Hello and welcome to the Wilton Baptist Church. My name is Steve Harness, and we are glad that you have found our websites, and we pray that this message will be an encouragement to you. Wilton Baptist Church, where we worship God, walk with others, and win people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessings as you listen today. All right please find your Bibles and go to the book of Deuteronomy Deuteronomy chapter six. We have several guests here today welcome to all the guests and we have several people visiting family members visiting so welcome all the family that's here today. Natalie's parents there OK they're here so welcome. Great to see you and many of you can say hi to them. later on as well. A lot of other people are traveling a lot of folks told me they're traveling so let's be praying for one another at this busy time as well. Deuteronomy chapter six verses one through nine is known as the Shema which means hearing and the idea of listening with the intent to act upon what you hear. Think about Memorial Day for just a moment. It's a day to remember those who sacrificed everything for the freedoms that we enjoy today. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades. Unofficially, it's the start of the summer season. Back at the first Memorial Day, which was called Decoration Day, Here's what James A. Garfield said, this is before he was even a president. He said, the highest virtues of men and citizens for love of country they accepted death and thus resolved all doubts and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue back in eighteen sixty eight at the Arlington National Cemetery. Well we have a lot of people that have gone before us to give thanks. for the freedom that we have today so I hope that you'll take some time to think about that especially on Memorial Day tomorrow. One person said war reveals who you really are not who you want to be and that's a true statement that's a great statement as well. Friends we're in a spiritual battle. I see a lot of young people here today a lot of teenagers a lot of children and all the rest of us adults here we are all in a spiritual battle. and there's a spiritual battle for the next generation. The last few days we've been the last few weeks rather Sundays we've been talking about generational relational and how we need to be relational in a generational way intergenerational relational in many ways and Deuteronomy six is really the key text of all Judaism and it's such an important thing for us to know about the one true God that's the key text and verses four and verse five but we're in the spiritual battle for the next generation. The Bible tells us in second Corinthians ten verses two through five for though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the flesh. for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. I love those verses now look at the first part of it though we were not walking. We're not in this battle. It's a battle of the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal and it's fleshly. We are in a spiritual battle a spiritual battle in second Timothy four verses seven and eight. Paul said near the end of his life he said I fought a good fight I have finished my course. I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give to me at that day and not to me only but into all them also that love is appearing. All of those who've gone on before us even in recent days who were looking forward to the return of Christ. One day they and you if you're looking forward to the return of Christ will receive this crown of glory but notice what Paul said. He said I have fought a good fight. It wasn't a physical fight. It wasn't a fleshly fight. It wasn't get your military out fight. It was a spiritual battle that he engaged in. So when we're thinking about soldiers and sailors and airmen let me ask you to do soldiers and sailors and airmen. Do they learn everything they need to know in boot camp. They're just getting started. There's so much more that they will learn, especially when they're thrust into the field of battle, the tumult of the sea, and the turbulence of war in the air. Boot camp is a starting point. Here we are on a Sunday morning I look at this as a starting point for people in their Christianity this is a starting point I want to know Jesus I'm going to know him I worship him this is a starting point. Preachers do not learn everything they need to know in Bible College we have several young men considering vocational ministry and I'm thankful for that all you guys watching and wherever you're at young fellows. What a blessing that is you will not learn everything that you need to know in Bible College. Once you get out to ministry you start to learn relationally a lot of things and really that's when you're going to learn the most I would encourage you young fellows looking into ministry go to go to actually attend the physical you know University or college and get a Bible degree or pastoral degree or something in person. And then after you get out into ministry a little bit, then get a master's degree. That's what I did. I think it's more practical. You know what they're talking about more if you would do something like that. So let's talk if you want to talk about those possibilities. But I think it would be a good advice. What about students? Do students learn everything they need to know for life in the classroom? Well, I'm a graduate. You know everything you need to know? We should keep learning, right? Keep growing, keep developing, keep reading, keep studying, keep adapting to what is happening around us. Yes, we don't learn everything. Remember the commercial years ago, and I'll take a sip of this if that's alright. The commercial years ago, there was a guy like in his bathrobe and he had a butter knife and he was on the phone and he's like doctor where am I supposed to make the incision. Remember that commercial old commercial. Every time I saw that I would just laugh. He's like he's like you know you don't need a medical degree for that for that surgery. He's like yeah just