1 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:12,451 Good evening and welcome to Crowd Livestream. We're having all sorts of fun and 2 00:00:12,451 --> 00:00:16,943 games this evening with sound repeating and all sorts. We, so Dan, the wonderful 3 00:00:16,943 --> 00:00:21,435 Dan Orange is with me co-hosting, but he's just sorting out the tech. So, Ade, 4 00:00:21,435 --> 00:00:25,928 is with us remotely. Um, he's going to be speaking. Ade, how are you, and can 5 00:00:25,928 --> 00:00:30,420 you hear me? 6 00:00:30,420 --> 00:00:35,784 I can hear you fine, and I am doing okay, thank you. I can also hear myself 7 00:00:35,784 --> 00:00:41,149 repeating everything I say, which is going to be really— 8 00:00:41,149 --> 00:00:46,513 But hopefully by then the wonderful Dan and Zoe will have sorted out the sound. 9 00:00:46,513 --> 00:00:51,876 Um, if you are new to Crowd Church, you are most welcome. Um, it's normally a 10 00:00:51,876 --> 00:00:57,239 bit smoother than this, to be honest, but we are an online church Um, and 11 00:00:57,239 --> 00:01:02,602 there's all sorts of different ways you can engage. Um, please do look at the 12 00:01:02,602 --> 00:01:07,965 Crowd website to, to see that. Um, but the livestream on Sunday, uh, we, we have 13 00:01:07,965 --> 00:01:13,328 a talk and we chat about it in the studio here. Um, and there is also, uh, the 14 00:01:13,328 --> 00:01:18,691 facility to join a Zoom live lounge, um, during the talk and actually meet other 15 00:01:18,691 --> 00:01:24,054 people and see them face to face rather than just commenting, uh, in the chat 16 00:01:24,054 --> 00:01:29,417 on, on YouTube or Instagram. So if you would like to join the live lounge and, 17 00:01:29,417 --> 00:01:34,780 uh, and engage with others in conversation, uh, during the talk, uh, join the 18 00:01:34,780 --> 00:01:40,143 chat afterwards. Um, the link I think will come up, um, in the chat here. Um, 19 00:01:40,143 --> 00:01:45,506 welcome all those already in the live lounge. Uh, lovely to, to see you. Um, 20 00:01:45,506 --> 00:01:50,870 Dan, how's the audio? 21 00:01:50,870 --> 00:01:54,930 I'm having fun when Matt goes Off to a wedding. So congratulations to Callum and 22 00:01:54,930 --> 00:01:58,989 Sarah, who— 23 00:01:58,989 --> 00:01:59,760 Yes, indeed. 24 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,500 Members of Crowd. 25 00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:02,989 Yeah, fantastic. 26 00:02:02,989 --> 00:02:09,900 Yeah, so celebration today. Um, but Matt the tech guru, we got audio. 27 00:02:09,900 --> 00:02:12,473 He's booby-trapped the whole thing for us. He's probably watching remotely and 28 00:02:12,473 --> 00:02:15,046 laughing. Um, Ade, do you want to say hi again and see if you're still 29 00:02:15,046 --> 00:02:17,620 repeating? 30 00:02:17,620 --> 00:02:22,560 Well, um, Zoe is doing some very clever Okay. 31 00:02:23,030 --> 00:02:23,750 Yeah, I can't— 32 00:02:23,750 --> 00:02:32,439 I did say hello, but I seem to be mute. Ooh, but there's no repeat. 33 00:02:32,439 --> 00:02:38,780 Excellent. Okay. It's working. Dan, welcome to Crowd Church. How are you doing? 34 00:02:38,780 --> 00:02:44,680 I'm good. If not a little sort of hectic, which— Just a little frazzled. 35 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:47,050 Great. And how's your week been? 36 00:02:48,099 --> 00:02:52,899 Yes, good week, good week. Um, I've been, um, this weekend my wife's been away, 37 00:02:52,899 --> 00:02:57,699 so we've had fun, me and the kids. 38 00:02:57,699 --> 00:02:59,030 A lot of pizza and late nights then? 39 00:02:59,030 --> 00:03:04,045 Yeah, KFC, KFC, no, and then curry yesterday which I cooked. Um, and I've been 40 00:03:04,045 --> 00:03:09,060 preparing, I'm talking next week, so I've been preparing that talk. 41 00:03:09,060 --> 00:03:09,490 Very good. 42 00:03:09,490 --> 00:03:10,240 Yeah, looking forward to that. 43 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:15,206 Good little plug in there for next week. So, um, yeah, You're very welcome. Uh, 44 00:03:15,206 --> 00:03:20,172 do put your comments, any questions in the chat, um, as we go through this 45 00:03:20,172 --> 00:03:25,138 evening and, uh, and we'll do our best to pick them up as we go to Conversation 46 00:03:25,138 --> 00:03:30,105 Street after what Ade has brought us. Um, and do get in touch with us in Crowd 47 00:03:30,105 --> 00:03:35,071 if you're, if you're new, um, if you're listening to this on, uh, on catch-up 48 00:03:35,071 --> 00:03:40,037 during the week and you're interested, uh, to get involved, please do get in 49 00:03:40,037 --> 00:03:45,003 touch. Um, all the details on crowd.church. Um, I think a plug of an Alpha 50 00:03:45,003 --> 00:03:49,969 course. The Alpha started coming up. 51 00:03:49,969 --> 00:03:53,800 Um, yeah, the Alpha started, so it's been 2 weeks now, but, um, 2 weeks. Yeah, 52 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:57,629 still, still totally fine to join. In fact, we've had loads of people join 53 00:03:57,629 --> 00:04:01,459 halfway through, and often they've joined halfway through and then done it, the 54 00:04:01,459 --> 00:04:05,289 whole thing, the next time. 55 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:10,158 So, yeah. So an Alpha course, which is, uh, you might have heard of Alpha, is a 56 00:04:10,158 --> 00:04:14,957 course exploring what Christianity is. It's a very Um, it's a very easy, 57 00:04:14,957 --> 00:04:19,756 accessible format where you can come and you can ask whatever questions you 58 00:04:19,756 --> 00:04:24,555 have. And there's a format of a talk each week on some aspect of Christianity 59 00:04:24,555 --> 00:04:29,353 and an opportunity to explore it and discuss with others. That's online. Um, so 60 00:04:29,353 --> 00:04:34,152 wherever you're dialling in from, if you're interested in doing an Alpha course, 61 00:04:34,152 --> 00:04:38,951 please do get in touch. And, and if not the current one, um, then one that's 62 00:04:38,951 --> 00:04:43,750 coming up. Uh, we also have, uh, community, um, midweek. Um, I'm just— 63 00:04:43,910 --> 00:04:47,036 sorry, I'm just going to butt in. Um, I've just pressed a button here which 64 00:04:47,036 --> 00:04:50,163 might solve our audio issues. So, so if you leave everything done, and Ade, can 65 00:04:50,163 --> 00:04:53,290 you speak? 66 00:04:53,290 --> 00:04:55,899 I'm still here. 67 00:04:55,899 --> 00:05:01,329 That'll be a negative to be fixing it. Okay, let's continue. 68 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,814 Sorry, we've entirely lost Ade now, just at the point where I was going to 69 00:05:04,814 --> 00:05:08,069 introduce him. Um, Ade, are you with us? 70 00:05:08,069 --> 00:05:10,910 Um, I think so. 71 00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:15,894 Very good to see you, sir. All right, well, without further ado, um, as I said, 72 00:05:15,894 --> 00:05:20,878 please, please do get involved, get, um, get involved with the chat, um, check 73 00:05:20,878 --> 00:05:25,862 us out on crowd.church. But this evening we have the wonderful Ade Birkby 74 00:05:25,862 --> 00:05:30,847 bringing our, uh, our talk. Um, he is not in Liverpool where we are sat in the 75 00:05:30,847 --> 00:05:35,831 studio, uh, he is remote in North Wales, which is why we've got the earpieces in 76 00:05:35,831 --> 00:05:40,815 and all the technical stuff is a little bit more tricky. But Ade, really good to 77 00:05:40,815 --> 00:05:45,800 have you, and over to you, and we'll be back later for Conversation Street. 