WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.080 So if you have a Bible, if you picked up one of these purple Luke's Gospels, this is where we're going to be this Sunday and right through till Easter Sunday, just thinking about some of the big themes and claims that are made in here. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:21.260 This morning we're kicking off thinking about certainty. You'll see it on the screen. Find the certainty that you're looking for. 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:28.020 So maybe you want to turn to page one in that. We're going to take in verses one to four of Luke chapter one. 00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:33.820 So please do have it open in front of you and we'll refer to it as you go. We're going to read it in about 10 minutes time. 00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:41.700 But maybe to get us into this theme this morning, Alex isn't here so I can talk about her when she's not here. 00:00:43.980 --> 00:00:50.400 Here's one of Alex's dreams. She'd love to own a baby grand piano. 00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:58.439 And so we've got this bay window in our house that would be perfect to sit in and we've got this view of Arthur's seat. 00:00:58.539 --> 00:01:00.320 If you've been to our house, you'll know the one I mean. 00:01:00.420 --> 00:01:05.439 And you kind of look out over it and you think, goodness me, that would be a lovely dream to have, wouldn't it? 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:08.579 She's got this dream of owning a baby grand piano. 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:22.879 And so you wouldn't believe my luck when I got an email last summer saying, it came into the church account, saying, free baby grand piano to the first person to respond. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:27.759 And I couldn't believe my luck. I thought I was in for husband of the year. 00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:34.780 So I emailed back and said, I'd be interested. Could you show me the dimensions and I'll work out if it's going to fit. 00:01:34.780 --> 00:01:40.540 And the person emailed me straight back, gave me those dimensions and we're going back and forth. 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:47.060 And this person on the other end of the email chain is telling me about how her husband used to love playing hymns on it. 00:01:47.099 --> 00:01:51.280 And the fact that maybe we were going to do the same thing, it would have meant an awful lot to him. 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:53.659 And this story is going on and on. 00:01:53.659 --> 00:01:58.679 And the person on the other side of the email says, all you need to do, they've thought ahead. 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:03.079 They've got a removal company who are going to do it for her and bring it down. 00:02:03.179 --> 00:02:09.300 All you need to do is just transfer the money to this account and we'll sort everything else. 00:02:09.359 --> 00:02:10.979 You don't need to worry about a thing. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:13.919 And there's images of what the grand piano looks like. 00:02:14.300 --> 00:02:16.300 And I'm thinking, this is incredible. 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:22.919 But for some reason, I stopped and I thought, I'll just Google this. 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:25.840 And you know where this is going, don't you? 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:28.919 Threads everywhere. 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:29.939 Scam. 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:30.879 Beware. 00:02:31.379 --> 00:02:31.819 Warning. 00:02:32.060 --> 00:02:32.719 People change. 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:37.419 It's the same email, just they've changed the name of the person who's deceased. 00:02:37.780 --> 00:02:38.659 And on and on this goes. 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:39.780 And see this feeling. 00:02:39.859 --> 00:02:40.379 There she is. 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:48.759 This feeling that I got in that moment where I'd almost been duped. 00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:53.400 If you've ever had that feeling in your life, you'll know how horrible it is. 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:58.060 That you almost were taken in hook, line, sinker by this deal. 00:02:58.920 --> 00:03:05.159 And in a way, is that not kind of symptomatic as to how everyday life feels sometimes? 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:06.540 Yeah? 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:10.640 So we used to talk in generations gone past. 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:15.460 We used to talk about how our word is our bond. 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:18.680 Remember that phrase, if you were a certain generation, my word is my bond? 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:22.460 We used to talk about things like gentlemen's agreements. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:31.240 But today, we're much more used to hearing about things like NDAs and offshore bank accounts 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:39.040 and fact-checking, summed up in the runner-up of the word of the year in 2023. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:41.400 And I'll tell you the winner in just a moment. 00:03:42.019 --> 00:03:44.419 The runner-up of the word of the year in 2023. 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:46.280 Deep fake. 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:53.139 Meaning that today, total trust is in short supply. 00:03:54.919 --> 00:03:57.459 Total trust, short supply. 00:03:57.699 --> 00:04:01.599 And we think, we can be tempted to think, we don't trust people out there. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:02.899 So who can we trust? 00:04:02.979 --> 00:04:03.719 Where do we go? 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:06.019 Will we run in here? 00:04:06.020 --> 00:04:10.540 Maybe the only person that I can trust in life is myself. 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:12.880 And you think you can get away with that for a little bit. 00:04:14.900 --> 00:04:20.960 But we all know when we look inside, it's just not quite as simple as that. 00:04:21.019 --> 00:04:22.360 In fact, here's a little thing for you. 00:04:22.420 --> 00:04:28.680 Did you know that in 2014, there was a study done on science.org? 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.480 And believe me, this actually is a thing. 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:39.840 That found that when given the choice, people preferred getting a mild electric shock than being left alone with their thoughts. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.200 It's a real thing, right? 00:04:42.540 --> 00:04:48.259 67% of men preferred an electric shock than being left alone with their thoughts. 00:04:48.340 --> 00:04:49.860 25% of women. 00:04:50.280 --> 00:04:52.400 Now that, you have to say, is a really niche study. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:56.699 And it sounds so strange, doesn't it? 00:04:58.479 --> 00:05:00.500 But I'll tell you what's even more strange. 00:05:01.899 --> 00:05:03.560 Is that I kind of get it. 00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:07.819 Tell you what I'm afraid of at night. 