WEBVTT 00:00:01.879 --> 00:00:05.740 Isn't that a great expression of faith and confidence? 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:11.759 This is my Father's world. Would you open your 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:14.460 Bible with me please to 1 Corinthians chapter 00:00:14.460 --> 00:00:18.559 3 as we think again today regarding this matter 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:24.660 of our church in the 90s. Verse 10 says, According 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:28.690 to the grace of God which was given to me, As 00:00:28.690 --> 00:00:33.030 a wise master builder, I laid a foundation and 00:00:33.030 --> 00:00:37.530 another is building upon it. But let each man 00:00:37.530 --> 00:00:41.929 be careful how he builds upon it. I recently 00:00:41.929 --> 00:00:46.490 read of plans to construct a building in Japan 00:00:46.490 --> 00:00:54.850 that would reach nearly a mile high, 5 ,000 feet 00:00:54.850 --> 00:01:00.979 into the air. Apparently, technology exists now 00:01:00.979 --> 00:01:05.319 to do that. The problem is with the cost. They're 00:01:05.319 --> 00:01:10.260 not sure how to finance such a structure. I will 00:01:10.260 --> 00:01:12.500 only say that I hope the architect is a college 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:18.579 graduate to try something like that. Christians 00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:20.879 are participating, however, in a construction 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:24.060 project that is far more important than that. 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:27.799 We are building the church. of the Lord Jesus 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:32.260 Christ. This is the eternal habitation of God 00:01:32.260 --> 00:01:39.000 that we are constructing. Its importance, its 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:45.340 scope, its cost, the blood of the Lord Jesus 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:50.540 Christ is far beyond anything that a mortal could 00:01:50.540 --> 00:01:54.930 imagine. That which we are building comes out 00:01:54.930 --> 00:01:57.950 of the very heart and the mind of God Himself. 00:01:59.950 --> 00:02:06.209 We are doing our part in the project. Our contribution 00:02:06.209 --> 00:02:09.090 to it is the work that we are doing in our local 00:02:09.090 --> 00:02:12.689 church. The building that we're talking about 00:02:12.689 --> 00:02:17.330 is not made with steel and glass, with cement. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:23.819 But our building is made of human beings, the 00:02:23.819 --> 00:02:28.979 lives of people, you and me and others. God in 00:02:28.979 --> 00:02:31.639 His grace has chosen that kind of construction 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:37.240 material. It's material that is flawed and ruined 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:43.419 and corrupted, broken, until He reaches down 00:02:43.419 --> 00:02:49.879 by grace and makes it whole. and in his salvation 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:53.860 makes us material that's worth building with 00:02:53.860 --> 00:02:58.060 as far as he is concerned. And he begins putting 00:02:58.060 --> 00:03:02.539 us into place as living stones in this holy temple 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:08.240 of God. What we are doing in our local church 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:12.039 is a part of this construction project that has 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:17.030 been going on for 2 ,000 years. and will continue 00:03:17.030 --> 00:03:20.710 until the Lord comes. It is exciting to be a 00:03:20.710 --> 00:03:25.229 part of something like that. And so we come to 00:03:25.229 --> 00:03:27.889 the question, what kind of a church are we putting 00:03:27.889 --> 00:03:33.169 together at Grace Church Roseville? How effectively 00:03:33.169 --> 00:03:37.930 are we doing our work in this part of the age, 00:03:38.530 --> 00:03:43.400 in our part of this living temple? Are we doing 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:48.560 work that is one day going to pass God's final 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:54.539 examination when the building is done? For these 00:03:54.539 --> 00:03:57.879 Sundays of January and maybe a Sunday or two 00:03:57.879 --> 00:04:01.879 into February, I want to speak to you from my 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:04.960 heart about the kind of church I believe God 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:10.199 wants us to be in the decade of the 90s. Last 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:14.780 Sunday we talked about two points that are foundational. 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:17.860 They're just basic. They're points you have a 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:21.480 hard time disagreeing with. We may get to some 00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:24.899 other kinds of points later. But I remind you 00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:27.939 that last week we talked about our church in 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:31.220 the 90s as being the kind of a church where the 00:04:31.220 --> 00:04:33.899 Word of God is faithfully taught with relevance 00:04:33.899 --> 00:04:41.490 to real life and where it is obeyed. by the people, 00:04:41.930 --> 00:04:47.670 by all of us. The Apostle Paul laid that kind 00:04:47.670 --> 00:04:50.149 of a foundation in the Church in Corinth in the 00:04:50.149 --> 00:04:53.129 second chapter of this book. He says, When I 00:04:53.129 --> 00:04:56.470 came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority 00:04:56.470 --> 00:05:01.829 of speech or wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony 00:05:01.829 --> 00:05:08.029 of God. So Paul says, I proclaim God's Word to 00:05:08.029 --> 00:05:15.329 you, and that is the basis for your church. And 00:05:15.329 --> 00:05:17.209 now he is writing this letter to exhort them 00:05:17.209 --> 00:05:20.329 to go on to obey it. You see, it's not just enough 00:05:20.329 --> 00:05:24.550 for it to be taught. And then we want our church 00:05:24.550 --> 00:05:28.170 in the 90s to be the kind of a church noted for 00:05:28.170 --> 00:05:31.689 loving acceptance of hurting and needy people. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:36.540 while at the same time practicing and pursuing 00:05:36.540 --> 00:05:42.800 holiness. We want our hearts to be wide open 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:47.579 to receive those who are in need of the Savior 00:05:47.579 --> 00:05:52.759 and wherever they may be in their walk in this 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:58.439 world. Whatever the condition of their mind or 00:05:58.439 --> 00:06:03.300 body or soul in their sin. We want our hearts 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:06.220 to be open to them, to receive them, to embrace 00:06:06.220 --> 00:06:11.019 them with the love of Jesus Christ while at the 00:06:11.019 --> 00:06:16.839 same time ourselves pursuing holiness, not compromising 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:20.759 God's standards of righteousness. Corinthians 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:23.379 had a little problem there as we saw last week. 