78 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:51,749 Thank you very much. It's wonderful to be here tonight. We are continuing in the 79 00:05:51,749 --> 00:05:57,698 Jesus the Revolutionary series, and we're going to have a look at the Parable of 80 00:05:57,698 --> 00:06:03,648 the Talents and how it relates to comparison culture. Now, these days, thanks to 81 00:06:03,648 --> 00:06:09,597 social media, it's very hard to get away from comparison culture, looking on the 82 00:06:09,597 --> 00:06:15,546 platform of your choice at images of vacations, careers, holidays, stuff, you 83 00:06:15,546 --> 00:06:21,496 name it. And as human beings, we have a natural tendency to use social 84 00:06:21,496 --> 00:06:27,445 comparison to evaluate opinions and abilities in the absence of objective 85 00:06:27,445 --> 00:06:33,395 measures. And what we can find is this can lead to some really unrealistic 86 00:06:33,395 --> 00:06:39,344 norms, thanks to a lot of curated content on social media that can really 87 00:06:39,344 --> 00:06:45,293 distort what we are perceiving to be of our reality. The impact of this is, 88 00:06:45,293 --> 00:06:51,243 unfortunately, it tends to create low self-esteem, you know, the constant 89 00:06:51,243 --> 00:06:57,192 exposure to perceived perfection. It really drives body dissatisfaction, 90 00:06:57,192 --> 00:07:03,141 people's body imaging worsening from these online comparisons. And of course, 91 00:07:03,141 --> 00:07:09,091 FOMO, fear of missing out. It convinces us we've got a lack of something, 92 00:07:09,091 --> 00:07:15,040 creating this endless cycle of dissatisfaction. Now, there's lots of data out 93 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:20,990 there. If you look at the 2023 UK national study, looked at 16 to 24-year-olds, 94 00:07:20,990 --> 00:07:26,939 Now, 93% of them felt pressure to compare themselves to others online. 93% of 95 00:07:26,939 --> 00:07:32,888 them experienced negative consequences as a result. 14% experienced suicidal 96 00:07:32,888 --> 00:07:38,838 thoughts as a result, and 74% wanted to change their body by surgery due to what 97 00:07:38,838 --> 00:07:44,787 they'd seen on social media. Now, the impact doesn't end just there. Other 98 00:07:44,787 --> 00:07:50,736 studies have shown that it does seem to peak in the 16 to 29 age group, very 99 00:07:50,736 --> 00:07:56,686 much linked to identity formation and peer acceptance. Now, in midlife, this 100 00:07:56,686 --> 00:08:02,635 seems to decline as 30 to 50-year-olds tend to have higher self-esteem and focus 101 00:08:02,635 --> 00:08:08,585 more on internal tracking versus peer metrics. And then interestingly, studies 102 00:08:08,585 --> 00:08:14,534 show a later life resurgence around 60 plus, but the comparisons are normally 103 00:08:14,534 --> 00:08:20,483 around health mobility and cognitive longevity. Now we're thinking the Bible was 104 00:08:20,483 --> 00:08:26,433 written an awful long time ago. What on earth can that teach us about comparison 105 00:08:26,433 --> 00:08:32,382 culture? Well, funnily enough, the parable of the talents does touch on this 106 00:08:32,382 --> 00:08:38,331 matter, and we're going to quickly read it now. It's very short. It's in Matthew 107 00:08:38,331 --> 00:08:44,281 25:14-30. Again, it will be like a man going on a journey who called his 108 00:08:44,281 --> 00:08:50,230 servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave 5 talents of money, 109 00:08:50,230 --> 00:08:56,180 to another 2 talents, and to another 1 talent, each according to his ability. 110 00:08:56,180 --> 00:09:02,129 Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the 5 talents went at once 111 00:09:02,129 --> 00:09:08,078 and put his money to work and gained 5 more. So also the one with 2 talents 112 00:09:08,078 --> 00:09:14,028 gained 2 more. But the man who had received the 1 talent went off, dug a hole in 113 00:09:14,028 --> 00:09:19,977 the ground, and hid his master's money. After a long time, the master of those 114 00:09:19,977 --> 00:09:25,926 servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the 5 115 00:09:25,926 --> 00:09:31,876 talents brought the other 5. Master, he said, you entrusted me with 5 talents. 116 00:09:31,876 --> 00:09:37,825 See, I have gained 5 more. Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been 117 00:09:37,825 --> 00:09:43,775 faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Come and 118 00:09:43,775 --> 00:09:49,724 share your master's happiness. The man with 2 talents also came. Master, he 119 00:09:49,724 --> 00:09:55,673 said, you entrusted me with 2 talents. See, I have gained 2 more. Well done, 120 00:09:55,673 --> 00:10:01,623 Good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put 121 00:10:01,623 --> 00:10:07,572 you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness. Then the 122 00:10:07,572 --> 00:10:13,521 man who had received the 1 talent came. Master, he said, I knew you were a hard 123 00:10:13,521 --> 00:10:19,471 man, harvesting where you had not sown, gathering where you had not scattered 124 00:10:19,471 --> 00:10:25,420 seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here 125 00:10:25,420 --> 00:10:31,370 is what belongs to you. You wicked lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest 126 00:10:31,370 --> 00:10:37,319 where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered. Well, you should 127 00:10:37,319 --> 00:10:43,268 have put my money on deposit with the bankers so that when I returned I would 128 00:10:43,268 --> 00:10:49,218 have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him And give it to the 129 00:10:49,218 --> 00:10:55,167 one who has the 10 talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he 130 00:10:55,167 --> 00:11:01,116 will have an abundance. Whoever does not have even what he has taken from him, 131 00:11:01,116 --> 00:11:07,066 and throw that worthless servant outside into the darkness where there will be a 132 00:11:07,066 --> 00:11:13,015 weeping and gnashing of teeth. Now, if we look at this from a very simplistic 133 00:11:13,015 --> 00:11:18,965 high level, like you can do with many parables, there is a simple interpretation 134 00:11:18,965 --> 00:11:24,914 and a much deeper meaning. There's some very clear symbology here. The master, 135 00:11:24,914 --> 00:11:30,863 God, owns all things and departs on a journey. It symbolises the ascension of 136 00:11:30,863 --> 00:11:36,813 Jesus and then his eventual return. The servants symbolise humanity, 137 00:11:36,813 --> 00:11:42,762 specifically disciples and followers entrusted with God's estate. Talents can be 138 00:11:42,762 --> 00:11:48,711 life, time, material resources. Trading and multiplying, active engagement in, 139 00:11:48,711 --> 00:11:54,661 in God's work and living by faith. Burying talent, inaction, fear, distorted 140 00:11:54,661 --> 00:12:00,610 view of God's character. And the outer darkness, well, that's the final 141 00:12:00,610 --> 00:12:06,560 separation from God. Now that's the high level, and that's the simple look at 142 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:12,509 it, but fortunately there's a whole lot more going on. And before we get into 143 00:12:12,509 --> 00:12:18,458 that, we'll just put a few things into context. So first of all, the timeline. 144 00:12:18,458 --> 00:12:24,408 Back in those days, travelling to a far-off country, you're looking at maybe 1 to 145 00:12:24,408 --> 00:12:30,357 2 years or more on foot, horse, boat. So we're not talking about, you know, he's 146 00:12:30,357 --> 00:12:36,306 off for a couple of days or a couple of weeks and coming back. This is a big 147 00:12:36,306 --> 00:12:42,256 distance, and we are talking a matter of years. Also, For the workers to have 148 00:12:42,256 --> 00:12:48,205 actually entered the marketplace, established trade networks, bought and sold 149 00:12:48,205 --> 00:12:54,155 goods, and doubled their investment, we are talking about a significant amount 150 00:12:54,155 --> 00:13:00,104 of time here. It talks about talents. Now, a talent is a unit of precious metal, 151 00:13:00,104 --> 00:13:06,053 typically 30 to 45 kilos, usually silver, would have been worth 6,000 denarii. 