1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,160 The Power of Example. 2 00:00:03,160 –> 00:00:06,080 It’s our title for today as we continue in our series, 3 00:00:06,080 –> 00:00:09,280 Unless the Lord Builds the House. 4 00:00:10,200 –> 00:00:12,760 Two words by way of introduction. 5 00:00:12,760 –> 00:00:14,880 The first is that if you’re not a parent 6 00:00:14,880 –> 00:00:16,920 and if you’re not a grandparent, 7 00:00:16,920 –> 00:00:19,100 I want again to remind you that there is something 8 00:00:19,100 –> 00:00:21,480 important for you in the scriptures today. 9 00:00:21,480 –> 00:00:23,799 Here’s how I want to encourage you to think 10 00:00:23,799 –> 00:00:25,639 as we come to God’s word. 11 00:00:25,639 –> 00:00:29,680 Think about relationships in which you have the opportunity 12 00:00:29,700 –> 00:00:33,099 to shape another person’s life, 13 00:00:33,099 –> 00:00:37,160 a friend, a mentoring relationship. 14 00:00:37,160 –> 00:00:39,360 And you will find a context in which you’re able 15 00:00:39,360 –> 00:00:43,560 to apply what we’re learning together today. 16 00:00:43,560 –> 00:00:48,360 Second, a word to parents who are in great distress 17 00:00:48,360 –> 00:00:50,160 over your kids. 18 00:00:51,040 –> 00:00:53,020 Your kids are not where you want them to be 19 00:00:53,020 –> 00:00:56,040 and nothing is a greater burden to your hearts. 20 00:00:56,040 –> 00:00:58,919 Let me give you this word of encouragement. 21 00:00:58,919 –> 00:01:03,919 Your job of parenting isn’t over yet, that’s good news. 22 00:01:05,820 –> 00:01:10,019 Those who rejoice now may have some trials in the future. 23 00:01:10,919 –> 00:01:14,339 And those who feel most desolate now 24 00:01:14,339 –> 00:01:17,459 may soon be surprised by great joy. 25 00:01:17,459 –> 00:01:21,019 You never know what God is just about to do. 26 00:01:21,940 –> 00:01:23,220 So with these words of introduction, 27 00:01:23,220 –> 00:01:24,699 I want to invite all of us to turn 28 00:01:24,699 –> 00:01:28,339 to 2 Timothy chapter three which has been read for us, 29 00:01:28,339 –> 00:01:31,900 and I want to begin with a question for all parents 30 00:01:31,900 –> 00:01:35,820 and then more widely for us as a church congregation. 31 00:01:35,820 –> 00:01:37,519 For parents, let me frame it this way. 32 00:01:37,519 –> 00:01:41,860 What is your vision for your children? 33 00:01:41,860 –> 00:01:45,900 What is your vision, for your children, 34 00:01:45,900 –> 00:01:46,980 your grandchildren? 35 00:01:48,059 –> 00:01:51,459 Or putting it more widely, what is our vision 36 00:01:51,459 –> 00:01:54,779 for the next generation in our church? 37 00:01:55,680 –> 00:02:00,480 Now, I find it helpful to frame that question 38 00:02:00,480 –> 00:02:04,019 with three particular choices. 39 00:02:04,019 –> 00:02:04,860 Here’s the first. 40 00:02:04,860 –> 00:02:08,899 Is it about decisions or about disciples? 41 00:02:10,020 –> 00:02:12,580 You see, if your vision is simply that your child 42 00:02:12,580 –> 00:02:14,020 would know enough about Christianity 43 00:02:14,020 –> 00:02:16,059 to be able to make a decision about it, 44 00:02:18,059 –> 00:02:21,660 then you will view their spiritual nurture 45 00:02:21,699 –> 00:02:25,399 as something you can outsource to the church. 46 00:02:26,500 –> 00:02:28,740 You will view their spiritual nurture 47 00:02:28,740 –> 00:02:32,139 in the same way as you view things like their injections 48 00:02:32,139 –> 00:02:33,500 or their education. 49 00:02:33,500 –> 00:02:36,080 You say what do I do to get the kids their shots? 50 00:02:36,080 –> 00:02:37,460 Take them to the doctor. 51 00:02:37,460 –> 00:02:39,339 What do I do to get the kids in education? 52 00:02:39,339 –> 00:02:40,539 Send them to school? 53 00:02:40,539 –> 00:02:42,300 What do I do to get the kids the right model 54 00:02:42,300 –> 00:02:44,320 in spiritual stuff and all that kind of thing? 55 00:02:44,320 –> 00:02:45,699 Send them to Sunday school, 56 00:02:45,699 –> 00:02:47,699 get them in the Bible instruction class, 57 00:02:47,699 –> 00:02:49,220 get them into high school ministry, 58 00:02:49,220 –> 00:02:50,740 send them to camp. 59 00:02:52,419 –> 00:02:55,139 If your vision is simply that your children 60 00:02:55,139 –> 00:02:56,619 should know what Christianity is 61 00:02:56,619 –> 00:02:58,860 and be able therefore to make a decision about it, 62 00:02:58,860 –> 00:03:03,160 you will see this as another check box on the list. 63 00:03:04,639 –> 00:03:05,899 And if that is the agenda, 64 00:03:05,899 –> 00:03:08,160 then frankly as for many hundreds of people 65 00:03:09,179 –> 00:03:11,080 the search will simply be on for a church 66 00:03:11,080 –> 00:03:13,339 with a good program, and that’ll do the trick. 67 00:03:16,820 –> 00:03:19,860 Now I hope you have a bigger vision than that. 68 00:03:19,860 –> 00:03:24,100 I want to try and impart a bigger vision than that today, 69 00:03:25,460 –> 00:03:26,320 for this reason. 70 00:03:28,419 –> 00:03:31,899 That all over the country there are thousands and thousands 71 00:03:31,899 –> 00:03:36,899 and thousands of kids who have made a decision 72 00:03:36,979 –> 00:03:39,139 that turned out to be utterly meaningless. 73 00:03:41,380 –> 00:03:43,300 It turned out to be a religious phase 74 00:03:43,300 –> 00:03:44,979 that ended after they were 18 75 00:03:46,460 –> 00:03:49,199 and did not lead to a life of following Christ. 76 00:03:50,759 –> 00:03:54,100 So we need a broader vision 77 00:03:54,100 –> 00:03:56,899 than kids who are able to make a decision. 78 00:03:58,300 –> 00:04:01,740 We need a vision of kids who have a hunger 79 00:04:01,740 –> 00:04:04,039 and a thirst for God in their own souls 80 00:04:04,039 –> 00:04:08,559 and a deep desire to follow after Christ wholeheartedly. 81 00:04:11,619 –> 00:04:14,199 I’ll have to tell you that one of the most encouraging things 82 00:04:14,199 –> 00:04:17,040 that I see in the life of our church 83 00:04:17,820 –> 00:04:22,820 is that more and more parents are gaining a biblical vision 84 00:04:23,739 –> 00:04:25,600 for raising their kids. 85 00:04:26,579 –> 00:04:29,839 I have to tell you that I am seeing more and more kids 86 00:04:29,839 –> 00:04:31,440 who are getting into Bible studies, 87 00:04:31,440 –> 00:04:34,239 gathering for prayer, reaching unbelievers with the gospel, 88 00:04:34,239 –> 00:04:35,700 I am encouraged. 