WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:06.220 I want you to know I thought I was going to be okay to share today and last night my wife... 00:00:06.740 --> 00:00:13.880 Yesterday was a big day for me in just some things I know that people are struggling with and also the church did 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:19.850 some great things this weekend, and just seeing some ups and downs, but just seeing the church through it all. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:27.360 And right before bed, my wife shared something with me that I was thankful for, but it was a difficult thing. 00:00:27.980 --> 00:00:29.200 I'll share with you a little bit about that. 00:00:29.460 --> 00:00:32.549 But it gets to the heart of what I want to be as a church family. 00:00:33.260 --> 00:00:34.790 And that's why we're going to be in Acts 18 today. 00:00:35.040 --> 00:00:38.600 So I'm going to try to hold my stuff together and share this with you. 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:46.920 To start off, I want us just to think about this, every human being has two basic desires, belonging 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:47.460 and meaning. 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:49.780 Belonging and meaning. 00:00:52.080 --> 00:00:55.700 The most intimate communities are formed around the deepest causes. 00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:01.880 You think if you've ever been a sports team, that mission and that goal, by the end of the season there is unity there. 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:08.960 You'll see athletes walk off a field sometimes in tears when there isn't victory because they've put a lot of labor in a team to accomplish a goal. 00:01:10.180 --> 00:01:11.940 Business, the same thing's true. 00:01:11.940 --> 00:01:18.600 Members of the military, there's this camaraderie, if you've ever been in the military or served, that you don't share with other people, that you understand. 00:01:19.020 --> 00:01:23.300 You may not even been in the same group together, but you just understand what it means to serve your country. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:30.760 I think strong marriages, common vision and purpose, common set of values. 00:01:31.860 --> 00:01:38.960 I even think in a negative way, it's kind of why gangs exist, that kids need affirmation and they didn't get 00:01:38.960 --> 00:01:44.710 in places that should have gotten it, so they find it in a band of misfits where they get acceptance. 00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:49.040 Everyone wants to belong, everyone wants meaning. 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:56.040 The most intimate communities are formed out of the deepest causes because we find purpose and we find belonging. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:02.600 A church community is powerful when it understands their meaning and belonging. 00:02:04.300 --> 00:02:09.220 God created the church to bless others, God created the church for a purpose. 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:16.560 And the stronger the united vision, the stronger the community, and the greater impact that they make in the lives of people around them. 00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:25.340 We think about the idea of belonging, the idea of meaning, there's no deeper purpose and belonging that exists than 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:27.990 what we live for that endures. 00:02:28.920 --> 00:02:34.900 And there's nothing that endures for any greater period than what we do for the kingdom of our God. 00:02:37.440 --> 00:02:45.060 When I think about Alpine Bible Church, when I think about me, when I think about you, I 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:47.620 didn't move to Utah just to have a church. 00:02:50.020 --> 00:02:51.620 I want to be the church. 00:02:53.320 --> 00:03:00.640 When I think about the purpose of God created the church, our identity rooted in that determines the power that we carry in moving 00:03:00.640 --> 00:03:01.200 forward. 00:03:02.660 --> 00:03:08.620 Our church, we say, we're about an experience, a transformation in Jesus that transforms our relationships for Jesus. 00:03:10.320 --> 00:03:13.680 That God wants to do something in us, and then God wants to do something through us. 00:03:13.820 --> 00:03:15.740 That's why we gather together collectively as a community. 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:19.820 I mean, there's power when God's people gather together. 00:03:19.820 --> 00:03:24.120 That together right now in worship seek God's face. 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:30.620 We want God to do a work in us that transpires in the way that we work in our relationships with each other. 00:03:31.540 --> 00:03:38.960 We think about what Jesus did for us, like Jesus' plan from the beginning was a rescue mission. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:44.020 He comes in pursuit of your heart, your life, your soul, because it matters to him. 00:03:44.200 --> 00:03:47.780 And the worth of your life is determined by his giving of his own life. 00:03:47.780 --> 00:03:54.780 And so he goes on a rescue mission for you, and then he invites the rescued on that rescue mission to join him. 00:03:54.860 --> 00:04:02.620 When you study the book of Matthew, the very first Gospel in the New Testament, Jesus starts the Gospel by saying to us, 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:07.560 "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." The first disciples Jesus made, you want to know what his mission's about? 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:09.620 It's about seeking the lives of people. 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:16.079 Jesus said, "Greatest commands, love God, love others." And so he gives the invitation to people who were, at the time, fishing. 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:23.460 And so he says, "This great, but there's something deeper to life which sustains a purpose and a belonging for which I'm calling you to. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:26.860 And so, follow me," he says, "I want to make you fishers of men. 00:04:27.280 --> 00:04:29.500 Seeking the hearts of people as I seek their hearts. 00:04:29.520 --> 00:04:36.620 I'm on a rescue mission and I'm joining you as being rescued to be on this rescue mission." At the end of the Gospels, Jesus 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:40.680 says to his disciples, now having walked with him, he say, "Okay, now go. 00:04:42.520 --> 00:04:49.580 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." There's purpose behind what we do 00:04:49.580 --> 00:04:50.120 as a community. 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:51.890 We don't gather to just gather. 00:04:52.100 --> 00:04:57.720 The church, Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16, is designed to storm down the gates of hell. 00:04:59.400 --> 00:05:00.160 It's on a rescue mission. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:03.040 And when you storm down those gates, what do you do on the other side? 00:05:05.250 --> 00:05:06.300 You rescue people. 00:05:08.900 --> 00:05:10.220 You pursue hearts. 00:05:12.100 --> 00:05:15.500 We're striving to build a church that makes a difference in this valley. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:21.000 And we understand our purpose and belonging as God's people. 00:05:22.460 --> 00:05:26.450 Learning what that looks like together, is what God calls us to. 00:05:27.580 --> 00:05:30.280 I think we have, as God's people, a great church. 00:05:32.280 --> 00:05:36.900 I want to keep learning and growing what it means to pursue Jesus in this way. 00:05:38.320 --> 00:05:45.580 And so, in the book of Acts 18, we're going to look at four marks of individuals and churches that make an impact 00:05:45.580 --> 00:05:46.560 for the cause of Christ. 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:55.840 And when I read this, my tendency is anytime we get to lists, I really just rebel against lists because I 00:05:55.840 --> 00:06:01.360 think sometimes we make that more about religious performance, rather than a walk with Jesus. 00:06:01.760 --> 00:06:09.100 And I'm going to tell you this, and anything I say out of these four points this morning, if you do this out of guilt 00:06:09.100 --> 00:06:12.880 rather than joy, I would prefer you just not listen from this point forward. 00:06:14.420 --> 00:06:19.160 It's out of your joy for Jesus that these things should just emulate in our lives. 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:21.460 Reflect in who we are. 00:06:22.440 --> 00:06:29.860 And so out of the depth of your love for Christ, the book of Acts is a very interesting book, and a very encouraging book. 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:34.050 It's different than the other books that you read latter in the New Testament. 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:37.140 When you read beyond the book of Acts, what you're reading is epistles. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:44.130 And those are letters written to churches for which you have the opportunity to look into to see what's being talked about there. 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:50.920 Letters, a lot of the letters that are written, most of what the content is more prescriptive rather than descriptive. 00:06:50.940 --> 00:06:56.600 Meaning that the apostles that write these letters, they see a problem and they're helping the church work through it. 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:59.600 It's sort of like this question/answer basis that these letters are written. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.900 It's encouragement, most of it's prescriptive in living your life. 00:07:03.200 --> 00:07:04.560 When you get to the book of Acts, a little different. 00:07:04.820 --> 00:07:06.520 It's not prescriptive, rather it's descriptive. 00:07:08.140 --> 00:07:13.260 And Luke writes Acts and he's really describing for us a few things. 00:07:13.320 --> 00:07:18.500 He's describing how the Spirit of God moved on the people of God to accomplish the work of God from Jerusalem to Rome. 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:22.330 And the way this book begins and ends is really interesting. 00:07:22.460 --> 00:07:27.460 As Acts 1 starts and you think, after Jesus' resurrection he was on the earth for 40 days. 00:07:27.520 --> 00:07:28.320 What in the world did Jesus do? 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:34.320 And Acts 1 tells you, he preached about the kingdom. 00:07:34.780 --> 00:07:38.800 He is a king on a rescue mission, coming to present his kingdom to invite you to it. 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:46.540 In fact, when you get to Acts 1:7-8, the disciples ask, "Okay, when are you going to bring this kingdom?" He says, "Time is not for you to 00:07:46.540 --> 00:07:46.840 know. 00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:50.460 I'm going to send you into this world, Jerusalem, Judea, the uttermost parts of the earth. 00:07:50.580 --> 00:07:55.070 You be my disciples in this world, go and reach people." And so he sent them on this mission. 00:07:56.040 --> 00:08:00.700 And then when you get to the very end of Acts, it tells you for two years, finally you see Paul in Rome. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:03.760 And it says for two years, Paul preached about the kingdom in Rome. 00:08:04.100 --> 00:08:11.160 And so you see this story, how this little church in Jerusalem far from the great capital of Rome where the Emperor dwells, 00:08:11.520 --> 00:08:17.220 and how it goes from this little beginning in Jerusalem and what Jesus did to spread throughout the Roman Empire. 00:08:18.780 --> 00:08:21.430 And that same mission, God invites you to. 00:08:21.660 --> 00:08:28.660 In Acts 18, the reason I want to look at this particular chapter is because Acts 18 is impacted really by just a regular 00:08:28.660 --> 00:08:29.220 couple. 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:34.980 We just finished a marriage series and you can do Acts 18 as a single person or as a married couple. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:37.580 But I thought it was fitting just to talk about a married couple for a minute. 