WEBVTT

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 Okay, team, this morning we will address the gospel as good news.

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 And last week we explored together the fount and the pulse of witness bearing.

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 What are its originating springs and its sustaining energies in the life of the believer?

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 And this morning we turn to the message itself.

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 What is the gospel that we witness bearers bear?

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 And to this we might rightly answer that the gospel is good news.

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 That's what the word in Greek, gospel, evangelion, actually means, good news.

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 And that's a good place to start and yields some vitally important insights.

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 Let's consider first, what is the significance of the gospel being news?

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 News.

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 Now, news is something noteworthy that we announce.

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 Man lands on the moon.

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 Brazil wins the World Cup a fifth time.

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 A woman gives birth to nine.

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 Actually, this happened in Morocco a couple years ago.

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 Unbelievable.

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 Nine live births.

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 So, it is something noteworthy that has happened and we herald it.

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 And the term gospel adopted by the evangelists, the gospel writers, was drawn from the contemporary

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 context of a public declaration, perhaps of the birth of the king or an emperor or the declaration

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 of a decisive victory in war.

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 Like Pheidippides, who ran from Marathon to Athens, that 26.2 mile stretch to deliver the

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 news of victory over the Persians, announced,

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 Nicomen, we win.

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 We win.

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 We win.

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 And the term vividly communicates that the gospel is first and foremost a declaration,

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 not first a summons for us to exert ourselves.

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 First, it's a declaration of what has been accomplished.

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 It is, in the case of the gospel, an announcement of the great victory that God has accomplished

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 for his people in Christ.

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 A declaration of what he has done, not first what we must do.

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 And here we might clarify news in contrast with directive.

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 A directive.

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 So, news.

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 The herald comes from the field of battle and announces,

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 A great victory over the enemy has been accomplished.

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 Live in the joy and peace of this great new reality.

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 So, there's news.

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 Well, if there were no decisive victory that had been attained and the enemy is on the way

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 to the city, okay, the herald would show up and what you need to do is,

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 he'd give them a directive, okay?

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 Strengthen the gate.

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 Position the archers on the battlements.

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 Secure your stores of food and water.

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 Fight with all your might for your lives.

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 This sort of thing is a directive, okay?

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 Do you see the difference there?

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 This is vitally important.

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 And what God has achieved as distinct from what we must do

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 is the vital differentiation between grace,

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 that is, which by implication means God saves.

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 God is the one who saves.

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 As it says in Jonah, salvation is of God.

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 And works.

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 That is, somewhere or another, we save ourselves.

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 Sometimes this distinction is expressed in the contrast of grace versus law.

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 Law, again, the directive, do this.

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 Do this and live.

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 Okay?

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 As Martin Luther put it,

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 the law says do this, and it is never done.

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 Grace says, believe in this man,

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 and everything is already done.

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 So the gospel is a message about the grace of God.

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 As the apostle writes in Colossians,

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 this is Colossians 1.6,

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 it says,

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 The gospel,

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 which has come to you,

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 as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing,

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 as it also does among you since the day you heard it

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 and understood the grace of God in truth.

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 So notice, the gospel, what is that?

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 It's when you, you got the gospel,

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 when you understood the grace of God in truth.

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 It's interesting, the Greek on this,

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 not quite sure if it's an adjective or an adverb.

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 If you understood the gospel in all of its truth extensively,

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 or if you truly understood the gospel in its depth,

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 so both extent and depth could be rendered either way.

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 But this is to say that to get the gospel

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 is to grasp the grace of God.

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 To get the gospel is to grasp the grace of God.

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 I wonder if you found in your efforts to get grace across

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 that it's often really difficult for people to grasp.

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 Why do you think this might be so?

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 Non-rhetorical.

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 Why is it so difficult for people to grasp this notion of grace?

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 Any thoughts?

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 It's very antithetical to worldliness.

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 Say a little bit more, David, yeah.

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 Worldliness being...

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 In the world, it's a lot of expectations.

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 You have to deal with consequences

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 where people are not as forgiving

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 as the grace that's present in the gospel.

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 People aren't used to that.

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 Yeah, that seems right to me.

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 I mean, think of the environment that we are in

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 just by being in the world.

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 As soon as we spring from the womb,

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 we begin to notice as we're putting the world together

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 that there seems to be an unbreakable correlation

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 between the praise we receive

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 and what we have accomplished for ourselves.

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 Good grief.

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 I'm a believer.

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 I know about grace.

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 But even I, I've just had a grandson that's born.

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 And it's unbelievable to watch this guy.

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 A year and a half, maybe now.

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 And as soon as he does something in any way noteworthy

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 or even trivially spectacular,

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 he'll immediately look around to make sure

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 that someone has seen him.

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 And then in case they haven't started to clap themselves,

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 he'll actually start to prompt them solicitatingly.

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 Yeah.

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 Just hungry for that.

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 Because he sees that connection.

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 And I'm sure the travesty is occasionally,

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 I'll reinforce this.

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 As soon as he does something,

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 he starts to take a step or two,

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 and I'll say, great job, great job.

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 Just reinforcing this.

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 And then on it goes.

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 And on it goes.

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 Everything seems,

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 it's almost like a titanium alloy,

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 tungsten reinforced correlation

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 between these two things.

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 It is my accomplishment

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 that will gain my acceptance.

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 It is my achievement that will gain praise.

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 And so it is, you know,

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 you win the race, you get the reward.

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 Again and again.

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 So everything, as David says,

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 everything in the world seems to reinforce

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 this impression that when it comes to acceptance,

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 acceptability, praiseworthiness,

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 it pivots entirely upon our accomplishment,

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 what we have achieved.

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 We are valued for our performance.

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 The culturally reinforced presumption

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 is that what must commend us

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 is our accomplishments.

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 So that makes it really hard to get grace.

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 It's cutting against the grain

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 of all the cultural sensibilities and enactments.

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 Any other thoughts?

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 Why?

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 Yeah, yeah, Richard.

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 Yeah.

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 It's too good to be true.

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 And that being the case,

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 probably isn't true.

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 Yeah, that's great.

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 And haven't we cultivated

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 an incredible capacity for suspicion?

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 You know, yeah,

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 people are trying to scam us

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 at all kinds of things.

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 Yeah, so it just seems that can't be.

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 You know, the Bible takes up that theme

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 in a few places too,

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 where it worries that we will never be able

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 to receive this announcement

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 of how good the gospel is

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 without it continuing to reinforce that

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 and give us every assurance

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 that this is in fact what God is telling us.

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 I, God, who cannot lie,

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 notwithstanding,

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 will take an oath to reassure you

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 this is going to be true.

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 Even though I wouldn't need an oath

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 to keep me from lying,

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 I'm doing it for your sake

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 because you just won't believe it otherwise.

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 It's too fantastic.

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 Yeah.

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 Ivor, did you have a comment?

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 Or Susan?

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 Yeah.

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 I'm only focusing on the difficulty

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 in believing grace

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 or the news.

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 Great.

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 I think just the grace part of it,

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 that the news is grace.

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 That this is something.

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 Yeah, yeah, no, we'll get to that.

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 Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no, no.

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 Hopefully we can get to that.

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 Yeah, yeah.

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 So, well, yeah.

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 And this sort of,

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 and again, even other sort of religious backgrounds.

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 Oh, yeah, yeah, Christianity,

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 that's a religion thing.

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 Yeah, I know religions.

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 You know, because it's upon this rock

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 that all religions of the world

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 take their stand

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 with unvarian consistency,

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 including sometimes a lot of encounters

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 that they have had with Christianity

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 that actually appears this way,

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 that we're only accepted

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 based upon our accomplishments

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 and achievements.

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 How well are we living out

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 the Ten Commandments?

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 This sort of thing.

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 Yeah.

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 When people hear the gospel then,

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 they naturally try to assimilate it

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 into this framework.

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 But it can't fit this framework.

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 It explodes it.

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 It's just like if you were to try

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 to put new wine in old wineskins.

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 If we assimilate the gospel message

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 into our conventional,

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 instinctual religion,

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 we modulate it into our own thoughts

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 and so denature the gospel

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 that we lose it completely.

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 As God tells us in Isaiah 55,

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 8 and 9,

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 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

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 neither are my ways your ways,

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 declares the Lord.

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 For as the heavens are high above the earth,

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 are higher than the earth,

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 so are my ways higher than your ways,

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 and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

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 It's interesting that the context

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 of that verse, too,

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 is grace.

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 Come all ye that are thirsty and drink.

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 Buy bread who have no money.

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 So the context of my thoughts are higher

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 is in the context of grace,

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 talking about grace.

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 Here's a second reason that occurs to me

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 why we're so resistant to the gospel.

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 is that, have you noticed

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 how much the gospel wounds our pride?

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 Just wounds our pride.

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 Fatally, in fact, fatally wounds our pride.

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 For the gospel is all of grace

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 and allows us nothing,

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 nothing of self-contribution.

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 As Spurgeon says,

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 if we add a single stitch

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 to our garment of righteousness ourselves,

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 the whole fabric unravels.

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 Just unravels.

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 Or several times in the Old Testament,

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 it indicates that the stones

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 that were to be,

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 the altar was to be made of

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 in the temple.

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 The stones of the altar in the temple

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 were permitted to have no human tool

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 ever touch them.

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 Or any human artifice

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 come near those stones in any way.

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 Nothing of human artifice

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 be part of this sacrifice

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 on the stones.

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 This is interesting.

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 Check it out.

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 Exodus 20, 25.

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 Deuteronomy 27, 5 and 6.

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 Joshua 8, 31.

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 Again and again.

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 It makes this point.

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 Again and again.

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 So, oh, come on.

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 Does grace not leave any place

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 for self-contribution?

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 And so self-congratulation?

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 Not even just a little private boast

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 for us to cherish in our hearts?

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 Just a tiny one?

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 Our flesh will fight to the death

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 to preserve this prerogative.

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 And what would we expect

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 of the flesh to do?

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 Because if the gospel alternative

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 shapes it,

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 it is the death of the flesh.

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 So of course it's going to fight

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 to the death.

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 Because if the gospel prevails,

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 it dies anyway.

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 So what the heck?

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 I might as well die trying

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 to preserve myself.

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 I'm going to die

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 if I receive the gospel.

00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:36.840
 My flesh will.

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.519
 There's no alternative to death.

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:44.639
 But we cannot both

00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:46.519
 receive the gospel

00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:48.240
 and keep our pride

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.840
 and self-congratulation.

00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:51.480
 They're just reciprocally excluding.

00:14:51.939 --> 00:14:52.840
 They're mutually exclusive.

00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:53.919
 Can't do it.

00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:59.159
 As we read in 1 Corinthians 1, 28 and 29,

00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:01.360
 but God chose what is foolish

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.559
 to shame the wise.

00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:04.360
 God chose what is weak

00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:05.319
 to shame the strong

00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:10.460
 so that no flesh may boast

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:12.040
 in the presence of God.

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:14.600
 That's the all-governing premise.

00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:17.060
 No flesh may boast

00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:18.020
 in the presence of God.

00:15:19.540 --> 00:15:20.540
 Now naturally,

00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:22.820
 the fleshly reaction to grace is,

00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:25.360
 this is a hard saying.

00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:27.160
 Who can receive it?

00:15:29.160 --> 00:15:30.880
 On such conditions,

00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:33.780
 how is grasping

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:36.299
 the grace of the gospel salvation?

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:37.720
 Even possible.

00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.279
 Even possible.

00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:40.959
 We might be forgiven

00:15:40.959 --> 00:15:42.319
 for saying with the disciples,

00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:44.139
 who then can be saved?

00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:47.459
 But Jesus looked at them and said,

00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:49.439
 yeah, you're right.

00:15:49.939 --> 00:15:50.620
 With man,

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:52.199
 these things are impossible.

00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:53.679
 But with God,

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.659
 all things are possible.

00:15:55.699 --> 00:15:57.799
 It takes grace

00:15:57.799 --> 00:16:01.579
 to appropriate grace,

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.759
 to receive grace.

00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.620
 It takes grace

00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.779
 to receive grace.

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.679
 That's why we say,

00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:07.139
 it's all of grace.

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:08.919
 Paul writes,

00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:10.939
 it was by his doing,

00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:11.899
 graciously,

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:14.139
 that you were even in Christ,

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:16.779
 in this position of grace.

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.019
 So,

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:22.860
 the gospel is news.

00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.299
 That is,

00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.240
 it declares

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:27.500
 what God has done in Christ.

00:16:28.299 --> 00:16:29.639
 It is all of grace.

00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:32.620
 The gospel news

00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.879
 is also

00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:36.120
 good news.

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:38.019
 It's good news.

00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:40.159
 It's good news

00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.539
 objectively,

00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:43.439
 that good in and of itself,

00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.539
 whatever our perceptions.

00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.580
 It's good objectively.

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.240
 To lay hold of Christ,

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:48.819
 Paul says,

00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:51.159
 is to possess all things.

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.120
 He is heir

00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.379
 of all things.

00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:53.899
 So,

00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:55.779
 if we are in Christ,

00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.319
 if we're united with Christ,

00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:59.340
 we are heir of all things.

00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:01.560
 Objectively,

00:17:02.060 --> 00:17:02.820
 superlative,

00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:03.400
 fantastic.

00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:04.320
 But,

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.900
 it is also

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:07.000
 good news

00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.680
 subjectively.

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:11.000
 That is to say,

00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.960
 it can be heard

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:14.600
 and received

00:17:14.600 --> 00:17:17.279
 as good news.

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:20.000
 And this will be true

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.960
 for those

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.279
 appointed to life

00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.740
 in whose hearts

00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.819
 the Spirit has worked

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:26.500
 to receive the word

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.680
 with gladness.

00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.720
 To such,

00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:32.859
 the gospel is,

00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:34.200
 to use a phrase of Paul's

00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:35.639
 in 2 Corinthians 2.14,

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.920
 a fragrance

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.700
 of life

00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:40.160
 to life.

