WEBVTT

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 Amen.

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 I think Paul asked me in passing in the early summer if I would come down and I didn't think he was serious so I think I foolishly said of course.

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 And then I should have realised one of two things. Either that he'd already asked the people who are really his best friends and he was kind of getting near desperation point.

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 Or he had this extraordinary Celtic prophetic gift and that he knew the nation would be in political crisis.

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 And being a Welshman ministering in England with an Irish wife had kind of limited the field of guest preachers for an occasion like this and he thought he would look after the barber.

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 And I do, it really is a tremendous honour. It's got a minor evangelical knighthood to be asked to be part of this service today.

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 And I realised earlier on this morning that Paul is actually preaching through Matthew's Gospel.

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 Thankfully for me he hasn't reached chapter 16 yet and my purpose is not to expound the whole of this passage.

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 He will do that I'm sure later on in the year.

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 But to draw your attention to the famous words of Jesus in verse 18.

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 You are Peter.

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 Peter has confessed that Jesus is the Christ.

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 On this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not be able to prevail against it.

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 Many of us I think have been praying that this weekend and the opening of this building,

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 which is obviously a decisive point in the history of this church,

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 will also be in God's providence a turning point in the ministry and fruitfulness of the church's life.

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 And it's really for that reason that I've chosen this text.

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 Because it is both a decisive point and a turning point in the Gospel.

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 It's a decisive point because this is the moment where Peter's eyes are opened by the Lord

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 and he confesses that Jesus is the Christ.

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 If Peter ever afterwards were asked to date the turning point in his life,

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 when he fully came into a confession of Jesus Christ,

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 having followed him but now confessing him,

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 undoubtedly this would be the decisive point.

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 But it's also, as you'd have picked up in the reading,

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 the turning point in the Gospel.

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 And so Matthew tells us it was from this time onwards

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 that Jesus began to emphasize very clearly to the Apostles,

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 and he does this on a number of successive occasions,

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 that because he is the Christ,

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 because he's going to fulfill the ancient prophecies

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 as the Messiah, as the suffering servant,

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 as the Savior.

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 It means he's going to Jerusalem,

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 he is going to suffer and be crucified,

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 and on the third day he is going to rise again.

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 And so this is very much a hinge point

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 in Peter's experience,

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 and it's a hinge point in the Gospel story.

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 It's a decisive point,

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 and it's a turning point.

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 And I want us to try and think

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 about the meaning of what Jesus says to him,

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 but also the significance of that for us

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 in our Christian lives,

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 but also perhaps especially in the story of this church.

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 And I want you to notice four things with me.

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 The first is, in some ways,

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 the most fundamental.

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 It is that Christ's building of the church

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 is the absolute focus of his ministry.

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 The statement he makes has a kind of,

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 well, it's almost got the ring of a manifesto.

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 This is his program.

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 And it, in the synoptic Gospels,

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 in Matthew here,

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 it has the ring of one of those

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 double amen sayings of Jesus.

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 Everything he says is true,

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 but there are some things that are,

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 as it were, centrally true,

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 that make sense of all the other things

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 that are true.

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 And you can sense that

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 in the way he addresses Peter here.

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 You are Peter,

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 on this rock.

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 Here is my own building program.

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 I am going to build my church.

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 Now, most of you know

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 that one of the strange things about this is

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 that the word church is mentioned

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 on only three occasions in the Gospel.

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 Mentioned here in Matthew 16.

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 It's mentioned twice in Matthew 18.

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 And it's often been a conundrum to people.

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 How can we say that the church

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 is the epicenter of Christ's ministry program

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 when he scarcely mentions the church?

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 The answer, I think, actually is

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 that it's pretty clear in this passage

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 that although Simon Peter and the others

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 confessed him,

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 they didn't understand him.

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 And until they understood

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 who Jesus really was

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 and what his ministry was,

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 there was no way under the sun

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 they would ever understand

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 what the church really is.

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 And that's still true, isn't it?

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 People who don't know

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 who Christ really is

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 think of the church

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 characteristically

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 in organizational, superficial ways.

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 And so there's a very clear reason

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 why it is that

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 Jesus infrequently mentions,

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 uses the term church.

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 But it's very evident

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 from his parables,

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 from the fact that he had chosen

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 these apostles,

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 from the fact that he was preparing them

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 for a future ministry,

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 that all the word occurs infrequently.

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 The idea is the big idea

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 in Jesus' mind.

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 That is to say,

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 Jesus did not come only

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 to redeem individuals.

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 Jesus came to create

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 a new community altogether.

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 He came not to save

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 one and then another,

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 but his vision was

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 to bring a glorious restoration

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 of what had been fragmented

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 and fractured

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 and virtually destroyed

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 in the fall.

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 And so Jesus comes

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 and he is going to build

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 his church.

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 He is going to create

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 this new community.

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 And it's clear

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 that the apostles

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 understood this.

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 Paul, in his letter

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 to the Ephesians,

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 again and again

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 speaks about how

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 Christ is the,

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 he's the head of everything,

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 but he's the head of everything

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 for the building

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 of the church.

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 And he's given gifts

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 in order that the church

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 might be built

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 and churches work properly

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 and build themselves up

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 when each part

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 is functioning

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 in the power of the Spirit

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 and the grace

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 of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And it's evident

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 that they understood

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 very clearly

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 after Jesus' resurrection

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 and the outpouring

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 of the Holy Spirit

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 that what Jesus

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 always had in view

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 in his coming

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 and teaching

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 and dying,

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 shedding his blood,

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 rising,

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 ascending,

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 now sending his Spirit,

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 was to create

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 this new,

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 ages long,

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 worldwide,

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 multi-ethnic,

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 new community

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 that here in Matthew 16, 18

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 he had described

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 as the church.

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 And so right

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 from the day of Pentecost,

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 the way in which

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 the apostles

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 think about

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 what is happening

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 is this,

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 that the Lord

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 adds daily

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 to the church

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 those who are being saved.

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 This is a

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 Christ-created,

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 spirit-endowed,

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 divinely planned,

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 new community.

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 And that reminds us

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 in a way

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 as we read through

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 the New Testament

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 that at the end

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 of the day

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 it is Jesus' church

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 that is his

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 greatest evangelistic

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 instrument

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 in the world.

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 And it is that.

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 And this is a very

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 striking thing

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 in the New Testament,

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 isn't it?

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 Very few

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 instructions

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 about how

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 to do evangelism.

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 Why are there

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 so few

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 instructions

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 about how

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 to do evangelism?

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 Because they

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 understood

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 that this new

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 community

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 that Christ

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 was creating

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 that caused

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 Peter,

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 you remember,

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 Peter says this

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 in his first letter,

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 people will ask

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 you

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 questions

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 about the

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 hope

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 that's in you.

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 Why would

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 people ask

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 them questions

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 about the hope

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 that's in them

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 when people

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 asked so few

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 questions

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 about the

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 organizational church

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 about the hope

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 that's in them?

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 Because they

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 had been brought

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 into this

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 glorious new

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 community.