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:10.199 I go to bed each evening. 00:05:10.419 --> 00:05:12.599 The thing I'm scared of isn't the dark. 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:14.879 It isn't the monsters in the cupboard. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:17.759 It's not being able to sleep. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:22.579 And sitting there, just lying there, staring at the ceiling. 00:05:22.819 --> 00:05:23.920 Just me and my thoughts. 00:05:24.379 --> 00:05:24.920 You like me? 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:25.899 Yeah? 00:05:26.339 --> 00:05:30.240 Your body's sitting there going, I just want to go to sleep. 00:05:30.980 --> 00:05:32.819 And yet your mind is, yeah? 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:33.779 Wide awake. 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:34.659 It's active. 00:05:34.779 --> 00:05:35.759 It's ready to go. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:40.759 And you think, the last thing I want to do is be left alone with my thoughts. 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:43.199 Because we are complicated creatures. 00:05:44.740 --> 00:05:45.019 Right? 00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:46.379 Our moods, they fluctuate. 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:47.480 They go up and down. 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:51.500 Our emotions change from one day to the next. 00:05:51.620 --> 00:05:54.420 Our motives are a mixed bag. 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:59.240 I mean, I look back on things that I was sure of in terms of decisions in my life from years ago. 00:05:59.340 --> 00:06:02.879 And I think, goodness me, thank you, Lord, that you saved me from that decision. 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:03.920 Yeah? 00:06:05.300 --> 00:06:06.720 Our knowledge is limited. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:11.100 We only know so a little fraction of the whole picture. 00:06:11.540 --> 00:06:12.900 And that's the problem, is it not? 00:06:12.900 --> 00:06:16.620 When our world tells us to be true to ourselves. 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:22.560 I always think of Buddy's line in the film, The Incredibles, if you've ever seen it. 00:06:23.379 --> 00:06:28.500 Do you know the one when little Buddy is speaking to Mr. Incredible, the guy who he just wants to grow up and be like? 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:30.920 And he says this line, and I love it. 00:06:30.980 --> 00:06:36.899 He says, you always say be true to yourself, but you never say which part of yourself to be true to. 00:06:37.420 --> 00:06:40.439 And who knew Pixar could be so deep? 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:41.459 Yeah? 00:06:41.459 --> 00:06:45.199 So where does that leave us then? 00:06:46.359 --> 00:06:50.620 In this world that's searching for certainty, where does that leave us? 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:55.859 If we can't find it out there and we struggle, we definitely can't find it in here. 00:06:55.919 --> 00:06:56.959 Where does that leave us? 00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:00.439 Well, I've got a pastor friend called Sam. 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:05.919 Sam is a pastor of a Redeemer church in Collington, the south of the city. 00:07:05.919 --> 00:07:11.879 He was telling me just this during the week about how a man rocked up in his church a few Sundays ago 00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:17.019 and said to him, cards on the table, I don't think I believe this stuff. 00:07:17.100 --> 00:07:26.620 I'm not sure where I am on this whole Jesus thing, but I'm here because the one thing that I'm searching for in life is integrity. 00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:30.240 Isn't that interesting? 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:31.139 Integrity. 00:07:32.139 --> 00:07:36.879 You know, the runner-up in that 2023 word of the year was, were you listening? 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:38.219 Deepfake. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:39.879 Do you know what the winner was? 00:07:41.159 --> 00:07:41.639 Authentic. 00:07:42.740 --> 00:07:44.560 Again, really interesting, isn't it? 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:46.319 Where we're at as a culture, authentic. 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:49.159 And maybe that's you this morning. 00:07:49.259 --> 00:07:52.959 Maybe you're craving for something that you can base your life upon. 00:07:53.219 --> 00:07:55.279 Maybe it's a friend that you have. 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:57.699 Maybe it's a family member that you can think of. 00:07:58.159 --> 00:08:02.159 If that's connecting with you in any sort of way, here's the wonderful news. 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:04.699 You've come to the right place. 00:08:06.540 --> 00:08:08.040 That's what's on offer here today. 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:13.700 That's what Luke, as we read these first four verses, is going to hold out to us today. 00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:15.939 It's the word certainty. 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:19.480 Now, who's this man called Luke? 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:22.899 Well, Luke is this doctor turned historian. 00:08:24.219 --> 00:08:29.819 Luke is this professional guy who has an eye for facts. 00:08:29.819 --> 00:08:40.019 And Luke is a man who has written this two-volume account of Jesus' life and the acts of the early church called Luke and Acts. 00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:42.659 And Luke is writing for this man. 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:44.220 If you've got it there, verse one. 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:48.340 This man called Theophilus. 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:52.879 Whose name that you'll see if you have it there at the end of verse three. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.960 Whose name means Theophilus. 00:08:55.699 --> 00:08:56.220 Theophilus. 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:58.059 It just means lover of God. 00:08:58.199 --> 00:08:59.000 Friend of God. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:00.179 That's this man. 00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:04.620 And the fact, you see, that Luke calls him not just Theophilus. 00:09:04.699 --> 00:09:08.319 He calls him most excellent Theophilus. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:13.159 Shows that this man is someone who has big esteem. 00:09:14.199 --> 00:09:14.339 Right? 00:09:14.419 --> 00:09:15.379 He's a big deal. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:18.239 He carries a bit of gravitas, this guy Theophilus. 00:09:19.439 --> 00:09:24.339 And what's happened is Theophilus has likely commissioned this man called Luke. 00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:27.299 A bit like a private investigator. 00:09:27.299 --> 00:09:33.299 He's commissioned them to do a research project on Jesus. 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:38.599 Because what is Theophilus seeking when it comes to Jesus? 