no. Do you want someone to perform a surgery on you like that. You wouldn't do that to yourself. You want the doctor to have not only classroom instruction but don't you wonder. Have you ever performed a surgery before? Isn't that why they have internships? Right? Isn't that why nurses have their special training and they have hours on the floor to get experience? That's exactly right. They get a lecture in the classroom, but then they have to go out here and apply it in real life. And then when they're on their own, They know what they're doing, or they're supposed to, right? That's how that training works. They get their clinical hours in. In biology, there's lectures in labs. Remember that? In school, maybe you took biology or something, and they said, here's how you dissect something. And then you get over to the lab, and then you actually do it. Isn't there a difference in that approach. One's hands on one's lecture was hearing was more practical you get to touch see feel smell all of that. OK. That's how a lot of life works we learn in different ways like this. A church model for discipleship in ministry is something that we've considered for several years now and we must follow the Bible And there are examples that we're going to find a relational model of Scripture I hope hope everyone just hang in here with this idea that I'd like to present with you today where we can give further instruction more instruction more effective effective discipleship. with with some adjustments to be more in line with what's typified or demonstrated in the scriptures so we're going to talk about these verses here beginning in verse seven I'll notice our text here today. Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children. The word teach means to exercise in to exercise in. It's like you're going to practice something here to exercise in them to their children and shall talk of them. When thou sittest in thine house when a walk is by the way when a lie is down and when thou risest up a couple weeks ago some of you wrote beside those verses everyday life. Now if you would circle the word talk. Talk means to speak. Speak. So there's a teach. I want you to teach. exercise in and I want you to talk to discuss to speak. These are two key terms these are verbs. They're active for us in this passage and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand and they shall be as frontless between nine eyes by the way as is a key word to understanding that concept there we'll get to in a moment and also write them upon the post of the house in on by gates so teaching and then talking kind of like let's have a lecture. Let's have some preaching and then let's discuss it. Let's talk about it. Let's figure out where the rubber meets the road and how we can apply this in our life and then he says. when you're walking when you're sitting when you're sleeping when you're standing when you're living life in this practical. This is so practical. It's like a lecture and then a lab. The last few times we talked about God is interested in the next generation we had a great response to that last week. Our teaching must affect the heart there was a great response to that. We should love relationship more than rules and preferences and things such as this and today a relational model is encouraged in Scripture so relational discipleship and I would challenge and encourage you to consider that we can be engaging in a model of ministry that is more relational more relational more practical and more effective not just that doing things but actually seen disciples grown and nurtured in and around our lives so let's consider this first century church. and it will look at those verses and acts here in just a little bit and they were a persecuted church and they they give us a good example that we can follow as well. They had a large meetings. They had small meetings they had large gatherings. They had small gatherings and I think we could find that this is something that we can follow because it's typified is demonstrated in the scripture. So we get the teaching we get that we do that we've done teaching we teach. But what about the talking. What about the discussion for seven. Are we talking about the scriptures in our homes. Now primarily you're talking about Deuteronomy. This is the second law giving. He's directly talking to the families the parents and the fathers in particular it's written in the in masculine form and he is saying we need to teach the next generation but don't stop there teach the next generation so your kids and then their kids and it keeps going and perpetuates. How can we encourage families? How can we encourage one another and so much more as we see the day approaching? Well we should talk about things in everyday life. When I was young I remember if we were watching a television show and dad was there We were watching the Andy Griffith show and he would stop or say, and if it was a video, remember those old VHS's? Those things that stop working after a while? We'd stop that and he'd say, look, what that guy did was wrong. Or, Andy just lied to Barney just now. didn't happen a lot and he lied to Barney a lot and vice versa you know just trying to be nice to him he'd cover things up and stuff so he would talk about things and just try to use that as an example to teach a little bit just while life was happening. We get the teaching I love and I think about how with our kids you know they're growing up fast we don't have much time left. with them in our home and two of them are sitting right here like we don't have much time left to teach them we. We read the Bible and pray about five times a week together and there's other times as well but you know on a consistent every day five days in a row type basis. And that's some time to teach. That's some time to instruct and also to. Hey look at this example here. Here's an example in somebody's life. Here's something that we can learn from good and bad. That's the talking. We need more of that. We need that in our lives in our families and here's a relational model that I'd like to