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:44.440 What does it look like for just a regular married couple that loves Jesus to live in light of him in this world? 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:46.620 What is that example for which we can follow? 00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:51.940 Acts 18 introduces you to this couple named Priscilla and Aquila. 00:08:51.940 --> 00:08:59.060 Luke describes for us what that looks for our lives to make an impact where Christ has 00:08:59.060 --> 00:09:02.160 called us, just by being a follower of Jesus. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:06.260 This doesn't take this super power Christian, it just is faithfulness in Christ. 00:09:06.280 --> 00:09:07.600 And so, what does it look like? 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:14.640 In Acts 18, as he describes here, Priscilla and Aquila and the life that they lived for Jesus, wherever Priscilla and Aquila went 00:09:14.640 --> 00:09:21.340 for the Lord, and they went to a few different locations, there became a vital church in those regions. 00:09:22.640 --> 00:09:29.800 And I think it was the attitude of their lives that led to modeling health for the church and just seeing the 00:09:29.800 --> 00:09:30.440 church move forward. 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:32.800 Now, it's not to say the churches didn't have struggles, they did. 00:09:34.420 --> 00:09:40.080 But they were healthy people spurring on what it meant to be pursuing Jesus together. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:49.000 The first thought of the four marks of healthy individuals in churches that make an impact for Christ is this, be willing 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:49.840 to sacrifice. 00:09:52.660 --> 00:09:54.230 You want to make a difference for Jesus? 00:09:55.920 --> 00:09:56.780 It will come in a sacrifice. 00:09:59.680 --> 00:10:00.660 And what are you willing to give? 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:03.880 What are you willing to lay down? 00:10:05.760 --> 00:10:11.430 And for Priscilla and Aquila, this sacrifice and adversity was very tangible. 00:10:12.880 --> 00:10:16.660 It was very apparent they had to sacrifice for the cause of pursuing Christ. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:23.820 When you start the book of Acts 18:1, listen to this, "After these things," it's talking about Paul, "he left Athens and 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:24.700 he went to Corinth. 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:32.900 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife, 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:36.660 Priscilla, because Claudius the Emperor had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. 00:10:37.640 --> 00:10:44.400 And Paul came to them." Priscilla and Aquila were, I believe, believers in Rome. 00:10:44.400 --> 00:10:46.630 Some people debate that, but I believe they are and let me tell you why. 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:53.860 It's because there was a historian in the first century named Suetonius that recorded what Emperor Claudius did during this 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:54.940 time period. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:11:02.400 And what happened in Rome was the Jewish people had a particular group that were coming in and telling them about this Jesus. 00:11:02.420 --> 00:11:06.480 And the rest of the culture around them didn't at this time really distinguish between Jew and Christian. 00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:13.900 They just saw followers of Jesus within the Jewish sect as sort of bringing this different teaching 00:11:13.900 --> 00:11:15.560 into what Judaism was. 00:11:16.580 --> 00:11:19.920 And so, they just saw that this created this tension among the Jews. 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:22.600 That some would follow this Jesus and others didn't want to. 00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:24.740 And they were very adamant on either side. 00:11:24.780 --> 00:11:27.400 And that tension it created, well Claudius didn't enjoy that. 00:11:28.180 --> 00:11:30.440 And so the Emperor gave everyone a choice. 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:35.550 He said, "Okay, renounce your belief or get out of Rome." And what happened? 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:39.520 Some of them renounced and some of them stuck with Jesus. 00:11:40.260 --> 00:11:43.740 And the ones that stayed with Jesus, it was death or you could leave, they had the choice. 00:11:44.400 --> 00:11:45.940 And Priscilla and Aquila left. 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:53.000 If you read during this time period, it was unfortunate for those that were slaves in this period, because what happened was those that were slaves that didn't renounce, 00:11:53.260 --> 00:11:57.980 they actually sent to these labor camps that led to very short lives for them. 00:11:57.980 --> 00:12:05.420 But Priscilla and Aquila were free individuals, and so because of Claudius' ruling, they 00:12:05.420 --> 00:12:10.000 left behind their home in Rome because they loved Jesus. 00:12:13.060 --> 00:12:13.560 There was sacrifice. 00:12:15.760 --> 00:12:21.160 Claudius gave the opportunity to renounce and keep what you had, or to give it up for the cause for which you believe in. 00:12:23.420 --> 00:12:24.040 And they gave it up. 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:30.100 Priscilla and Aquila went through a season, no doubt, of hardship. 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:35.040 I mean, you think of what this would be like, especially during this time period. 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:43.220 Laboring in your hometown, loving Jesus, loving the people around you. 00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:46.240 And all of a sudden you're forced to leave. 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:53.320 You have an option to turn your back on what you believe, but you choose to follow faithfully. 