37.750 down to the saints that is passed down through 00:35:37.750 --> 00:35:43.949 the ages. It is the standard of sound words that 00:35:43.949 --> 00:35:48.639 is spoken of throughout the New Testament. And 00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:51.179 the Bible. Brothers and sisters, this is the 00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:56.800 basis for fellowship and cooperation. The gospel 00:35:56.800 --> 00:36:02.679 of Jesus Christ. Now, because we don't live in 00:36:02.679 --> 00:36:06.440 the first century, and we have progressed 2 ,000 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:13.539 years, a wide variety, and a wide variety of... 00:36:15.770 --> 00:36:19.230 Christianity and versions of Christianity have 00:36:19.230 --> 00:36:24.590 come about. So anymore, it's not just simply 00:36:24.590 --> 00:36:30.349 adequate to say, are you a Christian? Any number 00:36:30.349 --> 00:36:33.469 of people might say, yes, I'm a Christian, even 00:36:33.469 --> 00:36:35.349 though they've never gone to church, or even 00:36:35.349 --> 00:36:38.469 though they don't go to a Christian church, but 00:36:38.469 --> 00:36:41.269 a Mormon church, or a Jehovah's Witness church. 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:45.460 It's not enough just to say and receive and accept, 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:50.579 yes, I'm a Christian, I believe in Jesus. Because 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:53.320 of all the complexities that have blossomed over 00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:56.880 time, we need a little bit more information about 00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:59.659 what people believe and what they mean by these 00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:03.380 terms. A good way of thinking about this, I believe, 00:37:03.559 --> 00:37:11.039 is like -minded bodies. So like -minded, but 00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:18.079 not twins. Not clones. Because there can be distinctions. 00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:23.139 There can be differences. But brothers and sisters, 00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:28.099 on the big things, and preeminently theological 00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:34.460 and doctrinal things, there needs to be agreement 00:37:34.460 --> 00:37:39.590 in the truth before. There is cooperation and 00:37:39.590 --> 00:37:44.989 fellowship among the bodies. So we find that 00:37:44.989 --> 00:37:50.210 this really is the basis for any true and meaningful 00:37:50.210 --> 00:37:55.769 cooperation among two local churches. Now there 00:37:55.769 --> 00:38:00.170 are implications to this. And believing this 00:38:00.170 --> 00:38:07.809 and holding to this. One. is that when this is 00:38:07.809 --> 00:38:12.789 present and providence permits, it is good and 00:38:12.789 --> 00:38:17.909 right for local churches to cooperate and to 00:38:17.909 --> 00:38:22.389 fellowship together. But these things need to 00:38:22.389 --> 00:38:28.349 be openly confessed, openly made known, so that 00:38:28.349 --> 00:38:31.829 there's understanding and trust among the two 00:38:31.829 --> 00:38:36.010 bodies. It's when you don't know. what people 00:38:36.010 --> 00:38:40.730 believe. It's when you don't know what they think 00:38:40.730 --> 00:38:43.230 about who Christ is. It's when you don't know 00:38:43.230 --> 00:38:45.309 what their church as a whole believes. That's 00:38:45.309 --> 00:38:49.550 what tears down trust and unity, brothers and 00:38:49.550 --> 00:38:53.329 sisters. But when you know what people believe, 00:38:53.389 --> 00:38:55.889 and there's clarity, and there's transparency 00:38:55.889 --> 00:38:58.610 about what they believe, there's an openness 00:38:58.610 --> 00:39:03.610 about it, that breeds cooperation and fellowship. 