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 And in many

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 ways,

00:10:45.300 --> 00:10:46.080
 in that day

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 and in our

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 day,

00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:47.960
 they lived in

00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:48.899
 a pre-Christian

00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:49.279
 era,

00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:49.940
 we lived

00:10:49.940 --> 00:10:50.840
 manifestly

00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:51.820
 in a post-Christian

00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:52.399
 era.

00:10:53.800 --> 00:10:54.340
 This was

00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:55.539
 what struck

00:10:55.539 --> 00:10:55.960
 people.

00:10:56.420 --> 00:10:56.740
 The early

00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:57.360
 chapters of

00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:57.720
 the Acts

00:10:57.720 --> 00:10:58.480
 of the Apostles

00:10:58.480 --> 00:10:59.100
 were told

00:10:59.100 --> 00:10:59.639
 on the one

00:10:59.639 --> 00:10:59.980
 hand,

00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:00.840
 people looked

00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:01.639
 at the church

00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:02.240
 and they

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 thought,

00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:04.000
 I'd run

00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:04.740
 rather than

00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:05.180
 think I

00:11:05.180 --> 00:11:05.759
 would join

00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:06.200
 them.

00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:07.879
 And then you

00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:08.259
 remember,

00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:08.740
 in the very

00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:09.519
 next breath,

00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:10.040
 Luke is

00:11:10.040 --> 00:11:10.860
 telling us

00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:11.720
 that people

00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:12.300
 were actually

00:11:12.300 --> 00:11:13.200
 crowding into

00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:13.920
 the church.

00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:15.420
 Why was

00:11:15.420 --> 00:11:15.700
 that?

00:11:17.040 --> 00:11:17.820
 Because they

00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:18.280
 saw the

00:11:18.280 --> 00:11:19.100
 reality of

00:11:19.100 --> 00:11:19.680
 the presence

00:11:19.680 --> 00:11:20.340
 of Christ

00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:20.920
 in the midst

00:11:20.920 --> 00:11:21.240
 of his

00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:21.639
 people.

00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:23.840
 And this

00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:24.399
 is surely

00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:25.060
 our prayer

00:11:25.060 --> 00:11:25.740
 for here,

00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:27.860
 that strangers

00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.759
 coming in,

00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:29.500
 as they might

00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:30.060
 have come into

00:11:30.060 --> 00:11:30.540
 the church

00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:31.240
 in Corinth

00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.919
 and sensing,

00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:33.819
 yes,

00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:34.919
 an atmosphere,

00:11:36.699 --> 00:11:37.360
 would find

00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:37.980
 themselves at

00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:39.000
 least inwardly

00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:40.000
 bowing down

00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:40.819
 and saying,

00:11:41.219 --> 00:11:42.199
 surely God

00:11:42.199 --> 00:11:43.259
 is in the

00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:43.719
 midst of

00:11:43.719 --> 00:11:44.480
 these people.

00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:46.419
 And this

00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:47.459
 is our

00:11:47.459 --> 00:11:48.139
 experience,

00:11:48.219 --> 00:11:48.779
 isn't it?

00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:50.399
 People come

00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:51.199
 to the funeral

00:11:51.199 --> 00:11:52.439
 of a believer

00:11:52.439 --> 00:11:54.039
 and they

00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:55.099
 find themselves,

00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:56.699
 for all our

00:11:56.699 --> 00:11:57.459
 sadness

00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:58.600
 and loss,

00:11:58.720 --> 00:11:59.759
 they find

00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:00.580
 themselves in

00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:01.100
 a world

00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:01.500
 they have

00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.240
 never seen,

00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.379
 of people

00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:05.680
 with joy

00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:06.220
 in the midst

00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:06.920
 of sorrow,

00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:08.040
 with hope

00:12:08.040 --> 00:12:08.639
 in the midst

00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:09.680
 of death.

00:12:10.340 --> 00:12:10.860
 And they

00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:11.580
 wonder why

00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:12.000
 it's so

00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:12.460
 different.

00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:13.240
 Or they

00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:13.980
 come in

00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:14.700
 from their

00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:15.720
 dysfunctional

00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:16.280
 families,

00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:18.600
 which are

00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:20.100
 in extraordinary

00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:21.159
 proportions in

00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:21.679
 our day.

00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:23.500
 And they

00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:23.939
 see the

00:12:23.939 --> 00:12:24.579
 family of

00:12:24.579 --> 00:12:24.939
 the Lord

00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:25.379
 Jesus

00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.379
 functioning,

00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.699
 and although

00:12:27.699 --> 00:12:28.179
 they have

00:12:28.179 --> 00:12:30.059
 no words to

00:12:30.059 --> 00:12:31.059
 articulate what

00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:31.779
 they see and

00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:32.500
 experience,

00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:33.980
 they realize,

00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:34.779
 love it or

00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:35.620
 hate it,

00:12:37.339 --> 00:12:38.220
 join it or

00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:38.659
 seek to

00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:39.419
 destroy it,

00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:40.019
 in whatever

00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:41.539
 sophisticated ways

00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:43.339
 that this is

00:12:43.339 --> 00:12:43.819
 how God

00:12:43.819 --> 00:12:44.379
 meant life

00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:44.879
 to be.

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.599
 And there

00:12:46.599 --> 00:12:47.279
 is a taste

00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:47.899
 of it in

00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:48.699
 his church.

00:12:49.939 --> 00:12:50.319
 And this

00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:50.599
 is our

00:12:50.599 --> 00:12:51.159
 Lord Jesus

00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:51.759
 vision.

00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:53.319
 And when

00:12:53.319 --> 00:12:53.719
 you think

00:12:53.719 --> 00:12:53.980
 of it,

00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:54.360
 it's an

00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:55.139
 extraordinary

00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:55.740
 vision,

00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.039
 not just

00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:58.679
 because it's

00:12:58.679 --> 00:12:59.339
 an amazing

00:12:59.339 --> 00:13:00.019
 thing that

00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:00.579
 this was

00:13:00.579 --> 00:13:01.360
 the goal

00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:01.740
 of his

00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:02.279
 ministry,

00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:03.799
 but because

00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:04.139
 he makes

00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:04.439
 it very

00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:05.360
 clear here

00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:05.919
 and elsewhere

00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:07.319
 that he

00:13:07.319 --> 00:13:08.299
 intended to

00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:08.860
 build his

00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:10.339
 church with

00:13:10.339 --> 00:13:10.799
 people,

00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:11.879
 who were

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.799
 marked by

00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:13.699
 tremendous

00:13:13.699 --> 00:13:14.699
 frailty.

00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:17.179
 And that's

00:13:17.179 --> 00:13:18.019
 really, you

00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:19.439
 know, you

00:13:19.439 --> 00:13:20.000
 all know

00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:20.339
 there are

00:13:20.339 --> 00:13:21.159
 great debates

00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:21.799
 about this

00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:22.360
 text, but

00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:22.759
 this is

00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.240
 really the

00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:23.679
 point of

00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:24.259
 this text,

00:13:24.319 --> 00:13:24.879
 isn't it?

00:13:25.579 --> 00:13:26.019
 This is

00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:26.559
 really the

00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:27.299
 point of

00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:27.860
 saying,

00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:28.679
 you are

00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:29.219
 Peter and

00:13:29.219 --> 00:13:29.659
 on this

00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:30.199
 rock I

00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:31.000
 will build

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.620
 my church.

