Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Portraits of the Church (3) - Pillar and Buttress of Truth

Transcript

Portraits of the Church (3) - Pillar and Buttress of Truth · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
Well, a very warm welcome to you all to our service this morning.
0:03
We're particularly glad to see visitors with us as well, and we want to give thanks to
0:09
you for joining us for this time of worship.
0:12
We trust that together we will know God's blessing as we come to worship Him here together.
0:17
I want to mention a few things from the bulletin sheet today, and the bulletin sheet is available
0:21
for visitors as well.
0:22
Please take a copy with you.
0:24
Everyone is welcome to the hall for tea and fellowship after the service just now.
0:28
That includes, of course, visitors as well.
0:31
You'll see the details for the meetings and services throughout the week on the first
0:36
page of the bulletin there.
0:38
The meeting with prayer link with Muriel in Cambodia on Tuesday, prayer meeting on Wednesday,
0:43
and Thursday the Gaelic prayer meeting, Saturday the English prayer meeting in the seminary.
0:48
Lots of prayer meetings, and prayer is essential to the well-being of any congregation, and
0:54
all of these prayer meetings themselves are an indication, I trust, of our concern to pray
1:01
for the Lord's blessing week by week.
1:05
There's also an indication of the services next Lord's Day.
1:09
The Holiday Club meets this week from Monday to Friday.
1:13
We're seeking God's blessing on the Holiday Club as the children will learn about the Lord
1:20
Jesus Christ.
1:22
And next Sunday, 7th of August, everyone is welcome to the morning service.
1:27
As a family service, it will be taken by Reverend Calumurro Smith, and then enjoy some fellowship
1:34
in the hall afterwards as well, God willing.
1:38
There's a change to the ladies' walking group.
1:40
You can just read the change for yourselves.
1:41
They're a slight change from the usual.
1:44
There's a thanks from the Elan Shear Food Bank.
1:46
And they're asking also for donations of these items, pasta, curry sauces, etc.
1:52
You can just read these items through for yourselves.
1:56
We all understand how the cost of living has increased so much in the last wee while.
2:02
And the food banks themselves are providing a very valuable service to our community and
2:06
many other communities as well.
2:08
And we're thankful for the provision that they make, and we're happy to support them that
2:13
way and also as we can financially.
2:16
You'll see the thanks there for the free breakfast that took place last week.
2:21
And there are a number of very encouraging responses and reports from those who attended
2:28
the prayer breakfast and have indicated, God willing, they'd be very happy to come back
2:34
next time.
2:35
And we had some who came to the service as well following the breakfast, and all of that
2:39
was most encouraging.
2:40
We thank God for the opportunity to reach out with the gospel to visitors like that to the
2:46
island.
2:48
You notice a congratulations there to Cara Hanlon.
2:50
It's very appropriate.
2:51
She is a young person brought up in the congregation here and still very much part of the congregation
2:57
through her family particularly.
2:58
And her achieving, getting to the swimming final of the 50 metre breaststroke at the Commonwealth
3:06
Games was really an amazing achievement in itself.
3:10
And it's worthy of note.
3:11
And we give Cara and her family her best wishes, but also seek God's blessing for them.
3:17
Now please also read the details there about the use of the car park, just to maximise the
3:24
use of the car park.
3:25
If you can please just read these three points that are set out there for you, it's so that
3:30
we can actually, as I say, maximise the availability of space in the car park.
3:36
A few things also not mentioned on the information sheet.
3:40
Firstly, we regret to hear about the passing of Margaret Rose MacLeod.
3:49
Margaret was a valued member of the congregation, lived in a trust housing on Madison Road, and
3:54
she passed away.
3:55
But her funeral is not going to be here.
3:58
It will be in Tain.
3:59
She lived in Tain for some time.
4:01
Her late husband is buried in Tain.
4:03
But there is a memorial service, and that will be tomorrow at 2pm.
4:07
And that will be in the seminary at 2pm.
4:11
And all friends and others are warmly invited to that memorial service tomorrow.
4:17
I'm also informed that little Jessica, Torkel and Jessie's granddaughter, for whom you've
4:23
been praying and we've been praying since she was born, she's actually here today.
4:28
She'll be outside with Torkel and Jessie.
4:30
So I'm sure anyone who wishes to see her and to see Torkel and Jessie with her as well would
4:37
be welcome to go outside.
4:39
It's such a nice day, but I'm told that she'll be outside, round in the hall area after the
4:44
service today.
4:45
And we're really thankful to God for Jessica's continued upholding by God and improvement in
4:52
her health as well.
4:55
Now there's a slight change in the order of service today, just at the beginning of the
4:58
service.
4:59
We're going to have the main prayer later on in the service, just so the tweenies can
5:05
actually not be in too long in the service, and they'll go through after the preliminaries.
5:12
There'll be the singing, a short prayer for the tweenies and Sunday school, then the address
5:17
and the Lord's Prayer, then a psalm and then the prayer after that.
5:20
So it's just a slight change.
5:23
We're singing then to God's praise.
5:25
We begin our worship singing to God's praise in Psalm 57.
5:29
This is in the Scottish Psalter on page 288.
5:33
And we're singing from verse 5 through to the end of the psalm.
5:40
Be thou exalted very high above the heavens, O God.
5:45
Let thou thy glory be advanced over all the earth abroad.
5:49
My souls bowed down, for they and yet have laid my steps to snare into the pit which they
5:55
have digged for me.
5:56
They fallen are.
5:57
This psalm is crying out to God for help, but also with thankfulness for his upholding
6:04
of him.
6:05
Let's sing these verses 5 to 11 to God's praise.
6:08
Amen.
6:12
Be thou exalted very high above the heavens, O God.
6:27
Let thou thy glory be advanced over all the earth abroad.
6:46
My souls bowed down, for they and yet have laid my steps to snare into the pit which they have
7:14
for me.
7:16
For me they fall in awe.
7:21
My heart is raised, my heart is raised, O God, thou sing the praise.
7:41
My glory with my soundry heart, my self by every way.
7:46
My glory with my soundry heart, my self by every way.
8:00
I'll praise thee, my heart, my heart.
8:02
My heart is raised, my heart.
8:03
I'll praise thee, my heart.
8:05
The people, Lord, what nations she will lie.
8:18
For me, my heart is raised, my heart.
8:20
For me to heaven, thy mercy is.
8:25
Thy truth into the sky.
8:27
O Lord, exalted be thy name.
8:34
O Lord, exalted be thy name.
8:35
O Lord, exalted be thy name.
8:41
O Lord, exalted be thy name.
8:48
Above the heavens to stand.
8:55
To the glory of God
9:05
Let's now pray for the Twinnies and for the Sunday School
9:20
and for the children of the congregation.
9:22
Almighty God, we give thanks that we are gathered here today in Your presence
9:30
and that all ages are welcome in Your presence as we come together to worship You.
9:37
We thank You for these words that You have given us to sing,
9:41
words that express our praise to God.
9:44
We thank You today, Lord, for our children, for our young people,
9:48
for those who belong to the congregation even at this early age,
9:53
we pray today for Your blessing for them.
9:55
And we pray that as they receive the teaching of Your Word,
9:59
we ask, Lord, that You would enable them, even at their youngest age,
10:02
to receive these things into their heart,
10:05
to plant them, Lord, in their minds,
10:07
and so to develop under the instruction of Your own truth
10:11
in a way that will be to their own life's fulfillment
10:14
and to the glory of Your great name.
10:18
Receive us now, we pray, and pardon our sin in Jesus' name.
10:22
Amen.
10:22
Amen.
10:25
Okay, children, you'll know that this week the Commonwealth Games are being held in Birmingham.
10:32
Commonwealth Games have all kinds of sports, competitions,
10:37
and medals given out at the end of each of those to those who have won gold, silver, and bronze.
10:46
And really taking part, especially the Commonwealth Games,
10:49
we're told that taking part is just as important in many ways as receiving medals.
10:54
But, you know, that reminds us of two things about being Christians or the Christian life.
11:00
Because all of those people competing in the Commonwealth Games
11:03
have really trained hard for this event.
11:08
They've spent years training for this event
11:11
and dedicating themselves to preparing for the Commonwealth Games.
11:15
And the Bible tells us that that's also important for us as human beings, as Christians.
