Title: Personal Discipleship: Spiritually Intentional Relationships Meta: Are you convinced of the value of personal discipleship? That is, connecting with fellow Christians; brother to brother, sister to sister, on a personal, one on one level, to invest in one another, and to help one another to grow in grace. Do you have spiritually intentional relationships in your life? Tags: discipleship,relationships,church,community 1 00:00:00,647 --> 00:00:03,142 I want to speak in this hour about 2 00:00:03,142 --> 00:00:06,209 what I'm calling personal ministry 3 00:00:06,209 --> 00:00:10,753 or spiritually intentional relationships. 4 00:00:10,753 --> 00:00:12,430 Let me begin by giving you 5 00:00:12,430 --> 00:00:16,320 just a little biography of my experience. (P) 6 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:18,383 Soon after I was converted - 7 00:00:18,383 --> 00:00:20,244 and I'm grateful to God for the church 8 00:00:20,244 --> 00:00:22,708 that was influential in my conversion - 9 00:00:22,708 --> 00:00:24,846 I became somewhat disillusioned 10 00:00:24,846 --> 00:00:28,469 with some aspects of that local church. 11 00:00:28,469 --> 00:00:30,774 But I became attracted to a ministry 12 00:00:30,774 --> 00:00:33,018 conducted by the Christian organization 13 00:00:33,018 --> 00:00:34,096 the Navigators. 14 00:00:34,096 --> 00:00:36,242 Many of you are familiar with the Navigators. 15 00:00:36,242 --> 00:00:37,712 I was drawn to the fact that 16 00:00:37,712 --> 00:00:40,934 they were very much into discipleship. 17 00:00:40,934 --> 00:00:43,025 Man to man, woman to woman, 18 00:00:43,025 --> 00:00:46,042 which they called, "ma'am to ma'am" discipleship. 19 00:00:46,042 --> 00:00:47,223 That attracted me. 20 00:00:47,223 --> 00:00:48,797 They were doing more shepherding 21 00:00:48,797 --> 00:00:51,037 than I saw going on in the local church. 22 00:00:51,037 --> 00:00:52,906 And so through a contact I had, 23 00:00:52,906 --> 00:00:55,507 I became involved with the Navigators. 24 00:00:55,507 --> 00:00:57,746 I was able to be part of 25 00:00:57,746 --> 00:00:59,941 an attempted start-up Navigator ministry 26 00:00:59,941 --> 00:01:02,281 at the University of Pennsylvania 27 00:01:02,281 --> 00:01:03,468 in Philadelphia. 28 00:01:03,468 --> 00:01:05,306 That's what brought me to Pennsylvania 29 00:01:05,306 --> 00:01:06,724 where I've been ever since.(P) 30 00:01:06,724 --> 00:01:09,614 And I learned a lot in those couple of years 31 00:01:09,614 --> 00:01:12,218 about personal discipleship. 32 00:01:12,218 --> 00:01:13,634 But after two years, 33 00:01:13,634 --> 00:01:15,040 the Lord dealt with me, 34 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:16,737 and I came to the conviction 35 00:01:16,737 --> 00:01:18,832 that the local church was the institution 36 00:01:18,832 --> 00:01:20,721 that Christ had established 37 00:01:20,721 --> 00:01:22,951 for the nurture of His people. 38 00:01:22,951 --> 00:01:25,043 And so I made a friendly departure 39 00:01:25,043 --> 00:01:26,962 from the Navigators to become involved 40 00:01:26,962 --> 00:01:29,213 in the local church. 41 00:01:29,213 --> 00:01:31,059 But I determined at that time 42 00:01:31,059 --> 00:01:32,664 to take some of those principles 43 00:01:32,664 --> 00:01:34,578 of personal discipleship 44 00:01:34,578 --> 00:01:37,512 and carry them into the local church. 45 00:01:37,512 --> 00:01:38,749 But unfortunately, 46 00:01:38,749 --> 00:01:41,185 I think I lost some of that vision 47 00:01:41,185 --> 00:01:43,740 and fell into a more traditional 48 00:01:43,740 --> 00:01:46,701 church-life schedule.(P) 49 00:01:46,701 --> 00:01:48,257 But in recent years, 50 00:01:48,257 --> 00:01:51,091 God has rekindled that vision 51 00:01:51,091 --> 00:01:54,817 for personal discipleship. 52 00:01:54,817 --> 00:01:57,469 Spiritually intentional relationships. 53 00:01:57,469 --> 00:01:59,604 I'm borrowing that phrase from a book 54 00:01:59,604 --> 00:02:01,365 by 9Marks' ministry 55 00:02:01,365 --> 00:02:05,609 entitled, "The Compelling Community."(P) 56 00:02:05,609 --> 00:02:07,217 Let me state my aim, then, 57 00:02:07,217 --> 00:02:09,109 in this hour. 58 00:02:09,109 --> 00:02:11,356 My aim is to convince you all 59 00:02:11,356 --> 00:02:13,972 of the value of connecting 60 00:02:13,972 --> 00:02:15,373 with fellow Christians, 61 00:02:15,373 --> 00:02:16,720 brother to brother, 62 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:18,354 sister to sister, 63 00:02:18,354 --> 00:02:21,725 on a personal, one-on-one level 64 00:02:21,725 --> 00:02:23,696 to invest in another 65 00:02:23,696 --> 00:02:24,860 and to help one another 66 00:02:24,860 --> 00:02:28,679 to grow in grace. 67 00:02:28,679 --> 00:02:30,543 We might look at the life of the church 68 00:02:30,543 --> 00:02:33,069 in concentric circles. 69 00:02:33,069 --> 00:02:35,760 The outer circle would be the plenary meetings 70 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,399 where everybody is expected to attend. 71 00:02:38,399 --> 00:02:39,747 This hour. 72 00:02:39,747 --> 00:02:41,200 The hour to come. 73 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,186 Some churches have an evening service. 74 00:02:43,186 --> 00:02:46,310 You, I think, have a weeknight prayer meeting 75 00:02:46,310 --> 00:02:48,742 where the whole church is expected to come. 76 00:02:48,742 --> 00:02:51,644 We have those plenary meetings. 77 00:02:51,644 --> 00:02:55,317 Inside of that circle, we have small groups. 78 00:02:55,317 --> 00:02:57,433 In our church, we call them home groups. 79 00:02:57,433 --> 00:02:59,624 When you've had them here, 80 00:02:59,624 --> 00:03:01,337 I think you call them grace groups. 81 00:03:01,337 --> 00:03:02,910 They're called community groups, 82 00:03:02,910 --> 00:03:04,056 cell groups. 83 00:03:04,056 --> 00:03:06,686 I've even heard them called fight clubs. 84 00:03:06,686 --> 00:03:08,654 Not where people fight with one another, 85 00:03:08,654 --> 00:03:10,519 but where they prepare one another 86 00:03:10,519 --> 00:03:12,229 to help fight the fight of faith. 87 00:03:12,229 --> 00:03:13,765 Whatever you want to call it, 88 00:03:13,765 --> 00:03:16,367 they are small groups of various sorts. 89 00:03:16,367 --> 00:03:18,694 And I think that's a good idea. 90 00:03:18,694 --> 00:03:20,557 You can do things that you can't do 91 00:03:20,557 --> 00:03:22,017 in the broader fellowship. 92 00:03:22,017 --> 00:03:24,810 You can bear one another's burdens 93 00:03:24,810 --> 00:03:26,034 and equip one another 94 00:03:26,034 --> 00:03:27,823 and get into one another's lives 95 00:03:27,823 --> 00:03:30,667 in a way you can't in the larger gatherings. 96 00:03:30,667 --> 00:03:33,050 But within that circle, 97 00:03:33,050 --> 00:03:35,811 I would point you to a small circle 98 00:03:35,811 --> 00:03:39,299 where believers are meeting one on one 99 00:03:39,299 --> 00:03:40,808 with each other. 100 00:03:40,808 --> 00:03:43,235 It's often called discipleship. 101 00:03:43,235 --> 00:03:44,543 Discipling. 102 00:03:44,543 --> 00:03:47,255 I'm just calling it personal ministry, 103 00:03:47,255 --> 00:03:49,712 spiritually intentional relationships. 104 00:03:49,712 --> 00:03:51,960 I don't like to use buzz words 105 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:53,867 that Christians tend to adopt 106 00:03:53,867 --> 00:03:55,449 and fill with certain meaning, 107 00:03:55,449 --> 00:03:58,031 but aren't necessarily drawn from the Scriptures. 108 00:03:58,031 --> 00:04:00,084 So let's just call it personal ministry, 109 00:04:00,084 --> 00:04:04,622 spiritually intentional relationships.(P) 110 00:04:04,622 --> 00:04:05,900 And let's begin, 111 00:04:05,900 --> 00:04:07,296 if you all have an outline, 112 00:04:07,296 --> 00:04:09,464 or at least one per family, 113 00:04:09,464 --> 00:04:11,740 let's begin with some biblical bases 114 00:04:11,740 --> 00:04:13,069 for personal ministry. 115 00:04:13,069 --> 00:04:14,517 I want to try to convince you 116 00:04:14,517 --> 00:04:16,899 by several lines of biblical reasoning 117 00:04:16,899 --> 00:04:20,240 as to why it is good for you as a believer 118 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:24,877 to be personally invested in another believer. 119 00:04:24,877 --> 00:04:26,453 Or more than one.(P) 120 00:04:26,453 --> 00:04:27,241 First of all, 121 00:04:27,241 --> 00:04:28,864 let's begin with the general call 122 00:04:28,864 --> 00:04:31,100 to love one another. 123 00:04:31,100 --> 00:04:32,558 I think you know that love 124 00:04:32,558 --> 00:04:36,445 is a huge construct in the Christian life, isn't it? 125 00:04:36,445 --> 00:04:37,587 In one sense, we can say 126 00:04:37,587 --> 00:04:40,080 that the whole Christian life is about love. 127 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,545 Jesus reduces the entirety of the Christian life - 128 00:04:42,545 --> 00:04:43,565 true religion - 129 00:04:43,565 --> 00:04:46,376 to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, 130 00:04:46,376 --> 00:04:48,158 and love your neighbor as yourself. 131 00:04:48,158 --> 00:04:50,702 It is really all about love. 132 00:04:50,702 --> 00:04:52,441 1 Corinthians 13 133 00:04:52,441 --> 00:04:53,738 You know what it teaches. 134 00:04:53,738 --> 00:04:55,512 You may speak with great eloquence, 135 00:04:55,512 --> 00:04:57,699 you may have great knowledge, 136 00:04:57,699 --> 00:04:59,069 prophetic knowledge, 137 00:04:59,069 --> 00:05:00,831 you may sacrifice your body 138 00:05:00,831 --> 00:05:02,637 to be burned as a martyr, 139 00:05:02,637 --> 00:05:04,219 but if you don't have love, 140 00:05:04,219 --> 00:05:06,037 you are nothing. 141 00:05:06,037 --> 00:05:07,857 Love is that important. 142 00:05:07,857 --> 00:05:10,559 Remember how John says in 1 John 4, 143 00:05:10,559 --> 00:05:13,032 if anybody says he loves God 144 00:05:13,032 --> 00:05:14,520 Whom he has not seen, 145 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:15,992 but doesn't love his neighbor 146 00:05:15,992 --> 00:05:18,785 whom he has seen, he is what? 147 00:05:18,785 --> 00:05:20,219 A liar. 148 00:05:20,219 --> 00:05:22,219 And the truth is not in him. 149 00:05:22,219 --> 00:05:23,501 Jesus said, 150 00:05:23,501 --> 00:05:25,088 "A new commandment I give you 151 00:05:25,088 --> 00:05:26,538 that you love one another 152 00:05:26,538 --> 00:05:28,524 as I have loved you." 153 00:05:28,524 --> 00:05:31,585 Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:22 154 00:05:31,585 --> 00:05:33,242 that we're to love one another 155 00:05:33,242 --> 00:05:35,146 with pure hearts fervently. 