89 00:04:36,839 –> 00:04:39,040 And a large part of my own prayer for this month 90 00:04:39,040 –> 00:04:41,779 is that God will expand our vision 91 00:04:42,679 –> 00:04:46,399 of what is possible, of what he can do 92 00:04:46,399 –> 00:04:49,100 in the lives of our children. 93 00:04:49,100 –> 00:04:51,399 Is it about decisions or is it about discipleship? 94 00:04:51,399 –> 00:04:53,779 Here’s the second pair or choice. 95 00:04:53,779 –> 00:04:58,040 Is it about isolation or is it about participation? 96 00:04:59,200 –> 00:05:02,480 See, you need to know that there is a significant movement 97 00:05:02,480 –> 00:05:07,480 in America today towards a personal spirituality 98 00:05:07,480 –> 00:05:11,179 that has little or no place for the church. 99 00:05:12,119 –> 00:05:14,820 It is about personal spiritual conversations, 100 00:05:14,820 –> 00:05:16,339 friendships and relationships, 101 00:05:16,339 –> 00:05:18,820 small groups of intimately connected friends. 102 00:05:18,820 –> 00:05:22,760 But not much place, if any, for corporate worship. 103 00:05:22,760 –> 00:05:25,459 Not much place, if any, for the public testimony 104 00:05:25,459 –> 00:05:28,119 of the gathered body of Christ. 105 00:05:29,980 –> 00:05:32,019 Now if that is the extent of your vision, 106 00:05:32,019 –> 00:05:34,679 a kind of isolated vision, 107 00:05:34,679 –> 00:05:37,420 then you will be content as long as your family 108 00:05:37,420 –> 00:05:39,920 has its own program of spiritual nurture 109 00:05:40,239 –> 00:05:41,059 and as long as your kids have 110 00:05:41,059 –> 00:05:43,000 a few good Christian friends. 111 00:05:44,720 –> 00:05:47,480 But I have to say that is not Biblical Christianity, 112 00:05:47,480 –> 00:05:49,000 is it? 113 00:05:49,000 –> 00:05:51,299 If you belong to Christ in the New Testament, 114 00:05:51,299 –> 00:05:53,320 you belong to His body. 115 00:05:53,320 –> 00:05:55,239 You share in the life of that body, 116 00:05:55,239 –> 00:05:57,519 you contribute to the life of that body 117 00:05:57,519 –> 00:06:01,559 wherever you are in the world every day that you are alive. 118 00:06:02,720 –> 00:06:06,320 Jesus said, I will build my church. 119 00:06:06,320 –> 00:06:08,559 And the marvelous good news is for every Christian 120 00:06:08,600 –> 00:06:10,760 you get to be a part of it. 121 00:06:11,640 –> 00:06:15,820 So I want my kids to feel that they belong 122 00:06:15,820 –> 00:06:18,140 to the body of Christ for a lifetime. 123 00:06:19,200 –> 00:06:23,320 I want them to feel that they belong to a story 124 00:06:23,320 –> 00:06:25,820 that began on the day of Pentecost, 125 00:06:25,820 –> 00:06:27,600 has been going on and is going on 126 00:06:27,600 –> 00:06:29,839 in every continent of the world, 127 00:06:29,839 –> 00:06:31,359 throughout every generation 128 00:06:31,359 –> 00:06:36,000 and is being worked out right here and now in this place. 129 00:06:36,899 –> 00:06:40,519 That’s one reason why we placed such emphasis 130 00:06:40,519 –> 00:06:42,739 in recent years on encouraging parents 131 00:06:42,739 –> 00:06:44,160 to worship with their children 132 00:06:44,160 –> 00:06:45,440 and children with their parents. 133 00:06:45,440 –> 00:06:47,179 There’s such value in it. 134 00:06:47,179 –> 00:06:49,480 That your children need to know 135 00:06:49,480 –> 00:06:52,260 that as they come to believe, 136 00:06:52,260 –> 00:06:54,959 they belong to Christ’s family 137 00:06:55,880 –> 00:06:58,940 as much as they belong to your family. 138 00:07:00,239 –> 00:07:01,500 They’ll leave your home. 139 00:07:02,720 –> 00:07:04,380 They’ll never leave the church of Christ 140 00:07:04,380 –> 00:07:06,540 in time or in eternity. 141 00:07:08,899 –> 00:07:13,899 That, by the way, is why you need to be very careful 142 00:07:14,359 –> 00:07:17,140 about how you speak of the church. 143 00:07:18,140 –> 00:07:19,399 Think of it this way. 144 00:07:20,459 –> 00:07:23,179 A wise husband will always be careful 145 00:07:23,179 –> 00:07:27,820 about how he speaks of his wife in front of the kids, right? 146 00:07:29,179 –> 00:07:31,019 You’re very careful, 147 00:07:31,040 –> 00:07:34,519 because you want your kids to honor their mother. 148 00:07:35,480 –> 00:07:39,579 You want the kids to hold her in their highest esteem. 149 00:07:39,579 –> 00:07:43,380 You want the kids to know that you love her. 150 00:07:43,380 –> 00:07:46,660 And so you’re very careful how you speak about her 151 00:07:46,660 –> 00:07:50,160 even when she’s wrong, which she might be sometimes. 152 00:07:54,619 –> 00:07:58,980 The church is the bride of Christ. 153 00:07:59,760 –> 00:08:04,760 That means that you will want to speak of her 154 00:08:05,220 –> 00:08:08,660 in front of your kids in a way that makes it very clear 155 00:08:08,660 –> 00:08:11,700 that you love the church of Jesus Christ 156 00:08:11,700 –> 00:08:15,059 to which you belong, you’ll hold her in high honor. 157 00:08:18,220 –> 00:08:20,519 And even when you find some frustration with her, 158 00:08:20,519 –> 00:08:25,519 as you will, you want to speak of the bride of Christ 159 00:08:25,640 –> 00:08:29,480 the bride of Christ in a way that shows your kids 160 00:08:29,480 –> 00:08:33,900 you hold her in the highest affection and honor. 161 00:08:35,760 –> 00:08:38,359 And I ask you this question because I think it’s important. 162 00:08:38,359 –> 00:08:41,260 Is that what your kids get from you 163 00:08:41,260 –> 00:08:43,520 in the van going home on Sunday morning? 164 00:08:45,760 –> 00:08:47,640 Is that what your kids get from you 165 00:08:47,640 –> 00:08:49,840 over the table at lunch? 166 00:08:50,719 –> 00:08:55,719 If you badmouth the church at home, 167 00:08:58,460 –> 00:09:01,580 don’t be surprised if your kids want nothing to do 168 00:09:01,580 –> 00:09:03,880 with any church in the future. 