11:22
Because dedication is one of the things that Jesus emphasizes and stresses for His people.
11:30
To be dedicated to Jesus.
11:33
To be dedicated to following Him.
11:36
That's important for adults as well as children.
11:39
But many times you'll read in the Gospels
11:41
that Jesus spoke about how important it was
11:44
to put Him first.
11:46
To be dedicated to following Him.
11:48
To be His disciples.
11:51
So today I want you to think about
11:52
being dedicated to Jesus.
11:56
Not dedicated to the church as such,
11:58
though it's important you're here in church,
12:00
you belong to the church.
12:02
But most important to be dedicated to Jesus.
12:04
To be committed to Jesus.
12:06
To love Jesus more than anyone else.
12:09
And the second thing,
12:11
along with being dedicated or committed to Jesus,
12:15
or loving Jesus,
12:16
is that all of these people in the Commonwealth Games
12:20
are always saying to us how important it is
12:25
to listen to what their trainer,
12:28
what their coach has said to them.
12:30
They follow the instructions of their coach.
12:33
Now their coach is somebody who trains them.
12:36
Somebody who actually tells them
12:38
how to go about doing what they're doing.
12:40
Whether it's in swimming,
12:41
or in running on the track,
12:43
whatever activity it is,
12:45
they have a coach that tells them
12:47
this is how you do it
12:48
so that you can do the best
12:49
and be the best you can be.
12:51
And hopefully get a medal.
12:54
And very often,
12:56
the trainer that gives his time
12:57
or her time to training the athletes
13:00
have themselves been athletes before.
13:03
Somebody was asked the other day,
13:04
one of the commentators was asked,
13:07
what does it take to be a good coach?
13:11
And the answer was,
13:12
well, one thing,
13:13
most of these coaches
13:14
have already been through the experiences
13:17
that these athletes are now experiencing.
13:20
So they can take from their experience
13:22
and pass that on to those
13:24
who are now competing
13:25
in the likes of the Commonwealth Games.
13:28
And you know,
13:29
the Bible tells us
13:30
that's one very important thing about Jesus.
13:33
He is the coach of our lives.
13:37
And he has been through
13:39
the life that you and I are living
13:41
as human beings.
13:42
He came into this world.
13:44
He lived in this world.
13:46
He died.
13:47
He rose from the dead.
13:48
He's gone back to heaven.
13:49
And that tells us
13:50
that every single thing
13:52
we will experience,
13:54
Jesus has already experienced.
13:56
And he is able to help us
13:58
as nobody else can
14:00
in our experiences as well.
14:02
Even for you children today,
14:04
Jesus was a little boy.
14:07
Jesus came into the world as a baby.
14:09
He was nursed by his mom.
14:12
He was looked after in a family.
14:14
He grew up as a boy,
14:16
just as you little boys and girls
14:17
are growing up today.
14:20
And so he knows what it's like
14:21
to be brought up
14:23
as a youngster, as a child,
14:25
and then growing up
14:26
to be an adult.
14:27
And he's able to give
14:28
from the experience he's had,
14:31
as well as being the son of God,
14:33
everything that we need
14:34
to help us in our life as well.
14:38
So remember these two things.
14:41
Remember, first of all,
14:42
to be dedicated to Jesus.
14:46
And remember, secondly,
14:47
to listen to Jesus' instructions.
14:50
And he has given us
14:52
these instructions.
14:53
He is the spiritual coach
14:55
of our lives.
14:56
And the instructions
14:56
are set out in the Bible.
14:59
One of the things
15:00
we're doing here today,
15:01
as we do every Sunday,
15:02
is to listen to Jesus' voice
15:04
speaking to us from the Bible
15:07
and saying,
15:08
this is how your life
15:10
is to be lived.
15:11
This is what I've done for you.
15:13
And this is what I now need from you
15:15
in order to follow me
15:17
as my disciples.
15:18
Dedication and listening
15:23
to his instructions.
15:25
Now let's say the Lord's Prayer together.
15:29
Our Father, which art in heaven,
15:32
hallowed be thy name.
15:34
Thy kingdom come.
15:35
Thy will be done on earth
15:37
as it is in heaven.
15:39
Give us this day our daily bread
15:40
and forgive us our debts
15:42
as we forgive our debtors.
15:45
And lead us not into temptation,
15:47
but deliver us from evil.
15:49
For thine is the kingdom
15:51
and the power
15:52
and the glory
15:53
forever.
15:54
Amen.
15:57
We're going to sing
15:58
to God's praise again.
15:59
And while we're singing,
15:59
the Twinnies will go through
16:01
to the hall.
16:02
We're singing from Psalm 25.
16:05
Psalm 25
16:06
in the Sing Psalms version.
16:07
That's from page 29.
16:09
verses 4 to 9.
16:15
And this is just really
16:16
as we've been saying to the children,
16:18
a prayer for God to lead us
16:20
and for us to listen
16:22
to the way that he leads us
16:24
in his ways.
16:25
O Lord, reveal to me your ways
16:27
and all your paths.
16:28
Help me to know.
16:30
Direct and guide me in your truth.
16:32
Instruct me in the way to go.
16:35
These verses 4 to 9.
16:37
And we stand to sing.
16:38
O Lord, reveal to me your ways
16:52
and all your paths.
16:57
Help me to know.
17:01
Direct and guide me in your truth.
17:10
Enstruct me in the way to go.
17:20
You are my Savior and my God.
17:31
I'll give my hope in you alone.
17:41
Remember, Lord, your love and grace,
17:51
which of my sins you have shown.
18:00
Do not recall my sins of you,
18:10
for my sins you have found.
18:12
For my sins you have found.
18:16
For my sins you have found.
18:17
For my sins you have found.
18:18
For my sins you have found.
18:19
Take and guard me in your ways.
18:20
Remember me in your grace,
18:23
Fender me in your great love, for you, O Lord, are good always.
18:41
Because the Lord is just and good, He shows His path to all who stay.
19:00
He guides the people in what is right, and teaches them His holy way.
19:20
Amen.
19:23
So let's turn to read God's Word.
19:29
Our reading today is from 2 Timothy, chapter 2, verses 1 to 26.
19:40
That's the second letter of Paul to Timothy, and chapter 2 from the beginning.
19:45
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard
19:54
from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others
19:59
also.
20:01
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
20:04
No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted
20:09
him.
20:11
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
20:14
It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
20:19
Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
20:24
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
20:31
for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal.
20:35
But the Word of God is not bound.
20:38
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation
20:43
that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
20:47
The saying is trustworthy, for if we have died with him, we will also live with him.
20:52
If we endure, we will also reign with him.
20:55
If we deny him, he will also deny us.
20:58
If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
21:03
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words which
21:10
does no good but only ruins the hearers.
21:13
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be
21:19
ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
21:23
But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.
21:27
And their talk will spread like gangrene.
21:31
Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who having sweared from the truth, saying that the
21:37
resurrection has happened already, they are upsetting the faith of some.
21:41
But God's firm foundation stands bearing the seal.
21:45
The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart
21:51
from iniquity.
21:52
Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay,
22:00
some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.
22:03
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable
22:08
use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22:15
So flee youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who are
22:22
who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
22:25
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies.
22:30
You know that they breed quarrels.
22:32
And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently
22:38
enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.
22:42
God may perhaps grant them repentance, leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape
22:49
from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will.
22:56
Amen.
22:57
May the Lord bless to us reading that portion of his precious word.
23:01
Let's now call upon him once more in prayer.
23:03
Lord our God, we come before you to bow our minds to your truth.
23:12
We thank you that you have given us your truth in the record of your word.
23:17
We pray today, Lord, for receptive hearts, for hearts that will be freed from our own prejudices,
23:23
from our own inclination to understand things in the light of our own wisdom.
23:28
We pray, O Lord, that your word today will truly deliver us into the freedom with which Christ makes us free.
23:37
We thank you today, Lord, for the reliability of your word, the way that we can depend upon it,
23:44
for it has remained unchanged in itself down through the years.
23:49
We pray that we may look after it as you have given us charge, O Lord, to be custodians of your truth.
23:57
And we pray that as we seek to have our lives influenced day by day by your truth,
24:04
that we may be increasingly dependent upon it.
