Starting 5 . The Teacher

All right, yes, so today sees us coming to the final function, which just quietly

I happen to think is the best one,

the teaching one.

Yep, and I, oh, actually I'm having a bad hair day, so I do appreciate this.

Is it working for me?

It's very big.

Kelphie, I think this would work for you.

You go, go, big noggin.

Dale is a TP.

You do it.

Put two hats on?

No, you can't.

Maybe you can go like that.

Oh, gosh.

Alright, there you go.

This is for his, this is for his NBA Jam thing, is that right?

No, it's not.

Oh, it's not?

Oh, well who are you going to give the other hats to then?

I don't know.

Okay.

Apostolic Adam.

That even alliterates.

Isn't that nice?

Yeah.

Actually, I had a wonderful chat with Robin this morning.

I hope you don't mind me saying Robin, because Robin's just really

come to understand how she operates quite strongly in the shepherding

and the apostolic function.

And as we're talking about that, how that outworks in her life, you

go, oh my gosh, that is so true.

Like, Robin's capacity to, like, genuinely, like, Oh, you got a hat?

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to throw you under the hat bus.

Yeah, so she's just so beautifully caring.

But, but this adventurous side of her that is so willing to go and do new things

and bring the kingdom and the presence of God into places where it isn't, that

apostolic function, it's so evident.

In Robin.

And like, if you know her, if you've known her for five minutes, like, the

things this woman gets up to, I mean, she starts a wild and crazy wildflower

tour tomorrow, with a bunch of, how many?

30 oldies?

Complete with walking frames.

It's gonna be great.

Anyway, let's get into the teaching, shall we?

So good.

And, . I do think that has been one of the greatest things, and that, that had

been our heart behind this series, is it, is just to see people encouraged

and activated in different ways, in participating in and advancing the Kingdom

of God, wherever our foot may tread, not just within the walls of the church,

but beyond, and, and just hearing story after story of people's eyes opening

up and going, oh my gosh, okay, like, that's actually how God has wired me, and

there's this sense of now, Confidence, , and this sense of accountability.

There's a sense of expectation that as I step into these different spaces,

that I have been graced by Jesus because that's what it says in this passage

that he's given all of us, each one of us, he has apportioned grace to.

, and so this sense of ownership and confidence now to participate

in different ways, , I think to that sense of understanding our

differences,, is really key.

We, Adam and I were doing pre marriage counselling with a couple just this week.

And even for, for this couple, before they get married, to be able to appreciate

their differences in this space, Adam and I are going, oh my gosh, the grief,

the heartache we could have avoided in our marriage, had we had understood

these differences about us earlier on, it just, it could have been, will you stop?

Clearly we've still got work to do.

Are you done now with your hats?

No?

Okay.

All right.

Let us look at our key passage of Scripture again.

Most of us should pretty much know this off by heart now.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,

the pastors, and teachers to equip his people for works of service.

And I think that's it.

It's this sense of I have been equipped in some unique way, according to these

five different functions, to engage in The mission of Jesus the works of service

to the body of Christ and to the world as well So that the body of Christ may be

built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the son And

God and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Amen.

So good All right.

Let's do a quick overview of the teaching function , so teaching

involves guiding others in practical wisdom and understanding shaped by

a biblical worldview Our teacher's goal is to help people people see

the world as God intends, aligning their thinking with theological truth.

Teachers understand, and they explain.

They're communicators of God's truth and wisdom.

They help others remain biblically grounded to better discern God's will,

guiding others toward wisdom, helping the community remain faithful to Christ's

word, and constructing a transferrable,

From a biblical perspective, teaching isn't just about abstract ideas,

but about putting them into action, discipleship and personal growth.

Teachers must live out.

Yes, they must the ideas they teach and lead by example.

Teachers cannot teach what they do not know, and they cannot lead

where they will not go themselves.

Therefore biblical teachers must have real participation in the ideas.

that they propose and teach and talk about.

, you know, you've already had, actually, because this is, this is a function that

I operate in strongly, in case you, if you know me for five minutes, you can

pretty much pick that, pick that up.

But it's so interesting.

We've already had a demonstration of this this morning, how I operate and Adam

and my differences in this space, right?

So when Adam made that announcement about Project 73, And what I heard was

you can take the weekend off, right?

That's not what Adam was intending, right?

He wasn't intending to cast shade on the word of God and on scripture, right?

Why are you here again?

Right?

But I'm like, why would, why would you want to take the

weekend off from the word of God?

Like, why, why would you not just want to devote all your time to it?

And so, , Yeah, so, so he hears things, so from his very shepherding

perspective too, realising that life can be full and not wanting people

to feel condemned by a religious and onerous Bible reading program, right?

I'm like, what's wrong with that?

No.

Whatever it takes to get people to read it.

Anyway, that's just a little example there.

So, , as we're done with some of the other functions, I just really want to, before

I invite my, , my friend up, my, , my oth uh, teaching companion, Vincent Tan,

who, who I have been jokingly calling Mr.

