So, if you would like a pen, somebody's passing them around, and the sheets, sorry, could
you pass those?
If anybody would like to take notes, there's other sheets there being passed around as
well.
And we have two readings this morning.
The first one is from Isaiah, chapter 52, and the second reading will be from Romans.
We're going through a series at the minute from Romans, chapter 9 to 11.
So, if you want to take notes, there's a sheet.
You can either use the back of the news program or the notes that are being passed around.
And Chris and Joy are going to come and read for us this morning.
So, whenever you're right, thank you.
The first reading is from Isaiah, chapter 52, starting at verse 4, and that's on page 739
of the Red Church Bible.
That's Isaiah 52, beginning at verse 4.
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says.
At first, my people went down to Egypt to live.
Lately, Assyria has oppressed them.
And now what do I have here, declares the Lord?
For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock, declares the Lord.
And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.
Therefore, my people will know my name.
Therefore, in that day, they will know that it is I who foretold it.
Yes, it is I.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,
Your God reigns.
Listen, your watchmen lift up their voices.
Together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem.
For the Lord has comforted his people.
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations.
And all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
The second reading is from Romans,
chapter 10,
verse 13.
It's page 1137.
Romans 10, 13.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
How then can they call on the one they have not believed in?
And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
And how can they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
how beautiful on the feet of those who bring good news.
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.
For Isaiah says,
Lord, who has believed our message?
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message.
And the message is heard through the word of Christ.
But I ask,
did they not hear?
Of course they did.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Their words to the ends of the world.
Again I ask,
did Israel not understand?
First Moses says,
I will make you envious by those who are not a nation.
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.
And Isaiah boldly says,
I was found by those who did not seek me.
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.
But concerning Israel,
he says,
all day long,
I've held up my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.
Thanks, Chris.
And thank you, Joy.
Please keep your Bibles open
at that section
in Romans chapter 10,
looking at verses 13 to 21.
If you've missed any of the talks,
you can hear them online.
And also,
if you look in our new sheet,
there are resources
that you can look up
under gotherefore.com
related to the talks as well.
I spoke to somebody this morning
who told me
they've just read the little black book
on predestination
and they said it was excellent.
So,
if you want to know who that is,
it was Stephen
and you can go and find out
why he thought it was good.
So,
yeah.
And I didn't even pay him to say that,
by the way.
Let's pray
and ask for God's help.
Father,
thank you that you
have
spoken
your good news
to us
through your son,
the Lord Jesus.
And we thank you
that it has been recorded for us
and written down for us
in your word.
We pray that we would
better understand
what that message is,
but also
our response
to it
and our calling
to make that message
known
in every nation
and to every people.
We pray that what we think
and look through
this morning
would impact us
in such a way
that lives
and people
will be changed.
and that people
will come to know you
as a result.
So,
please help us
this morning,
we pray.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well,
as a kid in primary school,
I remember being
terribly upset
and disappointed
because I didn't get
invited
to a birthday party.
Out of all my friends,
it seemed I was the only one
who didn't get to go.
Maybe they weren't
my friends after all.
My kids don't think
I've got any friends
anyways,
but I do.
But the point is this,
being excluded
can be a terrible
experience
because we all
want to be
invited
to the party.
Well,
the good news is
we have all
been given
the ultimate
invitation
and no one
is
excluded.
Look at verse 12
of Romans 10.
For there is
no difference
between Jew
and Gentile.
He says,
it doesn't matter
what your background is,
whether you are
a religious person
or an irreligious person,
whether you go to church
or you don't go to church.
The same Lord
is Lord of all
and he richly
blesses
all
who call on him
for everyone
who calls on the name
of the Lord
will be saved.
God in his grace
has written
an open invitation
to all people
to receive his salvation.
There's no discrimination
based on gender,
race,
or religion.
God has no favorites.
He generously invites
all people
everywhere
in every nation
to know
and to come
and experience
his gift
of salvation.
And salvation
is something
that we all
desire.
Whoever we are,
we all long
to be saved
from things like
disease
and death,
sickness
and suffering.
suffering.
We long
to be rescued
from oppression
and injustice.
We want a world
where there's no more
war or violence.