24:07
Lord, we ask that your Holy Spirit will today open our eyes further,
24:12
increase our understanding, we pray,
24:15
and enable us to delve into the deep parts of your word
24:18
so that we may find our lives develop in a way that will be holy and acceptable to you.
24:24
We thank you today, Lord, for this occasion.
24:29
We thank you for this day which you have set apart
24:31
and which was set apart even from the creation of the world
24:35
as a day to be different to the other six,
24:39
a day on which your people are able to gather as we do here in public worship,
24:44
a day that we can use to set aside,
24:47
in the most part, the ordinary things of life,
24:49
the ordinary course of our employment in the world,
24:53
and to give ourselves more fully to the study of your truth
24:57
and the worship of your name and the fellowship of your people.
25:01
We ask today your blessing, Lord, for our gatherings
25:04
and for the gatherings of your own church throughout the world
25:07
in very different circumstances at times to ours here.
25:11
And yet we are bound by that common tie
25:14
of grace and of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
25:18
And Lord, we pray today for our fellow believers throughout the world
25:21
that your cause will advance, that your word will be blessed,
25:26
and that you will, Lord, grant to all who serve you
25:28
in these various countries of the world
25:31
and in the varied circumstances of their lives
25:34
and of your providence for them.
25:37
Lord, we pray today that your blessing will truly reach them.
25:40
Bless all today who preach your word.
25:44
O Lord, we recognize the place you have given
25:46
to the preaching of your word
25:48
and the history and experience of your church
25:50
down to the present day.
25:52
For truly, faith comes by hearing
25:54
and hearing the word of Christ.
25:57
You have given us that truth
25:59
in the context of the preaching of your word
26:02
by those whom you have called to preach it.
26:04
Help us to be faithful to your calling.
26:08
Help us, Lord, to be faithful in speaking
26:09
as well as in hearing.
26:12
We ask your blessing for us,
26:14
for this congregation we belong to
26:16
in these days ahead, O Lord.
26:18
We pray that you'll bless all that we seek to do in your name,
26:22
following on from the services of worship today
26:24
and during the midweek.
26:27
We pray for the other activities, O Lord,
26:29
that have been set up without concern
26:31
to glorify your name,
26:33
to extend the teaching of your word by other means,
26:36
and to also specially instruct our young people.
26:40
Remember, we pray the holiday club.
26:41
We give thanks for those who have set it up
26:44
and for those who have contributed so much, O Lord,
26:47
to preparing for their children throughout this week.
26:50
We ask your blessing, Lord, to be upon it.
26:53
We pray that those who will act as leaders in it
26:56
will indeed find satisfaction in seeing your blessing
27:00
reaching these young lives.
27:03
We pray for our tweenies,
27:04
for our children in Sunday school,
27:06
in Bible class,
27:07
and in youth fellowship.
27:09
We ask that you'd bless them.
27:11
We pray that your blessing will be with all
27:12
who have dedicated themselves
27:14
and intend to do so in this year ahead
27:18
to the teaching of our young people.
27:21
O Lord, remember all our Sunday school teachers.
27:23
We thank you for their commitment,
27:25
for their way in which they have given of themselves
27:29
so readily to prepare week by week
27:31
lessons for the children.
27:33
We pray that they may be blessed,
27:35
that their prayers may be heard by you
27:37
in the blessing of their young children
27:40
under their care.
27:41
We ask too, Lord,
27:43
that you'd bless all who help
27:45
with the older age group in the congregation,
27:47
those who have reached adulthood,
27:49
those who come to Bible class,
27:51
those who are coming to the youth fellowship.
27:54
We ask that, O Lord,
27:56
you would bless all our efforts
27:59
in seeking to bring your truth
28:01
before young minds.
28:03
We pray for Marianne,
28:04
our youth leader,
28:05
and all who help her.
28:07
We ask today that you'd bless her.
28:09
She recovers from her time at camp.
28:10
We pray for your blessing
28:12
to follow the work of camps, O Lord,
28:14
and give thanks for the number of children
28:16
and young people that attended,
28:18
for those who gave up their time,
28:19
not only as leaders,
28:20
but as cooks,
28:21
and in other ways to help
28:23
with the running of the camps.
28:24
Lord, again, we commend this work to you
28:27
and ask that you'd be pleased to bless it.
28:30
And we pray that you would bless those today,
28:32
Lord, who we know are in difficulties
28:35
of various kinds.
28:36
Remember those facing hardship.
28:38
We pray for the state of our nation,
28:41
Lord, in times of financial concern
28:44
and of the increase in the cost of living.
28:48
O Lord, we look to you
28:49
and ask that you would alleviate the stress
28:52
of those who find themselves without work
28:55
and need to provide for their families.
28:58
We pray for relationships affected
29:00
by these times of stress
29:02
and pray, Lord,
29:03
that you would protect marriages
29:05
and families from falling apart.
29:07
We ask, Lord, for those that have struggles
29:11
in different ways in dealing with a situation
29:13
in terms of mental health.
29:15
Lord, we pray for them
29:17
and ask that you'd bless them.
29:18
We pray for those who administer
29:20
the food bank locally
29:21
and other food banks throughout our nation.
29:24
We thank you for your provision in that.
29:26
For those who are in need,
29:28
we pray that they may not be exploited.
29:29
And we ask that you would bless those
29:32
who are in genuine need through them
29:34
and ask that your blessing, Lord,
29:36
will reach the ministry of mercy
29:39
and of help that is extended
29:41
to our communities.
29:43
And we pray for the Salvation Army
29:44
as they especially head up
29:46
the work of the food bank.
29:48
And we ask, O Lord,
29:49
that your blessing will follow
29:51
all their efforts
29:51
in providing for these needs.
29:54
We pray for those who are ill today
29:56
in different ways.
29:57
We pray for those with COVID,
29:58
those recovering from COVID,
30:01
those, Lord,
30:02
who have other illnesses to contend with,
30:04
whether physically or mentally.
30:06
We commend them all to you.
30:08
We pray for any of our young children
30:11
and toddlers who are ill at this time.
30:14
Remember them, we pray.
30:15
And those that we know
30:16
and other families too.
30:18
We give thanks for your continued upholding
30:21
of young Jessica.
30:22
We pray for her as she, Lord,
30:25
as we pray for her and continue
30:26
that her progress indeed
30:28
will be blessed by you.
30:31
Remember her parents,
30:32
grandparents,
30:33
Lord, grant to her
30:34
that she may know
30:35
your own blessing upon her young life
30:37
from day to day.
30:39
And so we pray for all others
30:41
that we know are ill at this time.
30:43
And we do commend them to you
30:45
in our congregational family.
30:48
We pray too for those who mourn
30:49
the passing of loved ones.
30:51
We pray for all of Margaret MacLeod's
30:54
own relatives
30:55
and her friends,
30:57
her many friends.
30:58
We give thanks for the bright witness
31:00
of her life
31:01
and for the way that she
31:02
was so unashamed
31:04
in her proclamation
31:05
of your truth through her life.
31:08
And we pray, O Lord,
31:09
that her witness may continue
31:11
even though she is now
31:12
no longer in this world.
31:14
So remember us, Lord,
31:15
we pray now
31:16
as we turn to your word.
31:18
Hear us in this,
31:19
our prayer
31:19
and cleanse us
31:20
from all our sin.
31:21
For Jesus' sake.
31:22
Amen.
31:25
Always turn with me, please,
31:27
now to 1 Timothy,
31:29
chapter 3 and verse 15.
31:41
1 Timothy and chapter 3
31:43
and verse 15.
31:49
We'll read again from verse 14.
31:53
I hope to see you,
31:54
come to see you soon,
31:56
but I'm writing these things to you
31:57
so that if I delay,
31:59
you may know how one ought to behave
32:01
in the household of God,
32:03
which is the church of the living God,
32:05
a pillar and buttress of truth.
32:10
Now we began a short series
32:12
on scripture portraits of the church
32:15
some weeks ago.
32:15
We're doing it during our morning service
32:17
whenever I'm here in the morning.
32:19
As you know,
32:20
every second week or so
32:22
I'll be in the Gaelic service,
32:23
but every week we're together
32:24
in the English morning service.
32:25
We're following this short study.