present to you here today. Let's adopt it let's pray about this let's consider this today. One person wrote my greatest concern as a pastor is that people can go to church every week of their lives and never go all in with Jesus Christ. They can follow the rules but never follow Christ. I'm afraid we've cheapened the gospel by allowing people to buy in without selling out. We've made it too convenient too comfortable. We've given people just enough Jesus to be bored but not enough to feel the surge of holy adrenaline that courses through your veins when you decide to follow him no matter what no matter where and no matter when. What a great what a great statement that is and I wonder how many how many people I've preached for over 20 years now and I wonder in all those churches and all those settings how many are true disciples of Jesus. Who are really following Christ. I wonder I wonder and maybe you wonder sometimes as well. Deuteronomy is written like a peace treaty between nations it's an agreement with two parties. God and his people are the parties. It's a covenant and there are promises connected to this covenant. It reads like this here's blessings if you do this and cursings if you do that. Blessings if you live this way and cursings if you live that way and I like it cause and effect type of idea and it's written in a way that a king would talk to his vassals or kings between nations and empires between empires would write a peace treaty a covenant. And we find in verse four and five hero is free of the Lord our God is one Lord and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all a heart with all a soul with all I might. So it has to be a fact that we covered that effectively last week. Notice the next verse and thou shalt teach them diligently or actually verse six and these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart. You want to underline something in your heart is a key phrase. not just activity and busyness but in your heart. These things can be there the heart is to be affected. Now when ancient people would have an enemy nation come against them. They would look to their leader their king. You could read examples of this in the scripture and it was an expected thing that the people would love their king and love their nation. It seems kind of unusual to some people today that people would love their nation but that was expected in ancient days that people would love their nation. They would love their leaders. So when enemy A comes this king hates this king and they're going to fight about it. These people would rally around their king. They would say you love us and we love you so we'll fight for you. this enemy king over here his people were expected to love him as well. And so when this peace treaty is written like this is common is written like this it's with that in mind that hey your enemy is my enemy and your friends are my friends. It's that idea and that's how this is and we think about 9-11 and we have a lot of folks who were alive here today during 9-11. and our nation was attacked. Didn't you feel like you were attacked when those terrorists performed that attack? You take it personally, right? When we sent our troops over to fight an unseen enemy, you know, these terrorists, no actual nation state necessarily, we felt like we were sending our troops and our sailors and our airmen to fight this enemy. We were together, right? and rightfully so. We should think like that. We're in a battle right now. We're in a battle right now for the next generation. The enemy Satan. The enemy is evolution. The enemy is secularism. The enemy is anti-God. It's all around us. and we're in this battle. We're in it together against them we're on the same team together against this of course Satan is the ultimate enemy there. But we're loving Jesus. This peace treaty idea this covenant idea we're loving Jesus we're serving Jesus. We want the next generation to learn about about Jesus. Did you know that most generations alive in America today, a majority of Americans now, were not even alive during 9-11? Isn't that the balance already that many people have been born since then? Most young people today have only read about that attack in a history book if they're old enough. OK time goes by fast. How how are we going to reach this next generation in this battle that we're in. Now the deities at the time this was written in the ancient world. They did not demand the law. And so it was kind of an unusual thing he's these Semites here these Jews. God says you're going to love me love the Lord by God. No other deities had said that at that time. These false gods you know the pagan gods people bow down to these little idols and things man made man made religion false god religion. But God is worthy of our love. Now human leaders demanded love. but no God had ever said love me but God says love me and I he said I love you as well. Aren't you glad for that. We should have some passion for the Lord. We should have some passion and love for the things of God. Now the parents and grandparents of this generation that Moses is speaking to would be familiar with the people wearing symbols in their arms and on their foreheads. For example here is a little picture. and check out this Egyptian Uraeus and it would look kind of like that right there. So he's wearing a hat and then this is attached sometimes it could be like a head turban in different renderings that I've seen in different artifacts have been found. So could you imagine wearing that. Now this is beautiful in that beautiful. That's gold. Very well paid up like was it's really pretty. I like it. It's nice. So you could wear something like that on your head. These people that Moses is speaking to in Deuteronomy had heard about it. Their parents and grandparents died in the wilderness. They had told them about some head things that the Egyptians wore. And a lot of Egyptians would do that as part of their ceremony, part of their culture for their false gods. and so they would see what that would be like. Now notice these verses in verse seven we're teaching