00:13:31.699 --> 00:13:32.159
 This is a

00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:32.620
 crumbling

00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.219
 rock.

00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:35.259
 And it

00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:35.620
 becomes

00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:36.539
 evident almost

00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:37.099
 in the next

00:13:37.099 --> 00:13:37.620
 sentences,

00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.139
 when Jesus

00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:40.079
 begins to

00:13:40.079 --> 00:13:40.799
 explain how

00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:41.199
 he's going

00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:41.740
 to do it,

00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:42.400
 Peter takes

00:13:42.400 --> 00:13:42.840
 hold of

00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:43.540
 him and

00:13:43.540 --> 00:13:45.420
 refuses to

00:13:45.420 --> 00:13:45.940
 take it

00:13:45.940 --> 00:13:46.259
 in.

00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:47.600
 It puts

00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:48.300
 his body

00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:49.440
 between the

00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:50.160
 cross and

00:13:50.160 --> 00:13:50.560
 Jesus.

00:13:52.220 --> 00:13:52.620
 And even

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.759
 after Pentecost,

00:13:54.020 --> 00:13:55.120
 he still

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:55.780
 struggles.

00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:57.759
 The point

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.660
 here is

00:13:58.660 --> 00:13:59.640
 that the

00:13:59.640 --> 00:14:00.300
 Lord Jesus

00:14:00.300 --> 00:14:01.820
 is going

00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:02.820
 to use

00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:04.540
 stones

00:14:04.540 --> 00:14:05.620
 that have

00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:06.660
 cracks in

00:14:06.660 --> 00:14:06.879
 them.

00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.820
 to

00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:09.139
 work

00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:09.340
 them

00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:09.820
 together

00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:10.899
 in

00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:11.120
 order

00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:11.340
 to

00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:11.600
 build

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:11.860
 his

00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:12.419
 church.

00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:13.799
 And it's

00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.379
 a message

00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:14.960
 that runs

00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:15.419
 through the

00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:15.799
 whole of

00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:16.080
 the New

00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:16.519
 Testament,

00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:17.439
 isn't it?

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.279
 From here

00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:20.019
 right to

00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:20.460
 the end

00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:21.059
 of it,

00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:21.980
 that the

00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:23.080
 Lord delights

00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:23.980
 to use

00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:24.720
 broken,

00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:25.620
 fragile

00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.960
 people

00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.259
 whom he

00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:28.759
 is beginning

00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:29.439
 to mend.

00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:30.659
 People

00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:31.980
 with angles

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:33.379
 and awkwardnesses

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:33.820
 that he's

00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:34.659
 chiseling away

00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:35.139
 in order

00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.759
 to bring

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:37.480
 them together

00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.240
 so that they

00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:39.320
 may encourage

00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:39.960
 one another.

00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:42.779
 And it's

00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:43.320
 an amazing

00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:44.080
 thing when you

00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:44.779
 think about it,

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:45.200
 isn't it?

00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.200
 Whatever Jesus

00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:46.919
 means when he

00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:47.139
 says,

00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:47.700
 you're Peter

00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:48.639
 and on this

00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.179
 rock I'm going

00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:49.799
 to build my

00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:50.240
 church,

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.519
 there is some

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.419
 sense in which

00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:53.340
 Peter was the

00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:53.980
 key man,

00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:54.500
 wasn't he?

00:14:56.139 --> 00:14:56.919
 Every time the

00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:57.659
 apostles are

00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.500
 listed in the

00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.080
 New Testament,

00:14:59.299 --> 00:14:59.720
 Peter's the

00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:00.460
 first one to be

00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:00.779
 mentioned.

00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:02.460
 Every time the

00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:03.360
 three are listed,

00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:03.939
 Peter's the

00:15:03.939 --> 00:15:04.620
 first one to

00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:05.159
 be mentioned.

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:06.580
 What's Jesus

00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:07.419
 talking about

00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:07.820
 here?

00:15:07.939 --> 00:15:08.399
 He'll build

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:08.899
 his church,

00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:09.279
 he'll give

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:09.580
 him the

00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:09.899
 keys.

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:12.519
 Well,

00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.159
 he's talking

00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:13.860
 first of all

00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:14.360
 about that

00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:14.980
 moment on

00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:15.360
 the day of

00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:15.980
 Pentecost

00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:17.100
 when one

00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:17.980
 might say

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:18.740
 the spirit

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.639
 whispered to

00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:20.460
 Simon Peter,

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:21.320
 you're the

00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:21.919
 one with the

00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:22.500
 keys in your

00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:22.799
 pocket,

00:15:22.939 --> 00:15:23.379
 get up and

00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:23.860
 preach.

00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:26.779
 And Peter

00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.620
 got up and

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:29.159
 the doors of

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:29.799
 the kingdom of

00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:30.320
 heaven were

00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:31.100
 swung open.

00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.320
 The sins of

00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:33.980
 thousands,

00:15:34.900 --> 00:15:35.920
 they experienced

00:15:35.920 --> 00:15:37.000
 forgiveness.

00:15:38.280 --> 00:15:38.760
 They were

00:15:38.760 --> 00:15:40.420
 baptized and

00:15:40.420 --> 00:15:41.580
 physically,

00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:42.540
 as it were,

00:15:42.780 --> 00:15:43.520
 tangibly

00:15:43.520 --> 00:15:45.100
 experienced this

00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:46.520
 symbol of the

00:15:46.520 --> 00:15:48.280
 washing away of

00:15:48.280 --> 00:15:49.320
 their guilt and

00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.460
 their sins.

00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:51.440
 And in the

00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:52.379
 very territory

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.300
 where they could

00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:54.140
 point to the

00:15:54.140 --> 00:15:55.020
 place where

00:15:55.020 --> 00:15:56.520
 endless thousands

00:15:56.520 --> 00:15:57.580
 of sacrifices

00:15:57.580 --> 00:15:58.660
 had been made,

00:15:58.659 --> 00:15:59.939
 that they knew

00:15:59.939 --> 00:16:01.100
 could not

00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:01.899
 really take

00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:02.419
 away their

00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:02.860
 sins.

00:16:04.719 --> 00:16:05.179
 And Peter

00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:06.019
 flung open

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:07.459
 the gates of

00:16:07.459 --> 00:16:08.079
 the kingdom of

00:16:08.079 --> 00:16:08.819
 God to them

00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:09.459
 and later on

00:16:09.459 --> 00:16:10.179
 in Acts to

00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:11.819
 the Gentiles.

00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:13.040
 it is an

00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:14.300
 amazing thing

00:16:14.300 --> 00:16:15.480
 that he takes

00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:16.920
 this proud

00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:19.640
 man with

00:16:19.640 --> 00:16:20.680
 so little

00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.379
 emotional

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.420
 intelligence,

00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.000
 so little

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.660
 real self-knowledge,

00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:27.560
 and in a

00:16:27.560 --> 00:16:28.879
 sense he

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.879
 walks Peter

00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:30.720
 through his

00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.660
 being crushed.