32:28
And we looked at this verse twice before,
32:30
looking at the descriptions
32:31
or the portraits you find
32:33
of the church in this verse itself.
32:35
We looked, first of all,
32:37
at the church described
32:38
as the church of the living God.
32:41
And we emphasized especially,
32:43
as the Bible does,
32:44
that the church is the people of God,
32:46
the worshiping, witnessing people of God.
32:49
And that's why they're called here,
32:51
it's the church of the living God.
32:54
Secondly, we looked last time
32:55
at the household of God
32:57
and how that description
32:58
really brings in the whole idea
33:00
of a family and relationships
33:03
in a spiritual family
33:04
as the church is described there
33:06
as the household of God.
33:09
And some of the aspects
33:10
of those relationships
33:11
we covered briefly.
33:13
And you can just remind yourselves
33:14
of them if you have time.
33:16
Just go back to the website
33:17
and you can just listen to that again
33:19
if you wish.
33:21
Now, tonight or today,
33:22
we're looking at the third description here
33:24
in this verse,
33:25
and that's the pillar
33:26
and buttress of truth.
33:30
Now, you all know, I'm sure,
33:31
what a pillar or buttress is.
33:32
You've just got to look around you
33:33
to see pillars.
33:35
And you can see pillars
33:36
in terms of buildings.
33:38
Mostly pillars actually support
33:40
something that's set
33:42
or situated above them,
33:43
just as you find the gallery
33:44
around this church
33:46
that's now supported
33:47
by all of those pillars
33:48
that you find
33:49
the length of the building.
33:51
They are supporting
33:52
of the gallery.
33:54
And that description
33:54
of the church
33:55
as the pillar of the truth
33:57
really shows
33:58
the support of God's truth
34:00
by the church.
34:01
The church is,
34:03
as God sets the church
34:05
in the world,
34:06
the church is
34:07
a pillar of the truth.
34:08
And the word buttress
34:09
is also very closely related
34:11
to that.
34:12
A buttress
34:13
is more particularly
34:14
in older buildings nowadays.
34:17
Newer buildings
34:17
have technology
34:19
that maybe doesn't require
34:21
the same amount
34:21
of support.
34:23
But those of you
34:23
involved in building
34:25
can correct me afterwards
34:26
if I'm wrong.
34:27
But a buttress,
34:28
you'll see in old buildings,
34:29
old church buildings,
34:30
for example.
34:31
And indeed,
34:31
I think there's some
34:32
outside this building itself.
34:34
Usually outside the walls,
34:35
there's a construction
34:36
of cement blocks
34:39
or whatever
34:39
starting down below
34:41
in a wider dimension
34:44
and then just going
34:45
all the way up
34:46
and narrowing
34:46
as they reach the top.
34:47
And that's a buttress
34:48
that's there
34:49
to support that wall.
34:51
You could say
34:52
it's to prevent
34:52
that wall
34:53
just falling out
34:54
or collapsing outward.
34:56
It actually helps
34:57
to keep that wall upright
34:58
and straight
34:59
without falling in
35:02
on itself
35:02
or outward.
35:02
So the buttress
35:04
is a support
35:05
as well as the pillar
35:07
and that's the description
35:08
that Paul is giving here
35:09
of the church.
35:10
That's the portrait
35:11
we have of the church.
35:12
This living body of people,
35:15
this church
35:16
which is the church
35:17
of the living God,
35:19
this household of God,
35:21
it is the pillar
35:22
and buttress
35:23
of the truth.
35:25
Now in our translation,
35:26
we don't have the word the,
35:28
but it should be there.
35:29
A pillar and buttress
35:30
of truth,
35:31
but strictly speaking,
35:33
it should be the truth.
35:35
A pillar and buttress
35:37
of the truth.
35:38
And that's important
35:39
because the truth
35:40
is God's revealed truth,
35:42
not just any kind of thing
35:43
that passes for the truth.
35:45
It is God's revealed truth
35:47
that Paul has in mind,
35:49
the gospel,
35:50
the word of God,
35:51
what God has revealed
35:52
as his truth
35:53
to us human beings.
35:55
That is what the church
35:56
is set by God
35:58
in the world
35:58
to support.
35:59
the church
36:01
as the pillar
36:02
and buttress
36:03
of the truth,
36:04
of God's truth,
36:06
of the gospel.
36:08
The church itself
36:10
came into being
36:11
through the truth.
36:13
Way down through the centuries
36:15
from the very beginning
36:16
of time,
36:17
you will find
36:17
that God's church,
36:19
God's visible church,
36:21
the people of God
36:22
in the world,
36:23
came into being
36:23
through God's blessing
36:25
of his truth,
36:26
of his revealed truth.
36:27
And as God's revealed truth
36:29
was increased
36:30
gradually down
36:31
through the ages
36:32
and now we have
36:32
a complete Bible,
36:34
it's through that truth,
36:36
through that truth
36:37
being communicated
36:38
to people
36:38
like you and I,
36:40
that the church
36:40
comes into being,
36:41
that the church
36:42
is upheld,
36:43
that the church
36:43
is increased.
36:45
So through the truth,
36:47
God's church
36:48
came into being.
36:50
And born from the truth,
36:53
the church is now charged
36:55
by God
36:55
to be the pillar
36:56
and buttress
36:57
of that truth
36:59
of the gospel
36:59
through which we came
37:01
to be born
37:02
as Christians,
37:03
formed as a church,
37:05
as the household
37:06
of God.
37:08
Now there are two things
37:09
that I want to mention
37:10
just following on
37:11
from that
37:12
as to what the church
37:13
and we as the church
37:15
must be,
37:16
or a branch of the church.
37:17
This is through
37:19
of every congregation
37:20
of God's people,
37:22
that they are themselves
37:23
as a section
37:24
of the wider church,
37:26
the pillar
37:27
and buttress
37:28
of the truth
37:28
where they are.
37:31
First thing is
37:31
that the church
37:32
is a custodian
37:34
of the truth.
37:36
The church
37:36
exists
37:37
to guard
37:38
the truth,
37:40
a custodian
37:41
of the truth.
37:42
And secondly,
37:43
the church
37:44
is a conveyor
37:44
or communicator
37:46
of the truth.
37:47
The church exists
37:48
to present
37:49
the truth
37:50
to the world
37:50
as well as
37:51
to itself
37:52
in its own
37:53
internal consumption
37:54
of the truth
37:55
through the gospel.
37:57
So it's a custodian
37:58
of the truth
37:59
and it's a conveyor
38:01
or communicator
38:02
of the truth
38:02
as the pillar
38:04
and buttress
38:05
of truth.
38:06
Now first of all,
38:07
it is a custodian
38:08
of the truth.
38:10
You'll recall
38:11
that the first attack
38:12
on mankind
38:13
in the Garden
38:14
of Eden
38:15
was when the devil
38:17
in the form
38:17
of the serpent
38:18
came to Eve
38:19
and the attack
38:20
was on this
38:21
specific point,
38:23
on the point
38:23
of God's truth
38:25
or God's truthfulness
38:27
because the first words
38:29
of the serpent
38:30
of the devil
38:30
to human beings
38:32
was,
38:33
has God
38:34
indeed
38:35
said?
38:37
Is it really
38:38
the truth?
38:40
Are you sure
38:41
that this
38:41
is the truth?
38:43
Or
38:43
has he given you
38:45
the whole truth?
38:46
Has he kept
38:47
something back
38:48
from you
38:49
that you really
38:49
ought to have had?
38:51
You see,
38:51
all of that
38:52
is part of this
38:53
prong,
38:53
this attack
38:54
on human beings
38:56
and their relationship
38:56
with God
38:57
and it's on the basis
38:58
of God's truth.
39:00
Has God
39:01
really said?
39:03
And all the way
39:04
down through history
39:06
that has taken
39:07
different forms
39:08
but it's essentially
39:09
the same attack
39:11
in essence.
39:12
Has God
39:13
indeed said,
39:14
is this the word
39:16
of God
39:16
really?
39:18
Look at chapter 4.
39:20
No sooner has he said
39:21
this in chapter 3
39:22
than he begins
39:23
to deal with
39:24
what Timothy
39:25
is going to face
39:26
and what the church
39:27
is going to face
39:28
in the time ahead.
