WEBVTT 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:02.399 Hello, I am Anthony Garcia. 00:00:02.640 --> 00:00:07.919 I am so grateful that you tuned in to our social media or to our video ministry here. 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:10.960 Thank you for taking the time to listen to these messages. 00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:12.640 I hope that they're a blessing to you. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.559 If you have any other questions or ways that we can minister to you, I would be glad to connect with you. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:21.440 You can do so through the information below. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.160 Thank you again, and I hope this message is a blessing to you. 00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:30.640 And the young ones are coming back here for the nursery this morning. 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:36.159 And what a blessing to be able to look at the Word of God together this morning. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:39.280 Oh, I think that's it. 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:40.399 Yeah, there's someone there. 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:41.600 Thanks, Jordan. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:46.560 James chapter number three this morning. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:01:04.959 You know, one of the scariest places to be, at least as a parent, is in an expensive store with breakable things with little kids. 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:12.959 You may have little kids and you may have experienced that at one point or another, or uh maybe you were the little kid. 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:21.120 That mom and dad said, now don't touch anything, don't look at anything, don't run in the store, don't even breathe in the store, okay? 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:26.400 Because we don't want to be responsible, because if you break it, you buy it. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:28.159 We don't want to have to pay for it. 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:31.599 So take extra caution. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:35.359 If I can avoid it, I'll try not to go in at all with the kids. 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:53.040 But every once in a while we're taking family or friends or someone, we're up at the shops in Sedona, and uh and some of the kids want to go in, and so you take them in and you lock them in the stroller if you can, and you give the boys the instructions don't touch anything. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:02:08.960 You're suddenly hit with this extreme carefulness because we understand how to handle valuable things carefully. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:22.960 And so we ought, so I ought to handle the word of God very, very carefully. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:37.439 And in our text this morning, we're gonna see a message of weightiness that teachers must be aware of the weightiness of their responsibility. 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:47.520 It's in the context of our words and of the tongue, and we're gonna get to that next week, but let's just examine the first two verses here in James 3. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:53.199 I'll invite you to stand one more time if you're able, and we're gonna read verse number one. 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:55.680 Here's what James says. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:12.960 He says, My brethren, be not many masters, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation, knowing that we are going to be held to a stricter judgment. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.639 For in many things we offend all. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:23.759 If any man offend not in word, the same as a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:30.719 Let's pray together, and as we look at God's word, I encourage you to pray in your own heart that God would speak to you as well. 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:32.560 Lord, I thank you for this day. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:38.479 What a wonderful song service, Lord, where we can lift our voices and get our attention on you. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:54.319 Oh Lord, I'm so thankful that it is well with my soul this morning because, Jesus, you rescued me, you saved me, you bought me, you redeemed me, even though I was unworthy, even though I was a sinner, Jesus, I'm yours because of your grace. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:56.639 And so I thank you for that this morning. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:08.960 I thank you that one day my faith will be made sight that Jesus, I believe with all my heart that I'm gonna see you face to face, I'm gonna see the scars in your hand, I'm gonna know you better than I even know you now. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:19.360 And Lord, I just pray that this morning that we would have you at the center of our hearts, you at the center of our lives. 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:22.560 Lord, I pray that you would speak to us this morning. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:24.720 Lord, you have spoken to me. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:27.040 Lord, I am convicted. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:31.439 I am convicted, Lord, by this verse, Lord. 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:42.480 And the waitiness that it is for me to step into the pulpit each week and share what your word says. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:46.800 Oh God, may it produce a carefulness in me. 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:51.759 That I would live out the truth, not just teach it to others. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:54.560 May it produce a carefulness in me. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:05:00.480 Lord, that I would be helpful, that I would feed your flock, that I would care for them. 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:05.360 Lord, I love your people, Lord. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:08.720 I love those that have gathered here this morning in your name. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:13.120 I pray that you give them a special blessing from your word today. 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:18.959 That you would help us by your grace to be what we ought to be, Lord. 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:21.519 That you change our hearts little by little. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:26.480 We give you all the glory, all the honor, all the praise, because it is all due to you. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:28.160 We love you, Jesus. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.480 And we pray these things in your name. 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:31.360 Amen. 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:32.639 Thank you for standing. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:34.959 You can be seated this morning. 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:51.920 Luke 12, 48b says, For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required, and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:58.560 Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, with great power comes great responsibility. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:04.959 And this morning, what we're gonna do is we're gonna look at three concerns about teachers and teaching. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:12.319 And I will say that part of the message primarily, part of the direction primarily is for me. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:14.480 Is for Brother Austin. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:22.480 It is for those who would declare the Word of God, share the Word of God, teach the Word of God. 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:28.800 And so part of it is that, but we're also gonna look at a general view of teaching as well. 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:38.560 And we all will be held accountable with how we taught others and how we lived out what we were taught. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:47.519 But the first concern that I want us to see this morning is number one, the caution for becoming a teacher. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:52.720 The role that James addresses here includes himself. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:58.879 He says that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:09.920 The role that James played within the church was a pastor, an elder, a shepherd teacher, or a pastor teacher in the city of Jerusalem. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:12.160 And Acts chapter number 15. 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:20.959 We see that James was used, and there's other passages that we can look at, that James was in the position of a teacher. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:31.600 And we also see in other passages of scripture that the Lord blesses the church with different leaders, with different roles, and with different responsibilities. 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:41.120 Ephesians 4 11 says, and he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:47.759 1 Timothy 3 1, the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy and he says, This is a true saying. 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:53.839 If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:56.560 He desires something that's good. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.560 This is a good thing. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:03.680 But we have here that James is saying, be not many masters. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:07.199 There shouldn't be many of you that are teachers. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:15.040 And so is James discouraging and saying, Oh, we should be done away with pastors, we should be done away with teachers, we should be done away with these things. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:18.480 Well, obviously not because that's the role that he fulfilled. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:28.160 But what James is doing is he's providing people, he's providing Christians with caution. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:34.000 It's not a bad desire, but it's a cautious calling. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:39.759 And the reason why is because James understood the day and time in which they lived. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.919 Jesus understood the day and time in which they lived. 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:59.840 Because the rabbi, the master, the teacher would often time in that culture would receive particular honor, particular respect, maybe esteem for his position. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:17.440 In that time, people looked at that position of rabbi or teacher with a little bit of awe, and people didn't always have the proper motive with desiring this opportunity to be a teacher, to be an elder, to be a leader. 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:41.519 Some would have wanted the position just so that they could have power and influence, just so that they could have maybe that respect, that adoration, just because maybe they were desirous of so many other uh uh um things in their heart that wasn't in alignment with what the calling involves. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:51.200 Matthew 23, verse number five, it says, but all their works they do for to be seen of men. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:10:05.039 They make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments and make sure that you know they look depart, and they love the uppermost rooms at feasts and the chief seats in the synagogue. 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:16.799 They love the best uh position, the best seats and greetings in the markets to be called of men rabbi, rabbi, rabbi, rabbi. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:26.159 Oh, there's this awe, or there's this respect, oh, there's this position of power, and I want that is what James is cautioning them to. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:40.720 And Jesus says, But be ye not called rabbi, for one is your master even Christ, and all ye are brethren, and call no man your father upon the earth, for one is your father which is in heaven, neither be ye called masters, for one is your master even Christ. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:48.720 I've said this before: my job as the pastor is not to point you to me, my job is to point you to Jesus. 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:56.159 And there's a problem when leaders, there's a problem when teachers make the life all about them. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:57.519 It's about Jesus. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:59.759 John the Baptist understood this, did he not? 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:03.919 He must increase, but I must decrease. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:06.399 That's what Jesus is getting at. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:08.399 That's what James is addressing. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:12.720 James is addressing the issue of selfish ambition. 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:16.879 God has different callings for each individual. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:24.639 He fits and he frames the body together, and we're all different parts and we serve in different ways. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:39.200 We shouldn't have a self-centered desire for positions of authority in order to serve our own flesh, as they did at the time of James's writing. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:58.559 The unfortunate thing is, is if we find our identity in our position, if we find our identity in our position, if you find your identity in your performance, if you find your identity in your possessions, we can easily be led to despair. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:05.120 It doesn't matter what position it is, and you're sitting there and you're like, I have no desire at all to be a teacher, right? 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:12.480 I have no desire at all, or maybe it's not position that you uh um over-desire that you're trying to find your identity in. 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:20.799 Maybe it's your performance, what you do and what you accomplish, and the things that people give you high fives and pat on the backs for. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.960 Maybe it's your possessions. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:31.360 But if we find the root of our identity in our position, our performance, or in our possessions, we can be led to despair. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:40.240 Michael Phelps, you may know of the Olympic athlete, the swimmer, who is one of the most decorated athletes of all time. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:43.840 Twenty three gold medals. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:47.279 Twenty-eight medals overall. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:55.440 During the time of COVID, he was concerned about the athletes because the Olympics were being postponed. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:13:06.000 And they got to interview him, and it it it came out at Phillips, uh Phelps, sorry, uh, was very um open with what he faced. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:14.080 Since his retirement in 2016, the article says Phelps has talked of living with depression and anxiety. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:19.120 He even had thoughts of suicide at his lowest points. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:34.320 The article there goes on to talk about what was going on with the COVID and the Olympic Games being postponed, and Michael Phelps said, as athletes were so regimented, at this point all the work is done. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:37.759 We're just fine-tuning the small things to get to this point. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:41.120 Now it's like, oh, we're not competing? 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:47.519 All these emotions start flaring up, and he says, I really think mental health is so important right now. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:51.919 Phelps said, the key to coping is keeping things as simple as possible. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:58.480 And he goes on and they they continue to interview him, and he says, We're getting all these big questions thrown at us. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:00.559 What if, what if, what if? 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:07.679 It's so hard to understand, we're having a hard time just wrapping our head around it. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:19.919 See, I think what this great athlete was struggling with is all his life, his identity was rooted in being an athlete. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:25.279 His identity was rooted in I've won this many gold medals. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:37.519 His identity, as others that he points out, the athletes, their identity is rooted so much in being able to compete that when that was taken away from them, what are we gonna do? 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:42.240 They are thrust into a position of despair. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:52.159 So if we try to find our true identity in our position, if I try to find my soul identity in that, oh yeah, I'm a pastor, and what if that is taken away from me? 00:14:52.399 --> 00:15:06.960 Well, then I can be thrown into despair if my identity is not tied to something that cannot be taken away, that will not be taken away, that's everlasting, that he promises he will never forsake me nor leave me. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:12.559 My identity, your identity must be rooted in Jesus Christ. 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:36.799 Because positions can be taken, you can lose the job, performance can go down, things might not go as you planned, as you had hoped, possessions can be taken away, but if you find your identity in Christ, there is joy everlasting because he promises you I will not forsake you, I will not leave you. 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:40.480 If you're at the bottom of the valley, I will be there. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:44.879 If you're at the mountaintop and everything's going great, I will be there. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:47.759 So find your identity in Jesus. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:51.519 This is what Jesus warned the disciples of as they came back. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:16:03.919 Jesus had just given them the liberty to go and preach, to see people healed, to see the demons obey their word at the name of Jesus. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:06.240 They fled, and the disciples come back. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:20.799 Jesus, we were victorious, even the devils obeyed, and you should, Jesus, you should have just saw what happened over here because we did this and we did that, and it was amazing, Jesus. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.799 And you know what Jesus told them? 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:28.720 Essentially, first he told them all of that is because of him, because of me. 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.720 He said, All of that is because of me. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:33.279 I saw Satan falling like lightning. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:36.320 I'm the one that's giving you the power to accomplish that. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:45.679 And then he turned their attention, he said, Don't rejoice that the demons are subject. 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:52.320 Rejoice that your names are written down in heaven. 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:55.039 Do you see what Jesus was pointing them to? 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:59.360 Their identity had to be rooted in Christ. 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:02.559 And so we must have caution. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:05.680 James was encouraging these brothers, have caution. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:20.480 It's not that it's a bad thing, and we want more people to uh be called to the mission field, to be called to pastor, to grow and to teach in different avenues, but take caution that that's not where your rooted identity is at. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:26.000 It's in something that's an anchor for your soul that will never go away. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:30.559 Today we still struggle with this at times, if we're honest. 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:37.599 We struggle with desire for position, not to serve, but so that we can be seen. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:44.480 We struggle with desire to gain prestige, to gain respect, or even power or influence. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:50.799 We struggle with wrapping our identity and something that can be taken away from us so easily. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:18:01.359 James writes though, not to discourage people from teaching, but to caution to consider, consider, consider your heart. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:14.000 Now, if you're called, if the Lord places you in that position, I am only here because the Lord's placed me here. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:19.519 If you're called, you've received that opportunity, then take great care. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.960 Take great care. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:27.440 First Timothy 4 16, take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:35.920 Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine, to the word of God, and to your way of living, and continue in them. 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:39.519 For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:42.319 You're gonna you're gonna help those that hear this. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.759 You take heed to yourself. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:55.200 Acts 20, verse 28, take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 00:18:55.359 --> 00:19:14.160 The caution is that not every the caution here is that not everyone is called to be a teacher, but those who teach, those who influence, those who disciple, those who are helping others grow, recognize that it is a weighty responsibility. 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:19.680 It's a good thing, but it is weighty. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.000 Number two this morning, the responsibility of teaching. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:31.119 Now, James is directly addressing more of the office here of a teacher, perhaps a pastor. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:39.680 And some in the church may have thought, oh, I want that title, I want that position because I get these benefits, and he needed to caution their hearts, right? 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:50.640 And while James is referring primarily to this position of teacher, throughout the Bible, we see that many share in this responsibility of teaching. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:20:00.960 And perhaps one of the greatest responsibilities that I have is not teaching the word of God from the pulpit, but teaching the word of God in my home. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:09.920 Mom, dad, parents, grandparents. 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.759 Congratulations. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:17.039 You're in the position of teacher. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:22.400 And class is always, always, always in session. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:25.519 It's always in session. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:32.640 Child development research tells us just how formative those first years are. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:39.680 By around five years old, a child's brain has already reached roughly 90% of its adult size. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:47.599 During the first few years, there's more than a million neural connections that are being formed every second. 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:54.400 Their little minds are constantly learning, observing, connecting, and developing. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:58.160 Just at five years old. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:11.119 You realize that parents, you're the ones that are investing in them at those incredibly formative years. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:24.799 Before the professor at the college, before the teacher at school, before the pastor at church each week, before the coach on the sports team, before their employer, it is you. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:37.359 And God has placed you without responsibility at the earliest times to be influential in your teaching, in your child's life. 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:46.559 I've had many times when I've seen my kids do something, or I've heard my kids say something, and I've thought, you know what? 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.079 They learned that from mama. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.759 No, I'm just kidding. 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:59.279 I've had many times where I've heard them say something, I've seen them do something, and I didn't need to get a mirror out because I was looking at myself right there. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.000 Well, where did they learn that? 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:03.599 They saw you do it. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:05.440 They heard you say it. 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:07.359 They saw you react. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:11.839 Class is always in session. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:15.519 Deuteronomy 6, I think it's in your notes there. 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:28.720 Now, these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it, that thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and commandments which I commanded thee. 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:34.160 Thou and thy son and thy son's son all the days of thy life, and that thy days may be prolonged. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:37.200 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:45.279 That it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee in the land that floweth with milk and honey. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:52.880 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:56.640 And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:58.400 It starts with you first. 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:08.160 In thine heart you shall love, you shall follow, and thou shalt teach them diligently. 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:13.119 That's a concerning word. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:16.559 I teach them, but do I do it diligently? 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:18.960 Do I do it like their life depends upon it? 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:26.160 Do I do it like I have this small window, this small window of maybe 18 years to influence their life? 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:28.480 Do I do it in a diligent way? 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:38.319 Diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:41.119 That kind of sounds like all of life, doesn't it? 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:51.279 All your way of living you should be pouring into them, modeling for them, teaching them, pointing them back to Jesus. 