169 00:09:05,119 –> 00:09:07,299 To take up the analogy from last week, 170 00:09:07,299 –> 00:09:10,340 your kids swim in the water 171 00:09:10,340 –> 00:09:13,840 of your attitude towards the local church. 172 00:09:15,080 –> 00:09:18,080 It will wash off on them, 173 00:09:19,020 –> 00:09:20,700 not with regards to one church, 174 00:09:22,000 –> 00:09:23,500 but with regard to any church. 175 00:09:25,039 –> 00:09:27,520 So what’s your vision for your children? 176 00:09:27,520 –> 00:09:31,159 Is it about decisions or discipleship? 177 00:09:31,159 –> 00:09:35,200 Is it about isolation or is it about participation? 178 00:09:35,200 –> 00:09:36,619 Here’s the third choice. 179 00:09:36,619 –> 00:09:39,799 Is it about self-fulfillment 180 00:09:39,799 –> 00:09:43,020 or is it about self-sacrifice? 181 00:09:43,960 –> 00:09:46,719 See if your faith 182 00:09:46,780 –> 00:09:49,460 is simply about you enlisting God 183 00:09:49,460 –> 00:09:51,599 to make your life more as you want it to be, 184 00:09:51,599 –> 00:09:53,580 to make your life better. 185 00:09:53,580 –> 00:09:55,559 If your faith is about you enlisting God 186 00:09:55,559 –> 00:09:57,460 to make your life more as you want it to be, 187 00:09:57,460 –> 00:10:01,919 do not expect your child to follow that faith. 188 00:10:02,840 –> 00:10:04,419 Because here’s what will happen. 189 00:10:05,340 –> 00:10:08,179 Your child will follow your model. 190 00:10:09,619 –> 00:10:11,020 And you see what your model is, 191 00:10:11,020 –> 00:10:13,500 is having life as I want it to be. 192 00:10:14,340 –> 00:10:17,400 What they’ll do is they’ll embrace that model 193 00:10:17,400 –> 00:10:19,159 and they will quickly come to the conclusion 194 00:10:19,159 –> 00:10:23,080 that they do not need your God to get there for them. 195 00:10:26,880 –> 00:10:31,880 Years ago I read a statement on the purpose of parenting 196 00:10:35,780 –> 00:10:39,419 that struck me and has stayed with me. 197 00:10:40,760 –> 00:10:42,640 And I’m going to give it to you in two parts 198 00:10:42,640 –> 00:10:45,239 so that we catch the force of what’s being said here. 199 00:10:45,239 –> 00:10:47,320 It’s from a pastor by the name of William Still. 200 00:10:47,320 –> 00:10:48,500 Here’s the sentence, 201 00:10:48,500 –> 00:10:51,320 he says this, he’s talking about shepherding 202 00:10:51,320 –> 00:10:52,219 and he says, 203 00:10:52,219 –> 00:10:57,219 Israel’s sheep were reared, fed, tended, 204 00:10:58,520 –> 00:11:02,000 retrieved, healed and restored. 205 00:11:04,099 –> 00:11:05,940 How would you end that sentence? 206 00:11:07,140 –> 00:11:12,059 Israel’s sheep were reared, fed, tended, 207 00:11:12,580 –> 00:11:15,739 retrieved, healed and restored. 208 00:11:15,739 –> 00:11:16,760 You want the end of the sentence? 209 00:11:16,760 –> 00:11:17,820 Are you ready for it? 210 00:11:19,460 –> 00:11:24,460 For sacrifice on the altar of God. 211 00:11:25,700 –> 00:11:26,539 Wow. 212 00:11:28,059 –> 00:11:29,840 And says William Still that is the purpose 213 00:11:29,840 –> 00:11:32,539 of all shepherding, of all pastoral ministry 214 00:11:32,539 –> 00:11:34,700 and by extension of course of all parenting. 215 00:11:34,700 –> 00:11:35,780 Now think about this. 216 00:11:38,340 –> 00:11:40,619 Here you are, a father and a mother 217 00:11:40,619 –> 00:11:45,619 tending these little lambs feeding and nourishing them. 218 00:11:48,859 –> 00:11:52,679 For what purpose do these little lambs exist? 219 00:11:55,159 –> 00:11:56,719 Israel’s sheep. 220 00:11:58,039 –> 00:12:01,440 Were reared, fed, tended, retrieved, healed and restored 221 00:12:01,440 –> 00:12:05,419 for sacrifice on the alter of God. 222 00:12:05,419 –> 00:12:09,799 Now think about it, is that not what our lives are for? 223 00:12:11,159 –> 00:12:13,059 Romans chapter 12 and verse one, 224 00:12:13,059 –> 00:12:15,780 I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, 225 00:12:15,780 –> 00:12:18,739 to offer yourselves as what? 226 00:12:18,739 –> 00:12:21,219 Living sacrifices. 227 00:12:21,219 –> 00:12:23,140 That is the whole purpose of your life, 228 00:12:23,140 –> 00:12:24,780 that is the purpose of my life, 229 00:12:24,780 –> 00:12:26,419 that is the purpose for which life 230 00:12:26,419 –> 00:12:28,219 has been given to my children. 231 00:12:32,700 –> 00:12:35,159 Now if the purpose of your child’s life 232 00:12:36,219 –> 00:12:39,700 is to be offered as a living sacrifice to God, 233 00:12:40,700 –> 00:12:43,099 if the goal and the vision is that my kids 234 00:12:43,099 –> 00:12:45,780 may offer their whole selves without reservation 235 00:12:45,780 –> 00:12:48,159 as living sacrifices to Christ, 236 00:12:50,219 –> 00:12:51,440 if that is the goal, 237 00:12:54,260 –> 00:12:57,179 then we daren’t bring them up with the mistaken idea 238 00:12:57,179 –> 00:12:59,239 that they are the center of the universe, 239 00:13:00,559 –> 00:13:03,080 for whom all things exist, 240 00:13:03,080 –> 00:13:05,080 for whom all things are possible, 241 00:13:06,299 –> 00:13:09,599 and whose Word becomes your very command. 242 00:13:11,440 –> 00:13:15,760 If your children grow up with the idea 243 00:13:15,760 –> 00:13:19,400 that everything should be sacrificed for them, 244 00:13:21,479 –> 00:13:23,820 how will they ever be ready 245 00:13:23,820 –> 00:13:26,739 to sacrifice themselves for Christ? 246 00:13:26,739 –> 00:13:30,200 The category won’t exist in their minds. 247 00:13:33,280 –> 00:13:34,340 Now remember, 248 00:13:35,679 –> 00:13:37,640 Satan’s work, 249 00:13:37,640 –> 00:13:39,099 Satan’s work 250 00:13:39,960 –> 00:13:43,840 is to make our children think that they’re their own God. 251 00:13:43,840 –> 00:13:44,919 That’s always his strategy, 252 00:13:44,919 –> 00:13:46,919 right back to Genesis in chapter three, isn’t it? 253 00:13:46,919 –> 00:13:49,520 Satan’s work is to make your kids 254 00:13:49,520 –> 00:13:51,739 think they’re their own God. 255 00:13:53,760 –> 00:13:55,159 And therefore, by definition, 256 00:13:55,159 –> 00:13:59,080 a family that becomes child-centered 257 00:13:59,080 –> 00:14:01,200 will contribute greatly to his work. 258 00:14:03,559 –> 00:14:06,299 So what’s your vision for your children? 