00:16:32.160 --> 00:16:32.400
 Oh,

00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:32.860
 Peter,

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.040
 Satan has

00:16:34.040 --> 00:16:34.740
 desired to

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:35.180
 have you,

00:16:35.280 --> 00:16:35.880
 to sift you

00:16:35.880 --> 00:16:36.360
 like wheat,

00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:37.919
 and the

00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:38.580
 only reason

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:39.419
 you'll survive

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.240
 is because I

00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.139
 have prayed for

00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:41.720
 you that your

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.639
 faith will not

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:43.539
 fail, and

00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:45.080
 this is,

00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.460
 I remember

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.200
 when I was a

00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:49.060
 teenager reading

00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:49.800
 this kind of,

00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:50.460
 I guess it was

00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:51.200
 meant as a

00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.840
 slightly funny

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:54.180
 comment, but

00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.000
 it had its own

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:56.259
 penetration of the

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.759
 angels in heaven

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.860
 watching this,

00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:01.779
 and then turning

00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.460
 to the father

00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:03.000
 and saying,

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.539
 so what's

00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:04.140
 plan B?

00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.919
 that this

00:17:07.919 --> 00:17:08.319
 should be

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.019
 plan A,

00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:11.419
 and you can

00:17:11.419 --> 00:17:12.339
 see why this

00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:13.059
 happens,

00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:15.119
 it is so that

00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:15.779
 none of the

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.740
 glory will go

00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.319
 to Simon

00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:17.779
 Peter,

00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:19.779
 but that all

00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.399
 of the glory

00:17:20.399 --> 00:17:21.099
 will go to

00:17:21.099 --> 00:17:21.479
 the Lord

00:17:21.479 --> 00:17:21.919
 Jesus,

00:17:22.699 --> 00:17:23.099
 it's what

00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:23.879
 Paul says

00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:24.719
 in 2 Corinthians

00:17:24.719 --> 00:17:25.299
 4,

00:17:25.419 --> 00:17:26.000
 isn't it,

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.319
 that he puts

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.019
 the treasure

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.759
 in earthen

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.279
 vessels,

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.039
 so that all

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.619
 the glory

00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.579
 will be the

00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:33.259
 Lord's,

00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:34.259
 the joy

00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.099
 will be ours,

00:17:35.219 --> 00:17:36.179
 the thankfulness

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:36.840
 will be ours,

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.840
 but the glory

00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:39.759
 will exclusively

00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.740
 be his,

00:17:42.060 --> 00:17:42.740
 the older

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:44.240
 Christians used

00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:44.900
 to think that

00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:45.440
 Paul was

00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.100
 referring to

00:17:46.100 --> 00:17:46.680
 Gideon and

00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.240
 the 300

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:47.640
 there,

00:17:49.100 --> 00:17:49.440
 that you

00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.160
 could defeat

00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:51.360
 the Midianites,

00:17:53.060 --> 00:17:53.840
 remember the

00:17:53.840 --> 00:17:54.820
 Christmas prophecy,

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.640
 it will be as

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:58.000
 in the day of

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.180
 the Midianites,

00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:01.580
 that it's these

00:18:01.580 --> 00:18:02.880
 frail vessels

00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:03.900
 broken open

00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:04.340
 and the

00:18:04.340 --> 00:18:05.140
 light shining

00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:07.100
 that brings

00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:07.780
 the victory

00:18:07.780 --> 00:18:09.300
 and the

00:18:09.300 --> 00:18:09.900
 triumph

00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:11.420
 so

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:12.120
 marvellously,

00:18:12.540 --> 00:18:13.500
 this is a,

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.660
 this is an

00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:15.960
 amazing statement

00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:17.200
 Jesus makes

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:17.800
 and it's an

00:18:17.800 --> 00:18:18.980
 encouraging statement

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.440
 for,

00:18:19.620 --> 00:18:20.600
 for us,

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.420
 just look at

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:21.620
 you,

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.240
 look at

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:24.440
 you,

00:18:25.280 --> 00:18:26.060
 the rich and

00:18:26.060 --> 00:18:26.960
 beautiful people

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:27.540
 of Ealing

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:29.079
 in the leafy

00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:29.819
 suburbs of

00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.180
 London,

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.019
 no we're not,

00:18:31.139 --> 00:18:31.339
 we're,

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.339
 we're nobodies,

00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:33.920
 most of us in

00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.319
 the room are

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.559
 absolutely nobodies,

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.659
 people pass us in

00:18:36.659 --> 00:18:37.159
 the street,

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:38.259
 don't give us a

00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:39.180
 second look,

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.539
 but Jesus is

00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.159
 building his

00:18:41.159 --> 00:18:41.759
 church,

00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:42.940
 through us,

00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.180
 and the gates

00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:45.720
 of hell,

00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.339
 says Jesus,

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.159
 will not be able

00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:47.819
 to prevail

00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:49.159
 against it,

00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:50.180
 that's the third

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:50.799
 thing I want you

00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.339
 to notice,

00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:52.579
 Jesus'

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.980
 church building

00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.799
 lies at the

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.420
 heart of his

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:55.899
 ministry,

00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.360
 it's his

00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:56.820
 goal,

00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.620
 he's doing

00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:00.300
 it through

00:19:00.300 --> 00:19:01.080
 people who

00:19:01.080 --> 00:19:01.860
 are marked

00:19:01.860 --> 00:19:02.620
 by great

00:19:02.620 --> 00:19:03.120
 frailty,

00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:04.600
 and the

00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:05.100
 third and

00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:05.980
 important thing

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.420
 is,

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:07.540
 he's doing

00:19:07.540 --> 00:19:08.540
 this on

00:19:08.540 --> 00:19:09.120
 enemy

00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:09.880
 occupied

00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:10.820
 territory,

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.259
 I mean,

00:19:12.320 --> 00:19:12.920
 what's happened

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.640
 here in a

00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:13.900
 sense,

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.600
 I'm not saying

00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:15.220
 the sisters

00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.740
 were the

00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.100
 enemy,

00:19:17.040 --> 00:19:17.440
 but what's

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.080
 happened here,

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.040
 land has

00:19:19.040 --> 00:19:19.960
 been reclaimed,

00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:21.480
 a new building

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.600
 has been

00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:23.040
 built,

00:19:24.040 --> 00:19:24.820
 and this is

00:19:24.820 --> 00:19:25.360
 what Jesus

00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:25.979
 is doing,

00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:26.799
 he is

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.159
 reclaiming

00:19:28.159 --> 00:19:29.179
 territory

00:19:29.179 --> 00:19:30.779
 from his

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.139
 enemy,

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.979
 the gates

00:19:32.979 --> 00:19:33.799
 of Hades,

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.599
 he says,

00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:35.859
 will not be

00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.659
 able to

00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.379
 withstand,

00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.159
 actually,

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:40.679
 that's the

00:19:40.679 --> 00:19:41.599
 same verb

00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.439
 that's used

00:19:42.439 --> 00:19:42.879
 in the

00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:43.259
 passion

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.899
 narrative

00:19:43.899 --> 00:19:44.439
 about the

00:19:44.439 --> 00:19:45.019
 people

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.679
 shouting

00:19:46.679 --> 00:19:47.439
 for Jesus'