156 00:05:35,146 --> 00:05:37,565 There's to be some heat of affection 157 00:05:37,565 --> 00:05:39,281 in the love we have for one another. 158 00:05:39,281 --> 00:05:42,187 So love is hugely important. 159 00:05:42,187 --> 00:05:44,646 And one thing 1 Corinthians 13 tells us 160 00:05:44,646 --> 00:05:47,178 is that love does not seek its own. 161 00:05:47,178 --> 00:05:49,442 When you love, you are turning outward 162 00:05:49,442 --> 00:05:52,003 from yourself - from self love - 163 00:05:52,003 --> 00:05:55,641 to love others. 164 00:05:55,641 --> 00:05:58,202 And people are what matter. 165 00:05:58,202 --> 00:06:00,681 When you invest in people, 166 00:06:00,681 --> 00:06:03,405 you are making an eternal investment. 167 00:06:03,405 --> 00:06:05,033 The Navigators had a saying, 168 00:06:05,033 --> 00:06:08,771 instead of using people and loving things, 169 00:06:08,771 --> 00:06:12,059 we are to use things and love people. 170 00:06:12,059 --> 00:06:15,973 So, in encouraging you to invest in one another, 171 00:06:15,973 --> 00:06:19,023 I just begin with the large idea of love. 172 00:06:19,023 --> 00:06:21,308 We are called to love one another. 173 00:06:21,308 --> 00:06:23,580 It's what the Christian life is all about. 174 00:06:23,580 --> 00:06:27,495 But then consider the "one another" duties in Scripture. 175 00:06:27,495 --> 00:06:30,091 I'm sure you've been taught on the "one anothers." 176 00:06:30,091 --> 00:06:32,073 One word in the Greek: allelon 177 00:06:32,073 --> 00:06:34,166 You should look it up in your concordance. 178 00:06:34,166 --> 00:06:36,791 You have between 25 and 30 duties 179 00:06:36,791 --> 00:06:40,104 that we are to exercise toward one another. 180 00:06:40,104 --> 00:06:41,626 And I know this is a large group 181 00:06:41,626 --> 00:06:43,887 and a little bit difficult to interact, 182 00:06:43,887 --> 00:06:45,623 but let me ask you for a moment 183 00:06:45,623 --> 00:06:47,870 to give me some of the "one anothers." 184 00:06:47,870 --> 00:06:50,927 The things we're to do toward one another. 185 00:06:50,927 --> 00:06:53,336 Love one another is the great canopy. 186 00:06:53,336 --> 00:06:55,390 What else are we to do toward one another. 187 00:06:55,390 --> 00:06:57,562 Raise your hand. 188 00:06:57,562 --> 00:06:59,445 Edify one another. 189 00:06:59,445 --> 00:07:00,745 Build one another up. 190 00:07:00,745 --> 00:07:04,098 Romans 14 191 00:07:04,098 --> 00:07:05,829 Yeah, brother? 192 00:07:05,829 --> 00:07:07,810 Exhort one another daily, 193 00:07:07,810 --> 00:07:08,970 lest any be hardened 194 00:07:08,970 --> 00:07:10,369 by the deceitfulness of sin. 195 00:07:10,369 --> 00:07:11,589 Hebrews 3. 196 00:07:11,589 --> 00:07:12,376 David? 197 00:07:12,376 --> 00:07:14,186 Bear one another's burdens 198 00:07:14,186 --> 00:07:15,598 (Galatians 6) 199 00:07:15,598 --> 00:07:17,493 and so fulfill the law of Christ. 200 00:07:17,493 --> 00:07:19,847 Yes? 201 00:07:19,847 --> 00:07:21,546 Forgive one another, 202 00:07:21,546 --> 00:07:23,564 as God in Christ has forgiven you. 203 00:07:23,564 --> 00:07:25,998 Yes, Kevin? 204 00:07:25,998 --> 00:07:28,244 Confess your sins to one another. 205 00:07:28,244 --> 00:07:29,799 James 5 206 00:07:29,799 --> 00:07:31,284 Yes? 207 00:07:31,284 --> 00:07:34,862 Encourage one another. 208 00:07:34,862 --> 00:07:36,302 Pastor Tim? 209 00:07:36,302 --> 00:07:38,099 Comfort one another. 210 00:07:38,099 --> 00:07:39,641 1 Thessalonians 4 211 00:07:39,641 --> 00:07:41,661 Your departed relatives are not lost. 212 00:07:41,661 --> 00:07:44,245 Jesus is going to bring them with Him. 213 00:07:44,245 --> 00:07:45,446 Comfort one another. 214 00:07:45,446 --> 00:07:48,098 You know, there's one word, parakaleo, 215 00:07:48,098 --> 00:07:49,959 which is sometimes translated "exhort," 216 00:07:49,959 --> 00:07:52,145 sometimes "encourage," sometimes "comfort" 217 00:07:52,145 --> 00:07:53,610 according to the context. 218 00:07:53,610 --> 00:07:57,541 Anything else? 219 00:07:57,541 --> 00:08:01,341 Pray for one another. 220 00:08:01,341 --> 00:08:03,516 James 5 221 00:08:03,516 --> 00:08:07,177 Go ahead, sister. 222 00:08:07,177 --> 00:08:09,099 Be kind to one another, 223 00:08:09,099 --> 00:08:11,478 tenderhearted, forgiving each other. 224 00:08:11,478 --> 00:08:12,880 Yeah, in the back? 225 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,797 Outdo one another in showing honor. 226 00:08:15,797 --> 00:08:17,512 Romans 12 227 00:08:17,512 --> 00:08:19,024 And we could go on and on. 228 00:08:19,024 --> 00:08:21,979 25 or 30 of these "one another" duties.(P) 229 00:08:21,979 --> 00:08:25,400 Now, this morning as we gather for several hours, 230 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,994 you're going to do some of those things. 231 00:08:27,994 --> 00:08:30,418 But those duties are so vast, 232 00:08:30,418 --> 00:08:31,415 so expansive, 233 00:08:31,415 --> 00:08:33,109 you can't do all of those things 234 00:08:33,109 --> 00:08:35,952 in the large public gatherings, right? 235 00:08:35,952 --> 00:08:37,071 And to some degree, 236 00:08:37,071 --> 00:08:38,592 you can't even do those things 237 00:08:38,592 --> 00:08:39,662 in the small groups. 238 00:08:39,662 --> 00:08:43,496 So, meeting one-on-one with another believer 239 00:08:43,496 --> 00:08:46,139 is another opportunity for you to carry out 240 00:08:46,139 --> 00:08:48,230 those "one another" duties. 241 00:08:48,230 --> 00:08:50,323 Not only that, but we're called 242 00:08:50,323 --> 00:08:53,410 to use our gifts for one another. 243 00:08:53,410 --> 00:09:00,221 1 Peter 4:10-11 says as each has received a gift, 244 00:09:00,221 --> 00:09:02,064 employ it for one another 245 00:09:02,064 --> 00:09:03,766 as good stewards of 246 00:09:03,766 --> 00:09:06,681 the literally multi-colored grace of God. 247 00:09:06,681 --> 00:09:08,685 Right? 248 00:09:08,685 --> 00:09:12,721 Every church truly is a charismatic community, right? 249 00:09:12,721 --> 00:09:14,385 No matter what you believe about 250 00:09:14,385 --> 00:09:16,577 the continuation of the gifts, 251 00:09:16,577 --> 00:09:19,410 every believer is gifted 252 00:09:19,410 --> 00:09:21,777 and the word for gift is karis, 253 00:09:21,777 --> 00:09:22,937 so in a true sense, 254 00:09:22,937 --> 00:09:26,236 every congregation is a charismatic community, right? 255 00:09:26,236 --> 00:09:27,954 You have gifts. 256 00:09:27,954 --> 00:09:31,114 Now, we can list those gifts. 257 00:09:31,114 --> 00:09:35,486 There are gifts of preaching, teaching, serving, 258 00:09:35,486 --> 00:09:38,276 showing mercy, knowledge, wisdom, 259 00:09:38,276 --> 00:09:40,984 organization, leading, exhortation, 260 00:09:40,984 --> 00:09:42,896 encouraging, counseling, comforting, 261 00:09:42,896 --> 00:09:45,019 faith, discernment... 262 00:09:45,019 --> 00:09:50,120 very few of those gifts are exercised publicly, right? 263 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,083 Your pastors, those who teach, 264 00:09:53,083 --> 00:09:55,001 exercise a public gift, 265 00:09:55,001 --> 00:09:57,499 but very few of them are public. 266 00:09:57,499 --> 00:10:00,913 Most of them need to be exercised privately. 267 00:10:00,913 --> 00:10:02,868 That again points us in the direction 268 00:10:02,868 --> 00:10:04,512 of personal ministry. 269 00:10:04,512 --> 00:10:05,808 You have a gift. 270 00:10:05,808 --> 00:10:07,499 And it needs to be used. 271 00:10:07,499 --> 00:10:10,120 Yes, it will be used somewhat in the general meetings, 272 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,154 but it will be used more fully 273 00:10:12,154 --> 00:10:14,855 as you more personally interact 274 00:10:14,855 --> 00:10:17,454 with your fellow believers.(P) 275 00:10:17,454 --> 00:10:18,830 Let's consider also 276 00:10:18,830 --> 00:10:22,912 the example of the ministry of Jesus. 277 00:10:22,912 --> 00:10:25,190 In Mark 3:14, we are told 278 00:10:25,190 --> 00:10:28,057 that Jesus appointed 12. 279 00:10:28,057 --> 00:10:29,842 Why did He appoint them? 280 00:10:29,842 --> 00:10:32,402 Somebody raise their hand. 281 00:10:32,402 --> 00:10:35,961 He appointed 12 that they might be...? 282 00:10:35,961 --> 00:10:37,558 With Him. 283 00:10:37,558 --> 00:10:39,955 And that He might send them out to preach. 284 00:10:39,955 --> 00:10:42,175 First thing is, Jesus appointed men 285 00:10:42,175 --> 00:10:44,163 to be with Him, 286 00:10:44,163 --> 00:10:47,488 so that He could impart His life to them. 287 00:10:47,488 --> 00:10:48,558 And for three years, 288 00:10:48,558 --> 00:10:50,753 He invested Himself personally 289 00:10:50,753 --> 00:10:54,408 in these 12 men. 290 00:10:54,408 --> 00:10:55,920 Now, to be sure, 291 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:57,909 Jesus was unique. 292 00:10:57,909 --> 00:10:59,608 He was training apostles. 293 00:10:59,608 --> 00:11:02,787 He was training generals in the church. 294 00:11:02,787 --> 00:11:03,946 They were unique. 295 00:11:03,946 --> 00:11:06,494 They laid the foundation for the church. 296 00:11:06,494 --> 00:11:09,212 But we're called to be like Jesus, 297 00:11:09,212 --> 00:11:11,031 to walk as He walked. 298 00:11:11,031 --> 00:11:12,488 Isn't there something there? 299 00:11:12,488 --> 00:11:15,344 That Jesus invested personally in men 300 00:11:15,344 --> 00:11:17,901 that points us to the need 301 00:11:17,901 --> 00:11:21,850 to invest personally in one another. 302 00:11:21,850 --> 00:11:23,717 No, we're not training apostles, 303 00:11:23,717 --> 00:11:26,376 and most of you won't be training pastors, 304 00:11:26,376 --> 00:11:28,837 although those who are existing pastors 305 00:11:28,837 --> 00:11:30,777 will be investing in individuals 306 00:11:30,777 --> 00:11:31,807 to prepare them. 307 00:11:31,807 --> 00:11:33,569 2 Timothy 2:2 308 00:11:33,569 --> 00:11:34,668 Paul says to Timothy, 309 00:11:34,668 --> 00:11:36,815 the things you've learned from me 310 00:11:36,815 --> 00:11:38,548 in the presence of many witnesses, 311 00:11:38,548 --> 00:11:40,130 these entrust to faithful men 312 00:11:40,130 --> 00:11:42,215 who will be able to teach others also. 313 00:11:42,215 --> 00:11:45,390 Jesus made for the perpetuation 314 00:11:45,390 --> 00:11:46,816 of leadership in the church 315 00:11:46,816 --> 00:11:50,149 by existing pastors training other men 316 00:11:50,149 --> 00:11:52,994 who are able and gifted, 317 00:11:52,994 --> 00:11:55,052 so that they in turn might teach others. 