259 00:14:06,299 –> 00:14:08,380 I want to commend to you a vision 260 00:14:08,400 –> 00:14:11,020 of children and young people who grow to love Christ, 261 00:14:11,020 –> 00:14:12,380 to belong to his body, 262 00:14:12,380 –> 00:14:15,820 and to offer themselves without reservation to him. 263 00:14:15,820 –> 00:14:18,820 In other words, not just decisions but disciples, 264 00:14:18,820 –> 00:14:21,460 not isolation but participation, 265 00:14:21,460 –> 00:14:23,979 not self-fulfillment as the goal, 266 00:14:23,979 –> 00:14:26,780 but self-sacrifice for Christ and his Kingdom, 267 00:14:26,780 –> 00:14:28,580 which is the ultimate purpose of life 268 00:14:28,580 –> 00:14:31,340 as it is given to each and to every one of us. 269 00:14:32,679 –> 00:14:33,520 Now, if that’s the vision, 270 00:14:33,520 –> 00:14:36,239 the question, of course, is how should we pursue it? 271 00:14:36,340 –> 00:14:37,700 And here, I want to focus in 272 00:14:37,700 –> 00:14:40,580 on 2 Timothy chapter three and verse 14. 273 00:14:40,580 –> 00:14:42,219 Just this one verse today, 274 00:14:42,219 –> 00:14:46,799 and it’s such a marvelous and important statement for us, 275 00:14:46,799 –> 00:14:50,679 2 Timothy chapter three and verse 14. 276 00:14:50,679 –> 00:14:54,059 “‘As for you,’ Paul writes to Timothy, 277 00:14:54,059 –> 00:14:56,940 “‘continue in what you have learned 278 00:14:56,940 –> 00:14:58,960 “‘and have become convinced of, 279 00:15:00,020 –> 00:15:05,020 “‘because you know those from whom you learned it. 280 00:15:06,640 –> 00:15:08,460 That’s a very fascinating statement, 281 00:15:08,460 –> 00:15:12,580 and I trust that God will impress it upon our minds today, 282 00:15:14,179 –> 00:15:16,039 that the reason that Paul gives Timothy 283 00:15:16,039 –> 00:15:17,840 for continuing in the Christian life 284 00:15:17,840 –> 00:15:20,599 is not so much what he learned, 285 00:15:21,440 –> 00:15:25,440 but who he learned it from. 286 00:15:26,679 –> 00:15:28,679 Continue in what you have learned, why? 287 00:15:28,679 –> 00:15:33,679 Because you know from whom you have learned it. 288 00:15:37,239 –> 00:15:41,419 I want us to focus in then on the teachers, 289 00:15:42,580 –> 00:15:46,200 then briefly on the teaching, 290 00:15:46,200 –> 00:15:48,719 and then finally on the example. 291 00:15:49,559 –> 00:15:51,520 First of all, the teachers. 292 00:15:51,520 –> 00:15:56,000 You know those from whom you learned it. 293 00:15:56,000 –> 00:16:01,000 Now, from whom did Timothy learn the gospel? 294 00:16:01,599 –> 00:16:05,520 Well, if you turn back just one page here in 2 Timothy 295 00:16:05,559 –> 00:16:06,640 to the beginning of the letter, 296 00:16:06,640 –> 00:16:08,320 you’ll see it’s quite clearly stated there. 297 00:16:08,320 –> 00:16:10,320 2 Timothy 1 5. 298 00:16:11,599 –> 00:16:14,080 Paul’s writing to this young man, Timothy, 299 00:16:14,080 –> 00:16:15,799 encouraging him to press forward 300 00:16:15,799 –> 00:16:17,840 in the Christian life and in ministry. 301 00:16:17,840 –> 00:16:21,880 And he says, you know from whom you learned this? 302 00:16:21,880 –> 00:16:23,919 And it’s right there in 1 5. 303 00:16:23,919 –> 00:16:26,919 I’ve been reminded, he says, of your sincere faith, 304 00:16:26,919 –> 00:16:31,200 which first lived in your grandmother, Lois, 305 00:16:32,099 –> 00:16:35,799 and then in your mother, Eunice, 306 00:16:36,679 –> 00:16:38,940 and I am persuaded now that it lives in you. 307 00:16:40,039 –> 00:16:41,359 So where did he learn his faith? 308 00:16:41,359 –> 00:16:44,739 Answer, from the parents. 309 00:16:46,080 –> 00:16:47,780 You learned it from your mother. 310 00:16:49,719 –> 00:16:51,979 You learned it from your grandmother. 311 00:16:54,320 –> 00:16:55,679 Now we get a little more background 312 00:16:55,679 –> 00:16:59,039 to this family from Acts 16 1, 313 00:16:59,260 –> 00:17:02,539 and where we’re told that Timothy’s mother, Eunice, 314 00:17:02,539 –> 00:17:06,339 was a Jewess who believed in Christ. 315 00:17:06,339 –> 00:17:09,459 We also know that Timothy’s father was Greek, 316 00:17:09,459 –> 00:17:10,359 we’re told that there, 317 00:17:10,359 –> 00:17:13,119 and therefore this was a racially mixed marriage. 318 00:17:14,260 –> 00:17:18,160 Some commentators think that Timothy’s father died 319 00:17:18,160 –> 00:17:19,619 when he was still quite young. 320 00:17:19,619 –> 00:17:22,839 Myself, I’m convinced that that was indeed the case. 321 00:17:22,839 –> 00:17:25,319 In which case, what we have here 322 00:17:25,420 –> 00:17:30,119 is a word of tremendous encouragement for single parents. 323 00:17:31,500 –> 00:17:34,780 If you are a single parent, a single mother, 324 00:17:34,780 –> 00:17:36,339 single father today, 325 00:17:37,500 –> 00:17:39,640 I hope you feel the love 326 00:17:39,640 –> 00:17:42,040 and the support of this fellowship. 327 00:17:43,520 –> 00:17:46,739 And I hope that you will be encouraged by Eunice, 328 00:17:47,819 –> 00:17:51,160 who single-handedly raised a son 329 00:17:51,160 –> 00:17:55,040 who became one of the heroes of the early church, Timothy. 330 00:17:55,319 –> 00:18:00,319 And grandparents never underestimate 331 00:18:00,900 –> 00:18:02,479 the importance of your role. 332 00:18:03,640 –> 00:18:05,479 Remember Lois, 333 00:18:07,160 –> 00:18:12,160 don’t forget the significance of your continuing influence 334 00:18:12,420 –> 00:18:14,859 as a model and example of faith 335 00:18:15,780 –> 00:18:17,560 in the lives of your grandchildren. 336 00:18:19,300 –> 00:18:21,160 You know from whom you learned it, 337 00:18:21,160 –> 00:18:22,319 who did you learn it from? 338 00:18:22,319 –> 00:18:24,719 From the parents, from the parents. 339 00:18:26,239 –> 00:18:27,579 But not only from the parents, 340 00:18:27,579 –> 00:18:30,479 I want to suggest secondly from the partners 341 00:18:30,479 –> 00:18:32,719 and the partner here, the most obvious partner 342 00:18:32,719 –> 00:18:35,199 was of course the Apostle Paul himself. 