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:41.639
 Just,

00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.200
 it just,

00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:42.759
 it,

00:17:42.879 --> 00:17:44.200
 we experience this

00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:45.859
 as a life-giving fragrance

00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:47.500
 that indeed leads us

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.299
 to life,

00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.659
 spiritual life,

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.399
 a fragrance

00:17:50.399 --> 00:17:51.619
 of life

00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:52.679
 to life.

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:53.879
 And we're gonna,

00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:54.759
 we're gonna focus

00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.419
 on this

00:17:55.419 --> 00:17:56.559
 subjective

00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:58.000
 reception

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.879
 by asking

00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:00.500
 the question,

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.279
 how may we

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.059
 communicate

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:04.659
 the good news

00:18:04.659 --> 00:18:05.439
 of the gospel

00:18:05.439 --> 00:18:07.159
 such

00:18:07.159 --> 00:18:08.219
 that it

00:18:08.219 --> 00:18:09.179
 might be

00:18:09.179 --> 00:18:09.899
 heard

00:18:09.899 --> 00:18:11.000
 as

00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.279
 good news?

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:12.919
 Okay,

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.500
 so that's

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.579
 what we want

00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.179
 to do.

00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:16.679
 So,

00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:18.839
 how do we

00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:19.799
 get the gospel

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.759
 to be more

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:22.059
 readily heard

00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.500
 as

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:25.220
 good news?

00:18:25.939 --> 00:18:26.359
 Well,

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.059
 it's helpful

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.699
 to recognize

00:18:27.699 --> 00:18:29.179
 that all gospel

00:18:29.179 --> 00:18:29.919
 presentations

00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:31.279
 present Jesus

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:33.259
 as the answer

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:34.619
 to a question.

00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:36.779
 Jesus is the answer

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.439
 to a question.

00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.720
 Drawing from titles

00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:39.480
 of tracts,

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.559
 these little evangelistic

00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:41.339
 tracts that I've

00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:41.740
 encountered

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.960
 in my lifetime,

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.579
 Jesus might

00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:45.240
 be offered

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:45.819
 as the answer

00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.259
 to such

00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.539
 questions as,

00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:49.440
 how can I

00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.420
 find peace

00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.039
 with God?

00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:51.700
 That was the

00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:52.319
 title of one.

00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:54.079
 Or another,

00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:56.180
 how may I

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:56.740
 know God

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.380
 personally?

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.019
 Or,

00:18:59.180 --> 00:19:00.000
 how may I

00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:00.779
 find power

00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.360
 for living?

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:02.740
 Or,

00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:03.640
 how can I

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.200
 know I will

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.840
 go to heaven

00:19:04.840 --> 00:19:06.120
 when I die?

00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.059
 Okay,

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:08.180
 so,

00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.440
 always Jesus

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.140
 an answer

00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:11.080
 to a question.

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.519
 But,

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.900
 if I,

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.860
 the witness bearer,

00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:15.960
 have all the

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.500
 goodwill,

00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:18.080
 and all the

00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:18.519
 zeal,

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.440
 and all the

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.200
 sincerity

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.500
 imaginable,

00:19:22.320 --> 00:19:23.480
 it's still

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.960
 very hard

00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.039
 to get

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.559
 someone's

00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.059
 sustained

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.660
 attention

00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:29.039
 if I'm

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.660
 offering

00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:30.340
 Jesus

00:19:30.340 --> 00:19:31.539
 as an

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:31.980
 answer

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.480
 to a

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.180
 question

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:34.799
 that they

00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.660
 are neither

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.460
 asking

00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:37.460
 themselves

00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:39.200
 or

00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.539
 can identify

00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.059
 with

00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:41.840
 if I

00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:42.340
 ask it

00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:42.819
 for them.

00:19:44.600 --> 00:19:45.299
 You see?

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.380
 In such

00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:47.819
 cases,

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:48.779
 my witness

00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:49.420
 strikes them

00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:50.259
 as irrelevant

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:51.420
 as it

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.039
 fails to

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.660
 connect with

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.420
 any of

00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:53.880
 their felt

00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.559
 concerns.

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:55.860
 I'm giving

00:19:55.860 --> 00:19:56.519
 them an

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.240
 answer to

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.640
 a question

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.000
 they're not

00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.380
 asking.

00:19:59.120 --> 00:19:59.440
 And even

00:19:59.440 --> 00:19:59.920
 if I ask

00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.440
 it myself

00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.120
 for them,

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.180
 if they

00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:03.759
 can't identify

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.220
 with it,

00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:06.200
 not much

00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:07.059
 hope for

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.519
 a connection

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:07.799
 there.

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.200
 I wonder

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:11.539
 if you've

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.620
 ever felt

00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:13.340
 in your

00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:13.660
 gospel

00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.340
 conversations

00:20:14.340 --> 00:20:15.200
 as though

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:15.799
 you were

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.200
 setting

00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:16.620
 forth

00:20:16.620 --> 00:20:17.319
 Jesus

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:19.519
 as the

00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.539
 solution

00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:21.340
 to a

00:20:21.340 --> 00:20:21.720
 problem

00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:22.120
 that your

00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:22.500
 hearers

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.080
 didn't feel

00:20:23.080 --> 00:20:23.400
 like they

00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:23.759
 had.

00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:26.640
 You're

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:26.900
 telling

00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:27.180
 them

00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:29.720
 how they

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.400
 might be

00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.340
 justified

00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:32.240
 by God

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.100
 and

00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:34.400
 not even

00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:34.840
 quite sure

00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:35.200
 what that

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:35.600
 term

00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:36.119
 means.

00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:37.199
 It's not

00:20:37.199 --> 00:20:37.459
 as if

00:20:37.459 --> 00:20:37.859
 they have

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.519
 any sense

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:38.980
 of being

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:39.459
 alienated

00:20:39.459 --> 00:20:39.959
 from God

00:20:39.959 --> 00:20:40.539
 or maybe

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:40.859
 God's

00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:41.159
 not even

00:20:41.159 --> 00:20:41.459
 on their

00:20:41.459 --> 00:20:41.859
 map.

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:43.559
 It's just

00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:44.799
 not even

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.079
 in their

00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:45.839
 address book

00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:46.519
 in their

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:46.899
 phones.

00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.500
 It just

00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.139
 doesn't

00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:49.959
 connect at

00:20:49.959 --> 00:20:50.219
 all.

00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.240
 Or maybe

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:53.019
 a resolution

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.859
 to an

00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.819
 aspiration.

00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:55.699
 Jesus

00:20:55.699 --> 00:20:56.480
 is the

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:56.939
 resolution

00:20:56.939 --> 00:20:57.359
 to this

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.500
 aspiration

00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:59.959
 but they've

00:20:59.959 --> 00:21:00.679
 never felt

00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:01.839
 that aspiration

00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.259
 with any

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:02.819
 poignancy

00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.839
 at all.

00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:05.679
 Or maybe

00:21:05.679 --> 00:21:06.139
 they'd be

00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:06.519
 utter

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.059
 strangers

00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:07.519
 to that

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.139
 aspiration.

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.039
 Don't you

00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:10.220
 want to

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.500
 go to

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:10.700
 heaven

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.059
 when you

00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:11.339
 die?

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.299
 I've

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.439
 never

00:21:13.439 --> 00:21:14.179
 thought

00:21:14.179 --> 00:21:14.439
 about

00:21:14.439 --> 00:21:15.379
 what's

00:21:15.379 --> 00:21:15.619
 heaven.

00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:16.559
 I've

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.039
 never thought

00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.439
 about it.

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:18.799
 Don't have

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.539
 that aspiration

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.500
 at all.

00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:22.659
 It's easy

00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.740
 to experience

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.220
 something like

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.299
 this and

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.200
 to get

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.839
 frustrated.

00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:28.220
 And I've

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.019
 found it

00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:29.459
 can be

00:21:29.459 --> 00:21:29.879
 more

00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:31.119
 effectually

00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:31.839
 engaging

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:33.220
 if we

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:33.839
 can offer

00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:34.500
 the gospel

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:37.139
 as the

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:37.839
 answer to

00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.419
 a question

00:21:38.419 --> 00:21:39.639
 that they

00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:41.139
 are asking.

00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:42.879
 And we

00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.199
 have a good

00:21:43.199 --> 00:21:43.759
 example of

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.399
 this from

00:21:44.399 --> 00:21:45.119
 Paul in

00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:45.519
 Athens.

00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:45.959
 So if you

00:21:45.959 --> 00:21:46.259
 have your

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:46.740
 Bibles or

00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.139
 your phones

00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:47.559
 with you,

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.059
 you might

00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:49.319
 want to

00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.119
 look at

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:51.299
 Acts 17.

00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:54.159
 Acts 17.

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.159
 First half

00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:55.459
 he's in

00:21:55.459 --> 00:21:56.079
 Thessalonica

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:56.659
 in the

00:21:56.659 --> 00:21:56.939
 synagogue

00:21:56.939 --> 00:21:57.779
 and the

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.179
 second half

00:21:58.179 --> 00:21:58.460
 he's at

00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:58.819
 Athens.

00:21:58.939 --> 00:21:59.220
 So just

00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.699
 find the

00:21:59.699 --> 00:22:00.119
 little section

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:00.619
 that says

00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.359
 Paul in

00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:01.779
 Athens.

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:02.879
 Okay?

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.199
 And he

00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:05.980
 has recently

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.659
 been in

00:22:06.659 --> 00:22:07.299
 Thessalonica,

00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:07.699
 that's the

00:22:07.699 --> 00:22:08.119
 beginning of

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:08.859
 Acts 17,

00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.879
 sharing the

00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:11.799
 gospel in

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.419
 a Jewish

00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:12.939
 synagogue

00:22:12.939 --> 00:22:13.519
 setting.

00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:16.139
 And Paul

00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:16.399
 would have

00:22:16.399 --> 00:22:17.519
 been quite

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.240
 accustomed to

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.599
 such a

00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:18.839
 Jewish

00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.559
 context,

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.559
 the synagogue

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.339
 in Thessalonica,

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.159
 and no

00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:23.259
 doubt he

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.000
 had developed

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.139
 a very

00:22:25.139 --> 00:22:26.019
 sophisticated

00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.599
 way to

00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.099
 argue from

00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:27.700
 the scriptures

00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.599
 as to the

00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:29.099
 identity of

00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:29.619
 the Messiah.

00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:31.000
 And if you

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.299
 look at

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:31.940
 verse 2

00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.599
 and 3

00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.759
 in chapter

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.240
 17,

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:34.900
 you'll notice

00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.480
 that's just

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:35.779
 what he

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.339
 was doing.

00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:38.220
 But,

00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:40.220
 as familiar

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:42.480
 and well

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.460
 honed as

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.139
 his argument

00:22:45.139 --> 00:22:46.059
 was,

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.220
 repeated as

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.759
 often as it

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.200
 had been in

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:49.559
 the synagogue

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.000
 setting,

00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:51.200
 he can't

00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.080
 simply show

00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:52.440
 up in

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:52.920
 Athens

00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:54.620
 and press

00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:56.120
 play on

00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:56.740
 that Jewish

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.240
 method,

00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:58.660
 that message.

00:22:59.519 --> 00:22:59.740
 You know,

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.120
 imagine,

00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:01.100
 shows up in

00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:01.440
 Athens,

00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.120
 men of

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.480
 Athens,

00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:03.779
 let's take

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.160
 up the

00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:04.380
 burning

00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:04.980
 question of

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.519
 the Messiah.

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.160
 Now,

00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:06.660
 as you

00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.200
 well know,

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:07.660
 in Psalm

00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.120
 110,

00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:11.620
 be a

00:23:11.620 --> 00:23:12.059
 complete

00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:13.559
 non-starter.

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:14.880
 I mean,

00:23:15.100 --> 00:23:16.600
 why couldn't

00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:17.259
 he do that?

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.279
 Why couldn't

00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:18.859
 he do that?

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.660
 Thoughts?

00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.879
 Non-rhetorical.

00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:21.740
 What's Psalm

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.059
 110?

00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.019
 Yeah,

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:23.619
 what's Psalm

00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:23.900
 110?

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:24.480
 Yeah,

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:24.980
 what is that?

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.180
 The Messiah?

00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:26.539
 You know,

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:26.900
 in Greek,

00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.480
 it's just the

00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.019
 smeared one.

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:28.859
 What is he

00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:29.379
 smeared with?

00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:29.799
 Did he fall

00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.279
 in a puddle?

00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:32.279
 You know,

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:32.859
 yeah,

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.379
 exactly.

00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.180
 Absolute

00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.039
 incomprehension.

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.119
 Yeah,

00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:36.599
 would they have

00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.059
 been interested

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.839
 in that concern?

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:40.660
 Yeah,

00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.420
 unimaginable.

00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.000
 Isn't that

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.319
 like a,

00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:45.039
 isn't that

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.700
 like a Jewish

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.500
 obsession?

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:49.220
 Yeah.

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.859
 Paul's,

00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:52.319
 Paul's hearers

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.339
 in Athens

00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:55.099
 are so distant

00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:56.119
 from a gospel

00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:56.680
 framework

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:58.099
 that on their

00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:58.759
 first hearing,

00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.480
 if you,

00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:01.200
 if you look

00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:01.779
 at like verse

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.339
 18,

00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:04.059
 it seems like

00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:05.079
 when he was,

00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:05.859
 began to speak

00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:06.640
 about Jesus

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.440
 and the

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.119
 resurrection,

00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:09.799
 they,

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.660
 they would

00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.099
 have heard it

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.519
 in Greek,

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.420
 Jesus and

00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.480
 Anastasis,

00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.980
 which sometimes

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.339
 was a,

00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:15.920
 was a,

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.579
 was a name.