318 00:11:55,052 --> 00:11:56,892 It certainly applies to pastors. 319 00:11:56,892 --> 00:11:58,707 But I think there's a principle there 320 00:11:58,707 --> 00:12:00,602 for all Christians. 321 00:12:00,602 --> 00:12:02,265 And then look at the example 322 00:12:02,265 --> 00:12:05,128 of the ministry of the Apostle Paul. 323 00:12:05,128 --> 00:12:08,877 I turn you to Acts 16 324 00:12:08,877 --> 00:12:12,980 where Paul first recruited young Timothy. 325 00:12:12,980 --> 00:12:17,390 Acts 16:1-3 326 00:12:17,390 --> 00:12:20,728 "Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra, 327 00:12:20,728 --> 00:12:23,517 and a disciple was there named Timothy, 328 00:12:23,517 --> 00:12:24,839 the son of a Jewish woman 329 00:12:24,839 --> 00:12:26,177 who was a believer. 330 00:12:26,177 --> 00:12:27,860 But his father was a Greek. 331 00:12:27,860 --> 00:12:30,587 And he was well spoken of by the brethren 332 00:12:30,587 --> 00:12:33,989 who were in Lystra and Iconium. 333 00:12:33,989 --> 00:12:36,828 Paul wanted this man to go with him, 334 00:12:36,828 --> 00:12:39,187 and he took him and circumcised him 335 00:12:39,187 --> 00:12:41,374 because of the Jews who were in those parts, 336 00:12:41,374 --> 00:12:45,213 for they all knew that his father was a Greek." 337 00:12:45,213 --> 00:12:47,480 That's where Paul recruited Timothy. 338 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:48,761 He was well spoken of. 339 00:12:48,761 --> 00:12:50,195 He had a good reputation. 340 00:12:50,195 --> 00:12:51,804 Paul said I want that young man 341 00:12:51,804 --> 00:12:53,233 to go with me 342 00:12:53,233 --> 00:12:54,943 in order to mentor him, 343 00:12:54,943 --> 00:12:56,230 disciple him, 344 00:12:56,230 --> 00:12:58,117 equip him... 345 00:12:58,117 --> 00:13:00,701 And what do we read in Philippians 2? 346 00:13:00,701 --> 00:13:03,748 Where Paul wants to send somebody to Philippi. 347 00:13:03,748 --> 00:13:05,100 He can't go himself. 348 00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:08,559 He says I have no one else of kindred spirit 349 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,469 besides Timothy who will be 350 00:13:10,469 --> 00:13:13,680 genuinely concerned for your welfare. 351 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:17,633 Why was Timothy of kindred spirit with Paul? 352 00:13:17,633 --> 00:13:19,942 Because Paul had invested in him. 353 00:13:19,942 --> 00:13:21,901 He had trained him. 354 00:13:21,901 --> 00:13:24,725 And Timothy was a reflection of Paul. 355 00:13:24,725 --> 00:13:26,991 And the next best thing to Paul going himself 356 00:13:26,991 --> 00:13:28,566 was to send Timothy, 357 00:13:28,566 --> 00:13:32,409 because Paul had discipled Timothy. 358 00:13:32,409 --> 00:13:36,274 And we know that Paul did that with other men as well. 359 00:13:36,274 --> 00:13:40,866 Titus and Silas and Luke. 360 00:13:40,866 --> 00:13:42,897 Paul says to the Thessalonians 361 00:13:42,897 --> 00:13:45,014 in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, 362 00:13:45,014 --> 00:13:47,410 "Having thus a fond affection for you, 363 00:13:47,410 --> 00:13:49,920 we were well pleased to impart to you 364 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:51,615 not only the Gospel of God, 365 00:13:51,615 --> 00:13:54,323 but also our own lives, 366 00:13:54,323 --> 00:13:57,245 because you had become very dear to us." 367 00:13:57,245 --> 00:14:01,440 Paul, even in a pastoral setting or position, 368 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,855 didn't just come as a word machine, 369 00:14:04,855 --> 00:14:09,558 he invested himself personally in people. 370 00:14:09,558 --> 00:14:12,710 Acts 20, as he's talking to the Ephesian elders 371 00:14:12,710 --> 00:14:14,411 having been in Ephesus, 372 00:14:14,411 --> 00:14:16,681 he says remember how I used to 373 00:14:16,681 --> 00:14:19,769 admonish each one of you with tears. 374 00:14:19,769 --> 00:14:22,175 I ministered to you publicly 375 00:14:22,175 --> 00:14:24,209 and from house to house. 376 00:14:24,209 --> 00:14:25,289 Acts 20:20 377 00:14:25,289 --> 00:14:26,664 Somebody says 378 00:14:26,664 --> 00:14:29,179 that's 20/20 vision for ministry. 379 00:14:29,179 --> 00:14:30,656 It's not only public, 380 00:14:30,656 --> 00:14:34,076 but it's private and personal in the homes. 381 00:14:34,076 --> 00:14:35,604 And so we see the place 382 00:14:35,604 --> 00:14:39,374 where personal ministry, even for pastors, 383 00:14:39,374 --> 00:14:41,201 not only to publicly minister, 384 00:14:41,201 --> 00:14:44,390 but to minister personally. 385 00:14:44,390 --> 00:14:45,932 So we have the example 386 00:14:45,932 --> 00:14:47,439 of the ministry of Paul, 387 00:14:47,439 --> 00:14:49,850 investing in individuals. 388 00:14:49,850 --> 00:14:53,409 Then, take the principle of imitation. 389 00:14:53,409 --> 00:14:56,328 You know that that's a biblical principle, isn't it? 390 00:14:56,328 --> 00:14:58,759 Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1, 391 00:14:58,759 --> 00:15:03,017 "Be imitators of me as I am of Christ." 392 00:15:03,017 --> 00:15:05,934 Proverbs 13:20 393 00:15:05,934 --> 00:15:07,999 says, "He who walks with wise men 394 00:15:07,999 --> 00:15:09,487 will be wise, 395 00:15:09,487 --> 00:15:12,866 but the companion of fools will suffer harm." 396 00:15:12,866 --> 00:15:16,861 We see this principle of imitation negatively, 397 00:15:16,861 --> 00:15:18,914 and I cited this at the men's retreat, 398 00:15:18,914 --> 00:15:21,496 where we were talking about emotions, 399 00:15:21,496 --> 00:15:23,714 and the emotion of anger. 400 00:15:23,714 --> 00:15:25,690 Proverbs 22:24 says, 401 00:15:25,690 --> 00:15:27,899 "Do not associate with a man given to anger 402 00:15:27,899 --> 00:15:29,530 or go with a hot-tempered man, 403 00:15:29,530 --> 00:15:31,541 lest you learn his ways 404 00:15:31,541 --> 00:15:33,268 and find a snare for yourself." 405 00:15:33,268 --> 00:15:34,941 If you hang out with an angry man, 406 00:15:34,941 --> 00:15:36,590 if you grow up in an angry home, 407 00:15:36,590 --> 00:15:37,762 you will become angry, 408 00:15:37,762 --> 00:15:39,286 because you will imitate 409 00:15:39,286 --> 00:15:41,959 what you have been exposed to. 410 00:15:41,959 --> 00:15:44,167 Well, that works in a good direction. 411 00:15:44,167 --> 00:15:45,499 You walk with wise men, 412 00:15:45,499 --> 00:15:46,853 you hang out with wise men, 413 00:15:46,853 --> 00:15:48,021 you listen to wise men, 414 00:15:48,021 --> 00:15:49,171 you watch wise men, 415 00:15:49,171 --> 00:15:50,201 wise women, 416 00:15:50,201 --> 00:15:53,374 you will become wise. 417 00:15:53,374 --> 00:15:57,596 You can't imitate what you don't see. 418 00:15:57,596 --> 00:16:00,667 How are younger believers going to imitate 419 00:16:00,667 --> 00:16:04,190 older believers who are better imitating Christ, 420 00:16:04,190 --> 00:16:07,898 unless there's some time spent together. 421 00:16:07,898 --> 00:16:12,118 Unless you're exposed to them 422 00:16:12,118 --> 00:16:15,006 personally. 423 00:16:15,006 --> 00:16:17,116 Frequently. 424 00:16:17,116 --> 00:16:20,691 So, imitation is a biblical principle. 425 00:16:20,691 --> 00:16:25,458 You need to spend time with each other 426 00:16:25,458 --> 00:16:29,164 to see what you're supposed to imitate. 427 00:16:29,164 --> 00:16:31,872 3 John 11: "Beloved, do not imitate 428 00:16:31,872 --> 00:16:35,020 what is evil, but what is good."(P) 429 00:16:35,020 --> 00:16:40,152 And then, turn with me to Titus 2, 430 00:16:40,152 --> 00:16:41,872 where as many of you know, 431 00:16:41,872 --> 00:16:45,517 there is an explicit call to older women 432 00:16:45,517 --> 00:16:51,496 to invest in younger women. 433 00:16:51,496 --> 00:16:54,035 Titus 2:3-5 434 00:16:54,035 --> 00:16:57,916 "Older women, likewise, are to be reverent 435 00:16:57,916 --> 00:16:59,803 in their behavior, 436 00:16:59,803 --> 00:17:01,230 not malicious gossips, 437 00:17:01,230 --> 00:17:02,659 nor enslaved to much wine, 438 00:17:02,659 --> 00:17:03,991 teaching what is good, 439 00:17:03,991 --> 00:17:06,782 so that they may encourage the young women 440 00:17:06,782 --> 00:17:08,324 to love their husbands, 441 00:17:08,324 --> 00:17:10,063 to love their children, 442 00:17:10,063 --> 00:17:13,093 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, 443 00:17:13,093 --> 00:17:15,502 kind, being subject to their own husbands, 444 00:17:15,502 --> 00:17:16,750 so that the Word of God 445 00:17:16,750 --> 00:17:18,954 will not be dishonored." 446 00:17:18,954 --> 00:17:20,750 You older women, 447 00:17:20,750 --> 00:17:22,882 and I'm not going to presume to tell you 448 00:17:22,882 --> 00:17:24,428 what is an older woman, 449 00:17:24,428 --> 00:17:26,337 but if you're older than another woman, 450 00:17:26,337 --> 00:17:28,179 you're an older woman. 451 00:17:28,179 --> 00:17:31,148 You are given explicit command 452 00:17:31,148 --> 00:17:35,859 to invest in, to train, to make sober 453 00:17:35,859 --> 00:17:37,238 (as the original has) 454 00:17:37,238 --> 00:17:38,727 these younger women 455 00:17:38,727 --> 00:17:40,706 to teach them the domestic life - 456 00:17:40,706 --> 00:17:42,118 how to love their husbands, 457 00:17:42,118 --> 00:17:43,425 how to love their children. 458 00:17:43,425 --> 00:17:45,776 You have a direct command, older women, 459 00:17:45,776 --> 00:17:46,947 to do that. 460 00:17:46,947 --> 00:17:48,654 And I would presume by inference 461 00:17:48,654 --> 00:17:53,361 older men are as responsible to do that as well. 462 00:17:53,361 --> 00:17:56,642 And, older women, it's very obvious 463 00:17:56,642 --> 00:18:00,067 that younger women desperately need 464 00:18:00,067 --> 00:18:02,194 your investment. 465 00:18:02,194 --> 00:18:04,430 We are living in a godless age 466 00:18:04,430 --> 00:18:06,182 where we are far removed from 467 00:18:06,182 --> 00:18:08,569 the Bible and biblical norms. 468 00:18:08,569 --> 00:18:10,175 Women are being raised 469 00:18:10,175 --> 00:18:12,518 in dysfunctional, broken homes. 470 00:18:12,518 --> 00:18:14,630 They don't have a clue 471 00:18:14,630 --> 00:18:16,978 as to what it means to be a godly wife. 472 00:18:16,978 --> 00:18:18,611 They don't have a clue 473 00:18:18,611 --> 00:18:21,899 as to what it means to be a godly mother. 