T, because he's even a, he's an even higher T than I am, , I just want to

talk about the heart of the teacher for a moment, just to help, , help

us really, because again it's one thing to understand how these things

function, but what's so important is we understand the heart that lies behind

these different functions as well.

And so if we look at, , the heart of the teacher through the person

of Jesus, just for a moment.

So one of the most common titles That is used for Jesus throughout the Gospels.

Is that of teacher or rabbi?

And so the three synoptic Gospels, so Matthew, Mark, and Luke, they

all record Jesus's ministry.

So he's baptized.

Jesus is tested in the wilderness.

And then he begins his ministry with what?

With teaching and preaching.

It's only John's Gospel that goes a little rogue.

John's so special and different, isn't he?

So John's Gospel.

John starts with Jesus turning water into wine., Whereas the other three start with

Jesus's teaching and preaching ministry.

And so Jesus confirms his function and role and title for himself.

Yeah.

In this passage here, you call me teacher and Lord, and rightly

so, for that is what I am.

, Now, when we consider the life of Jesus and the ministry of Jesus, it's often the

spectacular aspects of His ministry that people get really passionate about and

uphold as being of most importance and get really enthusiastic about emulating.

So the healings, the miracles, the deliverances, all of these things.

And more often than not, these miraculous and spectacular moments

are actually done as a part of Jesus teaching ministry to authenticate.

Well, he is actually teaching, and to authenticate the, , authority

with which he teaches.

And this is why they are called signs, because they're tended

to be pointing to something.

And in Jesus death and resurrection, , we have this ultimate sign, not more than

was accomplished, and it just being a sign for sure, but it was still a sign.

Jesus himself said this would be the sign of Jonah.

His death and His resurrection.

, and so this is His death, His resurrection, the ultimate sign

authenticating who He is and what He taught and what He proclaimed.

He's, Jesus final words in Matthew's Gospel when He gives the Great

Commission, Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in

the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey.

Everything I have commanded you.

So teaching is a massively important function in the ministry of Jesus and

one that he passes on to his disciples.

So at the birth of the church, we see Peter stand up and he

gives this first sermon, this first teaching and he preaches.

And then it says in Acts 2, those who accepted his message, who accepted

his teaching, they're baptised, 3, 000 people are added to church that day.

And then what?

This new church, they devote themselves, first thing it says to the

apostles, teaching, again, teaching a core function, , of the ongoing

ministry of Jesus in the world.

And so, teaching, key part of Jesus ministry, and even non Christians,

you'll hear, you know, , historians, people widely, through the centuries,

even if they don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God, will say Jesus, He is.

If not the greatest is one of the greatest teachers the world has ever known This

is a thing one of the things that jesus is most well known for both Within and

without the within and with outside the walls of the church So let's just take a

look at quick passage that really I think goes to the heart of what it is to be

a teacher So the heart of the apostolic is to carry and advance the kingdom of

god into new territory The heart of the prophetic is this call to faithfulness

and alignment to God's covenant promises to the will and to the ways of God.

The heart of the evangelistic is to meet people in their place of need with

the person and the good news of Jesus.

And the heart of the shepherd is the wellbeing, the care and the protection

of people's lives and their hearts.

But the heart of the teacher is this deep passion for the truth, for

truth to be known, to be understood, to be believed and to be lived.

And I think this passage of scripture here really captures the heart of the teachers.

When Jesus is saying here to the Jews who have believed in him, he

says, if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

So for the person who is strongly graced to operate in the teaching function,

truth matters so profoundly and so deeply because what comes alongside it is deep,

deep conviction that if you know truth, freedom is right there alongside of truth.

That you can't actually have freedom apart from truth.

So there's a deep, deep hunger in the heart of those who have been

graced in this way to know truth, to understand it, and to share

it, and to make it known as well.

So the way to freedom is through the truth, and what matters is the truth.

is knowing truth.

And so, let's just look quickly at some characteristics.

, and let's see, you know, if you, some of you I know you've done the assessment,

, maybe others of you haven't yet.

, but even as we go through these characteristics and how it functions

and also the blind spots, perhaps you might pick up, , , you know,

some understanding for yourself, but maybe for those around you as well.

So the characteristics of somebody who is graced to operate in this teaching

intelligence capacity or function is they are effective communicators of the truth.

, others are led into a deeper understanding of an ownership.

, philosopher, imparter of ideas and principles, translator of great

complexities into simple teachings, systematizer for solutions and

process and integration, guides others with wisdom and understanding.

Encourages exploration and thinking towards solutions.

Core issue is understanding.

Has a curiosity to know more and to explain this knowledge, whether

people want to hear it or not.

Strong desire for people to understand teachings and the wisdom of God.

A willingness to take the time for people to understand for themselves

and discerns an audience's ability to comprehend and that is where they start.

And so how this, , capacity functions within a community, so there is a

fostering of a learning culture with the church becoming its own seminary, , in

a way developing resources for learning.

