WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.679 Today's scripture reading is taken from Acts chapter 12 verses 1 to 25. 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:08.560 ! Please follow along in your Bibles. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:15.200 If you don't have a Bible, please do still grab them from the front of the stage or at the back near the door. 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:22.679 Our passage is found on page 866 of the Church Bible. 00:00:25.019 --> 00:00:27.480 Hear then God's word to us today. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.119 About that time, Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 00:00:37.100 --> 00:00:41.060 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:47.859 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. 00:00:49.299 --> 00:00:51.760 This was during the days of unleavened bread. 00:00:51.760 --> 00:00:59.939 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.179 To guard him. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:05.579 Intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:08.980 So Peter was kept in prison. 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:13.879 But earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:29.959 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and centuries before the door were guarding the prison. 00:01:29.959 --> 00:01:37.500 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. 00:01:38.259 --> 00:01:42.239 He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, Get up quickly. 00:01:43.199 --> 00:01:45.799 And the chains fell off his hands. 00:01:46.839 --> 00:01:50.339 And the angel said to him, Dress yourself and put on your sandals. 00:01:50.340 --> 00:01:51.880 And he did so. 00:01:52.600 --> 00:01:56.799 And he said to him, Wrap your cloak around you and follow me. 00:01:57.640 --> 00:02:00.100 And he went out and followed him. 00:02:00.939 --> 00:02:07.600 He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:15.919 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.780 It opened for them of its own accord. 00:02:20.139 --> 00:02:23.359 And they went out and went along one street. 00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:26.240 And immediately the angel left him. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:37.760 When Peter came to himself, he said, Now I'm sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting. 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:49.800 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:56.680 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 00:02:57.740 --> 00:03:06.160 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy, she did not open the gate, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 00:03:06.860 --> 00:03:09.660 They said to her, You are out of your mind. 00:03:10.460 --> 00:03:13.080 But she kept insisting that it was so. 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:15.939 And they kept saying, It is his angel. 00:03:16.980 --> 00:03:18.900 But Peter continued knocking. 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:24.160 And when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 00:03:25.200 --> 00:03:31.820 But motioning them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord has brought him out of prison. 00:03:32.620 --> 00:03:35.980 And he said, Tell these things to James and to the brothers. 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:40.160 Then he departed and went to another place. 00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:47.460 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 00:03:47.460 --> 00:03:57.159 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:02.700 Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. 00:04:02.699 --> 00:04:08.599 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:14.619 And they came to him with one accord and having persuaded blasters, the king's chamberlain. 00:04:15.019 --> 00:04:20.699 They asked for peace because their country depended on the king's country for food. 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:30.259 On an appointed day, Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne and delivered an oration to them. 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:35.120 And the people were shouting, The voice of a god and not of a man. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:42.980 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory. 00:04:43.660 --> 00:04:47.639 And he was eaten by worms and breathed his lust. 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:52.980 But the word of God increased and multiplied. 00:04:54.660 --> 00:05:02.980 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. 00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:07.580 Let us believe and respond to God's true and living word. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:17.580 Great testimony. 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:19.860 Sorry, that's the mute button. 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:21.600 Great. 00:05:21.700 --> 00:05:22.600 Thanks so much, Annabelle. 00:05:22.780 --> 00:05:24.140 Such a great reading. 00:05:25.080 --> 00:05:25.500 Yeah. 00:05:25.620 --> 00:05:26.439 Thanks for the testimony. 00:05:26.640 --> 00:05:27.720 Such an encouraging time. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:29.879 And now, yeah, let's look at this passage together. 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:34.420 Please keep it open so we can see what God is saying. 00:05:35.219 --> 00:05:36.920 Let's pray that he would speak to us. 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:44.279 Father, thank you for your true and living word, words of life, words of encouragement. 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:47.899 Would you speak to each of our hearts today, no matter where we're at. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:48.839 In Jesus' name. 00:05:49.159 --> 00:05:49.439 Amen. 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:51.360 Great. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:52.759 Well, it's the end of March. 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:56.240 And so this is the end of our March missions month. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:59.460 Maybe you're visiting today or some of the youth. 00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:02.360 You maybe don't know if you were talking. 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:04.600 You talked about it in youth the past few weeks. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:09.199 But, yeah, we've tried to have a real focus on mission and outreach for the past few weeks. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:11.120 Now, I don't know how that was for you. 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:13.660 Maybe some of us here are very encouraged, right? 00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:17.139 Because maybe you were helping and you saw things happening. 00:06:17.139 --> 00:06:21.919 Or you invited friends who came to the whiskey tasting or to Alpha. 00:06:22.419 --> 00:06:24.659 And then maybe you're here because you came to one of those events. 00:06:24.919 --> 00:06:26.779 And, yeah, it's really great to have you here. 00:06:27.659 --> 00:06:28.979 Then again, there's others maybe. 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:31.240 And it was more discouraging, right? 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:34.939 Maybe you invited people, but they didn't come and not much happened. 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:37.259 And the whole thing kind of passed you by. 