Our Duty Toward the Rising Generation (4)

Driving home: And so the origin of human leadership in the church is not to be viewed as something that came to pass because there were sinful men who wanted to rival the crown rights of Christ, but the origin of human leadership is i…

Psalm 77:20 is used to illustrate how God led His people through the human instrumentality of Moses and Aaron, demonstrating that divine leadership does not exclude human leadership.

It was God's way under the old covenant. And you have a beautiful statement that distills this biblical principle in one verse at the end of Psalm 77. Remember now we're seeking simply to establish in a very cursory way the origin of human leadership. And here in Psalm 77 and verse 20 we read, You led your people like a flock.

13:10 - 13:43 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that maintaining godly leadership is not to be left to chance but is a necessary, divinely-ordained responsibility, demonstrated by Paul's holy anxiety and solemn…

Paul's warning about 'grievous wolves' and 'perverse men' is a metaphor for false teachers and internal dissenters who will attack the church after his departure, highlighting the need for vigilant leadership.

To shepherd that flock which is so precious to the Lord that he bought it with his own blood. And almost anticipating the question of these elders, Paul, why so solicitous? Why do you interrupt your rather pressured journey to Jerusalem to call us here to this little spot out in the Mediterranean in order to charge us? He says, I'll tell you why. I know that after my departing grief is won. I saw great stars in the rain and lukewarm and thunder and dust. I saw stars in Despair and такие borneceğiz, andployee and not sheared roomy, the planting of noble yours in myself willateria, the manna thr...

34:18 - 35:14 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But I say it reverently, Paul had no notion of a God or of grace that would keep a church, regardless of whether or not it had a continuity of godly, human leadership.

The analogy of passing a baton in a race is used to describe Paul's transfer of leadership responsibility to the Ephesian elders, emphasizing the continuity of leadership.

He said, I know that after my giving to Jerusalem, but the imps of hell will be stirring up wolves and perverse men. Therefore, you elders, listen. As I set the pattern of godly, responsible, human leadership in the church at Ephesus, here's the baton, men. I'm passing it on to you.

36:29 - 37:05 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Paul's 'swan song' in 2 Timothy 4 and his instruction in 2 Timothy 2:2 to commit truth to 'faithful men' underscore the personal responsibility of existing leaders to secure a…

Paul's final words in 2 Timothy 4 are described as his 'swan song,' a metaphor for his last, most significant message before his martyrdom, underscoring its importance for leadership succession.

What some have called Paul's swan song. The last words that as far as we know he wrote prior to his martyrdom. He's conscious that his death is in a sense already in process. Verse 6.

39:18 - 39:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Paul's 'swan song' in 2 Timothy 4 and his instruction in 2 Timothy 2:2 to commit truth to 'faithful men' underscore the personal responsibility of existing leaders to secure a…

Paul's martyrdom is described as being 'poured out as a drink offering,' a metaphor for his sacrificial service unto Christ.

I'm already being offered. That is poured out as a drink offering. He regarded his martyrdom as a drink offering unto Christ. I'm already being poured out.

39:36 - 39:48 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Paul's 'swan song' in 2 Timothy 4 and his instruction in 2 Timothy 2:2 to commit truth to 'faithful men' underscore the personal responsibility of existing leaders to secure a…

Paul's 'fighting days are over' and 'running days are over' are metaphors for the completion of his spiritual struggles and ministry course.

The time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight. My fighting days are over. I've finished my course.

39:48 - 39:58 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You see, the great apostle who had the largest, most believing views of the glory of Christ that any human being has ever had, who had the most vigorous faith and confidence in the ultimate triumphs of the cause of Chris…

The imagery of a mantle falling and a baton being passed is used to illustrate the transfer of Paul's ministry and responsibility to Timothy.

The mantle falls upon you. The baton is now passed to you. I'll not be found at your side anymore, Timothy. I'm on my way home.

41:17 - 41:27 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be an ecclesiastical hedonist, willing to consume the fruits of others' labors without concern for future generations.

