WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.419 Would you open up Acts chapter 17 on page 926 in the Bible so you can see what we're going 00:00:06.419 --> 00:00:12.759 ! to be learning from this morning. And if you're a child, I hope you've got a sheet. If you haven't 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:18.640 ! got a sheet, then somebody can bring you one if you put your hand up. Has every child got 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:22.920 a sheet? And there are two parts to the sheet. There's the under eights and then there's the 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:28.719 nine and above bit. So do follow along on that and hopefully it will make sense by itself. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:44.219 It's Sunday today, but on Sunday March the 30th, 1851, around 40% of the population of 00:00:44.219 --> 00:00:59.539 England was in church. 40%. By the year 2005, that figure had fallen to 6.3%. And if you 00:00:59.539 --> 00:01:05.920 go out onto the streets and ask them today, are you religious? Then more than half of 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:13.060 the population of this country will tell you that they are not. Just looking at the statistics, 00:01:13.379 --> 00:01:20.680 you can see that the church has declined significantly in its size and its impact in British society. 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:26.539 And we feel that and we see it in different ways, don't we? We see it, for example, in 00:01:26.540 --> 00:01:31.880 the legislation that's passed by the government, which is increasingly legislation passed in 00:01:31.880 --> 00:01:39.180 denial of the teaching of scripture. We see it in the advocacy of the new atheists who 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:44.219 are campaigning against religion. We see it in attempts to get street preachers off the streets 00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:52.719 in complaints about having the Christian message taught, even in a very mild way, in primary schools 00:01:52.719 --> 00:02:04.519 and that kind of thing. Britain has changed since 1851 quite dramatically. We are nowhere near the state 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:11.039 of a country like Pakistan and Christians in this country still enjoy remarkable liberties and freedom 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:16.060 and peacefulness. So we shouldn't kid ourselves into thinking that our situation is anything like 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:21.699 the situation of Christians in difficult countries like that, or in Syria, for example, and many other 00:02:21.699 --> 00:02:28.000 places that we could name. But nonetheless, and I suspect this is particularly true of an older 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:36.179 generation, we can feel that the world has changed around us quite dramatically and in unsettling ways. 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:42.039 I suspect, I wasn't alive in the 1950s as you can tell, but I suspect if you were, you felt 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:49.280 reasonably comfortable as a Christian in what was in some senses a Christian country, in that it had 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:55.539 some kind of adherence still then, at least to Christian morality, if not to the claims of the Christian 00:02:55.539 --> 00:03:04.479 gospel. So if you knew that age, now feels very, very different indeed. And all the changes that have 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:09.939 taken place in our country raise all sorts of difficult questions for the church, don't they? 00:03:09.939 --> 00:03:19.439 How should the church respond to a changed nation? And how should the church reach a changed nation with the gospel? 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:27.319 So from outside, we have questions pressing upon us, we have pressure upon us. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:32.159 But we also have internal challenges in the life of any church, don't we? 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:36.379 And I don't know, I've obviously preached here before and I did your church weekend, but I don't know 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:42.639 your church life very well, but I imagine there are all sorts of internal pressures in the life of your church as well. 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:49.259 For example, the evident growth in the church creates issues and challenges for a church. 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:55.199 The building project which you're attempting to embark on creates issues and challenges for the church. 00:03:55.539 --> 00:04:00.199 There will be things within the life of the church which raise questions for you. 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:09.359 So both given the external pressures of our culture and the inevitable internal challenges in the life of a church, 00:04:09.679 --> 00:04:14.699 you may well find yourself sometimes wondering, what sort of church should we be? 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:19.500 And that's the question I want to think about with you this morning from Acts 17. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:24.300 What sort of church should IPC Ealing be? 00:04:24.659 --> 00:04:26.399 And what should its priorities be? 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:33.399 Given all of the external pressures and challenges and the internal challenges developments as well. 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:36.819 What sort of church should you be? 00:04:38.339 --> 00:04:44.399 It seems to me that there are two common responses to the kinds of challenges that I've outlined. 00:04:44.539 --> 00:04:46.159 And you might characterize them like this. 00:04:46.219 --> 00:04:49.019 The first would be the circle the wagons approach. 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:55.579 That we are surrounded by an increasingly challenging and, to be honest, frightening culture. 00:04:55.579 --> 00:04:57.359 We wonder what the future holds. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:05.259 And the temptation really, you know what they did in the westerns, if they're riding along in the westerns and they see the enemy coming over the brow of the hill, what do they do? 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:09.759 They get the wagons going in a circle because it's a good defensive position. 00:05:10.099 --> 00:05:15.060 And you stay inside the circle of wagons to protect yourself. 00:05:15.539 --> 00:05:18.399 This is the sort of museum approach to church. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:25.899 That the answer to a changing, frightening culture is to freeze everything in the life of the church, perhaps in the 1950s. 00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:31.319 So that you never sing anything that was written before, who knows when, whatever your favourite date is. 00:05:31.739 --> 00:05:33.379 1940 perhaps. 00:05:33.859 --> 00:05:35.299 1900 perhaps. 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:38.519 It's the old for old sake approach. 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:44.839 It's what we might call, children, sheets, the antiquarian approach to the life of the church. 00:05:44.839 --> 00:05:45.519 Okay? 00:05:45.919 --> 00:05:46.919 Preserve it. 00:05:47.379 --> 00:05:48.599 Pickle it, if you like. 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:50.599 Just keep it all the same. 00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:57.439 And there are plenty of churches that have taken that approach to a scary, changing world. 00:05:57.879 --> 00:05:58.939 Freeze everything. 00:05:59.459 --> 00:06:00.279 Touch nothing. 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:01.399 Change nothing. 00:06:02.799 --> 00:06:03.739 That would be one approach. 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:09.979 But the second approach, actually precisely the opposite, would be the change everything approach. 00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:16.379 And here, there are many churches that would want to change, first of all, even the message of the church. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:22.000 Bishop Spong was a famous Episcopal bishop in America. 00:06:22.400 --> 00:06:24.240 The Anglican church in America. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:30.080 And he wrote a book, the argument of which was that Christianity must change or die. 00:06:30.520 --> 00:06:36.140 That if you keep on teaching the same message, the church will shrivel up and die. 00:06:36.139 --> 00:06:47.439 You must embrace instead a kind of vague, general spirituality, which will be amenable to the people of a changing world around you, that they too can embrace. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:49.519 There are other forms of this, aren't there? 00:06:49.699 --> 00:06:54.060 I think some of the preaching you see, if you watch it on satellite TV, is that what you see? 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:55.199 Is it still called satellite TV? 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:55.659 Is it satellite? 00:06:55.779 --> 00:06:56.300 Is that the right word? 00:06:56.759 --> 00:06:58.439 It feels slightly old-fashioned as I say it. 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:01.360 But anyway, whatever that thing is now, with all those channels. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:06.660 That kind of preaching you see there, churches, stadiums full of thousands of people. 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:09.100 Has anyone ever seen Joel Osteen on TV? 00:07:09.699 --> 00:07:12.580 Joel Osteen, who's into the I am sayings. 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:14.340 You know the I am sayings? 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:17.740 Not the I am sayings of John's Gospel. 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:19.780 I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:20.980 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:24.100 But rather the I am sayings of self-affirmation. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:26.759 So he gets them all standing up, and I'm not going to do it, don't worry. 