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:42.000 This man who he's clearly heard so much about. 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:43.039 What is he seeking? 00:09:44.819 --> 00:09:46.539 He's seeking certainty. 00:09:47.439 --> 00:09:48.099 Do you see it there? 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:53.059 In other words, Luke, I want to know that I can trust this stuff. 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:57.019 And so Luke takes up the challenge. 00:09:57.899 --> 00:10:00.479 And he writes this account of Jesus' life. 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:08.359 And he states up the top that he wants to provide Theophilus with certainty. 00:10:09.259 --> 00:10:10.199 Why don't we see what he writes? 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:14.699 Here's the first four verses of Luke chapter 1. 00:10:16.139 --> 00:10:17.399 So Luke writes this. 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:18.259 Have you got it there? 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:26.360 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us. 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:36.439 Just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:42.440 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, 00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:50.320 it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:58.240 so that you may know the certainty of the things that you have been taught. 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:03.400 So see over the next 10 minutes, folks, whenever you think about this stuff, 00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:04.720 whenever you're at on this stuff, 00:11:04.780 --> 00:11:09.660 can I just point out three things that Luke's trying to do in these first four verses? 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:14.079 Three things that he wants Theophilus to know before he reads on. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:15.319 Here's the first thing. 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:18.699 He wants him to know about his sources. 00:11:18.939 --> 00:11:19.559 Do you see that? 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:21.539 His sources. 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:26.179 So before Luke gets to what happened when it comes to Jesus, 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:30.879 Luke tells us where it happened and why it happened. 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:32.759 Do you see that in verse 1? 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:37.019 He says the things fulfilled among us. 00:11:37.079 --> 00:11:37.980 Do you notice that phrase? 00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:41.019 The things fulfilled among us. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:43.920 So all the things that he's about to tell us about, 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:47.980 all the things that Luke has written about in the remaining 24 chapters 00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:51.820 happened not in a galaxy far, far away. 00:11:52.659 --> 00:11:53.220 Do you see it? 00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:58.060 Nor did they happen in a distant land long, long ago. 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:02.980 No, all of this happened, end of verse 1, among us. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.620 So it happened right here. 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:06.420 You can meet people. 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:07.500 You can talk to people. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:09.179 He's going to tell them that he did that. 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.019 It happened among us. 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:12.740 Luke can't get his head around us. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:14.600 It happened here, right here. 00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:15.919 And it wasn't random. 00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:18.080 Jesus showing up. 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:22.679 The words fulfill, or maybe you've got there, accomplished, 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:29.019 shows that Luke perceives that with all these events, 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:30.340 with the coming of Jesus, 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:32.720 all of this is part of a bigger story. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:38.860 That's what he perceives, that with the arrival of Jesus, 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:44.259 what was happening was God making good on the promises that he made to his people 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:48.100 and to the world in what we call the Old Testament. 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:53.460 All these promises are coming to fulfillment. 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:56.960 And because that is such a big deal, 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:03.120 Luke wants Theophilus to be sure about where he got his intel from. 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:06.680 Yeah, do you see how he's not gone Wikipedia? 00:13:07.420 --> 00:13:10.519 If you're a student, you know, you don't put that in your footnotes, okay? 00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:12.440 He doesn't carry any kind of gravitas. 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:13.940 He's not gone Wikipedia. 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:17.840 He's not gone YouGov poll saying, 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:22.180 can I have five minutes of your time to complete a survey? 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:23.160 Here's the survey. 00:13:23.300 --> 00:13:24.500 What do you think happened? 00:13:25.060 --> 00:13:26.000 He's not done that either. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:27.200 He's not gone hearsay. 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:29.380 Where's he gone? 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.000 Do you see it? 00:13:30.140 --> 00:13:34.660 He's gone straight for the eyewitnesses. 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:39.840 Now that word in Greek is where we get our word autopsy from. 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:40.920 If you're interested, 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:44.019 I've watched enough episodes of Silent Witness in my time 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:45.799 to know what an autopsy is, okay? 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:48.879 It's somebody who was there 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:51.879 and who saw it with their own eyes. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:56.819 And historicity really matters, doesn't it? 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.139 In life, historicity really matters 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:01.079 when it comes to this kind of stuff. 