152 00:13:06,053 --> 00:13:12,003 Realistically, it's worth about 20 years of labour. Now, if we were to put that 153 00:13:12,003 --> 00:13:17,952 into a modern context and think, well, the UK average or the median salary is 154 00:13:17,952 --> 00:13:23,901 £39,000 a year, even the man who got the 1 talent was still given £780,000. The 155 00:13:23,901 --> 00:13:29,851 man who got 2 talents was given £1.6 million, and the man with 5 talents, just 156 00:13:29,851 --> 00:13:35,800 shy of £4 million at £3.9 million. million. We are talking about 157 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:41,750 earth-shattering amounts of wealth here being entrusted unto these servants. 158 00:13:41,750 --> 00:13:47,699 Now, the time when Jesus is actually telling this parable, it's toward the end 159 00:13:47,699 --> 00:13:53,648 of his ministry, and it's a bit tense with the disciples because before, in 160 00:13:53,648 --> 00:13:59,598 Matthew 24, he had predicted the temple would be destroyed, and his disciples 161 00:13:59,598 --> 00:14:05,547 are really anxious and confused. And Jesus knows what's coming. He knows he is 162 00:14:05,547 --> 00:14:11,496 about to be Arrested and executed. The economic reality this is actually set in, 163 00:14:11,496 --> 00:14:17,446 it was normal for wealthy landlords to live in cities or abroad and leaving 164 00:14:17,446 --> 00:14:23,395 their servants manage estates. What wasn't normal was to give them such a huge 165 00:14:23,395 --> 00:14:29,345 amount of wealth. I mean, this was exaggerated intentionally to show the immense 166 00:14:29,345 --> 00:14:35,294 spiritual authority that Jesus was giving to his followers. By context, most 167 00:14:35,294 --> 00:14:41,243 people were farmers and labourers, and they were earning 1 denarii per day. The 168 00:14:41,243 --> 00:14:47,193 handing out 5 talents would have been a massive shock value to the audience. 169 00:14:47,193 --> 00:14:53,142 Now, the concept of burying wealth would have been quite normal to the audience 170 00:14:53,142 --> 00:14:59,091 because ordinary people didn't have access to banks, and wealth was typically 171 00:14:59,091 --> 00:15:05,041 physical— it would be gold, silver, or expensive textiles. It was standard 172 00:15:05,041 --> 00:15:10,990 practice to bury these things for For safekeeping. Now interestingly, framing 173 00:15:10,990 --> 00:15:16,940 the servant who buried the wealth as wicked says that self-protective, safe 174 00:15:16,940 --> 00:15:22,889 religious practices are unacceptable in God's kingdom. And this really was 175 00:15:22,889 --> 00:15:28,838 signaling the changing times and the revolution that Jesus was bringing. So 176 00:15:28,838 --> 00:15:34,788 meanwhile, your Pharisees believed that their job was to defensively preserve 177 00:15:34,788 --> 00:15:40,737 God's law and heritage, keeping it isolated and pure. Jesus is coming along 178 00:15:40,737 --> 00:15:46,686 condemning that 3rd servant and saying that preserving God's truth inside of 179 00:15:46,686 --> 00:15:52,636 Israel's border is over. A new era is coming that requires active expansion, 180 00:15:52,636 --> 00:15:58,585 sharing the gospel with the wider world. And finally, the parable itself is 181 00:15:58,585 --> 00:16:04,535 written in Matthew 25. And Matthew 25, again, is toward the end of Jesus' 182 00:16:04,535 --> 00:16:10,484 ministry. And there are 2 other parables in there, and together these form 183 00:16:10,484 --> 00:16:16,433 essentially a trilogy of readiness— what we should be doing in the time waiting 184 00:16:16,433 --> 00:16:22,383 for him to come back. And each of these parables highlights a unique aspect of 185 00:16:22,383 --> 00:16:28,332 readiness, and it shows us that true readiness is about heart, stewardship, and 186 00:16:28,332 --> 00:16:34,281 action. We start off with the 10 virgins, which is about heart, showing our 187 00:16:34,281 --> 00:16:40,231 authentic internal relationship with God. I'm waiting prepared, and the value of 188 00:16:40,231 --> 00:16:46,180 being prepared whilst we are waiting. The parable of the talents that we're 189 00:16:46,180 --> 00:16:52,130 going to get more into shows about faithful investment of resources and gifts. 190 00:16:52,130 --> 00:16:58,079 It's about stewardship. It shows that waiting is not a passive event. Our 191 00:16:58,079 --> 00:17:04,028 relationship— it also looks at our relationship to possessions and abilities. 192 00:17:04,028 --> 00:17:09,978 And finally, at the end of Matthew 25, the sheep and the goats is about action. 193 00:17:09,978 --> 00:17:15,927 It's how we treat the least among us, relationship with the people we So getting 194 00:17:15,927 --> 00:17:21,876 back to the parable of the talents and even comparison culture, we often look at 195 00:17:21,876 --> 00:17:27,826 the 3rd servant and we think, that guy's just lazy, he doesn't want to work. 196 00:17:27,826 --> 00:17:33,775 Yes, he was lazy, but his first— his fault, the thing that triggered it all, it 197 00:17:33,775 --> 00:17:39,725 began with a comparison. He looked at a single talent in comparison to the man 198 00:17:39,725 --> 00:17:45,674 with 2 talents and 5 talents And thought, in comparison to that, why bother? 199 00:17:45,674 --> 00:17:51,623 This is insignificant. It's not needed. Now, this comparison bred resentment for 200 00:17:51,623 --> 00:17:57,573 what he was seeing those around him being given. Although, as Matthew says, it 201 00:17:57,573 --> 00:18:03,522 was given based on their ability. Now, he later masks this resentment as fear 202 00:18:03,522 --> 00:18:09,471 when the master calls him to accountability. What's important here is the size 203 00:18:09,471 --> 00:18:15,421 of our assignment is completely irrelevant. The integrity of the stewardship of 204 00:18:15,421 --> 00:18:21,370 that assignment is everything. Comparing our portions to others just simply 205 00:18:21,370 --> 00:18:27,320 paralyzes productivity. And who are we to know? Well, actually, yeah, mine's 206 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:33,269 smaller than the next person's, but maybe they've been doing this for longer. 207 00:18:33,269 --> 00:18:39,218 Maybe they've been investing their talents for longer. And that's why they have 208 00:18:39,218 --> 00:18:45,168 something else. Ultimately, it's not for us to even think that, but we don't 209 00:18:45,168 --> 00:18:51,117 know the story. We don't know why other people have different assignments and 210 00:18:51,117 --> 00:18:57,066 talents to us. We just know that God's given us all something to do, and we just 211 00:18:57,066 --> 00:19:03,016 need to get on with what we've been told to do and not to compare it to what 212 00:19:03,016 --> 00:19:08,965 everyone else is doing. Now, while the, um, The 2 faithful servants entered the 213 00:19:08,965 --> 00:19:14,915 marketplace. God's currency isn't money, it's trust. True stewardship requires 214 00:19:14,915 --> 00:19:20,864 vulnerability and active risk. So the 2 that went into the marketplace and 215 00:19:20,864 --> 00:19:26,813 doubled their investment— there's going to be a bit of risk in that. You don't 216 00:19:26,813 --> 00:19:32,763 double your investment without taking risk. You don't buy and sell and trade 217 00:19:32,763 --> 00:19:38,712 without taking risk. And when the master came back, he rewarded them for this 218 00:19:38,712 --> 00:19:44,661 active and courageous effort. You know, he said, well done, good and faithful 219 00:19:44,661 --> 00:19:50,611 servant. It wasn't, and by the way, never ever ever risk my money like that 220 00:19:50,611 --> 00:19:56,560 again. It was like, no, you did a good job. Take it as it is. Now, God prefers 221 