00:07:26.840 --> 00:07:29.259 But he gets them all standing up, thousands of people chanting, 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:30.779 I am intelligent. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:32.439 I am beautiful. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:33.860 I am strong. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:35.139 I am successful. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:36.199 I am confident. 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:41.860 Change the message to one of vague spirituality with Bishop Spong. 00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:45.659 To one of self-affirmation with Joel Osteen. 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:49.899 Change the preaching to be full of stories and comedy. 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:53.719 There are even preachers who study comedians to work out how they should preach. 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:57.039 Change the method as well. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:04.379 And here, in the change everything thing, you don't sing anything from before 1990, probably. 00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:11.080 You only sing new things, and you change your church to resemble something more like a rock concert. 00:08:11.200 --> 00:08:15.640 Again, something that will make people feel at home, given where our culture is at. 00:08:15.700 --> 00:08:19.000 And you get the impression from this kind of approach that the church has only just been invented. 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:23.000 And that there were no Christians before 1990 writing songs. 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:25.879 So you change the message and the method. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:30.579 And this kind of church, you might call it the trendy church, as opposed to the antiquarian church, 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:36.179 ends up resembling a peculiar mix of therapy and a gig. 00:08:36.179 --> 00:08:37.240 Put the two together. 00:08:37.620 --> 00:08:41.080 And you get sort of self-help teaching plus rock music. 00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:43.659 And you end up with a kind of therapy gig church. 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:44.879 Trendy church. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:49.299 Now what sort of church should IPC Ealing be? 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:51.279 Should it become the antiquarian church? 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:53.539 Should it be the trendy church? 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:59.340 Well, let's look at what the Apostle Paul shows us in Acts 17. 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:04.019 Here we find Paul on his second missionary journey. 00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:05.320 His second missionary journey. 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:07.820 The year is 49 or 50 AD. 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:09.539 He is pioneering. 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:15.939 He is heading into Greece in response to that call from the Macedonian man that has come earlier in Acts. 00:09:16.179 --> 00:09:23.480 And all of this is very much the outworking of what the Lord Jesus said at the beginning of the book of Acts. 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:29.419 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 00:09:29.459 --> 00:09:33.980 And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria. 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:36.579 And to the end of the earth. 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:38.319 Acts 1 verse 8. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:40.680 To the end of the earth. 00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:43.460 And here we are at the end of the earth. 00:09:43.540 --> 00:09:49.100 With the gospel going out even to these Greeks in Macedonia. 00:09:50.460 --> 00:09:54.900 Thessalonica, where they are now, is an incredibly Roman place. 00:09:55.260 --> 00:09:58.440 It's really, really into being Roman. 00:09:58.540 --> 00:10:02.180 And that will become important as we look more closely at the passage. 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:06.760 It is, in other words, very hostile territory. 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:10.120 Sometimes we draw inspiration, don't we, as Christians. 00:10:10.179 --> 00:10:12.799 If you know some Christian history from the giants of the past. 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:16.399 Maybe you are into the giants of the Reformation in the 16th century. 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:19.960 The giants of the revivals of the 18th century. 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:24.220 But actually, their culture was not that like our culture. 00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:26.580 They were living in some kind of Christendom. 00:10:26.659 --> 00:10:32.379 Where there was a pretty much universal acceptance, at least in theory, of the truths of the Christian faith. 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:34.899 If not in practice in individuals' lives. 00:10:34.899 --> 00:10:39.360 Our situation is much more like this situation here in Acts 17, isn't it? 00:10:39.579 --> 00:10:44.419 Bringing the gospel into a culture which is really very largely ignorant of the gospel. 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:46.019 And hostile to the gospel. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:47.959 And worships other gods. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:50.439 That's what Thessalonica was like. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:52.860 And that's what our situation today is like. 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:56.740 So here we see Paul going into this new territory. 00:10:57.539 --> 00:10:58.960 Starting a church. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:02.879 And we can ask, well what's his message? 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:04.720 And what's his method? 00:11:05.680 --> 00:11:06.519 What does he teach? 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:08.240 And how does he do it? 00:11:08.560 --> 00:11:12.980 And we can learn from him some priorities for the church today. 00:11:13.660 --> 00:11:15.060 And it's pretty straightforward, really. 00:11:15.920 --> 00:11:17.540 The message, first of all. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.560 Have a look at verse 2. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:25.759 Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the scriptures. 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:31.000 So his message, quite simply, is the message of the Bible. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:32.959 But it's more specific than that. 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:35.119 Because as we read on, we get some more detail. 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:35.899 Verse 3. 00:11:37.239 --> 00:11:44.379 Explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead. 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:50.320 So within scripture there is a particular focus on the promised Messiah. 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:51.620 On the Christ. 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:58.139 Now that doesn't mean, of course, that Paul is only preaching what ends up being the Gospels. 00:11:58.679 --> 00:12:00.259 The stories of Jesus' life. 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:03.240 Because how much of the Bible focuses on the Messiah? 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:05.019 All of it does. 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:09.100 Back from Genesis 3.15 we have the promise of the serpent crusher. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:14.680 We have all of the types of Christ in the Old Testament and the kings and the priests and the prophets. 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:19.759 The whole of the Bible is pointing to the Christ, to the Messiah. 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:24.960 And specifically to his death and his resurrection. 00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:32.100 So Paul's message is the message of the Bible, which is the message of the Christ, the Messiah, 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:37.180 which is the message of the Messiah's death and resurrection. 00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:41.799 But even more specific than that, did you see there in verse 3? 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:49.899 Explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer. 00:12:50.839 --> 00:12:56.379 So Paul is preaching the Bible, the Christ of the Bible, the death and resurrection of the Christ of the Bible, 00:12:56.979 --> 00:13:03.459 and the necessity of the death of the Christ of the Bible. 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:05.699 That is his particular focus. 00:13:05.700 --> 00:13:08.640 He had to die. 00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:13.500 And there he echoes the teaching of the Lord Jesus himself in the Gospels, doesn't he, if you think? 00:13:14.020 --> 00:13:22.379 How Jesus several times taught his disciples that the Son of Man must be delivered up and suffer and die. 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:30.799 This then was not a message simply pickling a past generation. 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:42.980 It was not a message concerned with his hearers, actually, and their situation, and their story, and their needs for therapy. 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.980 It was a message concerned with the Bible. 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:48.240 It was a message concerned with the Bible and the Christ of the Bible. 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:49.659 Now don't get me wrong. 00:13:50.560 --> 00:13:57.560 The Christian message impacts our lives as individuals at our points of deepest need. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.200 That's absolutely clear. 