00:14:01.479 --> 00:14:03.759 Because Luke would have been well aware 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:07.299 that the leading historians in his day 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:10.819 were convinced that for anything to be considered, 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:11.759 credible history, 00:14:12.539 --> 00:14:14.419 it had to be written 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:18.199 when events were still in people's living memory. 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:20.579 Makes total sense, doesn't it? 00:14:22.579 --> 00:14:24.319 Josephus, others around about the time, 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.539 it has to be in living memory. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:29.699 And that eyewitness testimony 00:14:29.699 --> 00:14:32.740 strikes you as you read Luke's gospel 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:34.339 all the way through. 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:38.120 And that's the challenge off the back of this. 00:14:38.179 --> 00:14:39.699 If you've never read it for yourself, 00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:40.540 or maybe you've read it 00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:41.740 and you think I've done it a long time ago, 00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:44.800 go back and read it through these lenses. 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.900 He gives us tons of details, yeah? 00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:49.720 Look for these. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.140 People's names everywhere. 00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:56.040 Names that stack up as being common 00:14:56.040 --> 00:14:59.400 for those used in the days. 00:14:59.540 --> 00:15:00.220 So, for example, 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:02.340 it shouldn't surprise us in this gospel 00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:03.700 that there's more than one Mary. 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:04.920 Yeah? 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:06.100 Shouldn't surprise us. 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:08.460 Really common name back in the day. 00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:10.000 The flip is true, I think. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.220 It would be way more suspicious 00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:12.399 if there wasn't. 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:16.300 Luke records people's reactions. 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:19.820 He records numbers. 00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:22.980 He records place names. 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:25.800 He records geographical details. 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:27.740 He records the names of governors. 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:31.120 He records the names of historical events 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.039 like the census. 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:34.580 Now, many of you will be in jobs 00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:35.340 where they say, 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:36.379 and this is what they said to me 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.639 when I started as a lawyer, 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:38.200 they said, 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.159 what we value 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:41.340 is attention to detail. 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:42.139 Yeah? 00:15:42.299 --> 00:15:42.779 You had that? 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:44.440 What we value is attention to detail. 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:46.060 Luke's that guy as well. 00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:50.080 Luke tells Theophilus 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:51.560 about his sources. 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:54.099 And then secondly, 00:15:54.199 --> 00:15:55.099 do you see how he tells him 00:15:55.099 --> 00:15:55.839 about his method? 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.299 So, 00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.299 go back to a minute, 00:15:59.419 --> 00:15:59.959 Luke's method. 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:02.479 Building on those eyewitness sources, 00:16:02.619 --> 00:16:03.399 what did Luke do? 00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:03.959 Do you see? 00:16:05.479 --> 00:16:09.179 He carefully investigated everything. 00:16:10.099 --> 00:16:11.279 So, he's really thorough. 00:16:11.459 --> 00:16:12.119 That's what he's saying. 00:16:12.219 --> 00:16:13.199 What would we say today, 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.239 our phrase that we have? 00:16:14.859 --> 00:16:17.619 He left no stone unturned. 00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:18.279 Yeah? 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:21.559 And notice from when? 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:23.000 So, from the beginning. 00:16:24.839 --> 00:16:26.519 So, Luke's gone right back 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.279 to the start. 00:16:28.079 --> 00:16:28.699 And what he's done 00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:30.639 is he's sought with all this 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.959 data that he's collected 00:16:32.959 --> 00:16:34.740 to produce it in a way 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.720 that Theophilus is going to follow. 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:38.240 So, that's what the phrase there, 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:40.720 orderly account, means. 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.699 From the birth of Jesus 00:16:43.699 --> 00:16:45.379 right through to his death 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:46.100 and resurrection, 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:47.259 he's thought about 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.700 how he's going to present 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:50.179 the facts that he's gathered. 00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.120 And see, 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:52.279 when you add that together 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:53.779 with the other three Gospels 00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:54.539 that we have. 00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:55.720 So, there's four Gospels, 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:57.120 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:58.939 What that means 00:16:58.939 --> 00:17:00.399 is summarized by a man 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:01.480 called Peter Williams 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.700 who works for a 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:04.599 biblical research center 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:05.599 down in Cambridge 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:07.220 called Tyndale House. 00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:08.579 And he's written 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.859 this great book called 00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:11.879 Can We Trust the Gospels? 