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:42.259 Or maybe, actually, you're a bit tired of it because this is March. 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:43.459 It's not just missions month. 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:44.659 It's the end of the text year. 00:06:44.860 --> 00:06:47.480 And work is just crazy at the moment. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:49.839 And then you have this stuff at church. 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:53.099 And, I don't know, there's a war in the world and personal issues. 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:55.279 And, you know, there's all this stuff going on. 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:58.539 Man, maybe you don't really – it can feel like a distraction, right? 00:06:58.539 --> 00:06:59.579 Something you're tired of. 00:07:00.359 --> 00:07:04.560 I think it's really great to look at this passage today because, yeah, 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:06.839 it's the final sermon in this series. 00:07:06.979 --> 00:07:10.219 We're going to take a break from Acts next week when we have Easter. 00:07:10.579 --> 00:07:14.159 But I think it will speak to us, especially when we're discouraged, tired, 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:18.219 distracted to see, yeah, what God is saying. 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:22.060 Because in some ways, I mean, I don't know if you followed the chapter. 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:23.180 It's a bit of a mix, right? 00:07:23.180 --> 00:07:25.039 In some ways, it's not the happiest chapter. 00:07:25.219 --> 00:07:26.579 We're looking at the church in Jerusalem. 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:29.639 And they're facing persecution. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:35.159 King Herod, he laid violent hands, verse 1, on some who belonged to the church. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:36.399 Right? 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:37.639 They were facing persecution. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:38.159 I don't know. 00:07:38.459 --> 00:07:39.719 King Herod, maybe you wonder. 00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:40.819 He keeps showing up. 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:42.399 They're all called King Herod. 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:44.699 This is not the King Herod from when Jesus was born. 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:45.699 That was his grandfather. 00:07:46.180 --> 00:07:48.339 And it's also not the King Herod who killed John the Baptist. 00:07:48.519 --> 00:07:49.719 That was his uncle. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:54.319 Anyway, here is – yeah, it's the Herod family. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:58.420 They were around for – yeah, around the time of Jesus. 00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:00.219 But they were not popular. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:03.860 And so this guy, he wants to, you know, make the Jews like him. 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:04.819 So what shall I do? 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:06.600 Let me kill some Christians. 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:08.500 And that's what he's doing, right? 00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:11.439 So he kills James, verse 2, right? 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:14.459 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword, one of the apostles. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:21.539 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also and wanted to execute him too. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:25.900 Of course, then the chapter actually becomes more positive. 00:08:26.460 --> 00:08:28.200 The church prays for his release. 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:32.080 And God sends this angel who rescues him and all these miracles, right? 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:33.740 The change is falling off his feet. 00:08:33.940 --> 00:08:36.539 And the door is just opening magically. 00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:37.800 Peter can't believe it. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:38.800 He thinks it's just a vision. 00:08:38.980 --> 00:08:41.800 It's just when he's suddenly outside, wait, this is real. 00:08:42.460 --> 00:08:45.379 And then, yeah, and then the story gets so funny, right? 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:49.039 Because he goes to the place where the church meets and he knocks on the door. 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:52.500 And, you know, the servant goes, he's so excited that Peter is here. 00:08:52.579 --> 00:08:53.539 She goes and tells people. 00:08:53.659 --> 00:08:55.759 But actually, she forgets to open the door. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:59.459 And Peter is still outside, maybe wondering if any guards are at. 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:03.899 And then he goes to them and he says, hey, guys, Peter is at the door. 00:09:04.319 --> 00:09:04.980 No, he's not. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:05.679 He's in prison. 00:09:05.779 --> 00:09:06.919 We're praying for his release. 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:11.079 It's kind of funny, right? 00:09:11.699 --> 00:09:12.719 Come and pray with us. 00:09:12.839 --> 00:09:13.319 We need to, yeah? 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:15.220 And anyway, finally they get it. 00:09:15.300 --> 00:09:15.960 Peter is there. 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:18.440 But it's kind of funny. 00:09:18.540 --> 00:09:20.660 But still, overall, it's not necessarily happy, right? 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:24.520 I guess it's good for Peter and not for James. 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:26.820 I think that's something to think about, right? 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:29.200 Here are two apostles, both in prison. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:30.200 One gets executed. 00:09:30.340 --> 00:09:32.100 The other gets rescued. 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:36.520 Sometimes we just don't know what God's will is for us. 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:38.000 Maybe you apply for a job. 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:38.720 Will you get it? 00:09:38.840 --> 00:09:39.740 Will you not get it? 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:44.519 But that's, yeah, we need to trust God sometimes with these things. 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:47.820 That's not what this chapter is about, so I won't go into it. 00:09:47.899 --> 00:09:53.279 But it's, yeah, if we place too much hope in certain expectations, that's maybe not a good thing. 00:09:54.419 --> 00:09:58.180 But what is God saying through this chapter? 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:01.539 Well, one thing you might notice is that it seems so random. 00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:04.980 Because last week we talked about the Antioch church and we talked about Paul. 00:10:04.980 --> 00:10:11.180 And they were going on this trip to Jerusalem to, you know, to give famine relief. 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:14.120 And then we get this chapter. 