273: Mark Amis – Exhortation: Six Tips to Ensure Godly Growth (Matthew 25:14-31)

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Welcome to Good Chris Selfie and
talks.

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I’m Levi.
And I’m Chris.

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And I’m Brian.
Thank you for joining us this

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week.
On this podcast, we select one

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talk a week to help us get the
Bible in our Daily News feed.

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We post a new.
Episode at.

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The start of each week with a
short intro beforehand to kind

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of set the stage for.
The talk you’re about to listen

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to.
And now, let’s talk more about

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this week’s talk.
For this week, we’re listening

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to an expectation that was given
at Verdugo Hills at the

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beginning of November by brother
Mark Amos, who is visiting from

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the seamy Hills Ecclesia.
This was an exhortation that was

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recommended.
By several people who?

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Were in attendance.
We even got a voicemail message

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from a particular.
Brother who felt really.

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Strongly that this would be an
excellent exhortation to share.

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For the podcast, what I really
appreciate.

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About brother Mark’s exhortation
beyond the point that he gave

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the too long didn’t read version
right at the beginning of his

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exhortation because he has two
young children and sometimes can

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not be able to stay focused on
an expectation through an entire

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memorial service, which I can
understand having three young

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boys myself.
But what he is focusing on is

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something that I’ve been looking
at personally a lot, which is

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trying to make sure that you’re
always doing something to ensure

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that you’re growing and being
more in line with the.

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Characteristics that God has.
Given to you and what he has

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called.
Us to follow.

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After his son in SO he breaks it
down to 6 tips, which I will not

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spoil.
He mentioned it right at the

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beginning of the expectation, so
if you only have a few minutes

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you can get right into it, get
the six tips and move on.

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But I would encourage you to
listen to the entire

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expectation.
He took it from the reading from

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Matthew 25, specifically the
14th to 31st verses, so if you

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want to read through that before
you listen, you can do that, but

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I really enjoyed this
expectation.

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He dives into those 6 tips in
more detail later on in his

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expectation, gives some really
good actionable advice, and even

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if you pick just one of the six
to apply in your life, it will

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help to strengthen your faith
and encourage you in your walk

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and make you a.
Better follower of Christ.

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With the little things that we
can do to.

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Help us to better reflect God’s
character so.

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Thank you to those who sent this
in as a recommendation and to

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Brother Mark for being willing
to let this be shared.

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We will now turn it over to him
for his exhortation. 6 Tips to

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Ensure Godly Growth.
Good morning, everybody.

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Thanks so much for having me.
Especially the last couple

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years, it’s been very nice to
get an invite like this.

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It gives me a real push to, you
know, get the Bible into my

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life, something that’s changed
over the past couple years,

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definitely having kids.
And one thing that comes along

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with that is your ability to
concentrate from beginning to

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end of an exhortation.
Nora is very smart.

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She’s already smarter than AB
and I, and so you need to hang

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on and be very careful with your
words or she’ll catch you later,

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almost like a transcript in her
mind, like you promised this And

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and may her nickname is Mayhem.
She’ll find the tallest thing in

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the room and jump off of it.
Just this morning she got into

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our chia seeds and dumped them
all over the floor.

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We left that for this afternoon
and hopefully dogs aren’t

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allergic to those things ’cause
I guess we’ll see.

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But she also got into our
deodorant and took a bite out of

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it.
I’m pretty I’m almost confident

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that’s OK for kids to eat.
It’s not poisonous.

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We’ve called Poison control
before, but it hasn’t been for

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deodorant.
So, but with that in mind,

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something I like to do now when
I give a talk is to those that

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might be distracted, whether it
be your parent or whether you

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just stayed up too late last
night.

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For those that can’t really be
with us for the next 15 to 20

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minutes, I like to give just a
short 32nd summary of you know

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what this exhortation is what
we’re trying to get across so at

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least some of us can can get
something out of it.

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So here it goes, our talk in 30
minutes, 30 seconds.

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Rather.
Our primary purpose in life is

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to grow and develop in
character, putting on the

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characteristics of God and using
these qualities to serve God by

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serving others.
So developing characteristics

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such as patience, gentleness,
self-control, so that we could

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be of more help to others.
And this is really the main

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lesson of the parable of the
talents in Matthew 25.

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And that quality, that
development, is what Jesus is

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looking for in us when he
returns and what we will be

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judged on SO6 tips by which we
can be better at growing in

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character and nurturing godly
characteristics.

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So tip #1 is be humble, be
honest with ourselves regarding

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our personal shortcomings,
realizing areas our character

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needs to grow in.
Tip #2 is Lean on others to help

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us see where we need
improvement, to help us push

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towards that mark, and to
practice and live out these

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characteristics.
Tip #3 accept trials as teaching

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moments specifically designed to
advance an aspect of our

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character.
Tip #4 Learn from others because

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there’s really only so much that
we can go through ourselves.

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We need to be able to learn from
the experiences of both those

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around us as well as Bible
characters.

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Tip #5, we should set goals
looking to Jesus and his

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character as our guide and role
model.

