WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Morning, everyone. Very, very good to be back here to see all the family and I we got back from two weeks in Australia, Australia, super, super cool place. We got to enjoy a lot of good seafood got to go back to where Ellen you came from. Port Macquarie. Very, very cool. It was just it was a huge blessing. But we really, really did miss gathering. We did miss gathering here not just on a Sunday as Nathan said, our church is 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:59.960 all about fun and games. And so just to get to get to see everyone again and to have the fun that we get to have together is really good. And actually that mission statement there as we were just reading it, the second one that we devote ourselves and using the gifts that we give that we've been given. Actually, I thought of just Erica, you just even as we were doing the statements. And of course, I wanted to bring Erica and Godfrey up together just to share a little bit because we aren't just a 00:00:59.960 --> 00:01:28.379 group of people that like to gather on a Sunday. But we do like to scatter as well. And a couple of months ago, I don't know if you remember, we invited our friend Joyce to come and share who lives in the Congo and share about the needs that they have there. And actually Erica and Godfrey and Aidan, who isn't here with us today, is he not? Aidan is not here. They answered the call and they're actually planning a trip to go to the Congo to serve with Joyce. So I thought we need to get them up to just hear why they're doing what they're doing and also what they're going to be doing. 00:01:28.379 --> 00:01:32.119 And maybe some of you would be interested as well. Can we give them a round of applause and we bring them up? 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:38.119 Godfrey, the tallest Chinese man that I know. 00:01:40.979 --> 00:01:41.840 Thank you, James. 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:45.500 Well, good to see you. If you didn't know, these two are siblings. 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:53.359 You are in the weekends, you are playing piano. By day, what do you do? Tell us a little bit. 00:01:53.919 --> 00:01:57.780 I'm a doctor and I do anesthesia in particular. 00:01:57.780 --> 00:01:59.299 So you put people to sleep? 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:00.019 Yes. 00:02:00.379 --> 00:02:02.859 Excellent. Good. I put people to sleep too on a Sunday morning. 00:02:05.140 --> 00:02:06.079 Godfrey, what do you do? 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:12.180 Hi, James. Well, I help out at church with the slides. 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:12.759 Yes. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:15.539 Because I'm not musically talented like my sister. 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:19.340 But during the day, I'm a lawyer. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:19.979 Yeah. 00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:25.800 And I just want to hear, you guys heard what Joyce was doing in the Congo. 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:30.640 And now you guys have signed up and presumably dragging Aiden along as well. 00:02:30.900 --> 00:02:33.300 But tell us a little bit about why. 00:02:33.420 --> 00:02:36.939 Erica, what really resonated with you as you listened to Joyce? 00:02:36.939 --> 00:02:47.520 I think when I first listened to Joyce when she came here on a Sunday, the first thing that stood out was, oh, she's a doctor too. 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:49.900 And she's living in Africa. 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:54.340 And I just thought, wow, that is such a different life from mine. 00:02:55.200 --> 00:02:59.040 And but she's basically using her life to serve God in that way. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:04.099 And that kind of just moved me a little bit to start out with. 00:03:04.299 --> 00:03:14.879 And then as she was talking, I really like heard the need that she, I guess, portrayed during her talk. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:32.919 And later on, she had another talk on a weeknight where she went more deeply into how difficult it is for people in in Westso, which is where she works to really just to go to get to get resources. 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:37.819 So I just felt like my heart was pretty moved. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:50.579 And also I felt like another pull was that I've always wanted to serve with my talents because I don't really feel like I'm like very especially talented at anything, honestly. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:55.179 But I don't think a lot of people do what I do. 00:03:55.379 --> 00:03:59.799 And I think there is a role in what I do where they are. 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:03.100 So I think I was very touched by that. 00:04:04.980 --> 00:04:12.719 So much that I actually like grabbed her at the toilet after church to just stop her and ask her if there's any need. 00:04:13.580 --> 00:04:14.140 Yeah, that's incredible. 00:04:14.260 --> 00:04:15.620 And when will you be going? 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:21.280 I'm going end of September, September 20th to October 7th. 00:04:21.540 --> 00:04:26.759 So if you are even mildly interested, you should look at your phone right now and go September 20th. 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:27.860 Am I free and available? 00:04:28.340 --> 00:04:29.220 Godfrey, why are you going? 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:41.259 Yeah, so similar to Erica, I was quite motivated by just Joyce's story and especially how she was willing to kind of give up everything and just to follow God's calling. 00:04:42.280 --> 00:04:45.220 And but I mean, I'm not a health care worker. 00:04:45.540 --> 00:04:48.439 I will not be able to provide any first aid. 00:04:49.220 --> 00:04:49.980 But that's why I'm asking. 00:04:50.060 --> 00:04:50.740 What are you doing there? 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:54.900 Well, I had two main takeaways from Joyce's story. 00:04:55.540 --> 00:05:01.579 The first was when she looked back at how successful the clinic kind of became like a hospital. 00:05:01.579 --> 00:05:07.579 She looked back at how successful everything was and she realized like none of it she did herself. 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:09.019 It was all God's doing. 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:12.180 So if I go, I won't be able to do anything anyway. 00:05:12.339 --> 00:05:13.620 I'll just let God use me. 00:05:13.620 --> 00:05:21.360 And the second thing was things like, you know, like fixing light bulbs and moving boxes and whatnot. 00:05:21.780 --> 00:05:30.680 She mentioned that, you know, after she's done with a clinical work, if she has time, that's when they'll be the ones doing it themselves. 00:05:31.019 --> 00:05:34.199 So I think any extra pair of hands would be helpful. 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:41.800 So that's really good just to hear that the lights that are especially tall will be covered for by Godfrey. 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:48.319 But actually, Erica, you mentioned that there are some specific needs that actually you want more people to come with you guys to the Congo. 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:50.419 And some of the specific things that we need. 00:05:50.539 --> 00:05:51.219 What are they? 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:56.860 OK, so the whole I chatted with Joyce after church, after the talk. 00:05:56.860 --> 00:06:07.060 And so currently the state of what's going on with the hospital is they're originally an eye hospital and they're trying to expand to a general hospital. 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:09.860 And to do that, you need a lot more specialties. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:14.639 You need to actually accept people who are not who don't only have eye problems. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:19.580 Not that eye problems are, you know, like any less than other problems. 00:06:19.579 --> 00:06:35.259 But so I talked to her and she wants me to actually do like a resuscitation course on general first aid and CPR, which is, you know, my strong suit, I guess. 00:06:35.979 --> 00:06:46.360 But yeah, so right now we're right now I'm like talking to the team, getting mannequins to practice CPR on. 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:50.800 And and we're planning resources as well. 00:06:50.939 --> 00:06:52.360 So like pre-reading materials. 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:56.300 But the main issue is that people there speak French. 00:06:56.620 --> 00:07:05.819 So we actually need a lot of help with just, you know, say, translating first aid materials to French or even just using apps to do it. 00:07:06.340 --> 00:07:08.060 We just need people, I think. 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:15.939 Of course, like I'd welcome any like medical staff because I'll be really helpful when I teach CPR to be an assistant. 00:07:15.939 --> 00:07:19.600 Because, yeah, it's kind of hard on my own. 00:07:20.259 --> 00:07:24.759 So if anyone's interested or moved, I would really, really appreciate it. 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:30.040 And is there a date that you really need to know by in terms of people wanting to join? 00:07:30.540 --> 00:07:34.540 Hopefully as soon as possible, because we do have to get the visa going. 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:37.980 You need to get shots and things like that. 00:07:37.980 --> 00:07:45.920 But we do need to work with the organization to kind of plan the trip because they'll plan our route in as well. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:46.980 Yeah, that's good. 00:07:47.300 --> 00:07:52.879 So if you have been interested at all in going to Africa to serve in some way, there's a new site. 00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:56.800 Congo is a trusted partner of actually Kong Folk Church for many, many years. 00:07:57.240 --> 00:07:58.420 And many of us have known Joyce. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:01.460 Last time we shared, Joyce has known me since I was a kid. 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:03.100 So very well trusted. 00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:04.439 And it's a long journey. 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:06.040 So it's a long journey to do by yourself. 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:11.660 But if someone else is going and then you just simply need to jump on the bandwagon, then I would highly encourage you. 00:08:11.960 --> 00:08:15.319 So Godfrey and Erica are going to be here today after church. 