343 00:18:35,199 –> 00:18:38,459 Paul as many of you will know took Timothy under his wing. 344 00:18:38,459 –> 00:18:40,380 He became a mentor to this lad 345 00:18:40,380 –> 00:18:43,359 and in the end Timothy became an apprentice to Paul 346 00:18:43,359 –> 00:18:45,979 at traveling with him on his journeys. 347 00:18:46,880 –> 00:18:48,400 I think what we have here, therefore, 348 00:18:48,400 –> 00:18:52,119 is a beautiful example of how the family 349 00:18:52,119 –> 00:18:54,280 and the wider church fellowship 350 00:18:54,380 –> 00:18:57,400 contribute together in the training 351 00:18:57,400 –> 00:18:59,739 and the teaching of a child. 352 00:19:01,140 –> 00:19:05,400 I have to tell you, I thank God from the bottom of my heart 353 00:19:06,560 –> 00:19:08,959 for the partners who have played a role 354 00:19:08,959 –> 00:19:12,339 in the lives of our two boys over the last 10 years. 355 00:19:13,880 –> 00:19:16,959 And I could list a whole string of names 356 00:19:16,959 –> 00:19:18,479 of their Sunday School teachers, 357 00:19:18,479 –> 00:19:20,780 of folks in youth ministry, 358 00:19:20,780 –> 00:19:22,520 folks who’ve taken an interest in them 359 00:19:23,060 –> 00:19:24,239 through throughout the congregation 360 00:19:24,239 –> 00:19:25,900 and have contributed to their lives, 361 00:19:25,900 –> 00:19:27,180 folks who’ve been in our homes, 362 00:19:27,180 –> 00:19:28,699 folks who’ve spoken with them, 363 00:19:28,699 –> 00:19:30,219 folks who’ve left a mark. 364 00:19:30,219 –> 00:19:31,479 Let me just pick two. 365 00:19:34,380 –> 00:19:36,839 I thank God for the role of Chris Hill 366 00:19:38,239 –> 00:19:40,160 in the life of my older boy Andrew. 367 00:19:41,699 –> 00:19:43,420 Chris was Andrew’s small group leader 368 00:19:43,420 –> 00:19:45,079 for four years through high school, 369 00:19:45,079 –> 00:19:47,420 took him out to eat, took an interest in his running, 370 00:19:47,420 –> 00:19:49,060 spoke to him honestly, 371 00:19:50,000 –> 00:19:54,199 and most of all gave him another good model 372 00:19:55,239 –> 00:19:57,119 of an authentic Christian life. 373 00:19:58,760 –> 00:20:02,640 Tim Henricus has done the same for our younger boy David, 374 00:20:03,920 –> 00:20:05,140 thank God for it, 375 00:20:06,719 –> 00:20:08,099 it’s mark remains. 376 00:20:09,180 –> 00:20:12,439 I say that to encourage all who contribute in ministry. 377 00:20:15,099 –> 00:20:17,459 But you know it’s not just those who contribute 378 00:20:17,500 –> 00:20:21,239 in children and middle school and high school ministry, 379 00:20:23,140 –> 00:20:24,380 it’s the wider body. 380 00:20:27,979 –> 00:20:30,619 My younger boy David wants to be an attorney, 381 00:20:32,739 –> 00:20:36,599 soon after we came here he latched onto Randy Davis, 382 00:20:36,599 –> 00:20:38,339 one of the lawyers in our church. 383 00:20:39,760 –> 00:20:43,560 They used to shoot baskets playing horse 384 00:20:43,560 –> 00:20:46,920 down in the gym together when David was just 10 years old, 385 00:20:48,260 –> 00:20:52,660 and one time David found Randy in the foyer out there 386 00:20:52,660 –> 00:20:55,560 immediately after one of the Christmas concerts, 387 00:20:56,540 –> 00:20:58,540 Randy was in his tuxedo 388 00:20:59,760 –> 00:21:01,660 and up bubbles our little boy too 389 00:21:02,520 –> 00:21:04,900 and says he want to game of horse now 390 00:21:04,900 –> 00:21:06,359 and the parents said, oh my. 391 00:21:07,239 –> 00:21:09,859 Randy not being one to shrink from a challenge 392 00:21:10,859 –> 00:21:12,319 went straight down to the gym, 393 00:21:12,319 –> 00:21:13,400 we found them half an hour later. 394 00:21:13,400 –> 00:21:16,560 Randy’s tuxedo jacket, bow tie lying there on the floor, 395 00:21:16,619 –> 00:21:18,699 the two of them locked in a desperate struggle 396 00:21:18,699 –> 00:21:20,260 to avoid becoming the horse. 397 00:21:22,739 –> 00:21:27,099 Since then, Randy’s taken David to work with him, 398 00:21:28,500 –> 00:21:30,219 shown him the workings of a court 399 00:21:32,540 –> 00:21:34,339 and talked to him about what it means 400 00:21:34,339 –> 00:21:37,040 to be a Christian lawyer, wow. 401 00:21:39,479 –> 00:21:42,219 Now see that’s the body of Christ at work. 402 00:21:43,180 –> 00:21:47,760 Our lives network together, parents, partners, 403 00:21:47,760 –> 00:21:50,819 together shaping the lives of our kids. 404 00:21:53,640 –> 00:21:57,160 And if your eyes are open, there will be 405 00:21:57,160 –> 00:21:58,920 some way in which you can contribute 406 00:21:58,920 –> 00:22:01,619 to the life of a younger person in the body of Christ. 407 00:22:06,020 –> 00:22:08,359 Not only the teachers, the parents and the partners, 408 00:22:08,359 –> 00:22:10,199 but let’s look at the teaching for just a moment. 409 00:22:10,199 –> 00:22:12,060 Look at this verse again, verse 14, 410 00:22:12,119 –> 00:22:15,520 but as for you, continue in what you have learned. 411 00:22:17,819 –> 00:22:19,020 Well, what did he learn? 412 00:22:20,579 –> 00:22:24,119 Between the age of zip and 18, what did he learn? 413 00:22:26,239 –> 00:22:28,060 What do you want your kids to learn 414 00:22:28,060 –> 00:22:30,219 by the time they leave for college? 415 00:22:32,180 –> 00:22:35,359 What do we as a church have as learning outcomes 416 00:22:35,359 –> 00:22:39,060 in our thinking about what we want them to learn 417 00:22:39,060 –> 00:22:40,180 by the age of 18? 418 00:22:42,739 –> 00:22:43,680 Well I want to suggest to you 419 00:22:43,680 –> 00:22:45,140 right from this passage of Scripture 420 00:22:45,140 –> 00:22:48,839 two clear learning outcomes that will never fail us. 421 00:22:48,839 –> 00:22:50,619 Look at it right here, verse 15. 422 00:22:51,939 –> 00:22:53,319 To know the Scriptures. 423 00:22:54,219 –> 00:22:59,219 How from infancy you have know the Holy Scriptures. 424 00:23:01,540 –> 00:23:04,319 Now, I want to suggest that that is a learning outcome 425 00:23:04,319 –> 00:23:06,060 that should be in the mind of every parent 426 00:23:06,060 –> 00:23:07,579 and every church leader. 