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And finally, tip number six,
Give thanks to God, Jesus, his

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angels that he sends for the
opportunity that we have to

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develop our character and to
serve others and really the

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patience that they endure with
us, with our stubbornness to

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grow.
So there it is for those that

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really can’t be with us.
The next 15 minutes, I hope you

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got something out of that short
summary.

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But for those that have a bit
more attention, let’s let’s dive

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into Matthew 25 and specifically
look at the parable of the

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talents here.
So to just paraphrase the the

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parable that Jesus gives here in
Matthew 25, starting at verse

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14, we have a man that goes on a
journey, but before he leaves he

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calls his servants and he
entrusts them with his property.

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While he’s gone, the three
servants, he gives 15 talents to

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another two talents and to the
third one talent according to

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their ability.
We’re told Then over the period

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of time this man is absent.
The first two servants double

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their talents 5 to 10, two to
four.

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However, the servant that was
given one talent hit it away,

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burying it in the ground.
When the man returns, the

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servants come to him with his
talents.

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To the servants that increase
the talents, the man responded.

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Well done, Good and faithful
servant.

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You have been faithful over a
little.

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I will set you over much.
Enter into the joy of your

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master.
But to the servant that hid the

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one talent, the master rebuked
him for his lack of growth.

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The servant was cast in the
darkness and his one talent was

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given to the servant with 10 and
then finishing the parable.

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Jesus says for to everyone who
has will more be given and he

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will have an abundance, but from
the one who has, not even what

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he has will be taken away.
So a simple story that I think

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we’re all familiar with, but
what does it mean?

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What is the specific lesson that
Jesus is trying to teach in this

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brief parable?
Well, as often as the case, I

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think we you have to consider
the context from which this

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parable falls to really get that
answer.

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It helps us to put our minds in
the right frame to see the story

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through the lens that God wants
us to see.

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So without diving too much into
the context where we are at

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Jesus is in Jerusalem and this
is very shortly before His

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crucifixion.
And so I think in this one quick

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fact we uncover the need that
prompted this parable, that

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being preparing his disciples of
current and future for the time,

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he would not be with them
physically.

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When we look at the chapter as a
whole, Matthew 25, we can break

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it down into three sections.
We have the parable of the 10

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virgins that’s describing the
preparation that needs to take

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place as we await Jesus return.
We have the parable of the

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talents and then finally in
verse 31 we have a section

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outlining the judgement seat,
how all nations will be gathered

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and everyone will be separated
and judged based on the measure

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of love they displayed in their
lives.

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So I would propose that the
overall theme of this chapter is

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addressing the period of time
that Christ is away and what he

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and God wants us to do during
that time until he returns.

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So that’s our theme.
So when we look at this parable

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of the talents through this
lens, I think we have an easier

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time assigning roles to these
metaphorical actors.

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The man, the landowner, or the
master is Jesus working with

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God.
The journey or period that he is

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away is the time for when Jesus
ascended to when he will return.

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The three servants are everyone
that lived in this period,

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including us here today.
And then the returning of the

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man and the interaction with his
servants is the judgement seat

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occurring, occurring at the
return of Jesus.

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Fairly straightforward, right?
But what do the talents

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represent specifically?
And I think that’s a little bit

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harder of identification to put
your thumb on.

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And I think the reason why it is
harder is it represents

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something a lot more dynamic.
The common interpretations you

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might have read regarding the
meaning of these talents include

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traits or abilities, preaching
measure of service to others,

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faith, number of people around
us we are responsible for.

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And I think a number of these
interpretations make a lot of

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sense and fit well with this
overall intended message.

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But what I propose is that the
talents represent a combination

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of these things.
What the talents represent to me

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are opportunities God gives us
to serve others.

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Opportunities God gives us to
serve others.

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More specifically, it is
character traits or situations

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by which we can utilize to serve
others.

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So circling back to the question
that Jesus intends to answer

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this parable, what are we to be
doing until he returns?

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That’s the answer, to use these
talents that we’ve been given,

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the opportunities, the character
traits in service and growing

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these things so that more come
and it may be important to kind

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of back up and add where I’m
getting this great emphasis on

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service.
In our definition here.

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Well, in the section filing the
parable of the talents regarding

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the Judgement Seat, Jesus
outlines the criteria by which

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we will be judged.
It will be those in verse 35

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where it reads fed the hungry,
gave the thirsty drink and

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welcomed the stranger.
It will be those who in verse 40

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says did these things to the
least of these people.

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So just as the three servants
stood before their master at his

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return with their talents, so
too we will stand before Jesus

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at his return and give account
of our service to others.

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A verse that tied these ideas
together well for me was First

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Peter chapter 4, verse 10.
You don’t have to turn there but

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I’ll just read that for us
first.

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Peter 4, verse 10 says, as each
has received a gift, use it to

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serve one another as good
stewards of God’s varied race.

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So, with these definitions in
mind, revisiting the specific

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details of this parable allows
us to extract a couple

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interesting takeaways that hold
a great deal of invocation.

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For example, just as the three
servants were entrusted with

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differing amounts of talents, so
too we are not initially endowed

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with identical or necessarily
equal attributes to serve, And

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this is echoed in Romans 12
verse six.