Oh, teachers love resources.

Love me some resources.

, developing active learning experiences through engagement with God and his world.

Cultivating a culture of curiosity and the love of insight.

, can I say, that's why I, I love reading tangible books, but I

love reading books on Kindle too.

Can I tell you why?

Because you come across a word you don't know and you just press it.

And you get the definition of it.

Isn't that great?

Because I hate not knowing what words mean like I just can't if i'm reading something

and I I don't know what that means I have to look it up anyone else Yep.

Yeah, you just got I must understand.

What is this word?

And what does it mean?

, Where do we go?

I love him.

It's explaining interpreting the scriptures.

Oh, yes, please developing a loving culture Yeah, where love is grounded

in truth not warm fuzzy feelings.

Yeah Yeah, not that there's anything wrong with warm fuzzy feelings.

, articulating the theology philosophy of a group, transferring ideas across

generations, providing instruction in the way, in the way of Jesus,

fostering wisdom and intelligence, yes, developing a philosophy congruent

to scripture and life, training wise and informed leaders and ministers.

All right, let's have a quick look at the blind spots, which

can be very, very helpful.

Driven by the need to always be right.

Yes, very true.

Doctrine.

Doctrinaire, ideological and fussy sometimes.

Yes, very ideological.

Oh my gosh.

Fear of things they don't understand or have not vetted.

Very true, very sceptical of things, , that I don't understand.

, suspicious of others experiences.

Yep.

Takes questions personally., Theology matters more than people?

Of course it does, no?

Just kidding!

I'm getting there.

Work in progress.

But yes, these are also very true.

They all resonate profoundly and deeply.

Dogmatic and opinionated.

, lack of healthy boundaries.

, value ideas, tradition over the move of the Holy Spirit can do.

Lacks flexibility or adaptability.

Yep.

Those with a strong teaching group can be quite black and white, quite,

you know, This is how it must be.

, nitpicky and critical of others teaching and sermons.

Now you may have picked up some of your own traits in there.

Maybe you're sitting there thinking of someone you know, going, Oh my gosh, I

must tell them this about themselves.

, Proceed with caution.

, so anyway, there is a quick overview.

Let me invite my friend up now, Mr.

Vincent Tan.

Come on up Vinny, let's make him feel welcome.

Most of you will know Vinny and his beautiful wife Amanda.

And,, yeah, if you've done the assessment, , so we've done the

assessment as a whole leadership team.

Vinny came out as the highest T in our, m, , um, , I was a few points behind.

, I read this this morning, Vin, and I thought, man, see if

this describes your husband.

, so this is from Ecclesiastes chapter 12.

Ecclesiastes 12 · chapter mention

, not only was the teacher wise, but he was also kind.

But he also imparted knowledge to the people.

He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.

The teacher searched to find just the right words, and what

he wrote was upright and true.

Does that not sound like Vincent?

Yes, if you've known Vinny, that is like just a brilliant description of Vinny.

All right.

So I'm going, we're going to have a chat up here, , and flesh out this

teaching function a little bit more.

So to kick off with Vin, , what have you found most helpful

from this series so far?

Thank you for allowing me the privilege to be able to share a little bit, , I

think the key for this series is getting flesh on the bones of how we participate.

In the narrative of God the Father rescuing and redeeming his people.

, and I think for me it kind of breaks itself into sort of three

or four different areas where we're able to participate in that.

, and really I think where it comes is this real idea of being so , so

grateful for this series, but being so grateful for, for example, the Trinity,

the triune God, that God the Father sends the perfect example of apest in

Jesus to allow us to observe His way.

And then, in this beautiful act, he sends the Holy Spirit to then allow us to be

a royal priesthood of all believers.

And so I've just developed a real gratefulness for that, , and for others.

I think the Trinity is a beautiful example of community.

I think it's a beautiful example of how we are to participate together and to

be able to act in community together and then look as well when I talk about

others, including the Bible, you know, which you can read on the weekend.

But I think really it's how you read it and it's how and why we're reading it.

And it's to really observe, I think, the heroes of our faith

and seeing their strengths, seeing their dysfunctions, but then also

appreciating that they're also used for significant kingdom purpose as well.

, and my final gratitude is for basketball.

, it's increased my appreciation of basketball and team sport.

And let me,, just expand on that because I think it's a perfect analogy.

of living a life in Jesus, , how to rely on skills under pressure, how

to keep perspective when things don't seem to be going your way,, how to

play team defense and how a team is so much greater than the s of its parts.

, I've been reflecting on some of the characteristics and I think that Jesus

as a teacher, I think the biggest skill in Jesus as a teacher was knowing

what the current pastimes of the day were and applying it to his teachings.

, and so what that would do is that would extrapolate,, a meaning so that

the listeners would walk back home and go, wow, that was amazing, that

analogy he used about being a shepherd.

And I think, particularly today, I suspect that if Jesus was teaching today.