39:29
The Spirit expressly
39:30
says that in later times
39:32
some will depart
39:33
from the faith
39:34
by devoting themselves
39:36
to deceitful spirits,
39:38
teachings of demons
39:39
through the insincerity
39:40
of liars
39:41
whose consciences
39:42
are seared,
39:43
who forbid marriage,
39:44
who require abstinence
39:45
from food
39:46
that God created
39:47
to be received
39:48
with thanksgiving
39:49
and so on.
39:50
That is just
39:51
the church's
39:52
custodianship
39:55
of the truth
39:56
being attacked.
39:57
It's going to be
39:58
under assault,
39:59
Timothy is told,
40:00
and that's still
40:01
the case
40:01
very much today.
40:03
You'll find in Jude's
40:07
short epistle
40:09
that he says,
40:11
I intended to write
40:13
to you about
40:14
certain things
40:15
common to the faith,
40:17
but instead
40:18
he was led
40:19
to focus on this,
40:20
what he says,
40:22
that you should
40:23
contend for the truth
40:25
once for all
40:27
delivered to the saints
40:29
by God.
40:30
that's what Jude,
40:32
led by God,
40:34
set out in his
40:34
little epistle
40:35
because he lived
40:36
in days when that
40:38
truth was under
40:39
severe assault
40:40
and he was led
40:41
by God
40:42
to actually set
40:43
out this letter
40:44
to plead
40:47
with those
40:48
that were reading
40:48
it to contend
40:49
for the truth,
40:51
to fight the cause
40:52
of truth,
40:53
never to give up
40:54
standing for the truth.
40:56
A church
40:58
contradicting
41:00
the truth
41:02
is a tragic
41:03
sight.
41:07
Any denomination,
41:08
any congregation,
41:09
the church
41:10
visibly
41:11
actually not
41:12
contending
41:13
for the truth
41:14
or,
41:14
on the other hand,
41:16
compromising
41:17
the truth,
41:17
contradicting
41:18
the truth
41:18
is really a tragic
41:20
sight because
41:21
it's contrary
41:22
to and directly
41:23
against the command,
41:25
the instruction,
41:25
the privilege
41:26
that God
41:27
has given us
41:27
regarding his truth
41:28
to be custodians
41:30
of it.
41:30
And I didn't tell you
41:31
that today
41:32
that is actually
41:33
very commonly found
41:35
that foundational
41:36
doctrines
41:37
are being denied
41:38
or being distorted
41:39
or being contradicted
41:41
or being repackaged,
41:43
if you like.
41:43
You can use lots of words
41:44
but that's what you find
41:46
in the present day
41:48
and I'm not saying this
41:49
in any way
41:50
so as to try
41:50
and elevate ourselves
41:52
as if we were superior
41:53
to other denominations
41:55
or churches
41:56
is not to give ourselves
41:57
a pat on the back,
41:58
it's actually just
41:59
to take stock
42:00
of the situation
42:01
we face in the world
42:02
that we face
42:03
in the ecclesiastical
42:04
world of today
42:05
where people
42:06
who confess themselves
42:08
to be Christians
42:09
and bishops
42:10
and ministers
42:11
and so on
42:12
will actually
42:13
have no hesitation
42:14
in denying
42:15
the nature
42:16
of the Bible itself.
42:18
We'll have no hesitation
42:20
in denying
42:20
what the gospel
42:21
is about,
42:22
denying the trinity
42:23
that God is,
42:25
denying the resurrection
42:26
of Jesus,
42:27
distorting the terms
42:29
of salvation,
42:31
clouding the issues
42:32
of what comes
42:33
after death,
42:35
denying the reality
42:36
of hell
42:36
and a whole lot
42:37
of other things
42:38
I could mention.
42:39
That's what's out there
42:40
in the ecclesiastical world
42:42
and God is saying
42:43
to you and to me,
42:44
you are custodians
42:45
of my truth.
42:46
I have given you
42:47
my truth
42:48
to look after it,
42:49
to guard it,
42:50
to prize it,
42:51
to love it,
42:53
to believe it,
42:53
to embrace it,
42:54
to show it forth
42:56
as my truth.
42:58
Today here
42:59
in this locality,
43:01
we are the custodians
43:02
of the truth.
43:03
We're not the only
43:04
custodians of the truth
43:05
as a congregation.
43:06
Thankfully,
43:07
other congregations
43:08
are also,
43:09
other denominations
43:10
are also.
43:11
But for us ourselves,
43:13
this is what we're
43:14
focusing on,
43:15
how it affects
43:16
ourselves,
43:17
how it has a relationship
43:18
with us.
43:20
God is saying to us,
43:22
you are a pillar
43:24
and buttress
43:25
of my truth.
43:28
Now to do that,
43:29
you and I personally
43:30
must believe this truth,
43:33
must embrace this truth,
43:36
must see this truth
43:37
as so significant
43:38
that we cannot
43:39
alter its terms
43:41
unless we're being
43:43
disobedient to God.
43:45
and we have to love
43:47
this truth
43:48
and we have to show
43:50
this truth to the world
43:52
and not be ashamed
43:54
of the fact
43:55
that God
43:56
has given us
43:57
this word,
43:58
this gospel,
43:59
this truth
43:59
to be shown out
44:02
as His will
44:04
for humanity.
44:06
We are custodians
44:07
of the truth.
44:09
It's a great privilege.
44:11
It's a great responsibility.
44:13
But it's something
44:15
for which God
44:15
Himself
44:16
will furnish us
44:17
by His Holy Spirit
44:18
to be true
44:20
to this calling,
44:21
to be indeed
44:23
custodians
44:24
of His truth.
44:26
Secondly,
44:27
it means
44:27
as the pillar
44:28
and buttress
44:29
of the truth
44:29
that we are
44:30
conveyors
44:31
or communicators
44:32
of the truth.
44:32
Not only
44:33
has God given us
44:34
the privilege
44:34
of guarding
44:35
His truth,
44:37
looking after it,
44:38
but also
44:38
conveying it,
44:40
presenting it,
44:41
communicating it
44:42
to the world
44:43
in which we live.
44:44
And there are
44:45
three elements
44:45
that I want to mention.
44:46
We could mention others,
44:48
but three especially
44:49
I want to mention
44:49
in relation to this
44:51
for the rest of our time.
44:52
First of all,
44:53
the word preached.
44:56
The word preached.
44:58
And the word preached
44:59
is both
45:00
an explanation
45:01
and an application
45:03
of God's truth.
45:05
That's essentially
45:05
what we go to
45:07
college,
45:08
to seminary for,
45:09
to actually
45:10
be trained
45:11
by those
45:12
who are able
45:13
to do this,
45:14
to train us
45:14
in how to explain
45:16
the Bible,
45:17
how to open up
45:18
the Bible,
45:19
how to bring out
45:19
the meaning
45:20
of the Bible,
45:21
how to apply
45:22
the teaching
45:22
of the Bible
45:23
to our everyday lives
45:25
as human beings.
45:26
That's what the preaching
45:27
of the gospel
45:28
is about.
45:29
And preaching
45:30
in the New Testament,
45:31
as you see,
45:32
you know very well
45:33
yourselves
45:33
this is the case.
45:35
In the New Testament,
45:36
preaching has a primary,
45:37
the primary place
45:38
in conveying
45:40
the truth of God.
45:41
It doesn't mean
45:41
we don't communicate
45:42
by other means,
45:43
but this is centrally,
45:45
foundationally,
45:46
how all the way
45:47
through the New Testament,
45:49
the truth of God
45:50
is disseminated
45:51
and broadcast
45:52
and set forth.
45:54
The preaching
45:54
of the gospel.
45:57
And as the preaching
45:58
of the gospel
45:58
has down through the years
46:00
been blessed
46:01
by the Lord,
46:02
so, for example,
46:03
Paul in Acts chapter 20,
46:06
where he said
46:06
a very emotional farewell
46:08
to the elders
46:09
at Ephesus.
46:11
I remember
46:12
they came to him
46:12
and they wept
46:14
that they were not
46:15
going to see his face
46:16
anymore after all the time
46:17
that they had spent
46:18
with him
46:19
and been taught by him.
46:21
But he said,
46:22
I did not shirk
46:23
from preaching
46:26
to you
46:27
the whole counsel
46:28
of God.