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Having gifts that differ
according to the grace given to

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us, let us use them if prophecy
in proportion to our faith, if

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service and our serving of
others, so on and so forth.

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But I think of all the points
and lessons that kind of hit me

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the hardest was our need for
growth.

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For it was the growth in talents
that the master was looking for

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that prompted him to say well
done, good and faithful servant.

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And it is our growth and
character that creates more

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opportunities to serve others.
And that is what God and Jesus

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are looking for in us.
That is the that is the desired

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00:14:20,440 –> 00:14:24,720
return on their investment.
And this struck me as, you know,

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such a monumental thing and why
wouldn’t it?

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Really.
Right.

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I think it speaks to really our
our purpose for living, why we

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are given life.
It is to grow in character

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00:14:38,640 –> 00:14:41,640
because without changing
ourselves for the better, we

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cannot serve others.
And if we cannot serve others,

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we cannot love.
And if we cannot love, we can’t

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please God.
Our life is effectively

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worthless or vanity, as Solomon
puts it.

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So shifting here.
What does this character look

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like?
What specific features or

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characteristics once practice
can allow us to serve others

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00:15:05,080 –> 00:15:09,760
more the way God intends?
Without going into too much

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00:15:09,760 –> 00:15:12,640
detail, I think a good summary
can be found in the Fruit of the

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Spirit, right Galatians 5.
Lovejoy, Peace, Patience,

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Kindness, Goodness,
Faithfulness, Gentleness,

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00:15:18,720 –> 00:15:22,040
self-control.
Or in Colossians 3 where it

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talks about putting on
Compassionate Hearts.

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Kindness, humility, Meekness,
patience.

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All these attributes are like
tools that, once equipped, can

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allow us to effectively complete
our job of service.

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And I really think this is a
theme throughout scripture, not

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just here in Matthew.
When we look at the Bible, when

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we look at different Bible
characters and really the small

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00:15:46,840 –> 00:15:51,880
glimpses of their lives that’s
recorded for us in Scripture, it

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00:15:51,880 –> 00:15:55,600
paints a picture of character,
growth and development, often

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00:15:55,600 –> 00:16:00,560
times of a specific attribute.
Joseph’s life, or at least

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00:16:00,560 –> 00:16:04,640
what’s recorded for us, is an
example of learned patience and

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00:16:04,640 –> 00:16:08,440
forgiveness.
Abraham of faithfulness, Jonah

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00:16:08,440 –> 00:16:11,880
of compassion.
God, through his angels

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00:16:11,920 –> 00:16:15,720
repeatedly constructed these
situations to nurture these

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characteristics and their lives.
And I think with that fact in

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mind, it’s interesting to kind
of turn the camera on us.

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What will our story be?
What characteristics for the

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00:16:28,400 –> 00:16:31,960
lack of a better term has been
beaten into us over and over

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00:16:31,960 –> 00:16:36,640
again and how receptive have we
been in learning these

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00:16:36,640 –> 00:16:38,040
characteristics through our
life.

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And this point transitions us
well into next part of our talk,

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00:16:45,000 –> 00:16:47,800
as we talked about in our
summary, that being practical

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00:16:47,800 –> 00:16:52,280
ways in which we can be more
receptive for the changes God

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00:16:52,280 –> 00:16:53,800
wants us to make in our
character.

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So in other words, how do we
grow in character?

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00:16:57,880 –> 00:17:01,400
How do we become more malleable
so we can be shaped into

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something that has a greater
capacity to serve?

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00:17:05,119 –> 00:17:07,000
And so that’s what we’re going
to try to answer with the rest

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00:17:07,000 –> 00:17:10,560
of our time.
So here are 6 tips we can try to

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adapt this week to make it
easier for ourselves to to grow

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into people that God is looking
for.

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So tip #1, as we said in our
summary, is humility.

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Our development starts with
humility because humility gives

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us the ability to be transparent
with ourselves.

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00:17:33,120 –> 00:17:37,360
It allows us to truthfully
examine our weaknesses and

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00:17:37,360 –> 00:17:40,360
pinpoint those areas that we
need to improve.

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00:17:41,880 –> 00:17:45,160
Because how can we learn if
we’re already convinced that

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00:17:45,160 –> 00:17:49,480
we’re a finished product?
I think that’s ridiculous to say

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00:17:49,480 –> 00:17:53,240
out loud I am perfect.
But that is what our pride wants

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00:17:53,240 –> 00:17:57,800
us to think.
Acknowledging our weaknesses or

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00:17:57,800 –> 00:18:01,880
shortcomings is extremely
uncomfortable for us as humans.

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00:18:02,720 –> 00:18:07,520
It’s a vulnerable position, so
we try to hideaway our

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00:18:07,520 –> 00:18:10,320
weaknesses and just pretend that
they’re not there.

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00:18:11,200 –> 00:18:13,600
Pride is the opposite of
humility.

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Pride is a stumbling block of
growth.

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00:18:17,760 –> 00:18:21,800
Because while humility makes you
teachable, pride resists change.