00:17:13.379 --> 00:17:14.779 And this is what he writes, 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.440 and there's a quote 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.019 on the screen. 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:20.900 It may be thus concluded 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:22.180 that Jesus has more 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:23.720 extended text about him 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:26.319 in general closer proximity 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.339 to his death 00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:30.160 than his contemporary Tiberius, 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.460 the most famous person 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:33.619 in the then known world. 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:37.479 It's amazing the amount of facts 00:17:37.479 --> 00:17:37.979 that we have 00:17:37.979 --> 00:17:38.939 in Jesus' life. 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.619 But before we think 00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:42.639 this is just an exercise 00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:44.319 in facts, 00:17:45.459 --> 00:17:46.359 we've got to appreciate 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.039 that Luke goes 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.099 further than that. 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:49.699 He's not just a historian. 00:17:49.939 --> 00:17:51.339 He's also a theologian. 00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:53.359 He goes further than that. 00:17:53.459 --> 00:17:54.599 He wants Theophilus 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:55.619 to make a response 00:17:56.439 --> 00:17:57.399 to the facts. 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.859 And that's the last thing 00:17:58.859 --> 00:17:59.759 we need to see here. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.879 Luke tells Theophilus 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:01.680 about his method. 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.260 And then thirdly, 00:18:03.320 --> 00:18:05.660 he tells him about his goal. 00:18:08.020 --> 00:18:08.820 That's what he means 00:18:08.820 --> 00:18:09.360 when he says, 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.320 beginning of verse 4, 00:18:10.380 --> 00:18:11.080 you see it in the text, 00:18:11.320 --> 00:18:12.220 so that, 00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:13.060 that's what that phrase 00:18:13.060 --> 00:18:13.520 indicates, 00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:14.260 so that, 00:18:14.380 --> 00:18:15.780 so that you may have, 00:18:15.800 --> 00:18:16.920 and there's our bingo words, 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:18.500 certainty about the things 00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.300 that you've been taught. 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.859 So he's saying 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.779 that you can trust 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.559 this stuff. 00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.639 You can really trust it. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.519 And it really matters 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.720 that Theophilus gets that 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.460 in his head 00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.240 from the start. 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.839 Because just flip over 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:37.059 just a few verses, 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:40.079 and all of a sudden 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:41.099 you're into 00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:44.379 supernatural stuff. 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:47.780 This is not life 00:18:47.780 --> 00:18:49.600 as we know it, 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:49.900 right? 00:18:50.100 --> 00:18:51.820 So you have angels, 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:54.160 you have a virgin birth, 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.160 you have healings, 00:18:56.260 --> 00:18:57.980 you have feedings, 00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.580 you have a man 00:18:59.580 --> 00:19:00.700 risen from the dead, 00:19:00.800 --> 00:19:01.320 you read this 00:19:01.320 --> 00:19:02.240 all the way through. 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:04.020 This isn't stuff 00:19:04.020 --> 00:19:05.400 that normally happens. 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.440 But Luke is saying 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.960 that in a sense 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.520 it's not about 00:19:09.520 --> 00:19:10.340 whether we believe 00:19:10.340 --> 00:19:10.860 it happened, 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:11.840 it's the fact 00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:12.700 that we can trust 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.340 the credibility 00:19:13.340 --> 00:19:14.060 of the fact 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:14.879 the people around 00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:15.679 and we're telling us 00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:17.639 that it did happen. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.679 And just in case 00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:22.279 I've lost you 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:22.859 at this point, 00:19:22.919 --> 00:19:23.539 you think all this 00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:25.019 kind of supernatural stuff, 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:26.000 I don't know 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.960 what I think about that. 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.039 Can I just put it 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.720 to you that 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:32.279 many people today 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.740 believe, 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.460 and perhaps you're 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.000 one of them, 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:36.619 that what we can see 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.339 in front of us 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:38.399 isn't all there is. 00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:40.379 You know, 00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:40.960 I was listening 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:43.500 to Welsh singer 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.839 Catherine Jenkins 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:46.319 on the Ryland show 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.500 on Radio 2 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.259 last Saturday 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:50.440 and she's talking 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.299 about how 00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.799 before each performance 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.359 she has, 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:54.880 she goes to her 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:55.380 dressing room 00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:55.960 and she just has 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.740 10 minutes 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:58.279 alone with her dad. 