But as the Bible
makes clear
and indeed
the book of Romans
makes very clear,
these are the results
and the consequences
of our rebellion
and our disobedience
against God.
This is where
the source
of the problem lies.
The cause
of all the mess
in our world
and in our lives,
the Bible tells us,
is sin.
It's summarised
for us very well
if you just want
to have a quick look
back to Romans
chapter 6
verse 23.
Romans 6
verse 23.
It's just a short
summary
where it says this,
For the wages
of sin
is death.
Romans 6
verse 23.
For the wages
of sin
is death,
death,
but the gift
of God
is eternal
life
in Christ
Jesus
our Lord.
So the salvation
that God
has come to give,
the salvation
that he comes
to offer,
deals
with the root
of the problem.
He doesn't just
deal with surface
issues,
he gets right down
into the nitty-gritty
of our own hearts
to deal with the sin
that is there
and instead
to offer
new and eternal
life through
Jesus.
Now that is
good news,
that is great
news,
but,
go back to
chapter 10
verse 14.
It is good
news that
there is this
offer of salvation,
but,
verse 14,
how then
can they call
on the one
they have not
believed in?
In other words,
how are your
friends and
your family
ever going to
know about
this gift of
salvation?
What about
those who live
in other nations
and in other
parts of the
world?
How are they
ever going to
hear about
this invitation
of new
and eternal
life?
Well,
first,
everyone
must hear
the gospel.
everyone
must hear
the gospel
and there's
three reasons
why.
Reason number
one,
to believe
I must
hear.
Let's read
verse 14
again.
How then
can they
call on
the one
they have
not
believed
in?
And how
can they
believe
in the
one of
whom
they have
never
heard?
You see,
the only
right response
to this
invitation
is
belief
or
faith
in
Jesus
Christ.
look back
at verse
11.
As the
scripture
says,
anyone
who
trusts
in him,
anyone
who
trusts
in
Jesus
will
never
be
put
to
shame.
The
same
theme
is
repeated
in
verse
13.
Everyone
who
calls
on the
name
of
the
Lord,
everyone
who
cries
out
in
faith
will
be
saved.
But
the
question
being
asked
in
verse
14
is,
how
can
people
call
out
in
faith
to
Jesus?
How
can
people
cry
out
to
God
if
they've
never
even
heard
of
Jesus?
It's
like
you or
I
getting
an
invite
to
a
party
and
at
the
bottom
of
it
you
get
the
usual
RSVP
except
for
there's
got
no
name
and
there's
got
no
contact
of
whom
you
must
respond
to.
The
invitation
is
useless
unless you
know
who
you have
to respond
to.
You've
got to
know
who it's
from
and who
you are
responding
to.
You see,
faith in
Jesus is
the only
way we
can come
to experience
his gift
of salvation.
So people
must hear
about who
Jesus is
and what
he has
done.
so to
believe
I must
hear.
Second,
to hear
someone
must
preach.
Look at
the last
part of
verse 14.
And how
can they
hear
without
somebody
preaching
to them?
How is
anybody
going to
know
unless
somebody
actually
tells
them?
You may
have heard
of this
phrase
before.
Preach
the gospel
at all
times
and if
necessary
use
words.
Now I
know what
people are
trying to
say when
they say
that.
Preach
the gospel
at all
times and
if
necessary
use
words.
Well I
think it's
a little
bit unhelpful
because it
suggests that
you can
tell the
story of
Jesus
without
speaking,
without
words.
It's the
same as
saying feed
the hungry
and if
necessary
use food.
Well of
course you
need to
use food
to feed
the hungry
and of
course you
need to
use words
to be
able to
tell the
gospel story.
People aren't
going to
know the
story simply
by just
looking at
your life.
It needs
to be
communicated
through words,
through a
message,
just as we're
speaking and
talking now.
The gospel
is a word,
it is a
message.
God spoke
to us
clearly.
It's a
word about
forgiveness
and hope,
of transformation,
of change,
of new and
eternal life
in him.
And those
who've
heard that
message must
tell that
same story
of salvation
to those
who haven't
yet heard
that message.
So to
hear,
someone
must tell
them.
And reason
number three,
to preach,
people must
be sent.
Look at
verse 15.
And how
can they
preach unless
they are
sent?