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00:18:22,480 –> 00:18:26,600
While humility let’s God be in
control guard, guiding our life

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00:18:26,600 –> 00:18:30,840
and then molding our character,
pride seeks to control our own

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00:18:30,840 –> 00:18:34,800
life.
Humility, more than anything

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00:18:34,800 –> 00:18:38,120
else, allows us to realize that
we’re a work in progress.

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00:18:38,920 –> 00:18:41,960
And that’s what we are, right
We’re a work in progress.

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00:18:42,680 –> 00:18:45,840
We all start with different
strengths and different

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00:18:45,840 –> 00:18:49,120
weaknesses of character, and
we’re all at different parts of

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00:18:49,120 –> 00:18:52,000
our journey and shoring up those
shortcomings.

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00:18:53,040 –> 00:18:55,920
And I think once we realize
this, a couple good things come

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00:18:55,920 –> 00:18:58,720
from it.
For one, this attitude is

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00:18:58,720 –> 00:19:01,440
infectious.
If we acknowledge that we are a

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00:19:01,440 –> 00:19:04,640
work in progress and express
that humility in our lives,

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00:19:05,600 –> 00:19:09,680
others see that and they start
to see that it’s OK to not be

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00:19:09,680 –> 00:19:12,800
perfect and they have an easier
time kind of seeing this in

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00:19:12,800 –> 00:19:16,520
themselves as well.
But I think the inverse is true

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00:19:16,520 –> 00:19:21,160
as well.
If we act with pride, and if we

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00:19:21,160 –> 00:19:24,680
interact with others with the
goal of showing no weakness,

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00:19:25,120 –> 00:19:29,480
showing that, and pretending
that we’re perfect, others do

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00:19:29,480 –> 00:19:33,160
the same, we’re really just
lying to each other.

305
00:19:33,840 –> 00:19:37,800
This results in a lack of
character growth and discourages

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00:19:37,800 –> 00:19:42,880
others to see change out of fear
of appearing different, fear of

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00:19:42,880 –> 00:19:48,280
appearing weak.
I think another lesson here is

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00:19:48,280 –> 00:19:53,440
that if I’m a work in progress
that others are too, it is not a

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00:19:53,440 –> 00:19:57,240
phenomenon unique to yourself.
So when you’re having a hard

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00:19:57,240 –> 00:20:00,440
time with someone else, let’s
remember that we’re all in the

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00:20:00,440 –> 00:20:03,600
same boat.
We are all being shaped, and

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00:20:03,600 –> 00:20:07,680
we’re all not quite there yet.
So let’s be patient and

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00:20:07,680 –> 00:20:10,880
compassionate to others when we
think that they’re not

314
00:20:10,880 –> 00:20:13,760
displaying the characteristics
of a servant of God.

315
00:20:14,960 –> 00:20:19,040
And instead of writing people
off for these weaknesses, let’s

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00:20:19,040 –> 00:20:22,240
support them and see it as
growth and development of

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00:20:22,240 –> 00:20:27,640
character.
A connection or a verse that’s

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00:20:27,640 –> 00:20:31,160
not quite from the Bible, but a
verse that I really like that

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00:20:31,160 –> 00:20:34,720
ties this point together well,
is from the song You’ve Got a

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00:20:34,720 –> 00:20:38,160
Friend in me from Toy Story
which reads You got troubles,

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00:20:38,160 –> 00:20:40,480
I’ve got them too.
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t

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00:20:40,480 –> 00:20:42,760
do for you.
We stick together and see it

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00:20:42,760 –> 00:20:44,960
through because you’ve got a
friend in me.

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00:20:46,240 –> 00:20:49,520
So the importance of humility in
the context by which we are

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00:20:49,520 –> 00:20:53,120
viewing it here, that being
development of character and an

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00:20:53,240 –> 00:20:57,280
opportunity to serve others, I
think is summed up really well

327
00:20:57,280 –> 00:21:02,000
in Philippians 2 verses one
through 4, and that reads

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00:21:02,000 –> 00:21:03,800
Philippians 2 verses one through
4.

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00:21:04,440 –> 00:21:08,160
So if there is any encouragement
in Christ, any comfort from

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00:21:08,160 –> 00:21:12,960
love, any participation in the
Spirit, any affection and

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00:21:12,960 –> 00:21:17,440
sympathy, complete my joy by
being of the same mind, having

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00:21:17,440 –> 00:21:20,680
the same love, being in full
accord and of one mind.

333
00:21:22,680 –> 00:21:28,240
Do nothing from selfish ambition
or conceit, but in humility

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00:21:28,720 –> 00:21:31,720
count others more significant
than yourselves.

335
00:21:32,880 –> 00:21:37,560
Let each of you not look only to
his own interests, but also to

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00:21:37,560 –> 00:21:41,600
the interests of others, having
this mind amongst yourselves,

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00:21:41,640 –> 00:21:47,200
which is yours in Christ Jesus.
So that’s humility.

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00:21:47,360 –> 00:21:51,880
That’s Tip #1, Tip #2.
We need others.