Particularly in Australia, I suspect that sport would be a really well used

context in this moment of han history, , which is probably kind of a bit of a

segue I think into The teaching function operating in you and me because you're

always thinking about oh How can I pick this up and how can I apply that

and how can I share that with others?

So those are my sort of key takeaways with what's been helpful That's so so good vin

and just while we're on Sporting things.

Sorry for your loss.

Oh, thank you.

Vinnie's a Geelong supporter.

It was a bad day.

Oh, I appreciate, appreciate the kind words.

Oh, gosh.

, you know, I was reflecting on, , This question, you know, what have I

found most helpful from this series?

And I've touched on a little bit in the beginning.

I've really appreciated seeing it's what it sparked in people, how it's activated

people's thinking and imagination around participating in the mission of God.

, but a little bit more of an honest reflection.

I found myself pondering yesterday and I don't know, see if you

resonate with this or not.

, so one of the implications of this series right, is that none of us,

in and of ourselves are, are Jesus.

None of us, in and of ourselves, , operate fully functioning in all

five of these different capacities in the way that Jesus did.

And so what that means is that if I want to experience the fullness of Jesus.

That means I have to, in hility, seek,, the wisdom of those around me.

It means by implication that how I see things is only part of the picture.

And I can't tell you how much I resist that.

How much I am not happy about that.

In my internal individualistic little wrestle with my willful self, I'm

starting to see the depth of hility that's required and to actually function

in community to defer to the wisdom of others who operate with an intelligence

that I, that's why I found the word intelligence really helpful, right?

So I think being a teacher, you have this innate belief, if I can just

understand something enough, I can figure out how to do it, and therefore

I can be autonomous and self sufficient.

, but the thing is, Like, when it comes to something like, let's

say, art, for example, right?

I suck.

And I have tried, right?

I think if I, like, just painting a bit of pottery, if I try really hard

and if I really, really think about it, I'll be able to do something.

I just, it's intelligence that I just don't have, right?

I just cannot make things look pretty in that way.

I just don't.

I just don't have that capacity and I think what this series has done for me is

like, it's pressing on this belief that I can actually do things all by myself.

, am I talking to the air?

Is this just me?

Or is anybody else kind of wrestle with that space too?

Does that make sense?

I think it's a real driver for your motivations as well, isn't it?

And that, you know, Also acknowledging that we have secondary giftings as well

that may sort of color and refine that initial thought thought pattern , and

I think yeah that there is there is a desire to know how things work but one of

the things which I think this series is teaching us is that there are some things

which are just caught You know, like you can catch how a shepherd truly shepherds.

You know, I see that in my marriage with how Mandy is a shepherd, but

it's not like she taught that.

I caught that from how she does that.

, and so, and I think there's a couple of elements in there.

I think it's also trying to articulate the different kinds of intelligence

that exist and to be open that there is more than one way of teaching.

And sometimes that is through seeing and through doing.

Yep.

It is quite the hbling journey I have found, which is good and uncomfortable.

Alright, how do you find the teaching function operating

in your day to day world?

What do you do, Vinny?

, I'll get to that a bit later.

So, probably three main t Um, I reckon when I was looking and meditating on

this question, the first place I landed on was similar to what we've sort of

talked about a lot, like, What is the driver of my internal thought life?

And so if you have a look at the characteristics for whatever you are,

you look at shepherd evangelist, whatever the case may be, that's an extension

of how you interact with others.

How do I show grace to others?

, I've really had to catch myself preparing for, for this conversation about, so

as a communicator of truth, which is one of the characteristics, how do I

graciously commute truth to myself?

, as someone who loves to lead others to a deeper understanding of Jesus,

how do I learn to love leading myself?

To a deeper understanding.

, one of the other characteristics that I thought was fascinating is as someone

who is able to stay patient with others whilst they learn a concept.

How do I actually stay patient with myself?

To give myself grace, to give myself patience, to take time

to understand these things?

And so I think when you observe that, you also appreciate that the

test is actually also a mirror to your own individual thought life.

, and I, I'm sure we'll talk about dysfunctions a bit later, but I think

what I find is that you can treat yourself very differently to how you actually

may treat others when you look at the characteristics of the teaching function.

, so that was the first thing.

I will talk a little bit about my secular community.

, so I suppose how, the question was, is how is the teaching function

operating in your day to day life?

Probably in two ways, my secular community and my faith based community.

, so, look, I, I won't share too much about the specifics of what I do, but I think

that there is a very, very high teaching element to my role at work, , particularly

the chosen jurisdiction which I've decided to practice in, which is family law.

, so, I have a couple of friends here who would understand this, but I think

the best legal advocacy is actually not telling, but it's teaching.

So you don't tell.

the judiciary what they should do.

You teach them about why your suggested approach is likely to

be a much more beneficial way for them to make a decision.

You don't tell a m or a dad, this is what you should do.

You teach them and you educate them about the options.