427 00:23:09,859 –> 00:23:11,719 From infancy you’ve known the Holy Scriptures. 428 00:23:11,800 –> 00:23:13,699 It means to know the Holy Scriptures. 429 00:23:14,839 –> 00:23:18,760 Now Timothy’s mother of course did a terrific job here. 430 00:23:18,760 –> 00:23:20,380 She started early. 431 00:23:21,260 –> 00:23:26,260 From infancy, from infancy you have known 432 00:23:27,359 –> 00:23:28,780 the Holy Scriptures. 433 00:23:30,400 –> 00:23:35,400 Now let me encourage you knowing the Holy Scriptures 434 00:23:35,819 –> 00:23:37,780 doesn’t mean being able to pass a test 435 00:23:37,780 –> 00:23:40,060 on who was the wife of Hilkiah the high priest 436 00:23:40,060 –> 00:23:40,900 or whatever it is. 437 00:23:41,099 –> 00:23:42,739 That might be valuable, 438 00:23:42,739 –> 00:23:44,900 but that’s not what we’re talking about here. 439 00:23:46,780 –> 00:23:49,020 But surely it is a reasonable expectation 440 00:23:49,020 –> 00:23:53,619 that by the age of 18, a child who is raised 441 00:23:53,619 –> 00:23:58,579 in a Christian home, and part of the total program 442 00:23:58,579 –> 00:24:02,920 of an evangelical church, should be familiar 443 00:24:02,920 –> 00:24:05,420 with the parables and the miracles of Jesus 444 00:24:05,420 –> 00:24:07,660 and the Sermon on the mount and the main teachings 445 00:24:07,660 –> 00:24:09,900 of the New Testament and the big picture 446 00:24:10,180 –> 00:24:12,040 of the Bible’s story, of Adam and Noah 447 00:24:12,040 –> 00:24:14,060 and Abraham and Moses, and David and Solomon 448 00:24:14,060 –> 00:24:15,900 and Nehemiah, and so forth and so on. 449 00:24:18,260 –> 00:24:22,780 Now the good news is that this is much easier 450 00:24:23,699 –> 00:24:24,859 than you might think. 451 00:24:26,500 –> 00:24:30,739 Start early, remember from infancy. 452 00:24:30,739 –> 00:24:32,900 So as soon as they’re really able to read, 453 00:24:32,900 –> 00:24:35,300 you want to be thinking about this particularly. 454 00:24:35,300 –> 00:24:36,739 Though before that, you’ll have been telling 455 00:24:36,739 –> 00:24:38,619 the many stories yourself. 456 00:24:40,540 –> 00:24:42,239 But as your child is able to read, 457 00:24:42,239 –> 00:24:46,859 make sure your child has his or her own Bible. 458 00:24:48,619 –> 00:24:52,859 And then help them to use it as much as possible. 459 00:24:53,979 –> 00:24:55,660 Every time the Bible’s used, make sure 460 00:24:55,660 –> 00:24:58,380 that they have their own Bible, the same Bible, 461 00:24:58,380 –> 00:25:01,660 so that they begin to get a sense of knowing their Bible. 462 00:25:02,579 –> 00:25:03,699 This is very practical. 463 00:25:05,900 –> 00:25:08,000 Get them to bring their Bible to church. 464 00:25:08,839 –> 00:25:12,000 Open it, read it, mark it, use it. 465 00:25:12,000 –> 00:25:15,260 I have to tell you, I have great joy 466 00:25:16,699 –> 00:25:20,319 when kids have come up to me and shown me 467 00:25:20,319 –> 00:25:22,520 verses that are marked all the way 468 00:25:22,520 –> 00:25:24,239 through the book of Micah. 469 00:25:24,239 –> 00:25:25,060 Why? 470 00:25:25,060 –> 00:25:27,040 Because we did Micah in The Services last fall. 471 00:25:28,300 –> 00:25:29,699 And there are kids who’ve marked a verse 472 00:25:29,699 –> 00:25:31,300 in just about every chapter in Micah, 473 00:25:31,300 –> 00:25:33,060 this was the one that they thought was their favorite, 474 00:25:33,060 –> 00:25:34,099 so they’ve marked it. 475 00:25:35,180 –> 00:25:36,579 They know a bit about Micah. 476 00:25:37,540 –> 00:25:39,459 You do that in The Services, 477 00:25:41,739 –> 00:25:43,420 you do that in the Sunday School, 478 00:25:45,420 –> 00:25:47,140 you do that in the youth ministry, 479 00:25:48,819 –> 00:25:51,420 you do that because you get your Bible out 480 00:25:51,420 –> 00:25:54,540 in times that you share as a family, 481 00:25:54,540 –> 00:25:59,300 and you will be amazed how quickly your child 482 00:25:59,300 –> 00:26:01,479 begins to feel that he or she 483 00:26:01,479 –> 00:26:05,060 is learning her or his Bible. 484 00:26:06,000 –> 00:26:07,680 But you gotta start early. 485 00:26:09,140 –> 00:26:10,140 Gotta start early. 486 00:26:11,739 –> 00:26:15,000 Catch the enthusiasm to learn to read 487 00:26:15,000 –> 00:26:18,780 and to discover the Word of God. 488 00:26:19,900 –> 00:26:22,760 It’s living seed, so plant it. 489 00:26:23,880 –> 00:26:27,219 Use it, and trust God to make it grow. 490 00:26:28,880 –> 00:26:30,920 Objective number one in our teaching, 491 00:26:30,920 –> 00:26:32,640 that they’ll know the Scriptures. 492 00:26:32,640 –> 00:26:34,520 Pretty straightforward. 493 00:26:34,979 –> 00:26:35,920 Objective number two, that they 494 00:26:35,920 –> 00:26:37,819 will become wise for salvation. 495 00:26:37,819 –> 00:26:38,660 Look at this. 496 00:26:39,920 –> 00:26:40,739 From infancy, verse 15, 497 00:26:40,739 –> 00:26:41,579 you have known the Holy Scriptures. 498 00:26:41,579 –> 00:26:42,599 That’s the first outcome. 499 00:26:42,599 –> 00:26:45,040 Which are able to make you, second, 500 00:26:45,040 –> 00:26:48,800 wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 501 00:26:49,880 –> 00:26:51,699 Now, he’s not saying that you can save 502 00:26:51,699 –> 00:26:53,300 your kids through Christian education. 503 00:26:53,300 –> 00:26:54,640 Obviously, that’s not the case, 504 00:26:54,640 –> 00:26:56,160 and we’ll talk about that particularly 505 00:26:56,160 –> 00:26:57,199 in two weeks time. 506 00:26:58,880 –> 00:27:00,060 But through the Scriptures, 507 00:27:00,060 –> 00:27:03,239 your children can become wise for salvation. 508 00:27:03,239 –> 00:27:04,280 What does that mean? 509 00:27:04,280 –> 00:27:06,239 To be wise for salvation means you 510 00:27:06,239 –> 00:27:08,560 need to grasp two very simple things. 511 00:27:09,959 –> 00:27:13,280 The first is that you need a savior. 512 00:27:14,859 –> 00:27:17,319 Now, there are two strategic opportunities 513 00:27:17,319 –> 00:27:19,119 for you to teach your kids. 514 00:27:20,699 –> 00:27:21,939 That they need a savior. 