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00:21:52,720 –> 00:21:55,440
Development of character is
definitely not a mission that we

340
00:21:55,440 –> 00:21:58,640
can accomplish alone, and I
think this is the case for a

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00:21:58,640 –> 00:22:02,360
couple different reasons.
For one, we need others to

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00:22:02,400 –> 00:22:05,480
identify the parts of our
character that need improving.

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00:22:06,080 –> 00:22:10,240
No amount of humility can
replace the role others play in

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00:22:10,240 –> 00:22:13,960
that respect, as much like the
human eye that has these blind

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00:22:13,960 –> 00:22:18,240
spots, we too have gaps in our
vision in regards to our

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00:22:18,240 –> 00:22:21,920
character flaws and negative
tendencies that those around us

347
00:22:21,920 –> 00:22:23,720
might have an easier time
seeing.

348
00:22:24,760 –> 00:22:26,680
Family is a perfect example of
this, right?

349
00:22:27,240 –> 00:22:32,280
Who’s better than our family to
know our flaws and lovingly

350
00:22:32,280 –> 00:22:34,600
point them out on a on a regular
basis?

351
00:22:36,200 –> 00:22:38,920
Don’t ask Sammy.
Sammy’s my cousin, He knows too

352
00:22:38,920 –> 00:22:44,400
much about me.
So this notion of proof that

353
00:22:44,400 –> 00:22:49,640
we’re talking about too is
another key element in character

354
00:22:49,640 –> 00:22:52,440
development.
The book of Proverbs insists

355
00:22:52,440 –> 00:22:56,240
consistently on this value of
proof which the wise man

356
00:22:56,240 –> 00:23:01,800
welcomes and the fool resents.
Also in Psalms in Psalm 141,

357
00:23:01,800 –> 00:23:04,680
verse five, it says, let a
righteous man strike me.

358
00:23:04,840 –> 00:23:07,400
It is a kindness, let him rebuke
me.

359
00:23:07,920 –> 00:23:11,240
It is oil for my head, let not
my head refuse it.

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00:23:12,320 –> 00:23:16,160
And separately, in Ecclesiastes
7 verse five, it is better for a

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00:23:16,160 –> 00:23:20,880
man to hear rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.

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00:23:22,640 –> 00:23:26,520
However, I I think it’s really
important to note that the

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00:23:26,640 –> 00:23:34,160
outcome of a nodishment highly
depends on how we deliver that

364
00:23:34,160 –> 00:23:39,840
message.
And I think this comes down to

365
00:23:39,840 –> 00:23:42,960
whether we’re highlighting areas
improvement of improvement from

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00:23:42,960 –> 00:23:47,800
others out of love or for other
reasons that don’t have that

367
00:23:47,800 –> 00:23:52,880
person’s best interest in mind.
I think this is a very difficult

368
00:23:52,880 –> 00:23:56,760
thing to do when when we’re
trying to bring these things up

369
00:23:56,760 –> 00:24:01,960
to others, but I think what it
comes down to is really checking

370
00:24:01,960 –> 00:24:05,280
our motivations before rebuking
someone else.

371
00:24:06,760 –> 00:24:09,720
Make sure that you know these
words come from place of love

372
00:24:10,120 –> 00:24:12,480
and wanting what’s best for that
other person.

373
00:24:14,760 –> 00:24:18,480
The final piece I’ll touch on in
regards to needing others for

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00:24:18,480 –> 00:24:22,360
godly character development is
that really without interacting

375
00:24:22,360 –> 00:24:27,400
with one another, without being
amongst others, we’re never

376
00:24:27,400 –> 00:24:29,720
really going to understand and
develop principles such as

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00:24:29,720 –> 00:24:34,280
empathy and and selflessness.
It was very intentional.

378
00:24:34,280 –> 00:24:37,480
God set up this environment,
whether it be families or or

379
00:24:37,480 –> 00:24:42,040
ecclesias, to provide a playing
field of sorts for a character

380
00:24:42,040 –> 00:24:47,080
growth to practice and and
hopefully improve on facets of

381
00:24:47,080 –> 00:24:51,040
our character that is lacking.
And that’s something that I need

382
00:24:51,040 –> 00:24:53,640
to remind myself quite
frequently as a recluse.

383
00:24:54,080 –> 00:24:57,360
I’d be very happy, or at least I
think I would be happy just in a

384
00:24:57,360 –> 00:24:59,080
small room for the rest of my
life.

385
00:25:00,160 –> 00:25:03,880
But God was very intentional in
creating these structures to

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00:25:03,880 –> 00:25:07,680
necessitate this interaction,
which brings about this change

387
00:25:08,000 –> 00:25:11,720
because I think if you try to do
it alone, there’s no character

388
00:25:11,720 –> 00:25:15,000
growth and I think often times
there’s regression.

389
00:25:15,520 –> 00:25:20,160
So we need others.
All right, tip #3.

390
00:25:21,200 –> 00:25:24,800
Approach trials and
circumstances of life with a

391
00:25:24,800 –> 00:25:29,120
focus on development.
Or as we put it earlier, accept

392
00:25:29,120 –> 00:25:34,000
trials as teaching moments
specifically designed to advance

393
00:25:34,240 –> 00:25:38,520
an attribute of our character.
And this is easier said than

394
00:25:38,520 –> 00:25:41,160
done, right?
I think it’s easy to write off,

395
00:25:41,280 –> 00:25:43,360
you know, the different things
that happened in our life, the

396
00:25:43,360 –> 00:25:46,040
circumstances, as just happening
by chance.