00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.859
 They probably

00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.639
 thought,

00:24:19.439 --> 00:24:20.339
 putting it in

00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:20.939
 their framework,

00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:21.720
 that he was

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.419
 talking about

00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:24.199
 the Jesus

00:24:24.199 --> 00:24:25.500
 and Anastasia

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:28.000
 like two

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.379
 deities.

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:28.980
 In Greek,

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.500
 you'd often have

00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.079
 double deities.

00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:30.720
 You'd have one

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.299
 deity and then

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.839
 the consort

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.419
 and the two

00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:32.819
 deities would

00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.359
 come together.

00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.559
 And that

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.720
 seems to be

00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.859
 what they

00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:37.579
 understood him

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:37.839
 first.

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.419
 Verse 18,

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:38.740
 notice,

00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.599
 he seems to be

00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.679
 speaking about

00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:42.419
 strange deities,

00:24:42.919 --> 00:24:43.139
 plural.

00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:44.360
 At least,

00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:44.780
 this is what

00:24:44.780 --> 00:24:45.340
 Chrysostom

00:24:45.340 --> 00:24:46.220
 thought in

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.780
 his commentary

00:24:46.780 --> 00:24:47.700
 on this.

00:24:48.520 --> 00:24:49.280
 Complete

00:24:49.280 --> 00:24:50.220
 incomprehension.

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.920
 So,

00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:52.540
 no,

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.200
 the apostle

00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.900
 can't just

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.560
 do what he's

00:24:56.560 --> 00:24:57.020
 used to.

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.500
 He has to

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:58.960
 change his

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.420
 approach.

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.620
 And he does.

00:25:01.320 --> 00:25:01.980
 He changes

00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.560
 his approach.

00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:03.320
 So,

00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.160
 let's ask

00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:04.740
 first,

00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:05.940
 what does

00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:06.660
 he do?

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.220
 And then

00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:08.560
 second,

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.700
 we'll ask,

00:25:10.280 --> 00:25:10.840
 how did he

00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:11.259
 get there?

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:11.980
 Okay,

00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:12.519
 so first,

00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:13.599
 what does

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.599
 he do?

00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.299
 Anybody remember

00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:16.879
 from the story?

00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:17.779
 How does he

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.420
 manage to

00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:19.059
 engage them?

00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:21.400
 How does he

00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:21.819
 manage,

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:24.240
 what does he

00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:25.619
 do to begin

00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.079
 to get a

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.940
 conversation with

00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.539
 them that

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:29.720
 actually gets

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.339
 in gear with

00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:30.539
 them?

00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.359
 He starts

00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:32.339
 from creation

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.059
 and world

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.460
 to build.

00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:34.619
 Yeah,

00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:35.059
 yeah,

00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:35.519
 he goes back,

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.140
 he finds

00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:37.500
 something that

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:37.920
 they have in

00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.119
 common.

00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:38.299
 Do you

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:38.680
 remember what

00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.240
 he found

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.660
 that sparked

00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:41.420
 his conversation?

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.000
 Anybody

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.580
 remember what

00:25:43.580 --> 00:25:43.960
 he found?

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.560
 Yeah,

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:47.960
 yeah,

00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:49.380
 that's right.

00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:49.860
 Yeah,

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.279
 Amanda,

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.360
 he says,

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.180
 I was walking

00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:53.080
 through your

00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:54.060
 territory and

00:25:54.060 --> 00:25:54.920
 I saw this

00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.500
 altar with

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.019
 the inscription

00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.480
 on it,

00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:58.500
 to the

00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.019
 unknown

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.620
 God.

00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:01.980
 So,

00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:02.480
 he's found

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.000
 something that

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.640
 they actually

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.840
 care about.

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:05.740
 And he

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:07.500
 starts with

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.120
 that.

00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:12.500
 he translates

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.419
 the gospel

00:26:13.419 --> 00:26:14.939
 into the

00:26:14.939 --> 00:26:16.579
 terms of

00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.399
 something that

00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.419
 they care

00:26:18.419 --> 00:26:18.839
 about.

00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.619
 He gives

00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.179
 the gospel

00:26:21.179 --> 00:26:22.219
 as an answer

00:26:22.219 --> 00:26:23.579
 to their

00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:24.179
 question,

00:26:24.459 --> 00:26:26.079
 to the

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.500
 unknown

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.239
 God altar.

00:26:28.959 --> 00:26:30.059
 He connects

00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.079
 the gospel

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.719
 to their

00:26:31.719 --> 00:26:32.779
 cultural interest

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.779
 in having a

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.379
 comprehensive

00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:35.859
 catalog of

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.279
 all the

00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:36.739
 gods.

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:38.059
 and this

00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.500
 was something

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:39.140
 very important

00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.559
 to them.

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:41.259
 Because if

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.900
 you left

00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.500
 out one

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:42.700
 of the

00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.180
 gods,

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.420
 these gods

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.400
 were peevish

00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:46.519
 and they

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:46.859
 could be

00:26:46.859 --> 00:26:47.579
 vindictive.

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.319
 And they

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:49.859
 might,

00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.880
 you know,

00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:51.759
 strike you

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.000
 with a

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.519
 thunderbolt.

00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.920
 Or they

00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:56.539
 might keep

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.500
 you from

00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.380
 blessings that

00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:58.680
 you might

00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.319
 otherwise have

00:26:59.319 --> 00:26:59.839
 if you

00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:00.460
 named them

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.120
 appropriately

00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:01.660
 and,

00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.480
 you know,

00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.160
 disemboweled

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:03.720
 your birds

00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.539
 and gave

00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:04.960
 them some

00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.500
 sweet-smelling

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:05.819
 aroma.

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.000
 Otherwise,

00:27:07.339 --> 00:27:08.039
 if not,

00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:08.500
 if we

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:08.799
 don't get

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.240
 all the

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.660
 gods and

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:09.960
 we miss

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.420
 one out,

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.900
 who knows

00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:12.480
 that we

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.440
 might not

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:15.240
 drown by

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.000
 shipwreck in

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.279
 the next

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:16.900
 ship voyage

00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.859
 that we

00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:18.180
 take.

00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.759
 Who knows

00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.299
 whether our

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:20.960
 new wife

00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.559
 or our

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.220
 new field

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.559
 that we

00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:22.920
 bought

00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:24.220
 will not

00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.779
 be fertile

00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:26.579
 unless we

00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.480
 manage to

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.000
 get all

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.740
 the appropriate

00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.559
 offerings.

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.539
 So this

00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:31.099
 was something

00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:31.539
 that was

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.640
 exceedingly

00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.480
 important to

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:33.839
 them.

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:34.900
 In fact,

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:35.860
 so as to

00:27:35.860 --> 00:27:36.160
 make sure

00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.400
 they didn't

00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:36.559
 miss,

00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:36.860
 they had

00:27:36.860 --> 00:27:37.120
 an altar

00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:37.440
 to an

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:37.640
 unknown

00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:37.900
 God.

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.339
 We're sure

00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:38.700
 you're out

00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.140
 there somewhere,

00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:39.759
 we just

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.140
 don't know

00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.500
 your name

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:40.700
 yet,

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.099
 but we're

00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:41.579
 covering our

00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:41.880
 bases.

00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:43.319
 It's something

00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:43.779
 that they

00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:45.759
 care about.

00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:48.120
 Wow,

00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.680
 that's pretty

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.140
 creative,

00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:50.559
 Paul.

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.920
 How did

00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.480
 you come up

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.039
 with that?

00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.259
 How did

00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:55.460
 he?

00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.620
 How did

00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:58.240
 he know

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.680
 about that?

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.059
 Did he just

00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:00.059
 read encyclopedias

00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.539
 a lot when he

00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:00.799
 was a little

00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.059
 boy?

00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.000
 How did he

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.460
 come up with

00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:02.759
 this?

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.380
 Non-rhetorical.

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:06.900
 How did

00:28:06.900 --> 00:28:07.920
 Paul come up

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.220
 with that?

00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:11.460
 Any thoughts?

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.039
 Just

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.680
 concretely.

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.700
 Yeah?

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.620
 Absolutely,

00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:26.059
 yeah,

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.640
 look at that.

00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:27.240
 As I

00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:28.019
 passed along,

00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:28.839
 I was

00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:29.839
 observing,

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.680
 verse 23,

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.440
 I think it's

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:31.799
 23,

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:31.919
 23.

00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:32.259
 Yeah,

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:32.659
 I was

00:28:32.659 --> 00:28:33.700
 observing.

00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:34.599
 See,

00:28:34.919 --> 00:28:35.279
 he's going

00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.019
 around and

00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.519
 he's there,

00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:37.119
 he's in this

00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:37.819
 new culture

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.980
 and he's

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.559
 just observing.

00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.480
 His antenna

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.419
 are up.

00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:42.819
 He's

00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.099
 starting to

00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:43.799
 take in all

00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.559
 this information.

00:28:45.139 --> 00:28:45.480
 What do

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:45.940
 these people

00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.500
 care about?

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.059
 What's

00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.659
 important to

00:28:47.659 --> 00:28:47.919
 them?

00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.059
 Where might

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.539
 I have a

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.079
 place where I

00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:50.559
 could start a

00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:52.099
 conversation on

00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:52.919
 some sort of

00:28:52.919 --> 00:28:53.960
 question that

00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.839
 they're asking?

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.299
 What are they

00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.019
 asking about?

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:57.220
 See,

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.619
 he's looking

00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:59.240
 for those

00:28:59.240 --> 00:28:59.599
 things.

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.319
 He's making

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:00.960
 all these,

00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.639
 he's like a

00:29:02.639 --> 00:29:02.960
 cultural

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.960
 anthropologist

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.740
 for the

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.180
 gospel.

00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:07.279
 Looking to

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.279
 see what

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:08.559
 do they

00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.299
 care about.

00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.119
 And

00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:13.180
 it's not

00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:14.119
 just a

00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:14.559
 matter of

00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.299
 observation

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.319
 too,

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.740
 he's also

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.299
 engaging them

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:19.259
 in conversations.

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.740
 That can be

00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.059
 a helpful

00:29:22.059 --> 00:29:22.700
 way too.

00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:23.579
 Notice in

00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:24.319
 verse 18,

00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.079
 he's going

00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:25.480
 into the

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.019
 marketplace,

00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:27.740
 the marketplace

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.240
 there,

00:29:28.679 --> 00:29:31.099
 that's the

00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:31.599
 agora,

00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:32.359
 kind of

00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:33.099
 functioned as

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:33.480
 like the

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.119
 watering hole,

00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:35.619
 everybody shows

00:29:35.619 --> 00:29:36.379
 up to talk

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:36.799
 about this,

00:29:36.879 --> 00:29:37.000
 that,

00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.379
 and everything,

00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.460
 sell their

00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:38.740
 wares,

00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.299
 hawk stuff,

00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:40.000
 sell art,

00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:40.720
 sculpture,

00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.579
 people wanted

00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:42.119
 to find a

00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:42.579
 job,

00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.079
 they'd go

00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.559
 down there,

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.659
 where'd you

00:29:44.659 --> 00:29:45.079
 go to get

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.599
 hired?

00:29:46.179 --> 00:29:46.500
 It's where

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.299
 everything went

00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:47.659
 on,

00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:48.639
 the best

00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:50.059
 place to

00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:51.099
 observe what

00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.819
 this culture

00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:52.879
 cares about,

00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:54.299
 what interest

00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:54.859
 them,

00:29:55.399 --> 00:29:55.879
 and that's

00:29:55.879 --> 00:29:56.159
 where he

00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:56.440
 starts

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.200
 conversations

00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:58.359
 to find

00:29:58.359 --> 00:30:00.259
 these things

00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.579
 out.

00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:02.460
 And he's

00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:02.799
 not just

00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:03.299
 engaged,

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:03.960
 he also

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:05.079
 seems engaging

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:06.039
 too.

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:07.440
 Notice

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.339
 verse 20,

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:08.720
 it says,

00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.200
 he brought

00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.960
 strange things

00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.359
 to their

00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:11.940
 ears,

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.399
 strange things

00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:13.659
 to their

00:30:13.659 --> 00:30:13.839
 ears.

00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:14.980
 I believe

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.919
 strange,

00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:16.759
 not in the

00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:17.079
 sense of

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:17.839
 just weird,

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.480
 rather maybe

00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.079
 in the sense

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.720
 of Sherlock

00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.740
 Holmes to

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.159
 Watson.

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:24.980
 strange,

00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:25.460
 Watson,

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.500
 isn't this

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.339
 strange?

00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:27.859
 There's

00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:28.559
 something to

00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.079
 this.

00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:31.039
 In other

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.339
 words,

00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:33.000
 salty,

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.819
 flavorful,

00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:36.440
 something that's

00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.419
 really interesting

00:30:37.419 --> 00:30:38.359
 and engaging.

00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:40.959
 the apostle

00:30:40.959 --> 00:30:41.579
 uses this

00:30:41.579 --> 00:30:42.539
 word in

00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.599
 Colossians 4,

00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:44.639
 6,

00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.019
 where he

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:45.519
 talks about,

00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:46.079
 hey,

00:30:46.179 --> 00:30:46.619
 believers,

00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:48.099
 let's make

00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:48.759
 our speech

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.199
 when we

00:30:49.199 --> 00:30:49.899
 engage with

00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:50.719
 unbelievers

00:30:50.719 --> 00:30:53.219
 really salty,

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:55.179
 really salty,

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.619
 Colossians 4,

00:30:56.719 --> 00:30:56.979
 6.

00:30:57.659 --> 00:30:58.619
 What does he

00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.939
 mean by salty?

00:31:00.459 --> 00:31:00.939
 Make it

00:31:00.939 --> 00:31:01.919
 flavorful.

00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:03.179
 Make it

00:31:03.179 --> 00:31:03.939
 flavorful.

00:31:04.139 --> 00:31:04.539
 Yeah,

00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:05.220
 yeah.