00:19:47.719 --> 00:19:48.559
 crucifixion,

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.279
 and their

00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.019
 voices

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:52.039
 triumphing,

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:54.339
 and Jesus

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:54.859
 is saying,

00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:55.659
 no matter

00:19:55.659 --> 00:19:56.619
 how many

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.259
 voices

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.359
 call for

00:19:58.359 --> 00:19:59.539
 the destruction

00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.079
 of the

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.539
 Christian

00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.200
 church,

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:01.740
 what are

00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.019
 the people

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.579
 around here

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.299
 were saying,

00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:04.339
 you know,

00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:05.500
 these poor

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.159
 people in

00:20:06.159 --> 00:20:07.180
 that strange

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:07.519
 little

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.339
 Presbyterian

00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:08.779
 church,

00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.519
 and they've

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.119
 had to move

00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:10.460
 out,

00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:10.799
 and they're

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.220
 meeting in

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:11.799
 all kinds

00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.839
 of places,

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:13.799
 that there

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.299
 is no

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.839
 chance that

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.159
 they will

00:20:16.159 --> 00:20:16.879
 ever be able

00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:17.240
 to do

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:17.579
 anything

00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:17.960
 here,

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.579
 that you

00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:19.779
 see,

00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:20.500
 Jesus is

00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.140
 building his

00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:21.519
 church,

00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.039
 and nothing

00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:23.200
 can prevail

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.019
 against Jesus

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.819
 building his

00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.299
 church.

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.279
 For my

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:28.779
 own part,

00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:29.319
 I think

00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:30.059
 when Jesus

00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.799
 speaks about

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.420
 the gates

00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:32.059
 of Hades,

00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:33.299
 he's not

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:33.920
 just speaking

00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.079
 about darkness

00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:36.299
 and death,

00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:37.240
 or even the

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:37.940
 place of the

00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.420
 dead,

00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:39.740
 I think he

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.180
 uses that

00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:40.700
 expression,

00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.460
 gates,

00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:42.660
 because it

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.019
 has a

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:44.140
 certain ring

00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:45.019
 to it,

00:20:45.840 --> 00:20:46.600
 the gates

00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:47.720
 in antiquity,

00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:48.860
 of a city.

00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:51.079
 Those were

00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:52.779
 the places

00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.480
 of authority.

00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.059
 You remember

00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.920
 when Boaz

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.440
 wanted to

00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:55.920
 marry Ruth,

00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.299
 where did

00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:56.660
 he go?

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:57.579
 Where was

00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.360
 Town Hall?

00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.860
 He went

00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:01.140
 to the

00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:01.640
 gates.

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.440
 You want

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.720
 to look

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.220
 at a

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.660
 virtuous

00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.140
 woman,

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.740
 then Proverbs

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.620
 tells you

00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.160
 that her

00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:09.860
 husband will

00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:10.620
 be esteemed

00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.019
 at the

00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.779
 city gate.

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:12.519
 Does that

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.000
 mean she's

00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:13.840
 banished him

00:21:13.840 --> 00:21:14.480
 from the

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:14.759
 house?

00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:14.900
 No,

00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:15.680
 it means

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.880
 he's part

00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.220
 of the

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:17.660
 leadership.

00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.420
 Part of

00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:18.720
 the

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.900
 strategy

00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:21.819
 group of

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.480
 the village

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:22.900
 or the

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:23.660
 town or

00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:24.440
 the city.

00:21:26.340 --> 00:21:26.880
 And Jesus

00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:28.340
 is giving

00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:29.039
 them and

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.740
 us this

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.819
 insight into

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.620
 the fact

00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:33.259
 that he is

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.640
 going to

00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:34.319
 build his

00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:35.240
 church on

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.700
 territory that

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.559
 the enemy

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.700
 has come to

00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:40.259
 occupy from

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:42.160
 Genesis 3

00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:42.900
 onwards.

00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:43.080
 words.

00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.100
 This is

00:21:45.100 --> 00:21:45.440
 why at

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:45.980
 the end

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.380
 of this

00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:46.900
 gospel,

00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.400
 Jesus

00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.000
 says,

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:48.880
 now you

00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.460
 need to

00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.140
 know this,

00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.540
 all authority

00:21:51.540 --> 00:21:52.200
 in heaven

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.940
 and earth

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.700
 has been

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.360
 given to

00:21:54.360 --> 00:21:54.700
 me.

00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.320
 Well,

00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:56.600
 didn't he

00:21:56.600 --> 00:21:57.120
 always have

00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:57.759
 all authority

00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.200
 in heaven

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.560
 and earth?

00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:58.759
 No,

00:21:58.820 --> 00:21:59.400
 he didn't.

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.720
 No,

00:22:02.780 --> 00:22:03.380
 he didn't.

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.040
 He had to

00:22:06.040 --> 00:22:06.700
 deal with the

00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.400
 prince of the

00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:08.040
 power of the

00:22:08.040 --> 00:22:10.060
 air before

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:10.859
 he won back

00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.799
 authority on

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.379
 earth.

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.200
 That's why

00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:14.879
 he's able to

00:22:14.879 --> 00:22:15.460
 say the

00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.179
 son of man

00:22:16.179 --> 00:22:17.000
 has authority

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.379
 on earth

00:22:18.379 --> 00:22:19.440
 to forgive

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:21.079
 sins because

00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.579
 of what he's

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.179
 going to do

00:22:22.179 --> 00:22:23.139
 on the cross.

00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:24.619
 And this

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:26.679
 is a powerful

00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:27.259
 thing that

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.779
 Jesus is

00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.179
 saying.

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:30.779
 We have to

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.480
 go into all

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.159
 the world

00:22:32.159 --> 00:22:33.440
 because he's

00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.519
 regained as

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.639
 the second

00:22:35.639 --> 00:22:36.399
 man and the

00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:37.119
 last Adam.

00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:37.779
 He has

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.960
 regained the

00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.980
 authority that

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.980
 Adam lost,

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.960
 created to

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.880
 have authority,

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:43.720
 to have

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.360
 reign,

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.860
 given dominion

00:22:45.860 --> 00:22:46.960
 and losing

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.940
 the kingdom.

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.059
 And now

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.940
 Jesus has

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.640
 overcome the

00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:52.960
 enemy.

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:55.140
 And he's

00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:55.599
 got twelve

00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.259
 men and one

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:56.940
 of them will

00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:59.200
 betray him.

00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.460
 And he's

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:00.880
 down to

00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:01.240
 eleven.

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:02.900
 And the

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.319
 gates of

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:03.660
 Hades.

00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:05.599
 You can

00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:06.360
 see that.

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:07.660
 You can

00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.319
 see in the

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.259
 gospel story

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.720
 how

00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:11.299
 Satan's

00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:12.000
 strategy

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.500
 against

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:12.960
 Jesus

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.779
 changes.

00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.660
 Early on

00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.079
 it's to

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.440
 keep him

00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:17.100
 from the

00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:17.420
 cross.

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.180
 Later on

00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.759
 it's to

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.079
 get him

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.740
 to the

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.079
 cross,

00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.940
 outside of

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.259
 the will

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:21.860
 of God.

00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:23.620
 So he

00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.160
 will use

00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:25.200
 every hellish

00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:25.819
 strategy

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:27.960
 to destroy

00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:28.660
 this kingdom.