397
00:25:47,000 –> 00:25:51,880
But when we assign attention or
in tension to these life

398
00:25:51,880 –> 00:25:56,440
situations, I think our outlook,
excuse me, changes

399
00:25:56,440 –> 00:26:00,240
significantly.
If we believe God’s hand is at

400
00:26:00,240 –> 00:26:04,840
work and his angels are in fact
ministering spirits sent out to

401
00:26:04,840 –> 00:26:09,360
serve, then we must also believe
that there is purpose to what we

402
00:26:09,360 –> 00:26:11,160
go through.
It’s not random.

403
00:26:12,280 –> 00:26:15,640
And this purpose is clearly laid
out for us in the scripture.

404
00:26:17,160 –> 00:26:21,960
In Romans 5 verse three it says
more than that we rejoice in our

405
00:26:21,960 –> 00:26:24,800
sufferings.
Knowing that suffering produces

406
00:26:24,800 –> 00:26:28,760
endurance and endurance produces
character and character produces

407
00:26:28,760 –> 00:26:30,840
hope.
And hope does not put us to

408
00:26:30,840 –> 00:26:34,280
shame, because God’s love has
been poured into our hearts

409
00:26:34,320 –> 00:26:38,920
through the Holy Spirit who has
been given to us, and separately

410
00:26:38,920 –> 00:26:43,280
in James One verse 2.
Count it all joy, my brothers,

411
00:26:43,400 –> 00:26:46,960
when you meet trials of various
kinds, for you know that the

412
00:26:46,960 –> 00:26:50,840
testing of your faith produces
steadfastness and less.

413
00:26:51,040 –> 00:26:54,920
And let steadfastness have its
full effect, that you may be

414
00:26:54,920 –> 00:26:57,960
perfect and complete, lacking in
nothing.

415
00:26:59,520 –> 00:27:01,280
So the message is clear here,
right?

416
00:27:01,640 –> 00:27:06,000
Our lives are guided by God and
His angels, who place specific

417
00:27:06,000 –> 00:27:09,360
things in our path to bring
about growth.

418
00:27:10,120 –> 00:27:14,000
We are the clay and He is the
Potter, as we’re told in Isaiah.

419
00:27:16,520 –> 00:27:19,360
But while God can place these
things in our lives to

420
00:27:19,360 –> 00:27:23,520
facilitate this change, he
cannot make the change for us.

421
00:27:24,680 –> 00:27:28,600
And sometimes we can even get in
the way of God’s carefully

422
00:27:28,600 –> 00:27:33,360
crafted teaching moments.
For example, I think whenever

423
00:27:33,360 –> 00:27:36,520
you get a group of people
together, and this is something

424
00:27:36,520 –> 00:27:41,280
we see in our community as well,
there’s a harmful pattern to

425
00:27:41,280 –> 00:27:45,920
respond to mistakes or difficult
situations in a way that

426
00:27:45,920 –> 00:27:49,680
prevents the growth that God
desired and intended for in the

427
00:27:49,680 –> 00:27:53,360
1st place.
Because if someone’s hardship or

428
00:27:53,360 –> 00:27:56,480
mistake or trial becomes public
knowledge, there’s always

429
00:27:56,520 –> 00:28:00,080
opportunity for gossip, right?
Everyone knows the situation,

430
00:28:00,080 –> 00:28:02,640
talks about it and has their own
opinion.

431
00:28:03,920 –> 00:28:08,280
And unfortunately, this now
publicized situation intensifies

432
00:28:08,280 –> 00:28:11,960
the personal trial of that
individual because now it’s just

433
00:28:11,960 –> 00:28:15,800
not dealing with what happened.
It’s also about dealing with

434
00:28:15,800 –> 00:28:17,520
everyone’s reaction to what
happened.

435
00:28:18,360 –> 00:28:22,720
It could all become too much and
you know, throws this person

436
00:28:22,720 –> 00:28:25,920
into a spiral that prevents any
opportunity for growth.

437
00:28:27,560 –> 00:28:31,880
On the flip side, I think as a
result of this, too often when

438
00:28:31,880 –> 00:28:36,200
we make mistakes or are going
through something difficult, our

439
00:28:36,200 –> 00:28:40,960
first reaction is to just cover
up, hide it away and avoid other

440
00:28:40,960 –> 00:28:43,840
people knowing about it.
Avoid that public trial of

441
00:28:43,840 –> 00:28:46,240
sorts.
That’s certainly something I do

442
00:28:46,680 –> 00:28:49,680
because a lot of the time for
me, when I’m going through

443
00:28:49,680 –> 00:28:52,680
something, I have an easier time
myself just dealing with it

444
00:28:52,960 –> 00:28:57,960
rather than even if it’s from a
place of love where others are

445
00:28:57,960 –> 00:29:00,800
asking how I’m doing.
Sometimes it’s a burden.