Because what that then does is it creates agency and power

and self direction for them.

in a season where agency and power and self direction are almost non existent.

, so that's, I think, the key way in terms of the, the extension of

what I do outside of, of Red Door.

, then also there's the element of educating.

Sorry Vin, I have to butt in here.

Of course, please.

I have to.

, is that normal?

For somebody in your, , sphere of,, in the, in the, in the legal world,

is that way of engaging, or is that kind of, is there a redemptive

aspect to that, do you think?

And lawyers naturally that, or are they more telly than teachy?

I don't know.

Rich?

I don't know.

More telling?

Okay.

I mean, I only highlight that to say that, , You know, often people who have

this teaching function, right, they might be drawn into something like, you know,

the, the legal world because of its black and white nature and its truth, you know,

, which can be an idealistic aspect to it, but it's that, it's the redemptive aspect

of bringing the kingdom to bear in it.

You go, this is, this is this as a blunt tool where we just conk

people with it, but this is this as a Vehicle for the kingdom to come.

Yeah, yeah, I think, I think that's something which I may be able to

share a little bit about in terms of what's the vision that drives us?

And I think, , given my secondary function as apostolic, what that

provides is an ability for me to actually ask myself, how do I bring

this person, not just to healing, but to full restoration of health?

And I think when you apply that, you know, you can have an injury, you can have a

knee, and there is a period where they do need to just be looked after and healed.

But then it's like, now what?

How do I actually bring, whether it's someone in my secular world or

someone in my faith based community, how do we as a married couple, how

do we as a community actually bring people to a restoration of health?

Because then when you're actually actively participating in that, that's

where I think the kingdom actually comes on earth as it is in heaven, where

you're actually able to go, hey, How do I empower you for the first time in

20, 30 years to actually stand on your own two feet and just go, I'm worthy.

I'm enough.

, and I do find a great satisfaction in that.

And I, and I, and I would just say that that is jurisdictionally specific.

There are some areas where you would be like, no, that's not the

appropriate way to manage, , a conflict.

But I suppose family law found me, , 15 years ago.

So that's kind of how I try and think about.

No, that is so, so good.

And I think, , you know, that is the one, one of the things I so deeply

appreciate about, , about Vinny is, , you know, it's one thing to

be a teacher in this context, right?

Where, of course, you know, be a teacher in a church because, you

know, teaching and preaching is a core part of, why we gather to hear the

word proclaimed and to receive it and to be formed by it and all of that.

But to, to see how Vinny operates so strongly in this function beyond

the walls of the church, right?

Because the mission of God isn't the building of a church, right?

The mission of God is the advancement of God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven

and the church is a vehicle for that.

And to see these capacities operating with such a, a kingdom mindset.

, you know, and this is the joy of this series, because that's that, this is

a call for all to participate in this.

And so maybe even you're sitting here now as a teacher going, somebody

recognises, oh my gosh, I think I have this intelligence, this capacity, I'm

graced in this particular way, and they're going, okay, well how do I

then, Start to apply this kingdom vision into what I am doing and say in the

way that Vinny's done here in this area of family law, which that's a pretty

dark and hard landscape, isn't it Vin?

And so, cause this is how the light shines, right?

The light isn't shining if Vinny just gets up and, you know, You know starts

preaching You must be saved and you're a collaborative Is really advancing

the kingdom, but there are things which I may be able to do in this season

Which other people can't team game last time I checked, you know Living

a life with jesus as a team being an empowered life in what jesus intends

so good , was there anything second?

, I also just wanted to touch I think , and I wanted just to sort of talk about

how, like, when you do realize, , that you have a teaching function, you

are so open and so grateful for the amazing teaching that you've received.

But also what I think it does is at it actually also allows your,

your ometer to be able to be like, well, that's not quite right.

And I think part of that is actually finally enough leading

into the second tier function.

Like, my friendship with you is actually quite different to the

friendship that I have with Adam.

So,, so my, my combination, I suppose, is, is teacher apostle.

I did the test for the first time and was so incensed that I got teacher apostle.

I paid another ten US dollars to do it again.

Thinking that I was surely a shepherd because of, of,

of how much I admire Mandy.

So I did the test for a second time and got teacher apostle again.

And so rather than spend another 10 US dollars, , I think it was

more common on actually realizing that there is so much power in just

being able to embrace who you are.

, and so like the friendship allows me to serve you and love you as someone who

has a teaching So I think our friendship is then different to the friendship

that I share with Adam because I'm also able to be able to carry and share

his vision for more apostolic things.

And I was thinking about the very first conversations that

each of us individually had.

So you know how you were talking about your kindle and the questions?

The first conversation we ever had was, You're a lawyer?

What does jurisprudence mean?

Right?

So that was the very first conversation we ever had.

Alright, so I'll pause that.

The first conversation I ever had with Adam was, Oh man, can you

imagine how cool, like a gospel centered creative community would be?

Right?