00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:07.899
 Have you

00:31:07.899 --> 00:31:08.399
 ever found

00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:10.019
 yourself among

00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:11.899
 really salty

00:31:11.899 --> 00:31:13.159
 conversationalists?

00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.220
 What's that

00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:14.659
 like?

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:15.859
 What makes

00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:16.619
 a conversation

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:17.759
 salty,

00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:19.339
 flavorful?

00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:20.379
 Any thoughts?

00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:23.740
 Interesting,

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.139
 yeah,

00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:24.420
 yeah,

00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:24.639
 yeah.

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:24.879
 Oh,

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.079
 wow,

00:31:25.159 --> 00:31:25.480
 this is

00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:25.879
 interesting.

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.240
 Sometimes I'm

00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:27.819
 embarrassed to

00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:28.000
 say,

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:28.920
 sometimes I'm

00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:29.980
 like in some

00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.839
 sort of crowded

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.359
 situation,

00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:31.720
 I'm in a

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.240
 conversation

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.140
 with like

00:31:33.140 --> 00:31:34.200
 utterly

00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:35.259
 unsalted

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.120
 interlocutors

00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:36.839
 or whatever,

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.160
 you know,

00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:38.599
 but my ear

00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:39.859
 catches something

00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:40.519
 salty,

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.799
 and then half

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.660
 of my brain

00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:44.980
 is kind of

00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.579
 listening in

00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:46.140
 on this other

00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.359
 column,

00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:46.980
 because it's

00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.559
 just really

00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.740
 flavorful and

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.279
 interesting,

00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:51.519
 and this is

00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.059
 something that

00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:53.059
 can be so

00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.220
 helpful.

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.559
 You're just

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:54.279
 drawn to

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:54.500
 that,

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:54.980
 aren't you?

00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.160
 It says of

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:57.599
 Jesus,

00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:58.519
 I can't remember

00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:58.900
 where,

00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:00.059
 that the

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:01.200
 crowd loved

00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:01.980
 to hear

00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:02.360
 him,

00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:03.680
 loved to

00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:04.279
 hear him,

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.100
 so they

00:32:05.100 --> 00:32:05.559
 crowd around,

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.080
 and you

00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:06.779
 look at some

00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:06.980
 of these

00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.279
 sayings,

00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:08.080
 it's in the

00:32:08.080 --> 00:32:08.759
 context of

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:08.980
 saying,

00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:09.380
 hey,

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:09.600
 well,

00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:09.840
 you know,

00:32:10.120 --> 00:32:10.539
 this is

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:10.960
 interesting,

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.160
 have you

00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:11.539
 ever thought

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.160
 about this?

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:14.319
 Psalm says,

00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:14.799
 hey,

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:17.180
 my Lord

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:17.559
 says,

00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.920
 my Lord

00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:19.279
 said to

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:19.700
 his Lord,

00:32:19.819 --> 00:32:20.100
 sit at

00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.460
 thy right

00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:20.640
 hand,

00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:20.799
 who,

00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.059
 wait,

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:22.160
 how do

00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:22.480
 you solve

00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:22.700
 that?

00:32:22.840 --> 00:32:23.360
 We've got

00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:23.740
 a paradox

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.039
 here,

00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:24.779
 who's he

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.340
 talking about,

00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:25.580
 what do

00:32:25.580 --> 00:32:26.000
 you think?

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:26.460
 Anybody

00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:26.980
 have thoughts

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.400
 out there?

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:28.900
 Salty,

00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.940
 suddenly there's

00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:30.440
 a crowd,

00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:31.380
 he's in

00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:31.820
 the temple,

00:32:32.840 --> 00:32:33.000
 you know,

00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:33.259
 some of

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:33.340
 you,

00:32:33.580 --> 00:32:34.120
 oh boy,

00:32:34.820 --> 00:32:36.500
 those boring

00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:37.019
 Pharisees,

00:32:37.100 --> 00:32:37.380
 oh no,

00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:37.539
 no,

00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.000
 they're walking

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.299
 over to

00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:38.600
 Jesus,

00:32:38.840 --> 00:32:39.080
 oh,

00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:39.740
 there's

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:39.860
 going to

00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:40.059
 be an

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.299
 encounter,

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.100
 Jesus is

00:32:41.100 --> 00:32:41.420
 salty,

00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:42.200
 let's,

00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:42.880
 can't wait

00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.279
 to hear

00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:43.980
 how this

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.440
 interaction

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:44.680
 is going

00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:44.980
 to go,

00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:46.539
 so we

00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:46.799
 want to,

00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.240
 we want to,

00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:47.900
 we want to try

00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.840
 to be salty

00:32:48.840 --> 00:32:49.779
 and flavorful

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.039
 in our

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.500
 encounters

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.380
 with

00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:51.860
 unbelievers,

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.600
 and let's,

00:32:52.600 --> 00:32:53.380
 let's zoom

00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:54.259
 in a little

00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:54.860
 bit and,

00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.279
 and be

00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.799
 curious about

00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:57.620
 the topic

00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.479
 that Paul

00:32:58.479 --> 00:32:59.079
 selected,

00:32:59.519 --> 00:32:59.719
 you know,

00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:00.819
 that Amanda

00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.519
 identified,

00:33:01.939 --> 00:33:03.439
 this altar

00:33:03.439 --> 00:33:03.939
 to an

00:33:03.939 --> 00:33:04.339
 unknown

00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:04.899
 God,

00:33:05.159 --> 00:33:05.619
 okay,

00:33:06.279 --> 00:33:06.959
 and,

00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:08.879
 so,

00:33:09.439 --> 00:33:10.679
 what might

00:33:10.679 --> 00:33:11.299
 have made

00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:12.739
 this a

00:33:12.739 --> 00:33:13.859
 really promising

00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:15.239
 choice

00:33:15.239 --> 00:33:17.679
 for a

00:33:17.679 --> 00:33:18.159
 topic

00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:19.599
 to wrap

00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:20.159
 the gospel

00:33:20.159 --> 00:33:20.819
 around?

00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:22.599
 how would

00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:22.839
 he have

00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:23.399
 been able

00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:23.679
 to hope,

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:23.939
 you know

00:33:23.939 --> 00:33:24.119
 what,

00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:25.139
 I bet

00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:25.500
 you this

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:25.859
 one's going

00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.259
 to connect

00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:26.700
 with him,

00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:27.720
 what might

00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:27.960
 have been

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.879
 some of

00:33:28.879 --> 00:33:29.859
 the features

00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:31.720
 about that

00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:33.039
 particular

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:34.319
 topic that

00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:34.619
 would have

00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:35.000
 made it

00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:35.619
 perhaps very

00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:36.319
 promising

00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:38.460
 an effort

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.799
 in,

00:33:39.899 --> 00:33:40.359
 in regard

00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:40.720
 to the

00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:41.259
 Athenian

00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:41.819
 culture

00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.579
 broadly,

00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:43.539
 any thoughts?

00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:49.319
 yeah,

00:33:49.379 --> 00:33:49.579
 there was

00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.599
 an inscription

00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:51.059
 there,

00:33:51.180 --> 00:33:51.440
 so that

00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:51.659
 would have

00:33:51.659 --> 00:33:51.759
 been

00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:52.000
 something

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.220
 that he

00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:52.440
 could have

00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:52.960
 referred to

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.759
 concretely,

00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:54.159
 yeah,

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.559
 yeah,

00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:54.680
 yeah,

00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:56.680
 yeah,

00:33:56.680 --> 00:33:58.740
 yeah,

00:33:58.740 --> 00:34:01.180
 was it,

00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:01.639
 was,

00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:02.619
 was that

00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:03.259
 something a

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:04.000
 little eccentric,

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:04.639
 you know,

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:04.940
 what if,

00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:05.379
 what if he

00:34:05.379 --> 00:34:05.700
 would have,

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:07.819
 would have

00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.320
 tied it to

00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:08.719
 some sort

00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.279
 of strange

00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:09.880
 little topic

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.239
 that would

00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:10.519
 have been

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.279
 in one of

00:34:11.279 --> 00:34:11.639
 these little

00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:12.500
 vendors booths

00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:12.980
 where nobody's

00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:13.500
 buying anything

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:13.900
 anyway,

00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:14.360
 you know,

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.480
 the little,

00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:17.159
 I don't know,

00:34:17.219 --> 00:34:18.460
 little carvings

00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:18.960
 of one

00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:19.559
 particular

00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.460
 strange thing

00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:20.800
 that nobody

00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.139
 wanted,

00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.659
 well,

00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:22.079
 I'll connect

00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:22.539
 it to that,

00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:23.179
 obviously,

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:23.739
 this is very

00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:24.119
 popular,

00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:24.780
 not,

00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:31.460
 yeah,

00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:33.019
 it's unknown,

00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:33.820
 excellent,

00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:34.920
 to the unknown

00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:35.260
 God,

00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:35.960
 in other words,

00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:36.639
 he connects

00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.260
 it to something

00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:38.760
 that they have

00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:39.800
 acknowledged

00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:41.039
 questions about,

00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:41.440
 yeah,

00:34:41.579 --> 00:34:42.179
 and then they

00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:42.760
 have interest,

00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:43.720
 there you go,

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.580
 excellent,

00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:44.940
 yeah,

00:34:45.080 --> 00:34:46.080
 there's a good

00:34:46.080 --> 00:34:46.460
 thing,

00:34:46.580 --> 00:34:47.260
 if we,

00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:47.960
 again,

00:34:48.100 --> 00:34:48.560
 he knew that

00:34:48.560 --> 00:34:48.880
 it was their

00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:49.600
 question because

00:34:49.600 --> 00:34:50.400
 he's unknown,

00:34:50.540 --> 00:34:51.280
 we wish we

00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:51.740
 did know,

00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.440
 we have a

00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:53.080
 question about

00:34:53.080 --> 00:34:53.480
 this,

00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:54.100
 so yeah,

00:34:54.260 --> 00:34:54.820
 what are,

00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.100
 yeah,

00:34:55.200 --> 00:34:56.000
 that's a great

00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.380
 one,

00:34:56.380 --> 00:35:00.320
 what about

00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:01.680
 its pervasiveness,

00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:04.180
 it reflected,

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.360
 this concern,

00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.240
 this interest,

00:35:07.240 --> 00:35:08.119
 reflected no

00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:08.820
 eccentric

00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.579
 pocket,

00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:10.860
 not like,

00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:11.099
 you know,

00:35:11.140 --> 00:35:11.420
 the little

00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:11.800
 vendor that

00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:12.079
 was trying

00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:12.400
 to sell,

00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:12.800
 who knows

00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:13.019
 what,

00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:13.840
 burnt pancakes

00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:14.240
 and nobody

00:35:14.240 --> 00:35:14.539
 cared,

00:35:14.640 --> 00:35:14.940
 nobody was

00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:15.340
 interested at

00:35:15.340 --> 00:35:15.460
 all,

00:35:15.660 --> 00:35:15.800
 no,

00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:15.940
 no,

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.039
 no,

00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.099
 no,

00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:16.260
 no,

00:35:16.260 --> 00:35:16.980
 it says

00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.619
 the city,

00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:18.320
 verse 16,

00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:19.420
 was full

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.280
 of idols,

00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:21.480
 full of

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:21.840
 idols,

00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:23.579
 this is

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.039
 something

00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:24.579
 that's really

00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:25.140
 pervasive,

00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:27.579
 in the

00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:28.220
 Baedeker of

00:35:28.220 --> 00:35:28.820
 those days,

00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.480
 they actually

00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:29.840
 had these

00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:30.440
 tour books

00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:31.039
 and they

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.200
 said,

00:35:31.420 --> 00:35:31.840
 Athens,

00:35:32.200 --> 00:35:32.660
 you can't

00:35:32.660 --> 00:35:33.300
 miss Athens,

00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:33.680
 it's an

00:35:33.680 --> 00:35:34.400
 amazing city,

00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:34.980
 there are

00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:35.539
 more idols

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:35.860
 than there

00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:36.340
 are people,

00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:37.960
 so this is

00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:38.559
 something really,

00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.700
 really pervasive,

00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:41.280
 so yeah,

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:41.700
 we have good,

00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:42.000
 yeah,

00:35:42.100 --> 00:35:42.260
 yeah,

00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:43.460
 I have an

00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:44.760
 idea of

00:35:44.760 --> 00:35:45.120
 that,

00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:46.079
 but not

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:47.079
 coming home

00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:47.820
 to Jesus

00:35:47.820 --> 00:35:48.579
 and he

00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:49.039
 got so

00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.660
 interested

00:35:49.660 --> 00:35:50.420
 he became

00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:50.940
 a follower

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.300
 of us,

00:35:51.380 --> 00:35:51.660
 you know,

00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.019
 left,

00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:52.500
 that means

00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:53.219
 yeah,

00:35:53.259 --> 00:35:55.299
 yeah,

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:55.639
 yeah,

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:56.000
 yeah,

00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:56.059
 yeah,

00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:58.059
 yeah,

00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:58.139
 yeah,

00:35:58.139 --> 00:35:58.480
 yeah,

00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:00.619
 yeah,

00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:00.719
 yeah,

00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:08.259
 right,

00:36:08.339 --> 00:36:08.559
 right,

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:08.859
 right,

00:36:08.859 --> 00:36:08.879
 right,

00:36:08.879 --> 00:36:11.699
 that's right,

00:36:11.759 --> 00:36:12.460
 that's right,

00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:14.559
 that's right,

00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:15.899
 very much,

00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:18.440
 yeah,

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:18.940
 and this,

00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.539
 and it

00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:20.059
 wasn't a

00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:20.659
 matter of

00:36:20.659 --> 00:36:21.339
 tepid

00:36:21.339 --> 00:36:22.480
 interest,

00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:23.779
 just slender

00:36:23.779 --> 00:36:24.159
 interest,

00:36:24.259 --> 00:36:24.980
 slight interest,

00:36:25.379 --> 00:36:25.839
 no,

00:36:26.839 --> 00:36:28.199
 this

00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:28.960
 engaged

00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:29.799
 their passions

00:36:29.799 --> 00:36:31.359
 intensely,

00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:32.079
 there was an

00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:32.799
 intensity

00:36:32.799 --> 00:36:33.719
 to their

00:36:33.719 --> 00:36:34.259
 passions about

00:36:34.259 --> 00:36:34.460
 this,

00:36:34.759 --> 00:36:35.159
 notice how

00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:35.899
 Paul observed

00:36:35.899 --> 00:36:37.000
 that they

00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:38.420
 were very

00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:38.980
 religious

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:40.460
 in all

00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:41.079
 respects,

00:36:41.399 --> 00:36:42.019
 verse 22,

00:36:43.399 --> 00:36:43.539
 okay,

00:36:43.719 --> 00:36:44.719
 find something

00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:45.639
 for which the

00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:46.059
 person is

00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:47.879
 very intensely

00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:48.539
 interested,

00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:49.420
 or passionate

00:36:49.420 --> 00:36:49.840
 about,

00:36:50.760 --> 00:36:51.200
 and that's

00:36:51.200 --> 00:36:51.740
 likely to be

00:36:51.740 --> 00:36:52.039
 a more

00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:52.400
 interesting

00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:53.119
 conversation,

00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:54.019
 more interesting

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:54.400
 one,

00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:57.300
 and

00:36:57.300 --> 00:36:58.500
 the,

00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:59.700
 and particularly

00:36:59.700 --> 00:36:59.980
 too,

00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:00.519
 there's something