474 00:18:21,899 --> 00:18:25,171 You seasoned, older women, 475 00:18:25,171 --> 00:18:27,030 you are desperately needed 476 00:18:27,030 --> 00:18:28,752 to invest in these young women 477 00:18:28,752 --> 00:18:30,069 and teach these things - 478 00:18:30,069 --> 00:18:31,681 things they're not going to learn 479 00:18:31,681 --> 00:18:33,092 from the culture. 480 00:18:33,092 --> 00:18:35,390 They need to learn them from you 481 00:18:35,390 --> 00:18:36,786 in the church.(P) 482 00:18:36,786 --> 00:18:40,816 Now, I'm not making personal discipleship 483 00:18:40,816 --> 00:18:43,062 to the exclusion of the broader discipling 484 00:18:43,062 --> 00:18:44,220 of the body. 485 00:18:44,220 --> 00:18:45,946 One of the things that drew me away 486 00:18:45,946 --> 00:18:46,910 from the Navigators 487 00:18:46,910 --> 00:18:48,733 is they were so focused on one-on-one, 488 00:18:48,733 --> 00:18:50,852 that they were neglecting the body. 489 00:18:50,852 --> 00:18:52,753 There's a sense in which the whole body 490 00:18:52,753 --> 00:18:54,465 disciples us, right? 491 00:18:54,465 --> 00:18:56,080 So it's not either/or. 492 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:57,280 Please understand. 493 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,779 I think the Navigators were imbalanced. 494 00:18:59,779 --> 00:19:01,742 One man investing in one other man, 495 00:19:01,742 --> 00:19:03,796 maybe some cross-training. 496 00:19:03,796 --> 00:19:08,409 There's a sense in which the whole body disciples us. 497 00:19:08,409 --> 00:19:09,640 One brother was saying 498 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,481 I'm also discipled by books. 499 00:19:12,481 --> 00:19:13,759 One brother was saying, 500 00:19:13,759 --> 00:19:16,331 George Whitefield has been discipling me, 501 00:19:16,331 --> 00:19:18,159 because I've been reading his 502 00:19:18,159 --> 00:19:20,115 biography and journals.(P) 503 00:19:20,115 --> 00:19:22,772 So there's a sense in which you come 504 00:19:22,772 --> 00:19:24,120 into the church and you see 505 00:19:24,120 --> 00:19:26,335 multiple examples of good family life 506 00:19:26,335 --> 00:19:27,846 that you didn't see growing up. 507 00:19:27,846 --> 00:19:29,247 But there's also value 508 00:19:29,247 --> 00:19:31,609 in an older woman investing personally, 509 00:19:31,609 --> 00:19:36,368 more intensely, in a younger woman. 510 00:19:36,368 --> 00:19:38,294 So the explicit call to older women 511 00:19:38,294 --> 00:19:39,440 to train younger women. 512 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:41,581 And then, finally, 513 00:19:41,581 --> 00:19:44,428 and I'm trying to bring these various lines of argument 514 00:19:44,428 --> 00:19:46,123 to convince you that you need to be 515 00:19:46,123 --> 00:19:48,944 personally invested in other Christians.(P) 516 00:19:48,944 --> 00:19:50,792 Finally, we have that principle 517 00:19:50,792 --> 00:19:53,600 of Proverbs 27:17, 518 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,989 "As iron sharpens iron, 519 00:19:56,989 --> 00:20:00,634 so one man sharpens another." 520 00:20:00,634 --> 00:20:03,057 That iron needs to come in contact with iron. 521 00:20:03,057 --> 00:20:04,947 It needs to rub against one another 522 00:20:04,947 --> 00:20:07,441 in order for that sharpening to take place. 523 00:20:07,441 --> 00:20:08,401 Right? 524 00:20:08,401 --> 00:20:11,208 And that too points us to more personal involvement, 525 00:20:11,208 --> 00:20:12,551 personal investment, 526 00:20:12,551 --> 00:20:14,188 in the lives of others, 527 00:20:14,188 --> 00:20:16,264 to knock off the dullness 528 00:20:16,264 --> 00:20:20,701 and to sharpen the edge of one another.(P) 529 00:20:20,701 --> 00:20:23,819 So, I hope that's convincing. 530 00:20:23,819 --> 00:20:25,410 Do you see the paramount need 531 00:20:25,410 --> 00:20:27,402 to love your brothers and sisters 532 00:20:27,402 --> 00:20:29,075 not merely in word and tongue, 533 00:20:29,075 --> 00:20:30,800 but in deed and truth? 534 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,091 Do you see the need for you to carry out 535 00:20:33,091 --> 00:20:36,583 those many one another responsibilities? 536 00:20:36,583 --> 00:20:39,484 Do you see the fact that you have a spiritual gift 537 00:20:39,484 --> 00:20:41,921 and you need to exercise that spiritual gift 538 00:20:41,921 --> 00:20:43,238 toward the body? 539 00:20:43,238 --> 00:20:47,757 And very few of you have a public gift. 540 00:20:47,757 --> 00:20:51,539 Do you see the examples of Jesus and Paul 541 00:20:51,539 --> 00:20:54,049 in investing personally in the lives 542 00:20:54,049 --> 00:20:55,394 of other men 543 00:20:55,394 --> 00:20:57,626 as an example to us 544 00:20:57,626 --> 00:20:59,921 to do personal ministry? 545 00:20:59,921 --> 00:21:02,704 Do you see the principle of imitation? 546 00:21:02,704 --> 00:21:04,600 The younger, less mature, 547 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,109 are to imitate the older, more mature. 548 00:21:07,109 --> 00:21:08,634 How are they going to do that 549 00:21:08,634 --> 00:21:11,185 unless they have some window on your life? 550 00:21:11,185 --> 00:21:12,798 Unless there's some exposure, 551 00:21:12,798 --> 00:21:16,613 frequent contact with you? 552 00:21:16,613 --> 00:21:18,901 Do you see older women, 553 00:21:18,901 --> 00:21:24,270 your express duty to invest in younger women? 554 00:21:24,270 --> 00:21:26,272 And do you want to experience 555 00:21:26,272 --> 00:21:29,297 the reality of iron sharpening iron? 556 00:21:29,297 --> 00:21:31,161 You're going to need to be involved 557 00:21:31,161 --> 00:21:34,046 and invested in one another.(P) 558 00:21:34,046 --> 00:21:37,012 Now, let me give you some suggested 559 00:21:37,012 --> 00:21:40,355 approaches to personal ministry. 560 00:21:40,355 --> 00:21:42,796 I want to be very practical. 561 00:21:42,796 --> 00:21:44,757 If you're convinced of the need, 562 00:21:44,757 --> 00:21:47,180 how's this going to happen? 563 00:21:47,180 --> 00:21:48,589 Well, first of all, 564 00:21:48,589 --> 00:21:50,673 fellowship generally with 565 00:21:50,673 --> 00:21:53,172 the brothers and sisters in the church. 566 00:21:53,172 --> 00:21:54,592 You are not at all likely 567 00:21:54,592 --> 00:21:57,054 to invest intensely and personally 568 00:21:57,054 --> 00:21:58,065 in another believer, 569 00:21:58,065 --> 00:21:59,220 unless you're involved 570 00:21:59,220 --> 00:22:01,889 in the general fellowship of the church. 571 00:22:01,889 --> 00:22:03,518 Don't be one who comes to church 572 00:22:03,518 --> 00:22:07,152 and then just bolts out the door afterwards. 573 00:22:07,152 --> 00:22:11,026 Mix it up with the brothers and sisters generally. 574 00:22:11,026 --> 00:22:12,860 If you have no fellowship at all, 575 00:22:12,860 --> 00:22:14,562 you're not going to go from that 576 00:22:14,562 --> 00:22:17,059 to more intense fellowship. 577 00:22:17,059 --> 00:22:19,450 So let it begin with just general 578 00:22:19,450 --> 00:22:22,105 interaction and fellowship with the body 579 00:22:22,105 --> 00:22:24,043 in your larger gatherings. 580 00:22:24,043 --> 00:22:25,666 That's the place to start. 581 00:22:25,666 --> 00:22:28,073 But then look to establish 582 00:22:28,073 --> 00:22:31,163 spiritually intentional relationships 583 00:22:31,163 --> 00:22:34,922 along three possible lines. 584 00:22:34,922 --> 00:22:38,093 Mentor to mentee. 585 00:22:38,093 --> 00:22:41,169 And that means that you older men and women 586 00:22:41,169 --> 00:22:42,965 or more mature 587 00:22:42,965 --> 00:22:46,703 doesn't always mean chronological age; 588 00:22:46,703 --> 00:22:50,038 sometimes it's a matter of greater maturity. 589 00:22:50,038 --> 00:22:52,045 Look out among yourselves 590 00:22:52,045 --> 00:22:53,970 for those younger men and women, 591 00:22:53,970 --> 00:22:55,974 man to man, woman to woman, 592 00:22:55,974 --> 00:22:58,266 that you can invest in 593 00:22:58,266 --> 00:23:00,931 and be a mentor to. 594 00:23:00,931 --> 00:23:01,963 But let me say, 595 00:23:01,963 --> 00:23:04,373 it's never a one way street. 596 00:23:04,373 --> 00:23:05,875 You never come at someone 597 00:23:05,875 --> 00:23:07,709 with I've got everything to teach you 598 00:23:07,709 --> 00:23:08,801 and nothing to learn. 599 00:23:08,801 --> 00:23:10,260 It is never that way. 600 00:23:10,260 --> 00:23:12,016 The Apostle Paul, when he's planning 601 00:23:12,016 --> 00:23:12,818 to come to Rome, 602 00:23:12,818 --> 00:23:15,071 he says I want to be encouraged with you. 603 00:23:15,071 --> 00:23:16,805 We want to be mutually encouraged 604 00:23:16,805 --> 00:23:17,902 by one another's faith. 605 00:23:17,902 --> 00:23:18,686 He's an apostle, 606 00:23:18,686 --> 00:23:20,706 but he says, I need you to encourage me. 607 00:23:20,706 --> 00:23:23,368 Don't ever be a know-it-all mentor. 608 00:23:23,368 --> 00:23:25,698 Your mentoring is not going to last very long. 609 00:23:25,698 --> 00:23:26,502 No. 610 00:23:26,502 --> 00:23:28,573 When you come, you may have a lot to give - 611 00:23:28,573 --> 00:23:30,447 hopefully more to give than to receive, 612 00:23:30,447 --> 00:23:31,899 but you come with a teachable heart, 613 00:23:31,899 --> 00:23:33,408 and say I need to learn something 614 00:23:33,408 --> 00:23:35,017 from this young believer as well. 615 00:23:35,017 --> 00:23:36,734 But older men and women, 616 00:23:36,734 --> 00:23:37,595 more mature, 617 00:23:37,595 --> 00:23:38,858 look to younger ones 618 00:23:38,858 --> 00:23:41,512 to whom you could be a mentor. 619 00:23:41,512 --> 00:23:44,790 Younger believers - young in the faith, 620 00:23:44,790 --> 00:23:46,315 new in the faith, 621 00:23:46,315 --> 00:23:48,712 you need to be mentored. 622 00:23:48,712 --> 00:23:51,886 You need to find role models for you to imitate. 623 00:23:51,886 --> 00:23:55,372 You especially, look out among the congregation. 624 00:23:55,372 --> 00:23:56,519 If you're a young man, 625 00:23:56,519 --> 00:23:57,545 find an older man, 626 00:23:57,545 --> 00:23:59,245 or young woman, find an older woman 627 00:23:59,245 --> 00:24:01,156 and say I respect that person. 628 00:24:01,156 --> 00:24:02,951 I've been watching that person. 629 00:24:02,951 --> 00:24:05,362 I like the way he relates to his wife. 630 00:24:05,362 --> 00:24:07,504 I like the way she relates to her husband. 631 00:24:07,504 --> 00:24:09,529 I see the fruit in their family. 632 00:24:09,529 --> 00:24:12,313 I can learn some things from this older person. 