515 00:27:23,300 –> 00:27:25,579 For you to model this, and to get it 516 00:27:25,579 –> 00:27:28,280 into their mindset. 517 00:27:28,280 –> 00:27:31,079 To get it as a category in their thinking. 518 00:27:31,599 –> 00:27:34,959 The first is, very simply, discipline. 519 00:27:36,500 –> 00:27:39,180 Those times where discipline is necessary. 520 00:27:40,479 –> 00:27:42,599 And there will in every child’s experience 521 00:27:42,599 –> 00:27:44,199 be sometimes when it is so. 522 00:27:45,920 –> 00:27:48,359 Use that as an opportunity for your child 523 00:27:48,359 –> 00:27:50,699 to see more clearly that he or she 524 00:27:50,699 –> 00:27:53,079 is a sinner who needs a savior. 525 00:27:55,359 –> 00:27:58,739 If your children are never disciplined, 526 00:27:59,500 –> 00:28:02,719 but constantly fed a diet on how wonderful, 527 00:28:02,719 –> 00:28:04,380 beautiful, and smart they are, 528 00:28:04,380 –> 00:28:06,459 don’t expect them in adult life 529 00:28:06,459 –> 00:28:10,859 to have any sense of needing a savior at all, right? 530 00:28:10,859 –> 00:28:13,180 The category won’t exist in their minds. 531 00:28:15,579 –> 00:28:18,040 C.J. Mahaney, whose teaching on this 532 00:28:18,040 –> 00:28:20,859 I find to be particularly insightful and helpful 533 00:28:20,859 –> 00:28:24,680 talks about how he tried to do this with his own children, 534 00:28:24,680 –> 00:28:26,859 that when there was a situation of discipline, 535 00:28:26,859 –> 00:28:28,400 of course there should not be all the time, 536 00:28:28,400 –> 00:28:30,459 but when there was such a situation, 537 00:28:31,300 –> 00:28:33,619 he made a point every time afterwards 538 00:28:33,619 –> 00:28:37,199 of sitting down with his son or with his daughter 539 00:28:37,199 –> 00:28:39,439 and asking this question, 540 00:28:39,439 –> 00:28:43,160 what Bible truth does this confirm? 541 00:28:44,839 –> 00:28:48,800 See, I am a sinner who needs a savior. 542 00:28:48,800 –> 00:28:49,839 To which he would always say, 543 00:28:49,839 –> 00:28:53,099 yes son, and your dad is too. 544 00:28:55,439 –> 00:28:57,439 Andthat takes me to the second thing. 545 00:28:57,439 –> 00:28:59,619 If the first opportunity is the situations 546 00:28:59,619 –> 00:29:02,339 that arise in life where discipline is called for, 547 00:29:02,339 –> 00:29:04,780 the second is through your own repentance, 548 00:29:04,780 –> 00:29:06,459 the situations in life where you blow it 549 00:29:06,459 –> 00:29:08,040 and you need to say sorry. 550 00:29:09,420 –> 00:29:11,800 When you admit that you were wrong, 551 00:29:13,219 –> 00:29:17,380 when you say to your kids I’m sorry about that, 552 00:29:18,500 –> 00:29:21,219 you admit and can make it very clear 553 00:29:21,219 –> 00:29:24,660 that you too are a sinner who needs a savior. 554 00:29:25,560 –> 00:29:30,660 My kids have heard me say I’m sorry many times. 555 00:29:33,619 –> 00:29:34,619 I was wrong. 556 00:29:37,640 –> 00:29:42,640 Through that observation of our repentance, 557 00:29:44,680 –> 00:29:49,060 they will gain the category of what it means 558 00:29:49,060 –> 00:29:50,760 to be a sinner who needs a savior. 559 00:29:50,760 –> 00:29:52,180 You kids heard you say sorry? 560 00:29:52,400 –> 00:29:54,420 Did I say something wrong? 561 00:29:54,420 –> 00:29:55,959 They see your repentance 562 00:29:57,119 –> 00:29:58,400 or would they think of you as someone 563 00:29:58,400 –> 00:30:00,079 who has nothing to repent of. 564 00:30:04,079 –> 00:30:06,500 To be wise to salvation you need to know 565 00:30:06,500 –> 00:30:08,000 that you need a savior. 566 00:30:08,000 –> 00:30:10,420 Second, you need to know that there is a savior. 567 00:30:11,300 –> 00:30:14,180 And two strategic opportunities for modeling that truth 568 00:30:14,180 –> 00:30:16,959 would be first by bringing help. 569 00:30:16,959 –> 00:30:18,920 God is our refuge and help, 570 00:30:18,920 –> 00:30:21,699 an ever present help in time of trouble. 571 00:30:21,739 –> 00:30:24,280 Your calling as a parent is to represent Christ 572 00:30:24,280 –> 00:30:25,619 in the life of your child 573 00:30:25,619 –> 00:30:27,939 and there is never a greater opportunity 574 00:30:27,939 –> 00:30:29,979 than when he or she is in trouble. 575 00:30:29,979 –> 00:30:31,119 Help them. 576 00:30:32,699 –> 00:30:35,939 Cause you are modeling that there is a father 577 00:30:35,939 –> 00:30:38,859 in heaven whose strong hand reaches out 578 00:30:38,859 –> 00:30:41,800 in time of trouble to be a help. 579 00:30:45,040 –> 00:30:46,020 And bring hope. 580 00:30:47,500 –> 00:30:49,540 There is a savior who loves you 581 00:30:50,479 –> 00:30:52,619 and will not abandon you when you do wrong, 582 00:30:52,619 –> 00:30:54,979 he is always at work to redeem 583 00:30:54,979 –> 00:30:56,939 and you know, there is never a better opportunity 584 00:30:56,939 –> 00:30:58,459 for you or for me to model that 585 00:30:58,459 –> 00:31:00,239 than when something goes terribly wrong 586 00:31:00,239 –> 00:31:01,780 in the life of your child 587 00:31:01,780 –> 00:31:03,140 and there’s a chance to sit down 588 00:31:03,140 –> 00:31:05,099 and to recognize the wrong 589 00:31:06,180 –> 00:31:08,319 and then to say now how are we gonna turn this round? 590 00:31:08,319 –> 00:31:10,099 How can this be redeemed? 591 00:31:10,099 –> 00:31:14,359 And to show therefore that there is a redeemer. 592 00:31:14,359 –> 00:31:16,160 There really is, there is a savior. 593 00:31:17,020 –> 00:31:22,020 So, the teachers, parents and partners, together. 594 00:31:24,739 –> 00:31:26,800 The teaching to know the Scriptures 595 00:31:26,800 –> 00:31:28,959 and to be wise for salvation 596 00:31:28,959 –> 00:31:31,859 which involves grasping that you need a savior 597 00:31:31,859 –> 00:31:33,640 and that there is a savior. 598 00:31:33,640 –> 00:31:36,760 These categories need to be impressed on the mind 599 00:31:36,760 –> 00:31:39,880 and they’re impressed through life itself. 600 00:31:42,079 –> 00:31:43,939 The last thing finally and very briefly 601 00:31:43,939 –> 00:31:45,939 is just the power of example 602 00:31:45,939 –> 00:31:48,239 which is our title itself. 