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:30.799
 But Jesus

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.600
 prevails.

00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.600
 And from

00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.240
 then on

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.000
 he prevails

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.500
 everywhere.

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.619
 he

00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:37.500
 will use

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:37.500


00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:37.500


00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:37.779
 him.

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.200
 But it's a

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:38.559
 word of

00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.279
 counsel to

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:39.500
 us,

00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:40.079
 isn't it?

00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:40.779
 That wherever

00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.740
 he builds,

00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:43.539
 the gates of

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.500
 Hades will

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.619
 seek to

00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.160
 withstand.

00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:46.940
 They will

00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.559
 seek to

00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.619
 shout down.

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:49.700
 That's an

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.579
 interesting metaphor,

00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.160
 isn't it?

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.319
 Because it's

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:52.880
 happening all

00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.640
 around us.

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:55.039
 Just mention

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.619
 the name of

00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:56.460
 Jesus or

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:58.180
 say something

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.640
 about the

00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.400
 Bible and

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.240
 you're liable

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.839
 to be

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:02.180
 shouted down.

00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:03.360
 this is a

00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:04.220
 contemporary

00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:05.720
 ring about

00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.160
 it.

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:08.880
 And I want

00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.440
 you to know

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.140
 that this is

00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:11.180
 not just

00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:12.920
 some

00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:14.400
 future

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.100
 prophecy

00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:15.759
 that Jesus

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.740
 is giving.

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:18.779
 These

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.940
 very men

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:21.160
 saw this

00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:22.019
 promise

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:23.060
 and prophecy

00:24:23.060 --> 00:24:24.400
 come true

00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:25.880
 within

00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:26.720
 18 months.

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.580
 They saw

00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:29.600
 Jesus building

00:24:29.600 --> 00:24:30.279
 his church

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:30.860
 and then in

00:24:30.860 --> 00:24:31.180
 the early

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.820
 chapters of

00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:32.100
 Acts,

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.460
 what do

00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.080
 you discover?

00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.220
 You discover

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:35.019
 all hell

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.620
 being let

00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.019
 loose.

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:37.660
 And

00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.580
 employing

00:24:38.580 --> 00:24:39.600
 Satan's

00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:40.620
 three

00:24:40.620 --> 00:24:41.720
 characteristic

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.600
 strategies.

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.400
 First of

00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:44.620
 all,

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.519
 intimidation.

00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.320
 Seeking to

00:24:47.320 --> 00:24:48.320
 intimidate the

00:24:48.320 --> 00:24:48.920
 church from

00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:49.460
 outside.

00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.440
 And then

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.080
 the seeking

00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:52.920
 of position

00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:54.279
 by individuals

00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.019
 inside,

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.000
 Annias and

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.660
 Sapphira.

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:58.740
 And then

00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.299
 when both of

00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:00.060
 these strategies

00:25:00.060 --> 00:25:00.740
 fail,

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:01.680
 then the

00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:01.940
 third

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.860
 strategy is

00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.240
 one of

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.640
 producing

00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.259
 internal

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:04.740
 division,

00:25:04.840 --> 00:25:05.240
 isn't it?

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:05.640
 In Acts

00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.580
 chapter 6.

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:07.680
 Get them

00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.299
 murmuring

00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.200
 against each

00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:09.500
 other.

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.039
 These are

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.680
 these three

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.539
 characteristic

00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.340
 strategies.

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.100
 He's always

00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:14.779
 using them.

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:15.980
 He uses

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.560
 them against

00:25:16.560 --> 00:25:17.680
 every Christian,

00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:19.240
 every church,

00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.620
 every fellowship

00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:21.900
 of God's

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.299
 people.

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.259
 But here is

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.080
 the promise

00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:24.860
 to which we

00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:25.519
 anchor

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.400
 ourselves.

00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.160
 Jesus is

00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.440
 building his

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:29.980
 church.

00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:30.820
 And the

00:25:30.820 --> 00:25:31.540
 gates of

00:25:31.540 --> 00:25:32.580
 Hades will

00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:33.240
 not be able

00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:34.120
 to prevail

00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:35.780
 against it.

00:25:35.860 --> 00:25:36.519
 But my

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.140
 dear friends,

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:37.840
 we need to

00:25:37.840 --> 00:25:38.940
 have, we

00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.480
 need to have

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.120
 the wisdom

00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:41.480
 that we get

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:41.900
 from the

00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.519
 Lord Jesus

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:44.240
 to keep our

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:44.920
 eyes open

00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.600
 for those

00:25:45.600 --> 00:25:46.380
 strategies

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:48.400
 as he

00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.040
 builds

00:25:49.040 --> 00:25:50.580
 his church

00:25:50.580 --> 00:25:50.940
 here.

00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:53.259
 And that

00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:53.720
 leads to

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.259
 the fourth

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.600
 thing.

00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:56.200
 Jesus

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.920
 building the

00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.600
 churches at

00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:59.220
 the center

00:25:59.220 --> 00:26:00.539
 of his

00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.180
 ministry.

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:02.539
 Jesus

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.820
 builds this

00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:04.400
 church with

00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.120
 people like

00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:05.779
 ourselves,

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.600
 marked by

00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:07.779
 great fragility.

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.320
 Jesus

00:26:09.320 --> 00:26:11.059
 is ongoingly

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.799
 building his

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.340
 church in

00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:13.580
 enemy-occupied

00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:14.299
 territory.

00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:16.039
 And Jesus

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:17.580
 is always

00:26:17.580 --> 00:26:18.279
 building his

00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.600
 church on

00:26:19.600 --> 00:26:20.259
 the pattern

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.940
 of his own

00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.579
 destiny.

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.440
 Church

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:24.220
 architects are

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.140
 really interesting

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.640
 people.

00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.559
 And some

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:27.980
 of them are

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.839
 really strange

00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.220
 people.

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:30.960
 For example,

00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:31.740
 it's a very

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.879
 unusual church

00:26:32.879 --> 00:26:33.680
 architect who

00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.220
 knows how to

00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:34.960
 build a pulpit.

00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:38.059
 You go to

00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.879
 the lecterns,

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:40.140
 the lectern

00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:40.759
 architects

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.619
 design, and

00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.759
 they're designed

00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.599
 for architects,

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.099
 not for

00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.740
 preachers.

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.160
 But I want

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:48.619
 you to notice

00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.000
 this.

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.579
 When Jesus

00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:50.099
 is the

00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:51.679
 architect, he

00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:52.259
 builds the

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.500
 church on

00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:53.980
 the pattern

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.359
 of his

00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:55.219
 own destiny.

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.259
 I wonder

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.619
 if that's

00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:59.319
 why ye

00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:00.119
 oldie,

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.919
 worldie

00:27:00.919 --> 00:27:01.699
 architects,

00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:02.259
 when they

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.599
 built

00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:03.259
 churches,

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:03.939
 they

00:27:03.939 --> 00:27:04.879
 characteristically

00:27:04.879 --> 00:27:05.719
 built churches

00:27:05.719 --> 00:27:06.319
 with the

00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.199
 ground plan

00:27:07.199 --> 00:27:07.539
 of the

00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:08.039
 cross.