633 00:24:12,313 --> 00:24:14,030 And sidle up to them. 634 00:24:14,030 --> 00:24:16,009 And ask, hey, can we get together 635 00:24:16,009 --> 00:24:17,670 for coffee? For whatever? 636 00:24:17,670 --> 00:24:19,047 I want to connect with you. 637 00:24:19,047 --> 00:24:21,490 I think there's some things I can learn from you. 638 00:24:21,490 --> 00:24:22,923 In our church, as we're trying 639 00:24:22,923 --> 00:24:25,438 to build this culture, 640 00:24:25,438 --> 00:24:28,440 mentoring, spiritually intentional relationships, 641 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:30,652 we're really putting a lot of the burden 642 00:24:30,652 --> 00:24:31,994 on the younger ones, 643 00:24:31,994 --> 00:24:33,771 because we don't want to impose 644 00:24:33,771 --> 00:24:35,290 ourselves on these young ones. 645 00:24:35,290 --> 00:24:38,067 But I'm saying to the young believers, 646 00:24:38,067 --> 00:24:39,439 look out among yourselves. 647 00:24:39,439 --> 00:24:41,361 Is there a woman or man you respect? 648 00:24:41,361 --> 00:24:42,751 You go up to them. 649 00:24:42,751 --> 00:24:44,914 And if they're not willing to meet with you, 650 00:24:44,914 --> 00:24:45,792 talk to me, 651 00:24:45,792 --> 00:24:47,103 because I'll talk to them, 652 00:24:47,103 --> 00:24:49,516 because they need to be willing to invest in you. 653 00:24:49,516 --> 00:24:52,534 And if there's nobody in the church mature enough 654 00:24:52,534 --> 00:24:55,184 that you respect enough to invest in you, 655 00:24:55,184 --> 00:24:56,854 you're in the wrong place. 656 00:24:56,854 --> 00:24:58,835 Go to a church where you can find people 657 00:24:58,835 --> 00:25:00,014 that you respect. 658 00:25:00,014 --> 00:25:01,657 I usually say that tongue-in-cheek 659 00:25:01,657 --> 00:25:03,202 because I know there are people 660 00:25:03,202 --> 00:25:06,572 in our church that are worthy of imitation. 661 00:25:06,572 --> 00:25:09,631 So, mentor to mentee. 662 00:25:09,631 --> 00:25:12,508 Mentee to mentor. 663 00:25:12,508 --> 00:25:15,353 Is mentee a new word to you? 664 00:25:15,353 --> 00:25:17,736 My word processor doesn't like that word. 665 00:25:17,736 --> 00:25:19,383 I have to go back and correct it, 666 00:25:19,383 --> 00:25:20,784 but it is a word. 667 00:25:20,784 --> 00:25:22,748 It's the one who is on the receiving end 668 00:25:22,748 --> 00:25:24,971 of mentorship. 669 00:25:24,971 --> 00:25:26,806 And then peer-to-peer relationships. 670 00:25:26,806 --> 00:25:28,834 There's a place for that as well. 671 00:25:28,834 --> 00:25:30,513 Where you're meeting with somebody 672 00:25:30,513 --> 00:25:34,305 who's kind of in the same station of life. 673 00:25:34,305 --> 00:25:38,611 So, those are some suggested approaches. 674 00:25:38,611 --> 00:25:42,206 And then, initiate relationships. 675 00:25:42,206 --> 00:25:44,553 And you can do that based on 676 00:25:44,553 --> 00:25:47,360 a number of reasons. 677 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:49,565 You're an older believer 678 00:25:49,565 --> 00:25:51,249 and you see a younger believer 679 00:25:51,249 --> 00:25:53,782 that you would like to encourage in the Lord. 680 00:25:53,782 --> 00:25:57,610 Come up alongside that person. 681 00:25:57,610 --> 00:26:00,162 You're a young believer, like I said, 682 00:26:00,162 --> 00:26:01,842 and you see an older believer 683 00:26:01,842 --> 00:26:03,155 that you respect, 684 00:26:03,155 --> 00:26:05,282 come up alongside that person, 685 00:26:05,282 --> 00:26:07,497 and ask to get together. 686 00:26:07,497 --> 00:26:09,504 You may see a peer 687 00:26:09,504 --> 00:26:11,787 in a similar situation to you, 688 00:26:11,787 --> 00:26:14,143 and you think you could help one another. 689 00:26:14,143 --> 00:26:16,675 Maybe you've got a shared struggle. 690 00:26:16,675 --> 00:26:18,218 A lot of you young men struggle 691 00:26:18,218 --> 00:26:20,793 with sexual lust and pornography. 692 00:26:20,793 --> 00:26:21,999 Maybe to come alongside 693 00:26:21,999 --> 00:26:24,331 and to hold one another accountable 694 00:26:24,331 --> 00:26:27,736 in that area where men are being destroyed 695 00:26:27,736 --> 00:26:29,863 all over the place. 696 00:26:29,863 --> 00:26:31,545 Maybe you have a shared 697 00:26:31,545 --> 00:26:34,397 spiritual burden or concern. 698 00:26:34,397 --> 00:26:35,962 Maybe you share an interest 699 00:26:35,962 --> 00:26:37,419 in a similar ministry 700 00:26:37,419 --> 00:26:38,815 and want to come alongside 701 00:26:38,815 --> 00:26:40,617 and do that ministry. 702 00:26:40,617 --> 00:26:42,715 Maybe you see an acute need 703 00:26:42,715 --> 00:26:44,272 in a brother or sister's life. 704 00:26:44,272 --> 00:26:47,829 At times, there's a crisis that shows up 705 00:26:47,829 --> 00:26:49,092 in one of our lives. 706 00:26:49,092 --> 00:26:50,824 There are crises going on right now 707 00:26:50,824 --> 00:26:52,837 in the lives of your brothers and sisters. 708 00:26:52,837 --> 00:26:53,950 Are you aware of them? 709 00:26:53,950 --> 00:26:56,534 They especially need men and women 710 00:26:56,534 --> 00:26:58,410 to come up alongside 711 00:26:58,410 --> 00:27:00,754 and walk them through that. 712 00:27:00,754 --> 00:27:04,493 That's another occasion to connect and get together. 713 00:27:04,493 --> 00:27:06,696 It could be just a desire to get to know 714 00:27:06,696 --> 00:27:08,767 a believer you don't know. 715 00:27:08,767 --> 00:27:10,750 In an assembly this large, 716 00:27:10,750 --> 00:27:13,064 you don't know everybody. 717 00:27:13,064 --> 00:27:15,348 You certainly don't know everybody well. 718 00:27:15,348 --> 00:27:16,983 And maybe just for the sake of 719 00:27:16,983 --> 00:27:18,331 getting to know somebody - 720 00:27:18,331 --> 00:27:19,723 you know they're a member, 721 00:27:19,723 --> 00:27:21,450 but you've not engaged with them. 722 00:27:21,450 --> 00:27:24,363 I want to get to know them. 723 00:27:24,363 --> 00:27:29,817 Somebody coming new into the congregation. 724 00:27:29,817 --> 00:27:32,141 I envision for our church, 725 00:27:32,141 --> 00:27:33,908 and for every healthy church, 726 00:27:33,908 --> 00:27:36,176 the church becoming a culture 727 00:27:36,176 --> 00:27:39,168 that approximates a net. 728 00:27:39,168 --> 00:27:41,412 Now, I love to fish. 729 00:27:41,412 --> 00:27:43,621 And when a fish gets in my net, 730 00:27:43,621 --> 00:27:46,430 it usually doesn't bode well for that fish. 731 00:27:46,430 --> 00:27:48,490 But I'm not talking about a net 732 00:27:48,490 --> 00:27:51,453 that you're going to destroy people by, 733 00:27:51,453 --> 00:27:53,807 but a good net. 734 00:27:53,807 --> 00:27:55,817 A church being a net in terms of 735 00:27:55,817 --> 00:27:57,935 a network of relationships. 736 00:27:57,935 --> 00:28:00,723 So you see the church on a Sunday morning, 737 00:28:00,723 --> 00:28:01,649 all these people, 738 00:28:01,649 --> 00:28:03,061 but behind the scenes, 739 00:28:03,061 --> 00:28:05,302 there's all this interconnectedness. 740 00:28:05,302 --> 00:28:07,242 This brother meeting with that brother, 741 00:28:07,242 --> 00:28:09,232 and this sister meeting with this sister. 742 00:28:09,232 --> 00:28:10,498 And there's a web, 743 00:28:10,498 --> 00:28:12,263 there's a network of relationships 744 00:28:12,263 --> 00:28:14,158 going on that's really binding 745 00:28:14,158 --> 00:28:15,346 the church together, 746 00:28:15,346 --> 00:28:17,673 so they're not just showing up on Sunday morning 747 00:28:17,673 --> 00:28:18,540 and departing, 748 00:28:18,540 --> 00:28:19,716 but throughout the week, 749 00:28:19,716 --> 00:28:21,182 they're connecting. 750 00:28:21,182 --> 00:28:22,519 Isn't that a good vision? 751 00:28:22,519 --> 00:28:24,265 Isn't that a good picture? 752 00:28:24,265 --> 00:28:27,892 People are less likely to fall through the cracks. 753 00:28:27,892 --> 00:28:30,089 What I envision is that 754 00:28:30,089 --> 00:28:32,522 visitors come in and they get caught in that net. 755 00:28:32,522 --> 00:28:34,006 Because it's just what we do, 756 00:28:34,006 --> 00:28:35,155 we connect with people, 757 00:28:35,155 --> 00:28:37,606 so no visitor comes in and falls through the cracks 758 00:28:37,606 --> 00:28:39,640 and comes week after week and is neglected 759 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:41,308 without some brother, some sister, 760 00:28:41,308 --> 00:28:42,405 coming up and saying, 761 00:28:42,405 --> 00:28:43,937 hey, it's been good to see you, 762 00:28:43,937 --> 00:28:45,097 can we connect? 763 00:28:45,097 --> 00:28:47,276 Can we get together for coffee or something? 764 00:28:47,276 --> 00:28:48,961 And they get caught in the net. 765 00:28:48,961 --> 00:28:50,928 Whether they're believers or unbelievers, 766 00:28:50,928 --> 00:28:52,078 you don't know. 767 00:28:52,078 --> 00:28:54,263 Meet them were they are. 768 00:28:54,263 --> 00:28:55,601 But they're people. 769 00:28:55,601 --> 00:28:56,638 They have a need. 770 00:28:56,638 --> 00:28:57,826 Either to grow in Christ 771 00:28:57,826 --> 00:28:59,656 or to come to Christ. 772 00:28:59,656 --> 00:29:01,670 I see that as a beautiful picture. 773 00:29:01,670 --> 00:29:03,117 We want to be a net. 774 00:29:03,117 --> 00:29:04,573 A healthy net 775 00:29:04,573 --> 00:29:05,968 that catches people 776 00:29:05,968 --> 00:29:09,376 in the body of Christ. 777 00:29:09,376 --> 00:29:11,623 Invite, then, the brother or sister 778 00:29:11,623 --> 00:29:13,474 to get together informally. 779 00:29:13,474 --> 00:29:15,307 Hey, let's get together for coffee. 780 00:29:15,307 --> 00:29:16,896 Let's get together for breakfast, 781 00:29:16,896 --> 00:29:18,407 for lunch... 782 00:29:18,407 --> 00:29:20,629 maybe at your home. 783 00:29:20,629 --> 00:29:24,235 And then consider committing to meeting 784 00:29:24,235 --> 00:29:26,447 on some regular basis 785 00:29:26,447 --> 00:29:29,781 with a spiritually intentional goal. 786 00:29:29,781 --> 00:29:31,269 That's what I'm talking about 787 00:29:31,269 --> 00:29:34,066 when I talk about spiritually intentional relationships. 788 00:29:34,066 --> 00:29:36,523 Not just a one off meeting. 789 00:29:36,523 --> 00:29:39,549 Although sometimes it will not go beyond that. 790 00:29:39,549 --> 00:29:42,552 But consider meeting on some regular basis. 791 00:29:42,552 --> 00:29:46,109 Hey, can we get together every other week? 792 00:29:46,109 --> 00:29:47,391 Every week? 793 00:29:47,391 --> 00:29:49,238 Every month? 