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:26.319 And that's one reason Paul wrote this letter 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.860 to them. Now today as we continue this theme, 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:35.839 I hope that God will allow us in the 90s to be 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:40.459 the kind of a church where members allow for 00:06:40.459 --> 00:06:44.180 differences of opinion and conviction on disputed 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:50.279 issues. Let me repeat that. I want us to be the 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:54.579 kind of a church where members allow for differences 00:06:54.579 --> 00:06:58.100 of opinion and conviction on disputed issues. 00:06:59.379 --> 00:07:02.970 Pardon me. Now, of course, right is right and 00:07:02.970 --> 00:07:06.550 wrong is wrong. There's no question about that. 00:07:08.110 --> 00:07:12.470 And the Word of God is very clear on issues about 00:07:12.470 --> 00:07:14.709 what is right and wrong, but not every issue. 00:07:16.470 --> 00:07:19.550 There are some matters where the Word does not 00:07:19.550 --> 00:07:25.930 clearly speak. Leaving room for legitimate difference 00:07:25.930 --> 00:07:29.569 of conviction within the conscience of individual 00:07:29.569 --> 00:07:35.290 believers. There are some churches that prefer 00:07:35.290 --> 00:07:40.930 to establish rules and laws in these areas that 00:07:40.930 --> 00:07:43.589 are, shall we say, gray, and I mean legitimately 00:07:43.589 --> 00:07:47.050 gray, where the word is not clear or it's silent. 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:52.660 I suppose in one sense it's easier to do that, 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:55.540 because then you can demand clear adherence, 00:07:55.699 --> 00:07:58.060 everybody looks the same, there's conformity 00:07:58.060 --> 00:08:02.480 in the church. The problem with that is that 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:08.540 it easily becomes legalistic, and it never produces 00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:14.300 maturity in God's people. It arrests the maturing 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:19.240 process. So if we're going to build something, 00:08:20.699 --> 00:08:24.120 For God's eternal habitation, let's let it grow 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:27.500 like it needs to and not arrest the growth. And 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:29.620 I think if we follow what I'm talking about, 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:33.820 we'll see growth. Growth in us individually, 00:08:34.059 --> 00:08:37.379 in our relationship to Jesus Christ. There are 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:41.440 several important principles that Paul lays out 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:45.139 right here in 1 Corinthians that apply in determining 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:49.399 these issues that are disputed among Christians 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:54.179 as to what is proper or what is improper. Some 00:08:54.179 --> 00:08:56.700 may feel they have liberty to do certain things, 00:08:56.799 --> 00:08:58.840 while others feel in their conscience that those 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:03.080 things are wrong. How do we know what we ought 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:06.960 to do, personally? Well, let's just look quickly 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:09.100 at these principles. I do not want to dwell on 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:11.580 them. I can't afford that this morning, lest 00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:14.600 this series go into summer. So let's just name 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:19.350 them. 1 Corinthians 6, 12. is the first place 00:09:19.350 --> 00:09:22.490 we ought to look. Paul is saying to this group 00:09:22.490 --> 00:09:25.610 of believers, now Corinthians grow up. Don't 00:09:25.610 --> 00:09:30.049 be carnal anymore. And to help them grow up, 00:09:30.210 --> 00:09:36.190 he says this, all things are lawful for me, 1 00:09:36.190 --> 00:09:41.029 Corinthians 6 -12, but not all things are profitable. 00:09:41.730 --> 00:09:44.909 There were some Corinthians who were boasting 00:09:44.909 --> 00:09:48.600 in their newfound liberty in Jesus Christ. And 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:52.379 they said, because of grace, all things are lawful 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:56.179 to me. They felt that way about it. I can do 00:09:56.179 --> 00:10:00.419 whatever I want to do. Paul says, now wait a 00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:03.019 minute. It's true that grace liberates you, but 00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:04.940 there's something else to consider. It's the 00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:10.779 principle of expediency. He says here, is it 00:10:10.779 --> 00:10:13.899 profitable? Is it helpful? Is there an advantage 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:18.389 in doing it? Will it accomplish a good end? So 00:10:18.389 --> 00:10:21.509 you have freedom to participate or to do that. 00:10:23.169 --> 00:10:25.710 But is there really profit in it? Is there advantage 00:10:25.710 --> 00:10:30.710 in it for you, for others? The principle of expediency. 00:10:31.889 --> 00:10:34.470 The last part of the verse, again he quotes some 00:10:34.470 --> 00:10:36.690 of them apparently who were saying, all things 00:10:36.690 --> 00:10:41.429 are lawful for me. But Paul says, I will not 00:10:41.429 --> 00:10:45.379 be mastered by anything. And so the second principle 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:48.279 that needs to be considered is the principle 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:53.840 of enslavement. So I may do this or I may participate 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:57.480 in it, but is it something that will in some 00:10:57.480 --> 00:11:04.740 way addict me? Will I become enslaved by this? 00:11:05.820 --> 00:11:08.500 Obviously if I would then I need to say no to 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:11.639 that even though I may feel liberty in Jesus 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:18.870 Christ for it. 1 Corinthians 10. Paul comes back 00:11:18.870 --> 00:11:25.549 to the same theme. Verse 23. All things are lawful, 00:11:25.549 --> 00:11:29.230 he says, but not all things are profitable, he 00:11:29.230 --> 00:11:33.190 repeats the first principle. Then he says all 00:11:33.190 --> 00:11:36.830 things are lawful, but not all things edify. 