00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:00.820
 about,

00:37:01.220 --> 00:37:02.180
 he ties it to

00:37:02.180 --> 00:37:03.099
 their objects

00:37:03.099 --> 00:37:04.220
 of worship,

00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:05.860
 worship,

00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:07.000
 when you

00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:08.220
 can find out

00:37:08.220 --> 00:37:09.000
 what a

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.400
 person

00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:10.500
 worships,

00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:11.300
 and by

00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:11.619
 worship,

00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:12.619
 our worship,

00:37:12.619 --> 00:37:12.960
 the word

00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:13.920
 worship comes

00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:14.799
 from worth,

00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.799
 what is it

00:37:16.799 --> 00:37:18.139
 that this

00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.779
 person

00:37:18.779 --> 00:37:20.079
 ascribes

00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:21.079
 supreme

00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:21.819
 worth,

00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:22.599
 or weightiness

00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:22.980
 to,

00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:24.460
 if you can

00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:25.159
 connect up

00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:26.099
 with that,

00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:28.139
 you will have

00:37:28.139 --> 00:37:29.179
 yourself a

00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:30.239
 really good

00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:30.920
 and deep

00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:31.940
 conversation,

00:37:32.339 --> 00:37:33.359
 because people

00:37:33.359 --> 00:37:33.859
 care about

00:37:33.859 --> 00:37:34.779
 nothing more

00:37:34.779 --> 00:37:36.079
 than what they

00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:36.559
 worship,

00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:37.559
 whatever that

00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:38.179
 might be,

00:37:38.179 --> 00:37:42.079
 love,

00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:43.000
 yes,

00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:43.319
 yes,

00:37:43.359 --> 00:37:44.539
 your,

00:37:44.599 --> 00:37:44.839
 your,

00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.799
 your most

00:37:45.799 --> 00:37:46.379
 intense,

00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.339
 your supreme

00:37:47.339 --> 00:37:47.759
 love,

00:37:47.819 --> 00:37:48.039
 what you

00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:48.960
 ascribe maximum

00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:49.719
 worth to,

00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:50.779
 and weightiness

00:37:50.779 --> 00:37:51.139
 to,

00:37:51.699 --> 00:37:52.139
 that's,

00:37:52.219 --> 00:37:53.079
 that's the

00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:53.819
 table in the

00:37:53.819 --> 00:37:54.239
 middle of the

00:37:54.239 --> 00:37:54.799
 dance floor

00:37:54.799 --> 00:37:55.139
 that you're

00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:55.599
 going to bump

00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.399
 into all

00:37:56.399 --> 00:37:56.940
 the time,

00:37:57.379 --> 00:37:57.539
 okay,

00:37:57.639 --> 00:37:58.339
 so these,

00:37:58.639 --> 00:37:59.039
 these,

00:37:59.039 --> 00:38:00.279
 such characteristics

00:38:00.279 --> 00:38:02.619
 would indicate

00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:03.440
 a promising

00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:05.279
 place for

00:38:05.279 --> 00:38:05.919
 engagement,

00:38:06.399 --> 00:38:06.940
 so when we

00:38:06.940 --> 00:38:07.480
 go around,

00:38:07.699 --> 00:38:07.899
 you know,

00:38:07.900 --> 00:38:08.180
 as our

00:38:08.180 --> 00:38:08.539
 cultural

00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:09.220
 anthropologist

00:38:09.220 --> 00:38:09.500
 for the

00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:09.820
 gospel,

00:38:10.260 --> 00:38:10.980
 looking for,

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.960
 looking for

00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:13.019
 doors for

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:13.599
 the gospel,

00:38:14.220 --> 00:38:15.460
 we want to

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:15.820
 look for

00:38:15.820 --> 00:38:18.380
 things where,

00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:19.099
 for the

00:38:19.099 --> 00:38:19.940
 gospel message,

00:38:20.780 --> 00:38:21.420
 and we

00:38:21.420 --> 00:38:21.840
 should be

00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:22.519
 particularly

00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:23.760
 attentive to

00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.480
 matters that

00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:25.579
 are pervasive,

00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:26.820
 remember,

00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:27.599
 idols everywhere,

00:38:29.260 --> 00:38:29.700
 prominent,

00:38:31.660 --> 00:38:32.619
 passion laden,

00:38:34.200 --> 00:38:34.700
 puzzling,

00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:36.940
 and prized.

00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:38.639
 so,

00:38:39.220 --> 00:38:39.800
 and it

00:38:39.800 --> 00:38:41.000
 has some

00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:41.220
 of those

00:38:41.220 --> 00:38:41.639
 characteristics,

00:38:41.780 --> 00:38:42.159
 that's probably

00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:42.860
 a real promising

00:38:42.860 --> 00:38:44.460
 place to

00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:45.480
 connect the

00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:46.079
 gospel to,

00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:50.840
 and if we

00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:51.980
 fail to

00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:53.760
 connect the

00:38:53.760 --> 00:38:54.579
 gospel to

00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:55.280
 issues that

00:38:55.280 --> 00:38:56.360
 matter most

00:38:56.360 --> 00:38:57.360
 to our

00:38:57.360 --> 00:38:57.800
 hearers,

00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:58.720
 we will

00:38:58.720 --> 00:38:59.840
 inevitably

00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:01.800
 and fatally

00:39:01.800 --> 00:39:04.039
 reinforce the

00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:04.539
 sense that they

00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.179
 probably already

00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:07.539
 have of the

00:39:07.539 --> 00:39:08.480
 utter irrelevance

00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:08.719
 of our

00:39:08.719 --> 00:39:09.119
 message.

00:39:09.860 --> 00:39:10.420
 Most people

00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:11.019
 already think

00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:11.199
 that,

00:39:11.320 --> 00:39:14.460
 what possible

00:39:14.460 --> 00:39:15.920
 relevance could

00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:16.440
 this have to

00:39:16.440 --> 00:39:16.639
 me?

00:39:17.300 --> 00:39:18.219
 And if we

00:39:18.219 --> 00:39:18.880
 don't connect

00:39:18.880 --> 00:39:19.360
 it to things

00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:19.699
 that they care

00:39:19.699 --> 00:39:20.000
 about in their

00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:20.440
 life, it'll

00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:20.900
 just reinforce

00:39:20.900 --> 00:39:21.279
 that.

00:39:21.699 --> 00:39:21.880
 Yeah,

00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:22.480
 that's what I

00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:22.719
 thought.

00:39:23.719 --> 00:39:23.940
 You know,

00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:24.079
 what,

00:39:24.139 --> 00:39:25.559
 they wanted me

00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:26.119
 to have a

00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:27.000
 conversation about

00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:28.000
 the atoning

00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.480
 blood of a

00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:28.840
 Nazarene

00:39:28.840 --> 00:39:29.260
 carpenter?

00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:30.239
 Huh?

00:39:33.480 --> 00:39:33.960
 So,

00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:36.739
 let's ask

00:39:36.739 --> 00:39:37.360
 briefly,

00:39:38.260 --> 00:39:39.719
 let's ask

00:39:39.719 --> 00:39:40.000
 briefly,

00:39:40.139 --> 00:39:40.260
 yeah,

00:39:40.300 --> 00:39:40.460
 yeah,

00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:40.599
 yeah,

00:39:40.599 --> 00:39:40.860
 Richard.

00:39:43.360 --> 00:39:44.260
 It seems

00:39:44.260 --> 00:39:44.820
 this would,

00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:45.719
 on the part

00:39:45.719 --> 00:39:46.159
 of us,

00:39:46.300 --> 00:39:46.900
 the part of

00:39:46.900 --> 00:39:47.300
 the witness

00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:47.719
 bearers,

00:39:47.760 --> 00:39:47.940
 right?

00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:48.559
 It seems

00:39:48.559 --> 00:39:49.320
 this would

00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:50.059
 take some

00:39:50.059 --> 00:39:51.440
 hard

00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:52.300
 imagining

00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:54.119
 to make

00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:54.880
 the connections,

00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:56.380
 especially

00:39:56.380 --> 00:39:57.340
 with our

00:39:57.340 --> 00:39:58.619
 pre-existing

00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:59.140
 Christian

00:39:59.140 --> 00:39:59.800
 mindset.

00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:00.400
 Yes,

00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:01.260
 yes.

00:40:02.420 --> 00:40:02.680
 So,

00:40:03.320 --> 00:40:04.960
 well,

00:40:05.320 --> 00:40:05.760
 I'm sure.

00:40:05.980 --> 00:40:06.140
 No,

00:40:06.200 --> 00:40:06.320
 no,

00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:06.460
 no,

00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:06.539
 no,

00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:06.579
 no,

00:40:06.660 --> 00:40:06.940
 go ahead.

00:40:07.059 --> 00:40:07.340
 How do

00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:07.579
 you do

00:40:07.579 --> 00:40:07.800
 this?

00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:08.059
 How do

00:40:08.059 --> 00:40:08.260
 we get

00:40:08.260 --> 00:40:08.480
 this?

00:40:08.780 --> 00:40:09.380
 And that's

00:40:09.380 --> 00:40:09.820
 exactly

00:40:09.820 --> 00:40:10.440
 where I

00:40:10.440 --> 00:40:10.680
 want to

00:40:10.680 --> 00:40:10.860
 go.

00:40:11.079 --> 00:40:11.440
 What would

00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:11.740
 encourage

00:40:11.740 --> 00:40:11.940
 us?

00:40:11.980 --> 00:40:12.320
 Because I

00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:12.720
 do think

00:40:12.720 --> 00:40:14.260
 this takes

00:40:14.260 --> 00:40:14.880
 some

00:40:14.880 --> 00:40:15.780
 attention

00:40:15.780 --> 00:40:16.820
 and care.

00:40:18.220 --> 00:40:18.619
 And one

00:40:18.619 --> 00:40:18.820
 of the

00:40:18.820 --> 00:40:19.599
 things,

00:40:19.780 --> 00:40:20.539
 we started

00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:20.880
 with our

00:40:20.880 --> 00:40:21.500
 motives,

00:40:22.160 --> 00:40:22.660
 and one

00:40:22.660 --> 00:40:22.860
 of them

00:40:22.860 --> 00:40:23.260
 is love

00:40:23.260 --> 00:40:23.780
 of neighbor.

00:40:23.780 --> 00:40:23.840
 neighbor,

00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:24.940
 and I

00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:25.400
 think that

00:40:25.400 --> 00:40:26.360
 this flows

00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:27.400
 most naturally

00:40:27.400 --> 00:40:28.019
 out of love

00:40:28.019 --> 00:40:28.519
 of neighbor,

00:40:29.220 --> 00:40:29.820
 where I

00:40:29.820 --> 00:40:31.100
 genuinely care

00:40:31.100 --> 00:40:31.600
 about this

00:40:31.600 --> 00:40:32.000
 person.

00:40:32.300 --> 00:40:32.760
 What do

00:40:32.760 --> 00:40:33.260
 they care

00:40:33.260 --> 00:40:33.640
 about?

00:40:34.480 --> 00:40:34.860
 Let me

00:40:34.860 --> 00:40:37.660
 discern,

00:40:38.080 --> 00:40:38.920
 and I'm

00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:39.280
 going to

00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:40.340
 adapt my

00:40:40.340 --> 00:40:41.360
 language and

00:40:41.360 --> 00:40:42.260
 my approach

00:40:42.260 --> 00:40:43.080
 to this

00:40:43.080 --> 00:40:43.640
 person because

00:40:43.640 --> 00:40:44.240
 I want to

00:40:44.240 --> 00:40:44.460
 have a

00:40:44.460 --> 00:40:44.900
 conversation

00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:45.480
 in the

00:40:45.480 --> 00:40:45.780
 same way

00:40:45.780 --> 00:40:45.980
 that I

00:40:45.980 --> 00:40:46.200
 do with

00:40:46.200 --> 00:40:46.780
 my wife.

00:40:48.360 --> 00:40:48.519
 You know,

00:40:48.580 --> 00:40:48.700
 well,

00:40:48.920 --> 00:40:49.780
 let me

00:40:49.780 --> 00:40:50.720
 translate this

00:40:50.720 --> 00:40:51.200
 into some

00:40:51.200 --> 00:40:51.620
 sort of

00:40:51.620 --> 00:40:52.080
 vernacular

00:40:52.080 --> 00:40:52.920
 that will

00:40:52.920 --> 00:40:53.560
 allow us.