446
00:29:00,800 –> 00:29:04,960
It’s hard, but I think there’s
things that we could do to make

447
00:29:04,960 –> 00:29:09,320
it easier in that regard.
So I think the lesson for us is

448
00:29:09,320 –> 00:29:13,720
to be mindful of the detrimental
role we can play for those

449
00:29:13,720 –> 00:29:16,920
struggling and endeavor to meet
others.

450
00:29:16,920 –> 00:29:21,080
Trials and mistakes with
compassion and empathy.

451
00:29:21,960 –> 00:29:25,560
Seeing it for what it is, right?
An opportunity that God and his

452
00:29:25,560 –> 00:29:30,600
angels specifically put in there
and our life to develop our

453
00:29:30,600 –> 00:29:32,200
character as we discussed
before.

454
00:29:35,240 –> 00:29:38,320
Another point I wanted to touch
on regarding approaching trials

455
00:29:38,320 –> 00:29:43,040
in our life with a focus on
development is giving time to

456
00:29:43,040 –> 00:29:46,200
reflection.
I think this is something that

457
00:29:46,200 –> 00:29:49,760
we overlook.
Give appropriate time to be

458
00:29:49,960 –> 00:29:55,280
mindful and and reflect on life
experiences, searching for the

459
00:29:55,280 –> 00:29:59,560
truth of what God intended us to
learn, asking the questions of

460
00:29:59,560 –> 00:30:04,760
ourselves or others.
What was the reason I or another

461
00:30:04,920 –> 00:30:07,000
went through this in their
lives?

462
00:30:07,800 –> 00:30:11,080
What did this bring about?
How was I supposed to be molded

463
00:30:11,080 –> 00:30:15,040
through this situation?
Simple questions, I think as

464
00:30:15,040 –> 00:30:17,800
they may be.
I think they’re neglected.

465
00:30:17,800 –> 00:30:20,760
And I know they are.
For me, just because of the pace

466
00:30:20,760 –> 00:30:23,080
of life, right?
Something new always happens.

467
00:30:23,360 –> 00:30:26,320
Move, move, move.
Life moves fast.

468
00:30:26,320 –> 00:30:30,200
And I think unless we’re very
intentional about making time

469
00:30:30,200 –> 00:30:32,920
for self reflection, it just
won’t happen.

470
00:30:34,920 –> 00:30:37,800
It’s an interesting exercise,
you know, even looking back

471
00:30:37,800 –> 00:30:41,360
years in your life, you start to
think about different things and

472
00:30:41,360 –> 00:30:44,480
you say, well if that didn’t
happen, then this wouldn’t have

473
00:30:44,480 –> 00:30:47,680
happened and I wouldn’t be here
and I wouldn’t have done that.

474
00:30:47,680 –> 00:30:51,080
It’s almost like a chain effect
that travels through and it’s

475
00:30:51,080 –> 00:30:54,760
really interesting hearing about
different people’s points in

476
00:30:54,760 –> 00:30:56,840
their life that made big
changes.

477
00:30:57,200 –> 00:31:01,240
It’s not always the big things,
but it’s it’s cool to see that

478
00:31:01,240 –> 00:31:04,560
God’s hand is at work.
We just kind of need to take the

479
00:31:04,560 –> 00:31:07,680
time to to look at it and ask
others about it.

480
00:31:09,920 –> 00:31:14,440
So that was tip #3.
Tip #4, we need to learn from

481
00:31:14,440 –> 00:31:16,840
others, and I’ll be brief on
this one.

482
00:31:17,320 –> 00:31:20,520
Our character development and
ability to serve others is

483
00:31:20,520 –> 00:31:23,720
dependent on learning from the
experiences of others.

484
00:31:24,560 –> 00:31:28,160
And I think the basis for this
tip comes from the the famous

485
00:31:28,160 –> 00:31:30,440
quotes.
You must learn from the mistakes

486
00:31:30,440 –> 00:31:32,880
of others.
You cannot possibly live long

487
00:31:32,880 –> 00:31:34,240
enough to make them all
yourself.

488
00:31:34,960 –> 00:31:38,080
And secondly, those who don’t
learn from history are bound to

489
00:31:38,080 –> 00:31:41,040
repeat it.
And these aren’t just quotes,

490
00:31:41,040 –> 00:31:43,000
but I think a function of
scripture.

491
00:31:44,080 –> 00:31:49,520
In First Corinthians 10 verses
11 through 13, it says Now these

492
00:31:49,520 –> 00:31:53,360
things happen to them as an
example, but they are written

493
00:31:53,360 –> 00:31:57,800
down for our instruction on whom
the end of the ages has come.

494
00:31:58,040 –> 00:32:01,200
Therefore let anyone who thinks
he stands take heed lest he

495
00:32:01,200 –> 00:32:03,720
fall.
No temptation has to overtaken

496
00:32:03,720 –> 00:32:06,080
you.
That is not common to man.