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:02.100 Only the Christian message can do that. 00:14:02.800 --> 00:14:05.860 But our points of deepest need are often not what we think they are, 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:08.940 and people often misunderstand what their deepest need is. 00:14:09.580 --> 00:14:13.899 And the Christian message at the end of the day is not about you and me. 00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:17.779 You are not the centre of the universe. 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:21.279 And the Christian Gospel is not about you. 00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:23.019 It is for you. 00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:26.779 It is for your eternal salvation and your good and your blessing. 00:14:27.319 --> 00:14:33.179 But it is about the Christ and his death and his resurrection. 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:39.720 As soon as you hear a message in a church which is becoming all about you, 00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:44.720 you know it's going astray and there is something wrong with it. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:52.019 Because the message that the Apostle preached here and elsewhere was a message about the Christ. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:57.300 Not a message about you and me and our lives. 00:14:57.560 --> 00:15:01.019 Now as I say, preaching needs to be relevant to our lives, 00:15:01.160 --> 00:15:04.259 and it will be if it is about the Christ. 00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:06.279 But it is about the Christ. 00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:12.960 So fairly simply then, Paul's message was not a message of therapy, 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:15.000 it was not a message of vague spirituality, 00:15:15.660 --> 00:15:17.639 it was not a message of comedy or entertainment, 00:15:17.800 --> 00:15:19.639 it was a message concerning the Bible, 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:22.860 a message concerning the Christ of the Bible, 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:26.700 his death, his resurrection, the necessity of his death. 00:15:28.680 --> 00:15:29.980 And what was his method? 00:15:30.660 --> 00:15:33.160 We see this in some detail here actually. 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:35.019 Have a look at verse 2 again. 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:39.240 Do you see the verbs used in verses 2 and 3? 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:43.120 Paul went in as was his custom, 00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:49.440 and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures. 00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:51.340 Verse 3. 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:59.620 Explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead. 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:00.980 And saying, 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:06.259 This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ. 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:08.080 You see the four key verbs there, 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:10.259 describing his method. 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:12.800 Reasoned, 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.039 explained, 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.580 proved, 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:16.820 proclaimed. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:19.120 That's what Paul did. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:20.500 And that maps out I think, 00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:23.240 fairly neatly onto what today we would call 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:26.360 evangelism and apologetics. 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:29.840 So there is clear evangelism here. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:35.519 This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ. 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:37.060 What's Paul been doing? 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:40.139 He's come proclaiming the Christ. 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:41.500 Proclaiming the Messiah. 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.720 Preaching the good news of Jesus. 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:47.280 But in addition to that now, 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:49.759 he is reasoning from the Scriptures. 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:52.860 He's explaining and proving. 00:16:53.420 --> 00:16:56.040 And that's what we might call apologetics today. 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:57.279 And specifically, 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:57.639 interesting, 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:00.860 this word here that's used for proving, 00:17:01.579 --> 00:17:03.939 possibly even indicates that what Paul was doing 00:17:03.939 --> 00:17:07.240 was lining up the prophecies of the Old Testament 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:10.500 with the events of Jesus' life 00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:12.420 and showing how they fitted together. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:15.420 He's placing them side by side. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.519 So he's saying, 00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:18.960 Look here in Isaiah 52, 53, 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:21.559 what it says about the coming Messiah. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:26.220 Look here in what happened in Jesus' life and death 00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:26.819 and see, 00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:28.079 see the match, 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:31.600 see how he fulfills these prophecies. 00:17:34.100 --> 00:17:35.579 But all of it, of course, 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.620 is Bible, Bible, Bible. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:39.360 Everything Paul is doing here. 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.440 He's reasoning, yes, 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:42.539 but he's reasoning from the Scriptures. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.980 He's explaining and proving, yes, 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:45.160 but he's explaining and proving 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:46.259 the Scriptures 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:48.099 and the Christ of the Scriptures. 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:49.160 So it's very much 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:51.359 Bible method. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:54.019 His method is the Scriptures, quite simply. 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.059 The proclamation 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:57.259 and the proving of the Scriptures. 00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.299 Now you might say to me, 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:02.259 Well, that's just because he's talking to Jews 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.539 who know the Scriptures. 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.359 Well, if you think that, 00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.640 have a read on later today 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.819 in Acts 17 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:09.500 and see what he does when he goes to Athens. 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:11.619 Because actually when he goes to Athens, 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:13.259 he does the same proclaiming 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:15.680 and he proclaims the same message 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:16.440 from the Bible. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:18.319 He needs to fill in some more 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:20.099 of the basics of who God is, 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:22.279 the creator God of all things, 00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:22.980 not an idol. 00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:24.660 But it's the same message 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:25.379 that he's preaching 00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:26.859 which he's got from the Scriptures. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:30.240 So the method, again, 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.259 is the proclamation of the Christ, 00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:33.579 of the Scriptures. 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:35.259 There's less proving, 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:36.759 but even there, 00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:38.480 there's still proving that goes on 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:40.220 when he's talking to Gentiles as well. 00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:45.440 Now, this then is the Apostle's message. 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:49.740 It's not a message of self-help 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.860 and therapy. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.259 This is his method. 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:56.120 It's not a method of entertainment. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:58.120 It's not a method of antiquarianism. 00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:59.440 It's not a method of friendliness. 00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.759 It's quite simply a message 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:03.400 and a method of the Scriptures 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:05.860 and the Christ of the Scriptures. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.600 But you may well wonder, 00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:09.519 OK, but if the Church does do that, 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:11.099 what happens? 