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:20.400 Please, if you're even interested or you just want some more details, then please speak to them afterwards. 00:08:20.460 --> 00:08:20.759 Is that okay? 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:22.379 Round of applause. 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:22.819 Thank you. 00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:23.840 Thank you both very much. 00:08:23.840 --> 00:08:23.900 Thank you. 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:23.900 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:23.900 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:23.900 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:23.900 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:23.900 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:23.900 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:25.900 Thank you. 00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:34.480 So Johnny, for us, last week started for us a new series. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:38.000 We've been going through the book of Acts where we get to see how the church started. 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:42.439 They gathered in a room like this, maybe around the same size of people here. 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:43.500 And then they scattered. 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:45.059 And that's why we're sat here today. 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:50.559 That's why me as a Chinese guy speaking English in Hong Kong is speaking to you about the word of God. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:52.740 Because there were a group of people that didn't stay put. 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:56.340 That didn't just stay where they were comfortable and they went out. 00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:57.600 Now, part of that is persecution. 00:08:57.799 --> 00:09:00.639 Part of that is because they couldn't stay put because their lives were in danger. 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:01.720 But then they scattered. 00:09:02.180 --> 00:09:05.860 And when they scattered, they then would meet lots of different people to share what? 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:08.340 To share the good news of Jesus Christ, the gospel. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:12.899 And so we wanted to take a bit of a pause in the book of Acts. 00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:14.100 And we'll carry on with that afterwards. 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:19.600 And I'm super excited because the first sermon back will actually be on Acts 6, which will be the deacons. 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:22.519 And this is maybe the first time they're hearing it from me. 00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:27.519 But we're going to try and grab a couple of deacons to come up to share with us a little bit about why they do what they do as well. 00:09:27.560 --> 00:09:29.600 To understand a little bit more about the role of a deacon. 00:09:29.980 --> 00:09:31.080 And so we'll do that after the summer. 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:35.120 But these six weeks, we're going to just basically go through, well, what does it mean when we scatter? 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:44.340 When we go out, whether it's to the Congo or whether it's simply to Central, and we want to share the good news, then actually we need to know how to. 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:49.259 It isn't just, hey, Jesus died for you and so believe in him. 00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:51.480 Well, of course, that is the core truth and that's all we need. 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:54.679 But often we get questions. 00:09:55.139 --> 00:09:56.240 We get people asking as well. 00:09:56.659 --> 00:10:00.019 Like last week, Johnny's was, well, why is it really relevant to me now? 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:04.180 And I found, actually, we've gone through a lot of these. 00:10:04.179 --> 00:10:05.919 I've gone through a lot of these questions. 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:08.319 And actually, we're not here to try and help you argue. 00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:09.479 That's not the point. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:13.500 So when you're talking to people who are not believers, the point isn't to try and win the argument. 00:10:13.579 --> 00:10:15.239 That's not what we're really trying to do here. 00:10:15.579 --> 00:10:27.139 But what we're trying to do, hopefully, through this series, is exhort you and encourage you so your heart, so you can actually feel encouraged that actually what you believe is really real, truly true, and that it is worth sharing. 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:31.679 And that there are some key questions that maybe we can start thinking about. 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:36.500 And so today, the one that I'm going to be doing is about the Bible itself. 00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:41.759 Maybe a few months ago, maybe half a year ago now, I shared with you guys something called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:42.879 Put your hand up if you remember. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:43.919 I won't pick on you. 00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:45.139 Brilliant. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:46.639 One person remembers. 00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:47.340 Excellent. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:49.259 I love it when I just touch the lives of many. 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:59.679 The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, basically what it is, is it's a theological method that John Wesley came up with, which is saying, actually, we all approach God in different ways. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:02.039 There's a method that we have when we approach theology. 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:05.159 Some of us approach it through scripture, so this. 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:07.419 Some of us approach it through tradition. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:12.899 You maybe are a Christian because just traditionally, your family took you to church, so that's how you just follow the traditions. 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:15.200 And that's how you approach God, through tradition. 00:11:15.800 --> 00:11:17.259 Others do it through reason. 00:11:18.020 --> 00:11:25.500 Maybe you had a whole debate with someone, a discussion with someone, like C.S. Lewis did with J.R. Tolkien, and he got to the point where it just turned. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.780 And he's like, that's why I believe in God. 00:11:28.020 --> 00:11:33.120 And the others are experience, whether it's you actually experience the Holy Spirit or whether it's actually you. 00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:36.960 For me, my own experience is I experience God through community. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:44.820 I mean, Sean has actually been in the church that I grew up in, Christina grew up in, Joe grew up in, England, where you go to church. 00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:50.139 You really are a Christian, not really because you believe in God, but it's because you want to be with Chinese people. 00:11:50.700 --> 00:11:54.460 And you like Chinese food, so you turn up on a Sunday to hang out with these people. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:56.259 That's kind of why you go to church. 00:11:57.240 --> 00:12:02.500 And then when I was in university, actually around the same age as Sean, he's just finished second year, something turned for me. 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:07.059 I read this book called Why Trust the Bible by Amy or Ewing. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:18.200 And it just completely flipped my faith on its head because what had originally been all about experience and community suddenly stepped into the realm of reason. 00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:24.799 And I was like, whoa, this book isn't just boring, it's real. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:28.639 And I was like, this changes everything. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:32.480 And so actually what we're going to be doing today is going through the Bible. 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.659 I just realized my tablet is 3%. 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:39.220 So here we go. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:41.939 Why trust the Bible? 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:49.360 Society talks a lot about Christians, what we're allowed to do, what we aren't allowed to do. 00:12:50.199 --> 00:12:52.080 There's some controversial topics that we talk about. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:52.379 Why? 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:53.700 Why do we believe that? 00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:55.039 Oh, because the Bible says so. 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:57.439 Well, then have you ever questioned why? 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:00.059 Is that it? 00:13:00.199 --> 00:13:02.659 We just believe it because the Bible said so? 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:04.199 Why did the Bible say so? 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:06.419 Why did God say so? 00:13:06.919 --> 00:13:14.259 If God said, actually, you're here to multiply and to flourish in this world, he gives us this to allow us to multiply and flourish. 00:13:14.419 --> 00:13:17.840 And it isn't just to give us some rules so that he can spoil all the fun. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:19.139 There is actually more to it. 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:32.860 And actually, when I read why I should trust the Bible and actually the authenticity and the reliability and the validity of the Bible, it suddenly made me realize, wow, my faith isn't just something that Uncle Tom made up at church. 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:37.379 But it's actually a very real thing that has been passed down from generation to generation. 00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:40.860 The Bible itself, of course, as it says here, it is God breathed. 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:46.820 Actually, it's inspired by God through the authors of the Bible into what we have today. 