00:23:52.319 --> 00:24:01.039 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes, and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:07.039 Proverbs 22, 6, train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:25.759 There's there's teaching, there's training, there's modeling, there's mentoring, there's hard conversations, there's things that you don't want to deal with, but you have to deal with because parents, we have a special responsibility to influence and train and teach our children in the way they ought to go. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:30.799 And we cannot hand that responsibility off to social media. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:34.559 We cannot hand that responsibility off to the world. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:39.119 We cannot hand that responsibility off to the public school. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:44.640 We must take that responsibility and live it out in front of them. 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:53.359 I have a greater responsibility to Anderson, Palmer, Hadley, and Jett. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:25:03.279 I have a greater responsibility to them to teach them the Word of God than I even have to pastor the church. 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:13.759 Because if I can't care and lead for my own home, then I am not qualified to lead and care for the church. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:22.880 Parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:26.000 Takes a village to raise a child. 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:32.319 We're all a part of this, but Christian, you're sitting here and you say, you know, I don't I don't really have any kids. 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:40.400 I'm not nearby family that has kids or teens or anything like this. 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:52.880 Well, I want you to consider the responsibility that you have as a Christian to teach, train, disciple, invest in others. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:26:25.440 Titus 2, 3 through 5 says it like this that aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that they may teach or encourage the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:30.640 And this application is not just for the ladies, but this application is for the men as well. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:32.400 Who are you investing in? 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:34.000 Who are you influencing? 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.680 Who are you training up? 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:43.119 Who are you helping along in life to be successful in the eyes of God? 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:46.480 You know what Hebrews does in the book of Hebrews? 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:59.599 Hebrews actually rebukes the immature Christian, whether it be for laziness or irresponsibility, but they haven't grown in the word of God like they should. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:03.119 Whereas they should be teachers, it says. 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:05.440 Hebrews 5, 12 through 14. 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:20.880 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:25.920 For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:35.200 But strong meat belongeth to them that are full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:37.440 James warns. 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:52.640 He warns against the carelessness of pursuing the position of teacher, but Hebrews warns against carelessly avoiding the responsibility to mature so that you might help others. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:28:03.279 Hey, if I walked up here and I had a baby bottle full of milk and I was drinking a baby bottle full of milk, that would be my mom just made a face, that would be awkward, right? 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.000 That would be weird. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:09.839 You'd be like, why uh are you an adult drinking out of a baby bottle? 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:17.759 Now, if one of my babies had one, right, when they were little, Jets even, he has sippy cups, right? 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:25.519 He drinks out of open cups, he sticks his hand in, he takes the ice on, you can't drink it anymore, but he doesn't even have a baby bottle anymore, right? 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.640 Be weird. 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:33.279 It's not right, it's not natural. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:45.119 There should be some growth that has taken place, and so it is for Christians who refuse to mature. 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:55.200 For Christians who remain on the diet of the milk for whatever reason. 00:28:55.839 --> 00:29:09.759 Fear, laziness, self-centeredness, whatever reason you haven't matured like you should, and the Bible warns us. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:12.400 Sadly, this is what happens. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:18.160 You're refusing to take responsibility and count accountability in your walk of faith. 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:24.480 Do you see that yes, you you shouldn't desire a position for the wrong motives? 00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:32.400 Yes, not everyone's called to be the pastor, but many, many, many are called to teach, to train, to help, to serve, to disciple. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:40.799 Have you considered that God may intend to use your spiritual growth to help somebody else grow in the Lord? 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:44.480 Have you considered that that I need to grow? 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:53.839 Me personally, as a pastor, I need to grow because if I haven't gone, if I haven't grown, then how can I help you grow? 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:55.359 If I haven't grown. 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:57.359 And so, Christian, what about you? 00:29:57.599 --> 00:30:01.519 If you haven't grown, how are you supposed to help somebody else grow? 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:07.920 The responsibility of teaching is given to more than just the pastor. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:24.160 It's given to Christians, it's given to parents, it's given to others that are maybe not in the position like a pastor, but you have a responsibility to encourage, edify, and train up others. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:26.079 And how should one teach? 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:29.920 One should always go back to the word of God. 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:32.079 We are a word-centered church. 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:36.000 The word of God is powerful enough to change a person's life. 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:41.279 It's good enough to instruct us in righteousness and in our way of living. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.799 It is enough. 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:48.640 And so we look to the word of God day in, day out, Sunday after Sunday after Sunday. 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:50.559 We will preach the word of God. 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:53.599 Parents, point your kids to the word of God. 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:57.279 Disciple maker, point your disciples to the word of God. 00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:08.640 Friends, encourage one another to look at the word of God because what is written is enough, and we want to point people back to Jesus. 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:14.799 Last thought this morning: the accountability of teachers. 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:19.200 This single verse, James 3, 1, I've read it. 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.480 I've read it. 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:22.640 I've read the book of James. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:27.200 But this single verse brought so much conviction in my heart. 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:37.440 See, he says, we shall receive the greater condemnation. 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:41.519 We shall receive the stricter judgment. 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:46.400 We often live this life as if it's our own to manage and steward. 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:55.519 As if what we have, the gifts we have, the possessions we have, the positions we have, these things as if they're just our own to do what we want with them. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:32:01.519 And we fail to recognize that one day we will stand before God and we will give an account. 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:04.640 We will not be judged for our sin and be condemned to hell. 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:08.000 Jesus already took that judgment on the cross of Calvary. 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:14.480 But you will stand and give an account to God for how you stewarded what he gave you. 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:23.119 My words, my messages perhaps will be on replay. 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:27.920 You taught us this, Pastor, but you live like that. 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:29.039 Oof. 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:35.519 Hey Anthony, you you put a question mark somewhere where I put an exclamation point. 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.039 Oof. 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:42.799 Each message that I teach now becomes a little weightier for me. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:45.440 Am I teaching the scripture? 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:47.759 Am I teaching what the Bible says? 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:50.079 Am I going beyond what the Bible says? 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:53.599 Or am I giving the flock the word of God? 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.720 Then then this. 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:56.880 Am I living it out? 00:32:57.359 --> 00:33:03.519 Am I just telling others what they're called to do, but failing to live it out in my own life? 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:11.519 Parents, are we just instructing our children to, hey, hey, hey, do what I tell you to do, but don't do what I do. 00:33:11.920 --> 00:33:19.440 Oh, we are called to live it out and give it out. 00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:24.480 My wife, she's uh she's a wonderful cook. 00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:28.960 And uh the kids like to help her sometimes. 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:31.039 Now, usually they like to help her. 00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:33.200 It's breakfast, like eggs and things like that. 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:37.039 Because it's kind of it's kind of fun for them to do, crack the egg open. 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:43.039 But when they especially fight to try and help her is when she's making a dessert. 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.720 Right? 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:52.720 Because they know you're gonna have an opportunity to taste it before it's served. 00:33:53.920 --> 00:34:00.799 I want an opportunity to taste it before it's I might get an opportunity to lick the spoon, right? 00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:05.839 To to to trish try just a little bit of what mom has made. 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:10.880 And so our kids, they like to help her, especially when it's dessert time, right? 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:12.960 Because they want to taste it first. 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:22.559 And if you've cooked, oftentimes uh your habit probably is to maybe taste it a little bit as you're making it. 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:26.079 To make sure, okay, is the is the flavor coming out right? 00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:27.760 Is the consistency right? 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:32.079 And you taste it before you serve it. 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:41.599 When it comes to Bible teaching, when it comes to influencing others, I must, I must, I must taste it before I serve it. 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:49.360 I must live in it, I must taste it, I must see that this is for me first before it's for you. 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:57.679 And you ought to do the same in whatever role you have of responsibility of teaching and influencing others, taste it first. 00:34:58.079 --> 00:35:02.559 Live it out first, and then give it out. 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:10.800 Oh, God forbid that I ever get to the point in my teaching where I think, oh, this is good for them, and I've kind of already arrived past this. 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:14.480 Oh, God forbid, parents, that you say this is good for you. 00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:17.920 Uh but I don't necessarily need to apply this to my life. 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:20.800 Oh, may we taste it first. 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:26.719 To whom much is given, much is required. 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:36.320 Richard Baxter, an old Puritan pastor, said, Take heed to yourselves lest your examples contradict your doctrine. 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:42.000 My character must precede my craft. 00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:45.280 My character must precede my craft. 00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:49.360 My way of life must match up with my words of life. 