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:13.779 The crucial question of our pragmatic age, 00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:16.000 does it work if we do that? 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.559 And actually the passage, 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.160 in God's kindness, 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:20.839 answers even our silly, 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:21.920 pragmatic questions. 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.279 It works. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.759 But it works in two ways. 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.539 Have a look now at the fruit 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.980 of Paul's ministry. 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.240 First of all, 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:32.039 the first response to Paul's 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:35.519 message and method 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:38.319 is a response of persuasion. 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:40.139 people are persuaded. 00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:42.419 You see that in verse 4. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:45.039 And some of them were persuaded 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:47.539 and joined Paul and Silas, 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:50.539 as did a great many of the devout Greeks 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:53.899 and not a few of the leading women. 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:55.220 So some Jews, 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:56.700 more Gentiles, 00:19:57.600 --> 00:19:58.820 were persuaded 00:19:58.820 --> 00:20:00.400 and actually it's 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.680 were joined 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:03.300 to Paul and Silas. 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.820 There's a hint there 00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:06.320 in the language of verse 4 00:20:06.320 --> 00:20:07.800 of God's sovereignty 00:20:07.800 --> 00:20:09.360 in taking these people 00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:11.700 who've been persuaded 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:13.600 and joining them 00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:15.040 to Paul and Silas. 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:16.540 God does the joining here 00:20:16.540 --> 00:20:17.380 in the original. 00:20:18.300 --> 00:20:19.200 God is sovereign 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:21.920 so that when his message 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.319 is preached 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.400 and people are faithful 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.680 to the biblical method, 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:27.680 they will be joined. 00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:28.920 He will do the joining. 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.600 He will join them 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.400 to the church. 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:33.799 And that's what happens here. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.960 So we can be confident 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:37.680 that if we stick 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:40.340 to the apostolic message 00:20:40.340 --> 00:20:42.539 and the apostolic method, 00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:44.659 it will bear fruit. 00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:47.420 God will join people 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.779 to the church. 00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:51.500 But that's not all 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.339 that happens here 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:53.659 because something else 00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:54.720 happens as well 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:56.599 in verse 5 and following. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.460 There isn't only persuasion, 00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:59.539 there is also, 00:20:59.879 --> 00:21:00.139 secondly, 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.440 persecution. 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:03.139 Do you see what happens here? 00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.940 The Jews are jealous. 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:06.599 They want to keep 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:07.500 the Gentiles out, 00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:08.099 it seems. 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.859 And so they try to 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:12.079 raise a crowd, 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.879 a rabble, 00:21:13.679 --> 00:21:14.480 a mob, 00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:16.679 to stir things up 00:21:16.679 --> 00:21:17.399 and they go 00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:18.559 looking for them. 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:20.220 Now they can't find them 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:21.099 but they drag out 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:22.099 this man Jason 00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:23.980 and they bring him 00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:25.359 before the city authorities 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:27.220 shouting that these men 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.179 who've turned the world 00:21:28.179 --> 00:21:28.779 upside down 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:29.980 have now come here too 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.559 and they're causing 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:31.480 trouble here too. 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.220 And in particular, 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:33.220 do you see what they're doing? 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.139 They say, 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.899 they're acting against 00:21:35.899 --> 00:21:38.000 the decrees of Caesar 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.720 saying that there is 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.359 another king, 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.319 Jesus. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:45.319 So observe the characteristics 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:46.539 of this response 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.559 of persecution. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.220 First of all, 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.480 it arises from jealousy 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.759 as persecution 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:52.199 often does. 00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.339 Secondly, 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.399 it is violent. 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.679 It is a dangerous mob. 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:58.579 The mob is a scary thing. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.859 We don't see it very often 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:01.220 but we have seen it 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.439 in our country 00:22:02.439 --> 00:22:03.379 not long ago 00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.099 when a mob 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:05.419 rises up 00:22:05.419 --> 00:22:06.939 and the kind of destruction 00:22:06.939 --> 00:22:07.960 and violence 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:08.839 that can ensue. 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:11.079 But also it gets 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:12.639 cleverly political 00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:14.240 here in verses 6 and 7. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:14.959 Do you see that? 00:22:15.699 --> 00:22:16.599 They try to get 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.639 the city authorities 00:22:17.639 --> 00:22:18.359 involved 00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:20.699 and they accuse them 00:22:20.699 --> 00:22:22.259 of effectively 00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.019 treason 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:24.419 trying to make 00:22:24.419 --> 00:22:25.000 another king. 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:25.659 Now can you think 00:22:25.659 --> 00:22:26.579 of another episode 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.939 in the Bible 00:22:27.939 --> 00:22:29.119 where the same thing 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:29.720 happens? 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:32.720 where they do the same 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.079 thing 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:34.539 using the authorities 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.279 raising an accusation 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:36.960 of treason 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.380 with the Lord Jesus 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:39.440 himself of course. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.380 Remember he said 00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:41.279 if they persecute me 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.259 they'll persecute you. 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.440 If they treat me 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:43.839 like this 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.400 they'll treat you 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:44.880 like this. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:45.819 Well here it is 00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:46.160 happening. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.120 They're actually doing 00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:48.360 exactly the same thing. 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:50.039 They're going to the 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.660 authorities 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:53.160 trying to imply 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.000 that they are 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.000 stirring up a 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.460 revolution 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.140 by preaching 00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:57.200 another king 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:57.600 and the word 00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:58.060 used here 00:22:58.060 --> 00:22:58.519 is the same 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.120 word that's used 00:22:59.120 --> 00:23:00.440 of Caesar himself. 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:02.540 And of course 00:23:02.540 --> 00:23:02.960 actually 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:04.420 you might say 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.519 they were. 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.120 Because when 00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:07.840 Caesar 00:23:07.840 --> 00:23:09.420 takes on a role 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.080 which is only 00:23:10.080 --> 00:23:10.960 properly to be 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:12.040 given to God 00:23:12.040 --> 00:23:13.480 there is 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.320 a conflict 00:23:14.320 --> 00:23:15.820 between Caesar 00:23:15.820 --> 00:23:17.440 and King Jesus. 00:23:18.100 --> 00:23:18.500 You see that 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:18.980 very quickly 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.840 after the New Testament 00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:20.779 with the Roman 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.519 emperor's claims 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.240 to be God 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.779 and demands 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.379 for worship. 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.299 Is there a 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:24.960 conflict between 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.839 Christ and Caesar? 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.480 Absolutely there is. 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.339 Because Caesar 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.500 has trespassed 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.420 on ground 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.180 which belongs 00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:32.200 to Jesus. 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:33.720 So this is not 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.720 a fanciful claim 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.119 either. 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.980 We don't want to say 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:38.240 oh well Jesus said 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:38.740 that his kingdom 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.559 was not of this world 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:40.480 so he really wasn't 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.139 trespassing on 00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:41.839 Caesar's ground. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.000 He was trespassing 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.900 on Caesar's ground 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.740 because Caesar 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.440 was trespassing 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.019 on his. 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.000 So it's political 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.900 clever political 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.460 opposition. 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.940 And then lastly 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.420 and this is why 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.000 we read on to 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.759 verse 15 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:56.099 do you see how 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:57.200 dogged they are? 00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:58.420 How they won't 00:23:58.420 --> 00:23:59.119 let go? 00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:00.400 Verse 13 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:02.299 They've gone on 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:02.819 now to preach 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.420 in Berea 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.259 and they've received 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.119 a very favourable 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:06.139 response in Berea 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:06.799 and from the Jews 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.420 in Berea 00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.720 but verse 13 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.240 when the Jews 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.180 from Thessalonica 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:11.299 learned that the 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:11.879 word of God 00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:12.519 was proclaimed 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.740 by Paul at Berea 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.200 also 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:15.680 they came there too 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.980 agitating and 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.940 stirring up the 00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:18.460 crowds. 00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.400 In other words 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.160 the opponents of 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.620 the gospel 00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.460 are so relentless 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.280 it's not enough 00:24:23.280 --> 00:24:23.840 when you've left 00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:24.240 town. 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:25.940 You leave town 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.180 and they come 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:27.840 after you. 00:24:28.340 --> 00:24:29.320 They keep going 00:24:29.320 --> 00:24:29.980 they won't 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.480 let go. 00:24:32.840 --> 00:24:33.540 This is a very 00:24:33.540 --> 00:24:34.640 determined kind 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:35.259 of resistance 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:36.100 to the gospel. 00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.740 So what happens 00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:41.800 with the apostolic 00:24:41.800 --> 00:24:42.480 message 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.840 and the apostolic 00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:44.500 method? 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:47.059 some believe 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.940 God and his 00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.420 sovereignty 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:49.400 joins them 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:50.299 to the church. 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:52.400 Others react 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.240 with violent 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:54.279 political 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.819 and determined 00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:57.160 persecution. 00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.200 Now again 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:02.099 we live still 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:03.000 in remarkably 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.619 favourable times 00:25:04.619 --> 00:25:05.619 in this country 00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.859 but we don't 00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:07.279 need to look 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.640 far abroad 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.759 to see how 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.740 this is the story 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:12.440 of many 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.359 probably most 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:13.880 Christians 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:15.220 in the world 00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:15.819 that they 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.759 experience opposition 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:18.019 like this 00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:19.099 and we could 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.740 imagine it 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.460 coming here 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:22.140 quite quickly. 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.059 Let's think 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:27.720 back to our 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.640 opening question 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:28.819 then. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.380 In the face 00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:30.759 of a changing 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.700 culture 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:33.279 an increasingly 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.180 hostile 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:35.279 culture 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:37.319 with 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.620 questions 00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:39.220 generated 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.740 by the 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.339 internal 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:40.900 life 00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.480 of our 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:41.960 church 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.200 what sort 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.759 of church 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.740 should we 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.059 be? 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.039 Well Paul 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.579 gives us here 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.279 a clear example 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.860 doesn't he? 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.299 We need to 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:52.319 stick to 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.620 the message 00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:54.819 of the Bible 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:56.039 of the Christ 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.680 of the Bible 00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:57.960 of his cross 00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:59.299 and his resurrection 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.680 and we need to 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.339 stick to the 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:01.819 method 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:03.299 of proclaiming 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:03.860 the scriptures 00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:05.380 and defending 00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:06.579 the scriptures. 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.180 So what should 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:09.000 you be doing 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:10.420 as a church? 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.019 Well this is the 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:12.579 right emphasis 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.000 isn't it 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.319 on the 00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.859 spirituality 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.980 of the church 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.779 that you 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.160 should be 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.859 concerned 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:18.799 with this 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.779 apostolic 00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.720 message 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.539 and method 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.539 with keeping 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.180 the scriptures 00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:24.460 at the heart 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.420 of your church. 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.119 What do you 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:27.819 expect 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.799 of your 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.440 pastor? 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:29.500 pastor? 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.820 I hope you 00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:34.480 expect your 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.640 pastor to 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.240 love you 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.340 and care 00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:37.860 for you 00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.400 and as 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.000 appropriate 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:40.140 visit you 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:40.960 and see you 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:42.259 and talk to you 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.279 but I hope 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:43.799 you are also 00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.420 clear 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:46.580 that your 00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.340 pastor's 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:48.039 task 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.220 is to 00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:49.779 proclaim 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:51.220 this message 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:52.120 by this 00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.620 method 00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:54.080 which requires 00:26:54.080 --> 00:26:54.880 your pastor 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.039 to be locked 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.860 away in his 00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:57.199 study 00:26:57.199 --> 00:26:58.259 studying the 00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.639 scriptures 00:26:58.639 --> 00:26:59.879 each week 00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:01.019 and in that 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.439 sense he's 00:27:01.439 --> 00:27:02.039 torn in two 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.519 isn't he? 00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.459 He needs to be 00:27:03.459 --> 00:27:04.159 out among you 00:27:04.159 --> 00:27:04.899 but he needs 00:27:04.899 --> 00:27:05.740 to be protecting 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.519 his time 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.599 to study the 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:07.899 scriptures. 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.599 Now Paul is not 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:09.240 primed me to say 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.039 this and he 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.439 didn't tell me 00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:12.000 anything along 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.439 these lines 00:27:12.439 --> 00:27:13.259 but this passage 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:14.000 tells us doesn't 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.219 it? 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.500 That the life of a 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.079 church needs to 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:17.579 be focused on the 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.299 message and method 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:19.019 of the scriptures 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:20.399 and therefore you 00:27:20.399 --> 00:27:21.479 want your pastor 00:27:21.479 --> 00:27:22.439 to be devoted 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.759 to the study 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.920 of the scriptures 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:26.660 and you need to 00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.759 make sure that 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.519 he's doing that 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.279 and to protect 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:29.660 that. 00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.480 What do you want 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.100 to happen in your 00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:33.100 youth and children's 00:27:33.100 --> 00:27:33.480 work? 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.480 In your groups 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.140 that meet before 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:36.940 the service and 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.539 midweek? 00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:38.660 What should they be 00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.360 focused on? 00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:40.259 Now it's great for 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.779 children to have 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:42.200 fun but that is 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:42.840 not actually the 00:27:42.840 --> 00:27:43.340 aim. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.920 The aim is to 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.620 bring them to the 00:27:45.620 --> 00:27:46.600 scriptures to drink. 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.180 Now here's a test 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.680 for you 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:51.080 to see if you 00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:53.980 have absorbed 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.900 this message or 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:55.180 not. 00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:56.680 Imagine your 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.960 child comes home 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.519 or you hear that 00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.160 somebody's child has 00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:00.740 come home and 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.279 has said, 00:28:01.820 --> 00:28:02.400 there's just so 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.620 much Bible in 00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.660 our meeting. 