we're teaching a very practical ways and then in verse eight thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand so his hand and they shall be as as frontless between your eyes. So some of these people are thinking Wait a minute. I've seen some Egyptians with something right between their eyes right on top of their forward right there. And it'd be the grandparents who would have thought that or the parents and they were thinking about that while you know somebody told us about it. And here's what eventually happened. The Jewish people started to have phylacteries phylacteries and they actually would write some scriptures out. and they would put it in little scrolls and put it where on their head by the time of Jesus you have people comparing how big is your phylactery compared to somebody else. You know how big you how big you want it to be. Also the hems of the garment and other things they would the core have having symbolism some of that would have writing on it as well. But they they would do that. But there's a key word here. Look at it. It's not supplied in English. It's actually there. See it's a word as they shall be as frontless between the eyes. You know what God is saying. You need to take my word and you need to let it guide your life. That's what he's saying. Let the Bible guide your life. Let the Bible guide my life today. Then there's Mizzou's of Mizzou's those are put on doorposts in the Israelites at that first Passover. They wrote they smeared the blood. Some people believe they actually wrote the name Yahweh. When I see the blood I'll pass over you from that scene in Scripture and then eventually they started to put different scriptures on their door post and on their mantle and the Bible does say to do that I think of it as kind of a decoration or as a reminder. So verse seven is very practical when you get up when you sit down when you walk when you talk. Talk about the scripture know what it says and discuss it and then put some reminders out put some reminders out as well. You don't have to wear you know something on your forward like that. I have this little ring here has scriptures on it and I like it sometimes I look at it and I like to wear if I want to read these little scriptures on it very small writing you know but he says where where these words on your hand so that's why I got it but you know I'll read some scripture off my head so that's kind of what I was thinking about with that. verses six through nine verse six is the key in nine heart. Can we practice life and have practice this teaching in our heart. Yes exercise loving God in our heart. Yes that affects us in our life. Yes. So a relational model of ministry is encouraged in Scripture. Now let me take you to acts chapter two I'll show you on the screen you can find it will be reading some verses out of here in just a moment. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and unto the rest of the apostles. Men and brethren what shall we do. Three key words here there. They heard it. That's the listening. It's not the word Seamus is a different word but the idea of listening and hearing in their heart. That's affection. They start to have some passion about what they heard and then They said what can we do. That's their hands. What are we going to do about what we just heard and what we believe in our heart. This is a great model for teaching by the way and we have a little booklet out there that I wrote about using this as a model for teaching in ministry hearing the heart and then your hands. So notice with that in mind back in Deuteronomy chapter six Verse one these are the commands the statutes the judgments which the Lord your God commanded to teach you that you might do them in the land with the ego to possess it. that thou mightest fear the Lord thy God to keep all his statutes and his commandments which I commanded thee down my son my son's son all the day of my life and that thy days may be prolonged here therefore Israel and observed to do it that it may be well with thee and that thou may increase mightily as the Lord God of my father's has promised thee in a land that flows with milk and honey And then he says here. Oh Israel the Lord our God is one Lord that great statement of faith about monotheism one God. So what should we do. Teach the head. Teach the head to begin we're teaching ahead and it's mine and intellect and and how to think Parents teacher kids teach in real life settings teach in practical ways. Some parents are alone. Some parents are brand new Christians and they're trying to guide their homes in church. We need to help them and encourage them and mentor them and disciple them along the way. And so teach the head. How about touching the heart in verse six it's the effect of emotion there that we learned of just a moment ago. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine Heart in your heart some affection some passion some love not only a head knowledge But a heart affection for God and the things of God. We've tried to ask and answer this question Why is it that many young people will grow up in a church and then they graduate? They leave the home and they never come back to church or they become twice a year Christians when they come to church Why is it the heart in some measure was not affected? It's always a heart thing and you could blame this and blame that and this is the reason that's the reason but somehow their heart was not connected to God. The God's Word some disconnect was there somewhere along the way. And so there must be a heart connection. Now love is more than an emotion in marriage counseling pre marriage counseling post marriage counseling. Love is more than emotion you choose the love you choose love is true you choose the love. But is love still also and an emotion. It still is it still is you choose love but you still have some feelings about that choice. So love is still an emotion. Liturgy tradition. That's the way we've always done it saps that emotion of love and a lot of Christians need to learn to love God more. We just need to have more of a rekindling of