00:11:37.830 --> 00:11:40.250 And so we find a third principle that is the 00:11:40.250 --> 00:11:44.960 principle of edification. So I have liberty in 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:47.740 my conscience to do this. How will it affect 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:53.899 others? Will it build them up? Or will it cause 00:11:53.899 --> 00:12:00.000 them to stumble? If a person has a different 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:03.399 conviction and they're weaker than I in the faith, 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.139 will I by using my liberty cause them to stumble 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:11.279 in their faith? If so, then I need to decline 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.730 my liberty. to put limits on it. 1 Corinthians 00:12:14.730 --> 00:12:16.769 chapter 8 is written about that whole theme. 00:12:16.889 --> 00:12:20.149 The whole chapter deals with it. Paul says, so 00:12:20.149 --> 00:12:23.210 you have liberty, that's good, but let your liberty 00:12:23.210 --> 00:12:28.870 be tempered by love for others, that you don't 00:12:28.870 --> 00:12:35.129 hurt them along the way of the pilgrimage. And 00:12:35.129 --> 00:12:38.490 then in verse 31 he gives to us another principle. 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:42.360 He says, whether then you eat or drink or whatever 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:46.840 you do, do all to the glory of God. The fourth 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:50.500 principle is the principle of exaltation. Will 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:55.360 God be exalted in what I am doing? Will it glorify 00:12:55.360 --> 00:13:02.340 Him? Can I glorify God in this activity? How 00:13:02.340 --> 00:13:06.519 might it affect my body, which is the temple 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:10.620 of the Holy Spirit? So you see, these are the 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:12.940 principles that need to be brought to mind as 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:17.419 we think of disputed issues, where there are 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:20.000 legitimate differences of opinion among believers. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.399 Now we need to allow for those differences, I 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:28.860 believe. But these principles must be used by 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:31.679 each of us in coming to the place of our own 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:34.539 understanding about them. Now there are certain 00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:38.330 social issues that always come to mind. when 00:13:38.330 --> 00:13:40.110 these kinds of things are talked about. Things 00:13:40.110 --> 00:13:46.090 like dancing, smoking, social drinking, theater 00:13:46.090 --> 00:13:50.649 attendance. But I think we need to go beyond 00:13:50.649 --> 00:13:53.110 those things that we always think of and consider 00:13:53.110 --> 00:13:56.309 some other issues that might be in some ways 00:13:56.309 --> 00:13:59.870 even more relevant to our day. Because frankly 00:13:59.870 --> 00:14:02.970 some of those former issues I think have become 00:14:02.970 --> 00:14:06.649 more clearly black and white in recent days. 00:14:07.310 --> 00:14:10.409 and years because of the work of science and 00:14:10.409 --> 00:14:12.830 uncovering the effects of alcohol and tobacco, 00:14:12.889 --> 00:14:18.509 for example, in our bodies. But let's think of 00:14:18.509 --> 00:14:20.970 other kinds of issues. For example, what kind 00:14:20.970 --> 00:14:28.409 of a car should I buy? Well, I hear some Christians 00:14:28.409 --> 00:14:33.970 say you should never buy any car new. And if 00:14:33.970 --> 00:14:35.789 you're a Christian, you ought to have a simple 00:14:35.789 --> 00:14:39.669 lifestyle. The car should be an old car. Now 00:14:39.669 --> 00:14:45.629 with most of us, that's no problem. But then 00:14:45.629 --> 00:14:48.429 there are others who say, hey, you know, God 00:14:48.429 --> 00:14:55.049 has blessed me. I can buy a Mercedes. And the 00:14:55.049 --> 00:14:58.269 value of that car will be retained for years. 00:14:59.129 --> 00:15:03.659 It is a wiser investment for me to make. I can 00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:06.120 lay down the money up front and the car won't 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:10.500 decline in value. And so you see there's the 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:12.919 possibility of judging one another about those 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:16.139 sorts of things. I don't see anywhere in the 00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:19.120 Bible where it says buy a secondhand chariot. 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:23.000 Nor does it talk about luxury editions of them. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:26.519 I mean the Bible doesn't speak about that but 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:29.460 it seems to me these principles might have some 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:31.940 effect in helping us come to a personal decision 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:36.850 about it. What about issues like, should I hunt 00:15:36.850 --> 00:15:42.950 and kill animals just for the sport of it? Talk 00:15:42.950 --> 00:15:48.090 about something like this in Minnesota? Well, 00:15:48.110 --> 00:15:50.070 there are Christians who have very strong opinions 00:15:50.070 --> 00:15:54.269 about that on both sides. I think that's an issue 00:15:54.269 --> 00:15:58.009 we need to struggle with. But we need to allow 00:15:58.009 --> 00:16:00.450 for a room of difference on that and not judge 00:16:00.450 --> 00:16:05.649 one another. Or let's go to a different realm. 00:16:07.970 --> 00:16:12.529 How far do I go in protesting social or moral 00:16:12.529 --> 00:16:17.809 policies in this country? I have some friends 00:16:17.809 --> 00:16:20.250 who have said to me that if I don't lay my body 00:16:20.250 --> 00:16:22.750 down in front of an abortion clinic and get arrested, 00:16:23.350 --> 00:16:27.830 I don't have convictions about abortion. And 00:16:27.830 --> 00:16:31.129 I mean they feel that way. I don't feel that 00:16:31.129 --> 00:16:34.620 way. That's no place to put a temple of the Holy 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:38.639 Spirit, in my opinion, in jail. I mean, there 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:40.779 may be an occasion for it, but in my conviction, 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:42.700 I've reasoned that out a different way. I have 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:46.080 different convictions about that. I don't support 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:50.240 that kind of protest on that particular issue 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:54.440 at this particular time. But I want to leave 