00:12:55.460 --> 00:13:02.640 And Priscilla and Aquila, they kept moving forward in the difficulty for which they faced, because the mission was greater 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:05.380 than their sacrifice and then their loss. 00:13:07.420 --> 00:13:14.680 You know, I think about what it means for us to follow Jesus, in this situation, in our lives, I just think and pause these moments 00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:17.980 and just ask, what does my life reflect? 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:27.830 If your life does not reflect any sacrifice for Jesus, how do you know that you really belong to Jesus? 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:32.080 Is Jesus really what you prize? 00:13:33.540 --> 00:13:40.560 I mean, if you look back in your life, and you could take the easy road or take Christ, and you continue to take the easy road, or there came times where you could really lay yourself down for the cause 00:13:40.560 --> 00:13:44.380 of Christ, and you can't point to anything that indicates that, are you really following Jesus? 00:13:46.040 --> 00:13:53.080 Those that make an impact for Christ in life, they have a willingness to sacrifice as God leads their lives. 00:13:54.920 --> 00:13:59.100 If you follow Jesus, one day you'll face a gut punch. 00:14:01.300 --> 00:14:03.290 That's why the Bible calls it spiritual warfare. 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:09.180 I mean, if Satan can't stop you, his goal will be to discourage you. 00:14:10.800 --> 00:14:16.210 If you look at the way Satan's identified in scripture, the things Satan loves to do, he loves to go for your identity. 00:14:17.400 --> 00:14:18.490 He's the accuser of the brethren. 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.950 He loves to go for your past. 00:14:22.300 --> 00:14:25.630 In Revelation 12, to make you feel worthless. 00:14:26.800 --> 00:14:29.350 Or he likes to bring conflict to your relationships. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:35.740 I mean, if you read the New Testament, the majority of what the New Testament talks about is how to walk in Jesus in the midst of relationship, because there's conflict. 00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:39.580 And Satan wants to work in that conflict to prevent you from pursuing Jesus. 00:14:44.310 --> 00:14:52.650 But Jesus, Jesus said it like this in Luke 14:27, "Whoever 00:14:52.650 --> 00:14:58.710 does not carry his own cross and come after me, he cannot be my disciple. 00:15:00.190 --> 00:15:07.250 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough 00:15:07.250 --> 00:15:14.100 to complete it." Jesus wants us just to think about this journey. 00:15:15.650 --> 00:15:22.090 Because there will come times on this experience of following Christ, where God will bring you to a fork in the road. 00:15:23.770 --> 00:15:27.070 Take the easy road, or take the harder road. 00:15:28.930 --> 00:15:34.190 Sometimes this is counterintuitive for us in America, because I feel like what we often prefer is easy. 00:15:35.730 --> 00:15:37.590 God's will is whatever is easy, right? 00:15:38.870 --> 00:15:39.150 No. 00:15:41.270 --> 00:15:42.410 Jesus says count the cost. 00:15:44.350 --> 00:15:48.460 Sometimes in pursuit of Jesus, sometimes there's a laying down of self, and sometimes it's the harder road. 00:15:50.930 --> 00:15:52.170 Count the cost. 00:15:54.390 --> 00:15:57.850 The idea of sacrifice is written all over this. 00:15:58.030 --> 00:16:00.930 I refer to this verse as the why verse. 00:16:02.250 --> 00:16:03.010 Remember why. 00:16:04.950 --> 00:16:06.150 Why did you begin the journey? 00:16:07.970 --> 00:16:09.170 Why do you think it's so important? 00:16:10.410 --> 00:16:10.910 Why? 00:16:12.610 --> 00:16:19.650 Because there's going to come a hard day, and the thing that moves you forward is the foundation for which you began the 00:16:19.650 --> 00:16:19.890 journey. 00:16:21.290 --> 00:16:22.150 Why? 00:16:24.070 --> 00:16:25.750 Because there's no greater joy for which to live. 00:16:25.830 --> 00:16:31.890 I love it when Jesus asked this of his disciples and Peter is before Jesus and he was like, "Lord, where are we going to go? 00:16:31.950 --> 00:16:38.990 You have the words of eternal life." The rest of your disciples, or the rest of the crowd that was following Jesus left at these hard 00:16:38.990 --> 00:16:39.330 statements. 00:16:40.290 --> 00:16:40.720 But Peter stayed. 00:16:41.110 --> 00:16:41.210 Why? 00:16:42.590 --> 00:16:47.410 Because he saw the value for which rested in Christ far surpassed any challenge that this world could offer. 00:16:49.090 --> 00:16:51.610 What Jesus calls us to matters more. 00:16:52.930 --> 00:16:57.250 And so, if my life is really about pursuing that, it's going to come at a sacrifice at some point. 00:16:57.590 --> 00:16:58.990 And maybe a little bit every day. 00:17:00.030 --> 00:17:01.050 Laying my life down. 00:17:01.050 --> 00:17:03.660 But people that make an impact for Christ recognize this. 00:17:04.230 --> 00:17:10.390 Some people refer to him as one of the greatest theologians in American history, Jonathan Edwards. 00:17:10.510 --> 00:17:12.510 I don't really care about that title for him. 00:17:12.810 --> 00:17:14.910 There's things I like about him, and things I didn't like about him. 00:17:14.910 --> 00:17:18.240 But in the 1700s, he was considered a very godly individual. 00:17:18.869 --> 00:17:23.369 At 19 years old, he started writing these resolutions about what he wanted his life to be. 00:17:23.490 --> 00:17:26.470 He developed these resolutions over life, they got really long. 00:17:26.470 --> 00:17:29.470 And really it's frustrating to me because I hate lists, right? 00:17:29.470 --> 00:17:31.390 But he wrote these lists out. 00:17:31.390 --> 00:17:33.960 But at 19 years old, this is how he started his resolutions. 00:17:34.170 --> 00:17:38.750 He said, "Number one, that I will do whatever I think to be most to God's glory. 00:17:39.590 --> 00:17:44.890 Number two, to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. 00:17:45.410 --> 00:17:52.690 Number three, to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with." Jesus in 00:17:52.890 --> 00:17:56.530 adversity and just remind himself over and over of this resolution. 00:17:56.850 --> 00:17:57.910 This is my foundation. 