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:52.880 And so, church family, it is my plea for you today. 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:56.400 If you take anything away this morning, it's my plea for you today. 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:57.519 Would you pray? 00:35:57.679 --> 00:35:58.559 Would you pray? 00:35:58.719 --> 00:36:05.599 Would you pray for your pastors, for your teachers, for those that influence you, for those that labor in the Word of God? 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:09.360 Would you pray for the teachers that serve the children's ministry? 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:12.480 Would you pray for the teachers that serve the teen ministry? 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:29.039 Would you pray for the teachers that invest in the lives of others, the adult ministries, the regular pulpit ministry, that we would take this weighty responsibility and use it wisely? 00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:33.840 That we will be students first and teachers second. 00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:39.360 Would you pray for me that I would be a student first and a teacher second? 00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:44.639 That we will be skilled in our teaching so that you might be fed. 00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:46.239 Hey, it's okay. 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:49.599 Pray that I get better at this thing, okay? 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:53.840 Pray that I get better, pray that I'm more skilled. 00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:57.679 Pray that I would be a soul-focused teacher. 00:36:57.920 --> 00:37:06.079 Pray that we would be soul focused, that the aim is not just to see exterior change, the aim is to see a heart change. 00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:09.440 Soul focus that involves soul care. 00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:13.280 That involves concern for each individual. 00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:16.800 Pray that we would be servant teachers. 00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:20.880 That we would labor in the word. 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:24.320 We would give ourselves in service. 00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:26.880 So you might be fed. 00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:30.559 I'll give an account of my life, and so will you. 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:36.480 You'll give an account for how you received the word, what you did with the word, how you lived out the word. 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:41.440 We won't be judged for our sin, as I said, but you're going to be judged for your stewardship. 00:37:42.960 --> 00:37:46.559 The reality of the Bible is that our life is not our own. 00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:49.039 Our life is not our own. 00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:55.519 It's been gifted to us by God, and He will hold us accountable for how we live it. 00:37:56.880 --> 00:38:07.840 Probably a couple years ago now, when uh when my brother when Arthur was here, and uh I think it was kind of a busy season of life. 00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:14.960 I don't remember all the details surrounding it, but I don't know if my parents had just moved here or what. 00:38:15.039 --> 00:38:28.800 There's we had a moving truck, and my grandma, um, my dad Art's mom had uh passed away around uh that season, and he had received uh some of her some of her things. 00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:34.559 And uh one of those things was uh a sewing machine that she had. 00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:51.440 And uh I don't remember all the details of what took place, but we were gonna transport that sewing machine from I think it was here at the house, and we're gonna take it over to our parents. 00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:59.840 Me and Arthur, it wasn't our sewing machine, but we had the responsibility of transporting it. 00:39:00.800 --> 00:39:04.800 We had the responsibility of taking it from one place to the other. 00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:06.960 And I don't know why. 00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:10.639 I don't know if we just didn't think of it, we didn't strap it down. 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:14.000 I thought it was just heavy enough that it's not gonna shake, it's not gonna move. 00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:17.360 I don't know if we just forgot about it, what we were thinking, alright? 00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:19.679 We're just being boneheads, I guess. 00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:25.760 But we get there, and unfortunately, you probably know where the story's going. 00:39:26.400 --> 00:39:28.480 The sewing machine had fallen over. 00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:36.239 And uh, and I know that my dad was disappointed in it, right? 00:39:36.719 --> 00:39:37.760 It was hurt. 00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:41.119 It wasn't ours, it was really his. 00:39:41.760 --> 00:39:46.960 And we were supposed to be a good steward of it from one point to the other. 00:39:47.679 --> 00:39:51.199 I felt awful because it wasn't mine. 00:39:51.360 --> 00:39:53.440 So I only owe him a hundred more rounds of golf. 00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:54.400 That's it. 00:39:58.159 --> 00:40:02.320 You know, the reality is that one day we're all gonna face our Heavenly Father. 00:40:04.320 --> 00:40:06.320 And what he's giving us is an order. 00:40:42.320 --> 00:40:44.480 I have that responsibility as a teacher. 00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:47.599 I will be under a stricter judgment. 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:50.639 And that puts a good fear in my heart. 00:40:51.599 --> 00:40:55.039 My friend, you too will stand before your Savior. 00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:58.480 Will he say, Well done? 00:40:58.800 --> 00:41:00.239 Let's pray together this morning. 00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:02.079 Would you bow your head and close your eyes? 00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:04.960 And I hope this message was a blessing to you. 00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:11.039 If you are in the Phoenix area, we would love to have you come in for a visit. 00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:14.639 We're located on Indian School and 23rd Avenue. 00:41:14.800 --> 00:41:19.920 And if we can be a help to you in any other way, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. 00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:28.880 I would love to answer any questions that you had about the sermon, or maybe a question that you have about eternal life and a relationship with God. 00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:32.960 We're here to serve you and to point you to Jesus Christ. 00:41:33.360 --> 00:41:35.199 Thank you so much for watching this message.