794 00:29:49,238 --> 00:29:54,394 And do so with some spiritually intentional goal. 795 00:29:54,394 --> 00:29:57,077 Perhaps mutual accountability. 796 00:29:57,077 --> 00:29:59,088 Perhaps you as an older believer 797 00:29:59,088 --> 00:30:01,515 mentoring that younger one. 798 00:30:01,515 --> 00:30:04,389 Sharpening one another as peers. 799 00:30:04,389 --> 00:30:06,929 Maybe studying a book of the Bible together 800 00:30:06,929 --> 00:30:09,229 or taking some Christian book 801 00:30:09,229 --> 00:30:11,379 that you read together. 802 00:30:11,379 --> 00:30:14,075 Sometimes just doing fun things together. 803 00:30:14,075 --> 00:30:15,917 Relating socially. 804 00:30:15,917 --> 00:30:17,447 You know, sometimes we can be 805 00:30:17,447 --> 00:30:18,592 hyper-spiritual 806 00:30:18,592 --> 00:30:19,824 and we're only and always 807 00:30:19,824 --> 00:30:22,339 relating spiritually. 808 00:30:22,339 --> 00:30:24,922 We have a home group we go to in Maryland, 809 00:30:24,922 --> 00:30:26,694 because I live in Pennsylvania, 810 00:30:26,694 --> 00:30:28,522 and a few weeks ago it was still warm 811 00:30:28,522 --> 00:30:30,605 and I invited them up to our place. 812 00:30:30,605 --> 00:30:32,067 And we had a cookout 813 00:30:32,067 --> 00:30:33,697 and kids played badminton 814 00:30:33,697 --> 00:30:35,243 and we just hung out together 815 00:30:35,243 --> 00:30:37,055 just to socialize together. 816 00:30:37,055 --> 00:30:38,937 Sometimes to have a game night. 817 00:30:38,937 --> 00:30:41,149 Just to get to know one another 818 00:30:41,149 --> 00:30:44,215 in another dimension of life. 819 00:30:44,215 --> 00:30:49,301 You get to know a lot about people sometimes... 820 00:30:49,301 --> 00:30:52,237 My wife and I play a form of scrabble every night. 821 00:30:52,237 --> 00:30:53,346 We kind of wind down. 822 00:30:53,346 --> 00:30:54,856 She's in one part of the house, 823 00:30:54,856 --> 00:30:56,009 I'm in the other part. 824 00:30:56,009 --> 00:30:57,443 We meet at the kitchen table 825 00:30:57,443 --> 00:30:58,712 and we play banana grams. 826 00:30:58,712 --> 00:31:01,030 It's a fast paced Scrabble game. 827 00:31:01,030 --> 00:31:02,135 I was telling somebody, 828 00:31:02,135 --> 00:31:04,209 we're coming up to a thousand games 829 00:31:04,209 --> 00:31:05,614 that we've played. 830 00:31:05,614 --> 00:31:08,718 And we're only five games apart. 831 00:31:08,718 --> 00:31:11,151 She's won five more than me. 832 00:31:11,151 --> 00:31:12,968 But you learn something about people, 833 00:31:12,968 --> 00:31:14,904 you know how competitive are they, 834 00:31:14,904 --> 00:31:15,919 and things like that, 835 00:31:15,919 --> 00:31:17,687 by just doing fun things together. 836 00:31:17,687 --> 00:31:20,679 So don't leave that out. 837 00:31:20,679 --> 00:31:22,663 Get in one another's homes. 838 00:31:22,663 --> 00:31:24,360 You learn a lot about a person 839 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:27,407 when you see them in their native habitat, 840 00:31:27,407 --> 00:31:28,272 right? 841 00:31:28,272 --> 00:31:30,195 Let those younger believers see you 842 00:31:30,195 --> 00:31:31,586 relating to your wife, 843 00:31:31,586 --> 00:31:32,864 relating to your children. 844 00:31:32,864 --> 00:31:34,739 My wife was converted out of 845 00:31:34,739 --> 00:31:37,065 a very pagan background. 846 00:31:37,065 --> 00:31:39,974 She had never seen in her neighborhood 847 00:31:39,974 --> 00:31:40,912 a loving family. 848 00:31:40,912 --> 00:31:42,326 She tells me about the time 849 00:31:42,326 --> 00:31:44,030 she's in Tenth Presbyterian Church, 850 00:31:44,030 --> 00:31:46,078 and she's sitting there before the service, 851 00:31:46,078 --> 00:31:48,668 and in front of her was a man and his wife - 852 00:31:48,668 --> 00:31:49,873 I happen to know the man, 853 00:31:49,873 --> 00:31:51,761 I had gone to seminary with him - 854 00:31:51,761 --> 00:31:54,966 and he is holding his wife's hand 855 00:31:54,966 --> 00:31:57,853 bowing quietly before the service began. 856 00:31:57,853 --> 00:31:59,997 It blew her away. 857 00:31:59,997 --> 00:32:03,560 She had never seen anything close to that. 858 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:06,834 A man holding his wife's hand bowing in prayer? 859 00:32:06,834 --> 00:32:08,341 Nothing close. 860 00:32:08,341 --> 00:32:09,267 But at that point, 861 00:32:09,267 --> 00:32:11,575 she said that's what I want. 862 00:32:11,575 --> 00:32:13,412 A little thing goes a long way. 863 00:32:13,412 --> 00:32:14,790 You take it for granted. 864 00:32:14,790 --> 00:32:16,524 You're speaking kindly to your wife. 865 00:32:16,524 --> 00:32:18,861 Wives, you're being respectful to your husbands. 866 00:32:18,861 --> 00:32:21,388 People in the world know nothing of that. 867 00:32:21,388 --> 00:32:23,561 And it goes a long way. 868 00:32:23,561 --> 00:32:26,030 So, let them be in your home 869 00:32:26,030 --> 00:32:29,124 to see you.(P) 870 00:32:29,124 --> 00:32:35,769 Now, some worthy goals for personal ministry. 871 00:32:35,769 --> 00:32:37,155 If you're going to have these 872 00:32:37,155 --> 00:32:39,117 spiritually intentional relationships, 873 00:32:39,117 --> 00:32:41,131 what are some worthy goals to aim it? 874 00:32:41,131 --> 00:32:42,684 I'm an alliteration guy, 875 00:32:42,684 --> 00:32:44,995 so I've got six C's here. 876 00:32:44,995 --> 00:32:46,573 But they all fit.(P) 877 00:32:46,573 --> 00:32:49,232 First of all, conviction. 878 00:32:49,232 --> 00:32:51,420 We need to know doctrine. 879 00:32:51,420 --> 00:32:53,092 They continued steadfastly 880 00:32:53,092 --> 00:32:54,981 in the apostle's doctrine. 881 00:32:54,981 --> 00:32:57,099 A young believer needs to know doctrine. 882 00:32:57,099 --> 00:32:59,516 He needs to know the truth of God's Word. 883 00:32:59,516 --> 00:33:01,138 And maybe you want to invest 884 00:33:01,138 --> 00:33:02,721 in a younger believer 885 00:33:02,721 --> 00:33:04,649 to help them with their convictions. 886 00:33:04,649 --> 00:33:07,159 Start with their devotional life. 887 00:33:07,159 --> 00:33:08,710 Get them off the ground 888 00:33:08,710 --> 00:33:11,224 with a devotional life. 889 00:33:11,224 --> 00:33:13,274 Help them to read their Bible. 890 00:33:13,274 --> 00:33:15,811 The SPACES acronym has been helpful for me 891 00:33:15,811 --> 00:33:16,962 to help people. 892 00:33:16,962 --> 00:33:19,318 You can read your Bible and look for 893 00:33:19,318 --> 00:33:21,163 a sin to avoid, 894 00:33:21,163 --> 00:33:22,626 a promise to claim, 895 00:33:22,626 --> 00:33:24,497 a thought about God, 896 00:33:24,497 --> 00:33:26,600 a command to obey, 897 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:28,128 an example to follow, 898 00:33:28,128 --> 00:33:29,132 and I used to say, 899 00:33:29,132 --> 00:33:30,862 something to pray about or act on, 900 00:33:30,862 --> 00:33:32,862 but I like how my son improved it, 901 00:33:32,862 --> 00:33:35,154 he said, "Show me Christ." 902 00:33:35,154 --> 00:33:36,815 Show me Christ from the Bible. 903 00:33:36,815 --> 00:33:38,959 Help a young believer get into the Bible 904 00:33:38,959 --> 00:33:41,336 in a devotional life. 905 00:33:41,336 --> 00:33:42,878 Teach them how to pray: 906 00:33:42,878 --> 00:33:44,669 The ACTS acronym. 907 00:33:44,669 --> 00:33:47,773 Adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. 908 00:33:47,773 --> 00:33:48,977 Get them off the ground 909 00:33:48,977 --> 00:33:50,560 if they're a young believer 910 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:52,917 in a devotional life. 911 00:33:52,917 --> 00:33:54,383 And then maybe study a book 912 00:33:54,383 --> 00:33:56,229 that will teach them various doctrines 913 00:33:56,229 --> 00:33:57,053 of the faith. 914 00:33:57,053 --> 00:33:59,048 That may be the need. 915 00:33:59,048 --> 00:34:01,269 Character. 916 00:34:01,269 --> 00:34:02,756 Don't be drunk with wine, 917 00:34:02,756 --> 00:34:04,239 be filled with the Spirit. 918 00:34:04,239 --> 00:34:05,630 And the fruit of the Spirit, 919 00:34:05,630 --> 00:34:08,806 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc. 920 00:34:08,806 --> 00:34:10,399 We want to help young believers 921 00:34:10,399 --> 00:34:12,145 develop in their godly character. 922 00:34:12,145 --> 00:34:13,761 Maybe you want to study something 923 00:34:13,761 --> 00:34:17,609 relative to a character quality of Christ. 924 00:34:17,609 --> 00:34:19,205 Conduct. 925 00:34:19,205 --> 00:34:21,892 Conduct yourself with wisdom toward outsiders, 926 00:34:21,892 --> 00:34:23,592 says Paul in Colossians 4. 927 00:34:23,592 --> 00:34:25,719 Peter says let your behavior be excellent 928 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:27,136 among the Gentiles. 929 00:34:27,136 --> 00:34:28,698 Maybe there's an area of conduct 930 00:34:28,698 --> 00:34:31,939 that the younger believer needs help with. 931 00:34:31,939 --> 00:34:33,566 Learning to be a husband, 932 00:34:33,566 --> 00:34:35,496 a wife, a parent... 933 00:34:35,496 --> 00:34:37,951 how to be a Christian in the workplace. 934 00:34:37,951 --> 00:34:41,149 Some area of conduct. 935 00:34:41,149 --> 00:34:42,374 Community. 936 00:34:42,374 --> 00:34:43,781 Every young believer needs 937 00:34:43,781 --> 00:34:45,713 to get attached to the body. 938 00:34:45,713 --> 00:34:47,914 And you might want to help this young believer 939 00:34:47,914 --> 00:34:49,462 not to be a lone ranger, 940 00:34:49,462 --> 00:34:51,605 but to draw them in to the body 941 00:34:51,605 --> 00:34:54,141 and encourage them to come to the various meetings 942 00:34:54,141 --> 00:34:55,079 of the church, 943 00:34:55,079 --> 00:34:57,339 so they become part of the body. 944 00:34:57,339 --> 00:34:59,619 Encourage community. 945 00:34:59,619 --> 00:35:01,339 Competence. 946 00:35:01,339 --> 00:35:04,385 We talked about spiritual gifts. 947 00:35:04,385 --> 00:35:06,588 When I'm working with a young believer, 948 00:35:06,588 --> 00:35:09,425 I want to ask what is this person's spiritual gift 949 00:35:09,425 --> 00:35:11,234 that I can encourage? 950 00:35:11,234 --> 00:35:13,727 Because they're going to use that gift in the body. 951 00:35:13,727 --> 00:35:15,627 How can I nurture that spiritual gift? 952 00:35:15,627 --> 00:35:17,105 Now, I'm a pastor, 953 00:35:17,105 --> 00:35:19,517 so I especially target men that I think 954 00:35:19,517 --> 00:35:22,531 may have a gift for teaching and pastoring. 