00:17:58.510 --> 00:17:59.990 This is why. 00:18:01.650 --> 00:18:09.290 Number two, people that make an impact for Christ practice intentional hospitality. 00:18:09.990 --> 00:18:11.290 I think that word intentional is important here. 00:18:11.870 --> 00:18:14.590 Not just practice hospitality, everyone practices hospitality. 00:18:14.630 --> 00:18:16.550 I mean, you're going to care about people in general. 00:18:16.550 --> 00:18:18.850 And especially those that you really care about, right? 00:18:19.070 --> 00:18:21.710 You have people in your life because you love, and so you're just hospitable to them. 00:18:22.010 --> 00:18:25.910 But I think it's different than just being hospitable and intentionally hospitable. 00:18:26.030 --> 00:18:28.710 God's people are called to love everyone around them. 00:18:30.350 --> 00:18:37.770 And so, practicing intentional hospitality and so when you go on from this in Acts 18:3, look at this, "Paul, 00:18:37.850 --> 00:18:44.050 because he was of same trade, he stayed with Priscilla and Aquila and they ere working, for by trade they were tentmakers. 00:18:44.510 --> 00:18:51.550 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks." So this is highlighting Paul's journey in the 00:18:51.550 --> 00:18:56.390 ministry he carried, but he's recognizing the significance of Priscilla and Aquila in playing a part of this. 00:18:56.750 --> 00:19:05.510 That Priscilla and Aquila opened their business and their home to help Paul find a place to work and 00:19:05.510 --> 00:19:06.250 a place to live. 00:19:07.330 --> 00:19:09.110 So you think, here's Priscilla and Aquila in Rome. 00:19:09.390 --> 00:19:12.150 They've had to pick up the pieces and move to Corinth. 00:19:12.230 --> 00:19:13.150 Start over. 00:19:14.530 --> 00:19:17.730 And they're in the streets sharing their story about what God's done through their life. 00:19:17.790 --> 00:19:22.450 They didn't do this silently, like the reason they left Rome is because they're on this mission for Jesus. 00:19:23.190 --> 00:19:26.080 So when they get to Corinth, they continue their mission for Jesus. 00:19:26.210 --> 00:19:28.490 And as they're talking about this, Paul finds out about them. 00:19:28.790 --> 00:19:35.790 He comes to the area where they are, he's sharing his story, and they're like, "Come on in, man, because we're on this mission together." Now you think about this, 00:19:36.170 --> 00:19:41.710 what would have happened if after going through that hardship in Rome, Priscilla and Aquila said, "You know what? 00:19:41.830 --> 00:19:48.790 We left Rome, but forget it." Would the church in Corinth even existed? 00:19:51.590 --> 00:19:52.830 Or would Paul have moved on? 00:19:55.390 --> 00:20:00.000 Their hospitality unlocked the door for godly impact for the church in Corinth. 00:20:01.690 --> 00:20:09.130 Spending time together with Paul, it says that he was there for 18 months, spending time together with Paul gave them the 00:20:09.130 --> 00:20:12.590 identity and mission in growing together. 00:20:12.590 --> 00:20:20.310 I think as a church, when we have the opportunity to spend more time together with the idea of this mission in mind, God solidifies us 00:20:20.310 --> 00:20:21.880 in this unity together. 00:20:22.190 --> 00:20:27.450 When we think about this, when we think about hospitality though, I want us to recognize your job isn't to make everybody happy. 00:20:28.450 --> 00:20:29.670 That's not what we're saying in being hospitable. 00:20:31.890 --> 00:20:36.810 Rather, I think what God calls us to do is to be a blessing to people around us. 00:20:36.910 --> 00:20:42.370 Romans 12:14 says this, "When people persecute you, bless and do not curse." Romans 12:14. 00:20:45.090 --> 00:20:52.320 I think the idea of hospitality is honestly really where mission happens, where differences are made in the lives of people. 00:20:53.070 --> 00:20:58.570 Hospitality doesn't mean you only invite people into your life just to give them a shot of the Gospel pill. 00:20:59.210 --> 00:20:59.570 You know what I mean? 00:20:59.570 --> 00:21:00.920 Like, "Oh gosh, I feel guilty today. 00:21:01.090 --> 00:21:08.130 I better invite someone over so I can tell them about Jesus." No, invite people, be involved in their lives because people matter 00:21:08.130 --> 00:21:09.790 to the Lord and God calls you to love them. 00:21:10.270 --> 00:21:18.330 And here's the reality, when you have a genuine walk with Jesus, and you deeply love people, you 00:21:18.330 --> 00:21:20.050 naturally share the things you care about. 00:21:21.510 --> 00:21:28.530 Like, look, if you like a certain sports team and you sit around with another dude, guys, for about 00:21:28.530 --> 00:21:29.070 an hour. 00:21:29.170 --> 00:21:31.030 How long does it take before you talk about that sports team? 00:21:32.290 --> 00:21:33.630 Especially if it's the season. 00:21:34.770 --> 00:21:35.350 Why? 00:21:36.630 --> 00:21:39.230 Because you're fanatical about it, you care about it. 00:21:39.790 --> 00:21:41.350 You'll talk trash about it. 00:21:41.410 --> 00:21:42.710 In fact, you might enjoy it, right? 00:21:43.330 --> 00:21:44.130 Go, Patriots. 00:21:44.750 --> 00:21:45.630 Just kidding. 00:21:46.650 --> 00:21:47.230 I love it. 00:21:49.230 --> 00:21:56.410 But it's like that with Jesus, when you love Jesus like that, or hopefully more than that, and you just spend time 00:21:56.450 --> 00:21:59.040 with people, it's a natural thing of your life. 00:21:59.130 --> 00:22:00.070 You don't have to force a conversation. 00:22:01.690 --> 00:22:02.110 You love people. 00:22:03.510 --> 00:22:04.960 And you talk about Jesus with people. 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.990 Hospitality is how those things happen. 00:22:11.030 --> 00:22:16.190 Hospitality means, do you use what God gives you for his glory? 00:22:19.450 --> 00:22:26.670 Sometimes we don't broadcast the things we do as a church, but because of circumstances yesterday, I started thinking about this 00:22:26.670 --> 00:22:28.750 and just weeping like a baby. 00:22:30.390 --> 00:22:37.510 But you know, yesterday was a day where I got a few hard messages from people and just thankful that even as a church that could be shared 00:22:37.510 --> 00:22:38.990 and we could start praying and caring. 