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:00.400 And you think 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:00.740 there's nothing 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.700 strange about that, 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.500 what on earth is that? 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.180 But she went on 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.099 to explain the fact 00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:06.039 that her dad died 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:07.140 when she was 15. 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.680 Tragically. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:12.400 And she's now 45. 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.860 So her dad 00:20:14.860 --> 00:20:15.900 has been dead 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:17.200 for 30 years 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:18.080 and yet she still 00:20:18.080 --> 00:20:19.000 spends 10 minutes 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.039 before every show 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:21.360 just speaking to him. 00:20:24.320 --> 00:20:25.100 And I guess 00:20:25.100 --> 00:20:25.840 the question is, 00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.279 when we think 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:26.960 about this stuff, 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:29.880 is on what basis 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:31.920 do you think 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.420 that there's 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.299 something more 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:35.000 beyond this life 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.140 than what we can see? 00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:40.460 Luke says to Theophilus, 00:20:40.520 --> 00:20:41.560 don't go with a hunch, 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.980 don't go with your gut, 00:20:43.820 --> 00:20:44.020 right? 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:45.620 Go with the facts. 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:48.940 Because that phrase, 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.660 do you see how he writes it? 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.780 Of the things 00:20:51.780 --> 00:20:53.040 you have been taught. 00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:54.780 Do you see that phrase? 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.880 It suggests, 00:20:57.020 --> 00:20:57.360 doesn't it, 00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:58.320 that Theophilus 00:20:58.320 --> 00:20:59.620 has perhaps heard 00:20:59.620 --> 00:21:00.980 snippets of things 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.580 about Jesus. 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.620 He's heard rumors, 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:05.359 he's been given 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.399 certain things 00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:08.119 and he's just not sure 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:09.079 what he makes of it. 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:11.339 Now listen, 00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:12.079 maybe that's exactly 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.099 where you're at this morning. 00:21:13.219 --> 00:21:13.979 Maybe you're, 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:15.500 you've heard things 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.159 about Jesus. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.479 Maybe you've assumed 00:21:18.479 --> 00:21:19.479 things about Jesus 00:21:19.479 --> 00:21:20.679 from friends 00:21:20.679 --> 00:21:21.259 and family 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.279 and maybe what you've seen 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.339 on the television. 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.459 Here's the challenge 00:21:26.459 --> 00:21:27.079 as we draw this 00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:28.079 to a close this morning. 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.319 Is, 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.839 is let Luke 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.979 as he writes this 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.680 challenge you 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.700 to think about 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:37.700 why you believe 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:39.019 what you believe 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:42.960 and on what grounds 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:44.500 does it hold? 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.319 You know, 00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:47.759 some of us, 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.880 just as we draw this 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.380 to a close 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:51.559 from a certain vintage, 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.299 will remember 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.940 those 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:56.839 Looney Tunes cartoons. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.400 Two of the main 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.440 characters in that 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:03.700 were Roadrunner 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.299 and Coyote. 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:06.880 And if you're 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:07.940 struggling to picture it, 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:08.340 you think, 00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:09.259 I've never seen this before. 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.019 You might have heard 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.480 the phrase, 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.220 meep, meep. 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.440 That's Roadrunner. 00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:15.900 And Coyote 00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:16.700 was always chasing 00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.420 Roadrunner. 00:22:18.340 --> 00:22:18.660 This was, 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:19.279 this was the thing. 