You see,
that tells
us something
about us.
We're people
who love
our comforts.
I love
my comforts.
And I'm
never going
to go
anywhere or
do anything
that's going
to cause
me trouble
unless I
was actually
sent.
This
morning I
read in an
email of
two people
who've just
been recently
arrested in
North Korea.
A man
aged 75
from Australia
has been
arrested because
he was bringing
the good news
of Jesus
to people
in that
country.
Now you
would never
do that
knowing what
that country
is like
unless you've
been sent.
And the
point is
we have
been sent.
The risen
Christ who
died and
who rose
again has
sent his
people into
every community
and into
every nation
with the
good news.
And if we
weren't sent
we wouldn't
go but he
has sent
us.
Indeed
that's a
big part of
what the
letter of
Romans is
about.
If you go
back to
chapter 1
verse 1.
Chapter 1
verse 1.
Here we've
got two
bookends.
The very
first verse
and the
very last
verse.
So read
this.
Chapter 1
verse 1.
Paul, a
servant of
Christ Jesus
called to
be an
apostle and
set apart
for the
gospel of
God.
That's his
very beginning,
his introduction.
I've been
set apart
for the
gospel.
I've been
sent with
the gospel.
To do
what?
Well go to
the very
end of the
book, to
the very
last two
verses.
chapter 16
verse 26.
He's been
set apart
for the
gospel and
here's the
reason.
Look at the
end of
verse 26.
So that
all nations,
all people,
might believe
and obey
him.
Might believe
and obey
Jesus.
To the
only wise
God be
glory forever
through Jesus
Christ.
Amen.
This is the
whole purpose.
It's a great
big theme
of this
letter.
It's a call
for the
local church,
people like
you and me,
to be on a
global mission.
We are meant
to see that
the story of
salvation has
to be made
known in
every nation.
That is God's
desire.
Do you
remember the
vision,
the picture
we read
this morning
at the
very beginning
in Revelation?
People from
every tribe,
tongue and
nation gathered
together.
That's the
end of the
story and
that's how
we're going
to get
there.
By
proclaiming
the good
news to
every nation,
to every
people,
in every
language.
Now to
do this
is a
most
beautiful
thing.
If you
want to
do a
beautiful
thing,
then look
at verse
15 of
Romans
chapter 10.
How then
can they
preach unless
they are
sent?
As it
is written,
how beautiful
are the
feet of
those who
bring good
news.
It's a
beautiful thing
to do.
That comes
from a
quote in
Isaiah
chapter 52.
Let's
turn to
that.
It's on
page 739
of your
Bible.
Page
739,
Isaiah
52.
Whenever you
get a
quote like
that in
the New
Testament,
it's
wanting us
to go
back and
see what's
being said.
We can
read the
whole
context.
Chris
read to
us from
it earlier.
We pick
it up in
chapter 52
verse 7.
The image
here is of
a messenger.
and he's
running to
a city
to tell
them,
a city
that's been
held in
captivity
and in
slavery,
that he's
got some
good news,
that a
battle has
taken place
and a
victory has
come and
the enemy
has been
defeated and
the people
are now
free.
So read
Isaiah
52 verse
7.
How beautiful
on the
mountains are
the feet of
those who
bring good
news.
Here's the
messenger running
towards the
city.
He's come
to proclaim
peace,
who brings
good tidings,
who proclaims
salvation,
who says
to Zion,
your God
reigns,
he's won
the victory,
he's won
the battle,
he rules.
Verse 9.
Burst into
songs of
joy together,
you ruins
of Jerusalem,
for the
Lord has
comforted
his people,
he has
redeemed
Jerusalem.
And the
salvation
that he
has won,
look at
verse 10,
is not
just for
one people,
the Lord
will lay
bare his
holy arm
in the
sight of
all the
nations,
and all
the ends
of the
earth will
see the
salvation
of our
God.
Go back
to Romans
10.
You see,
it is a
beautiful thing
to tell the
story of
Jesus,
to bring the
good news
of a victory,
that is
essentially
what we are
saying,
that Jesus
through his
death on
the cross
has come
to deal
with sin
and the
consequences
of sin.