00:22:40.290 --> 00:22:47.330 While I'm getting these messages, I'm with a group of people down at Grace Haven Bible Camp and we're building cabins 00:22:47.330 --> 00:22:48.730 for kids, to make a difference. 00:22:48.890 --> 00:22:52.030 And that's something churches in this valley have been working on for over a decade. 00:22:54.050 --> 00:22:59.320 And just being able to reflect on how good that is as a church family to go down and make a difference and serve. 00:22:59.370 --> 00:23:03.670 And then I end up getting back late, and then there was someone else with a need. 00:23:04.310 --> 00:23:08.090 I wanted to try to make it to there to be a part of that need, but I couldn't. 00:23:08.830 --> 00:23:15.850 But I got a message and what was said to me was like, "Don't worry about being here, a small army showed up to take care of it." I'm like, "Well, thank God." 00:23:15.990 --> 00:23:17.370 That feels good. 00:23:17.370 --> 00:23:21.250 But even as a church, I think about just this past week. 00:23:22.050 --> 00:23:29.150 We found out a missionary family, the wife was diagnosed with cancer and it's one that they're 00:23:29.150 --> 00:23:30.260 going to have to go somewhere for treatment. 00:23:30.670 --> 00:23:35.950 And they've been serving faithful in Utah for a number of years and it's not a wealthy journey. 00:23:35.950 --> 00:23:39.310 Like being a pastor or missionary in Utah is not a wealthy journey at all, right? 00:23:40.210 --> 00:23:42.330 But as a church, we're like, "Man, we care about you. 00:23:42.410 --> 00:23:44.390 Just that faithfulness we love. 00:23:44.470 --> 00:23:50.910 So, here's a $1,000.00 for your flight to go take care of what your wife needs." And just ministering to them. 00:23:50.910 --> 00:23:57.950 And this month we sent quite a few thousand to India to help with some education of some young girls that we've been loving on 00:23:57.950 --> 00:23:59.120 throughout the years. 00:24:00.450 --> 00:24:07.730 This month, one of the things our church has done is we set a budget aside a couple of years ago to take pastors 00:24:07.730 --> 00:24:08.950 out to lunch. 00:24:10.530 --> 00:24:12.830 To just encourage them, to do sort of a wellness check. 00:24:14.210 --> 00:24:19.570 I don't know if you know, but there's not a whole lot of options for different churches in towns in our area, right? 00:24:20.550 --> 00:24:25.410 And the ones that we get in this valley, we want to just encourage as a church here. 00:24:25.490 --> 00:24:29.380 Because we're not just about what God wants to do in our church, we're about what God wants to do in churches. 00:24:30.710 --> 00:24:37.710 And this month, half a dozen pastors on a few different times, like you as a church minister to them, provided a lunch 00:24:37.710 --> 00:24:39.270 for them, just checked on how they were doing. 00:24:39.430 --> 00:24:40.150 Encouraged them. 00:24:41.550 --> 00:24:48.550 One of the things my wife shared with me last night was 00:24:49.050 --> 00:24:54.260 a story about a young boy named Roy Jeffs, he's not a young boy anymore. 00:24:54.510 --> 00:24:59.330 When we met him he was a young man, but he's a little older now, 27 years old. 00:24:59.470 --> 00:25:07.950 His sister made a post last night, said, "Roy 00:25:07.950 --> 00:25:14.630 was 27 years old, died Wednesday night, May 29, 2019. 00:25:16.270 --> 00:25:21.560 His father, Warren Jeffs, treated him worse than all of my brothers. 00:25:22.930 --> 00:25:29.590 He did not allow Roy to grow up with his siblings, kept him hidden from most of us in his growing up life. 00:25:31.010 --> 00:25:38.070 Warren would tell the family that Roy was a bad boy and tried to turn us against him." But his sister said, "I'm proud of 00:25:38.070 --> 00:25:46.270 Roy for the courage he has shown in being the first of my siblings to leave the Jeffs' community." 00:25:46.490 --> 00:25:53.670 She posted a picture and my wife looked at that and she said, "You know, that's the kid that when 00:25:53.670 --> 00:26:01.090 we as a church started taking trips down to Colorado City, I sat with him for a couple of hours and just talked 00:26:01.090 --> 00:26:08.270 to him." I think about what God calls our church 00:26:08.270 --> 00:26:09.070 to in this valley. 00:26:12.390 --> 00:26:13.430 Some of the stories are painful. 00:26:15.610 --> 00:26:18.970 Some of the stories I wish were written differently, right? 00:26:19.010 --> 00:26:20.990 I wish his story was different. 00:26:23.150 --> 00:26:29.590 But I'm thankful for a church that cares enough to be there in the pain. 00:26:31.830 --> 00:26:32.860 A church that gives. 00:26:34.150 --> 00:26:35.270 A church that loves. 00:26:36.970 --> 00:26:44.050 Not knowing how the story would end, ABC can say every year since ministry started 00:26:44.050 --> 00:26:49.320 in that community, we've gone down and we loved on the people. 00:26:51.330 --> 00:26:55.750 The brokenness of souls, God wants you to love. 00:26:57.710 --> 00:26:58.710 And God wants you to be there. 00:27:00.690 --> 00:27:01.810 You can't be there for everybody. 00:27:03.710 --> 00:27:07.350 But look, God has you in a neighborhood. 00:27:09.930 --> 00:27:11.890 There are people around you that God cares about. 00:27:13.610 --> 00:27:16.190 And you do spiritual battle for those lives. 00:27:18.450 --> 00:27:21.850 God works in hospitality. 00:27:21.890 --> 00:27:29.130 In fact, 1 Timothy 5:10, when you talk about the widow, they're talking about how to care for the widow in 1 Timothy 00:27:29.130 --> 00:27:29.950 5. 00:27:29.990 --> 00:27:32.670 And one of the things they say is, was she hospitable? 00:27:34.110 --> 00:27:38.580 How did she demonstrate godliness and is hospitality one of those things? 00:27:39.330 --> 00:27:42.720 How well did she care for the souls of people around her? 00:27:43.270 --> 00:27:50.830 When the Bible talks about godliness in leadership, one of the marks in leadership in both 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 is hospitality. 00:27:51.970 --> 00:27:57.850 Meaning, if you call yourself a follower of Jesus and you're not intentionally being hospitable, is it really following Jesus? 00:27:58.270 --> 00:28:04.670 If you think you're a leader for Jesus, but you haven't been hospitable for Jesus, look, you can call it leadership, but that's not leadership for Jesus. 00:28:06.190 --> 00:28:09.050 When you read the Gospels, Jesus got out with people. 