00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:52.660 And it is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword in the sense it can pierce the very depths of your soul. 00:13:52.740 --> 00:14:03.740 What the Bible does is give you a mirror to look into your own heart and show you what's actually in your own heart and show you what you need to do to be saved. 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:10.080 And I'm going to focus on a passage and then I'm going to share a little bit about why we should trust the Bible. 00:14:10.160 --> 00:14:10.520 Is that OK? 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:14.439 So I'm going to go to 2 Timothy, chapter 3, verse 12 to 17. 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:16.299 Can I invite you to stand for the word of the Lord? 00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:38.340 Holy Spirit, as we read your word, we ask that you would highlight something new to us today. 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:44.259 Well, we know this isn't just a boring book. 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:45.360 This is your word. 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:49.980 This is your message to us. 00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:51.480 And so we receive it. 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:54.000 As Paul says to Timothy, 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:59.639 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:04.840 while evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:08.220 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:13.860 knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:18.040 which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:25.080 All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:30.540 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:31.860 This is the word of the Lord. 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:34.279 Please take a seat. 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:34.960 Thank you. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:35.720 Thank you, Kelly. 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:56.879 So I picked up this book just after second year of university, 00:15:57.040 --> 00:15:58.700 and I looked over, let me read it. 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:02.300 And I found out that this is not just a storybook. 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:04.319 It is not just a book about Noah. 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:07.899 It is not just a book about Jesus necessarily, 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:10.740 but it is a historical document. 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:17.339 That this here has been passed down for many, many, many, many years. 00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:19.500 And that it is real. 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:23.819 Of course, as you look at the scripture itself, 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:26.459 it says that it is breathed out by God. 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:28.519 And maybe we'll focus a little bit on this passage first, 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:33.439 and then I'll tell you a little bit about some of the evidence that really inspired me as a young person when it comes to the Bible. 00:16:33.699 --> 00:16:34.579 So it starts off here. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:36.480 It says, Paul's writing to Timothy. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:42.500 Timothy is a young pastor, mid-30s, starting a church and running a church in Ephesus. 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:44.699 And he's facing a lot of different challenges. 00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:48.699 The first challenge he's facing is just persecution from the Jews and from the Romans. 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:51.179 So outside, the walls are caving in. 00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:53.919 So they're having to find safe spaces to actually gather together. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:54.939 That's one. 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:59.319 And then the second is that they were starting to have teachers within the group here 00:16:59.319 --> 00:17:02.979 who were starting to basically spread false heresies. 00:17:03.479 --> 00:17:06.240 They were starting to say, well, did Jesus really rise from the dead? 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:08.519 Is it really what it is? 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:10.579 Does Jesus really mean that? 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:12.759 That we really need to sell everything that we have? 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:15.299 That we really need to give everything to him to follow him? 00:17:15.379 --> 00:17:17.059 Is that, did he really say that? 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:20.259 Are you sure we can't still do the same things that we've done? 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:23.779 Are you sure we can't just believe in the Jesus and take the good things, 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:26.619 but then still keep the pleasurable things that we have in this world? 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.279 Are you sure? 00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:31.799 So he had pressure from outside and from inside. 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:34.079 And then Paul writes to him and says this in verse 12. 00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:38.240 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:40.559 You will run into trouble. 00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:43.799 And notice here, it's not all who live a godly life. 00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:47.660 It's even just wanting to live a godly life is hard. 00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:50.300 You probably experienced this. 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:51.880 I definitely experienced this. 00:17:52.120 --> 00:17:56.860 Even wanting to be a godly person is hard because there are so many, 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.900 so many temptations that you have. 00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:01.380 So many things that you want to give into. 00:18:01.820 --> 00:18:06.640 So many frustrating people around you to stop you from being the godly person that you want to be. 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:07.420 Right? 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:13.900 And so even wanting to do it, as a wife taps husband on the knee about the frustrating people. 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:17.200 Even wanting to do it is hard. 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:22.800 It's like Romans 7 when even Paul, the great apostle Paul, the greatest church planter evangelist ever known, 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:26.380 says, I know what I should do, and yet I still don't do it. 00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:29.040 I know what I shouldn't do, and yet I still do it. 00:18:29.080 --> 00:18:30.900 I am such a wretched man. 00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:33.160 How can I be saved? 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:33.980 What hope do I have? 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:36.060 Thank God for Jesus. 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:42.159 So Paul says here, he says, okay, Timothy, what you're going to be facing is going to be hard 00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:45.519 because there's going to be people in your congregation and you yourself as a young pastor, 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:48.799 actually who had stomach ailments, who actually physically was weak. 00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:50.639 You're going to have some troubles. 00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:53.919 Indeed, those who want to live a godly life will be persecuted. 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:55.819 They will run into trouble. 00:18:55.819 --> 00:19:01.659 Verse 13, while evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:09.900 This book, the best-selling book of all time, five billion copies apparently, 00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:13.960 or at least around that number of books, Bibles that have been sold. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:21.779 You know, I'm sure you've heard that fact before because you've probably seen Bibles tucked into your hotel room there. 00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:25.860 And actually that doesn't really excite me when I hear that it's the best-selling book of all time 00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:31.539 because maybe being a little bit more cynical here, I'm like, well, out of those five billion copies, 00:19:31.639 --> 00:19:32.819 how many are actually being read? 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.539 How many of them have been read once? 00:19:36.639 --> 00:19:38.059 How many of them have been read ten times? 00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:42.919 And then out of that group, how many people, how many readers are actually following it? 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:46.500 Do you realize that people have died for this book? 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:49.559 People have sacrificed their lives for this book, 00:19:50.139 --> 00:19:54.459 and yet we try and convince ourselves to use an app for five minutes, and it's just excruciating. 00:19:55.859 --> 00:20:01.319 I think I started to understand there's something about this book that I was missing. 00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:04.419 It's teaching us how to live. 00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:06.819 Verse 13, as it says, 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:10.579 And those who don't follow it, things go from bad to worse. 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:14.240 So this isn't a book just to stop people from having all the fun. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:18.379 It's a book to actually help you live a life that is fulfilled, 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:21.199 that is satisfying, that is content. 00:20:21.879 --> 00:20:24.279 Do you treat this book seriously? 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:27.960 Did I treat this book seriously back in those days? 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.759 Maybe not so. 