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:02,510 messy, risk-taking faith over this safe, Sterile, passive faith. Burying our 222 00:20:02,510 --> 00:20:08,459 potential in a hole to avoid failure is not acceptable in God's eyes. And 223 00:20:08,459 --> 00:20:14,408 finally, at the end of this, what do you do after a job well done? Well, God 224 00:20:14,408 --> 00:20:20,358 rewards work with more work. This is often referred to biblically as the law of 225 00:20:20,358 --> 00:20:26,307 use and increase. But reward for faithful work is more responsibility. And the 226 00:20:26,307 --> 00:20:32,256 master rewards 2 of his servants with more work, and they also share in his 227 00:20:32,256 --> 00:20:38,206 personal joy. So serving God isn't a vacation. It's a promotion into a greater 228 00:20:38,206 --> 00:20:44,155 unhindered partnership with God and sharing in his joy. So whatever task God has 229 00:20:44,155 --> 00:20:50,105 given us, no matter how great or how small, Especially how small, if we do that 230 00:20:50,105 --> 00:20:56,054 task to the best of our ability in his name, we're going to get a bigger task 231 00:20:56,054 --> 00:21:02,003 afterwards, or a more responsible task. And over time, these tasks will grow and 232 00:21:02,003 --> 00:21:07,953 grow and grow, as does our relationship with God. So when we think about this in 233 00:21:07,953 --> 00:21:13,902 our own lives, do we have a tendency to comparison? Are we happy With where 234 00:21:13,902 --> 00:21:19,851 we're at, or are we comparing ourselves to others? And that can be life, can be 235 00:21:19,851 --> 00:21:25,801 our body, our career, our family, our church. Ecclesiastes 5:19. Moreover, when 236 00:21:25,801 --> 00:21:31,750 God gives someone wealth and possessions and the ability to enjoy them, to 237 00:21:31,750 --> 00:21:37,700 accept their lot and be happy in their toil, this is a gift from God. Being 238 00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:43,649 happy with what we have and not wanting what others have, that contentment, that 239 00:21:43,649 --> 00:21:49,598 peace, that is a gift from God. When it comes to trust, are we actively doing 240 00:21:49,598 --> 00:21:55,548 what we've been entrusted to do, or are we burying our wealth in the ground? Are 241 00:21:55,548 --> 00:22:01,497 we avoiding taking that risk? This looks a bit too risky, or I'm going to be a 242 00:22:01,497 --> 00:22:07,446 bit too vulnerable, so I'm just gonna I'm just gonna sit in it for a while, and 243 00:22:07,446 --> 00:22:13,396 you know, maybe I'll pray on it some more and think about it some more. There 244 00:22:13,396 --> 00:22:19,345 comes a time when you know we are called to action. Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do 245 00:22:19,345 --> 00:22:25,295 your will, for you are my God. May your good spirit lead me on level ground. And 246 00:22:25,295 --> 00:22:31,244 when it comes to reward, are we are we stepping up to the next level, or are we 247 00:22:31,244 --> 00:22:37,193 looking for a holiday? Romans 12 verse 2: Do not conform to the pattern of this 248 00:22:37,193 --> 00:22:43,143 world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. We are waiting for the 249 00:22:43,143 --> 00:22:49,092 return of the Master. We are waiting. for Jesus to come again the second time. 250 00:22:49,092 --> 00:22:55,041 Whilst we are waiting, the waiting itself is not a passive event. There is much 251 00:22:55,041 --> 00:23:00,991 work to be done, and it is not optional. Whatever job we have been given to do, 252 00:23:00,991 --> 00:23:06,940 whatever the Master has entrusted with us, no matter how great or how small, 253 00:23:06,940 --> 00:23:12,890 it's the how we do it. It's the heart in which we do it. 254 00:23:13,450 --> 00:23:14,069 That counts. 255 00:23:14,069 --> 00:23:20,403 Now, to quote the truly crazy 1980s movie Cannonball Run 2 soundtrack, it's not 256 00:23:20,403 --> 00:23:26,737 what you got, it's how you use it. The gifting, the task, the responsibility, 257 00:23:26,737 --> 00:23:33,071 the size of it doesn't matter. It might look smaller and less important than 258 00:23:33,071 --> 00:23:39,404 others, but it deserves the same level of effort. The effort is rewarded, and 259 00:23:39,404 --> 00:23:45,738 that is where the well done, good and faithful servant comes out of. Challenge 260 00:23:45,738 --> 00:23:52,072 you all, I challenge myself, let's strive to be the faithful servant. Let's take 261 00:23:52,072 --> 00:23:58,406 our eyes off what's around us and put our eyes on the target in front of us, and 262 00:23:58,406 --> 00:24:04,740 let's do our best. 263 00:24:04,740 --> 00:24:04,960 Amen. 264 00:24:06,140 --> 00:24:09,940 To hear those words one day, well done, good and faithful servant. Thank you 265 00:24:09,940 --> 00:24:13,740 very much. That's all I've got for you tonight. 266 00:24:13,740 --> 00:24:22,950 Thanks very much, Ade. Oh, it's a challenging parable, that one, for sure. Dan? 267 00:24:22,950 --> 00:24:24,119 Yeah. 268 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:25,640 What thoughts strike you? 269 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:30,980 I think for me, thanks, Ade. I think the bit that stood out was the comparison, 270 00:24:30,980 --> 00:24:36,320 isn't it? Um, I, I listened to a podcast this week. Um, it's a great, great 271 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:41,660 podcast called Inspired about different Christians and how just from all over 272 00:24:41,660 --> 00:24:47,000 the world, things that happened and to them and their lives, just normal people. 273 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:52,340 And this guy that had seen loads of stuff happen, um, he, he said, just follow 274 00:24:52,340 --> 00:24:57,680 God's plan for your life. But just, he also said, which really struck me because 275 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:03,019 I've heard this lots of times when I was young and growing up, oh, God's got a 276 00:25:03,019 --> 00:25:08,360 plan for you. I don't know what it is. It's people that will do all these 277 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:13,700 amazing things, and like, you're looking at, you're looking around at what 278 00:25:13,700 --> 00:25:19,039 they're doing. Um, and he said, just ask God what's next and do what's next. And 279 00:25:19,039 --> 00:25:24,380 that's what he did. And that's why I've always done in my life. He's, you know, 280 00:25:24,380 --> 00:25:29,720 whether it's job, whether it's marriage, give it to God, pray about it, and yes 281 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:35,059 or no. You know, there's— I don't know what my— my— I don't, I don't have this 282 00:25:35,059 --> 00:25:40,400 goal that's something, you know, big at the end. It's just following him in that 283 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:45,740 plan and not comparing myself to, to others. And it was great to see he hear 284 00:25:45,740 --> 00:25:51,079 someone that all these things had happened through him. And, um, it was just 285 00:25:51,079 --> 00:25:56,420 listen to God, do that. And, um, yes, that comparison really struck me with, 286 00:25:56,420 --> 00:26:01,759 with that, with what you said, Ade, and what I heard this week. 287 00:26:01,759 --> 00:26:06,634 Yeah, as with so many of Jesus's parables and, and scripture in general, 288 00:26:06,634 --> 00:26:11,508 actually, it's so much about the attitude of our hearts, isn't it? And I thought 289 00:26:11,508 --> 00:26:16,382 you brought out that really well, Ade. And, um, I think I've I've, yeah, I've 290 00:26:16,382 --> 00:26:21,256 heard people talk on this parable. I've read this parable probably since I was a 291 00:26:21,256 --> 00:26:26,130 young man. Um, and that it's— the comparison is very easy to, to step