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.559 And before Slapstick, 00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:22.120 in the days 00:22:22.120 --> 00:22:23.120 when Slapstick comedy 00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:23.940 was still a thing, 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.740 I'm trying my best 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.519 to bring it back. 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.279 Coyote used to be 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.140 an all-out pursuit 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:28.900 of Roadrunner. 00:22:29.280 --> 00:22:30.280 But what would happen 00:22:30.280 --> 00:22:31.100 is in the end 00:22:31.100 --> 00:22:31.720 that he would run 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.580 into a cactus 00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.700 or there would be 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:35.740 a 10-ton weight 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.400 that would fall 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.100 on his head 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:38.160 or something like that 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:39.100 which was hilarious. 00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:41.200 But one of the scenes 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.960 that I remember 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.620 from that 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:43.580 was that the two of them 00:22:43.580 --> 00:22:44.180 would be running 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:45.080 towards the edge 00:22:45.080 --> 00:22:45.640 of a cliff. 00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:47.700 And at the last minute, 00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:48.800 Roadrunner would make 00:22:48.800 --> 00:22:49.360 a turn 00:22:49.360 --> 00:22:51.600 and Coyote would run, 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.680 and this is 90s graphics, 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.460 but run with it. 00:22:53.600 --> 00:22:54.360 Coyote would run 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:55.640 straight off the ledge. 00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:58.280 But the slapstick comedy 00:22:58.280 --> 00:22:59.280 element of it 00:22:59.280 --> 00:23:01.180 is that Coyote 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.440 would still be running, 00:23:02.560 --> 00:23:03.320 not realizing that 00:23:03.320 --> 00:23:03.800 there was nothing 00:23:03.800 --> 00:23:04.600 underneath his feet. 00:23:05.800 --> 00:23:06.480 And all of a sudden 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.240 he has that moment, 00:23:07.300 --> 00:23:07.900 and there's the moment 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.380 in the thing 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:09.060 where he stops 00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:09.800 and he realizes 00:23:09.800 --> 00:23:11.420 there's nothing holding him, 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:13.340 and he plummets down. 00:23:16.020 --> 00:23:17.280 And it gets me every time. 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:20.080 And it was a lady 00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:21.160 called Rebecca McLaughlin 00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.000 who put me on to this. 00:23:22.080 --> 00:23:22.580 I remember she said 00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:23.180 this years ago, 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:24.519 and it stopped me 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.039 in my tracks 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.759 and made me think. 00:23:25.860 --> 00:23:26.160 She said, 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.480 how many of us 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.560 tried to live our lives 00:23:28.560 --> 00:23:29.279 like Coyote 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:29.980 in that moment? 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:33.080 We're running 00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:33.799 and we're running 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.539 and we're running. 00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:35.860 Boy, are we running. 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:39.160 But we're failing 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:40.100 to realize that 00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:41.460 we're not standing 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.019 on anything. 00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:45.039 And so here's the question 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.980 as we close. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:47.380 Whoever you are here today, 00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.039 whatever you think 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.799 about this stuff, 00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:50.000 whatever you believe in, 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:52.259 is what is the basis 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.519 for what you believe? 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.460 What are you basing 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.339 your life upon? 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.539 And will it hold? 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.819 That's what Sophie 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.660 was saying, wasn't it? 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.819 Will it hold? 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:01.160 When everything else 00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:01.920 is stripped away, 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:04.000 what can we trust? 00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:06.900 Why not let Theophilus 00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:08.000 and his example 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.940 inspire you 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.700 to find out 00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.599 like he did 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.779 from Luke 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:13.279 that he wants 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.180 to know the truth 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.740 about what he can 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.539 be sure about? 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:18.940 He wants to be certain. 00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.799 And Luke wants him 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.539 to be certain. 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.200 He wants him 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:22.919 to be certain 00:24:22.919 --> 00:24:24.599 about the life 00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.159 of Jesus. 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.480 He wants him 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.159 to be certain 00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:29.220 about the teachings 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.899 of Jesus. 