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:56.620 room for my brothers who feel differently about 00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:59.379 it, or my sisters who feel differently about 00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:03.600 it. My point is this, that I want us to be the 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:06.039 kind of a church where on these sorts of issues 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:09.740 where the Bible may not be clear, where it's 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:12.660 not black and white, that we allow for differences 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:18.079 of opinion and conviction. I believe that the 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:21.759 more mature a fellowship becomes, the more that 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:24.900 it will be characterized by the kind of loving 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:27.940 accommodation to the opinion of others that I'm 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:31.690 talking about. And I'm talking about doubtful 00:17:31.690 --> 00:17:34.910 matters now. I think Augustine was correct when 00:17:34.910 --> 00:17:40.650 he said, in essentials, unity. In non -essentials, 00:17:40.769 --> 00:17:47.089 liberty. But in all things, charity. That's a 00:17:47.089 --> 00:17:52.130 good principle to live by. I believe that largely 00:17:52.130 --> 00:17:54.309 we are this kind of a church now, but I want 00:17:54.309 --> 00:17:58.920 to say this just to underscore it. because it's 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:01.220 very easy in the day in which we are living to 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:05.779 slide one way or the other. It's hard to be balanced. 00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:09.980 Have you ever noticed that? It's easy to slide 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:12.980 into compromise and accommodation on everything, 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:16.779 so there are no standards. On the other hand, 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:19.299 it's easy to fall prey to legalism because there 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:23.380 are frankly some very simple answers there. Just 00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:25.980 to put down rules for everything, right or wrong, 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:29.029 and then nobody has to struggle with it. Nobody 00:18:29.029 --> 00:18:34.529 has to make up their own mind. And I think both 00:18:34.529 --> 00:18:42.210 are wrong on disputed issues. In the 90s, I want 00:18:42.210 --> 00:18:44.529 to see our church be the kind of a church that 00:18:44.529 --> 00:18:51.750 works to keep its basic ministry simple and uncomplicated 00:18:51.750 --> 00:18:55.809 while meeting the essential needs of its members. 00:18:56.670 --> 00:18:59.549 Now why do I make a statement like this? Because 00:18:59.549 --> 00:19:03.930 there's a tendency for the opposite to happen. 00:19:05.309 --> 00:19:07.769 Churches get to be like bureaucracies of the 00:19:07.769 --> 00:19:12.069 government. We start something here and then 00:19:12.069 --> 00:19:14.390 that's perpetuated forever and we start something 00:19:14.390 --> 00:19:18.869 there and the same thing happens. After a while 00:19:18.869 --> 00:19:23.309 we begin to fill up the week with so many expectations. 00:19:23.910 --> 00:19:27.589 of everybody that there's no time and no energy 00:19:27.589 --> 00:19:32.410 left to do anything else. It's very easy for 00:19:32.410 --> 00:19:35.309 us in our church to say and to think in this 00:19:35.309 --> 00:19:39.509 way, well if you're going to be a faithful member 00:19:39.509 --> 00:19:43.369 of Grace Church Roseville then of course you'll 00:19:43.369 --> 00:19:47.069 want to be in worship every Sunday morning. You'll 00:19:47.069 --> 00:19:50.349 want to be in small church every Sunday morning. 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:53.640 And by the way, you would also consider teaching 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:55.940 in Sunday school or helping in the nursery on 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:59.559 Sunday morning in a third hour. Then, of course, 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:02.500 you need to be back at 6 o 'clock in the evening 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:06.099 for an evening service. And you may even want 00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:07.720 to consider coming a little early and taking 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:13.160 a build class. Oh, by the way, we have a wonderful 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:15.720 men's Bible study on Monday night. Men all over 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:18.359 St. Paul come. Men's Bible study fellowship. 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:21.980 Super! And for you ladies, Thursday morning we've 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:24.000 got this thing going. It's just tremendous, meeting 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:26.740 a lot of women's needs. Hey, Wednesday night 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:30.000 is an important night at Grace Church. That's 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:32.440 when we do our children's and family thing. We 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:34.500 have a wand of that night in our youth ministry. 00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.740 Oh, we need lots of help for that. Could you 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:39.240 come and help us with it? Oh, by the way, choir 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:46.279 meets that night too, and we need tenors. Right? 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:49.759 Especially this morning. with some of them sick. 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:55.559 And oh, yes, I forgot one other thing. Maybe 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:58.700 a couple. We really think that you ought to be 00:20:58.700 --> 00:21:02.440 involved in your neighborhood. I mean, everybody 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:04.279 ought to be reaching out to their neighbors in 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:07.000 some way, you know, Bible study or evangelistic. 