497
00:32:07,400 –> 00:32:10,800
We can then look at the Bible as
really just a guidebook to life,

498
00:32:10,800 –> 00:32:13,840
right?
A resource for personal growth

499
00:32:14,400 –> 00:32:17,440
and development.
If we take the time to read it

500
00:32:17,640 –> 00:32:21,240
and to learn its lessons, all
with the focus on serving

501
00:32:21,240 –> 00:32:25,120
others, I don’t want this talk
to ever be about me as a person.

502
00:32:25,400 –> 00:32:27,640
All this is so that we can serve
others.

503
00:32:29,600 –> 00:32:32,680
But I think learning from others
isn’t restricted from, you know,

504
00:32:32,680 –> 00:32:36,840
those we live with today, but
also obviously Bible characters,

505
00:32:36,840 –> 00:32:41,200
right?
But when it comes to kind of

506
00:32:41,200 –> 00:32:45,080
learning from others around us,
this requires us to be open with

507
00:32:45,080 –> 00:32:50,200
others, to accept things as they
come to grow and and to kind of

508
00:32:50,200 –> 00:32:53,720
share these things that happened
in our life instead of being

509
00:32:53,720 –> 00:32:58,440
ashamed from them.
So that was four.

510
00:32:58,440 –> 00:33:01,000
We have two more.
But good news, these are quick

511
00:33:01,000 –> 00:33:03,280
and they’re combined with the
bridge.

512
00:33:03,320 –> 00:33:08,520
So our final two pieces of
advice will hopefully lead us to

513
00:33:08,520 –> 00:33:09,960
the memorial service this
morning.

514
00:33:11,000 –> 00:33:16,720
Because when we talk about Tip 5
or setting goals, in other words

515
00:33:16,720 –> 00:33:19,720
being deliberate in our
intention to grow in character

516
00:33:19,760 –> 00:33:23,920
and serve others, we look to
Jesus, right and his character

517
00:33:23,920 –> 00:33:27,400
as our guide for which we base
our goals.

518
00:33:28,160 –> 00:33:31,920
The way he lived, the way he
navigated life situations, the

519
00:33:31,920 –> 00:33:36,840
way he treated those around him.
And first Peter verse or chapter

520
00:33:36,840 –> 00:33:41,120
2 verse 21 it says for to this
you have been called because

521
00:33:41,120 –> 00:33:46,560
Christ also suffered for you
leaving you an example so you

522
00:33:46,560 –> 00:33:48,760
that so that you might follow
his steps.

523
00:33:50,440 –> 00:33:54,360
And one of the great benefits of
having a weekly memorial service

524
00:33:55,040 –> 00:34:00,560
is that it gives us that
constant reminder to look to

525
00:34:00,560 –> 00:34:04,840
Jesus as our role model, as the
character that we want to

526
00:34:04,840 –> 00:34:10,360
develop into.
We can re establish our goals

527
00:34:10,360 –> 00:34:13,360
and and strive to improve our
character in the service of

528
00:34:13,360 –> 00:34:18,639
others.
A verse in Philippines that I

529
00:34:18,639 –> 00:34:20,719
liked pertaining to this point
Philippines 3.

530
00:34:20,719 –> 00:34:23,320
Verse 12.
It says not that I have already

531
00:34:23,320 –> 00:34:27,440
obtained this or am already
perfect, but I press on to make

532
00:34:27,440 –> 00:34:32,320
it my own because Christ Jesus
has made me his own brothers.

533
00:34:32,320 –> 00:34:34,199
I do not consider that I’ve made
it my own.

534
00:34:34,440 –> 00:34:38,400
But one thing I do forgetting
what lies behind and straying

535
00:34:38,400 –> 00:34:44,000
forward to what lies ahead, I
press on toward the goal for the

536
00:34:44,000 –> 00:34:47,600
prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus.

537
00:34:49,600 –> 00:34:53,639
And finally tip number six.
Let’s be thankful.

538
00:34:54,120 –> 00:34:57,800
Thankful to God for giving us
this life, this time to grow

539
00:34:57,800 –> 00:35:01,920
into something that’s worth for
setting up this world, this

540
00:35:01,920 –> 00:35:05,960
environment that gives us an
opportunity to grow, to be more

541
00:35:05,960 –> 00:35:09,080
like his son and and practice
love and service.

542
00:35:10,280 –> 00:35:13,560
Let’s be thankful for the gifts
that we have been given, the

543
00:35:13,680 –> 00:35:17,360
opportunity that we have to
serve others and finally, let’s

544
00:35:17,360 –> 00:35:22,520
be thankful for God’s patience
and and His mercy as we are all

545
00:35:22,520 –> 00:35:27,160
slow learners and are certainly
still a work in progress.

546
00:35:41,290 –> 00:35:43,370
Thank you for listening to the
Good ’cause Adelphian Talks

547
00:35:43,370 –> 00:35:45,970
Podcast.
We hope this talk helped you in

548
00:35:45,970 –> 00:35:47,480
your walk and brightened your
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549
00:35:48,680 –> 00:35:50,720
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00:35:59,800 –> 00:36:02,560
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554
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560
00:36:21,120 –> 00:36:23,760
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564
00:36:33,200 –> 00:36:36,080
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565
00:36:36,080 –> 00:36:36,320
week.