So two separate conversations, but that is potentially why I think, like, we're

able to enjoy such a beautiful friendship, but it's different yet complementary.

So just wanted to share that thought, that having your different functions

actually does change make an impact on your village and who you cultivate around

your village and who you can encourage.

Oh my your marriage too because I'm so grateful that Anna can have these

conversations with people like Vinnie because, yeah, I don't, don't vibe, let's

use that word, I don't vibe, stop with it!

Hats.

, Yes.

, no, that is so, so very true.

Did I really, was that one of the first conversations we had?

Yeah, it was great.

Oh, wow.

But, but how beautiful that you kind of, you look for kindred

spirits in ministry, right?

And ministry is so lonely.

And those of you who have gone through church, and have had the privilege of

leading, and the privilege of loving, and the privilege of pouring yourself

out, there's a loneliness to that.

And so when you find kindred spirits who like the same things that you

do, and are passionate about the same things that you do, it's like, wow.

, how can we serve and love you in a way which Christ has always intended,

which is to sort of, Hold your arms up and go, hey, let's talk about

this, and then let's talk about that.

And how it all weird and wonderfully works together.

Yeah.

Yep.

, can we go to blind spots yet, or did you have?

Yeah, sure.

Because they're the super fun ones, aren't they?

Yeah.

Yeah.

They are hard because, you know.

Can we whack them up now?

On the screen.

Blind spot list.

There we go.

Mmm.

Yep.

What one or two?

So I had a moment of self reflection on this.

Yep.

And when I was reading it, I was actually really scared that I was lacking self

awareness when I read all of these, and I'm just like, ooh, I'm not sure I'm

not sure that any of them are really, like, sort of hitting me in the face.

And then again, one of the key learnings for, for me this year is this teaching

from, , the temptation of, of Jesus.

And how, you know, he has a lie put to him and then he has a truth through the

gospel, and how that can sometimes be an analogy of how our mind works, where we

go through our own, , sort of mind desert.

And I think for me, when I read that, when things go wrong, I

am very self critical of myself.

I'm hypercritical of my own teachings and my own sermons and I think a little

bit of a blend is that using the teaching and the apostolic sort of combination,

I can sometimes get disillusioned when I don't see teaching being

applied quickly in my own time, right?

So it's like, here's something, isn't this, isn't this amazing?

Oh wow, it's one or two years or three years or ten years and I

haven't yet learnt that lesson.

And so I think having to just continually appreciate that I think

the word dysfunction the way that Alan Hirsch actually structured

up this, this conversation is, is interesting, but I think it has the

potential to be pejorative in that it's probably just listening points.

All right, this is something which you're saying, you know, this is

something which is irking you.

How do, how do I bring this to a listening point, to a place

where this is an opportunity for repentance and forgiveness, and then

sort of try and reframe how that actually can become a functional.

as opposed to a dysfunctional listening point.

, that's kind of what I've been sort of experiencing.

Yep.

Yeah.

I think, , for me in this, because I'm probably a bit more, a bit more

immature than Vincent is, , I'd be a little less self reflective.

, I think the key thing that I have had to learn,, through this, so being so

strongly teacher orientated, is, , Like 1 Corinthians 13 has been key for me.

If you don't have love, you're just a clanging gong, and it doesn't

matter how great the truth is that you've seen, that you're trying

to proclaim, if it is not in love.

Just zip it.

And so that's been key for me to, to constantly come back.

I mean that applies to all of them.

, but I think when you, when you are somebody who just loves the

truth, there is a self innate self righteousness that can come with

that because truth is so good.

Everybody agrees truth is good, right?

, life gets really hard when there is no clear truth.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And so you can be a little bit.

Righteous in your proclaiming of the truth, and that's why you've got to

be so yeah I have to constantly do that where the truth is not enough.

It has to be truth in love if people can't receive it Yeah, yeah, I love what

you say I'm just as immature as you in that space and that I think you know when

you're looking at at people that love to learn and love to acculate knowledge,

to ask ourself, is it knowledge for knowledge's sake, or is it actually used

to be able to love other people with that and to share that in a gracious way?

Almost as if the acculation of knowledge can lead us to

have this secret information.

And, and the thing is, like, the word of Jesus and the way of Jesus,

it's not like a secret stock option.

It doesn't lose value if you share it.

And that's the thing which I've sort of landed on along the

journey, right, is that, , Chuck Swindoll says this wonderful thing.

He goes, sharing a burden is half a burden, but sharing a joy is double joy.

And so being able to acculate the knowledge that we have together

as a community and share it, It's like the joy is doubled.

, but I think that one of the dysfunctions can very well be it's like Oh, look at

all this knowledge, which we've acculated.

Well, we didn't find it You know, it was just god deposited or we read it or we

whatever it is Hanging on to that Gives the temptation to be self righteous

with our thought processes as well.

And so I just wanted to recognize and acknowledge and affirm that that's

something which We can grow together in and be aware of because yeah that that

whole idea of sharing the knowledge actually creates more joy I think is sort

of so true So let me work through that.