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:11.019 And then your family, you've got to spend quality 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:13.740 time with your family. And after a while, what 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:16.549 happens? You begin to get like John Benham. You 00:21:16.549 --> 00:21:23.150 just pull your hair out. You don't know which 00:21:23.150 --> 00:21:27.910 way to turn. And so I ask myself as the pastor 00:21:27.910 --> 00:21:31.069 of this fine church, what in the world are we 00:21:31.069 --> 00:21:37.849 asking people to do? Life hasn't gotten any simpler 00:21:37.849 --> 00:21:43.940 in the 90's. I believe that we need to work to 00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:49.920 simplify our ministry and to keep it as uncomplicated 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:53.680 as we possibly can and yet focus on the essential 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:56.519 needs that everybody, every one of us has so 00:21:56.519 --> 00:22:00.019 that those are met. I think those needs can be 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:06.000 boiled down to just three. That simple. I believe 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:09.019 that the need of every Christian is number one, 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:12.170 to worship God. Now, we do that individually, 00:22:12.230 --> 00:22:15.589 but I'm talking now publicly. Being together 00:22:15.589 --> 00:22:19.069 in a body, in a congregation, a corporate group, 00:22:19.309 --> 00:22:25.309 worshiping God, that is essential. We must never 00:22:25.309 --> 00:22:29.009 allow worship to become less than a priority 00:22:29.009 --> 00:22:37.269 in our lives. Number two, relationship. I'm not 00:22:37.269 --> 00:22:39.390 thinking here just about friendships with anybody, 00:22:39.549 --> 00:22:42.569 but I'm thinking about significant meaningful 00:22:42.569 --> 00:22:46.430 relationships with other believers. The kinds 00:22:46.430 --> 00:22:49.549 of relationships that will be mutually stimulating 00:22:49.549 --> 00:22:55.329 so that we can encourage and admonish, perhaps 00:22:55.329 --> 00:22:59.549 rebuke, one another. It takes relationship to 00:22:59.549 --> 00:23:03.339 do that. All of us need relationship. It is not 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:05.779 enough to come to worship and just walk out as 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:07.619 quickly as possible, get in the car and go home 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:10.380 and think we've done our Christian thing. All 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:14.660 of us need to be involved in relationship. Now 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:17.660 that is really the one that we have to think 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:20.400 hard about in our church because we have umpteen 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:23.079 opportunities for relationship and I don't know 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:25.440 if one of them is bad. If it were, we wouldn't 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:30.579 be doing it. But somehow we've got to think through 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:34.000 all of the things we're doing to build relationship, 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:43.000 simplify that if possible, and then expect people 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:50.500 to say, I'll take that one. Or if they have time, 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:53.700 maybe there'll be another one or another one. 00:23:54.509 --> 00:23:58.049 But not to expect everybody to be doing umpteen 00:23:58.049 --> 00:24:03.970 different things. I can elaborate on that in 00:24:03.970 --> 00:24:06.210 May next week, but let me go on. The third essential 00:24:06.210 --> 00:24:11.230 need is ministry. None of us will mature, we 00:24:11.230 --> 00:24:14.990 will never grow up unless we have some kind of 00:24:14.990 --> 00:24:18.849 an outflow in our lives, giving to others. It 00:24:18.849 --> 00:24:21.470 may be inside the walls of the church, within 00:24:21.470 --> 00:24:26.519 the program of the church, or it may be outside 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:31.420 the walls of the church. It may be both in some 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:36.299 cases. But the fact is that God has gifted every 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:39.960 one of us to serve Jesus Christ in the church 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:45.099 and or in the world with spiritual gifts. We 00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:47.619 are to employ those gifts in the power of the 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:51.680 Holy Spirit and thus serve our Lord and serve 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:58.980 others. Ministry is essential. If a Christian 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:01.779 is going to be a maturing Christian, he must 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:04.599 look after those three essentials in his life. 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:08.619 They are not three good things, they are three 00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:12.799 absolute essentials for every one of us. You 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:15.940 check them off in your own life. How are you 00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:23.329 doing? Is worship what it ought to be? Do you 00:25:23.329 --> 00:25:26.269 have meaningful relationship with other believers? 00:25:29.390 --> 00:25:34.210 Ministry? How are you serving Jesus Christ? It's 00:25:34.210 --> 00:25:39.029 important to ask that question. My point is this 00:25:39.029 --> 00:25:41.470 that I want us to be the kind of a church that 00:25:41.470 --> 00:25:46.990 works to keep our ministry simple and uncomplicated 00:25:46.990 --> 00:25:50.069 while at the same time seeking to meet these 00:25:50.069 --> 00:25:55.750 essential needs. that all of us have. Finally, 00:25:59.569 --> 00:26:04.069 as we think of our church in the 90s, I'd like 00:26:04.069 --> 00:26:07.930 us to be the kind of a church where everyone 00:26:07.930 --> 00:26:11.250 joyfully participates in the financial support 00:26:11.250 --> 00:26:14.930 of the total ministry of the church. That has 00:26:14.930 --> 00:26:17.970 always been God's plan for His people in Old 00:26:17.970 --> 00:26:22.829 Testament times and in New Testament times. Whether 00:26:22.829 --> 00:26:25.170 you go to the Old Testament or to the New, you 00:26:25.170 --> 00:26:29.769 find Biblical support, number one, for the financial 00:26:29.769 --> 00:26:33.569 support of those called of God to give full time 00:26:33.569 --> 00:26:37.750 to ministry. In the Old Testament, it was true 00:26:37.750 --> 00:26:42.049 of the Levites, the priestly class of Israel, 00:26:42.069 --> 00:26:45.230 that family. In the New Testament, it's true 00:26:45.230 --> 00:26:50.109 of those that the Holy Spirit calls to be full 00:26:50.109 --> 00:26:55.480 time in their use of their gifts in serving the 00:26:55.480 --> 00:27:00.079 church. You find support in both the Old and 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:04.420 the New Testament for benevolent ministry, giving 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:08.319 to those who are poor, to those who have needs. 