into. Um, 292 00:26:26,130 --> 00:26:31,005 but actually it's all about— I mean, what struck me this evening looking at it 293 00:26:31,005 --> 00:26:35,879 again was immediately the man with 5 bags of gold, immediately he went to work. 294 00:26:35,879 --> 00:26:40,753 He was kind of, he was eager. He possibly overwhelmed by the amount of money 295 00:26:40,753 --> 00:26:45,627 that had just been given, but that didn't kind of spook him. He was just like, 296 00:26:45,627 --> 00:26:50,501 okay, let's see what we can do with this. Much like you were saying, it's like 297 00:26:50,501 --> 00:26:55,375 each step. Um, and, and the guy that buried it in the ground was very much, I 298 00:26:55,375 --> 00:27:00,250 don't know what to do with that. 299 00:27:00,250 --> 00:27:00,730 Yeah. 300 00:27:00,730 --> 00:27:05,387 And maybe he was also daunted by having a whole talent to, uh, to do anything 301 00:27:05,387 --> 00:27:10,044 with. Um, but that kind of enthusiasm of heart, that That desire to give it a 302 00:27:10,044 --> 00:27:14,701 go, to take risk, as you said, Ade, I think is— and I think that does delight 303 00:27:14,701 --> 00:27:19,359 God's heart. I think what I've always struggled with in this parable is that, I 304 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:24,016 mean, in one of the other gospels, that the master is described as this kind of 305 00:27:24,016 --> 00:27:28,673 cruel taskmaster, which I don't feel like is a very good picture of God. And 306 00:27:28,673 --> 00:27:33,330 that's another thing I think we can fall into. And probably what I did fall into 307 00:27:33,330 --> 00:27:37,988 as a young man is thinking, Oh, I've got to do all this stuff for God. I don't 308 00:27:37,988 --> 00:27:42,645 know how to do it, and he's going to get back and angry if I've not kind of 309 00:27:42,645 --> 00:27:47,302 doubled my profit sort of thing. Um, I think this is one of the examples where 310 00:27:47,302 --> 00:27:51,960 you need to read, read more widely in what Jesus says. Um, and it's always 311 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:56,617 intriguing. You don't know quite what the context is. As you said, this is in, 312 00:27:56,617 --> 00:28:01,274 in the middle of 3 other parables, 2 other parables either side about being 313 00:28:01,274 --> 00:28:05,931 ready. uh, ready for Jesus's return. And it was a very particular context I 314 00:28:05,931 --> 00:28:10,589 think he was probably speaking to. And we never get the benefit of who the 315 00:28:10,589 --> 00:28:15,246 particular audience was. It tended to be a crowd. And, uh, it'd be interesting 316 00:28:15,246 --> 00:28:19,903 to know why, why this story for that crowd at that time was important. Um, but 317 00:28:19,903 --> 00:28:24,560 yeah, that, that attitude of heart that says, wow, yeah, this is a bit 318 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:29,218 overwhelming, but I'm gonna see what I can do. Like the guy with the 5 bags of 319 00:28:29,218 --> 00:28:33,875 gold is like, yep, straight away. Let's see what we can do. And as you said, 320 00:28:33,875 --> 00:28:38,532 it's not about the amount. It's not about the 5 more bags. It's about that 321 00:28:38,532 --> 00:28:43,190 attitude to give it a go, which I really like. 322 00:28:43,190 --> 00:28:48,150 Yeah, I think, and really, they both really pull their sleeves up. They got 323 00:28:48,150 --> 00:28:53,110 dirty. They took risks. They went straight into the marketplace. There was no, 324 00:28:53,110 --> 00:28:58,069 ooh, let's think about this, or, ooh, that's a bit messy. It's just, here's a 325 00:28:58,069 --> 00:29:03,029 task, let's just go and give it our all. 326 00:29:03,029 --> 00:29:08,353 And I think that, that shows the relationship they have with the master, doesn't 327 00:29:08,353 --> 00:29:13,676 it? There was a kind of a trust there and a, yeah, I'm up for this. Um, but 328 00:29:13,676 --> 00:29:19,000 yeah, the servant that was in fear and said, oh, you're, you're a hard man, 329 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:24,323 clearly didn't have that same relationship with the master as those that kind of 330 00:29:24,323 --> 00:29:29,646 got on with it. There was a Yeah, there was an enthusiasm to, to work with the 331 00:29:29,646 --> 00:29:34,970 master's wealth rather than, uh, yeah, just ignore it and bury it. 332 00:29:34,970 --> 00:29:39,445 Yeah. Um, yeah, I love that the reward was the same. The reward in terms of what 333 00:29:39,445 --> 00:29:43,920 the master said. Yeah, well done, my good faithfulness. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 334 00:29:43,990 --> 00:29:44,839 Again, it was on the amount. 335 00:29:44,839 --> 00:29:50,519 Uh, yeah, it's not the amount. That's almost, almost irrelevant, isn't it? It's, 336 00:29:50,519 --> 00:29:56,200 it's the father. Yeah. Well done, my good and faithful servant. That's what I'm— 337 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:57,970 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 338 00:29:57,970 --> 00:30:04,046 Wanting to, wanting to hear. That's what— yeah, we just want to do what he, he's 339 00:30:04,046 --> 00:30:10,122 asked us to do. Um, I was reminded of, um, the verse that we're one body, 340 00:30:10,122 --> 00:30:16,197 different, different parts. So your talent might look smaller to someone else's 341 00:30:16,197 --> 00:30:22,273 talent. Um, you know, like a a finger might look smaller than the body, but you 342 00:30:22,273 --> 00:30:28,349 can't do anything. No good having a body that you can't pick stuff up. 343 00:30:28,579 --> 00:30:28,829 Yeah. 344 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:34,339 You know, it's— it is just being diligent with what God has asked us to do. 345 00:30:34,339 --> 00:30:39,048 And I was thinking too of the story of the widow in the temple giving her single 346 00:30:39,048 --> 00:30:43,756 copper coin, um, and Jesus saying, who gave the most? And there were, you know, 347 00:30:43,756 --> 00:30:48,464 all these rich people throwing their money into the coffers, into the collection 348 00:30:48,464 --> 00:30:53,172 plate. Um, and Jesus says, look at this woman, she's given out of, out of what 349 00:30:53,172 --> 00:30:57,880 she didn't have, you know, she's given greater riches even though it's a tiny 350 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:02,589 amount, um, because of what it cost her. Dan, what have we got? Have we got any 351 00:31:02,589 --> 00:31:07,297 questions, any comments? Um, while we're doing that, I was wondering whether you 352 00:31:07,297 --> 00:31:12,005 had any particular examples, just to put you on the spot, of where, yeah, this— 353 00:31:12,005 --> 00:31:16,713 you felt a, a commission, a task from God that you've Uh, you've jumped into 354 00:31:16,713 --> 00:31:21,421 with enthusiasm or maybe been a bit hesitant and buried it in the ground? Do you 355 00:31:21,421 --> 00:31:26,130 have any, uh, any life experience of, of this application? 356 00:31:26,130 --> 00:31:31,761 Yeah. Joining CrowdLeadership. So, uh, when, when Sonia and I came here, we, we 357 00:31:31,761 --> 00:31:37,393 were weary, we were beaten, um, we were disillusioned. We had spent a long time 358 00:31:37,393 --> 00:31:43,025 working with various churches as we moved around, and we come to the point 359 00:31:43,025 --> 00:31:48,656 where, you know, we wanted just to attend a church and that was it. We felt we'd 360 00:31:48,656 --> 00:31:54,288 given enough. We felt with all the health challenges, no, you know what, that's 361 00:31:54,288 --> 00:31:59,920 it, we're done. And then, yeah, lo and behold, what are we now, 18 months, 2 362 00:31:59,920 --> 00:32:05,551 years later, and we're pretty much well integrated into it, running a Wednesday 363 00:32:05,551 --> 00:32:11,183 group in the midweek, starting a prayer meeting, coming on here and speaking 364 00:32:11,183 --> 00:32:16,815 almost monthly now, and just being involved in crowd leadership. It's something 365 00:32:16,815 --> 00:32:22,446 that we never— we said we'd never do again. But when we were presented the 366 00:32:22,446 --> 00:32:28,078 opportunity and we prayed about it, we knew that this is what the Master was 367 00:32:28,078 --> 00:32:33,710 asking. And so it's like, okay, here we are. 368 00:32:33,710 --> 00:32:38,549 And in case you haven't heard it, well done, good and faithful servant. 