Yep All right.

In Ephesians 4, Paul says these five functions are given so the body of

Christ may be built up and we are until we are its unity in the faith

and in the knowledge of Son of God become mature, attaining to the whole

measure of the fullness of Christ.

What do you think, Ben, the fullness of Christ looks like?

And why is this particular function integral to the church

growing into this fullness?

Oh, okay.

I've got two minutes worth of stuff, if that's alright.

You've what?

I've got about two minutes worth of stuff, because I love, I love this.

I was going to say, only two minutes.

We'll see how it goes.

So, if you remember a couple of minutes ago, I really talked about

having this vision that to build a community, and Red Door is one of those

communities where it's not just focused on curing people, you know, here.

, You know, sing a song you'll be cured.

That's that's not it.

It's not even about healing But being able to love others and bring

them into a full restoration of health has been a massive thing.

We have a , You know, they're not here today, but a new friend, but a dear

friend who was talking about about communion that the body Represented

by the bread it heals us, right?

but also the body represented by all of us heals us.

And that has sent us on how we have sort of shaped our year for 2024 because

there is a tension point where your body is recovered when you're injured.

And then you actually need to decide To engage in some physical

rehabilitation to restore that body to actual healthy function.

I hope that makes sense Right so you can have the knee it can be fine But

then you then need to put in the work in to get that rehab done for it to be

Functioning in the exact same way that it was before And I think when you go

through a spiritual injury, it's the same It's figuring out what does ongoing health

look like and it's different to just being healed And so, you know, we have

been, when you talk about the fullness of Christ, we have been so blessed

to have been loved back to life here.

And so now it's about the fullness of Christ actually being, passing that

health and restoration to other people.

, and so, you know, I was just, Just thinking about that and understanding

that for us as a community to be beyond the four walls or to see the

fullness of Christ come, the measurement is actually how does the church

behave like Christ under pressure.

And I think I want to be able just to sort of share what I've been thinking about

that because again, this is why basketball or team sport is a wonderful analogy.

And even if you think about last night, for those of you who watched

the game last night, because when there is a battle going on, a really

good team knows exactly what to do.

And they have trained for pressure situations.

So when we face persecution, when we face hardship, when we face things, how does

the fullness of Christ reveal itself?

Well, it's revealed itself through its bride who performs well under pressure.

, and so, you know, I was kind of trying to smarize it in my head and

you look at the APES model, right?

So it's like the apostle thinking about a sporting analogy.

How good is it going to be when we score?

That's apostle.

Prophet.

You've got to score.

Right?

Evangelists, let's score with all these players that I've found.

Shepard, let me love you as we endeavor to score.

And teacher, right, this is how we're going to score.

And, and so I think for me, these habits that we form over time, , A well informed

church actually allows us to discern what are good habits and what are bad habits.

A well taught church decreases the risk of hurt and foolish behavior.

A well taught church prevents us from being swayed by the

soaring rhetoric of motivational speakers masquerading as teachers.

And so I think it allows us to remember what the fundamentals of our faith are.

Communion, prayer, community, following the way.

So that actually when pressure comes, , not only do we know how

to execute that as a community, but we know how to execute that as

individuals outside the four walls.

, so I think that's kind of what I've been meditating on.

So good.

Really good.

Alright, final question.

, we have touched on this a bit.

Sure.

But I'm assing you've got some other thoughts.

Maybe.

Okay.

, what about beyond the walls of the church?

How do you see this function operating in your world in ways that sees the kingdom

coming on earth as it is in heaven?

I do have a quick thought on this one.

Go ahead.

, so biggest challenge of the church, I think, is embracing.

New creative expressions of the gospel.

along with making sure that we embrace the strong robust

scaffolding of our fundamentals.

, and so like beyond the walls, I think the way of Jesus can be hijacked

in pursuit of a particular issue, which is the flavor of the day.

And I think as a church, we need to make sure we have sound fundamentals to know

whether, is this going to be a hill that we're going to die on, or is it not?

So to be able to define that, , we talk a little bit about US politics, , and

I think one of the things about, , the key for any election is this

term which they call ground game.

And so what that means is,, they don't necessarily talk about, you know,

the policies so much as, but really there's a key aspect of who are the

people that are driving the buses.

To election polls.

Who are the people that are knocking on doors?

Who are the people that are hosting meetings?

Who has the best ground game?

, and so I think it's incongruous for us to,, be busy without knowing the

fundamentals of who we're representing.

And so we can be busy with our ground game.

We can knock on doors.

You can tell the vision, you can speak, you could host meetings.

But if we are unsure of the fundamentals.

Beyond the four walls, they're not going to know what we stand for.

They just won't.

And we'll show them, to a certain extent, the beauty of a love which

is patient, a love which is kind.

But there has to be a moment we are armed with the ability to

articulate what our fundamentals are.