00:40:53.559 --> 00:40:54.119
 Let me

00:40:54.119 --> 00:40:54.820
 accommodate

00:40:54.820 --> 00:40:55.820
 them.

00:40:58.219 --> 00:40:58.519
 So,

00:40:59.139 --> 00:41:00.119
 in one

00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:00.340
 sense,

00:41:00.860 --> 00:41:01.659
 Paul has

00:41:01.659 --> 00:41:02.179
 connected it

00:41:02.179 --> 00:41:02.460
 to these,

00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:03.159
 he's speaking

00:41:03.159 --> 00:41:03.420
 to a

00:41:03.420 --> 00:41:03.699
 crowd,

00:41:03.799 --> 00:41:04.079
 so he

00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:04.400
 has to

00:41:04.400 --> 00:41:04.820
 pick things

00:41:04.820 --> 00:41:05.000
 that are

00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:05.259
 kind of

00:41:05.259 --> 00:41:06.019
 broadly,

00:41:06.199 --> 00:41:06.759
 these broad

00:41:06.759 --> 00:41:07.259
 cultural

00:41:07.259 --> 00:41:07.920
 aspirations,

00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.259
 kind of

00:41:08.259 --> 00:41:08.880
 collective

00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:09.639
 aspirations,

00:41:10.039 --> 00:41:10.460
 to that

00:41:10.460 --> 00:41:11.299
 culture.

00:41:12.360 --> 00:41:12.579
 Now,

00:41:12.659 --> 00:41:12.960
 of course,

00:41:13.380 --> 00:41:15.320
 we all

00:41:15.320 --> 00:41:16.199
 as individuals

00:41:16.199 --> 00:41:17.219
 inhabit our

00:41:17.219 --> 00:41:17.460
 own

00:41:17.460 --> 00:41:18.320
 microcultures.

00:41:19.259 --> 00:41:19.599
 So if

00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:19.880
 you're having

00:41:19.880 --> 00:41:20.380
 a conversation

00:41:20.380 --> 00:41:20.900
 with one

00:41:20.900 --> 00:41:21.279
 person,

00:41:21.559 --> 00:41:21.779
 I mean,

00:41:21.780 --> 00:41:22.100
 you might

00:41:22.100 --> 00:41:22.540
 guess that

00:41:22.540 --> 00:41:22.840
 they might

00:41:22.840 --> 00:41:23.560
 reflect the

00:41:23.560 --> 00:41:24.519
 generality of

00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:25.080
 humanity,

00:41:26.180 --> 00:41:26.600
 you might

00:41:26.600 --> 00:41:27.100
 guess,

00:41:27.220 --> 00:41:27.380
 well,

00:41:27.500 --> 00:41:28.200
 relationships are

00:41:28.200 --> 00:41:28.440
 important,

00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:28.880
 probably,

00:41:29.019 --> 00:41:29.420
 with all

00:41:29.420 --> 00:41:29.980
 human beings,

00:41:30.080 --> 00:41:30.440
 probably,

00:41:30.760 --> 00:41:31.460
 or maybe

00:41:31.460 --> 00:41:31.880
 a little

00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:32.900
 cultural gets

00:41:32.900 --> 00:41:33.340
 smaller and

00:41:33.340 --> 00:41:33.700
 smaller and

00:41:33.700 --> 00:41:33.960
 smaller.

00:41:34.120 --> 00:41:34.280
 Well,

00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:34.540
 yeah,

00:41:34.600 --> 00:41:35.580
 Americans are

00:41:35.580 --> 00:41:36.100
 obsessed by

00:41:36.100 --> 00:41:36.440
 this,

00:41:36.660 --> 00:41:37.560
 or Nigerians

00:41:37.560 --> 00:41:38.019
 are obsessed

00:41:38.019 --> 00:41:38.220
 by,

00:41:38.340 --> 00:41:38.440
 you know,

00:41:38.720 --> 00:41:41.160
 but eventually

00:41:41.160 --> 00:41:41.620
 it's going to

00:41:41.620 --> 00:41:42.100
 get down to

00:41:42.100 --> 00:41:43.040
 the individual,

00:41:43.300 --> 00:41:43.660
 and yeah,

00:41:43.740 --> 00:41:44.240
 it takes a lot

00:41:44.240 --> 00:41:44.580
 of work,

00:41:44.640 --> 00:41:44.820
 Richard,

00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:46.180
 to figure out,

00:41:46.440 --> 00:41:47.180
 it takes asking

00:41:47.180 --> 00:41:47.840
 a question or

00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:48.040
 two.

00:41:48.719 --> 00:41:49.079
 What do

00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:49.759
 you care

00:41:49.759 --> 00:41:50.000
 about?

00:41:50.639 --> 00:41:50.960
 Yesterday,

00:41:51.079 --> 00:41:51.320
 I was in

00:41:51.320 --> 00:41:51.679
 the sauna,

00:41:52.279 --> 00:41:52.500
 and there

00:41:52.500 --> 00:41:52.880
 was a fellow

00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:53.800
 that I wanted

00:41:53.800 --> 00:41:54.179
 to find out,

00:41:54.219 --> 00:41:54.480
 what does he

00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:54.800
 care about

00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:55.159
 most?

00:41:55.860 --> 00:41:56.119
 And I

00:41:56.119 --> 00:41:56.719
 probably have

00:41:56.719 --> 00:41:57.099
 two minutes,

00:41:57.159 --> 00:41:57.320
 so I've

00:41:57.320 --> 00:41:57.599
 got to move

00:41:57.599 --> 00:41:57.940
 fast,

00:41:58.940 --> 00:41:59.759
 and I said,

00:41:59.820 --> 00:41:59.960
 hey,

00:42:00.619 --> 00:42:02.940
 what if you

00:42:02.940 --> 00:42:03.519
 were to find

00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:03.940
 this really

00:42:03.940 --> 00:42:04.860
 cool Aladdin's

00:42:04.860 --> 00:42:05.139
 lamp,

00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:05.519
 and you could

00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:05.860
 rub it,

00:42:05.900 --> 00:42:06.099
 and you'd

00:42:06.099 --> 00:42:06.460
 get three

00:42:06.460 --> 00:42:06.860
 wishes,

00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:09.099
 just in

00:42:09.099 --> 00:42:10.659
 terms of what

00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:10.920
 you would

00:42:10.920 --> 00:42:11.279
 want to do

00:42:11.279 --> 00:42:11.800
 in the world?

00:42:12.639 --> 00:42:13.239
 What would

00:42:13.239 --> 00:42:13.639
 those three

00:42:13.639 --> 00:42:14.239
 wishes be for

00:42:14.239 --> 00:42:14.440
 you?

00:42:15.900 --> 00:42:16.380
 He said,

00:42:16.420 --> 00:42:16.519
 oh,

00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:16.719
 wow,

00:42:16.779 --> 00:42:16.920
 wow,

00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:17.119
 that's

00:42:17.119 --> 00:42:17.460
 interesting.

00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:17.679
 Well,

00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:18.199
 I think I'd

00:42:18.199 --> 00:42:18.699
 really want,

00:42:19.720 --> 00:42:20.800
 where do we

00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:21.059
 go?

00:42:21.599 --> 00:42:22.159
 To a complete

00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:22.780
 stranger,

00:42:25.360 --> 00:42:27.059
 within about

00:42:27.059 --> 00:42:27.720
 30 seconds,

00:42:27.980 --> 00:42:28.720
 I was finding

00:42:28.720 --> 00:42:29.340
 out the

00:42:29.340 --> 00:42:29.780
 things that he

00:42:29.780 --> 00:42:30.559
 cared about

00:42:30.559 --> 00:42:32.260
 most in

00:42:32.260 --> 00:42:32.639
 the world,

00:42:33.099 --> 00:42:33.400
 because he

00:42:33.400 --> 00:42:33.599
 would want

00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:33.960
 to change.

00:42:34.240 --> 00:42:34.519
 So you

00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:35.539
 think about

00:42:35.539 --> 00:42:36.240
 questions that

00:42:36.240 --> 00:42:37.340
 you might be

00:42:37.340 --> 00:42:37.840
 able to ask

00:42:37.840 --> 00:42:38.599
 to get at

00:42:38.599 --> 00:42:38.880
 that,

00:42:39.300 --> 00:42:40.019
 conversations,

00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:41.260
 and then he

00:42:41.260 --> 00:42:41.639
 gave something

00:42:41.639 --> 00:42:41.860
 and says,

00:42:42.019 --> 00:42:42.480
 now I know

00:42:42.480 --> 00:42:42.840
 what he cares

00:42:42.840 --> 00:42:43.119
 about.

00:42:43.740 --> 00:42:44.059
 Let me

00:42:44.059 --> 00:42:44.480
 connect that,

00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:44.840
 I'll follow

00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:45.019
 up.

00:42:45.260 --> 00:42:45.440
 You know,

00:42:45.500 --> 00:42:45.740
 that's

00:42:45.740 --> 00:42:46.119
 intriguing.

00:42:46.119 --> 00:42:47.440
 I've been

00:42:47.440 --> 00:42:48.559
 grappling with

00:42:48.559 --> 00:42:48.980
 that too,

00:42:49.119 --> 00:42:49.699
 and to me

00:42:49.699 --> 00:42:50.139
 the question

00:42:50.139 --> 00:42:50.679
 really seems

00:42:50.679 --> 00:42:51.199
 to be this,

00:42:51.460 --> 00:42:52.079
 and on from

00:42:52.079 --> 00:42:52.319
 there.

00:42:52.940 --> 00:42:53.920
 But it

00:42:53.920 --> 00:42:54.739
 helped to

00:42:54.739 --> 00:42:55.219
 connect.

00:42:56.279 --> 00:42:56.619
 If I would

00:42:56.619 --> 00:42:56.819
 have just

00:42:56.819 --> 00:42:57.380
 come in and

00:42:57.380 --> 00:42:57.559
 said,

00:42:57.940 --> 00:42:58.239
 have you ever

00:42:58.239 --> 00:42:58.500
 heard of the

00:42:58.500 --> 00:42:58.960
 four spiritual

00:42:58.960 --> 00:42:59.500
 laws?

00:43:00.259 --> 00:43:01.139
 That might not

00:43:01.139 --> 00:43:02.420
 have been able

00:43:02.420 --> 00:43:02.719
 to have the

00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:03.179
 same connection

00:43:03.179 --> 00:43:03.460
 because it

00:43:03.460 --> 00:43:03.920
 doesn't line

00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:04.219
 up with the

00:43:04.219 --> 00:43:04.579
 concern.

00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:04.619
 word.

00:43:05.239 --> 00:43:06.319
 So, yes.

00:43:08.840 --> 00:43:09.440
 All right.

00:43:09.559 --> 00:43:10.000
 Where are

00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:10.420
 we here?

00:43:18.900 --> 00:43:19.559
 Ah, yes,

00:43:19.619 --> 00:43:20.059
 yes, yes.

00:43:20.059 --> 00:43:24.119
 So, it's

00:43:24.119 --> 00:43:24.679
 also very

00:43:24.679 --> 00:43:25.420
 instructive to

00:43:25.420 --> 00:43:26.860
 notice that

00:43:26.860 --> 00:43:27.739
 the apostle in

00:43:27.739 --> 00:43:28.380
 his engagement

00:43:28.380 --> 00:43:28.719
 with the

00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:29.440
 Athenians

00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:31.099
 opens with

00:43:31.099 --> 00:43:32.420
 affirmation.

00:43:33.139 --> 00:43:33.699
 Did you

00:43:33.699 --> 00:43:34.340
 notice that?

00:43:34.579 --> 00:43:35.619
 Verse 22.

00:43:36.739 --> 00:43:37.099
 Men of

00:43:37.099 --> 00:43:37.539
 Athens,

00:43:38.460 --> 00:43:39.059
 I perceive

00:43:39.059 --> 00:43:39.900
 that in

00:43:39.900 --> 00:43:40.599
 every way

00:43:40.599 --> 00:43:41.119
 you are

00:43:41.119 --> 00:43:41.759
 very

00:43:41.759 --> 00:43:42.860
 religious.

00:43:43.739 --> 00:43:44.500
 Every way

00:43:44.500 --> 00:43:44.759
 you are

00:43:44.759 --> 00:43:45.059
 very

00:43:45.059 --> 00:43:45.539
 religious.

00:43:45.880 --> 00:43:46.579
 Verse 22.

00:43:47.880 --> 00:43:48.179
 So, he's

00:43:48.179 --> 00:43:48.759
 not trying to

00:43:48.759 --> 00:43:49.340
 insult them.

00:43:49.599 --> 00:43:50.579
 No, no.

00:43:50.679 --> 00:43:50.900
 He didn't

00:43:50.900 --> 00:43:51.639
 start out of

00:43:51.639 --> 00:43:52.380
 the gate

00:43:52.380 --> 00:43:52.960
 slapping them.

00:43:53.920 --> 00:43:54.819
 You pagans

00:43:54.819 --> 00:43:55.340
 believe all

00:43:55.340 --> 00:43:55.679
 the wrong

00:43:55.679 --> 00:43:56.380
 things and

00:43:56.380 --> 00:43:56.860
 your behavior

00:43:56.860 --> 00:43:57.699
 is obnoxious.

00:43:58.299 --> 00:43:58.759
 Let me tell

00:43:58.759 --> 00:43:59.199
 you the right

00:43:59.199 --> 00:43:59.799
 thing to believe

00:43:59.799 --> 00:44:00.199
 and the right

00:44:00.199 --> 00:44:00.840
 way to live.

00:44:01.460 --> 00:44:01.619
 Well, I

00:44:01.619 --> 00:44:02.239
 slap them

00:44:02.239 --> 00:44:02.599
 right out of

00:44:02.599 --> 00:44:03.019
 the gate.