369 00:32:38,549 --> 00:32:40,299 Thank you. 370 00:32:40,299 --> 00:32:47,799 Yeah, if the master asks, that, that's the, that's the answer, isn't it, really? 371 00:32:47,799 --> 00:32:50,779 Yeah, if he asks, it's the readiness to, yeah, to give it a go. 372 00:32:50,779 --> 00:32:55,711 Um, and knowing that he— I mean, I know it sounds pretty obvious, but knowing 373 00:32:55,711 --> 00:33:00,644 that he loves us, he might give us something huge to do, and it's He, he not 374 00:33:00,644 --> 00:33:05,576 only loves us, he knows us and loves us, which sometimes when I look at it, I 375 00:33:05,576 --> 00:33:10,508 go, well, you know me and you still love me. Wow. Or you might say, you know me. 376 00:33:10,508 --> 00:33:15,440 Yeah. 377 00:33:15,779 --> 00:33:18,355 And you know me and you're still asking me to do this thing that you know I 378 00:33:18,355 --> 00:33:20,930 absolutely suck at. 379 00:33:21,079 --> 00:33:21,119 Yeah. 380 00:33:21,170 --> 00:33:25,820 And, um, I'm gonna fall on my face. But he— yeah, I think God in his love, just 381 00:33:25,820 --> 00:33:30,470 as a loving parent, loves to stretch us. maybe challenge us. 382 00:33:30,470 --> 00:33:31,140 Yeah. 383 00:33:31,140 --> 00:33:36,113 And actually, you know, within this, there's absolutely space to be a little bit 384 00:33:36,113 --> 00:33:41,086 hesitant. Don't start condemning yourself that, oh, I'm not this straight into 385 00:33:41,086 --> 00:33:46,058 the marketplace with my 5 bags of gold. Um, you know, the Bible again is full of 386 00:33:46,058 --> 00:33:51,031 people who, who doubted, and yet God's— they always met with God's grace. Um, 387 00:33:51,031 --> 00:33:56,005 you know, he God does look for that attitude of heart that's willing to serve. 388 00:33:56,005 --> 00:34:00,978 But, um, but you know, if you're a little hesitant, a little, little 389 00:34:00,978 --> 00:34:05,951 risk-averse, uh, please don't count yourself out of that adventure with God 390 00:34:05,951 --> 00:34:10,923 because, um, he would like you to come around and trust him. Um, but, but 391 00:34:10,923 --> 00:34:15,896 meantime, you know, some people are, uh, are better able to dive in than others, 392 00:34:15,896 --> 00:34:20,869 and that's okay. 393 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:25,400 It is. It's literally just what he's asked you to do. And it doesn't— 394 00:34:25,409 --> 00:34:25,610 it— 395 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:32,046 I, I can understand how that can sound daunting, but it's like, you, you'll get 396 00:34:32,046 --> 00:34:36,251 that conviction in your heart. I need to, I need to sort this in my life. And 397 00:34:36,251 --> 00:34:40,458 that's what he's asking you to do. You know, it's not necessarily, I need you to 398 00:34:40,458 --> 00:34:44,663 start doing talks or set up an organisation. We're not— that's not what, you 399 00:34:44,663 --> 00:34:48,869 know. 400 00:34:48,869 --> 00:34:49,050 Yeah. 401 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:53,286 all those people that did that, they didn't start there. God said, you know, 402 00:34:53,286 --> 00:34:57,211 well, spend some more time with me. And for me, that's where it all starts, and 403 00:34:57,211 --> 00:35:01,137 that's where he prompts me to go, okay, yeah, I'll spend more time with you. And 404 00:35:01,137 --> 00:35:05,063 that's— that might sound small, but that's, that's the best way to start. That's 405 00:35:05,063 --> 00:35:08,989 the most enjoyable way to— 406 00:35:08,989 --> 00:35:09,269 Yeah. 407 00:35:09,269 --> 00:35:12,890 To start anyway. If you want to do something for someone, it's great to get to 408 00:35:12,890 --> 00:35:16,510 know that person, isn't it? Yeah. 409 00:35:16,670 --> 00:35:21,490 And yeah, picked up in the comments about your description of messy faith, Ade, 410 00:35:21,490 --> 00:35:26,311 which is great. And it's a parable, it's a story that Jesus uses, but in this 411 00:35:26,311 --> 00:35:31,132 kind of situation, it's very unlikely that you have the clear outcome and a 412 00:35:31,132 --> 00:35:35,953 certainty that that outcome will come. In taking a risk in things, we are very 413 00:35:35,953 --> 00:35:40,774 rarely assured of what will what will turn out. Um, and, and that kind of 414 00:35:40,774 --> 00:35:45,595 messiness of having a go and seeing what happens and, and, you know, coming back 415 00:35:45,595 --> 00:35:50,416 to God and saying, I don't think I did that very well, or, you know, God taking 416 00:35:50,416 --> 00:35:55,237 us in a different direction. It can be messy. Um, it can be messy. Sometimes we 417 00:35:55,237 --> 00:36:00,058 respond in the, in the, in the best faith that we have or the best revelation 418 00:36:00,058 --> 00:36:04,879 that we have of what we think God's saying, and maybe we get it wrong. And, you 419 00:36:04,879 --> 00:36:09,699 know, again, God's heart can well cope with that. 420 00:36:09,699 --> 00:36:10,550 Yeah. 421 00:36:10,550 --> 00:36:14,130 He loves it when we when we give it a go, I'd say. 422 00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:22,710 Yeah, I was just— I'm trying to refresh myself with the, the parable work. Yeah, 423 00:36:22,710 --> 00:36:26,699 Jesus says anyway, but even if that person that'd been given all that, you know, 424 00:36:26,699 --> 00:36:30,690 the most talents, had gone out, invested, and lost it all. 425 00:36:31,449 --> 00:36:34,500 Yeah, he— 426 00:36:34,510 --> 00:36:36,395 I think God would have said, yeah, well done. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you did 427 00:36:36,395 --> 00:36:38,280 something. 428 00:36:38,639 --> 00:36:38,849 Yeah. 429 00:36:38,849 --> 00:36:39,389 With it. 430 00:36:39,389 --> 00:36:44,089 And that, yeah, thinking about the attitude of heart, the servant that hid the 431 00:36:44,089 --> 00:36:48,788 gold, because maybe they were a bit worried about losing it, maybe just got 432 00:36:48,788 --> 00:36:53,487 completely the wrong end of the stick. And he thought, oh, this is about this 433 00:36:53,487 --> 00:36:58,186 harsh master that really wants to get rich and make more money. And so he was a 434 00:36:58,186 --> 00:37:02,886 little bit focused on the outcome, maybe, rather than that kind of response of 435 00:37:02,886 --> 00:37:07,585 obedience. The other's just kind of like, hey, let's give this a go. This is 436 00:37:07,585 --> 00:37:12,284 fun. And he was like, oh, Yeah, maybe he was like, what if I do lose it? Um, he 437 00:37:12,284 --> 00:37:16,983 kind of got the wrong end of the stick. Um, and again, I think that points to— 438 00:37:16,983 --> 00:37:21,683 to me, that points to the fact he didn't really know his master and didn't 439 00:37:21,683 --> 00:37:26,382 really understand what he was being asked to do. Because I absolutely think 440 00:37:26,382 --> 00:37:31,081 you're right that even if you risk it and it doesn't work out and, you know, 441 00:37:31,081 --> 00:37:35,780 that the good and faithful servant Yeah, response I think is the same. Yeah, 442 00:37:35,780 --> 00:37:40,480 because he loves it when we have a go. 443 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:45,857 Yeah, and also know from past experience that if, if it doesn't work out, he, he 444 00:37:45,857 --> 00:37:51,234 steps in. Yeah, he steps in. He doesn't do— he doesn't give you something that's 445 00:37:51,234 --> 00:37:56,612 not gonna— yeah, um, not gonna be possible, you know. He steps in and teaches us 446 00:37:56,612 --> 00:38:01,989 through it, and we learn. Yeah, you know, we learn through it. Yeah. 447 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:06,675 Yeah, seems the concept of messy faith is resonating quite a bit online. I think 448 00:38:06,675 --> 00:38:10,871 it's worth looking at it from another angle. So we're reading about the parable, 449 00:38:10,871 --> 00:38:15,066 and we're seeing the 2 that went out there, well done, good and faithful 450 00:38:15,066 --> 00:38:19,262 servant, and we look at that, and I'm sure we can think of examples of people 451 00:38:19,262 --> 00:38:23,458 who we hear their testimony, and it's like, it's amazing, and what God's done, 452 00:38:23,458 --> 00:38:27,653 and how he's done it through them, and we look at them, we think, you know, 453 00:38:27,653 --> 00:38:31,849 yeah, that's the of faith, stepping out in faith like that. Yeah, those people 454 00:38:31,849 --> 00:38:36,045 at the time when they were going through that, they didn't, you know, they, 455 00:38:36,045 --> 00:38:40,240 they, it felt messy. They felt like they were going by the seat of their pants 456 00:38:40,240 --> 00:38:44,436 half the time. And, uh, hearing the story, it looks like it's, it all fell 457 00:38:44,436 --> 00:38:48,631 together. It was all just so clear. But when you're in the moment, yeah, when 458 00:38:48,631 --> 00:38:52,827 you're in the moment, it's messy. It may not look messy to other people. But 459 00:38:52,827 --> 00:38:57,023 when, you know, when we're in that hot seat and we're making those decisions and 460 00:38:57,023 --> 00:39:01,218 we're stepping out in faith, yeah, sure, it's messy, at least from our 461 00:39:01,218 --> 00:39:05,414 perspective, but not necessarily from those who are being inspired by it 462 00:39:05,414 --> 00:39:09,610 afterwards or waiting through it. 463 00:39:09,610 --> 00:39:14,517 It's a bit like when people have done something and they sort of get put on a 464 00:39:14,517 --> 00:39:19,424 pedestal of like, oh, that was a really heroic thing to do. And they're just 465 00:39:19,424 --> 00:39:24,331 like, oh, what are you talking about? It was just like an instinct to like 466 00:39:24,331 --> 00:39:29,239 anyone else would have done it surely. And that Yeah, that, that, that natural 467 00:39:29,239 --> 00:39:34,146 kind of, um, instinct, uh, to, to get involved, to hear God, to, to do what he 468 00:39:34,146 --> 00:39:39,053 asks. Um, they may not recognise the, the story that's written, the book that's 469 00:39:39,053 --> 00:39:43,960 written about all those heroic deeds. They go, this doesn't feel like it was. It 470 00:39:43,960 --> 00:39:48,868 was just— I was just getting on with it. That's what you do, isn't it? Um, that 471 00:39:48,868 --> 00:39:53,775 sort of level of humility, I think. I mean, for me, certainly, those are the 472 00:39:53,775 --> 00:39:58,682 people that I feel much more attracted to in their kind of stories of faith than 473 00:39:58,682 --> 00:40:03,590 the very scripted, oh, and then I did this. 474 00:40:03,590 --> 00:40:04,190 Yeah. 475 00:40:04,889 --> 00:40:05,230 Yeah. 476 00:40:06,110 --> 00:40:06,269 Yeah. 477 00:40:06,369 --> 00:40:09,524 Because that's real, isn't it? And that is, again, that relationship with the 478 00:40:09,524 --> 00:40:12,679 master. 479 00:40:12,679 --> 00:40:13,050 Yeah. 480 00:40:13,050 --> 00:40:17,988 It's like he's asked me to do it, so why wouldn't I? And the more we do, Like 481 00:40:17,988 --> 00:40:22,925 Ade said, the more we do, it's not, it's not, uh, do more to get more, to get a 482 00:40:22,925 --> 00:40:27,864 better situation, you know, get a place, better place in heaven. That's not it. 483 00:40:27,864 --> 00:40:32,801 It's just do more because he's asked us to, to do something for him, and he's 484 00:40:32,801 --> 00:40:37,739 seen that we can do it, and he just asks us again. And yeah. 485 00:40:37,739 --> 00:40:42,975 And the, the end of this parable is, um, it might feel a little bit harsh, but 486 00:40:42,975 --> 00:40:48,211 Um, you know, the, the servant is sort of cast out where there's darkness and 487 00:40:48,211 --> 00:40:53,447 gnashing of teeth. But, but really all that is signifying is not being in the 488 00:40:53,447 --> 00:40:58,682 master's presence. And in a sense, the servant has chosen that. He's chosen that 489 00:40:58,682 --> 00:41:03,918 outcome and said, I, I don't actually— I don't know you. I don't really trust 490 00:41:03,918 --> 00:41:09,154 you. I don't really do want to be in this relationship where you're asking me to 491 00:41:09,154 --> 00:41:14,389 do stuff. And it's like, well, okay, well, the alternative is— 492 00:41:14,389 --> 00:41:14,840 Yeah. 493 00:41:15,530 --> 00:41:20,183 Outside the house in the darkness. So it can sound a bit harsh, like the master 494 00:41:20,183 --> 00:41:24,836 is punishing the servant. I think actually it's more, that's a kind of natural 495 00:41:24,836 --> 00:41:29,489 consequence of the servant's attitude to what the master's brought. And I think 496 00:41:29,489 --> 00:41:34,143 the master would far prefer to be able to say, okay, yeah, it didn't work out, 497 00:41:34,143 --> 00:41:38,796 but well done, you had a go. And here you are around the master's table, and 498 00:41:38,796 --> 00:41:43,449 here's some other things to do. 499 00:41:43,449 --> 00:41:43,739 Yeah. 500 00:41:44,369 --> 00:41:48,736 Um, but in a sense, the consequence of not having that relationship is then 501 00:41:48,736 --> 00:41:53,103 that, that sort of being outside of the master's influence and, and, and table, 502 00:41:53,103 --> 00:41:57,469 which is, uh, yeah, it's not a good place to be. 503 00:41:57,469 --> 00:42:02,144 No, no. And as far as we know, he had the same understanding of the master. 504 00:42:02,144 --> 00:42:06,820 Yeah, it didn't say, you know, he'd only known him, you know. Yeah, yeah. 505 00:42:07,070 --> 00:42:10,986 Why was that his response and not the others? Yeah. Um, before we wrap up, any 506 00:42:10,986 --> 00:42:14,903 other, any other questions on the chat that have come through? Sorry, I don't 507 00:42:14,903 --> 00:42:18,820 have that on my phone in front of me. 508 00:42:18,820 --> 00:42:23,903 Yeah, um, so Alicia's put some great comments on here, and then she says, yeah, 509 00:42:23,903 --> 00:42:28,986 testimonies have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. I think it's easy to see how 510 00:42:28,986 --> 00:42:34,070 God was moving after we're out of the fire, um, than when we're in it. 511 00:42:34,070 --> 00:42:37,760 Yeah, no, that's so true, Alicia. That's absolutely right. 512 00:42:38,489 --> 00:42:39,000 Yeah. 513 00:42:39,130 --> 00:42:44,463 And it's also, um, this is something I, I keep thinking, and I need to do this 514 00:42:44,463 --> 00:42:49,797 more in my life, is writing stuff down to, to go, oh, God did that. And oh yeah, 515 00:42:49,797 --> 00:42:55,131 we asked about that, um, with our kids. We— it's, uh, yeah, I'll explain it. Um, 516 00:42:55,131 --> 00:43:00,465 So last year we were on holiday, um, and we'd we'd planned this holiday away 517 00:43:00,465 --> 00:43:05,798 abroad in Spain, and we said to the kids, this might be, you know, last time for 518 00:43:05,798 --> 00:43:11,132 a bit because we've saved up for it. And we were away for 3 days, and then my 519 00:43:11,132 --> 00:43:16,466 wife got a call and her mum was really ill, um, emergency surgery, open heart 520 00:43:16,466 --> 00:43:21,800 surgery. 