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:16.720 And then it continues again 1225, right? 00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:18.080 And Barnabas and Saul returned. 00:10:18.680 --> 00:10:21.779 So if you left this chapter out, it didn't actually need to be there. 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:23.840 Why is it here? 00:10:24.060 --> 00:10:27.480 Especially, you know, Luke gives a lot of historical details. 00:10:28.139 --> 00:10:31.539 Chapter 12 happened three years earlier than the end of chapter 11. 00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:35.759 Why has he put it out of order here? 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:38.579 Well, it's for literary reasons. 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:47.500 And I think we get closer to the meaning when we see that actually what happens to Peter, it's supposed to remind you of something. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:48.779 Right? 00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:55.240 You know how some clever writers, they make you think about something in the way they write. 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:56.879 And I think that's the case here. 00:10:56.919 --> 00:11:02.120 I don't know if you noticed any echoes of a very important biblical event. 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:07.200 Maybe let me retell the story and then you will notice. 00:11:07.460 --> 00:11:07.580 Right? 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:10.180 So this is at Passover time. 00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:13.519 And, yeah, Peter's going to get executed. 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:13.899 Right? 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:17.659 By someone who wants to please the Jews, by some political leader. 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:20.480 And so he's basically as good as dead. 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:22.219 He's in this dark place underground. 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:22.819 Right? 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:23.699 He's as good as dead. 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:25.839 But God does a miracle. 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:26.699 And he gets out. 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:28.199 And he is alive. 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:29.120 He's no longer dead. 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:29.339 Right? 00:11:29.419 --> 00:11:30.219 He's not dead. 00:11:31.059 --> 00:11:32.579 And then he goes to his friends. 00:11:33.339 --> 00:11:35.240 And the first witness is a woman. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:37.259 She tells the men. 00:11:37.319 --> 00:11:38.659 And the men don't believe her. 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:42.480 But anyway, and finally they see him. 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:44.779 And when they see him, yeah, they do believe. 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:46.240 And he gives them instructions. 00:11:46.719 --> 00:11:48.179 Gives them a message to pass on. 00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:50.000 And then he goes to another place. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:52.719 I mean, does it remind you of something? 00:11:54.059 --> 00:11:54.500 Yeah. 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:58.179 Once you, you know, like they say on the internet, right? 00:11:58.259 --> 00:12:00.839 You just can't unsee it once you see it. 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:01.059 Right? 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.899 This is Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. 00:12:05.439 --> 00:12:05.659 Right? 00:12:05.659 --> 00:12:07.399 Jesus, he died on the cross. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.799 And then he rose again from the dead. 00:12:08.839 --> 00:12:10.039 And he appeared to his friends. 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:11.659 Again, first to Mary. 00:12:11.939 --> 00:12:14.819 And then she told the other disciples they didn't believe. 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:15.559 Et cetera. 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:16.819 But finally they saw him. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:17.419 They believed. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.360 He gives the message. 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:20.399 And then he ascends into heaven. 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:20.719 Right? 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:22.019 This is, yeah. 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:26.579 When you see it, okay, this is just Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:29.139 But why does Luke do that? 00:12:30.699 --> 00:12:33.860 Well, we have to remember we had one of these before. 00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:38.600 And if you were here a couple of weeks ago, we were in chapter 7. 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:40.600 And chapter 7 was the same thing. 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:44.580 That's when, well, another Christian being killed, Stephen. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:47.940 But there were so many details, again, just like Jesus' death. 00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:52.379 And back then this was a transition to a new stage. 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:54.220 It had been only in Jerusalem. 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:55.980 But now the gospel was going to go out. 00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:56.720 Right? 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:58.600 This is a new stage. 00:12:58.779 --> 00:13:01.139 Maybe you remember last week if you were here. 00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:01.179 Right? 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:03.179 So Dan preached really well. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:03.819 He preached. 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:09.379 And part of kind of the context, what he said was, okay, hey, we have these three stages in Acts. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:09.679 Right? 00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:14.100 Stage, there's chapters 1 to 6. 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:16.039 And then, can we have the next slide, please? 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:19.899 Chapters 1 to 6. 00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:21.579 Chapter 8 to 11. 00:13:22.179 --> 00:13:23.120 13 to 28. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:23.379 Right? 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:26.919 Jerusalem, Peter to the Jews, Judea and Samaria. 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:28.879 Okay. 00:13:29.079 --> 00:13:29.959 Now, sorry. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:32.779 When I made this, there were some lines in the middle. 00:13:32.939 --> 00:13:33.519 Can we go back? 00:13:35.459 --> 00:13:36.379 But, yeah. 00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:42.459 Dan had these kind of lines between each stage, which for some reason don't appear. 00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:46.379 But, yeah, you have a line between each. 00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:48.060 Well, what is that line? 00:13:48.800 --> 00:13:51.860 It is a Christ-like death. 