00:44:03.019 --> 00:44:04.219
 No, no,

00:44:04.280 --> 00:44:04.420
 no.

00:44:04.719 --> 00:44:05.360
 So, why

00:44:05.360 --> 00:44:05.719
 do you think

00:44:05.719 --> 00:44:07.159
 it might be

00:44:07.159 --> 00:44:08.480
 helpfully

00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:09.980
 significant to

00:44:09.980 --> 00:44:10.460
 lead with

00:44:10.460 --> 00:44:11.199
 affirmation?

00:44:14.800 --> 00:44:15.360
 Why do you

00:44:15.360 --> 00:44:15.579
 think that

00:44:15.579 --> 00:44:15.820
 might be

00:44:15.820 --> 00:44:16.199
 important?

00:44:16.440 --> 00:44:16.759
 Yeah, yeah,

00:44:16.860 --> 00:44:17.099
 Kevin.

00:44:17.380 --> 00:44:17.800
 They'll stay

00:44:17.800 --> 00:44:18.199
 willing to

00:44:18.199 --> 00:44:18.440
 listen.

00:44:18.679 --> 00:44:19.800
 That's right.

00:44:20.539 --> 00:44:21.119
 That's right.

00:44:21.579 --> 00:44:22.179
 They'll be

00:44:22.179 --> 00:44:22.539
 willing to

00:44:22.539 --> 00:44:22.820
 listen.

00:44:23.380 --> 00:44:23.679
 I mean, if

00:44:23.679 --> 00:44:24.800
 you open up

00:44:24.800 --> 00:44:25.460
 with criticism

00:44:25.460 --> 00:44:26.239
 or contradiction,

00:44:26.739 --> 00:44:27.380
 you risk

00:44:27.380 --> 00:44:28.239
 souring

00:44:28.239 --> 00:44:29.739
 irritation right

00:44:29.739 --> 00:44:30.099
 out of the

00:44:30.099 --> 00:44:31.219
 gate and an

00:44:31.219 --> 00:44:31.819
 untimely

00:44:31.819 --> 00:44:33.119
 offense on

00:44:33.119 --> 00:44:33.339
 the part

00:44:33.339 --> 00:44:33.519
 of your

00:44:33.519 --> 00:44:33.879
 hearers.

00:44:34.799 --> 00:44:35.779
 It sets

00:44:35.779 --> 00:44:36.199
 up the

00:44:36.199 --> 00:44:36.359
 whole

00:44:36.359 --> 00:44:37.019
 conversation

00:44:37.019 --> 00:44:38.259
 oppositionally.

00:44:38.959 --> 00:44:39.559
 They dig

00:44:39.559 --> 00:44:39.899
 in their

00:44:39.899 --> 00:44:40.199
 heels.

00:44:40.279 --> 00:44:40.539
 You're trying

00:44:40.539 --> 00:44:41.059
 to change

00:44:41.059 --> 00:44:41.439
 me.

00:44:42.899 --> 00:44:43.480
 Well, that's

00:44:43.480 --> 00:44:44.139
 unpromising.

00:44:46.239 --> 00:44:47.099
 And notice

00:44:47.099 --> 00:44:47.699
 Paul doesn't

00:44:47.699 --> 00:44:48.739
 simply lead

00:44:48.739 --> 00:44:49.539
 with affirmation.

00:44:49.799 --> 00:44:50.699
 He looks

00:44:50.699 --> 00:44:51.679
 for opportunities

00:44:51.679 --> 00:44:52.779
 for agreement

00:44:52.779 --> 00:44:53.459
 and points of

00:44:53.459 --> 00:44:54.359
 alignment where

00:44:54.359 --> 00:44:54.779
 they can be

00:44:54.779 --> 00:44:55.039
 found.

00:44:55.139 --> 00:44:55.579
 Did you notice

00:44:55.579 --> 00:44:56.079
 that in the

00:44:56.079 --> 00:44:57.279
 text, too,

00:44:58.059 --> 00:44:58.459
 where he

00:44:58.459 --> 00:44:59.799
 favorably invokes

00:44:59.800 --> 00:45:01.360
 Epimenides of

00:45:01.360 --> 00:45:01.780
 Crete.

00:45:02.680 --> 00:45:03.280
 He cites

00:45:03.280 --> 00:45:03.960
 their poets.

00:45:04.220 --> 00:45:04.780
 In him, we

00:45:04.780 --> 00:45:05.420
 live and move

00:45:05.420 --> 00:45:06.080
 and have our

00:45:06.080 --> 00:45:06.480
 being.

00:45:07.519 --> 00:45:08.480
 He cites

00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:08.900
 Eratus.

00:45:10.080 --> 00:45:10.539
 We are

00:45:10.539 --> 00:45:11.280
 indeed his

00:45:11.280 --> 00:45:11.700
 offspring.

00:45:11.880 --> 00:45:12.320
 Eratus,

00:45:12.640 --> 00:45:13.200
 it said,

00:45:13.300 --> 00:45:13.460
 you know,

00:45:13.500 --> 00:45:14.120
 verse 28,

00:45:15.039 --> 00:45:15.420
 says we're

00:45:15.420 --> 00:45:16.360
 his offspring.

00:45:16.620 --> 00:45:18.420
 This word

00:45:18.420 --> 00:45:19.400
 indeed,

00:45:19.720 --> 00:45:20.340
 indeed,

00:45:20.700 --> 00:45:21.320
 could stand

00:45:21.320 --> 00:45:21.900
 as cipher

00:45:21.900 --> 00:45:22.840
 for this sort

00:45:22.840 --> 00:45:23.280
 of approach

00:45:23.280 --> 00:45:23.600
 or even

00:45:23.600 --> 00:45:24.180
 attitude.

00:45:25.680 --> 00:45:26.120
 Indeed.

00:45:26.820 --> 00:45:27.539
 Look for

00:45:27.539 --> 00:45:28.360
 opportunities in

00:45:28.360 --> 00:45:28.880
 your conversation

00:45:28.880 --> 00:45:29.300
 to say,

00:45:29.460 --> 00:45:29.820
 indeed.

00:45:30.360 --> 00:45:30.619
 In other

00:45:30.619 --> 00:45:30.720
 words,

00:45:30.920 --> 00:45:31.220
 yeah,

00:45:31.300 --> 00:45:31.700
 I think

00:45:31.700 --> 00:45:32.119
 your instinct

00:45:32.119 --> 00:45:32.660
 is right

00:45:32.660 --> 00:45:33.180
 on this.

00:45:33.559 --> 00:45:34.240
 I think

00:45:34.240 --> 00:45:34.579
 you're on

00:45:34.579 --> 00:45:34.940
 to something.

00:45:35.099 --> 00:45:35.480
 Yeah,

00:45:35.680 --> 00:45:36.300
 that's a

00:45:36.300 --> 00:45:36.720
 thread we

00:45:36.720 --> 00:45:37.220
 should pull.

00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:39.140
 That seems

00:45:39.140 --> 00:45:39.760
 to be right

00:45:39.760 --> 00:45:40.240
 to me.

00:45:40.539 --> 00:45:40.960
 Let's think

00:45:40.960 --> 00:45:41.420
 about this

00:45:41.420 --> 00:45:41.800
 together.

00:45:42.640 --> 00:45:43.320
 Looking for

00:45:43.320 --> 00:45:43.840
 ways to

00:45:43.840 --> 00:45:44.340
 affirm.

00:45:45.960 --> 00:45:47.220
 You genuinely

00:45:47.220 --> 00:45:47.740
 can.

00:45:48.599 --> 00:45:49.119
 Sincerely.

00:45:50.800 --> 00:45:51.320
 So,

00:45:51.700 --> 00:45:52.420
 it helps

00:45:52.420 --> 00:45:53.599
 if we

00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:54.360
 as witness

00:45:54.360 --> 00:45:55.079
 bearers

00:45:55.079 --> 00:45:56.519
 can be,

00:45:56.619 --> 00:45:56.780
 you know,

00:45:56.820 --> 00:45:57.079
 you're kind

00:45:57.079 --> 00:45:57.360
 of picking

00:45:57.360 --> 00:45:57.800
 this up.

00:45:58.039 --> 00:45:58.920
 We want

00:45:58.920 --> 00:45:59.200
 to be

00:45:59.200 --> 00:46:00.280
 versatile

00:46:00.280 --> 00:46:02.720
 and adaptable

00:46:02.720 --> 00:46:03.160
 to our

00:46:03.160 --> 00:46:03.640
 hearers.

00:46:03.800 --> 00:46:04.019
 I think

00:46:04.019 --> 00:46:04.820
 we're probably

00:46:04.820 --> 00:46:05.500
 picking that

00:46:05.500 --> 00:46:06.019
 up as one

00:46:06.019 --> 00:46:06.460
 of the themes

00:46:06.460 --> 00:46:06.700
 here.

00:46:07.660 --> 00:46:08.019
 Versatile

00:46:08.019 --> 00:46:08.960
 and adaptable.

00:46:09.740 --> 00:46:10.300
 We want

00:46:10.300 --> 00:46:10.500
 to kind

00:46:10.500 --> 00:46:11.019
 of cultivate

00:46:11.019 --> 00:46:11.660
 a capacity

00:46:11.660 --> 00:46:12.039
 to be like

00:46:12.039 --> 00:46:12.320
 a good

00:46:12.320 --> 00:46:13.000
 travel adapter.

00:46:13.099 --> 00:46:13.340
 You guys

00:46:13.340 --> 00:46:13.800
 are travelers.

00:46:13.920 --> 00:46:14.019
 You know

00:46:14.019 --> 00:46:14.380
 what I mean.

00:46:14.720 --> 00:46:15.680
 You can get

00:46:15.680 --> 00:46:16.140
 this thing

00:46:16.140 --> 00:46:16.340
 and it's

00:46:16.340 --> 00:46:16.620
 like a

00:46:16.620 --> 00:46:17.320
 multi-plug

00:46:17.320 --> 00:46:17.840
 and wherever

00:46:17.840 --> 00:46:18.340
 you land,

00:46:18.440 --> 00:46:18.900
 Albania,

00:46:19.059 --> 00:46:19.320
 China,

00:46:19.519 --> 00:46:19.960
 Singapore,

00:46:20.200 --> 00:46:20.780
 you flip that

00:46:20.780 --> 00:46:21.200
 around and

00:46:21.200 --> 00:46:21.599
 you can figure

00:46:21.599 --> 00:46:22.039
 out how to

00:46:22.039 --> 00:46:22.559
 put it in the

00:46:22.559 --> 00:46:24.079
 plug and get

00:46:24.079 --> 00:46:24.480
 your laptop

00:46:24.480 --> 00:46:24.940
 plugged in

00:46:24.940 --> 00:46:25.180
 and there's

00:46:25.180 --> 00:46:25.760
 a connection.

00:46:26.059 --> 00:46:26.260
 Boom,

00:46:26.260 --> 00:46:26.600
 there's a

00:46:26.600 --> 00:46:27.080
 charge.

00:46:27.980 --> 00:46:28.540
 And that's

00:46:28.540 --> 00:46:28.920
 what we want

00:46:28.920 --> 00:46:29.480
 to be like,

00:46:29.580 --> 00:46:30.040
 like a good

00:46:30.040 --> 00:46:30.700
 travel adapter.

00:46:31.120 --> 00:46:31.560
 So wherever

00:46:31.560 --> 00:46:32.020
 we are with

00:46:32.020 --> 00:46:32.540
 any person,

00:46:32.620 --> 00:46:32.840
 you find

00:46:32.840 --> 00:46:33.160
 yourself with

00:46:33.160 --> 00:46:33.520
 this person,

00:46:33.600 --> 00:46:33.940
 that person,

00:46:34.000 --> 00:46:34.220
 the other

00:46:34.220 --> 00:46:34.580
 person,

00:46:34.580 --> 00:46:35.580
 you can figure

00:46:35.580 --> 00:46:36.000
 out how to

00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:36.220
 get a

00:46:36.220 --> 00:46:36.580
 connection.

00:46:36.780 --> 00:46:37.100
 Adapt

00:46:37.100 --> 00:46:38.460
 yourself to

00:46:38.460 --> 00:46:39.340
 get plugged

00:46:39.340 --> 00:46:39.800
 in with

00:46:39.800 --> 00:46:40.980
 them and

00:46:40.980 --> 00:46:41.780
 adapt to

00:46:41.780 --> 00:46:42.500
 them so you

00:46:42.500 --> 00:46:43.060
 can get a

00:46:43.060 --> 00:46:43.440
 connection,

00:46:43.880 --> 00:46:44.720
 get a charge

00:46:44.720 --> 00:46:46.140
 in any context

00:46:46.140 --> 00:46:47.260
 that you find

00:46:47.260 --> 00:46:47.600
 yourself.

00:46:48.460 --> 00:46:48.840
 And finally,

00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:49.820
 let's ask,

00:46:49.820 --> 00:46:51.320
 does the

00:46:51.320 --> 00:46:52.320
 gospel come

00:46:52.320 --> 00:46:52.940
 to our

00:46:52.940 --> 00:46:53.840
 aid here?

00:46:54.620 --> 00:46:55.240
 Does the

00:46:55.240 --> 00:46:56.480
 gospel itself

00:46:56.480 --> 00:46:57.600
 give us

00:46:57.600 --> 00:46:58.539
 any resources

00:46:58.539 --> 00:47:00.019
 such that

00:47:00.019 --> 00:47:00.780
 our message

00:47:00.780 --> 00:47:01.880
 and connection

00:47:01.880 --> 00:47:03.380
 point could

00:47:03.380 --> 00:47:04.080
 be adaptable?