00:39:04.650 --> 00:39:08.889 An effective inner working between two groups 00:39:08.889 --> 00:39:13.309 and two peoples. So when this is providentially 00:39:13.309 --> 00:39:17.489 an opportunity, churches should, and it's good 00:39:17.489 --> 00:39:22.730 and right, to take part in this. Now, there's 00:39:22.730 --> 00:39:27.030 also something else that's very important. When 00:39:27.030 --> 00:39:33.550 this is absent, or when people reject apostolic 00:39:33.550 --> 00:39:39.570 doctrine, When people deny that salvation is 00:39:39.570 --> 00:39:47.550 by faith alone, grace alone, brothers and sisters, 00:39:47.670 --> 00:39:51.630 when there is not agreement in apostolic doctrine 00:39:51.630 --> 00:39:55.949 or there is outright rejection, a church must 00:39:55.949 --> 00:40:05.679 not associate with them. A church must not. fellowship 00:40:05.679 --> 00:40:09.079 and cooperate with them because that would not 00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:13.880 be unity, brothers and sisters. There's only 00:40:13.880 --> 00:40:20.480 unity in truth, in the gospel of who Christ is 00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:26.639 and what He has done. Now, if a church holds 00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:33.250 that there's only unity in the gospel, And they 00:40:33.250 --> 00:40:37.110 actually implement this. And they make distinctions 00:40:37.110 --> 00:40:39.710 about who they will work with and who they won't 00:40:39.710 --> 00:40:44.789 work with. Yes, I will fellowship with you. No, 00:40:44.789 --> 00:40:49.010 I won't fellowship with you. Brothers and sisters, 00:40:49.070 --> 00:40:51.610 you have got to be prepared and ready for the 00:40:51.610 --> 00:40:56.409 fact that cultural Christians will call you prideful, 00:40:56.489 --> 00:41:01.409 pompous, and arrogant. Who are you to say that 00:41:01.409 --> 00:41:06.559 they are wrong? Unbelievers will mark you as 00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:10.780 divisive. But brothers and sisters, hear me well. 00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:16.320 We cling to the gospel of Jesus Christ. And if 00:41:16.320 --> 00:41:18.900 you cling to the gospel of Jesus Christ that 00:41:18.900 --> 00:41:22.059 He gave to His apostles, and the apostles preserved, 00:41:22.219 --> 00:41:25.860 and the apostles propagated, and has been inscripturated 00:41:25.860 --> 00:41:28.980 in the Bible, if we preserve this, if we hold 00:41:28.980 --> 00:41:33.030 to this, then we will hear, Well done, good and 00:41:33.030 --> 00:41:36.050 faithful servant, by our Lord and our Savior, 00:41:36.230 --> 00:41:39.230 Jesus Christ. What's more important, the applause 00:41:39.230 --> 00:41:47.809 of men or the smile of your Savior? We must cling 00:41:47.809 --> 00:41:52.650 to the gospel until our knuckles are white. And 00:41:52.650 --> 00:41:55.849 we must refuse to let go of, and that must be 00:41:55.849 --> 00:42:01.389 the basis and the grounds for cooperation. And 00:42:01.389 --> 00:42:08.250 fellowship among like -minded churches. We want 00:42:08.250 --> 00:42:15.210 to honor and glorify and please the Savior that 00:42:15.210 --> 00:42:21.610 died for us. The one that lived perfectly. The 00:42:21.610 --> 00:42:23.889 one that died in our place. The one that rose 00:42:23.889 --> 00:42:26.150 again. The one that ascended. The one that's 00:42:26.150 --> 00:42:28.389 ruling and reigning. And the one that will return. 00:42:29.130 --> 00:42:35.750 And the way we do that is by walking in His truth. 00:42:36.429 --> 00:42:41.530 We do that individually and corporately as a 00:42:41.530 --> 00:42:45.809 body. So we've seen, brothers and sisters, who 00:42:45.809 --> 00:42:49.949 these men are, the companions. But we also see 00:42:49.949 --> 00:42:53.250 very clearly that they are cooperating for the 00:42:53.250 --> 00:42:58.559 purpose of the gospel. And we see the basis of 00:42:58.559 --> 00:43:03.639 that cooperation is in apostolic doctrine and 00:43:03.639 --> 00:43:04.139 truth.