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:52.280 Right? 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:52.920 Chapter 7. 00:13:53.259 --> 00:13:57.019 Between stage 1 and 2, there was someone dying like Christ. 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:01.259 And now, again, we have someone dying like Christ. 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:01.460 Right? 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:04.440 So, I mean, that's how people did things back then. 00:14:05.280 --> 00:14:06.920 I mean, how do you mark a chapter? 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:10.000 I mean, we do that a bit like you see in the next picture. 00:14:10.160 --> 00:14:10.360 Right? 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:12.120 How do you see a chapter? 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:14.680 Right? 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:16.019 You have some white space. 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:18.139 And then, you know, you have some title on the next page. 00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:20.600 That's how you know you're going to go from chapter 13 to 14. 00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:25.360 But back in the New Testament days, they didn't do that yet. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:26.279 Right? 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:27.360 And most people couldn't read. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:28.080 They had it read out. 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:32.539 So, I mean, this is Acts 12 and 13 and one of the oldest manuscripts of the Bible. 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:36.460 Can you see where chapter 13 starts? 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:38.980 No? 00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:39.039 No. 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:40.720 Yeah, you can? 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:42.899 Yeah. 00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:44.220 If you can see. 00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:51.340 So, someone made a very helpful little, you know, the middle column, almost at the bottom, there is a little 13 on the right. 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:53.379 Someone said, okay, hey, here is 13. 00:14:53.459 --> 00:14:54.220 They put it in later. 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:57.779 But, you know, you can't see where chapter 13 starts. 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:59.000 How did they do that? 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:01.480 You know, they put something in the text. 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:06.080 They had to kind of, hey, when this kind of thing happens, there's something new. 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:07.779 And so, here it's the same thing. 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:09.360 It's partly that phrase, right? 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:10.080 Verse 24. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:12.400 The word of God increased and multiplied. 00:15:12.400 --> 00:15:15.100 But also, we get a death and resurrection. 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:17.520 We get something like Christ's death. 00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:21.660 Which means we're going to a new stage. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:22.220 Right? 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:24.740 The idea is this should be really exciting. 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:25.680 You're reading Acts. 00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:27.440 You see the gospel going out. 00:15:28.040 --> 00:15:29.820 And then, okay, Stephen dies. 00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:30.720 Okay, that doesn't look. 00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:31.620 But, whoa. 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:34.080 After that, hey, the gospel goes to Judea. 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.180 It goes to Samaria. 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.740 And we get Paul converted. 00:15:37.180 --> 00:15:39.240 And we get the gospel going to the Gentiles. 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:41.220 And we get the first international church. 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:44.019 And now, we get another death and resurrection. 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:46.360 And kind of, whoa, what's going to happen now? 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.340 That's the idea. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.180 This should be really exciting. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:49.519 Yeah. 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:51.019 It's like you watch a movie. 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:52.720 And it says, to be continued. 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.180 Right? 00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.639 End of part two. 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:58.220 The apostle Paul will return in Acts 3. 00:15:58.539 --> 00:16:00.100 Coming soon to churches near you. 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:00.460 I don't know. 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.200 Something like that. 00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:01.419 Right? 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:05.460 You're supposed to be hyped up for the next thing that's going to happen. 00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:06.180 That's the idea. 00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:10.599 And so, yeah, as we, you know, this is the end of stage two. 00:16:10.719 --> 00:16:11.759 Going to stage three. 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:14.939 You know, be excited that the gospel is growing. 00:16:15.939 --> 00:16:17.439 And maybe it didn't look so good. 00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:18.559 Maybe James got killed. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.519 And Peter got imprisoned. 00:16:19.739 --> 00:16:21.199 And there was a famine in Judea. 00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:23.359 And Christians didn't have the blessed life. 00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:26.279 But Luke is saying, hey, look. 00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:28.679 The gospel is expanding. 00:16:28.819 --> 00:16:29.819 And it's not just expanding. 00:16:29.819 --> 00:16:32.719 We're going to get something new in the next chapter. 00:16:32.839 --> 00:16:33.799 Something exciting. 00:16:34.319 --> 00:16:34.500 Right? 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:37.659 When, actually, it's not just natural growth. 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:40.980 They're going to send out missionaries who are going to go to the ends of the earth. 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:42.820 It's the next big thing in God's plan. 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:45.120 And kind of the gospel goes from Peter to Paul. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:45.639 Right? 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.700 So, it should be. 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.080 Yeah. 