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.779 Verse 14 continues. 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:34.859 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:39.359 knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with these sacred writings, 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:42.799 which were able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:46.519 Now, that sounds a little bit like just spiritual jargon that you've heard Paul talk about a lot. 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.680 What he's saying here is this. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:51.740 He's saying, Timothy, young Timothy, I've known you since you were a teenager. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:54.240 But actually, I didn't introduce Jesus to you. 00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:54.720 Who did? 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:56.019 Your grandmother Lois did. 00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:57.319 Your mother Eunice did. 00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:59.220 They brought you up in the faith. 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:04.079 What he's saying here is truth is real and it's relational and it can be experienced. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:07.700 So he's saying, remember who taught you about this book. 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:09.379 And now he wasn't talking about the New Testament. 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:11.680 Timothy would have only read the Old Testament. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:16.180 So he's saying, remember what you have learned and whom you have learned it from. 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:21.700 I feel particularly connected to Timothy because he was a second generation Christian. 00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:24.420 Well, third actually with grandmother Lois. 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:25.539 He was bicultural. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.799 His dad was Greek. 00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:31.320 And then he was picked up by Paul as a teenager and took on these missions trips. 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:32.400 You see it in Acts 16. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:34.660 And so he'd grown up with Paul. 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.960 He'd learned from Paul. 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:37.420 And Paul's saying, don't forget. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.860 Don't forget where you came from. 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:44.839 It's kind of like, is it Rafiki or Mufasa saying, remember who you are. 00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:54.259 What he's saying here is the life that you're living now isn't something that someone made up only just a few months ago. 00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:59.759 The life that you're living now has been passed down from generation to generation. 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:02.619 How seriously do we take this word? 00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:15.219 Or actually, okay, so when I hang out with people and sometimes they tell me, oh, I saw this really cool encouraging thing from an IG reel about a Bible verse. 00:22:15.459 --> 00:22:18.519 And I'm just like, ah, I kind of love that it's about the Bible. 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:23.779 But I kind of hate that it's just an IG reel is where we're getting all our information from. 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:29.399 Do you realize that we pay more attention to what we see on social media? 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:35.899 We're more inspired by little snippets from an IG reel than the actual word of God. 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:40.799 And all it takes is for someone who doesn't believe, oh, no, the Bible isn't true. 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.339 I saw it in a reel. 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:46.299 Do you realize what you're doing? 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:55.859 Do you realize how little you are looking at this and how small you're looking at it when actually it's so significant? 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.740 And I'll tell you why later. 00:22:58.039 --> 00:23:00.019 So Paul's saying, Timothy, do not forget. 00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:04.259 Continue what you've learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it. 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:07.579 And actually, for me, as a parent, that's huge. 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:11.319 Because I'm like, actually, I need to know that when I'm teaching my kids the word of God, 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:14.839 that actually what they see is integrity and not hypocrisy. 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:18.980 Because imagine if Grandmother Lois and Mother Judas were actually hypocrites. 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:22.319 This statement would have been completely false or it would have been useless. 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:26.159 Because they would have been like, he would have been like, well, yeah, I do remember who taught me the Bible. 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:30.500 And they completely didn't follow it and basically were two-faced and did what they said they wouldn't do. 00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:31.199 No. 00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:34.959 But as people who are teaching the word, as parents who are teaching the word, 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:39.259 this should really encourage us, hey, let's actually do what we say we believe 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:42.439 and actually put our money where our mouth is and actually live that way. 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:47.620 We have a 12-year-old here who's now suddenly focused. 00:23:49.320 --> 00:23:55.299 I remember when we first had him and we were wrestling with the idea of, okay, should we go into ministry? 00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:59.400 Should we quit my job as a teacher and Christina's job as a cardiophysiologist? 00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:03.600 Does God really want us to do this and how is he going to provide for us? 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:06.639 And it came down to this, it's like, actually, what do we want to show him? 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:09.980 That God can be believed and trusted and followed? 00:24:10.659 --> 00:24:15.959 Or that he's someone that we just basically pop by on a Sunday morning just to see a little bit 00:24:15.959 --> 00:24:17.879 and then we don't let it affect the rest of our lives? 00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:19.619 It came down to that. 00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:24.740 And you see, Timothy was the beneficiary of a grandmother and a mother at the very least 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:26.439 who were filled with integrity. 00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:28.180 And then he carries on. 00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:30.220 Let's see, let's see. 00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:31.660 Actually, this is really important. 00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:32.580 Verse 15, 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:35.259 And from how childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, 00:24:35.340 --> 00:24:40.140 which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 00:24:41.340 --> 00:24:46.380 We get to see from the Bible why the Bible was written, 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:48.400 what the whole purpose of the Bible was. 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:50.299 It was to make you wise for salvation. 00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:53.860 It was to show you, it was to show you, it was to put a mirror up into your face 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:57.379 and go, actually, look at your heart, your heart is filled with deceit, 00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:59.359 but you can be saved and you are loved. 00:24:59.719 --> 00:25:01.079 And this is how you are saved. 00:25:02.219 --> 00:25:03.779 It'll make you wise for salvation. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:07.359 This book gives you the words of life, as Jesus said in John 6. 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:11.019 This book will show you how to flourish, which is what God promised if you follow, 00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:14.199 because it shows you how you are saved. 00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:16.779 That's why this book was written. 00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:17.639 And then it carries on. 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.959 And it says, verse 17, 00:25:18.959 --> 00:25:22.719 And that the man of God may be complete, saved, completely made perfect, 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:25.480 equipped for every good work. 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:29.019 This Bible tells you how to be heavenly minded, but also earthly good. 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:32.440 This book tells you how to live for eternity, 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:35.680 yet still make an impact in your today right now. 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:38.920 Why aren't we taking this more seriously? 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:41.259 Why aren't we looking at this? 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.720 Now, some of you are sat here going, 00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:44.039 well, James, I have tried. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:47.100 I really do want to read the Bible, but man, it is just so hard. 00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:53.139 I put a reminder down, then I read it, and then I'm in Leviticus again. 00:25:54.679 --> 00:25:58.519 And it's about cattle, and it's about, I just don't get it. 00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:00.399 And it doesn't impact my life. 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:03.959 And I'll say to you, I totally get it. 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:06.360 I am that person, too. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:10.100 I've tried everything to make myself interested in the Bible. 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.759 And it was actually only, and I've shared this before, 00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:15.860 it's only a few years ago where I really started to make some progress and some steps, 00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:18.640 which terrifies you a little bit because I've been a pastor for longer than that. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:25.960 But I got to the point where I was like, 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:30.160 Holy Spirit, this is my profession. 00:26:31.560 --> 00:26:32.840 I don't want to be a hypocrite. 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:37.120 I want to understand, and I want to know, and I want to hunger for your word. 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:39.020 Can you help me? 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.480 Can you help me? 00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:43.940 And then it started. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:47.660 Actually, it happened in a hotel room when I was on a retreat, 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.960 and I was so fed up. 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.779 I was like, everyone else is hearing from you, God. 00:26:51.040 --> 00:26:53.180 Everyone else is being blessed by your word, 00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:56.220 and I'm just sat here trying to just squeeze out anything that I can. 00:26:56.580 --> 00:26:59.600 And I said, if you don't speak to me today, 00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:04.840 then I think we're going to have to reconsider what my life is about. 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:07.560 And if you're not going to speak to me, 00:27:08.060 --> 00:27:10.519 then I'm going to read your word, and I'm going to memorize your word. 00:27:10.560 --> 00:27:12.960 And that was the first time I memorized his word. 00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:17.279 And I was inspired by a pastor friend of mine who was in Hong Kong at the time. 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:20.519 And so I memorized the whole book of Philippians, the whole book. 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:22.139 It took me maybe about two weeks or so. 00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:24.339 Praise God, it's actually still in my head. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:28.059 If you are doing scripture memory, if you're part of Paul's scripture club, 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.420 one tip I'll give you. 00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:32.579 If you want to memorize scripture and you want to remember scripture afterwards, 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.980 you have to do it for 100 days. 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:36.799 It's after 100 days of doing it every day, 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:39.500 it will then move from your short-term memory into your long-term memory. 00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:42.680 So if you've done it for 20 days and you wonder why it's gone, 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:45.140 it's because you've got 80 more days to go. 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:47.099 Just FYI. 00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:50.599 And I realized when I did that, and honestly, it was out of spite. 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.680 It was like, God, if you're not going to speak to me, 00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.640 I'm just going to memorize your word. 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:55.099 I mean, it's the lamest kind of threat. 00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:59.380 But I experienced something that I had never done before. 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:01.119 I started hearing him speak. 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:05.039 Not just through his word here, but actually just in my life in general. 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:08.680 And I realized that actually his word and his spirit are just working hand in hand. 00:28:09.399 --> 00:28:11.059 I need to take both seriously. 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:13.819 And so I started that, and that's been a journey for me. 00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:16.079 And I'm praying that as I speak to you about this, 00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:17.599 it will become a journey for you too. 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:19.059 Verse 16 says this, 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:22.759 All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, 00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:25.200 for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:27.579 Maybe this is the biggest critique of the Bible. 00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:30.819 It's like, well, what has a book that was written so many years ago 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:32.559 really got to do with life right now? 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:35.839 How is it really able to help me in my life right now? 00:28:35.899 --> 00:28:38.779 And I'm here to tell you, it really does help you. 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.679 I mean, it says so. 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:44.859 So it is actually applicable and profitable for teaching, for reproof, 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:47.919 basically for anything in life that comes at you. 00:28:48.179 --> 00:28:50.500 The Bible will have something to say. 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:54.059 It has something to say about how you handle your relationships. 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:56.460 It has something to say about how you handle conflict. 00:28:56.799 --> 00:29:00.179 It will have something to say about what your life goal should be, 00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:02.279 what you were made for, who made you. 00:29:03.179 --> 00:29:05.639 If you think about society, what we live in right now, 00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:09.179 most of the things, most of the decisions and the actions that we make, 00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:11.679 the biggest three idols that I've talked about, 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:13.659 that Richard Foster writes in his book, 00:29:13.919 --> 00:29:15.940 are money, sex, and power. 00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:18.980 I think you'd be hard-pressed to find any decisions and actions 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:22.220 that are not really directly connected to these three things. 00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:26.859 And yet the Bible talks specifically about these three things. 00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:28.899 So how can you tell me that it is not relevant? 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:33.480 It talks about money, how actually every good gift comes from God, 00:29:33.780 --> 00:29:40.759 that money itself is neutral, but the root of all evil is the love of money. 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:46.000 And you don't need me to convince you of that as you just look around at society right now. 00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:49.079 That's where it comes from. 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.440 The Bible teaches about this. 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:55.140 Actually, it's probably the most taught topic in the Bible, if you look, about money. 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:57.480 Yet somehow we don't use it. 00:29:57.920 --> 00:30:00.759 We don't consult it when we're talking about money. 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:05.200 Jesus says, you can store everything up here, but you're not really taking it away. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:11.259 And we all know that in our heads, but somehow, maybe especially in a city like Hong Kong, 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:13.940 we just can't help but accumulate more and more. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:20.480 You know how many people I've sat across the table from who I can see have a significant level of affluence and wealth, 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:23.119 who have their driver waiting for them outside, 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:26.339 and they're sharing with me about the worries that they have about money? 00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:35.139 I just wish that we would consult the Bible when it came to an important topic like this. 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:39.500 That we would actually discover how we can actually use it. 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:42.139 How we can be wise with our money. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:44.039 You talk about sex. 00:30:44.459 --> 00:30:46.859 Sex is brought up a lot in the Bible. 00:30:46.959 --> 00:30:50.799 If you think that God doesn't really want to talk about it, then you'd be wrong. 00:30:50.879 --> 00:30:52.079 Then you need to read Song of Songs. 00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:56.000 But you can see what sex was really for. 00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:59.279 To fill this earth. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:30:59.859 To multiply. 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.819 For intimacy. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.439 For joy. 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.039 For pleasure. 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:08.599 And you might say, well, the Bible's old-fashioned because it still has people who have many, many wives 00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:10.159 and still seems to be talking about polygamy. 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:14.379 Well, if anything, the Bible is showing you why polygamy is a bad idea. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:18.720 Can you see any example in the Bible of someone who married more than one wife and it ended well for them? 00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:20.480 No. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:20.539 No. 00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:25.039 It's showing you how to live. 00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:27.160 What a marriage should be. 