00:28:09.990 --> 00:28:12.210 He met them where they were and he loved them where they were. 00:28:14.910 --> 00:28:17.370 Jesus shared the truth with them, but he did it in love. 00:28:19.550 --> 00:28:23.690 When churches make a difference, the idea of hospitality leads the way. 00:28:23.870 --> 00:28:29.810 That's why we as a church, we continue to say when we meet together, we train people for ministry, every soul that comes through our door matters. 00:28:30.890 --> 00:28:31.980 I've got to move faster than this. 00:28:33.030 --> 00:28:35.810 Third is this, I would Priscilla and Aquila took ownership in ministry. 00:28:36.030 --> 00:28:40.410 Oh, by the way, Bertie and Liz Olsen, if you want to pray for them, they're doing ministry in Colorado City. 00:28:40.470 --> 00:28:42.210 That's the family we often go down and work with. 00:28:44.530 --> 00:28:47.470 But in ministry, third is this, take ownership of ministry. 00:28:47.530 --> 00:28:49.410 Look what Priscilla and Aquila do here. 00:28:49.410 --> 00:28:54.930 "Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Assyria. 00:28:55.630 --> 00:29:05.290 And he went with Priscilla and Aquila," oh, I'm going to get this wrong, it's Cenchreae. 00:29:05.450 --> 00:29:05.650 That's it. 00:29:06.070 --> 00:29:13.290 "He had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow." So Paul took Priscilla and Aquila on this journey and they came to Ephesus and he left them there. 00:29:13.390 --> 00:29:20.510 So, "Paul then himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews when they had him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, but took 00:29:20.530 --> 00:29:25.060 leave of them and saying, 'I will return to you again if God wills.'" He set sail for Ephesus. 00:29:25.210 --> 00:29:32.310 So, Paul takes Priscilla and Aquila, who are now nomads, they've gone on to Corinth and now Paul comes in and he shares with them 00:29:32.310 --> 00:29:33.460 this mission for Ephesus. 00:29:33.950 --> 00:29:37.800 Priscilla and Aquila take ownership of ministry, they go with Paul to Ephesus. 00:29:38.050 --> 00:29:42.130 Paul leave them in Ephesus and they continue on doing the ministry in Ephesus. 00:29:42.150 --> 00:29:44.490 Ephesus is actually a cool city, if you ever study it historically. 00:29:45.110 --> 00:29:46.680 It's one of the seven churches in Revelation. 00:29:47.330 --> 00:29:50.390 It's actually where history records Jesus' mother went on to live. 00:29:50.690 --> 00:29:52.470 It's where John the Apostle went on to live. 00:29:52.770 --> 00:29:57.560 And as you go into the first century, the next generation after the first apostles, Polycarp was there. 00:29:57.970 --> 00:29:59.990 Polycarp was martyred for his faith. 00:30:00.030 --> 00:30:02.770 Ignatius, Ignatius was also martyred for his faith. 00:30:02.850 --> 00:30:07.340 Ignatius actually traveled to Ephesus on his way to Rome, that would lead to his martyrdom. 00:30:07.630 --> 00:30:10.710 And while in Ephesus, he wrote some letters to churches. 00:30:10.730 --> 00:30:12.190 He wrote four of his seven letters there. 00:30:12.210 --> 00:30:14.370 So if you like church history, I geek out on that stuff. 00:30:14.850 --> 00:30:21.470 You can go to church history and see the disciples making disciples and that second generation of disciples continuing to lead the church. 00:30:21.470 --> 00:30:23.950 I mean, the church history is written, recorded that way. 00:30:23.950 --> 00:30:25.880 And Ignatius is one of those people that was at Ephesus. 00:30:26.090 --> 00:30:29.270 So Ephesus became a powerful church. 00:30:29.290 --> 00:30:36.910 And so you see them taking ownership of ministry, and not only that, when you go a little further, it says, "Now a Jew named Apollos an 00:30:36.910 --> 00:30:41.850 Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus and he was mighty in the scriptures. 00:30:42.030 --> 00:30:49.210 And this man had been instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in Spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only 00:30:49.210 --> 00:30:50.410 with baptism of John. 00:30:50.630 --> 00:30:52.850 And he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. 00:30:52.890 --> 00:30:59.950 But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately." So, Apollos 00:30:59.950 --> 00:31:03.770 was aware of Jesus and the mission that was going to carry in this world. 00:31:04.050 --> 00:31:06.130 But he was only familiar with the message of John the Baptist. 00:31:06.470 --> 00:31:07.650 He hadn't caught the whole message yet. 00:31:07.650 --> 00:31:09.650 "Oh, Jesus has actually come and he's died, man. 00:31:09.790 --> 00:31:11.250 You need to know the rest of the story." Right? 00:31:11.670 --> 00:31:18.750 But rather than just say nothing to Apollos, who was a very charismatic leader, Priscilla and Aquila bring him in and are like, "I'm glad you learned under John the Baptist, 00:31:18.870 --> 00:31:23.690 but there's more to the story now and here's what happened with Jesus." And they discipled Apollos. 00:31:24.790 --> 00:31:29.940 And Apollos became a leader, or continued to be a leader for the cause of Christ. 00:31:30.110 --> 00:31:33.590 But the reason this happened is because they took ownership for ministry. 00:31:33.630 --> 00:31:40.580 Ministry is not done by professionals, God wants us all to be a part of his plan. 00:31:41.810 --> 00:31:48.750 One of the things I love about Utah, it's this love struggle with it, is that Utah, the state of the church in Utah, it's a new thing. 00:31:49.190 --> 00:31:53.010 And when you have something new, it's also not the wealthiest thing, right? 00:31:53.130 --> 00:32:00.290 Anywhere else you go in America, you can afford to pay ministers more and it sort of becomes this professional thing where you've got more paid staff and people 00:32:00.290 --> 00:32:02.030 to carry the work in the church. 00:32:02.390 --> 00:32:09.390 But the thing I love about Utah is, there is stress that comes with that, a little bit as a pastor, but the thing I love about it 00:32:09.390 --> 00:32:11.930 is it forces us to think about how to care for each other. 00:32:12.910 --> 00:32:14.530 And I think that's by far a more God honoring thing. 00:32:16.510 --> 00:32:17.890 Taking ownership of ministry. 