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:48.139 That's the idea. 00:16:48.779 --> 00:16:49.019 Maybe. 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:51.100 I don't know if I've been able to convey it. 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:53.820 But the idea is, you know, this is encouraging and exciting. 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:56.639 And, again, how would that speak to us? 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:56.860 Right? 00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:57.200 Maybe. 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:57.960 I don't know. 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:00.440 Maybe didn't mission months didn't feel like it for you. 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:03.960 Just like maybe for them when Herod was chasing them. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.860 They didn't feel great. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:07.240 But, hey, look at what the gospel is doing. 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:10.480 Look beyond the problems in your life. 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:12.539 Look at, lift up your eyes. 00:17:12.620 --> 00:17:13.680 The gospel is growing. 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.380 That's exciting. 00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:21.100 Though, at the same time, I mean, Luke could have chosen anything. 00:17:21.100 --> 00:17:21.400 Right? 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:24.160 He could have just put a poem between stages. 00:17:25.080 --> 00:17:26.640 He could have put some doxology. 00:17:26.800 --> 00:17:28.120 He could have said, amen, amen. 00:17:28.340 --> 00:17:28.680 I don't know. 00:17:29.080 --> 00:17:32.400 If you read the Psalms, how is the Psalms divided in the books? 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.500 Well, amen, amen. 00:17:34.300 --> 00:17:36.519 But, instead, we get a Christ-like death. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.480 We get Jesus' death. 00:17:38.820 --> 00:17:39.980 We get Stephen's death. 00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:41.080 We get Peter's death. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.640 And then we get another death. 00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:43.160 Right? 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.860 Why a death? 00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:47.980 Is he trying to tell us something? 00:17:48.060 --> 00:17:48.240 Right? 00:17:49.540 --> 00:17:52.120 I don't think this means kind of an absolute truth. 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:56.299 That, okay, whenever the gospel is going forward, someone is going to die. 00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:59.259 I mean, we'd love something big to happen at Watermark. 00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:00.599 We'd love to plant a church. 00:18:01.719 --> 00:18:05.299 It doesn't mean that one of our elders will get killed. 00:18:06.679 --> 00:18:08.239 It's a 20% chance it's me. 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:09.739 Yeah. 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:12.119 We'd love to have a few more elders. 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:13.019 Any volunteers? 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.399 No, that's not. 00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:17.259 No, no. 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:19.199 I don't think it's absolutely like that. 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:22.940 And yet, this does suggest suffering, right? 00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:28.559 It suggests that, you know, we talk about following Jesus. 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:30.299 What do you think it means to follow Jesus? 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:32.819 Maybe we think loving people. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.680 That's a great thing. 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:36.840 Maybe spending time alone with the Father in prayer. 00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:41.640 Oh, how does Jesus define loving him, following him? 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:44.880 Well, here's a famous verse that's in almost every gospel. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:53.960 And he said to all, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:55.320 All right? 00:18:55.580 --> 00:19:00.840 Following Jesus means taking up your cross, which you do when you're going to your death. 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.160 All right? 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.920 It's denying yourself. 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:08.280 I mean, the most common description of Christians in Acts is the way. 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:10.639 It's not the Mandalorian. 00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:11.579 The way. 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.859 What is the way? 00:19:13.379 --> 00:19:15.379 Well, you look for the way in the gospels. 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:21.619 And the way is, well, when Jesus, the thing that ends in Palm Sunday is when Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.859 And he's teaching his disciples, but he's going to Jerusalem. 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:26.000 He's going to his death. 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.019 He's going to the cross. 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:28.559 That is the way. 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:31.180 The way is, yeah. 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:35.180 And so, yeah, we should be excited as the gospel is growing. 00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:39.200 But I think Paul wants, Luke wants to say, even though it's hard. 00:19:40.060 --> 00:19:40.720 It's hard. 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:45.620 And maybe if you're not a Christian, I mean, we talk how great it is to be a Christian. 00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:49.200 Actually, the Bible also says it can be hard. 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:53.039 I mean, think about mission month. 00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:54.279 It can be a hard thing, right? 00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:55.660 So part of it could be rejection. 00:19:55.820 --> 00:19:57.320 Maybe you invited someone. 00:19:57.319 --> 00:20:04.460 You took a risk and you invited a friend or a colleague, but actually they didn't appreciate the invitation at all. 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:09.179 And actually it soured things a bit and, you know, led to some ridicule. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.819 I don't know how you feel, right? 00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:13.579 That can be hard. 00:20:13.659 --> 00:20:14.839 You may be still hurt inside. 00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:17.559 Maybe it's the work involved, right? 00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:19.579 So Alpha was great. 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:23.439 People put in a lot of effort, but that was a lot of work, right, if you were involved. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:27.759 Just showing up consistently and preparing this and preparing that. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:30.100 And it can be a lot of work. 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:31.740 We're having this journey to the cross next week. 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.200 It's great. 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:36.700 But, you know, we have these staff members who are working so hard to build all that. 00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:39.019 That's trying to get a little organized. 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.720 Maybe just being a witness, right? 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:48.220 You're in your office and you're an ambassador for Christ, which means, well, you need to behave, right? 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:54.579 Maybe everything is so frustrating and your computer doesn't work and you want to just bash it, right? 00:20:54.600 --> 00:20:55.740 I feel like that sometimes. 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:57.819 But, of course, you can't do that, right, because you're a Christian. 00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:03.120 And everyone looks to you to see what, you know, for the truth of Christianity. 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.339 So you can't, right? 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:05.579 You can't let you. 00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:06.500 You need to fight sin. 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:09.940 All those things are hard about being a Christian. 00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:12.039 It's hard about reaching out. 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:13.220 And God knows that. 00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:18.599 And that's why partly he's saying, as you think about, okay, why the gospel transition? 00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.940 Well, it's people suffering. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.980 There is suffering. 00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:23.319 There's hard work involved. 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:27.659 Now, of course, and in some places it's even worse, right? 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:29.899 Hong Kong is a free society. 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:32.279 Other places Christians really get killed. 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:36.019 But even if it's not persecution, following Jesus is hard. 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:38.240 And Luke wants to remind you of that. 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:40.039 Reminds me of that. 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:41.039 Reminds us. 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:45.200 Although then you kind of wonder if it's so tough. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.639 You know, is it worth it? 00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:49.039 How can we endure this? 00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:53.039 Well, there's a few more verses that we can look at. 00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:58.680 Because, okay, after this we get this story about Herod. 00:21:59.700 --> 00:21:59.940 Right? 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.700 We get the death of Herod. 00:22:01.879 --> 00:22:03.000 So, I don't know. 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:03.980 What happens? 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:06.859 He was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.700 Verse 20. 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:09.460 They came to him. 00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:11.799 And, you know, they were going to have some meeting. 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:19.319 And on a pointed day, verse 21, Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne and delivered an oration to them. 00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:23.259 And, yeah, the people were shouting the voice of a god and not a man. 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.400 And then he was struck down. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.660 It seems a weird story. 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:28.620 Although it's also in other books. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:32.460 I don't know if you have heard of Josephus. 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:34.060 He was a Jewish historian. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:36.380 He actually writes about the same thing. 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:39.660 So, we know this was in August. 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.580 The festival to honor Caesar. 00:22:43.040 --> 00:22:46.279 Apparently, Herod was wearing this outfit with a lot of silver. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:48.259 He had this big silver robe. 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:50.480 And so, he was really shiny in the sun. 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:53.980 And everyone, you know, he was so shiny they couldn't. 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:58.180 And then they, yeah, that's when they said, oh, you're a god and not a mere mortal. 00:22:58.660 --> 00:23:00.619 That's what, yeah, this Jewish historian said. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.579 And so, he liked it. 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:04.579 But then he saw an owl sitting. 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:06.779 And that was, okay, that's bad news. 00:23:06.879 --> 00:23:09.980 And then he got, apparently he got these very violent stomach pains. 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.720 He had to be carried into the palace. 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:14.740 And after five days of terrible stomach pains, he died. 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:16.500 But, according to history. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.740 But, what's the point? 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:25.599 I mean, we don't get the death of Pilate or Kayafas or any of the other bad guys that we know from the Gospels. 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:28.279 It doesn't really read like a warning. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:28.900 I don't know. 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:33.019 When you heard it read, I hope you felt it was kind of a good thing, right? 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:35.240 And not a tragic, sad death. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.960 But this guy, he persecuted. 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:38.240 He killed James. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.359 He tried to kill Peter. 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:42.259 And it's not like after that he became a nice guy. 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:45.500 No, it should remind us of something. 00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:48.539 Again, Luke, he's a clever writer. 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:50.099 He wants to remind us of things. 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:52.019 Here's an act of judgment. 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:55.379 Coming after Jesus' death and resurrection and ascension. 