00:27:09.659 --> 00:27:10.059
 And the

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.539
 rest of

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.579
 this narrative,

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.279
 as you will

00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.099
 find out in

00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:13.679
 however many

00:27:13.679 --> 00:27:13.959
 weeks'

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.419
 time,

00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:15.980
 is a

00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.579
 narrative that

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:17.159
 tells you

00:27:17.159 --> 00:27:17.679
 that when

00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.680
 Jesus builds

00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:19.400
 his church,

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.220
 he molds

00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.539
 his people

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.519
 into the

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.220
 shape of

00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.940
 his own

00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:25.460
 destiny.

00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:27.240
 And so he

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.980
 speaks here

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.680
 about his

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:30.340
 crucifixion and

00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:31.060
 his resurrection,

00:27:31.060 --> 00:27:32.500
 and he goes on

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.200
 to speak about

00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:34.240
 the fact that

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.160
 the disciples are

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:36.100
 going to share

00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:36.640
 in that

00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:37.720
 crucifixion by

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:39.440
 taking up the

00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.120
 cross, and

00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:40.880
 they're also

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.560
 going to share

00:27:41.560 --> 00:27:42.440
 in that triumph,

00:27:42.600 --> 00:27:43.279
 because they will

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.299
 see the Son of

00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.500
 Man coming in

00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.400
 his glory, and

00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:46.980
 they get a

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.579
 little glimpse

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.380
 of that, three

00:27:48.380 --> 00:27:48.799
 of them, on

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.299
 the Mount of

00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:50.119
 Transfiguration

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:50.819
 later on, but

00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:51.240
 they're all

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.799
 going to see

00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.099
 that.

00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:54.240
 And you see,

00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.160
 he's advising

00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.940
 them from the

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:57.279
 beginning, although

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.480
 only later on

00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:58.839
 would they

00:27:58.839 --> 00:28:00.259
 understand it,

00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.140
 that since the

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:03.859
 Father used a

00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:05.240
 cross-shaped

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:06.779
 model in the

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.500
 life of his

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:09.019
 Son, he will

00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:10.599
 of course continue

00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:11.480
 to use that

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.740
 model as he

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.819
 builds the

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.440
 church.

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.680
 And so the

00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.440
 whole pattern

00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:17.980
 of our

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.480
 individual

00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.519
 Christian lives,

00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:19.920
 as the

00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:20.700
 apostles make

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.240
 clear, and

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.579
 the whole

00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.599
 pattern of

00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.160
 the life of

00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:23.920
 our church is

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:25.059
 going to be a

00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:25.960
 sharing in the

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:27.759
 sufferings of

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.220
 Christ.

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:32.000
 I long to

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.900
 fill up, says

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:34.319
 Paul, what's

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.640
 still lacking in

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:37.259
 me of my

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:38.140
 fellowship with

00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:39.039
 Christ and his

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.579
 sufferings.

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.599
 I want to

00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.359
 share in the

00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:43.099
 fellowship of his

00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:44.160
 sufferings so that

00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:45.200
 I can share in

00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:45.900
 the triumph of

00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.559
 his resurrection.

00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:49.039
 It's the shape of

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.900
 the Christian life,

00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:50.740
 and it is the

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.340
 shape of the

00:28:51.340 --> 00:28:51.960
 church.

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.759
 And a glorious

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:57.140
 new building, and

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:57.720
 the more you look

00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.920
 around this building,

00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.960
 the more interesting

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.680
 it becomes.

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:03.279
 A glorious new

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:05.740
 building will not

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.880
 change the pattern

00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:08.000
 that Jesus is

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.440
 using.

00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.180
 There will be

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.580
 suffering.

00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:10.679
 suffering.

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.099
 There will be

00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:13.480
 apparent setbacks.

00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:14.879
 There will be

00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:16.079
 disappointments.

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.399
 There will be a

00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:18.720
 tremendous sense of

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.819
 our own weakness, and

00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.799
 not knowing what to

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:22.579
 do or how to do it.

00:29:23.199 --> 00:29:24.039
 But if Jesus

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:25.599
 continues to build

00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:27.399
 his church here, as

00:29:27.399 --> 00:29:28.659
 we pray and believe

00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:30.299
 he will, there will

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.480
 also be those

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:33.000
 marvelous moments

00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:34.039
 when we sense we

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.980
 are sharing in the

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.939
 fruit of his

00:29:35.939 --> 00:29:37.220
 suffering and in the

00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:38.140
 power of his

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.900
 resurrection.

00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:41.140
 And we see people

00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.860
 coming in who have

00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:42.660
 never been to church

00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.480
 in their lives.

00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:45.079
 People who have

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.900
 begun to read the

00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:46.299
 Bible.

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.240
 Strangers and

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.319
 sometimes strange

00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:49.819
 people.

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.779
 And we discover

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:54.140
 perhaps that Satan

00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:55.779
 creates conflicts

00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.779
 within, and we

00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:58.980
 need all to flee to

00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:00.460
 Jesus, the

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.380
 crucified and

00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:03.299
 risen one, and

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:04.039
 cling to his

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:05.059
 promise that he

00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:06.200
 will build his

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.759
 church.

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:10.799
 Calvin says so

00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.799
 beautifully in his

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:13.220
 commentary on 1

00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.200
 Peter from the

00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:14.860
 very beginning,

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.519
 Christ has shaped

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:19.140
 the church to

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:20.660
 share in his

00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.799
 death and in his

00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:23.839
 resurrection so

00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.660
 that death would

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.220
 be the way to

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:26.819
 life and the

00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:28.539
 cross the way

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:31.019
 to victory.

00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:33.440
 This is a little

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:34.120
 share in the

00:30:34.120 --> 00:30:35.039
 resurrection, isn't

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.299
 it?

00:30:36.100 --> 00:30:36.400
 I mean, we

00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.140
 wouldn't be here

00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:38.300
 unless Jesus were

00:30:38.300 --> 00:30:38.700
 risen.

00:30:40.520 --> 00:30:41.300
 But we've come to

00:30:41.300 --> 00:30:42.040
 know him in the

00:30:42.040 --> 00:30:42.580
 power of his

00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.520
 resurrection and we

00:30:43.520 --> 00:30:44.300
 will share in the

00:30:44.300 --> 00:30:44.920
 fellowship of his

00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:46.420
 sufferings, become

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:47.060
 like him in his

00:30:47.060 --> 00:30:47.540
 death.

00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:49.600
 But yes, we will

00:30:49.600 --> 00:30:50.920
 share here and

00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:52.700
 hereafter in the

00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.840
 glories of his

00:30:53.840 --> 00:30:54.500
 resurrection.

00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:56.380
 He is our church

00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:58.500
 builder, our risen

00:30:58.500 --> 00:31:00.480
 Lord, our glorious

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.020
 king.

00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:02.819
 and as long as our

00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:04.279
 eyes are fixed upon

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:07.099
 him, then all will

00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:09.279
 be well because he

00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:11.720
 and not we, he is

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.660
 the real church

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.279
 builder.

00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:16.460
 When Paul asked me

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.779
 for a text and a

00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:20.039
 title, I did

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:21.019
 actually answer his

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:22.119
 email, incidentally.