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:31.539 Whether we consult it or not is a different thing. 00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:33.500 It shows us about love. 00:31:33.640 --> 00:31:38.160 1 Corinthians 13 talks about what love should actually be. 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:39.740 Not the fleeting emotions. 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:41.700 Not the self-serving kind of love. 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.720 But the sacrificial one. 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:45.080 There is one only one greatest kind of love. 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:48.680 And it's in John 15 when you lay down your life for someone else. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:51.279 When you are willing to go out of your way for someone else. 00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:52.820 That is the love that holds. 00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:53.860 And we know that. 00:31:54.580 --> 00:31:56.279 Popular culture knows that. 00:31:56.820 --> 00:31:58.779 Why else did Tony Stark have to die? 00:31:59.440 --> 00:31:59.839 In any way. 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:02.519 We know that sacrifice is necessary. 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:07.160 And yet the Bible has been telling us that all this time. 00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:11.480 And yet somehow we always just settle for a cheaper version of love. 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:15.420 We just settle for the one that just satisfies us in the moment. 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.920 And we know that tomorrow we will regret. 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:20.579 The Bible teaches us about that. 00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:21.799 It teaches us about power. 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:25.480 It teaches us about submitting to power. 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:28.339 It teaches us about a benevolent king. 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.620 Who we can trust. 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.900 Not about democracy. 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:37.620 But about a loving king who laid down his life for his people. 00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:42.380 It talks about submitting to authorities in Romans 13. 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:44.440 And that's not a popular passage. 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:47.519 But why do you submit to the earthy authorities? 00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:51.360 Because you know that there is a godly authority behind them. 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:55.619 That you submit ultimately to the sovereignty of God. 00:32:57.619 --> 00:33:01.719 The Bible talks about how we should look after those who don't have power. 00:33:01.879 --> 00:33:03.079 Who are weak and vulnerable. 00:33:03.979 --> 00:33:09.639 The Bible is able to speak into any and every situation. 00:33:10.919 --> 00:33:14.099 The psalmist says it is the one that guides your path. 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.959 It's a lamp unto your feet. 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.639 It gives you life. 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.359 It pierces you. 00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:20.399 It heals you. 00:33:20.699 --> 00:33:21.699 It restores you. 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:28.119 And yet we treat it like a National Geographic on the side of our coffee table. 00:33:29.379 --> 00:33:32.379 So, the Bible is important. 00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:33.339 You kind of know that. 00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:36.819 I hope I've been able to convince you of that today. 00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:38.159 But maybe some questions then. 00:33:38.199 --> 00:33:39.240 Why don't people trust the Bible? 00:33:40.219 --> 00:33:44.379 Two questions, especially when it comes to the authenticity and the reliability, 00:33:44.939 --> 00:33:46.959 would be two questions that maybe I'll boil down to very simple. 00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:48.299 Is it real and was it changed? 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:51.899 Is it real and was it changed? 00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:55.240 The Bible is not a collection of just stories and fables and myths. 00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:56.379 It is not a human book. 00:33:56.480 --> 00:34:03.419 It's actually God revealing himself to us through many, many different authors throughout a long, long, significant time. 00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:08.039 But if you look at the claims of the gospel, if you look at what Jesus is actually claiming here, 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:10.619 it's not saying that this is going to be a story. 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:13.480 It's not just a legendary story. 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:14.760 In fact, actually, C.S. 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:15.599 Lewis talks about this. 00:34:15.720 --> 00:34:17.680 He himself was an expert in literature. 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:22.079 And he said, if the Bible is simply just a story, it is a completely terrible story. 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:27.319 If it's just a myth, if it's just a legend, it is a completely terrible story. 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.079 And he said something else. 00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:31.759 He said, actually, it means you don't truly understand the time that the Bible was written. 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:37.119 During that time, there was really no such thing as realistic fiction and prose. 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:42.519 It wouldn't be an imaginary world where you are, but is the equivalent of the modern day. 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:46.359 That kind of literature didn't really exist during the times when the Bible was written. 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:54.440 Back then, it would be apocalyptic legends and myths and fables about far-reaching places. 00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:56.819 That would be the kind of literature that would be written. 00:34:57.139 --> 00:35:02.380 And it wouldn't be the story that would be so close to the reality of the people at that time. 00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:08.440 So C.S. Lewis says, if it's simply just a made-up story and a fairy tale, it is a very poor one. 00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:14.059 Because if you look at some of the facts that are included in the New Testament, you'd be like, well, why is that there? 00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:15.440 That's not very important. 00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:21.760 If you're trying to build a story for people to believe during that time, you wouldn't use female witnesses. 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:26.840 Because at that time in society, they wouldn't be trusted. 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:33.460 And if Peter was trying to build a name for himself, why would he include the embarrassing stories about him betraying himself? 00:35:34.120 --> 00:35:41.260 So as an actual piece of literature, it is basically completely based on historical facts. 00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:44.880 And actually, this is probably the biggest point that really inspired me as a 20-year-old. 00:35:45.180 --> 00:35:52.019 It said, as a historical document, it really is incomparable when it comes to the evidence. 00:35:52.019 --> 00:35:58.480 Everything that we know about Julius Caesar was written actually maybe 900 years after he existed. 00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:01.880 And we actually don't have that many manuscripts. 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.400 Let me see. 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:08.280 Manuscripts for Julius Caesar, who lived around 100 B.C., are 240 manuscripts. 00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:10.280 All written in the 9th century. 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:11.920 So nearly 1,000 years after he existed. 00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:16.519 Everything we know about Julius Caesar and his writing comes from these 240 manuscripts. 00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:19.820 Homer's Iliad, another very well-known piece of literature. 00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:21.219 2,700. 00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:23.019 2,700. 00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:24.840 What about the New Testament? 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:28.480 Over 25,000. 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:32.480 25,000 manuscripts. 00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:38.219 Basically, all pointing to the fact that this man, Jesus, lived. 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.259 He died. 00:36:41.139 --> 00:36:42.159 And then he rose again. 00:36:42.519 --> 00:36:46.599 To the point where it wasn't even just the Christians who mentioned the existence of Jesus. 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:47.539 Historians. 00:36:47.619 --> 00:36:52.000 A famous one is Josephus, who actually wrote about the fact that these Christians, 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:54.340 Christians were starting to grow and gain momentum. 00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:59.739 And that they were following, they were worshipping Jesus as Lord, as Christ. 00:37:01.239 --> 00:37:07.500 Historians outside of the church were starting to chip in and basically confirm the accounts of those within the Gospels. 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:08.500 For me, I was like, wow. 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:17.639 If Julius Caesar's manuscripts were only written 1,000 years after him, and yet all the Gospels were written by 1890 AD. 00:37:17.639 --> 00:37:24.339 What that means is that actually, as they were written, the eyewitnesses would have still been alive. 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:31.219 Do you know how hard it would have been to make up a story when the people who were still alive were still there? 