46:31
That's what he emphasized.
46:32
The whole counsel
46:34
of God.
46:34
In other words,
46:35
what he was saying
46:36
is whatever God
46:37
has revealed
46:38
in his word,
46:39
whatever he has revealed
46:40
in the gospel,
46:41
it's our business
46:42
to convey
46:43
as a church
46:43
and as a preaching
46:44
of the gospel.
46:46
All the different topics,
46:47
some more emphasized
46:49
than others,
46:50
but all the different topics
46:51
as they relate together,
46:52
that is the business
46:53
of preaching the gospel.
46:55
That is why
46:55
you're here today.
46:57
Yes, I know you're here
46:57
to worship the Lord
46:58
in the whole breadth
47:01
of the service
47:02
of worship,
47:02
worship,
47:03
but central to that
47:05
is the preaching
47:05
of the gospel,
47:07
the feeding of your minds,
47:08
the feeding of your souls,
47:10
the instruction
47:10
of your hearts.
47:13
You know,
47:13
and we're so,
47:14
we are so thankful
47:16
those of us who
47:17
are called
47:18
to preach the gospel.
47:20
One of the things
47:21
we're profoundly thankful for,
47:23
and let it never be
47:24
anything else,
47:26
that you're praying
47:27
for us,
47:28
that you're praying
47:29
that the preaching
47:30
of the gospel
47:30
will be effective,
47:32
that you're praying
47:33
that we will deliver
47:34
the whole counsel
47:35
of God
47:36
without compromise,
47:37
without fear,
47:38
without contradiction,
47:39
because that is what
47:41
God has given you
47:42
as a privilege
47:44
and me as a privilege
47:45
to be conveyors
47:47
of the truth,
47:47
to have the word
47:48
preached to you
47:49
and by us.
47:51
And that means
47:52
the truth of God
47:53
is applicable
47:54
in the preaching
47:54
of the gospel
47:55
to all aspects of life.
47:57
It's not just
47:57
for personal salvation,
47:59
of course it is that,
48:01
for your personal
48:02
relationship with God,
48:04
for your salvation,
48:06
for your justification,
48:07
for your hope
48:08
of eternal life.
48:11
But the preaching
48:12
of the gospel
48:12
must include
48:13
all things such as
48:16
social conditions,
48:19
moral issues,
48:21
political issues.
48:23
That doesn't mean
48:24
that the preacher
48:25
of the gospel
48:25
must become a politician,
48:27
that he must start
48:28
dabbling in politics
48:29
rather than preaching
48:30
the gospel.
48:31
But politics
48:33
has to come into it
48:34
because when the government
48:35
of the day
48:36
introduces law
48:37
that are contradictory
48:38
to the word of God,
48:40
introduces things
48:41
which are hateful
48:43
to God
48:43
in terms of personal morality
48:45
or public morality,
48:46
the church has to,
48:48
as custodians of the truth,
48:49
as communicators
48:50
of the truth,
48:51
raise its voice.
48:52
The preaching
48:53
of the gospel
48:53
has to deal with that.
48:57
And whatever governments
48:58
might say,
48:59
whatever people
49:00
generally might say,
49:01
well, the church
49:01
has no business
49:02
dealing with it,
49:03
that's a political issue.
49:04
If the politics
49:06
of the day
49:07
or the government
49:08
of the day
49:08
introduces legislation
49:10
that is harmful
49:12
to unborn children
49:14
or introduces euthanasia,
49:16
God forbid,
49:17
but it's on the horizon,
49:20
or anything else
49:22
that has to do
49:23
with moral issues
49:25
and ethics
49:26
in public life
49:27
or in private life,
49:28
the preaching
49:29
of the gospel
49:30
must set out
49:31
the will of God
49:33
against that.
49:35
It's not dabbling
49:36
in politics.
49:38
It's not dealing
49:39
with things
49:40
which are beyond
49:40
the reach
49:41
of the preaching
49:42
of God's word.
49:43
It's bringing
49:44
the light of truth.
49:46
It's communicating
49:47
the truth of God
49:48
to the current situation,
49:50
whatever it might be.
49:52
And it's our pleasure
49:54
and our responsibility
49:55
to raise our voices,
49:57
not just in preaching,
49:58
but as we'll see
49:59
in a minute,
49:59
also in Christian conduct
50:01
because you have voices
50:04
along with the preached word
50:05
that needs to actually
50:07
hold governments
50:09
to account
50:10
if they are
50:12
contradicting
50:14
or compromising
50:16
God's revealed truth.
50:20
So that's the first thing
50:21
in the conveying of truth.
50:23
There is the word preached,
50:24
but there's secondly
50:24
what I'm going to call
50:25
instructive evangelism.
50:29
instructive evangelism.
50:32
When you go back
50:33
to the terms
50:34
of Matthew,
50:36
Matthew 28,
50:37
the Great Commission,
50:39
we usually refer to it
50:40
as the Great Commission,
50:41
Matthew 28,
50:42
and verses 19 to 20 especially.
50:45
This is what Jesus
50:46
said to the disciples
50:48
just before He left them
50:49
to go back to heaven.
50:51
He said,
50:54
all authority in heaven
50:55
and on earth
50:56
has been given to me.
50:57
Go therefore
50:58
and make disciples
50:59
of all nations,
51:01
baptizing them
51:02
in the name
51:03
of the Father
51:03
and of the Son
51:04
and of the Holy Spirit,
51:06
teaching them
51:07
to observe
51:08
all that I have
51:09
commanded you.
51:11
You see,
51:11
there are two things
51:12
very closely
51:12
joined together there,
51:14
making disciples
51:14
and teaching.
51:16
You can't extract
51:18
the teaching element
51:19
from the making disciples element.
51:22
What Jesus is saying
51:23
to His church is,
51:24
I'm sending you forth.
51:26
I have the authority
51:27
and you are,
51:29
on that basis,
51:30
sent into the world
51:31
to make disciples.
51:33
But you make disciples
51:34
not just by baptizing them,
51:37
but by teaching them.
51:39
You have an instructive evangelism.
51:42
And that follows through
51:44
into our evangelism as well.
51:49
Because evangelism
51:50
has to be instructive.
51:52
It's not that we evangelize,
51:55
just looking at things practically,
51:58
and then different
51:59
or separate from that,
52:00
we instruct,
52:01
we teach.
52:02
No, it has to be a teaching
52:04
or an instructive evangelism.
52:06
As you seek to bring
52:08
the gospel to people,
52:09
as you reach out
52:10
with the gospel
52:11
into our communities,
52:12
you reach out
52:13
with the truth of God.
52:15
You lay out
52:16
the truth of God
52:17
as you're seeking
52:18
to have people
52:20
give attention
52:20
to the claims
52:23
of God upon them.
52:25
And indeed,
52:26
that's what we've been
52:27
seeking to do.
52:28
And that's what we're seeking
52:29
to do this coming week,
52:30
even,
52:31
in the holiday club.
52:32
We are seeking
52:33
to have a means
52:35
alongside
52:35
the formal services
52:37
of the church,
52:38
a means by which
52:40
our young people,
52:41
our children,
52:42
can receive
52:43
the truth of God.
52:45
It's not entertainment.
52:48
There is
52:48
an attractive element
52:50
in it.
52:51
There are certain things
52:52
involved in it
52:53
that are,
52:56
if you like,
52:56
not exactly
52:57
lecturing
52:58
or preaching
52:58
in its own right.
53:01
It's creating
53:02
an environment
53:03
that will give pleasure
53:05
to our children,
53:05
but will also
53:07
be a means
53:08
of bringing
53:08
the truth to them,
53:10
of educating them
53:11
under the truth.
53:12
And the same is true
53:13
of our Sunday school.
53:15
Why do we have Sunday school?
53:16
Why do we have Bible class?
53:18
It's so that our young people
53:20
can actually come
53:21
to have the truth
53:22
of God
53:23
communicated
53:24
to their young minds,
53:25
to bring them under
53:26
the shaping effect
53:28
of God's truth.
53:30
Same thing
53:31
with the free breakfast.