955 00:35:22,531 --> 00:35:24,397 And so we study books, 956 00:35:24,397 --> 00:35:26,285 like there's a dear brother 957 00:35:26,285 --> 00:35:27,492 with his wife and baby - 958 00:35:27,492 --> 00:35:29,372 in two days, they'll head off to China. 959 00:35:29,372 --> 00:35:30,967 And for the last year and a half, 960 00:35:30,967 --> 00:35:32,933 I've had the privilege of mentoring him. 961 00:35:32,933 --> 00:35:34,608 I probably will never go to China, 962 00:35:34,608 --> 00:35:37,382 unless it's for his ordination out there, 963 00:35:37,382 --> 00:35:40,826 but I feel as though I've made a contribution to China. 964 00:35:40,826 --> 00:35:42,365 And we've gone through books 965 00:35:42,365 --> 00:35:44,499 like "Biblical Eldership" by Strauch 966 00:35:44,499 --> 00:35:46,840 or "The Shepherd Leader" by Tim Witmer, 967 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:49,301 a man from our area. 968 00:35:49,301 --> 00:35:51,287 Because he's going to be an elder. 969 00:35:51,287 --> 00:35:52,564 He's going to be a teacher 970 00:35:52,564 --> 00:35:55,027 so I'm trying to help him be an elder, 971 00:35:55,027 --> 00:35:56,821 to learn how to preach. 972 00:35:56,821 --> 00:35:58,465 That's his gift. 973 00:35:58,465 --> 00:36:00,038 So you might want to help someone 974 00:36:00,038 --> 00:36:01,652 in the area of their competence. 975 00:36:01,652 --> 00:36:03,532 Their area of gift. 976 00:36:03,532 --> 00:36:06,424 That's another basis on which to connect to someone. 977 00:36:06,424 --> 00:36:07,878 If you have a particular gift, 978 00:36:07,878 --> 00:36:09,675 you might want to get with somebody 979 00:36:09,675 --> 00:36:11,707 who has a similar gift, a younger person. 980 00:36:11,707 --> 00:36:13,781 Because you know how to exercise that gift 981 00:36:13,781 --> 00:36:14,862 in a mature way 982 00:36:14,862 --> 00:36:15,904 and you can help them 983 00:36:15,904 --> 00:36:16,905 develop their gift. 984 00:36:16,905 --> 00:36:18,948 And then, conflict. 985 00:36:18,948 --> 00:36:22,071 Conflict begins with the Christian life. 986 00:36:22,071 --> 00:36:25,334 Acts 14:22, Paul told those new believers, 987 00:36:25,334 --> 00:36:26,532 through many tribulations 988 00:36:26,532 --> 00:36:28,309 we must enter the Kingdom. 989 00:36:28,309 --> 00:36:30,716 The tribulation begins right away. 990 00:36:30,716 --> 00:36:33,558 I've been privileged to work with Amish. 991 00:36:33,558 --> 00:36:35,028 And when they come to Christ, 992 00:36:35,028 --> 00:36:36,322 they get shunned radically 993 00:36:36,322 --> 00:36:38,210 from their families and their communty. 994 00:36:38,210 --> 00:36:40,175 There's a lot of conflict right up front 995 00:36:40,175 --> 00:36:41,284 in the Christian life. 996 00:36:41,284 --> 00:36:43,414 And a big part of discipling them 997 00:36:43,414 --> 00:36:45,073 is helping them with how to relate 998 00:36:45,073 --> 00:36:47,028 to this community that has cut them off. 999 00:36:47,028 --> 00:36:49,761 How to navigate that conflict. 1000 00:36:49,761 --> 00:36:51,063 And so maybe the unbeliever 1001 00:36:51,063 --> 00:36:52,084 has some conflict 1002 00:36:52,084 --> 00:36:53,745 and needs to learn principles 1003 00:36:53,745 --> 00:36:56,053 of conflict resolution. 1004 00:36:56,053 --> 00:36:57,553 So these are some areas 1005 00:36:57,553 --> 00:36:59,670 where we want to help one another, 1006 00:36:59,670 --> 00:37:01,213 especially older believers 1007 00:37:01,213 --> 00:37:03,620 working with young believers. 1008 00:37:03,620 --> 00:37:06,681 What are some possible hindrances 1009 00:37:06,681 --> 00:37:08,851 to personal ministry? 1010 00:37:08,851 --> 00:37:10,621 I'm going to mention these. 1011 00:37:10,621 --> 00:37:13,571 Some of these I don't think you're tempted to. 1012 00:37:13,571 --> 00:37:15,896 But some churches are. 1013 00:37:15,896 --> 00:37:18,602 One is pastors do all the work. 1014 00:37:18,602 --> 00:37:20,342 Pastors do all the ministry. 1015 00:37:20,342 --> 00:37:21,864 There are some church settings 1016 00:37:21,864 --> 00:37:23,875 where that's the mindset. 1017 00:37:23,875 --> 00:37:25,231 We're the pastors 1018 00:37:25,231 --> 00:37:27,165 and everybody else is the congregation.(P) 1019 00:37:27,165 --> 00:37:28,911 I might have told you some years ago 1020 00:37:28,911 --> 00:37:30,383 I saw a cartoon years ago 1021 00:37:30,383 --> 00:37:33,360 about a congregation listening to a man preach 1022 00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:34,444 and after he preaches, 1023 00:37:34,444 --> 00:37:36,121 they're holding up score cards: 1024 00:37:36,121 --> 00:37:39,223 6.8, 7.2, like Olympic judges. 1025 00:37:39,223 --> 00:37:41,663 How did he do? 7.6 1026 00:37:41,663 --> 00:37:43,642 It's a spectator mindset. 1027 00:37:43,642 --> 00:37:45,011 They're doing all the work 1028 00:37:45,011 --> 00:37:46,660 and we're there just judging. 1029 00:37:46,660 --> 00:37:49,933 I know that's not the mindset you have. 1030 00:37:49,933 --> 00:37:52,596 Hopefully it's a mindset to equip 1031 00:37:52,596 --> 00:37:55,838 the saints for the work of ministry. 1032 00:37:55,838 --> 00:37:58,359 Your pastors do ministry that nobody else does. 1033 00:37:58,359 --> 00:38:00,142 They're called to herald the Word, 1034 00:38:00,142 --> 00:38:02,724 and feed you with the Word.(P) 1035 00:38:02,724 --> 00:38:05,062 In the last 12 years especially, 1036 00:38:05,062 --> 00:38:06,910 God has impressed upon me 1037 00:38:06,910 --> 00:38:08,354 that one of my chief roles 1038 00:38:08,354 --> 00:38:10,347 is to equip the saints, 1039 00:38:10,347 --> 00:38:12,764 so that everybody is doing ministry. 1040 00:38:12,764 --> 00:38:15,350 So I don't think you have that mindset 1041 00:38:15,350 --> 00:38:17,001 that pastors do all the work. 1042 00:38:17,001 --> 00:38:18,783 That's what we pay them to do. 1043 00:38:18,783 --> 00:38:20,617 Some churches do. 1044 00:38:20,617 --> 00:38:23,112 Another hindrance is too much time 1045 00:38:23,112 --> 00:38:26,530 given to unfruitful church activities. 1046 00:38:26,530 --> 00:38:28,123 A couple of men wrote a book 1047 00:38:28,123 --> 00:38:29,920 "The Trellis and the Vine." 1048 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:32,703 How many of you have read that book? 1049 00:38:32,703 --> 00:38:35,584 The trellis is the structure. 1050 00:38:35,584 --> 00:38:37,372 The vine is the living thing. 1051 00:38:37,372 --> 00:38:39,141 And the point of that book is that 1052 00:38:39,141 --> 00:38:40,491 some churches get choked 1053 00:38:40,491 --> 00:38:42,296 with organizational structure, 1054 00:38:42,296 --> 00:38:44,793 and they neglect the vine. 1055 00:38:44,793 --> 00:38:46,483 Some structure is needed, 1056 00:38:46,483 --> 00:38:48,392 but the living thing is the vine. 1057 00:38:48,392 --> 00:38:50,351 Investing in people. 1058 00:38:50,351 --> 00:38:52,493 I know that's not a problem you have. 1059 00:38:52,493 --> 00:38:55,594 You don't have all these structures, 1060 00:38:55,594 --> 00:38:57,316 all these programs. 1061 00:38:57,316 --> 00:38:59,638 I think you are all about ministering to people, 1062 00:38:59,638 --> 00:39:00,840 but some churches, 1063 00:39:00,840 --> 00:39:02,970 they're so busy with committies 1064 00:39:02,970 --> 00:39:04,243 and busy-work, 1065 00:39:04,243 --> 00:39:06,085 they're not investing in the vine, 1066 00:39:06,085 --> 00:39:08,616 the living thing - people. 1067 00:39:08,616 --> 00:39:12,076 Another reason for not doing personal ministry 1068 00:39:12,076 --> 00:39:14,546 is a lack of spiritual vitality 1069 00:39:14,546 --> 00:39:18,101 in your own life. 1070 00:39:18,101 --> 00:39:20,976 You know, I'm just not spiritually healthy. 1071 00:39:20,976 --> 00:39:22,461 I'm just not spiritually alive. 1072 00:39:22,461 --> 00:39:24,508 And therefore, I'm not motivated to give 1073 00:39:24,508 --> 00:39:26,489 anything to anybody else. 1074 00:39:26,489 --> 00:39:27,703 If that's the problem, 1075 00:39:27,703 --> 00:39:29,689 brother, sister, repent. 1076 00:39:29,689 --> 00:39:30,828 Repent. 1077 00:39:30,828 --> 00:39:32,534 Life is passing you by. 1078 00:39:32,534 --> 00:39:33,786 You've got to give account 1079 00:39:33,786 --> 00:39:36,051 for the life you've lived. 1080 00:39:36,051 --> 00:39:39,330 You're to live for others and not for yourself. 1081 00:39:39,330 --> 00:39:40,824 Repent! 1082 00:39:40,824 --> 00:39:42,466 Seek God's grace to overcome 1083 00:39:42,466 --> 00:39:44,488 that besetting sin that is crippling you 1084 00:39:44,488 --> 00:39:46,284 so that you can be unleashed 1085 00:39:46,284 --> 00:39:48,415 to begin to use your gifts 1086 00:39:48,415 --> 00:39:49,890 to serve others. 1087 00:39:49,890 --> 00:39:55,239 Don't stay in that state of spiritual ill health. 1088 00:39:55,239 --> 00:39:58,194 Another reason is a lack of love for others. 1089 00:39:58,194 --> 00:40:00,039 We can be too consumed with 1090 00:40:00,039 --> 00:40:01,733 selfish pursuits. 1091 00:40:01,733 --> 00:40:03,435 Love does not seek its own. 1092 00:40:03,435 --> 00:40:05,263 You know, you're wondering what to do 1093 00:40:05,263 --> 00:40:06,515 on a particular evening, 1094 00:40:06,515 --> 00:40:08,616 and yeah, there's a brother who has needs, 1095 00:40:08,616 --> 00:40:09,982 but I'm a little tired 1096 00:40:09,982 --> 00:40:13,070 and I think I'll just curl up on the sofa... 1097 00:40:13,070 --> 00:40:14,866 a lack of love will keep us from 1098 00:40:14,866 --> 00:40:16,374 investing in others. 1099 00:40:16,374 --> 00:40:17,574 And investing in others 1100 00:40:17,574 --> 00:40:19,188 is a selfless thing. 1101 00:40:19,188 --> 00:40:20,794 Love does not seek its own.(P) 1102 00:40:20,794 --> 00:40:21,884 We need to ask God, 1103 00:40:21,884 --> 00:40:24,723 give me more love for my brothers and sisters 1104 00:40:24,723 --> 00:40:26,922 to make me willing to make the sacrifices 1105 00:40:26,922 --> 00:40:30,140 to invest in them. 1106 00:40:30,140 --> 00:40:33,762 Another is false humility. 1107 00:40:33,762 --> 00:40:37,131 We found with some of our older men and women, 1108 00:40:37,131 --> 00:40:39,432 maybe they don't have a teaching gift, 1109 00:40:39,432 --> 00:40:42,056 and they say, oh, I don't have anything to give 1110 00:40:42,056 --> 00:40:43,798 to younger women. 1111 00:40:43,798 --> 00:40:45,407 And I say, wait a minute, 1112 00:40:45,407 --> 00:40:49,254 you've lived with a man for 45 years. 1113 00:40:49,254 --> 00:40:52,227 You've lived with a woman for 50 years. 