603 00:31:48,239 –> 00:31:51,319 The teachers, the teaching, the example. 604 00:31:51,319 –> 00:31:53,859 As for you, verse 14, continue 605 00:31:54,819 –> 00:31:57,380 in what you have learned and become convinced of 606 00:31:57,380 –> 00:32:02,380 because you know those from whom you have learned it. 607 00:32:05,439 –> 00:32:10,439 Timothy, continue through the difficulties 608 00:32:10,479 –> 00:32:11,920 that you’re facing in your life. 609 00:32:11,920 –> 00:32:13,079 Continue in the gospel. 610 00:32:13,079 –> 00:32:13,920 Why? 611 00:32:14,920 –> 00:32:18,400 Because you know those from whom you have learned it. 612 00:32:19,400 –> 00:32:21,260 Did you see the power of this? 613 00:32:22,180 –> 00:32:25,780 Why should a person continue in the gospel? 614 00:32:25,780 –> 00:32:27,900 Why should you continue in the gospel? 615 00:32:29,339 –> 00:32:30,959 Because you’ve seen that it works 616 00:32:30,959 –> 00:32:33,579 in the life of your mother, 617 00:32:33,579 –> 00:32:35,560 in the life of your grandmother, 618 00:32:35,560 –> 00:32:38,199 and you have seen that it works in me. 619 00:32:39,520 –> 00:32:42,420 Timothy, you have been surrounded by people 620 00:32:42,699 –> 00:32:45,819 who are living examples of the fact that this gospel works. 621 00:32:45,819 –> 00:32:47,760 You cannot deny its power. 622 00:32:47,760 –> 00:32:50,579 You have seen it in your own flesh and blood. 623 00:32:50,579 –> 00:32:52,319 You’ve seen it in me. 624 00:32:57,839 –> 00:33:02,680 How you live will always speak louder 625 00:33:02,680 –> 00:33:03,900 than what you teach. 626 00:33:06,400 –> 00:33:08,699 I referred a moment ago to a message by C.J. Mahaney 627 00:33:08,699 –> 00:33:09,760 that I found helpful. 628 00:33:09,760 –> 00:33:11,920 Here’s how he puts this point. 629 00:33:14,280 –> 00:33:19,280 You want to be able to look into your son or daughter’s eyes 630 00:33:21,160 –> 00:33:26,160 and to say, son, daughter, believe the gospel. 631 00:33:28,839 –> 00:33:30,819 Continue in the gospel, 632 00:33:32,900 –> 00:33:36,760 because you are surrounded by overwhelming evidence. 633 00:33:36,760 –> 00:33:38,400 You’ve seen it in me. 634 00:33:40,719 –> 00:33:43,000 You’ve seen it in your mother. 635 00:33:45,400 –> 00:33:48,839 You are surrounded by overwhelming evidence 636 00:33:48,839 –> 00:33:51,119 of the transforming power of this gospel. 637 00:33:51,119 –> 00:33:52,640 That’s why you should believe it. 638 00:33:52,640 –> 00:33:55,619 That’s why you should continue in it. 639 00:34:00,180 –> 00:34:02,420 Can you say that to your son or your daughter? 640 00:34:07,719 –> 00:34:09,260 If not, I want to challenge you 641 00:34:09,260 –> 00:34:12,600 to make whatever changes are necessary 642 00:34:13,879 –> 00:34:15,879 to bring you to the place where you can. 643 00:34:19,219 –> 00:34:21,820 And that’s the responsibility not just of the parents, 644 00:34:21,820 –> 00:34:24,239 not just of the grandparents, 645 00:34:24,239 –> 00:34:25,699 but of the whole family of God, 646 00:34:25,699 –> 00:34:28,939 because the kids are growing up in the body of Christ. 647 00:34:34,719 –> 00:34:38,260 So maybe you need to go as an action point 648 00:34:38,260 –> 00:34:42,879 from today’s message to your son, to your daughter, 649 00:34:42,879 –> 00:34:45,280 to a colleague, to someone in your small group, 650 00:34:45,280 –> 00:34:46,800 and say something like this. 651 00:34:48,199 –> 00:34:50,760 I want you to know that I have not been the example 652 00:34:50,760 –> 00:34:53,159 that Jesus Christ calls me to be for you. 653 00:34:55,820 –> 00:34:57,520 And I want you to know I’m sorry. 654 00:34:59,879 –> 00:35:02,600 And I want you to know that I am asking Jesus Christ 655 00:35:02,600 –> 00:35:06,979 to change me as a man, as a husband, 656 00:35:06,979 –> 00:35:11,979 as a father, wife, a woman, a mother, 657 00:35:14,520 –> 00:35:17,879 because I want to be able to say, 658 00:35:19,260 –> 00:35:23,719 believe the gospel, continue in the gospel, 659 00:35:24,939 –> 00:35:29,500 because you’ve seen it in me. 660 00:35:32,679 –> 00:35:35,379 You think of the power if you were able to say that? 661 00:35:37,939 –> 00:35:40,260 And you know just opening that conversation 662 00:35:40,260 –> 00:35:42,540 with someone who the Lord lays on your heart right now 663 00:35:42,540 –> 00:35:45,239 might just be the very moment where for the first time 664 00:35:45,239 –> 00:35:47,379 their eyes open and they think, 665 00:35:47,379 –> 00:35:52,379 oh, I’d be interested in that kind of gospel. 666 00:36:00,459 –> 00:36:03,459 Let’s stand for prayer as we close our service together. 667 00:36:04,219 –> 00:36:07,919 And Father, today’s been a morning 668 00:36:07,919 –> 00:36:10,239 when we felt the challenge and the responsibility 669 00:36:10,239 –> 00:36:11,560 of our calling. 670 00:36:13,600 –> 00:36:15,600 It touches each of us in different ways 671 00:36:15,600 –> 00:36:17,459 and so now we stand before you. 672 00:36:19,500 –> 00:36:20,879 We have learned the gospel 673 00:36:20,879 –> 00:36:22,719 and right now we’re so grateful for it. 674 00:36:22,719 –> 00:36:26,280 We stand feeling, Lord, I need a savior. 675 00:36:31,199 –> 00:36:33,000 And therefore thank you that you are the savior, 676 00:36:33,000 –> 00:36:34,020 the redeemer, 677 00:36:35,959 –> 00:36:38,560 the one who is always ready to come out, 678 00:36:38,560 –> 00:36:41,199 reach in, turn things around 679 00:36:42,719 –> 00:36:45,179 and make what’s become so terribly wrong, right. 680 00:36:48,600 –> 00:36:51,219 So as I open myself up to the challenge 681 00:36:51,219 –> 00:36:52,500 of your word right now, 682 00:36:53,760 –> 00:36:58,760 move your redeeming work forward in me and through me 683 00:37:00,919 –> 00:37:02,800 that it may touch the lives of others 684 00:37:03,600 –> 00:37:05,600 about whom you care more even than I do. 685 00:37:08,260 –> 00:37:10,600 And these things we ask as a congregation together 686 00:37:10,600 –> 00:37:13,360 in Jesus’ name and all God’s people together, say. 687 00:37:13,360 –> 00:37:14,199 Amen.