He has
defeated
our greatest
enemy,
death itself,
by rising
again from
the grave,
and in
its place
he offers
eternal life
in his
kingdom
forever,
where there is
no more
war,
no more
suffering,
no more
evil,
no more
death.
That is
the most
beautiful
thing you
could do
for anyone,
is to
share this
story with
other people.
And as a
church,
we seek to
be beautiful
feet.
That's why
we're supporting
the Kinsale
Church Planting
Project.
People going,
people going to
live,
people bringing
the good
news of
Jesus to
those who
don't know.
That's why
we're going to
partner with
a small
church in
Kosovo this
summer,
partnering with
other Christians
who are seeking
to tell the
story of
Jesus with
those who
have not yet
heard.
That's why
as a church
we're looking
to appoint
and train
up others
who will go
and teach
the good
news in
other parts
of this
community
and country.
that's why
we have
polo,
that's why
we have
the rock,
all different
means to
let people
know that
everyone who
calls on the
name of the
Lord will
be saved.
That's why
we exist,
that's why
the church
is here.
And it
happens not
just in
organized ways,
but it
happens as
you go to
college and
you meet
with your
fellow students
and you're
chatting with
them.
It happens
when you're
in work and
you're meeting
with your
colleagues over
lunch.
It happens
if you're
parents with
your children
as you pray
with them
and as you
read with
them and
as you
talk to
them.
It takes
place when
you go out
with your
friends
socializing.
It's the
most beautiful
thing to
do, to
tell the
simple story
of Jesus.
That's why
we exist.
That's why
we're here.
This is where
the story is
all heading
towards.
everyone
must hear
the gospel,
but not
all who
hear the
gospel will
believe.
Look at
verse 16
of Romans
10.
But not
all the
Israelites
accepted the
good news.
for Isaiah
says,
Lord, who
has believed
our message?
That little
quote there
comes straight
after the
announcement of
the victory
we just read
about in
Isaiah.
The good
news of
liberation and
redemption has
been told,
but you know
what?
They didn't
want to hear
it.
They didn't
want to
accept it.
They were
basically saying
we don't
want a
saving king.
We'll be
our own
king and
live our
own way and
do our
own thing.
We can
do life on
our own,
thanks very
much.
And in
the same
way,
many who
hear about
Jesus,
they just
simply don't
want him.
We don't
need him.
You don't
really believe
in him.
I can
live without
him.
Verse 17
Consequently,
faith comes
from hearing
the message
and the
message is
heard through
the word of
Christ.
But I
ask,
did they
not hear?
Is the
reason why
people don't
believe because
they never
heard?
Well,
look at the
rest of
verse 18.
Of course
they did.
Of course
they heard.
Their voice
has gone
out into
all the
earth.
Their words
to the
ends of
the world.
They did
hear the
message,
but they
simply didn't
believe it.
And the
sad reality
is there
are those
that you
know and
who I
know who
have heard
the story
many,
many times.
But they
still push
Jesus away.
Maybe you
have a
friend and
you've
gently
explained the
gospel.
Graciously,
you've
talked to
them,
but yet
they remain
hard and
cynical.
Maybe
there's
somebody close
within your
family and
you've prayed
with them for
many years,
but as yet
there doesn't
seem to be
any response.
And the
experience of
life is
so often
that those
who hear
it seem
to reject
it the
most.
So what
are we to
do?
I don't
kind of
quite get
it because
we're telling
us on one
side everybody
must hear
the message,
but now you're
saying that
those who do
hear it don't
want to
believe it.
So what's
the point?
It all
seems a
waste of
time.
Why don't
we all
just go
home?
What's the
reason for
all of
this?
Well, we
must remember
that we
have a
gracious
and a
patient
God who
does not
give up
on his
people.
We must
patiently
keep
telling
the
gospel.
Because if
we do,
if we
keep telling
the gospel,
or as it
is in
chapter 10
verse 1,
he says,
my heart
desire my
prayer.
The reason
we can
keep on
praying and
keep telling
the story
of Jesus is
these three
things.
First,
God provokes
some to
jealousy.
Well,
what's that
about?
Well,
look at
verse 19.
Again,
I ask,
did Israel
not understand?
First,
Moses says,
I will
make you
envious
by those
who are
not a
nation.