our love for God and it's something for all of us to consider in our life and my fervently passionately loving the Lord. Well the hearts more easily touched when people know each other when people are living life together when they encounter real situations in life together the heart is more touch so if you know somebody If you know somebody, if you're friends with somebody, if you know their name, just start with that, the most basic thing, it's easier to talk to them about real life. It's easier to talk to them if you understand where they're coming from and what's happening with them. It's easier for them to listen to you if they know that you know them and that they know that you love them. Does that make sense? If they know that you love them, they will listen to you more than if they don't know that you care. It's like somebody said, people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. That idea. So it's easier more effective maybe is a better way to say this to minister to people when they know that you care for them. And so that includes knowing them caring for them sharing together personal relational ministry is the most effective type ministries not just like a stranger. You know let me talk to you about eternity. I've done that before but if somebody has some kind of connection like who are you? Who are you? And if you know each other then it helps with that for sure. It helps a lot. Now think about how personal this is. Here O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart with all thy soul with all thine might. Is that personal. That's very personal. That's so personal. You love your God now there may be some here today at some watching some on this campus you've never trusted Christ. Believe the gospel today. Jesus loves you. He died on the cross. He paid it all for you he paid for your sin we sing about forgiveness and how God forgives us of our sin because of Christ and our Savior is resurrected. So today you can trust Christ talk with me after the service. If you're at home watching or watching a replay call the office will talk about salvation through Christ. But what about this relationship. He says to tell your sons in verse two and your son's son. That's relational. It's generational. Let's talk about this. Let's discuss. Let's teach. That's personal. That's relational. Your people. Your people. That's relational. So who are your people? Who are your people that you are relating to to share Jesus with them? They're your people. I may never meet them. I'm a stranger to a lot of people you may be a stranger to somebody that someone else is a friend with and someone that you can connect to and someone that you can encourage in our church in our church sometimes as churches grow people don't know one another. And so if you get 10 or 15 people together they can know each other and share life together and encourage one another and mentor one another and exhort one another and so much more as you see the day approaching better than a large group where people don't really know everybody. It can be more effective like that. So this is very relational. There's some heart in this relationship with God and with others so we need to teach the head but they're also touch the heart and then verses seven through nine. I'd like to speak to you about this model of ministry here. Teach them diligently to buy children else I'll talk to them when I'll sit us in my house when I walk us by the way you know lies down and window rises up in every day life. Now we get the teaching, what about the talking? What about the discussion, practical application? So not just a lecture, lecture, lecture, what about the lab where the rubber meets the road, where the doctors are trained? in real life where the military are trained by the experience that they're going through together and that's when they that's when they become a band of brothers and sisters that's when they're out in the battle together. So let's apply this idea then and look at the church in Acts chapter two so you can find Acts chapter two if you like here's the verse. And we're talking about train the hands it's the model of ministry. Acts chapter two verses forty six and forty seven and they continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house to eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God and having favor with all the people in the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. And so in a public place in the temple there was a courtyard and they could meet with people and they could have a big church service and lost people would hear these people and they would watch these people worshiping God and it was a lecture or a preaching format in fact You have Peter standing up on Pentecost not far from the temple complex and there he is preaching and this is this is where the church begins and you see this happening in chapter two in verse forty six they are meeting every day not just on a Sunday. As one person said this may be may point to the Christians continued observance of the Jewish daily prayers in a temple. These were mostly converted from Judaism and so they kept doing what they they knew is go to the temple and let's talk about Our new our Messiah who they know had already come by that point and they were believing him at this point Christians were still part of the temple worship services in Jerusalem. They were praising God and having favor. They enjoyed this model of ministry they were joyful and had worship in a minister to one another in tangible ways. I like how Warren Wiersbe wrote the three thousand new converts needed instruction to the word and fellowship with God's people if they were to grow and become effective witnesses. The early church did not get more. The early church did more to make converts. They also made disciples they did more than just make converse they made disciples so that's why I asked that question earlier. How many disciples. Have we actually seen come through these doors. How many disciples not just here I hear a message once in a while but I'm actually a disciple of a disciple