00:37:31.219 --> 00:37:33.159 It would have been virtually impossible. 00:37:33.159 --> 00:37:40.699 If you look at scripture, if you look at even Luke 24, when Luke is documenting the walk to Emmaus, he's mentioning people that he didn't really have to mention. 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:44.779 Because if you're trying to make up a story, you're trying to keep it as vague as possible. 00:37:45.019 --> 00:37:48.019 And yet he's actually saying, these people actually did exist. 00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:50.339 1 Corinthians 15, Paul talks about the resurrection. 00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:53.779 He says, Jesus first appeared to the 12 and then to the 500. 00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:55.899 And here are some of the people that still live. 00:37:55.900 --> 00:37:57.660 What he's saying is, go and ask them. 00:37:58.760 --> 00:37:59.700 Go and ask them. 00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:00.619 They saw him. 00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:03.059 We're not lying about this. 00:38:04.619 --> 00:38:08.680 The historical evidence is hard to dispute when it comes to the Bible. 00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:13.740 The question for us is, are we willing to pay attention to what it actually has to say? 00:38:13.940 --> 00:38:15.900 Some other people will dispute the canon. 00:38:16.420 --> 00:38:20.000 Does anyone know when the actual Bible was kind of confirmed and established as the Bible? 00:38:20.380 --> 00:38:21.119 Any brave souls? 00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:26.579 Near, close. 00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:35.460 So the Council of Nicaea in 350 AD is when basically they were like, okay, we're getting so many manuscripts and so many different documents being shared around. 00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:39.779 We need to kind of keep things basically quality control. 00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:41.960 And so a group of people who sat down. 00:38:42.179 --> 00:38:48.880 And actually, if you look at the Bible, especially the New Testament, they are all basically either written or closely connected to the apostles. 00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:57.640 Those who were outside now, during around that time when I was reading Why Trust the Bible, there was also a film that came out called The Da Vinci Code. 00:38:59.140 --> 00:39:01.180 And that took me on a rabbit hole. 00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:02.579 Oh, this is so fun. 00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:03.640 Dan Brown. 00:39:04.200 --> 00:39:05.380 And then the movie came out. 00:39:06.240 --> 00:39:09.900 And he talked about all the Gnostic Gospels, the other documents that came out. 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:11.480 Why were they discarded? 00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:14.300 Well, the truth is, those were all written much later. 00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:20.220 As I said, the Gospels were all written by 90 AD, connected to the apostles. 00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:23.519 There were some that came in the second century, the third century. 00:39:24.180 --> 00:39:26.320 Maybe the most famous one is the one by Thomas. 00:39:27.400 --> 00:39:28.400 And so these were written. 00:39:28.500 --> 00:39:34.039 And actually, the problem with those ones is that actually they basically taught very different theology. 00:39:35.060 --> 00:39:40.300 See, another question that people have when it comes to the historicity of the Bible is, hey, what about some of the mistakes? 00:39:40.580 --> 00:39:43.000 I mean, what about some of the small things that happened between the Gospels? 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:44.480 They say different things at different times. 00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:46.820 Well, let's put it this way. 00:39:47.780 --> 00:39:53.440 If we all sat together in this room and we had an afternoon together, we do different things. 00:39:53.539 --> 00:39:56.139 Maybe we do baking over here and we just suddenly do Muay Thai over there. 00:39:57.340 --> 00:39:58.559 And then we all leave. 00:39:59.300 --> 00:40:00.719 And then we all wait for a week. 00:40:01.400 --> 00:40:03.239 And then we all write down what happened today. 00:40:04.260 --> 00:40:05.300 Do you think it would be the same? 00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:07.260 Absolutely not. 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:09.000 There would probably be differences. 00:40:09.400 --> 00:40:12.119 But none of those differences are down to core doctrine. 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:14.519 Those differences were just simply smaller things. 00:40:14.599 --> 00:40:16.339 Some of them were just simply translations. 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:24.579 In fact, you would be more worried if all of us, maybe, and actually some of the Bible was maybe 10 years, 20 years after it actually happened. 00:40:24.779 --> 00:40:29.519 If all of us sat down together and say, hey, let's write the story back out again and let's make stuff up. 00:40:29.699 --> 00:40:31.619 You would have kept it all together and tight. 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:41.079 So it's actually more realistic that as people left, they wrote down what they remembered and that there are some of the small minor discrepancies that came out. 00:40:41.319 --> 00:40:46.880 I find that easier to believe than a watertight account of someone basically making it up. 00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:52.280 The historical evidence of the Bible is hard to ignore. 00:40:52.700 --> 00:40:57.320 Thousands of years of textual criticism lead us to this book. 00:40:57.320 --> 00:41:11.280 And you're telling me you will trust an IG reel that you saw about someone saying something about an earthquake in Japan on July 5th. 00:41:12.280 --> 00:41:16.700 And that came from a manga that was written in 1999. 00:41:16.920 --> 00:41:21.340 You're telling me you would choose to believe that than this. 00:41:21.340 --> 00:41:25.960 Can you see how fickle we've become? 00:41:26.820 --> 00:41:27.700 Oh, I read online. 00:41:27.700 --> 00:41:35.559 This has been passed down for thousands of years. 00:41:36.440 --> 00:41:37.680 And it is still here. 00:41:38.240 --> 00:41:39.840 People have given up their lives for it. 00:41:39.900 --> 00:41:42.260 People have committed their lives to trying to dispute it. 00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:44.220 And yet it still remains. 00:41:45.260 --> 00:41:46.820 Why don't we take it seriously? 00:41:48.400 --> 00:41:49.620 So is it real? 00:41:49.619 --> 00:41:52.400 Well, I'm very happy with saying that it's real. 00:41:53.380 --> 00:41:54.139 Was it changed? 00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:58.440 Now, again, the gospel was written with eyewitnesses all around. 00:41:59.779 --> 00:42:10.639 The process of basically translating and passing those, transmitting those scribes on, those manuscripts on, those 25,000, was such a stringent process, a strict process. 00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:14.380 It is real. 00:42:15.279 --> 00:42:16.420 It wasn't changed. 00:42:17.539 --> 00:42:18.440 And how do I know that? 00:42:18.440 --> 00:42:27.240 Because through the accounts of the gospels, through the accounts of the Bible, we see people's lives being changed as well. 00:42:27.440 --> 00:42:39.059 If this was all a hoax, you would not see a coward who was terrified of a teenage girl asking him whether he knew Jesus to being someone who stood in front of a whole council. 00:42:40.320 --> 00:42:44.780 And Peter, you saw lives completely transformed. 00:42:44.780 --> 00:42:48.080 That itself. 00:42:48.080 --> 00:42:56.360 Paul, famous for being someone who's trying to persecute the church, to basically shut the whole operation down. 00:42:56.580 --> 00:42:59.240 Yet somehow turns and completely transforms. 00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:03.280 These people saw something and they were willing to give up their lives for it. 00:43:03.280 --> 00:43:17.140 I was talking to a friend one time who told me that his, I think it was his great, great, great grandmother, lost her life and was martyred in China because she was trying to take Bibles into the country. 00:43:17.139 --> 00:43:24.779 And then the next, within five minutes, our conversation went to, yeah, I'm really struggling with my devotionals. 00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:30.099 Just like the YouVersion app and sometimes it's not intuitive. 00:43:30.359 --> 00:43:31.199 It's just hard to use. 00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:34.980 And sometimes the devotions are unapplicable and very cheesy. 00:43:34.980 --> 00:43:44.820 And I'm like, with all due respect, my dear friend, you just told me there's someone in your family who gave up their life for this. 00:43:46.639 --> 00:43:51.260 How does it make you feel that actually that now you're just treating it like this? 00:43:51.760 --> 00:43:53.159 And I'm not saying that I'm perfect. 00:43:53.219 --> 00:43:54.199 I've just said that I'm not. 00:43:54.199 --> 00:43:56.899 But we should try. 00:43:58.359 --> 00:43:59.019 But we should try. 00:43:59.119 --> 00:44:02.059 Thomas Merton says this, the very desire to please God is what pleases God. 00:44:03.059 --> 00:44:09.359 If all you can do today is read five minutes, then just do five minutes. 00:44:10.519 --> 00:44:15.219 If all you can do today is 10, then just do 10. 00:44:15.759 --> 00:44:18.399 The gospel is one of grace as well as it is truth. 00:44:18.980 --> 00:44:19.899 That's all you need. 00:44:20.679 --> 00:44:23.339 But something we were talking about as a weekend with a couple of friends was, 00:44:23.340 --> 00:44:25.500 can we just live intentionally? 00:44:25.900 --> 00:44:27.480 Whatever intentionally looks like. 00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:32.500 Maybe there's some people here who actually need to take on the challenge of memorizing a whole book. 00:44:32.840 --> 00:44:34.079 Then the Lord be with you. 00:44:35.160 --> 00:44:38.019 Some of you just need to memorize one verse. 00:44:38.500 --> 00:44:39.920 Some of you just need to start reading. 00:44:40.840 --> 00:44:45.920 Do you realize how special, how powerful this book is? 00:44:46.420 --> 00:44:50.160 If you truly believe it, if you truly read it, you should follow it. 00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:52.100 Otherwise, there really isn't any point. 00:44:52.099 --> 00:44:53.360 But Paul talks about this. 00:44:53.440 --> 00:44:58.239 If you just read the Bible, and just also I can reference where they come from, where verses come from, 00:44:58.299 --> 00:44:59.279 then that is just knowledge. 