53:33
You'll notice
53:33
in the bulletin sheet,
53:35
the details
53:36
from that,
53:36
that free breakfast,
53:38
which maybe not everybody
53:39
would agree with,
53:41
but what we're seeking
53:41
to do in that
53:42
is use the opportunity
53:43
that God has given us
53:45
in His providence
53:46
to bring the gospel
53:48
to people
53:49
who otherwise
53:49
wouldn't have it,
53:51
or most of them
53:51
at least wouldn't have it,
53:53
because many,
53:54
many people
53:54
left that free breakfast
53:55
with a free copy
53:57
of the Bible,
53:57
which they didn't have.
53:58
They asked,
53:59
some of them,
53:59
asked for a Bible.
54:01
We gave them a Bible.
54:02
We gave them
54:02
the Word of God.
54:03
We gave them
54:03
the truth of God.
54:05
Some of them
54:06
came to the service
54:07
afterwards.
54:08
They weren't used
54:09
to coming to church services,
54:10
certainly not to free
54:11
church services,
54:12
but they came,
54:14
and they came willingly,
54:15
and they came
54:15
under the truth of God.
54:17
That's the intention.
54:19
That's the purpose.
54:20
We are communicators
54:22
of the truth.
54:23
That is the church itself.
54:25
And in all of that
54:28
instructive evangelism,
54:31
our concern,
54:32
of course,
54:32
our overriding concern,
54:34
is the glory of God,
54:35
the praise of God.
54:37
Not making a name
54:37
for ourselves.
54:39
Nothing like that,
54:40
but to bring the truth
54:42
of God to bear
54:43
upon people's lives.
54:45
Young ones,
54:46
middle-aged,
54:47
old,
54:47
doesn't matter.
54:47
This is the church
54:51
as the pillar
54:52
and buttress
54:53
of the truth,
54:55
communicating the truth
54:56
through the preaching
54:57
of the gospel,
54:59
through instructive evangelism,
55:01
thirdly,
55:02
through Christian conduct.
55:05
Let me come back
55:05
to the verse itself
55:06
in 1 Timothy,
55:08
which says,
55:09
I hope to see you soon,
55:10
verse 14,
55:12
but to come and see you soon,
55:13
but I'm writing
55:14
these things to you
55:15
so that if I delay,
55:17
you may know
55:18
how one ought to behave
55:20
in the household of God,
55:22
which is the church
55:23
of the living God,
55:24
a pillar and buttress
55:25
of the truth.
55:30
A worldly church,
55:33
a church that's packed
55:35
with worldliness,
55:36
and by that I mean
55:37
things which especially
55:39
are contradictory
55:40
to the Word of God,
55:42
to the truth of God,
55:43
or have displaced
55:44
the likes of preaching
55:45
with something else.
55:47
A church that exists
55:48
just to entertain people
55:49
or to draw praise
55:52
to people themselves.
55:55
A worldly church
55:57
is a sure way
55:58
to create more atheists.
56:01
It's always been the case.
56:04
Atheists are not created
56:05
by the church
56:06
withstanding assault
56:07
from those who are
56:08
in enmity to the gospel.
56:11
Atheists are created largely
56:13
through the church
56:13
abandoning its custodianship
56:16
of the truth
56:17
and its communicating
56:18
of the truth
56:19
as the truth of God.
56:21
Let me just briefly,
56:24
before we close,
56:25
go to Ephesians.
56:26
So I want to show you
56:27
a pattern there in Ephesians.
56:29
That's important.
56:30
Ephesians 5
56:31
and verses 1 to 6.
56:35
It starts there,
56:36
therefore be imitators
56:37
of God
56:37
as beloved children,
56:40
children beloved by God,
56:41
and walk in love
56:42
as Christ loved us
56:43
and gave himself up for us,
56:45
a fragrant offering
56:46
and sacrifice to God.
56:48
Then he says,
56:49
but sexual immorality,
56:51
all impurity or covetousness
56:53
must not even be named among you
56:55
as is proper among saints.
56:57
And all the way through then he says,
56:59
these are the things
57:00
that ought not to be found
57:01
in the people of God
57:03
in the church of God.
57:04
Let no one deceive you
57:06
with empty words.
57:07
For because of these things,
57:08
the wrath of God
57:09
comes upon the sons
57:10
of disobedience.
57:11
Therefore,
57:12
do not associate with them.
57:13
For at one time
57:15
you were darkness,
57:17
but now you are light
57:19
in the Lord.
57:20
You see,
57:20
there is an antithesis.
57:24
There are two opposites there.
57:26
You were darkness,
57:29
past tense,
57:30
but now you are light
57:33
in the Lord.
57:34
You are in the Lord,
57:35
therefore you are light.
57:37
You are a contradiction
57:38
of what you once were
57:39
as lost sinners.
57:42
But then he says this,
57:45
walk as the children
57:47
of light.
57:51
At one time you were darkness,
57:53
but now you are light
57:54
in the Lord.
57:56
Walk as the children
57:58
of light.
57:59
For the fruit of light
58:00
is found in all that is good
58:01
and right and true.
58:03
And try to discern
58:04
what is pleasing
58:05
to the Lord.
58:07
Take no part
58:08
in the unfruitful works
58:10
of darkness.
58:10
Instead,
58:11
expose them.
58:12
How is it to expose them?
58:14
By walking
58:15
as the children
58:16
of light.
58:18
By being
58:19
in their practice
58:20
what they claim
58:21
to be in their profession.
58:23
By being
58:24
in their way of life.
58:27
What their gospel
58:28
actually sets out
58:29
for them
58:29
as they should be.
58:33
And then,
58:34
of course,
58:34
in Ephesians
58:35
you find a pattern.
58:37
I mentioned a pattern
58:38
there.
58:38
There is a pattern.
58:39
He doesn't leave it at that.
58:40
He then goes down
58:42
at verse 22,
58:43
wives.
58:44
Verse 25,
58:45
husbands.
58:46
Chapter 6,
58:47
children.
58:48
Slaves,
58:49
obey your earthly masters.
58:50
That was the world
58:51
of the day.
58:52
Masters,
58:53
do good to
58:53
those who are
58:55
your slaves as well.
58:57
And so on.
58:58
You see,
58:59
he's building on
59:00
layer upon layer
59:01
of application
59:03
to what it means
59:04
to walk
59:05
as the children
59:06
of light.
59:07
Wives,
59:08
husbands,
59:08
children,
59:09
employees,
59:10
employers.
59:11
The credibility
59:12
of Christ
59:13
and the gospel
59:15
and the truth
59:15
of the gospel
59:16
is hung upon
59:18
these hooks
59:19
of your life
59:19
and my life
59:20
because that world
59:21
out there
59:22
doesn't read the Bible
59:23
and sometimes
59:25
doesn't possess
59:26
a Bible
59:26
but it knows
59:27
how Christians
59:28
ought to behave.
59:31
It knows
59:32
what kind of people
59:32
Christians ought to be.
59:33
It knows
59:34
what the church
59:35
ought to be
59:36
and what the church
59:36
ought to say
59:37
and how the church
59:38
ought to behave.
59:40
And it is Paul's burden
59:42
that as a pillar
59:43
and buttress
59:44
of the truth
59:45
so we be
59:46
a pillar
59:46
and buttress
59:47
of the truth
59:48
not just by the word
59:49
preached
59:49
and not just by the word
59:51
preached along
59:51
with instructive evangelism
59:53
but by our own
59:55
Christian conduct
59:56
by the biblical
59:58
morality
59:59
of our life
1:00:01
and of our lifestyle.
1:00:03
the church
1:00:05
as we saw
1:00:06
in our first
1:00:07
study
1:00:08
is the people
1:00:09
of God
1:00:09
the called out
1:00:10
called together
1:00:12
people of God
1:00:13
called out
1:00:13
from the world
1:00:14
called together
1:00:16
to be
1:00:17
a distinct
1:00:18
people of God
1:00:19
in the world.
1:00:22
And we really
1:00:23
want to be
1:00:23
all of that
1:00:24
as a congregation.
1:00:25
We all know
1:00:26
there is no
1:00:27
perfect church
1:00:28
no perfect congregation
1:00:29
no perfect Christian
1:00:30
in this world
1:00:31
and none
1:00:32
of what I am
1:00:32
setting out
1:00:33
today is intended
1:00:35
in any way
1:00:35
to discourage
1:00:36
you or to
1:00:36
discourage myself
1:00:37
because the more
1:00:39
we find the standard
1:00:41
of God
1:00:41
in his word
1:00:42
set out
1:00:43
the more we should
1:00:43
be determined
1:00:44
to actually
1:00:45
match up to that
1:00:46
and deal with the ways
1:00:47
in which we don't
1:00:48
match up.