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:12.500 There is support, by the way, for each of these 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:14.960 right in 1 Corinthians. The first one is 1 Corinthians 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:17.319 9. Maybe it would be good to look at that since 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:23.509 it's just a page or two away. We'll just look 00:27:23.509 --> 00:27:27.170 at verse 14. It says, so also the Lord directed 00:27:27.170 --> 00:27:31.930 those who proclaim the gospel to get their living 00:27:31.930 --> 00:27:35.250 from the gospel. Now that verse comes out of 00:27:35.250 --> 00:27:37.549 a context that deals with this whole thing of 00:27:37.549 --> 00:27:41.150 supporting the Lord's workers. Benevolent ministry, 00:27:41.190 --> 00:27:44.029 that's what 1st Corinthians 16, verses 1 and 00:27:44.029 --> 00:27:49.710 2 is all about. Concerning the collection for 00:27:49.710 --> 00:27:53.490 the saints. Paul writes, as I directed the churches 00:27:53.490 --> 00:27:57.190 of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day 00:27:57.190 --> 00:27:59.690 of every week, let each one of you put aside 00:27:59.690 --> 00:28:03.509 and save, as he may prosper, that no collections 00:28:03.509 --> 00:28:07.769 be made when I come. The concern in this particular 00:28:07.769 --> 00:28:11.549 text, the point of it was a benevolent offering 00:28:11.549 --> 00:28:15.170 being taken for the poor believers in persecution, 00:28:16.589 --> 00:28:20.650 under persecution in Jerusalem. And then we see 00:28:20.650 --> 00:28:23.130 it in several places of the New Testament, as 00:28:23.130 --> 00:28:26.829 well as the Old, the support for outreach. But 00:28:26.829 --> 00:28:28.789 this is especially true in the New Testament. 00:28:29.930 --> 00:28:32.089 The Apostle Paul writes to the Philippians to 00:28:32.089 --> 00:28:34.690 thank them for their generous expression once 00:28:34.690 --> 00:28:39.069 and then again of support for his apostolic ministry, 00:28:39.470 --> 00:28:42.769 support financially. He writes to the Romans 00:28:42.769 --> 00:28:45.470 and says to them in the fourteenth chapter, I 00:28:45.470 --> 00:28:49.009 believe it is, that he was going to go to Spain 00:28:49.009 --> 00:28:52.109 and, excuse me, I think it's the 15th chapter, 00:28:52.309 --> 00:28:54.670 he was going to go to Spain and he said, I'm 00:28:54.670 --> 00:28:57.130 going to go there by way of you so that you can 00:28:57.130 --> 00:29:00.470 help me on my way. What do you think he had in 00:29:00.470 --> 00:29:03.450 mind, a pat on the back? No, he was thinking 00:29:03.450 --> 00:29:07.289 undoubtedly of an offering, financial support 00:29:07.289 --> 00:29:09.470 from them so that as he went on this journey 00:29:09.470 --> 00:29:12.670 preaching the gospel in outreach, missionary 00:29:12.670 --> 00:29:15.470 work, that the church would support him as it 00:29:15.470 --> 00:29:20.250 ought to do. Then there's another aspect of this 00:29:20.250 --> 00:29:22.490 whole thing when we talk about the total ministry 00:29:22.490 --> 00:29:25.970 of the church and it was true in the Old Testament 00:29:25.970 --> 00:29:29.809 as well and that is the cost of just doing ministry 00:29:29.809 --> 00:29:34.069 in our culture. Now in the Old Testament involved 00:29:34.069 --> 00:29:36.970 the upkeep of the tabernacle and the temple and 00:29:36.970 --> 00:29:40.410 all that was involved there. Specific regulations 00:29:40.410 --> 00:29:44.890 laid down for that. In the New Testament we don't 00:29:44.890 --> 00:29:47.559 see a lot about that because that whole thing 00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:49.980 hadn't developed yet in the first century when 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:52.640 the New Testament was written. But I think it 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:56.759 is a clear principle of the word that there is 00:29:56.759 --> 00:30:01.279 cost in doing ministry in any culture. And that 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:04.480 is the responsibility of God's people to pay 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:07.400 that cost together for all of us to share in 00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:11.900 it. The cost of administration in a church in 00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:15.660 our culture. When you have several pastors on 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:17.779 the staff, or for that matter even one pastor, 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:22.099 a secretary is extremely helpful if not essential. 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:26.180 Else the pastor is going to be involved in doing 00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:29.220 all kinds of things that are not the best use 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:33.480 of his time and his gifts. I can just say as 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:36.119 one pastor that if it weren't for a secretary 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:38.299 you would probably find me in a corner somewhere 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:42.859 in a fetal position. I mean, secretaries are 00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:45.680 essential. What would we do without janitors, 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:48.000 custodians who clean our buildings for us? They 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:51.940 do a fabulous job here. Oh, the movement of chairs. 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:54.420 You just can't believe how many chairs have to 00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:56.740 be set up and taken down and moved every week. 00:30:57.579 --> 00:31:00.259 Look at the carpet that has to be cleaned in 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:03.420 a place like this. Not to speak of just the upkeep 00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:05.900 and the maintenance, the grounds in the summertime. 00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:09.759 I mean, that's a part of doing ministry if we're 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:13.009 going to live. in Roseville, Minnesota, and use 00:31:13.009 --> 00:31:17.269 this as a base of operations. God expects us, 00:31:17.529 --> 00:31:20.170 all of us, to have a part in that. That's why 00:31:20.170 --> 00:31:22.150 I'm glad that we have what we call a unified 00:31:22.150 --> 00:31:26.470 budget, where my gift, whatever it is in the 00:31:26.470 --> 00:31:29.710 month, if it's $500 a month, it all goes to the 00:31:29.710 --> 00:31:34.470 total ministry of the church. Now there are some 00:31:34.470 --> 00:31:36.569 people that like to be able to designate, and 00:31:36.569 --> 00:31:39.839 that's kind of a human thing, I suppose. I remember 00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:43.440 one pastor saying to a group of us pastors at 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:47.299 a conference, and this was 15 years ago in their 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:49.960 church, they took in weekly offerings of somewhere 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:56.079 between $50 ,000 and $80 ,000 every week. But 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:58.319 he said he was the only pastor of a church that 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:00.180 he knew of that took in offerings like that that 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:04.359 couldn't pay its light bill because everybody 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:06.880 was designating their money to this or that or 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:12.579 the other thing. If it comes down to it, if I 00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:20.700 have $100 to give and I want to designate it, 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:24.680 am I going to designate it to a ministry where 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:27.440 I can see the results or where I know the person? 