00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:58.119 Well, it's his return, right? 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.440 Jesus' return. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:02.220 This is kind of, I mean, it's not an echo back. 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.740 It's more of a foreshadowing. 00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:07.180 But it's kind of Jesus will come back and judge. 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:11.420 Right after the death, resurrection, ascension, Jesus will come back. 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:17.400 And so why can, yeah, why is this good? 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:19.180 Why can we keep going? 00:24:19.580 --> 00:24:21.960 Well, because Jesus will return and win. 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:24.259 Jesus will come back and win. 00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:27.000 I mean, that's the hope of the church, right? 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.860 One day, Jesus will come back. 00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:30.640 And he's going to deal with all oppression. 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:32.240 He's going to deal with all evil. 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:34.259 He's going to make everything right. 00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:37.759 And then everything will be fine once Jesus comes. 00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:38.960 That's the great hope. 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:42.420 And that is what we're all looking forward to, right? 00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:47.200 And this story is just, I think it's put here as a reminder that that will happen. 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:49.720 And maybe that's new to you. 00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:52.160 I mean, we talk a lot about the cross here at Watermark. 00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:57.940 Maybe we don't talk about as much that, yeah, Jesus will return to come and judge. 00:24:57.940 --> 00:25:00.940 But they go together. 00:25:01.820 --> 00:25:03.980 I mean, why would Jesus die on a cross? 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:06.340 Well, we know to save us. 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:07.400 But to save us from what? 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:10.440 Not from loneliness or frustration. 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.900 Why did he come to save us? 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:15.299 Well, the Bible says he came to save us from judgment. 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:18.019 Because there he took that judgment. 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.279 Judgment needs to come. 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:25.200 And either Jesus took, take it, but for others it will come when he returns. 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:29.839 And punishing sin, I hope you can see from this story, in some ways it's a good thing. 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:32.859 The only thing is we're all sinners and we all need to cross. 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:33.859 I do. 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.319 All of us here do. 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:42.079 But for his people, suffering oppression, those who don't have to be afraid of the judgment, 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:45.179 then, well, Jesus' return is a wonderful thing. 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:48.359 For many Christians in the world, this is their great hope. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:51.759 In the New Testament, that's the great hope, that Jesus will come. 00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:56.859 And so, yeah, I hope that helps you, right? 00:25:56.859 --> 00:26:03.399 Why get excited that the gospel is growing and another new phase, even though it's hard? 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:05.240 Well, because there is this end. 00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:08.139 It's leading to something, right? 00:26:08.179 --> 00:26:11.240 The things we're doing, it has a goal, right? 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:12.759 It's going to work out. 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:15.919 It's going to conclude when Jesus comes. 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:18.439 That's the idea, right? 00:26:18.679 --> 00:26:21.740 So many things that we do don't lead to anything, right? 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.339 So many things at work. 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:26.220 It's actually not going to last. 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:29.899 Actually, this is something that will last. 00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:31.519 I mean, I need that. 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:33.359 I mean, I've mentioned that before. 00:26:33.439 --> 00:26:34.659 I'm generally very cynical. 00:26:35.320 --> 00:26:38.759 Someone has a great, someone has an idea, and I think it's not going to work. 00:26:39.060 --> 00:26:44.640 Then I'm really not motivated to put much time and energy into something that I believe is not going to work, right? 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:46.019 Why waste that time? 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:50.200 Maybe you feel, okay, being a Christian is hard work. 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:51.279 What a waste of time. 00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:59.160 Well, it's not a waste of time because Jesus will return, and he will win, and the gospel project is all going to conclude. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.079 It's going to finish. 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:03.179 It's going to achieve everything God has planned, right? 00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:12.139 Isn't it great to know that you're part of something that will work, something successful, something that's not going to be messed up by anyone, right? 00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:14.640 So what does that mean for us? 00:27:15.040 --> 00:27:15.480 Indeed. 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.360 Yeah. 00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.220 Yeah. 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:21.880 And so, yeah, what does God want for us? 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:25.339 I guess for some of us, press on, endure, right? 00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:26.039 Keep going. 00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:30.879 I think, generally, God wants us, and so what does this mean? 00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:34.279 We should be, well, let's be involved with the gospel, right? 00:27:35.099 --> 00:27:41.879 Anyway, as I was thinking of these lines between stages, I don't know if you've ever thought about how Acts ends. 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:44.599 So if you can have these three stages, right? 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:47.440 There's not just a line between stage one and two. 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:51.139 If you read the book of Acts, there's a line at the end of the book. 