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.220 What's your 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:06.640 reaction? 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.779 As your reaction 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.519 I'll go and talk 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.140 to the leaders 00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:11.820 and tell them 00:28:11.820 --> 00:28:12.900 it's just a bit 00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.640 too heavy at the 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:13.980 moment. 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.660 Now I know, 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.100 I know, 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.539 I know, 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.480 it could be, 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.600 it's conceivable 00:28:17.600 --> 00:28:18.460 that such a 00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:19.039 meeting could be 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.519 too heavy. 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.279 But I think it's 00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:21.880 probably very, 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:23.019 very unlikely in 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.680 our culture and 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:24.299 our times. 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:25.779 Is that your 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.039 action? 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.420 Do you think 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:26.940 I'll go and tell 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.680 them to soft 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.220 pedal a bit and 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:29.180 get less Bible 00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:29.640 in the meeting? 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.259 I'll phone them 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.620 up and give 00:28:30.620 --> 00:28:31.220 them a roasting. 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:33.259 You may be 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:33.840 thinking it never 00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:34.160 happens. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:35.039 It happens all 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.779 over the place. 00:28:36.100 --> 00:28:36.759 It happens to 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.460 pastors with their 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:37.700 sermons. 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.180 I know a 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.579 pastor who 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.860 receives a note. 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:40.920 I think it's 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.600 even a handwritten 00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:42.140 note which is 00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:42.600 rather lovely, 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.019 isn't it? 00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:44.200 Every time he 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.559 crosses 25 minutes 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:47.559 he gets a note. 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.200 I know of 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:49.799 youth workers 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:51.380 who have parents 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:52.140 coming to say 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:52.740 them saying it's 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.779 just too heavy and 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.940 dull, you're putting 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.539 them off the 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:57.420 gospel by having 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.180 so much Bible. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.480 It is conceivable, 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:01.880 yes, when it hits 00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:02.860 an hour and a half, 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:05.079 maybe, but probably 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.860 they're a long way 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:06.579 from that generally 00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:07.100 speaking. 00:29:08.100 --> 00:29:08.900 What would your 00:29:08.900 --> 00:29:10.880 reaction be if your 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:11.819 child or a child 00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.460 said that? 00:29:12.840 --> 00:29:13.720 Would you sit down 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.519 and say actually 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:16.220 rejoice that you 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:18.220 have a club which 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.000 is teaching you the 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:19.759 word of God, which 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.880 is his living voice. 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.360 Celebrate that you're 00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:23.000 hearing about the 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.759 Lord Jesus from his 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:23.960 word. 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:25.440 This is an amazing 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.519 privilege that we 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.640 have to do this and 00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:28.360 to do it freely. 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.299 It's an extraordinary 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:29.860 thing. 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.779 I know it's hard work 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.360 sometimes. 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.440 We find that has 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:34.299 grown up too in 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:34.600 church. 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.339 Would you say that? 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:37.079 We know it's hard to 00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:38.000 concentrate on some 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.039 preachers sometimes, 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:39.839 especially that 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.519 Williams bloke. 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.680 It's hard to listen 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.579 to them sometimes, 00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.799 but it's the word 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.579 of God and so we 00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:46.059 work hard at it. 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.139 And that's what we 00:29:47.139 --> 00:29:47.799 need to do in our 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.720 clubs as well, is to 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.819 work hard at listening 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:51.439 because this is God's 00:29:51.439 --> 00:29:53.039 message and this is 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.740 God's method. 00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.059 Is that what you 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:55.519 would say? 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.740 Or would you want 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.460 them to soft pedal 00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:58.799 a bit? 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.279 Then again for us 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:02.259 as individuals of 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.439 any age, if you're at 00:30:03.439 --> 00:30:03.960 school, we talked 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.419 about this a bit 00:30:04.419 --> 00:30:06.720 beforehand, and you 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:08.079 have friends and 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:09.059 neighbours and family 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.859 members who do not 00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:10.720 know the Lord Jesus. 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:12.179 What is it that they 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.140 need to hear? 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.519 Maybe that there are 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.799 all sorts of useful 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.799 conversations you could 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:19.220 have with them, but the 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.460 focus of what they need 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:23.580 to hear is Christ and 00:30:23.580 --> 00:30:25.240 his death and his 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:25.840 resurrection. 