1114 00:40:52,227 --> 00:40:54,691 Don't tell me you don't have anything to give 1115 00:40:54,691 --> 00:40:56,533 to younger believers. 1116 00:40:56,533 --> 00:40:58,608 No, you may not be an articulate teacher, 1117 00:40:58,608 --> 00:41:01,028 but you've hung in there in a godly marriage 1118 00:41:01,028 --> 00:41:03,745 for nearly half a century. 1119 00:41:03,745 --> 00:41:05,985 We were coming home from church one morning, 1120 00:41:05,985 --> 00:41:07,447 and I was a little frustrated 1121 00:41:07,447 --> 00:41:10,126 at the slow process of getting this 1122 00:41:10,126 --> 00:41:12,838 discipleship as part of our culture, 1123 00:41:12,838 --> 00:41:14,365 and my wife wisely reminded me - 1124 00:41:14,365 --> 00:41:16,277 she said, Chuck, you know a lot of these 1125 00:41:16,277 --> 00:41:17,309 dear older ladies, 1126 00:41:17,309 --> 00:41:19,182 they were raised with a church culture 1127 00:41:19,182 --> 00:41:20,645 where to be a good churchmen, 1128 00:41:20,645 --> 00:41:22,186 you showed up Sunday morning, 1129 00:41:22,186 --> 00:41:22,968 Sunday evening, 1130 00:41:22,968 --> 00:41:24,755 Wednesday evening for prayer meeting, 1131 00:41:24,755 --> 00:41:26,811 and you showed hospitality in your home. 1132 00:41:26,811 --> 00:41:29,286 This whole idea of investing in younger women 1133 00:41:29,286 --> 00:41:31,404 is new to them. 1134 00:41:31,404 --> 00:41:35,517 It's a totally different view of churchmanship. 1135 00:41:35,517 --> 00:41:37,759 So, be patient. 1136 00:41:37,759 --> 00:41:39,403 That was helpful.(P) 1137 00:41:39,403 --> 00:41:41,428 Now, a lot of those things are good. 1138 00:41:41,428 --> 00:41:43,135 I'm looking at the older generation 1139 00:41:43,135 --> 00:41:44,433 and saying, you know what, 1140 00:41:44,433 --> 00:41:46,309 they've got discipline and commitment 1141 00:41:46,309 --> 00:41:48,837 that the millenials don't have. 1142 00:41:48,837 --> 00:41:51,357 It's good that it's Sunday morning, 1143 00:41:51,357 --> 00:41:52,423 we're going to church. 1144 00:41:52,423 --> 00:41:54,146 It's Sunday evening, it's Wednesday, 1145 00:41:54,146 --> 00:41:56,392 we're going to prayer meeting because that's what we do. 1146 00:41:56,392 --> 00:41:57,836 And we've done it for months 1147 00:41:57,836 --> 00:41:58,917 and years and decades. 1148 00:41:58,917 --> 00:42:00,404 Now, if that's mechanical, 1149 00:42:00,404 --> 00:42:01,401 that's not so good, 1150 00:42:01,401 --> 00:42:03,385 but the fact that it's just what we do, 1151 00:42:03,385 --> 00:42:04,753 because we're committed, 1152 00:42:04,753 --> 00:42:06,626 that's something the older generation 1153 00:42:06,626 --> 00:42:08,542 is good at. 1154 00:42:08,542 --> 00:42:15,601 You millenials, born 1982 or after, 1155 00:42:15,601 --> 00:42:18,629 you don't know a lot of that commitment. 1156 00:42:18,629 --> 00:42:21,454 You kind of go with the flow. 1157 00:42:21,454 --> 00:42:24,512 You need to learn from the older generation 1158 00:42:24,512 --> 00:42:26,156 commitment. 1159 00:42:26,156 --> 00:42:27,819 But the older generation needs 1160 00:42:27,819 --> 00:42:29,581 to learn some things. 1161 00:42:29,581 --> 00:42:33,423 The old dogs need to learn some new tricks. 1162 00:42:33,423 --> 00:42:35,665 And get off this false humility. 1163 00:42:35,665 --> 00:42:37,340 What do you mean you don't have 1164 00:42:37,340 --> 00:42:38,398 anything to give? 1165 00:42:38,398 --> 00:42:39,922 You've got more than you know. 1166 00:42:39,922 --> 00:42:41,759 Laziness will keep us from this. 1167 00:42:41,759 --> 00:42:43,570 The absence of hunger to grow. 1168 00:42:43,570 --> 00:42:44,929 If you're a young believer, 1169 00:42:44,929 --> 00:42:46,567 the Bible says as newborn babes, 1170 00:42:46,567 --> 00:42:48,518 long for the pure spiritual milk 1171 00:42:48,518 --> 00:42:50,233 that by it you may grow. 1172 00:42:50,233 --> 00:42:52,626 If you're a young, new believer, 1173 00:42:52,626 --> 00:42:55,002 you ought to have a hunger to grow. 1174 00:42:55,002 --> 00:42:56,349 And a hunger and a desire 1175 00:42:56,349 --> 00:42:58,622 to have older believers invest in you. 1176 00:42:58,622 --> 00:43:00,690 If you don't, something's wrong. 1177 00:43:00,690 --> 00:43:02,587 Have you really been converted? 1178 00:43:02,587 --> 00:43:05,581 Or has some sin waylaid you, 1179 00:43:05,581 --> 00:43:06,702 so that you're not 1180 00:43:06,702 --> 00:43:08,474 hungering to grow 1181 00:43:08,474 --> 00:43:11,368 and to seek help from older believers? 1182 00:43:11,368 --> 00:43:14,919 A prideful lack of teachableness. 1183 00:43:14,919 --> 00:43:17,903 I, again, appeal to young believers. 1184 00:43:17,903 --> 00:43:20,268 Proverbs 18:1 says, 1185 00:43:20,268 --> 00:43:26,189 "He who separates himself 1186 00:43:26,189 --> 00:43:27,600 seeks his own desire 1187 00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:30,107 and quarrels against all sound wisdom." 1188 00:43:30,107 --> 00:43:32,320 You don't think you have anything to learn? 1189 00:43:32,320 --> 00:43:34,594 You have everything to learn. 1190 00:43:34,594 --> 00:43:36,683 And you need to quietly sit at the feet 1191 00:43:36,683 --> 00:43:38,325 of not only your pastors, 1192 00:43:38,325 --> 00:43:40,794 but perhaps an older believer. 1193 00:43:40,794 --> 00:43:43,011 Don't be a know-it-all as a baby Christian. 1194 00:43:43,011 --> 00:43:45,149 You don't know as much as you think you know. 1195 00:43:45,149 --> 00:43:46,712 And be willing to be teachable. 1196 00:43:46,712 --> 00:43:48,198 The Navigators had an acronym 1197 00:43:48,198 --> 00:43:49,895 as to the men they invested in. 1198 00:43:49,895 --> 00:43:52,604 They were looking for "fat" people. 1199 00:43:52,604 --> 00:43:56,062 Faithful, Available, Teachable. 1200 00:43:56,062 --> 00:43:57,441 And I know personally, 1201 00:43:57,441 --> 00:43:59,194 if I find out a man's not teachable, 1202 00:43:59,194 --> 00:44:00,638 I'm not wasting my time. 1203 00:44:00,638 --> 00:44:02,746 Because I can't benefit him. 1204 00:44:02,746 --> 00:44:04,787 You need to be teachable. 1205 00:44:04,787 --> 00:44:08,053 And then, not seeing the value of this 1206 00:44:08,053 --> 00:44:11,425 and making informal disicipling a priority. 1207 00:44:11,425 --> 00:44:14,057 I hope you're convinced that it is. 1208 00:44:14,057 --> 00:44:16,513 So, brothers and sisters, 1209 00:44:16,513 --> 00:44:19,642 I hope I've done something to convince you 1210 00:44:19,642 --> 00:44:22,803 of the value of this ministry 1211 00:44:22,803 --> 00:44:25,047 of personal investment in one another. 1212 00:44:25,047 --> 00:44:26,800 We live in a very impersonal age, 1213 00:44:26,800 --> 00:44:27,748 don't we? 1214 00:44:27,748 --> 00:44:30,808 Communication has exploded, 1215 00:44:30,808 --> 00:44:33,190 but it's so impersonal. 1216 00:44:33,190 --> 00:44:35,205 It's email and texting 1217 00:44:35,205 --> 00:44:37,152 and Instagram and Facebook 1218 00:44:37,152 --> 00:44:39,456 and face time. 1219 00:44:39,456 --> 00:44:41,811 But even in the primitive age 1220 00:44:41,811 --> 00:44:43,384 of the first century, 1221 00:44:43,384 --> 00:44:46,935 John saw the value of personal ministry. 1222 00:44:46,935 --> 00:44:50,136 3 John, "I have many things to write to you, 1223 00:44:50,136 --> 00:44:52,079 but I am not willing to write to you 1224 00:44:52,079 --> 00:44:53,535 with pen and ink, 1225 00:44:53,535 --> 00:44:55,213 but I hope to see you shortly 1226 00:44:55,213 --> 00:44:57,938 and we shall speak face to face." 1227 00:44:57,938 --> 00:45:01,110 And that wasn't face time. 1228 00:45:01,110 --> 00:45:03,222 So even in a primitive age, 1229 00:45:03,222 --> 00:45:06,297 John says there's nothing like face to face. 1230 00:45:06,297 --> 00:45:08,051 Being with you. 1231 00:45:08,051 --> 00:45:10,208 How much more in our day 1232 00:45:10,208 --> 00:45:11,817 where there's very vast, 1233 00:45:11,817 --> 00:45:13,654 but shallow communication. 1234 00:45:13,654 --> 00:45:15,967 Get with another brother, 1235 00:45:15,967 --> 00:45:16,820 another sister, 1236 00:45:16,820 --> 00:45:17,945 face to face, 1237 00:45:17,945 --> 00:45:19,833 to personally invest in them, 1238 00:45:19,833 --> 00:45:21,766 be invested in, 1239 00:45:21,766 --> 00:45:23,761 and I'm not saying that's the 1240 00:45:23,761 --> 00:45:26,791 be all and end all of the life of the church. 1241 00:45:26,791 --> 00:45:29,294 But it is an important dimension 1242 00:45:29,294 --> 00:45:32,332 to be added to the small group fellowship 1243 00:45:32,332 --> 00:45:33,945 and the large meetings 1244 00:45:33,945 --> 00:45:36,138 where you are to come under 1245 00:45:36,138 --> 00:45:39,091 the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. 1246 00:45:39,091 --> 00:45:40,784 I think all of our churches will be 1247 00:45:40,784 --> 00:45:43,777 much more healthy if that dynamic 1248 00:45:43,777 --> 00:45:45,367 comes into play 1249 00:45:45,367 --> 00:45:48,918 and it becomes the very culture of the church. 1250 00:45:48,918 --> 00:45:50,831 And it takes time for that to build. 1251 00:45:50,831 --> 00:45:53,335 We're on the way, but we're not there yet. 1252 00:45:53,335 --> 00:45:56,110 We want it to become something that we do. 1253 00:45:56,110 --> 00:45:57,368 It's just what we do. 1254 00:45:57,368 --> 00:45:58,928 We show up on Sunday morning, 1255 00:45:58,928 --> 00:46:01,323 and of course, we invest in other believers. 1256 00:46:01,323 --> 00:46:04,068 It's just something we do. 1257 00:46:04,068 --> 00:46:05,382 It's a way of life. 1258 00:46:05,382 --> 00:46:06,554 Let's pray.(P) 1259 00:46:06,554 --> 00:46:08,505 Our Father, 1260 00:46:08,505 --> 00:46:11,471 we pray that to the degree that I have 1261 00:46:11,471 --> 00:46:13,374 represented Your Word, 1262 00:46:13,374 --> 00:46:15,851 Your mind and Your heart accurately, 1263 00:46:15,851 --> 00:46:18,309 press the truth home to our minds 1264 00:46:18,309 --> 00:46:19,987 and consciences. 1265 00:46:19,987 --> 00:46:21,632 And I pray for this church, 1266 00:46:21,632 --> 00:46:23,793 so healthy, so strong, 1267 00:46:23,793 --> 00:46:25,470 in so many ways, 1268 00:46:25,470 --> 00:46:28,079 that this aspect of the life of the church 1269 00:46:28,079 --> 00:46:30,554 might be strengthened as well 1270 00:46:30,554 --> 00:46:32,483 to make them all the more healthy, 1271 00:46:32,483 --> 00:46:34,988 all the more useful to You 1272 00:46:34,988 --> 00:46:37,666 and Your Kingdom and Your glory. 1273 00:46:37,666 --> 00:46:39,548 We ask in Jesus' name, 1274 00:46:39,548 --> 00:46:40,759 Amen.