521 00:43:21,800 --> 00:43:22,010 Mm-hmm. 522 00:43:22,010 --> 00:43:27,173 So we, we flew home and, um, and there's, there's lots behind That, um, how to 523 00:43:27,173 --> 00:43:32,338 say it, my daughter's got autism, so, so going away and somewhere we can all be 524 00:43:32,338 --> 00:43:37,501 together, it's sometimes one of the times we can only, you know, really talk 525 00:43:37,501 --> 00:43:42,666 together and just, just different reasons. So it wasn't just, it's great to be 526 00:43:42,666 --> 00:43:47,829 away, it, it's a lot for our family. 527 00:43:47,829 --> 00:43:48,289 Yeah, yeah. 528 00:43:48,289 --> 00:43:53,054 It's great, great time together. So when we were, we were flying home, we said 529 00:43:53,054 --> 00:43:57,817 to the kids, look, I don't know how we'll do this again, but Let's pray. Let's 530 00:43:57,817 --> 00:44:02,581 pray for a holiday. We don't need a holiday, but let's, let's pray that we could 531 00:44:02,581 --> 00:44:07,346 do it again next year. And, um, so we flew home. Lisa's mum had a massive 532 00:44:07,346 --> 00:44:12,109 operation. She's doing really well. In fact, she drove yesterday. Yeah. So this 533 00:44:12,109 --> 00:44:16,873 is a year on. Um, and so she's, yeah, she's doing really well. Um, a couple of 534 00:44:16,873 --> 00:44:21,637 months ago, I was talking to one of my customers and he asked me what we're 535 00:44:21,637 --> 00:44:26,402 doing. I say, oh, nothing planned at the moment. Um, this happened last year, 536 00:44:26,402 --> 00:44:31,165 but we're just seeing what goes on. He said, Do you want to stay in my villa? 537 00:44:31,165 --> 00:44:35,929 Um, and I was like, okay. Um, so the reason I'm saying that is that we— 538 00:44:36,070 --> 00:44:39,480 it was great because you're an awesome hero of faith, Dan. Wow. 539 00:44:39,480 --> 00:44:44,231 It was just— we could— we said to the kids, there, let's pray about this. That 540 00:44:44,231 --> 00:44:48,983 it was a— it was an outward thing. It wasn't just something in my head. We 541 00:44:48,983 --> 00:44:53,734 talked about it as a family. And he, just out of his, his grace, and just 542 00:44:53,734 --> 00:44:58,486 because he's abundant, isn't he? You know, he didn't have to do that, um, but 543 00:44:58,486 --> 00:45:03,238 he, but he did. But it— when we're in it, just, just write those things down, 544 00:45:03,238 --> 00:45:07,989 store those things away so you can see his answer to prayer. 545 00:45:07,989 --> 00:45:08,750 Yeah, yeah. 546 00:45:08,750 --> 00:45:10,880 Later on. Yeah, I hope that would— I hope that made sense. 547 00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:11,869 Yeah, yeah, that's a good— 548 00:45:11,869 --> 00:45:14,420 it's just great. It's a good challenge. It's great to be able to tell our kids 549 00:45:14,420 --> 00:45:16,969 as well, because, you know, we prayed about that, didn't we? 550 00:45:16,969 --> 00:45:17,349 Yeah, yeah. 551 00:45:17,349 --> 00:45:17,789 Look what he's done. 552 00:45:17,789 --> 00:45:21,505 Yeah. Yeah, stories of faith like that, you know, you can— you'll talk about 553 00:45:21,505 --> 00:45:25,219 them in the future. Yeah, I'll remember that time. 554 00:45:25,219 --> 00:45:28,210 Yeah, yeah. And then 2 weeks before we went away, someone gave us some money for 555 00:45:28,210 --> 00:45:31,199 all the flights and the spending as well. 556 00:45:31,199 --> 00:45:33,730 So if you need some holiday advice, Dan's your man. 557 00:45:33,730 --> 00:45:38,202 It's not— that's not like a— yeah, some things are easier to explain when 558 00:45:38,202 --> 00:45:42,675 they're physical things, aren't they? But it's not like— yeah, I don't want to 559 00:45:42,675 --> 00:45:47,147 be sort of naming and claiming that wasn't Yeah, it's just God loves to, yeah, 560 00:45:47,147 --> 00:45:51,619 loves to bless. But yeah, those things are easier to, yeah, to, to explain. 561 00:45:51,619 --> 00:45:56,179 Yeah. And I think, you know, we're talking about our response to, to a 562 00:45:56,179 --> 00:46:00,739 situation, to, I mean, specifically to God asking us to do things, but, but I 563 00:46:00,739 --> 00:46:05,299 think our response generally, and, and that response of not getting kind of 564 00:46:05,299 --> 00:46:09,859 resentful, bitter, going, oh, we've, uh, this holiday we planned has been 565 00:46:09,859 --> 00:46:14,420 ruined. It was one of just opening your hands and kind of holding it quite 566 00:46:14,420 --> 00:46:18,980 lightly and going Yeah, here it is, we accept it, but let's pray for, for 567 00:46:18,980 --> 00:46:23,539 another opportunity. And I think it's, I think it's a great picture actually of, 568 00:46:23,539 --> 00:46:28,099 of how our attitude, uh, to our circumstance or, or what God brings, uh, can 569 00:46:28,099 --> 00:46:32,659 make all the difference. So yeah, so, so wrapping it up, whether— 570 00:46:32,800 --> 00:46:36,699 yeah, if there's any questions in, um, Live Lounge, they're gonna go— 571 00:46:36,699 --> 00:46:37,210 Yep. 572 00:46:37,210 --> 00:46:37,900 Off now. 573 00:46:37,900 --> 00:46:38,400 Yep. 574 00:46:38,400 --> 00:46:42,059 So, so they can chat amongst themselves and, and and, and talk there. 575 00:46:42,349 --> 00:46:42,429 Yeah. 576 00:46:42,530 --> 00:46:46,039 And if you've got any questions in the comments, then please, um, send them in 577 00:46:46,039 --> 00:46:49,550 and we'll just have a few more, few more minutes here. 578 00:46:49,550 --> 00:46:54,418 But if you're online or watching this on catch-up and you're not in the live 579 00:46:54,418 --> 00:46:59,287 lounge, then it's very good to, uh, have you. Please do get in touch, as I said 580 00:46:59,287 --> 00:47:04,155 at the beginning. And, uh, and maybe listen out this week if you get, uh, a 581 00:47:04,155 --> 00:47:09,024 nudge of maybe I should do, uh, such and such. Um, Maybe it might be a challenge 582 00:47:09,024 --> 00:47:13,892 from God. It might be a request from somebody else. But be willing to entertain 583 00:47:13,892 --> 00:47:18,761 that. Don't shut it down straight away out of any kind of fear or risk aversion. 584 00:47:18,761 --> 00:47:23,630 Have some messy faith. Dive in, see what happens. 585 00:47:23,630 --> 00:47:23,840 Yeah. 586 00:47:23,840 --> 00:47:29,039 And, you know, if you've got a story to tell, we would love to hear it. But 587 00:47:29,039 --> 00:47:34,240 thank you all. Thank you very much, Dan. And thank you, Ade, for a great 588 00:47:34,240 --> 00:47:39,440 Unpacking of that story. And, uh, yep. 589 00:47:40,110 --> 00:47:40,219 Yeah. 590 00:47:40,360 --> 00:47:40,530 Keep in touch. 591 00:47:40,530 --> 00:47:42,400 Is there any age you want to finish with? 592 00:47:42,400 --> 00:47:48,177 Um, I think it's worth saying, if you don't use it, you lose it. We've talked a 593 00:47:48,177 --> 00:47:53,954 lot about the good and faithful servant. We didn't talk much about the one that 594 00:47:53,954 --> 00:47:59,732 didn't do as he was told, and that was then taken off him and given to those who 595 00:47:59,732 --> 00:48:05,510 were doing as they're told. So there's something for us to ponder about. 596 00:48:05,510 --> 00:48:11,309 Um, yeah, I'm not sure. Yeah, don't, don't lose that salvation, but yeah, don't, 597 00:48:11,309 --> 00:48:17,110 don't miss that opportunity. Yeah, forgot what— for how much. Yeah, God wants to 598 00:48:17,110 --> 00:48:22,909 do with you. 599 00:48:22,909 --> 00:48:26,329 Yeah, yeah, he's got— God's got more for you than that. 600 00:48:26,710 --> 00:48:26,860 Yeah. 601 00:48:26,860 --> 00:48:27,960 Than burying it in the ground. 602 00:48:27,960 --> 00:48:28,570 Yeah. 603 00:48:28,570 --> 00:48:29,570 So give it a go. 604 00:48:30,699 --> 00:48:30,960 Okay. 605 00:48:31,630 --> 00:48:35,443 Thank you all very much. Enjoy your discussion in Live Lounge and we'll see you 606 00:48:35,443 --> 00:48:39,256 next week. Same time, 7 o'clock next Sunday for the livestream. You are most 607 00:48:39,256 --> 00:48:43,070 welcome. Bye-bye.