close follower of Jesus in the temple they gathered there for the purpose of teaching the multitude. It was a great place for public meeting and worship and in some cases they were casting their nets to let new people hear the gospel. Well we've had church for many years in a way that whatever you're familiar with like what was church you ask anybody you know well you know Sunday morning Sunday night Wednesday night Sunday school and this and Bible study here this that and the other is different for different people. Let me give you some background some history midweek prayer meeting had its begin beginnings in eighteen hundred. It's a long time from Acts chapter two and eighteen hundred became popular through the efforts of Charles Charles Fanny and D.L. Moody in the eighteen hundreds. He would hold noon prayer meetings and by nineteen hundred the prayer meetings became midweek service and mostly in Protestant churches and by the mid nineteen hundreds the prayer emphasis turned to more of a preaching teaching type service they didn't pray pray as much. By the way I think we could offer a prayer like early before church and people come in early and pray I think would be a great thing for us to do we were hoping to start that a few weeks ago. Sunday schools Sunday schools were set up in the 18th century you know why Sunday schools were started in England. There's a guy named William King who started the Sunday school in 1851 a short time later he suggested to Robert Rakes Robert gets most of credit because he was a newspaper editor. And they started Sunday schools because there were children everywhere that were illiterate. Their families didn't have money didn't have a title behind their name so they didn't have schools for them and they could learn so they said let's teach you how to read and we use the Bible to teach you how to read that Sunday school. That's that's how it came about. That's a rather new model really. What do you think about that. The Puritans in the sixteen hundreds in America had a Sunday morning and a Sunday evening gathering time and they had a Thursday morning lecture they actually called that Thursday morning lecture and that's that's what they had. This is just things that they did in their era. Some of those things we continue to today. But what I'm trying to show you here from Acts chapter two and myself and the deacons we've looked at this and I know we've I've I've been studying this for about three years now is how how did the early church do this. How did they survive. How did they thrive during persecution. They had persecution. We could have persecution don't don't think all never happened in America. Their church is being closed in Canada. Covid exposed some weak places in our church. My heart broke when we couldn't meet and not everyone has Internet and can get online and not everyone has family they could watch online and pray together. That's why we were suggesting small groups. Eight months ago or more. Ten months ago. Stuff like that. You know we were hesitant because of the way the transmission of the sickness and everything you know that's way a little bit wait a little bit. But this idea we've been thinking about for a long time at least I've been praying looking and studying some of these things is that how can we continue to thrive as a church no matter what Satan in this world does. And you know the way we've done it since the 1970s or however long you've done church the way you've done church. I'm talking about service times and when things like that. Acts chapter two spiritually it's not something with which we clothe ourselves just on Sunday spirituality is not something with which we clothe ourselves just on Sunday. Notice what the Holy Spirit links together the temple and the table. Those who were in love with the Lord found their way to the place of prayer. They went to the temple and then they went to the table they went to people's houses. This is a great idea. The early church did this and it's something for us to consider here today that spirituality would spill over into the mundane aspects of life. It will bring people together in hospitality. The commonplace things of life such as eating and drinking will be sanctified the joy of the Lord will add a new dimension of gladness to everything. Life will not be compartmentalized into the sacred and the secular but both will be wedded in a marriage of blessings and bliss. How many how many of you when you read the Bible you know immediately. How is this going to affect me right now at the workplace. Students in the classroom. We need to talk through application we need to talk through the how to's in life so how to or when to perform church is not commanded in the Bible but it's demonstrated in the Bible. Me on Sunday and a certain time is not commanded. There's a model that we can find in the scripture you could say it's typical it's it's demonstrated it's an example it's not like you know you have to do it like this. That's what I'm trying to convey. So what does the Bible model for us. Eight times in the New Testament the first day of the week is found in our King James version of the Bible you will find Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday you'll find those words. I looked a long time I could find it. But you will find first day of the week second day of the week third day you know things like that a description like that. So here's a few of those. Acts chapter twenty verse seven upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread. Paul preached to them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech until midnight. So we're going to try this today. I want to talk until midnight. Are you ready. Let's go. I'm totally kidding he was leaving the next day. So he was making the most he's like I'm leaving the next day ships I'm shipping out. So I need to keep going here so they had a longer church service because of that. But that was why. Now here's another one. First Corinthians sixteen verse two upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God has prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come. He said and this is one of the main verses about the metal the first day of the week. any sense when you bring your ties and offerings etc. for missionaries. Other times the first day of the week phrase is used the other other six times this is the only two times like this the other six times are in connection with the resurrection of Jesus. You know why churches be on Sunday is because Jesus rose again on the first day of the week. What's the first day of the week. Sunday so it's typified it's demonstrated in Scripture that we meet on Sunday and that we worship God that we celebrate Jesus. Now Romans sixteen verse twenty three is the only time we find the entire church in somebody's house. Gay is my host and of the whole church salute if you arrest us the Chamberlain of the city salute with you and quarters a brother. So gas hosted Paul and he hosted the whole church. That's what the verse says. Now he was a rather wealthy convert it seems and he must have had a larger estate because that core of the church was a very large church is a big church we know from all the names and from different evidence in Scripture so he must have had a large place. So when we say hey let's have a small group at your house we're not saying let's bring everybody in a church all all hundred fifty bus let's go to your house and have church at your house we're talking about small group that's the only time he had a different set up there. Houses were by definition a private space allowing Christians to gather as community and drop the social boundaries that otherwise defined their daily lives. So it was a great model of ministry public meeting public meeting and that could be shut down sometimes. But here's somebody in there. They're a little small group and they can just keep going. And this church thrive. The first century church grew and expanded the Lord and a daily such as would be say we think we think sometimes all we got to do more we got to do more we're going to do more. We have to work harder work harder work harder. But God's the one who adds to the church. Haven't you ever felt like that like I got to do this and this and this. I felt like that. God's the one who adds to the church. He's the one. What if we updated. our model of ministry to something different than what we did in 2019. What if we updated were actually just went back in history to kind of like what they did back in the first century with the first century church. Well somebody will say well you know here's a verse Hebrews 1025 not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together as a matter of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching we should have more church not less church I'm not talking about more church or less church. What about discipleship. Is there more disciples. It's actually connected to exhorting one another I believe we're exhorting each other more we're exhorting each other more exhorting each other more. If we adapted what they did in Acts chapter two. Listen if we adapted what they did in Acts chapter two. There would actually be more disciples and people would be meeting more regularly throughout the week. Not just that. Well you know just certain times et cetera. There actually could be more. spiritual progress by updating our model to this old fashioned example of Scripture. So I encourage you today let's be generational relational in life and ministry has some young people around here that are going to hand out a little card so all young people stand up real quick. Go quick go quick please and hand these out so every adult every teenager needs to get what I just I'd like five more minutes to talk with you please. Here's something that myself and the deacons we've talked through and prayed through this idea that we could try for the next six months. Now to the middle of November, probably. And I'll talk you through this. So young people, thank you for handing that out. Thank you, we love you. Young people, we're thankful for you. What if there's another COVID shutdown? Is that a possibility? What if there is persecution. Now we don't live by what else I mean we see some of these things happening in our world today. Christianity is not mainstream. You know if you if you they miss you just raise your hand. OK young people look around if they missed you raise your hand. OK we had a lot of people. There's some down here. Raise your hand wave to him. You smile at him too. OK. Yeah. Smile at these kiddos. Awesome. All right. So what if what if some things like this Christianity is no longer mainstream. What would we do. You know I felt so bad when we had people that we couldn't meet with for a while. But what if we had a clusters of ten or fifteen people already going already engaging already in good Bible study. So on the card there top of it worship walk and when Matthew twenty eight go either for each all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father Son Holy Spirit. and teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and then he says well I'm with you always even into the end of the world. Amen. So Jesus is with us already but worship God. That's what we're doing right now. Walking with others. That's discipleship that's living life together and then wedding that's when we serve we're serving and trying to tell people about Christ or bringing along other disciples. This is what we've been talking about the last several weeks. So ten o'clock church service the church gathered this is our gathering here we are all together. and then kids life we could start that back up and have nurseries available on family Sundays would be the fifth Sunday of a month that we'd have no kids like everybody being here or as if we're all spread out still at the time on the campus. So that's worship worship God. That's the first step is basic training is boot camp. Let's get the ball rolling. That's worshiping God. See people get saved. Have some Bible study together pray worship the Lord number to walk. Walk this is our progression progression of discipleship we've never had a clear