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.539 Paul has another death and resurrection. 00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:55.639 What's the implication? 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:58.359 Well, there's another stage after that. 00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:01.500 But who's going to do that, right? 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.039 It's not Peter. 00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:02.579 It's not Paul. 00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:04.799 Well, it's us, right? 00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.559 It's the reader. 00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:07.680 It's kind of, you know, you are here. 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:11.339 I don't know if you know that organization, Acts 29, right? 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:12.920 They plant churches across the world. 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.440 Why do they call it? 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:15.359 There's no Acts 29. 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.740 Acts 28. 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:19.639 But the point is, Acts hasn't finished yet. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:20.980 All right? 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:25.879 So if you think about it, okay, here's a death and resurrection after that new stage. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:30.759 Now you think of the book as a whole, you know, there is more to come. 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:32.000 There is another stage. 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:35.000 And that is kind of where we fit in. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.000 Right? 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:37.339 The gospel has reached you. 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:39.180 You have eternal life. 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:39.900 That's wonderful. 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.680 But God isn't finished yet. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:44.539 There's more people who he wants to save. 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:45.920 There's a whole world out there. 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.880 The ends of the earth. 00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:49.259 I hope we want to get behind that. 00:28:49.340 --> 00:28:50.779 I know we have many things in our life. 00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:51.460 We have our jobs. 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.980 And we have dating and parenting. 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:55.120 And all kinds of things that take time. 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:58.160 But let's not ignore the big thing God is doing. 00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:58.640 Right? 00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:00.140 The one thing that will succeed. 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:03.500 The most glorious thing that we know will ever happen. 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.299 Even though that will be hard. 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:07.019 And so, yeah. 00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:08.519 I think that's what God wants us to do. 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:11.079 If we are excited that the gospel is growing. 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:14.019 And we know it's going to finish when Jesus returns. 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:16.240 Well, let's give up our time. 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.400 Let's serve. 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:20.059 Let's take risks. 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:21.180 Let's reach out. 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.579 Even though, yeah. 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:24.099 We might face hardship. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.839 Even though we might face oppression. 00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:26.640 Ever. 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.740 If that comes. 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.319 We don't know all the details. 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.819 We don't know exactly who will be saved. 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:33.039 We don't know exactly, you know. 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:35.620 If everything we try will succeed. 00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:37.400 But overall, the big picture we know. 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:37.620 Right? 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.519 Jesus will come. 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:42.079 And everything will complete. 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:44.400 Let's push for that. 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:46.420 Why don't we pray? 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:54.560 Father, it's so great that we. 00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:57.000 So many things that we don't know the future of. 00:29:57.560 --> 00:29:59.380 And yet, overall, we do know the future. 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.560 We know Jesus will come. 00:30:01.340 --> 00:30:03.380 We know he will make everything right. 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:09.460 We know that this gospel project will come together perfectly and beautifully. 00:30:10.040 --> 00:30:11.560 Thank you for making us part of that. 00:30:11.560 --> 00:30:12.360 For saving us. 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:15.459 Would we play our part that you want us to play? 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:16.799 Lord, we. 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.859 Many of us are in different places. 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.779 Some of us are tired. 00:30:19.979 --> 00:30:20.839 Some of us are discouraged. 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.859 Some of us are distracted. 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.439 Will you bring your truth. 00:30:24.659 --> 00:30:25.699 Your hope. 00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:27.919 Your comfort to each and every one of us here. 00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:30.679 That we would be the church you want us to be. 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:32.639 And that we would play our part. 00:30:33.199 --> 00:30:34.299 We ask this in Jesus name. 00:30:34.679 --> 00:30:34.939 Amen. 00:30:34.939 --> 00:30:35.039 Amen. 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.079 Amen. 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.079 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.079 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.079 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.079 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.079 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.079 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.079 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.079 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.079