00:32:19.450 --> 00:32:23.190 Thinking about where God has placed you in the neighborhoods, the people around you. 00:32:24.050 --> 00:32:25.430 Ministry doesn't have to be a formal thing. 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:32.410 Informally just thinking about how you can be effective for Jesus, having that genuine walk with Jesus. 00:32:32.430 --> 00:32:36.070 And the last is this, faithfully follow God's leading. 00:32:36.730 --> 00:32:43.770 When you look at Priscilla and Aquila's life, if you can even read that small of a font, you pass your eye test, but when you think about Priscilla 00:32:43.770 --> 00:32:49.990 and Aquila's life, when they were faithful to follow God's leading, it started off in Rome. 00:32:51.030 --> 00:32:53.330 And they sacrificed to follow Jesus, and they have to go to Corinth. 00:32:54.710 --> 00:32:56.720 And from Corinth, they go to Ephesus. 00:32:57.870 --> 00:33:00.370 And in Ephesus, they take ownership and they minister. 00:33:00.410 --> 00:33:07.650 In fact, when they're in Ephesus, Paul writes a letter on his third missionary journey, he's writing to Corinth and he's telling them about 00:33:07.650 --> 00:33:08.870 Priscilla and Aquila. 00:33:09.450 --> 00:33:15.590 And then it tells us while Paul is in Ephesus, he's there for a number of years, and he actually ends up writing a letter to Rome. 00:33:15.630 --> 00:33:22.830 And when he writes that letter to Rome, he tells them to greet Priscilla and Aquila because Priscilla and Aquila, apparently Claudius has died and Priscilla and Aquila went back to Rome. 00:33:23.730 --> 00:33:30.870 And then when you get to the end of Paul's life, the very end of Paul's life, Paul writes his last letter in 2 Timothy and he's writing as 00:33:30.870 --> 00:33:31.690 a prisoner in Rome. 00:33:31.690 --> 00:33:34.410 And he's writing back to Ephesus, talking about Priscilla and Aquila again. 00:33:35.930 --> 00:33:39.280 I mean, they are faithfully following God's leading in their lives. 00:33:41.590 --> 00:33:48.830 When you read, though, at the end of 2 Timothy, Paul's last words he ever wrote, interesting contrast here, these last 00:33:48.830 --> 00:33:49.370 few verses. 00:33:51.010 --> 00:33:58.230 Paul's saying, "In prison at my first offense, no one supported me, but all deserted me." He doesn't hold it against them though, he says, "May it not be counted 00:33:58.230 --> 00:34:05.410 against them." But then he contrasts the idea of people that aren't faithful in following Jesus to the idea of Priscilla, 00:34:05.550 --> 00:34:07.620 which the shortened version of her name is Prisca. 00:34:08.690 --> 00:34:16.449 "Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus." Paul 00:34:16.449 --> 00:34:20.090 is showing the way this couple made such an impact. 00:34:22.310 --> 00:34:25.570 Their faithful pursuit of God. 00:34:25.710 --> 00:34:28.530 Making a decision to move as God moved in a godly way. 00:34:30.270 --> 00:34:32.030 And it wasn't always easy for them. 00:34:33.170 --> 00:34:37.110 You know, I think in pursuing God in our lives, God can lead us in different ways. 00:34:37.130 --> 00:34:42.300 And when you look at the story of Priscilla and Aquila, I think this is sort of unique in that God calls them to move. 00:34:42.810 --> 00:34:48.070 But that's not the norm, I think when you read scripture, you see some people moving for the sake of the Gospel. 00:34:48.170 --> 00:34:51.050 But most people are called where they are to just be the Gospel in the lives of individuals. 00:34:51.929 --> 00:34:55.830 Like even the Apostle Paul, before he went on his first missionary journey, spent over a decade in Antioch. 00:34:57.950 --> 00:35:00.210 But they moved when God led them to move. 00:35:01.430 --> 00:35:04.700 And they were faithful where God called them to be. 00:35:05.830 --> 00:35:11.820 When you think about the way God leads our lives, I think God rewards longevity toward the mission that he calls us in community. 00:35:12.950 --> 00:35:16.430 In fact, Galatians 6:9 says this, "Let us not become weary in doing good. 00:35:16.490 --> 00:35:24.550 For at the proper time, we will reap harvest if we do not give up." When Paul and Priscilla and 00:35:24.550 --> 00:35:32.810 Aquila moved, their moving was based on this, they moved to further God's mission, of 00:35:32.830 --> 00:35:34.610 which they had already been living for. 00:35:35.890 --> 00:35:37.870 It wasn't a move to run away from something. 00:35:37.910 --> 00:35:41.610 Rather, it was a move to move toward something in which God had called them to. 00:35:42.370 --> 00:35:46.330 And when they made these moves, they did under the hand and blessing of the church. 00:35:46.410 --> 00:35:51.550 Meaning, God's people affirmed this in them. 00:35:52.110 --> 00:35:52.210 Right? 00:35:52.250 --> 00:35:58.850 Priscilla and Aquila weren't just like, "Let's just go wherever we feel like going." They worked with Paul on what would be beneficial for the kingdom. 00:35:59.430 --> 00:36:03.110 When Paul went on his missionary journeys, he didn't just leave Antioch. 00:36:03.450 --> 00:36:08.770 The church together collectively got behind them and affirmed a gift to send them out as missionaries. 00:36:10.690 --> 00:36:12.380 We follow God's leading in our lives. 00:36:12.930 --> 00:36:14.650 God doesn't call us to abandon. 00:36:14.650 --> 00:36:20.670 Look, if we leave when things are hard, I think sometimes as Christians we stunt our growth. 00:36:20.930 --> 00:36:25.650 Now, there are reasons to move on, like when things get to a degree of unhealth. 00:36:27.820 --> 00:36:32.950 But God is looking for the longevity of his people to be faithful to where he calls them. 00:36:34.850 --> 00:36:36.410 As I say all of this to say make your moment matter. 00:36:38.790 --> 00:36:42.230 You live in a place to make a tremendous difference for the Gospel. 00:36:43.790 --> 00:36:44.890 A place to stand out. 00:36:45.910 --> 00:36:51.630 A place where a church community even has a loving in Utah class to learn how to better do that. 00:36:53.170 --> 00:36:54.140 Be willing to sacrifice. 00:36:56.010 --> 00:36:57.410 Practice intentional hospitality. 00:36:58.590 --> 00:37:00.030 Take ownership of ministry. 00:37:01.490 --> 00:37:03.650 Faithfully follow God's leading in your life. 00:37:04.790 --> 00:37:07.310 And when a church does that, it can't be stopped.