00:44:59.500 --> 00:45:00.860 And knowledge is really useless. 00:45:01.059 --> 00:45:02.380 Knowledge just simply puffs up. 00:45:03.519 --> 00:45:07.880 But if you read it, and then you follow it, and then you apply it, 00:45:08.880 --> 00:45:10.599 then you can watch your life flourish. 00:45:11.900 --> 00:45:13.099 Doesn't mean you won't have hardship. 00:45:13.239 --> 00:45:14.279 Doesn't mean you won't have challenges. 00:45:14.280 --> 00:45:16.760 But you will know how to face those challenges. 00:45:17.460 --> 00:45:18.900 You will know how to live the life. 00:45:19.700 --> 00:45:23.540 So many of us are wandering through life, wondering, what did God make me for? 00:45:23.780 --> 00:45:25.040 How am I supposed to live? 00:45:25.100 --> 00:45:26.220 What am I supposed to do? 00:45:26.219 --> 00:45:32.319 And yet somehow we don't consult the manual, the instruction manual. 00:45:32.779 --> 00:45:36.059 We don't spend time in the instruction manual. 00:45:36.319 --> 00:45:39.339 You'll see that the Bible is real, and that it wasn't changed. 00:45:39.480 --> 00:45:42.419 It wasn't a human invention, but it was a divine introduction. 00:45:43.879 --> 00:45:47.899 A God who loved his people, introducing himself to his children. 00:45:47.900 --> 00:45:52.559 There is nothing more real, nothing more impactful than that. 00:45:54.240 --> 00:46:00.559 Would you please consider the significance of this book? 00:46:02.420 --> 00:46:07.220 And knowing full well that this isn't just a fairy tale that you're committing to. 00:46:08.440 --> 00:46:12.559 That there is historical evidence backing this book. 00:46:12.820 --> 00:46:15.800 There's a reason why it's still here today. 00:46:15.800 --> 00:46:19.600 And verse 13, 14, the passage that we just read. 00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:23.460 We can see what it's like when you don't read this book properly. 00:46:23.519 --> 00:46:24.460 Or when you don't read it. 00:46:24.500 --> 00:46:27.880 When you just live a life according to your own wisdom. 00:46:30.019 --> 00:46:31.460 How's that working out for the world? 00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:31.880 It's not. 00:46:33.260 --> 00:46:34.220 I encourage you. 00:46:34.340 --> 00:46:34.960 I exhort you. 00:46:35.700 --> 00:46:36.320 Follow this book. 00:46:36.500 --> 00:46:38.900 And if you want to look more into those things. 00:46:39.800 --> 00:46:42.080 If you've never done it before, I encourage you to do it. 00:46:42.440 --> 00:46:45.780 Because as you read and you look, oh my goodness, this is actually for real. 00:46:45.800 --> 00:46:48.940 It lifted my heart. 00:46:50.460 --> 00:46:58.100 It made me think, oh, I have something to talk about when people tell me the Da Vinci Code says that Jesus isn't real. 00:46:58.940 --> 00:47:01.800 I now have something to push back with. 00:47:01.800 --> 00:47:04.940 Again, not to just argue with people. 00:47:06.060 --> 00:47:08.620 Ultimately, ultimately it is the spirit of God that transforms. 00:47:08.820 --> 00:47:10.120 It is the spirit of God who convinces. 00:47:10.440 --> 00:47:12.000 It is the spirit of God who lets you read. 00:47:13.100 --> 00:47:14.480 Who allows you to understand. 00:47:16.740 --> 00:47:18.900 Allow it to penetrate into the very depths of your soul. 00:47:18.900 --> 00:47:22.039 And you will receive healing. 00:47:22.579 --> 00:47:23.660 You will receive restoration. 00:47:23.860 --> 00:47:25.039 You will receive direction. 00:47:25.880 --> 00:47:29.240 If you're sat here going, okay, well, I want to. 00:47:30.059 --> 00:47:31.800 The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. 00:47:33.480 --> 00:47:34.539 How do I even start? 00:47:35.039 --> 00:47:39.059 Let me give you a few personal things that I've tried that have worked. 00:47:39.059 --> 00:47:41.139 If you're sat here going, okay, I want to try. 00:47:41.460 --> 00:47:43.019 First thing is, find someone. 00:47:43.920 --> 00:47:46.239 I'm not sure the Bible was meant to be just read alone. 00:47:46.679 --> 00:47:47.900 For many, many years it wasn't. 00:47:48.480 --> 00:47:51.179 And yet somehow we've reduced it back to just being an individual thing. 00:47:51.279 --> 00:47:51.860 Find someone. 00:47:52.559 --> 00:47:53.980 I really want to read. 00:47:53.980 --> 00:47:56.119 But I'm lazy. 00:47:56.740 --> 00:47:57.619 Or I'm busy. 00:48:00.340 --> 00:48:01.440 Would you hold me accountable? 00:48:02.440 --> 00:48:05.000 Second is, the app is great. 00:48:05.280 --> 00:48:07.699 I know I talk a lot of trash about Bible apps. 00:48:07.900 --> 00:48:08.400 They are good. 00:48:08.480 --> 00:48:09.099 I do like them. 00:48:09.320 --> 00:48:11.760 But they do not replace a real book. 00:48:12.940 --> 00:48:13.599 Get a real book. 00:48:14.760 --> 00:48:15.960 And then put the phone away. 00:48:17.119 --> 00:48:22.840 We live in a society now that is just so inundated with just notifications and things popping up. 00:48:22.840 --> 00:48:25.820 Just watch, just unplug and watch yourself enjoy it more. 00:48:26.600 --> 00:48:32.059 And when you open the book, before you open the book, say, Holy Spirit, I need your help. 00:48:32.780 --> 00:48:34.019 This is hard to understand. 00:48:35.760 --> 00:48:36.559 I need your help. 00:48:38.039 --> 00:48:42.120 Another tip that comes to mind is, it really depends on the translation. 00:48:42.300 --> 00:48:47.480 Now, I'm using the ESV here, which is the English Standard Version, which I think is probably amongst the most common. 00:48:47.740 --> 00:48:49.000 But there are other ones to read. 00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:53.000 There are passages that I read, and I'm like, I don't understand what that just said. 00:48:54.800 --> 00:49:00.860 Then I go to my New Living Translation, and it helps me understand a little bit, a part of what it means. 00:49:01.539 --> 00:49:02.619 Find a different version. 00:49:03.139 --> 00:49:09.260 And another tip, if you are in the process of buying a Bible and you struggle with reading because it's hard to understand, 00:49:09.619 --> 00:49:12.119 buy one that has a commentary just beneath it. 00:49:12.119 --> 00:49:14.039 Because we've all been there. 00:49:14.359 --> 00:49:18.000 When we read something in Scripture, we don't really understand what it says, 00:49:18.079 --> 00:49:20.339 but we're too lazy to go and find out more information. 00:49:21.139 --> 00:49:24.619 And so we're just kind of like, oh, cool story. 00:49:24.779 --> 00:49:26.139 And they're just going to leave it. 00:49:26.579 --> 00:49:32.859 Find one that has a commentary that doesn't go into too deep, just enough to kind of go, oh, okay, now I understand what that was saying. 00:49:33.759 --> 00:49:35.579 There will still be parts that are hard to understand. 00:49:35.579 --> 00:49:38.400 But at least it will be a start. 00:49:40.079 --> 00:49:40.799 Find someone. 00:49:41.920 --> 00:49:42.519 Find a book. 00:49:43.739 --> 00:49:45.019 Highlight a book. 00:49:46.079 --> 00:49:47.480 Don't be afraid to scribble on the book. 00:49:47.519 --> 00:49:48.319 This helps me focus. 00:49:48.420 --> 00:49:49.059 Maybe it will help you. 00:49:50.079 --> 00:50:00.699 All these little things, I pray, will help you see that this is just the ultimate source and authority of life to help us navigate this world here. 00:50:02.500 --> 00:50:03.639 Jesus, we come to you. 00:50:05.579 --> 00:50:06.880 The word that became flesh. 00:50:09.519 --> 00:50:10.880 Filled with grace and truth. 00:50:19.679 --> 00:50:20.960 Will we repent? 00:50:21.980 --> 00:50:22.539 Forgive us. 00:50:23.039 --> 00:50:25.199 For far too long, we have chosen our own way. 00:50:25.719 --> 00:50:29.279 We've chosen to navigate life without looking at the instruction manual. 00:50:29.280 --> 00:50:38.120 Without looking at your very words spoken to us. 00:50:38.119 --> 00:50:55.339 Lord, we thank you that the Bible as a historical document is reliable, authentic. 00:50:55.340 --> 00:51:00.000 For we thank you that you also leave us room for faith. 00:51:04.260 --> 00:51:06.220 That we get to choose to believe. 00:51:06.620 --> 00:51:07.700 We get to choose to read. 00:51:07.800 --> 00:51:08.960 We get to choose to follow. 00:51:08.960 --> 00:51:15.360 Lord, here we are declaring. 00:51:16.300 --> 00:51:16.960 Lord, we believe. 00:51:17.079 --> 00:51:17.780 Help our own belief. 00:51:21.159 --> 00:51:22.000 We want to read. 00:51:22.079 --> 00:51:22.800 Help us to read. 00:51:23.539 --> 00:51:24.380 We want to understand. 00:51:24.519 --> 00:51:25.380 Help us to understand. 00:51:25.380 --> 00:51:41.079 You've warned us that those who try to build their lives on sand, as soon as the storms come, our lives will fall apart. 00:51:41.079 --> 00:51:44.139 But if we build our lives on your word. 00:51:46.480 --> 00:51:50.079 Your word that is steadfast and remains forever. 00:51:50.940 --> 00:51:51.880 We will flourish. 00:51:52.360 --> 00:51:56.599 We will know how to navigate the challenges of life. 00:51:56.659 --> 00:51:59.340 We will know how to live for you. 00:51:59.340 --> 00:52:06.500 So we finish now with just the prayer of the psalmist. 00:52:07.579 --> 00:52:09.019 Lord, our souls, they yearn for you. 00:52:09.079 --> 00:52:12.059 They want to yearn for you as the deer pants for water. 00:52:13.059 --> 00:52:14.980 Our souls, we want you. 00:52:24.100 --> 00:52:25.480 Holy Spirit, would you be our guide? 00:52:28.360 --> 00:52:28.980 Thank you, Lord. 00:52:29.340 --> 00:52:30.340 Thank you. 00:52:37.420 --> 00:52:53.640 So Jesus, we know that as we look at the Bible, as a historical document, as the word of God, you don't really leave us with much choice. 00:52:56.440 --> 00:52:58.420 We either take you seriously or we don't. 00:52:59.500 --> 00:52:59.500 00:52:59.500 --> 00:52:59.500 00:52:59.500 --> 00:52:59.500 00:52:59.500 --> 00:52:59.500 00:52:59.500 --> 00:52:59.500 00:52:59.500 --> 00:52:59.500 00:52:59.500 --> 00:53:03.079 you either are real or you are not. 00:53:08.420 --> 00:53:11.539 You are either a liar, a lunatic, 00:53:12.019 --> 00:53:13.820 or you truly are Lord. 00:53:15.519 --> 00:53:16.980 There is no halfway house. 00:53:17.179 --> 00:53:20.099 There is no lukewarm following. 00:53:20.099 --> 00:53:23.500 There is no dabbling into your word. 00:53:23.960 --> 00:53:27.059 Whenever we are sad, 00:53:27.059 --> 00:53:34.659 Lord, we commit to basing our whole lives on you. 00:53:38.980 --> 00:53:40.639 You know our flesh is weak. 00:53:43.759 --> 00:53:45.940 So would your spirit strengthen us. 00:53:46.860 --> 00:53:48.539 You know that we cannot do it alone. 00:53:49.539 --> 00:53:52.920 So would this community draw us to you. 00:53:57.559 --> 00:53:59.000 And we start just as we ended. 00:53:59.119 --> 00:54:02.599 Lord, would you be the one thing we desire, 00:54:02.779 --> 00:54:03.940 one thing we seek after, 00:54:04.199 --> 00:54:05.420 to gaze upon your beauty, 00:54:05.619 --> 00:54:06.880 to inquire in your temple 00:54:06.880 --> 00:54:08.940 all the days of our lives. 00:54:10.940 --> 00:54:11.860 We thank you, Lord. 00:54:16.179 --> 00:54:17.279 In your name we pray. 00:54:17.279 --> 00:54:18.759 Amen.