progression for discipleship. Our church never had a clear progression of discipleship. So introduce people to Jesus. Now we're going to we're going to walk in life together. By the way not many churches have a clear progression of discipleship. Two weeks ago I talked about how a lot of churches are numbers based you know it's vertical like a number here number here number there. We're trying to get away from that. So we could have discipleship slash fellowship a wanna is discipleship for kids. Families are disciples are helping their kids memorize these verses they would use the entire building on Sunday evenings from five thirty to seven o'clock the entire building they use this space as well for kids discipleship. Then the church scattered this would be all ages this would be intergenerational ten to fifteen people in a home and some people are like well I don't know about a home. Maybe we would open up certain rooms we'd have a leader that could open up rooms we could open up rooms at different times throughout the week and have a small group we call the church scattered a scattered group. They can receive prayer requests start times locations are led by the host videos. We make a video that would be the lecture if you would then the lab is discussing it talking it just like we read in the scripture. And what does this mean in a real life setting. and it's very effective. We have tried this in our home with a small group for over six months now and it's been incredible. Scattered groups can be intergenerational, it's not required. Biblical, less formal setting with the older teaching the younger. Folks, you talk about encouraging each other and so much more as you see the day approaching. We've had small groups that don't go for just 45 minutes like Sunday school. We've had some of them go for as long as three hours. More, more. Now, if you're saying, wait a minute, I'm not signing up for that three hour meeting. No, but not everyone stayed for the whole time. And it's been amazing. Here's what it looks like for us. We have this living room. We have a little loveseat a couch another chair. I bring another chair and some of the kids sit on the floor and we don't even have a big screen TV therefore we have this little laptop. We set on a little TV tray type thing and everyone gathers around and they're watching this message that I generally want delivering. It's a Bible study through verse by verse through Ecclesiastes right now. And then we'll say OK who would like to ask the questions at the end of that our discussion questions discussion and application. And I love this. I love this. This is amazing. This is exactly what we read in the Bible today. Sometimes the kids it may be Jacob or Kyle or grace or summer or Whitney. It's not always the adult the leader. I've stepped back I actually don't say that much at all at these small group meetings And and that's on purpose by the way if you're wondering John why I don't say much. It's like I love to see This mentorship take place because the kids ask the question people take time to answer the question give some real-life examples and what does this first mean and There's another does another verse come to mind that is connected to the teaching that we're talking about today, and it's been life-changing We have young adults, we have teenagers, we have little kids there and it's their favorite service. Do you like it better than Sunday school? I've learned a lot more. Not just what does the verse say but what does it mean in real life. You know we need to talk to kids and ask them where they are at. What are they learning or not learning? You know you can be the best lecturer but they may not get anything from it. So my challenge to you today is would you pray and you may be like well you know don't be upset. Don't be upset. There's no set in stone how to do time service service times in the Bible. But would you pray and guys go ahead and advance to the next response here. Would you give us a try until Thanksgiving. Would you try it. This is demonstrated in the Bible. We can get and I'm not against Sunday morning Sunday night was and I you know do do do do do I'm not really against people who do that model. but the I ideology of the scripture is more personal. It's not like I have to. We have to do it this way. It's more personal. Would you pray and would you commit to at least trying it. This is about six months by the time we get the host and everything it be about six months less than six months around Thanksgiving will stop and resume. If we're reassessed etc. at that time. Would you worship God keep coming to church 10 o'clock Sunday morning just keep coming keep coming bring people with you like you have been. It's been great. And would you commit to walking with others in a scattered group. This week I'm going to be contacting people. Many of you have expressed interest already in being a host. Many of you have expressed interest in being a leader and like I said as a leader in our small group I don't even do that much. You know if we get off topic too much people say let's get back to the question or something but it's been really good and I would ask you to pray with me about trying it. Let's try it. All right let's take some time to pray and I hope that you're encouraged with this here today. Heavenly Father we thank you for your word. We thank you for the demonstration of these people and you bless this church. They saw great things. They saw discipleship really take place and help us to be bold and courageous to follow this as an example. Lord we thank you for our church we thank you for everyone here. We have good teaching and preaching times we pray that we would see true disciples with real life change take place that we would become more like Jesus. And so Lord we pray that as we as we consider this this week that you give great grace and encouragement strength to each one that everyone would be true followers of Jesus. And that we would become more like him. We do pray for safety now as we go. Thank you for meeting with us. We pray this now in Jesus name. Amen.