00:30:26.560 --> 00:30:27.759 Now maybe sometimes you 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:29.200 need to have a more 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:30.259 philosophical argument 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.360 about this or that or 00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:31.799 the other. 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.000 A bit of ground 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:33.820 clearing maybe. 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:36.460 But actually the focus 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:38.279 of our conversations 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:39.799 with our friends and 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.620 our neighbours and 00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:41.799 our school friends and 00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.899 our family members who 00:30:42.899 --> 00:30:43.919 are not Christians needs 00:30:43.919 --> 00:30:44.979 to be the Lord Jesus, 00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:45.539 doesn't it? 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:47.339 This is the apostolic 00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:48.299 message. 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.239 We need to be 00:30:50.239 --> 00:30:51.959 introducing people to 00:30:51.959 --> 00:30:52.359 him. 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.579 So I think this passage, 00:30:55.719 --> 00:30:56.399 I hope you find this 00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:57.399 passage to be good news 00:30:57.399 --> 00:30:58.000 for us this morning, 00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:58.959 because it can be quite 00:30:58.959 --> 00:31:00.639 bewildering, can't it? 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:02.279 In a culture we feel 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:04.000 under pressure, we feel 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:06.099 isolated, we feel like a 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:08.939 small minority, yes, it's 00:31:08.939 --> 00:31:10.099 quite a nice full room. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:11.599 How many people are there 00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:11.939 in Ealing? 00:31:13.459 --> 00:31:15.240 This is a tiny, tiny, 00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:17.980 tiny, tiny fraction of 00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:19.139 the people who live 00:31:19.139 --> 00:31:20.619 within half a mile of 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.159 this place. 00:31:22.159 --> 00:31:23.359 You're a minority, you're 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:24.539 a tiny minority, you can 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.699 feel that sometimes. 00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:27.240 You can feel the world is 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.539 increasingly hostile in 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.319 what it's doing. 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.859 And that can make us 00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.939 wonder, should we be doing 00:31:31.939 --> 00:31:32.919 something different? 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.539 Should we change? 00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:35.199 Should we tweak? 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.080 Should we adjust? 00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.700 I take it this is a good 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.539 news passage, because it 00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:40.740 tells us very simply what 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.880 the Apostles' priorities 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:44.539 were in his message and 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.279 in his method. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.559 And that's liberating. 00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:47.180 We don't need to be 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:47.980 wringing our hands 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:49.680 thinking, what do we do? 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.600 What should we fill our 00:31:50.600 --> 00:31:51.180 meetings with? 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.759 Oh no, how can we reach 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.420 this world? 00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:55.920 Stick to the Apostles' 00:31:56.580 --> 00:31:57.019 message. 00:31:57.360 --> 00:31:58.259 Stick to the Apostles' 00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.100 method. 00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:01.059 Christ and the Bible. 00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:03.660 And lastly, as we draw 00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:04.660 to a close, let me just 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:05.779 say a word to those of you 00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:07.740 who are inquiring and 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.519 would not consider 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.440 yourselves Christians 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.380 here this morning. 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:13.060 What should you be 00:32:13.060 --> 00:32:14.080 inquiring about? 00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:15.960 If that's you, what 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:17.620 questions do you need 00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.580 to be asking? 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.140 What should your 00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:21.200 concern be? 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:23.120 This passage gives us 00:32:23.120 --> 00:32:23.759 a wonderfully clear 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.500 answer, doesn't it? 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:26.120 The question for you is 00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:26.940 the question which the 00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:27.800 Lord Jesus himself 00:32:27.800 --> 00:32:29.560 asked his disciples. 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:32.240 who do you say that I 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.599 am? 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:35.240 Who is Jesus? 00:32:36.919 --> 00:32:38.500 And in particular, can I 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.579 draw your attention again 00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:40.559 to verse 3? 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:43.679 The Apostle explained and 00:32:43.679 --> 00:32:45.539 proved that it was 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:47.639 necessary for the Christ 00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:48.419 to suffer. 00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:50.819 So if you're not a 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:51.599 Christian here this morning, 00:32:51.679 --> 00:32:52.319 let me leave you with 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:52.919 this question. 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:55.740 Do you believe that it 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:57.539 was necessary for the 00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:59.100 Christ to suffer? 00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.380 Do you understand why it 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:01.340 was necessary for the 00:33:01.340 --> 00:33:02.180 Christ to suffer? 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:05.019 If God willed to save a 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.180 people, which he did, 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:09.019 their sin made it 00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:10.840 necessary for the 00:33:10.840 --> 00:33:11.620 Christ to suffer. 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:13.120 It is the only way. 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:15.100 And do you believe that 00:33:15.100 --> 00:33:15.580 this morning? 00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:17.019 Because one of the big 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:18.060 reasons I think why people 00:33:18.060 --> 00:33:19.660 aren't Christians is 00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:20.600 because they just don't 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:21.980 think they need to be. 00:33:23.159 --> 00:33:24.199 The Lord Jesus described 00:33:24.199 --> 00:33:25.099 himself as a doctor 00:33:25.099 --> 00:33:26.319 come to heal the sick. 00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:27.819 You only go to the 00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.719 doctor if you know 00:33:28.719 --> 00:33:29.319 you're sick. 00:33:29.959 --> 00:33:30.859 And the scriptures tell 00:33:30.859 --> 00:33:32.359 us that we are all sick 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:33.859 and in need of healing. 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.859 And that his death is 00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:38.139 the sole means by 00:33:38.139 --> 00:33:40.000 which we can be healed. 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:41.199 And if you're not a 00:33:41.199 --> 00:33:41.819 Christian this morning, 00:33:41.879 --> 00:33:43.059 that is the big question, 00:33:43.159 --> 00:33:43.980 the big challenge for you 00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:44.679 from this passage. 00:33:45.139 --> 00:33:46.240 Do you see that? 00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:48.579 Do you see that he had 00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:51.119 to do it, to save you? 00:33:51.179 --> 00:33:52.099 That there is no other 00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:52.899 way for you to be 00:33:52.899 --> 00:33:54.939 reconciled to the God 00:33:54.939 --> 00:33:55.659 who made you. 00:33:58.339 --> 00:33:59.199 Let's pray together.