And I think that's probably where I'm particularly passionate about making

sure that even though our ground game is strong You're able to link that to

the vision of who we are as a people.

Yeah Very good indeed All right.

Well as we wrap this up, do you have any final concluding comments

or have you said your piece?

No, I've said my piece for now.

For now, okay.

Yeah.

What about yourself?

Maybe we should just continue.

Oh, Tal's always got more to say.

Never, never fear on that front.

, yeah, if you, if you are sitting here this morning, I was just, and you're going,

oh, this really resonates, , within me.

, And can I encourage you, one of the brilliant things about this teaching

function is, , is the capacity to grow in this area and to hone,, your ability.

Now perhaps you've been sitting here and you're going, like you're, you have

that real hunger around the Word of God.

, to want to understand it and, Share the truth, , that is found in God's word.

, and if that is you, man, we need good teachers of God's word, both inside

and outside the walls of the church.

, there's so much you can do to steward that gift and that

intelligence and that capacity.

, And so, , you know, I would encourage you,, to really, to take that.

, and then to be really, I guess, like, come and talk to us, right?

Because one of the challenges we've got, we've got this wonderful

thing called the internet, right?

And so people go, oh yeah, I really want to teach God's Word,

so I'll Google something, right?

It's just, there's just so much that's not helpful out there.

And I think, to touch on a lot of what Vin said, this is where communities come in.

You know, really important to do these things in community.

So that's, you know, there's a real hunger stirring in me around this

thing of teaching the Word of God.

Uh, come and talk to us about, you know, and it's not like, you

know, we are the keepers of the sole truth about how this is done.

to be done, but what we do have is a lot of years of experience.

I have had many years of wandering down unhelpful rabbit holes.

So I've got lots of years of, , going, yeah, I really should not have spent

time down that particular rabbit hole.

That wasn't very helpful.

So experience it's come from the good and the bad.

So I just want to encourage anyone in that space to, to pursue it.

Yeah.

I love that.

Just like saying yes.

I think is the other thing.

Like this whole idea of being able to open yourself up and understand

that like diverse ministry opportunities, serving opportunities,

talking and having conversations.

It actually cultivates fruit that you never knew was within you.

And it cultivates a hunger and a desire that you never knew was there.

Almost as if.

If you are willing to say yes to serving and ministry opportunities,

it builds a certain spiritual muscle that you never thought was possible.

And I think the teaching functions a bit like that, where you're able

to be like, no, I want to have a go.

I want to try.

And all of a sudden, the more you do it, the more you,, sort of injustice or that

there is this beautiful story of Jesus.

And for us to be able to share that with others from a well informed

fundamental base, I think involves talking with others in community.

Absolutely.

And it's so good, can I just tell you?

Because like, this is so incredibly powerful.

And there's a preacher by the name of David Platt, and I quote him regularly,

but he has this quote around the teaching of the word of God, and I think this is,

You know you're a teacher, particularly of the Word of God, when this just rings true

and you just have such a faith for it.

But the Word of God will do the work of God and the people of God.

And so to be able to share this, it's not just ideas, right?

Ideas are powerful, but this is, this is God's Word.

This is so full of authority, and this is so full of power to set people free, and

this is so full of power to transform.

I mean, this is why we've got to be such good stewards, if we feel called

to teach God's Word, because it can go so pear shaped if we don't steward

it with genuine hility and wisdom.

But to get to be able to do this is just like,

So anyway, I just want to leave you with that encouragement.

Alright, we good?

Great.

Alright Church, let us end this service with worship.

How about we stand?

Like, can we thank Vinny?

, Oop, I'm stepping on the tea.

Don't stand on the tea.

Alright, as the team comes, just let me pray into this, hey?

Lord, , First and foremost, we just thank you.

Lord, that,, You are not a cookie cutter God.

Lord, that you have graced us, equipped us, moulded us

and shaped us all so uniquely.

And Lord, and yet you have done it in such a way Father, that,,

we are meant to be interdependent with one another and that we shine brightest when

we lean into one another's strengths, when we lean into one another's capacities.

And so Lord, help us as a church family to grow more and more in our hility,

To grow more and more in our maturity.

Lord, that we would truly be able to operate in a beautiful way in unity

according to these five functions that you have given to your body.

Lord, that something so beautiful and so powerful and so compelling would come.

Lord, as we Embrace one another's differences as we seek to understand

and champion and give permission, Lord, to one another to be able to

thrive and operate and flourish in these places and these different ways.

Lord, stir up amongst us now an imagination for what it is, Lord, to

bring these particular and unique aspects.

And who you are to bear in our community here, but also be on these walls.

Lord, help us to grow in our understanding of how you have graced each one of us.

Help us to grow in our imagination and grow in our willingness

to step out in these ways.

Lord, I thank you that we are not just waiting around in some holding room.

But Lord, we have a high calling with which to embrace, and that is to see

your mission of redemption in the world come to pass as we yield to your

work in and through each one of us.

We thank you, Lord.

Amen.