I will
make you
angry
by a
nation
that has
no
understanding.
What he's
saying here
is this,
that those
who hear
the good
news,
but refuse
to believe
the good
news,
God's
going to
respond to
them by
taking it
from them
and giving
it to
somebody
else.
God is
going to
take the
good news,
as it
were,
from those
people and
give it to
another
people.
To make
them,
look at
verse 19,
I will
make you
envious,
or I will
make you
jealous.
The purpose
is that those
who have
rejected the
good news
will look
and see
the transformation
that the
gospel has
brought to
somebody else's
life and
they will
see what
the gospel
has done
in their
life,
how it's
changed them
and transformed
them and
they'll say,
I want that
back.
I now see
what it looks
like and what
it does and
I want it.
It's like
giving a gift
to one of
your little
children and
you take that
gift and you
want your little
child to enjoy
it.
You want
them to see
the pleasure
that it can
give them.
And you
bring it into
them and you
place it before
them but
instead of
them receiving
and going,
oh thank
you,
they throw a
hissy fit and
they throw it
across the
room.
And what
does the
parent do?
Well they
take that
gift and
they go to
the child
next door and
they present
it to the
child and
with a beaming
face that
little child
looks up and
receives it and
they open it
with full of
joy and they
delight in the
gift because
it's only then
that your child
will then see
its true value
and they'll say
I want that
back.
And that's
what God
will do.
For those who
have heard,
other people
will hear it and
they will see the
transformation and
say I want it
back.
That's the way
God works.
God saves in
surprising ways.
Verse 20
And Isaiah
boldly says
I was found
by those who
did not
seek me.
I was found
by those who
did not
seek me.
I revealed
myself to
those who
did not
ask for me.
God in
his grace
will save
those who
we never
ever thought
possible.
The most
surprising of
ways,
people who
never went
to church,
people who
never had
the privilege
of a Christian
family,
people who
just showed
no interest
whatsoever,
will hear
and they
will believe.
And you
might have
that friend
or there
may be
somebody
within your
family and
you're just
thinking right
now,
it's impossible
for them
to become a
follower of
Jesus.
It's
impossible for
them to
believe.
They've
always resisted
it.
They've
always rejected
it.
But with
God it's
never impossible
because I,
he says,
reveal myself
to those
who did
not ask
for me.
People who
never searched
or even
asked.
God can do
amazing things.
So be
encouraged that
God's grace
is not
restricted.
He can
soften the
most hardened
atheist.
He can
reach the
most distant
people group.
He can
change the
heart of
the most
brutal
dictator and
he can
touch your
closest loved
ones.
God saves
in the most
surprising of
ways.
And last,
God will be
graciously
patient.
Look at
verse 21.
Concerning
Israel,
he says,
all day
long I
have held
out my
hands.
All day
long I've
held out
my hands
to a
disobedient
and obstinate
people.
You see,
you and I
might want
to give up
on people.
Perhaps we
have.
We might
think that
all our
prayers are
useless,
that talking
is a waste
of time,
the energy,
the investment,
the love we
give,
and there
doesn't seem
to be a
response,
and we
just want
to give
up,
but not
with God.
Look what
it says in
verse 21.
All day
long I
have held
out my
hands to
a disobedient
and obstinate
people.
People may
refuse me,
he says,
but I
will never
give up
on them.
I will
forever hold
out my
hands,
reaching out
to them,
longing that
they will
take my
hands.
And God
has been so
graciously
patient with
you and
me,
and that
is why we
must be
patiently
telling the
good news
to other
people.
This is
the story.
This is
where it's
all heading.
One day
people from
every tribe
and language
and nation
will be
gathered
together in
the new
heavens and
the new
earth where
there will
be no
more suffering
and no
more pain.
And we
are called
today as
a church
and as a
people to
be on
board that
mission.
And it
requires us
to invest
our lives,
our resources,
our finances,
all that we
have into
this mission
of God.
We want to
finish this
morning by
showing a
video.
Rob, if you
wouldn't mind
just flicking
it on there
for us.
And just
watch and
read the
text as it
comes up.
It's called
Beautiful Feet.
And let
through these
images and
through these
words remind
ourselves again
of the
calling that
we have.
Thanks, Rob.
Thank you.