John Newton's quote, 'only the God who made the world can make a true minister of Christ,' is used to emphasize that godly leaders are divinely raised up, not humanly manufactured.

We must cry mightily and incessantly to the God of heaven. We must pray. It is Christ who gives pastors and teachers. If he does not cull them out of the mass of humanity and bring them to himself in saving grace, if he does not mold and fashion them by that tailor-made pattern which he has for every man of God, if he does not bring them through that crucible of experience in the closet and in life and interaction with men and women and boys and girls that will fit him to be a shepherd after his heart, all the king's horses and all the king's men cannot put together a true godly leader. In Chr...

48:52 - 50:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray regularly and with earnestness for a continuity of godly leadership in this congregation.

The imagery of 'sheep having no shepherd' is used to describe the distressed, scattered, and vulnerable state of people without wise and godly leaders.

Our burden for the rising generation will all come to naught unless they have wise and godly shepherds. It's to guide them. When the Spirit of God records the distress of the soul of Jesus, when he looked out upon the multitudes, he says they were distressed and scattered. What's the imagery?

51:48 - 52:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Give yourselves to growing up into Christ in the path of self-denying, sensitive conscience obedience to Christ.

The metaphor from Hebrews 5 of needing 'milk and not of solid food' is used to describe spiritual immaturity, where individuals who should be teaching still need basic instruction.

Enough time is passed. You ought to be imparting to others. You have need that someone teach you your ABCs. And then he changes the imagery and it becomes such as at need of milk and not of solid food.

59:17 - 59:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He says spiritual maturity comes in the path not of hearing hundreds of sermons. It comes in the path of receiving the truth into a tender conscience, making moral judgments in the light of the truth that has impinged up…

The vivid imagery of needing someone to cut up your steak or warm your bottle and burp you is used to underscore the embarrassing state of spiritual immaturity.

When you ought to be sitting down and cutting up your own steak, or if you've got a cholesterol problem, cutting up your skinned chicken, or the time that you ought to be eating solid food, you have need that someone stick the bottle in your mouth again.

59:29 - 59:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Start crushing some of your little toys and abandon time-wasting indulgences like video games.

The analogy of needing to learn ABCs when one should be matriculating at grad school is used to highlight the failure to progress in spiritual understanding and maturity.

You've had enough exposure, plenty of time to absorb it, and yet we've got to go back. When you ought to be matriculating at grad school and have a, teaching fraternal given to you,

60:06 - 60:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Start crushing some of your little toys and abandon time-wasting indulgences like video games.

John Owen's statement about 'walking over the belly of our lusts' is quoted to emphasize the self-denial and mortification of sin required for spiritual maturity and godly leadership.

For everyone that partakes of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness, for he is a babe, but solid food is for full-grown men. Full-grown men, even those who by reason of youth have their sense, sense is exercised to discern good and evil. He says spiritual maturity comes in the path not of hearing hundreds of sermons. It comes in the path of receiving the truth into a tender conscience, making moral judgments in the light of the truth that has impinged upon the conscience and thereby becoming strong as a self-denying, obedient disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. The senses are ...

60:33 - 62:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Start crushing some of your little toys and abandon time-wasting indulgences like video games.

The metaphor of 'crushing some of your little toys' is used to challenge men to abandon trivial indulgences (like video games) in favor of spiritual disciplines that build character and prepare for leadership.

You want this place, if the Lord tarries, 20, 30 years from now, to have godly leaders who will not flinch, but who will be, determined to see the rule of Christ implemented in this place, then you better want it bad enough to start crushing some of your little toys, men. When I hear of grown men spending hours in front of their video games, I get sick.

62:52 - 63:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Start crushing some of your little toys and abandon time-wasting indulgences like video games.

The direct question 'What's your toy, man?' is a rhetorical device to confront men about their personal indulgences that hinder spiritual growth.

Would you listen to me if you found out from my wife I was addicted to the little yo-yo, little joy, little twisted, little to my video game? What's your toy, man?

63:34 - 63:51 Read in full sermon