00:24:30.899 --> 00:24:31.859 He wants him 00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:32.599 to be certain 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.519 about the death 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.119 of Jesus. 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.919 He wants him 00:24:35.919 --> 00:24:36.579 to be certain 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.440 about the resurrection 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.319 of Jesus. 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:39.980 He wants him 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.659 to be certain 00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:41.599 about the call 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:42.139 of Jesus 00:24:42.139 --> 00:24:43.419 to deny self, 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.019 take up our cross 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:46.980 and follow after him. 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.859 He wants us 00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.619 to be certain 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.139 about the fact 00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:51.920 that that is going to cost us as disciples. 00:24:52.060 --> 00:24:53.480 It's going to feel like we're walking 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:56.640 not the wide road, but the narrow road. 00:24:58.340 --> 00:25:00.180 But he wants us to be certain 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:02.840 that it's so worth it. 00:25:04.820 --> 00:25:06.180 You can be certain 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:10.660 about the purpose of which Jesus came, 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:13.060 he lived, he died, he rose again. 00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:15.240 You can be certain that because of him, 00:25:15.300 --> 00:25:16.300 if your faith is in him, 00:25:16.540 --> 00:25:17.920 you are right with God 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:20.220 and you can know him as Father. 00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:23.539 You can be certain about the church, 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.460 the early church, 00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:27.100 and about how people took the gospel to the world. 00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:28.779 You can be certain about the fact 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:31.140 that Jesus says he is the one with all authority 00:25:31.140 --> 00:25:33.960 and he's given a commission to his church 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:35.660 to take it to their friends, 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:38.180 family members, neighbours, colleagues, 00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:40.720 to tell them about Christ Jesus. 00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:43.820 Maybe this morning you've never read this before 00:25:43.820 --> 00:25:45.140 in your puff. 00:25:46.620 --> 00:25:47.900 Wouldn't it be a great thing today 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:49.759 to begin it for the first time? 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:51.120 Do that and you'll find, 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:53.640 like billions of Christians have 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:55.980 throughout the ages and across the globe, 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:59.340 that faith isn't blind. 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:04.400 Faith is belief based on the evidence. 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:07.640 I'm going to pray, 00:26:08.080 --> 00:26:09.540 just as we close, 00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:10.759 a really short prayer, 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.040 but I'm just going to pause 00:26:12.040 --> 00:26:13.200 just for a moment of quiet 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.180 before we do that 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:17.000 and why not maybe just gather your thoughts 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:19.140 and respond in your own way 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:20.340 and your prayers as well 00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:22.640 as we think about the things 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:25.680 that we've heard and read this morning. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:32.940 And so, Heavenly Father, 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.200 we thank you this morning 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:36.420 that we can have certainty 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:39.900 in a world that seems to be changing, 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:41.200 just like Sophie said, 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.820 all the time. 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:45.060 In our own personal lives 00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:46.860 that seem to be so up and down 00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:49.560 and unreliable. 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.740 Father, thank you that we have 00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:54.960 your words, Luke's gospel, 00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:56.359 the facts about Jesus. 00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:58.240 Thank you that we can be certain 00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:59.599 about him. 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.880 And so, Lord, I pray 00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:03.740 that as we draw our time together 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:06.079 to a close this morning 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:08.019 and as we move into a time of communion, 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:09.599 that you would remind us 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:11.460 of the trustworthiness 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.599 of all of these things. 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.620 Lord, for those of us here today 00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:15.779 who are perhaps on the fence, 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.779 we think to ourselves, 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:18.380 we don't know what we think about this. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:20.799 May even today be the day 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:23.740 when you open their eyes 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:25.879 to the truth of who Jesus is. 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:27.619 Father, thank you 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:30.659 for your steadfast love for us. 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.359 And we pray all of these things 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.240 in Jesus' name. 00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:34.180 Amen.