00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:30.119 Or am I going to designate it to pay the light 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:33.720 bill for the church? Well, I can tell you what 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:35.440 the answer to that is. I'm going to give it where 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:39.410 I can see the result. And where I know that person, 00:32:40.690 --> 00:32:44.349 let somebody else pay the light bill. Now, let's 00:32:44.349 --> 00:32:47.869 suppose we all took that attitude. Well, we turn 00:32:47.869 --> 00:32:49.509 the lights off next Sunday, I guess. But you 00:32:49.509 --> 00:32:52.109 see the point, don't you? The problem that we 00:32:52.109 --> 00:32:55.150 run up against really is twofold, I think. It 00:32:55.150 --> 00:32:57.990 arises out of human nature. It is, number one, 00:32:58.049 --> 00:33:03.150 the desire to keep rather than to give. That's 00:33:03.150 --> 00:33:07.019 true of all of us. We would rather keep than 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:12.759 to give. And the second problem is that we would 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:17.500 rather control than to trust. I would rather 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:19.720 control where my money goes. So I know where 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:23.259 that $250 is going and where that $500 is going 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:25.819 than to trust that in the wisdom of the body 00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:27.839 and voting on the budget that it's already been 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:30.240 decided and designated the best place is for 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:35.269 it to go. or to trust somebody else to divvy 00:33:35.269 --> 00:33:38.970 it out for me. It is human nature to say I would 00:33:38.970 --> 00:33:41.269 rather control that than to trust it to somebody 00:33:41.269 --> 00:33:48.450 else. But the fact is that if we're going to 00:33:48.450 --> 00:33:50.690 do ministry effectively in the 90s, we need to 00:33:50.690 --> 00:33:55.829 be the kind of a church where everybody joyfully 00:33:55.829 --> 00:33:58.309 participates in the financial support of the 00:33:58.309 --> 00:34:02.509 total ministry. I have a friend that I went to 00:34:02.509 --> 00:34:05.490 school with who now works for one of the fine 00:34:05.490 --> 00:34:08.449 Jewish missions in our country. He wrote an article 00:34:08.449 --> 00:34:12.889 regarding the text of Malachi 3 that warns the 00:34:12.889 --> 00:34:17.829 Old Testament people of God not to rob God. And 00:34:17.829 --> 00:34:19.929 they said, well how have we robbed thee, Lord? 00:34:21.369 --> 00:34:23.989 And God said, in your tithes and your offerings. 00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:28.800 As he was writing about that and bringing some 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:31.900 application into the New Testament, he said, 00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:34.679 Christians present many reasons and excuses for 00:34:34.679 --> 00:34:37.659 not giving to the Lord. Some have been taught 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:40.199 improperly or not at all concerning what God 00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:44.420 requires in the area of giving. Some do not give 00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:47.380 out of greed and a desire to spend all their 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:51.039 money on self -gratification. Some believe that 00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:53.900 they cannot afford to give. They have a young 00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:56.420 family to support, they're in debt, saving for 00:34:56.420 --> 00:35:00.159 retirement, on a pension or just too poor. Still 00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:02.619 others believe that by giving their lives to 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:04.800 full -time ministry they're not required to give 00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:08.440 financially. But it goes on to say the scripture 00:35:08.440 --> 00:35:12.519 teaches that everyone, this text in 1st Corinthians 00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:16.300 16 is his proof text, everyone is required to 00:35:16.300 --> 00:35:19.460 give to the Lord's work. Those holding any of 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:22.320 the above positions must restructure their giving. 00:35:22.670 --> 00:35:27.110 according to biblical principles. And he rightly 00:35:27.110 --> 00:35:31.030 goes on to say, the Christian cannot afford not 00:35:31.030 --> 00:35:37.429 to give. By robbing God of what is due him, the 00:35:37.429 --> 00:35:41.190 individual is actually robbing himself and his 00:35:41.190 --> 00:35:45.909 family of many personal blessings. For giving 00:35:45.909 --> 00:35:51.340 pays earthly and heavenly dividends. How the 00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:54.320 Christian handles money is the true barometer 00:35:54.320 --> 00:36:00.539 writes David Levy of his spiritual life Those 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:04.059 words I think are right on target Words that 00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:07.239 all of us need to hear and I just need to hear 00:36:07.239 --> 00:36:13.920 we need to heed and obey We've seen some real 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:16.219 improvement in our church in this area in the 00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:22.670 last couple of years Our administrator did a 00:36:22.670 --> 00:36:24.769 computer analysis of our giving patterns, of 00:36:24.769 --> 00:36:26.690 those who give by envelope. That's the only way 00:36:26.690 --> 00:36:30.530 that we can trace any patterns. And we found 00:36:30.530 --> 00:36:34.750 that percentage -wise, many more people now are 00:36:34.750 --> 00:36:38.349 participating in giving than have in past years. 