1:00:50
It is not to
1:00:50
discourage us
1:00:51
it is rather to
1:00:52
encourage us
1:00:54
to be
1:00:54
more Christ-like
1:00:55
than we are.
1:00:56
But we want to be
1:00:58
as we saw
1:00:59
in our more recent
1:01:01
studies in Philippians.
1:01:03
Philippians 1
1:01:03
verse 27
1:01:05
this is what Paul
1:01:05
is saying
1:01:06
it doesn't matter
1:01:07
he says
1:01:07
whether I come
1:01:08
and see you
1:01:08
or else be absent
1:01:09
only let your
1:01:10
manner of life
1:01:12
be worthy
1:01:13
of the gospel
1:01:13
of Christ
1:01:14
so that whether
1:01:15
I come and see you
1:01:17
or I am absent
1:01:18
I may hear of you
1:01:19
that you are
1:01:20
standing firm
1:01:21
in one spirit
1:01:22
with one mind
1:01:24
striving side
1:01:25
by side
1:01:26
for the faith
1:01:28
of the gospel
1:01:28
that is God's truth
1:01:29
striving side
1:01:32
by side
1:01:33
that means
1:01:34
every individual
1:01:35
of the church
1:01:36
has a contribution
1:01:38
to make
1:01:39
to the overall
1:01:40
guardianship
1:01:42
and communicating
1:01:43
of the truth
1:01:44
of God
1:01:45
by the church
1:01:46
and he says
1:01:50
and not frightened
1:01:51
anything
1:01:51
by your
1:01:53
opponents
1:01:54
R.C. Sproul
1:01:56
the late
1:01:57
American theologian
1:01:58
and Bible
1:02:00
expositor
1:02:00
and preacher
1:02:01
who left
1:02:01
a great legacy
1:02:02
to the church
1:02:03
and the
1:02:04
Lagonia ministry
1:02:05
you can find
1:02:05
that online
1:02:07
just check it out
1:02:08
there's so much
1:02:08
good stuff there
1:02:09
but in one of his
1:02:11
sermons
1:02:12
he said this
1:02:12
I think
1:02:14
the greatest weakness
1:02:15
and I'm saying this
1:02:16
in relation to
1:02:17
both the
1:02:18
word preached
1:02:19
and the instructive
1:02:20
evangelism
1:02:20
and the Christian
1:02:21
conduct
1:02:21
that I've mentioned
1:02:22
because it applies
1:02:23
to all three
1:02:24
he said
1:02:24
I think the greatest
1:02:25
weakness
1:02:26
in the church
1:02:27
today
1:02:27
is that almost
1:02:28
no one believes
1:02:29
that God
1:02:30
invests his power
1:02:32
in the Bible
1:02:33
everyone is looking
1:02:35
for power
1:02:36
in a program
1:02:37
in a methodology
1:02:39
in a technique
1:02:41
in anything
1:02:42
and everything
1:02:43
but that
1:02:44
in which God
1:02:45
has placed
1:02:45
his word
1:02:47
he alone
1:02:48
has the power
1:02:49
to change lives
1:02:50
for eternity
1:02:51
and that power
1:02:53
is focused
1:02:53
on the scriptures
1:02:55
the revealed
1:02:57
truth
1:02:58
of God
1:03:00
we are to be
1:03:02
custodians of it
1:03:03
and communicators
1:03:05
of it
1:03:05
in the world
1:03:07
in which he has
1:03:08
placed us
1:03:09
let's pray
1:03:10
Lord our God
1:03:14
there are so many
1:03:15
challenges
1:03:16
that we face
1:03:17
in the teaching
1:03:18
of your word
1:03:19
a challenge
1:03:20
to convey
1:03:21
your truth
1:03:22
accurately
1:03:22
a challenge
1:03:24
to live
1:03:24
your truth
1:03:25
in our lives
1:03:26
consistently
1:03:27
a challenge
1:03:29
oh Lord
1:03:29
as we find
1:03:30
these descriptions
1:03:31
of your church
1:03:32
which involves
1:03:33
ourselves
1:03:34
help us
1:03:35
to be
1:03:36
pillar and
1:03:37
buttress
1:03:37
of your truth
1:03:38
Lord help us
1:03:40
to love your truth
1:03:41
even like the
1:03:41
psalmist
1:03:42
who could say
1:03:43
with a deep
1:03:44
appreciation
1:03:45
oh how I love
1:03:47
your law
1:03:47
it is my study
1:03:49
all the day
1:03:50
it makes me
1:03:52
wiser
1:03:53
than my foes
1:03:54
and we pray
1:03:56
that today
1:03:56
oh Lord
1:03:57
we may
1:03:57
continue
1:03:58
and rededicate
1:03:59
ourselves
1:04:00
indeed to God
1:04:01
and to his truth
1:04:03
help us
1:04:04
as a congregation
1:04:05
as a denomination
1:04:06
and all those
1:04:08
denominations
1:04:08
and congregations
1:04:10
that are true
1:04:10
to you
1:04:11
help us Lord
1:04:11
we pray
1:04:12
to truly be
1:04:13
a pillar and
1:04:14
buttress
1:04:14
of your truth
1:04:15
give us to
1:04:16
delight in being
1:04:17
so
1:04:18
whatever it may
1:04:19
attract to us
1:04:20
by way of
1:04:21
opposition
1:04:21
we know that
1:04:23
your spirit
1:04:23
is more than
1:04:25
able to uphold
1:04:25
us
1:04:26
hear us
1:04:27
we pray
1:04:27
for Jesus
1:04:28
sake
1:04:28
Amen
1:04:29
now we're going
1:04:33
to conclude
1:04:33
our worship
1:04:34
this morning
1:04:34
singing Psalm
1:04:35
111
1:04:36
again we're
1:04:38
singing from
1:04:38
the Scottish
1:04:39
Psalter
1:04:39
on page
1:04:41
391
1:04:42
and verses
1:04:45
6 to 10
1:04:46
and the
1:04:54
psalmist is
1:04:54
here in the
1:04:55
psalm dealing
1:04:55
with the way
1:04:56
that God
1:04:56
has made
1:04:57
himself known
1:04:58
through his
1:04:59
works in the
1:05:00
world
1:05:00
and how he
1:05:02
especially has
1:05:02
made known
1:05:03
his grace
1:05:03
and compassion
1:05:04
and his
1:05:05
covenant love
1:05:06
for his
1:05:06
people
1:05:06
so from
1:05:08
verse 6
1:05:09
we'll sing
1:05:10
to the end
1:05:11
of the psalm
1:05:11
he did the
1:05:12
power of
1:05:12
his works
1:05:13
and to
1:05:13
his people
1:05:13
show
1:05:14
when he
1:05:15
the heathen's
1:05:15
heritage
1:05:16
upon them
1:05:16
did bestow
1:05:17
his handiworks
1:05:18
are truth
1:05:19
and right
1:05:20
all his
1:05:21
commands are
1:05:22
sure
1:05:22
and done
1:05:23
in truth
1:05:24
and uprightness
1:05:25
they evermore
1:05:27
endure
1:05:28
these verses
1:05:28
to the end
1:05:29
he did the
1:05:37
power of
1:05:40
his
1:05:40
what
1:05:41
unto
1:05:42
his
1:05:44
people
1:05:45
show
1:05:46
when
1:05:48
he
1:05:49
and
1:06:10
are
1:06:10
through
1:06:10
And God in truth and uprightness
1:06:20
Be evermore endure
1:06:25
He sent redemption to his soul
1:06:32
His heaven and glory
1:06:37
He did from an holy is named
1:06:45
And reverend is always
1:06:50
With John's beginning
1:06:55
Is God's fear
1:06:58
Good understanding
1:07:01
And all that is promised
1:07:09
Fulfill his grace endures for him
1:07:15
If you could allow me to get to the main door, please, I'll greet you there on the way out.
1:07:22
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father,
1:07:26
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always.
1:07:29
Amen.
1:07:59
...