00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:24.439
 I said to him, you

00:31:24.439 --> 00:31:25.599
 know, it would be

00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:27.839
 fun to call it

00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.959
 build and they

00:31:28.959 --> 00:31:29.519
 will come.

00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.959
 But then I said,

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:32.699
 that won't do.

00:31:33.399 --> 00:31:35.659
 Call it Christ the

00:31:35.659 --> 00:31:36.279
 church builder.

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.879
 And then I noticed

00:31:37.879 --> 00:31:39.099
 it's called build and

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.699
 they will come.

00:31:41.739 --> 00:31:42.759
 That won't mean

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.699
 anything to you.

00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.639
 And I'm not a great

00:31:44.639 --> 00:31:45.639
 movie watcher.

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:47.259
 But there is a, there's

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.699
 a Kevin Costner movie.

00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.539
 Some of you will have

00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:50.619
 seen Field of Dreams.

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.740
 It's very American.

00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:55.059
 I know, I've been

00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.339
 there.

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:58.079
 And it's very, you

00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:59.039
 know, it's almost

00:31:59.039 --> 00:31:59.779
 new age-ish.

00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:01.079
 This man in Iowa

00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:02.279
 or somewhere, he

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.139
 hears this voice

00:32:03.139 --> 00:32:03.960
 saying, build and

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.559
 they will come.

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:07.940
 And so he builds a

00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:09.899
 baseball field because

00:32:09.899 --> 00:32:11.139
 he's had this voice

00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:11.920
 saying, build and

00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:12.559
 they will come.

00:32:13.299 --> 00:32:15.059
 And it costs him

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:15.740
 up the earth.

00:32:15.899 --> 00:32:16.819
 I think he mortgages

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:17.359
 the farm.

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.119
 People think he's

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:18.879
 off his rocker.

00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:21.079
 And then towards

00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:22.079
 the end of the

00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:23.359
 movie, all these

00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:25.159
 great baseball stars

00:32:25.159 --> 00:32:26.259
 who incidentally

00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:27.960
 are not grown men

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.819
 wearing pajamas.

00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:31.720
 You want to see a

00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:32.759
 ball being hurled

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.539
 at you a hundred

00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:35.159
 miles an hour and

00:32:35.159 --> 00:32:35.839
 being able to hit

00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.099
 it.

00:32:36.899 --> 00:32:37.859
 And all these great

00:32:37.859 --> 00:32:39.279
 baseball stars from

00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:41.559
 the past come because

00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:42.599
 he's heard the voice

00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:44.659
 build and they will

00:32:44.659 --> 00:32:45.000
 come.

00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:47.559
 Of course, it's

00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:48.599
 sheer fantasy.

00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:48.699
 fantasy.

00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:51.959
 But this is reality.

00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:56.079
 Because he is the

00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:56.359
 builder.

00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:00.659
 So keep your eyes

00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:03.759
 fixed on him for

00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.379
 this reason.

00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:06.319
 He's both the

00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:07.439
 architect and the

00:33:07.439 --> 00:33:07.719
 builder.

00:33:08.939 --> 00:33:11.019
 More, he's the

00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:13.019
 son and he owns

00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:13.639
 the house.

00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:15.660
 thanks be to God

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:18.720
 for him, for this,

00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:21.240
 for you, for these

00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:22.420
 children who should be

00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:23.259
 in the choir of the

00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:24.240
 year competition.

00:33:25.120 --> 00:33:26.100
 Either that or this

00:33:26.100 --> 00:33:27.240
 room has fabulous

00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:28.180
 acoustics.

00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:30.320
 Both I suspect are

00:33:30.320 --> 00:33:30.580
 true.

00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:33.120
 May God bless this

00:33:33.660 --> 00:33:35.300
 church to his

00:33:35.300 --> 00:33:35.660
 glory.

00:33:36.080 --> 00:33:36.520
 Let's pray.

00:33:37.040 --> 00:33:37.500
 Our heavenly

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.660
 father, we thank you

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:41.040
 for the grace of our

00:33:41.040 --> 00:33:42.160
 Lord Jesus Christ.

00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:44.160
 We think of the

00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.400
 sacrifice that has

00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:46.360
 been made that we

00:33:46.360 --> 00:33:47.300
 might sit in this

00:33:47.300 --> 00:33:47.580
 room.

00:33:48.080 --> 00:33:49.980
 We know it has all

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:51.920
 without any

00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:53.320
 diminution been

00:33:53.320 --> 00:33:55.040
 because of his

00:33:55.040 --> 00:33:56.600
 great sacrifice for

00:33:56.600 --> 00:33:56.960
 us.

00:33:57.080 --> 00:33:57.880
 Where would we be?

00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:58.980
 We would not know

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.500
 each other.

00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:00.660
 We would not love

00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:01.220
 each other.

00:34:02.140 --> 00:34:02.820
 We would not have

00:34:02.820 --> 00:34:03.700
 walked together

00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.940
 through this journey.

00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:06.440
 we would not have

00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.259
 the hope of the

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:07.759
 gospel.

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.099
 We would be

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:11.000
 separated from God

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:12.519
 and without hope

00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.340
 in this world.

00:34:14.200 --> 00:34:15.119
 But you have shown

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:17.519
 such grace to us

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.480
 in your son.

00:34:19.220 --> 00:34:20.119
 We thank you for

00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:22.099
 the thrill of

00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:23.740
 living in his

00:34:23.740 --> 00:34:25.320
 reclaimed world

00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:26.900
 and seeing his

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.960
 kingdom extended.

00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:29.659
 And we pray

00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:30.599
 earnestly,

00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:32.079
 father, that you

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:33.380
 would guard this

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:35.200
 family of yours

00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:35.599
 here.

00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:37.059
 That you would

00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:38.840
 wonderfully use

00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:39.539
 them for your

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:39.980
 glory.

00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:41.559
 That their number

00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.720
 may increase.

00:34:42.940 --> 00:34:44.039
 That you will add

00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:45.300
 to the church

00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:45.680
 here.

00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:47.220
 And that we will

00:34:47.220 --> 00:34:47.860
 be able to look

00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:49.099
 back on this day

00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:50.700
 as a decisive

00:34:50.700 --> 00:34:52.260
 day because so

00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:52.960
 much of the work

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.820
 is now completed.

00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:55.740
 But also a day

00:34:55.740 --> 00:34:56.960
 of turning when

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:58.300
 it seemed as

00:34:58.300 --> 00:34:58.559
 though the

00:34:58.559 --> 00:34:59.420
 windows of heaven

00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:00.680
 were opened and

00:35:00.680 --> 00:35:01.480
 you poured out

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.280
 new blessings

00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:03.500
 upon your

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:03.840
 people.

00:35:04.019 --> 00:35:05.000
 Hear us, we

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:05.800
 pray, and receive

00:35:05.800 --> 00:35:06.620
 our thanks in

00:35:06.620 --> 00:35:07.240
 Jesus' name.

00:35:07.540 --> 00:35:07.780
 Amen.

00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:07.940
 Amen.

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:08.780
 Amen.

00:35:08.780 --> 00:35:08.880
 Amen.

00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880


00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:08.880