00:36:38.610 --> 00:36:43.150 That's a very healthy thing. We need to see that 00:36:43.150 --> 00:36:46.530 continue and be obedient to give all of what 00:36:46.530 --> 00:36:50.269 God tells us to give. Another pastor friend of 00:36:50.269 --> 00:36:53.349 mine who pastors a large Lutheran church in southern 00:36:53.349 --> 00:36:57.489 Florida sends me his bulletin every week. And 00:36:57.489 --> 00:36:59.829 on the front page of it he had a little story 00:36:59.829 --> 00:37:01.670 that I thought was kind of interesting and fits 00:37:01.670 --> 00:37:04.289 right in with this theme. He says, years ago 00:37:04.289 --> 00:37:07.230 a man knelt with his pastor as he committed himself 00:37:07.230 --> 00:37:11.969 to God to tithe. As you know that means 10 % 00:37:11.969 --> 00:37:16.090 of the income. His first week's pay was $10 and 00:37:16.090 --> 00:37:19.880 the tithe was $1. As he grew older, he became 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:23.860 more prosperous. His tithe became $7 .50 a week 00:37:23.860 --> 00:37:27.179 and then $10 .00. He moved to another city and 00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:30.300 his tithe was $100 a week and then $200 and later 00:37:30.300 --> 00:37:34.980 $500. He sent his pastor a wire, Come to see 00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:38.980 me. The pastor arrived at the man's beautiful 00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:42.420 home. They had a good time talking over old times. 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:46.000 Finally the man came to the point. You remember 00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:50.500 that promise I made years ago to tithe? Yes. 00:37:51.380 --> 00:37:55.119 How can I get released from it? When I made that 00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:57.659 promise, I had to give only a dollar, but now 00:37:57.659 --> 00:38:01.699 it's $500. I cannot afford to give away that 00:38:01.699 --> 00:38:05.059 kind of money. Well, the old pastor looked at 00:38:05.059 --> 00:38:07.579 his friend and said, I'm afraid we cannot get 00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:10.400 a release from the promise. But there is one 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:13.760 thing we can do. we can kneel and ask God to 00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:15.719 shrink your income so that you can afford to 00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:21.860 give a dollar once again. You know Jesus had 00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:25.139 a lot to say about money and it's a subject that 00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:28.260 we ought not to be embarrassed to talk about 00:38:28.260 --> 00:38:32.960 despite some of the scandals and extremes that 00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:35.239 we hear in the media regarding money. The Bible 00:38:35.239 --> 00:38:37.960 has a lot to say about it. One of the key texts 00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:41.440 is Luke chapter 16. We don't have time this morning 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:43.719 to look at the whole context, but I want to pick 00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:47.559 out the key, pinnacle verse of it all in Luke 00:38:47.559 --> 00:38:51.420 16 and verse 9. Jesus says this, and what strange 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:55.980 words these seem like from Jesus. Make friends 00:38:55.980 --> 00:39:01.119 for yourselves, he says, by means of the mammon 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:05.440 of unrighteousness. What's he talking about? 00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:12.559 Money? that when it fails, they may receive you 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:17.320 into the eternal dwellings." If you look at that 00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:20.679 in the context and understand what Jesus is saying, 00:39:20.739 --> 00:39:27.139 what he's really saying is, you be shrewd in 00:39:27.139 --> 00:39:29.239 the stewardship of your money. Like this man 00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:33.500 I just told you about, he was saying in the parable. 00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:37.119 It says, be shrewd in the use of your money so 00:39:37.119 --> 00:39:40.460 that by means of it, though it is the mammon 00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:43.739 of unrighteousness, you make friends. So that 00:39:43.739 --> 00:39:48.219 when it, your money, fails, when is that? The 00:39:48.219 --> 00:39:53.079 end of life? That's when it's all over. It doesn't 00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:55.599 make any difference how much we've amassed or 00:39:55.599 --> 00:39:59.559 how poor we are. It's done at that point. That 00:39:59.559 --> 00:40:02.579 when it fails, they, who are they? The friends? 00:40:03.050 --> 00:40:06.570 that you've made may receive you into eternal 00:40:06.570 --> 00:40:10.610 dwellings. Who are these friends? I'll tell you 00:40:10.610 --> 00:40:14.329 who they are. Our Lord was talking about people 00:40:14.329 --> 00:40:19.849 who are one to Jesus Christ, who are built up 00:40:19.849 --> 00:40:24.690 in the faith as a result in part of our faithful 00:40:24.690 --> 00:40:29.349 financial stewardship. Because we support the 00:40:29.349 --> 00:40:32.360 total ministry of our church, People are one 00:40:32.360 --> 00:40:34.760 to Christ in the area. People are built up in 00:40:34.760 --> 00:40:37.500 the ministry of our church. We send missionaries 00:40:37.500 --> 00:40:40.699 overseas. We have this project. We do that. And 00:40:40.699 --> 00:40:43.760 people are one to Christ. Listen. Someday there 00:40:43.760 --> 00:40:46.159 is going to be, when you arrive in heaven, those 00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:48.420 of you who have been faithful and giving, there 00:40:48.420 --> 00:40:51.059 are going to be some dear people from Tali Abu, 00:40:51.219 --> 00:40:53.920 Indonesia, who are going to stand there at the 00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:56.579 golden staircase. If you come up the stairways, 00:40:56.659 --> 00:40:58.940 you may take the elevator. They're going to be 00:40:58.940 --> 00:41:01.420 standing there and they're going to say, welcome 00:41:01.420 --> 00:41:05.840 to heaven and thank you for giving to God. Because 00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:11.760 of that I'm here. You sent a missionary. And 00:41:11.760 --> 00:41:16.920 therefore I didn't die and go to hell. But I 00:41:16.920 --> 00:41:23.199 heard about Jesus. Thank you for giving to God. 00:41:26.119 --> 00:41:30.190 I don't know about you. But I think that's exciting. 00:41:31.590 --> 00:41:34.929 And that's why all of us can be joyfully participants 00:41:34.929 --> 00:41:40.909 in giving to God. Not just tipping God, not just 00:41:40.909 --> 00:41:47.510 trying to buy God off, but giving to God. Father, 00:41:47.530 --> 00:41:49.469 I pray that you will apply what we've talked 00:41:49.469 --> 00:41:53.670 about this morning to our lives and may each 00:41:53.670 --> 00:41:56.309 one of us grow as a result of it.