00:47:06.160 --> 00:47:06.700
 Without

00:47:06.700 --> 00:47:07.460
 wavering a

00:47:07.460 --> 00:47:08.140
 whisker from

00:47:08.140 --> 00:47:08.500
 Paul's

00:47:08.500 --> 00:47:09.200
 assistance in

00:47:09.200 --> 00:47:11.500
 Galatians 1.6,

00:47:11.700 --> 00:47:12.200
 that there's

00:47:12.200 --> 00:47:12.700
 only one

00:47:12.700 --> 00:47:13.140
 gospel,

00:47:13.480 --> 00:47:14.000
 only one

00:47:14.000 --> 00:47:14.440
 gospel.

00:47:15.039 --> 00:47:15.740
 If you

00:47:15.740 --> 00:47:16.160
 verge from

00:47:16.160 --> 00:47:16.740
 that gospel,

00:47:16.880 --> 00:47:17.260
 there's no

00:47:17.260 --> 00:47:18.140
 gospel at all,

00:47:18.139 --> 00:47:19.079
 Paul says

00:47:19.079 --> 00:47:19.960
 very insistently,

00:47:20.460 --> 00:47:22.400
 does he

00:47:22.400 --> 00:47:23.039
 mean by

00:47:23.039 --> 00:47:24.679
 that that

00:47:24.679 --> 00:47:25.219
 the gospel

00:47:25.219 --> 00:47:25.699
 can have

00:47:25.699 --> 00:47:27.139
 no variations

00:47:27.139 --> 00:47:28.599
 that are

00:47:28.599 --> 00:47:29.960
 not distortions?

00:47:31.019 --> 00:47:31.719
 Does he

00:47:31.719 --> 00:47:32.199
 mean that?

00:47:33.039 --> 00:47:33.819
 Perhaps we

00:47:33.819 --> 00:47:34.420
 could get at

00:47:34.420 --> 00:47:34.900
 that answer

00:47:34.900 --> 00:47:35.559
 by asking,

00:47:36.059 --> 00:47:36.839
 and I'll

00:47:36.839 --> 00:47:37.339
 ask you,

00:47:37.559 --> 00:47:38.179
 I'll ask us,

00:47:38.299 --> 00:47:38.980
 when Jesus

00:47:38.980 --> 00:47:39.839
 spoke about

00:47:39.839 --> 00:47:40.219
 the kingdom

00:47:40.219 --> 00:47:40.719
 of God

00:47:40.719 --> 00:47:41.039
 and of

00:47:41.039 --> 00:47:41.639
 himself,

00:47:42.699 --> 00:47:43.179
 did he

00:47:43.179 --> 00:47:43.819
 always speak

00:47:43.819 --> 00:47:44.139
 of it in

00:47:44.139 --> 00:47:44.699
 exactly the

00:47:44.699 --> 00:47:45.179
 same way?

00:47:48.139 --> 00:47:49.779
 Give me

00:47:49.779 --> 00:47:50.379
 some examples.

00:47:51.099 --> 00:47:51.779
 When Jesus

00:47:51.779 --> 00:47:52.900
 was talking

00:47:52.900 --> 00:47:53.400
 about the

00:47:53.400 --> 00:47:53.659
 gospel

00:47:53.659 --> 00:47:54.079
 himself,

00:47:54.779 --> 00:47:55.420
 how would

00:47:55.420 --> 00:47:56.000
 be ways

00:47:56.000 --> 00:47:56.279
 in which

00:47:56.279 --> 00:47:56.639
 he would

00:47:56.639 --> 00:47:57.519
 introduce

00:47:57.519 --> 00:47:57.819
 it?

00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:58.279
 What sort

00:47:58.279 --> 00:47:59.239
 of terminology

00:47:59.239 --> 00:47:59.539
 would he

00:47:59.539 --> 00:47:59.799
 use?

00:48:01.839 --> 00:48:02.299
 Kingdom

00:48:02.299 --> 00:48:02.980
 of God

00:48:02.980 --> 00:48:04.980
 is like,

00:48:05.079 --> 00:48:05.279
 yeah,

00:48:05.400 --> 00:48:06.859
 is like.

00:48:07.519 --> 00:48:07.980
 What are

00:48:07.980 --> 00:48:08.199
 some of

00:48:08.199 --> 00:48:08.539
 the things?

00:48:08.839 --> 00:48:09.659
 Living

00:48:09.659 --> 00:48:10.719
 water,

00:48:10.859 --> 00:48:11.000
 yeah,

00:48:11.099 --> 00:48:12.699
 living water,

00:48:12.920 --> 00:48:13.099
 yeah,

00:48:13.420 --> 00:48:13.980
 light,

00:48:14.379 --> 00:48:14.859
 bread from

00:48:14.859 --> 00:48:15.179
 heaven.

00:48:15.179 --> 00:48:15.279
 heaven.

00:48:17.759 --> 00:48:18.460
 It's like

00:48:18.460 --> 00:48:19.719
 a person

00:48:19.719 --> 00:48:20.519
 that runs

00:48:20.519 --> 00:48:20.899
 away from

00:48:20.899 --> 00:48:21.460
 his father

00:48:21.460 --> 00:48:22.899
 and doesn't

00:48:22.899 --> 00:48:23.379
 go well

00:48:23.379 --> 00:48:23.960
 and comes

00:48:23.960 --> 00:48:24.419
 back.

00:48:24.619 --> 00:48:25.000
 It's about

00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:25.460
 home.

00:48:27.460 --> 00:48:28.179
 What else?

00:48:28.899 --> 00:48:29.819
 Like a

00:48:29.819 --> 00:48:30.460
 farmer who

00:48:30.460 --> 00:48:30.839
 went out

00:48:30.839 --> 00:48:31.359
 and sowed

00:48:31.359 --> 00:48:31.619
 seeds.

00:48:31.819 --> 00:48:31.980
 Yeah,

00:48:32.019 --> 00:48:32.379
 exactly.

00:48:32.859 --> 00:48:33.019
 Yeah,

00:48:33.259 --> 00:48:33.539
 and a

00:48:33.539 --> 00:48:33.899
 harvest.

00:48:34.239 --> 00:48:34.379
 Kingdom

00:48:34.379 --> 00:48:34.859
 of God

00:48:34.859 --> 00:48:35.919
 is like a

00:48:35.919 --> 00:48:36.239
 period of

00:48:36.239 --> 00:48:36.619
 time when

00:48:36.619 --> 00:48:36.940
 the seed

00:48:36.940 --> 00:48:37.440
 is sown

00:48:37.440 --> 00:48:38.440
 and there

00:48:38.440 --> 00:48:38.699
 will be

00:48:38.699 --> 00:48:39.440
 a great

00:48:39.440 --> 00:48:40.719
 harvest and

00:48:40.719 --> 00:48:40.940
 you want

00:48:40.940 --> 00:48:41.239
 to be on

00:48:41.239 --> 00:48:41.519
 the right

00:48:41.519 --> 00:48:41.799
 side of

00:48:41.799 --> 00:48:42.119
 the angels

00:48:42.119 --> 00:48:42.440
 in that

00:48:42.440 --> 00:48:42.899
 harvest.

00:48:43.699 --> 00:48:43.899
 Yeah,

00:48:44.059 --> 00:48:44.279
 exactly.

00:48:44.280 --> 00:48:45.400
 Look at

00:48:45.400 --> 00:48:45.720
 that.

00:48:46.060 --> 00:48:46.360
 It's just

00:48:46.360 --> 00:48:47.460
 there's a

00:48:47.460 --> 00:48:48.000
 tropical

00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:49.140
 profusion

00:48:49.140 --> 00:48:50.000
 of different

00:48:50.000 --> 00:48:51.320
 metaphors

00:48:51.320 --> 00:48:52.000
 and tropes

00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:52.900
 and images

00:48:52.900 --> 00:48:54.120
 and ways

00:48:54.120 --> 00:48:54.580
 in which

00:48:54.580 --> 00:48:55.600
 he would

00:48:55.600 --> 00:48:56.220
 communicate

00:48:56.220 --> 00:48:56.820
 this.

00:48:57.200 --> 00:48:57.840
 Unbelievable

00:48:57.840 --> 00:48:58.900
 variety.

00:49:00.640 --> 00:49:01.400
 How about

00:49:01.400 --> 00:49:03.120
 the apostles

00:49:03.120 --> 00:49:03.820
 that we see

00:49:03.820 --> 00:49:04.740
 in the epistles

00:49:04.740 --> 00:49:05.240
 and stuff?

00:49:07.200 --> 00:49:08.780
 Do we

00:49:08.780 --> 00:49:09.500
 see any

00:49:09.500 --> 00:49:09.940
 sort of

00:49:09.940 --> 00:49:10.540
 variation

00:49:10.540 --> 00:49:11.780
 on gospel

00:49:11.780 --> 00:49:12.600
 themes there?

00:49:12.599 --> 00:49:13.880
 What are

00:49:13.880 --> 00:49:14.139
 some of

00:49:14.139 --> 00:49:16.059
 the themes

00:49:16.059 --> 00:49:16.259
 that are

00:49:16.259 --> 00:49:16.639
 used in

00:49:16.639 --> 00:49:17.559
 the epistles

00:49:17.559 --> 00:49:19.719
 for the

00:49:19.719 --> 00:49:20.059
 gospel?

00:49:21.779 --> 00:49:22.339
 It's

00:49:22.339 --> 00:49:22.940
 unfolded

00:49:22.940 --> 00:49:23.360
 in terms

00:49:23.360 --> 00:49:23.799
 of?

00:49:28.799 --> 00:49:29.239
 Never

00:49:29.239 --> 00:49:29.920
 give up.

00:49:30.239 --> 00:49:30.880
 Never give

00:49:30.880 --> 00:49:31.059
 up?

00:49:31.139 --> 00:49:31.259
 Yeah,

00:49:31.339 --> 00:49:31.819
 perseverance.

00:49:32.179 --> 00:49:32.299
 Yeah,

00:49:32.980 --> 00:49:34.139
 adoption,

00:49:35.079 --> 00:49:35.639
 reconciliation,

00:49:36.679 --> 00:49:37.380
 justification,

00:49:37.380 --> 00:49:42.099
 union with

00:49:42.099 --> 00:49:42.640
 Christ.

00:49:44.940 --> 00:49:45.840
 They're all

00:49:45.840 --> 00:49:46.880
 kinds.

00:49:47.240 --> 00:49:47.420
 It's

00:49:47.420 --> 00:49:47.480
 just

00:49:47.480 --> 00:49:48.059
 unbelievable.

00:49:48.559 --> 00:49:49.160
 Resurrection,

00:49:49.380 --> 00:49:49.860
 exactly.

00:49:50.500 --> 00:49:51.059
 Eternal

00:49:51.059 --> 00:49:51.700
 life,

00:49:52.440 --> 00:49:53.019
 life from

00:49:53.019 --> 00:49:53.440
 above,

00:49:53.680 --> 00:49:55.740
 suffering and

00:49:55.740 --> 00:49:56.220
 victory,

00:49:57.880 --> 00:49:59.280
 sickness to

00:49:59.280 --> 00:49:59.619
 healing.

00:49:59.619 --> 00:50:01.059
 it's

00:50:01.059 --> 00:50:01.819
 unbelievably

00:50:01.819 --> 00:50:02.519
 rich.

00:50:03.059 --> 00:50:03.159
 It's

00:50:03.159 --> 00:50:03.739
 unbelievably

00:50:03.739 --> 00:50:04.359
 rich.

00:50:10.819 --> 00:50:11.460
 Yes,

00:50:12.719 --> 00:50:13.079
 yes.

00:50:14.079 --> 00:50:14.639
 Security,

00:50:15.719 --> 00:50:16.480
 invulnerability,

00:50:16.619 --> 00:50:17.239
 the vicissitudes

00:50:17.239 --> 00:50:17.719
 of life,

00:50:17.880 --> 00:50:18.500
 joy in the

00:50:18.500 --> 00:50:18.940
 midst of

00:50:18.940 --> 00:50:19.519
 suffering.

00:50:20.719 --> 00:50:21.359
 It's just,

00:50:21.539 --> 00:50:21.880
 I mean,

00:50:21.960 --> 00:50:22.279
 again,

00:50:22.339 --> 00:50:22.940
 a tropical

00:50:22.940 --> 00:50:23.599
 profusion.

00:50:24.719 --> 00:50:24.900
 I'm going

00:50:24.900 --> 00:50:25.159
 to queue

00:50:25.159 --> 00:50:25.460
 you up,

00:50:25.539 --> 00:50:25.679
 Alan,

00:50:25.759 --> 00:50:27.039
 in about a

00:50:27.039 --> 00:50:27.440
 minute here.

00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:30.139
 it would

00:50:30.139 --> 00:50:30.760
 seem,

00:50:31.000 --> 00:50:31.480
 friends,

00:50:31.659 --> 00:50:32.720
 that there

00:50:32.720 --> 00:50:33.800
 is a

00:50:33.800 --> 00:50:34.539
 rich

00:50:34.539 --> 00:50:35.260
 abundance

00:50:35.260 --> 00:50:36.380
 of the

00:50:36.380 --> 00:50:36.980
 themes

00:50:36.980 --> 00:50:38.280
 along which

00:50:38.280 --> 00:50:38.720
 we can

00:50:38.720 --> 00:50:39.519
 unfold the

00:50:39.519 --> 00:50:39.920
 gospel.

00:50:41.440 --> 00:50:42.220
 To use a

00:50:42.220 --> 00:50:43.099
 musical analogy,

00:50:43.500 --> 00:50:44.280
 perhaps we

00:50:44.280 --> 00:50:44.800
 might say

00:50:44.800 --> 00:50:45.179
 that the

00:50:45.179 --> 00:50:46.559
 gospel is

00:50:46.559 --> 00:50:48.539
 a melody

00:50:48.539 --> 00:50:49.980
 that has

00:50:49.980 --> 00:50:50.980
 multiple

00:50:50.980 --> 00:50:52.400
 themes and

00:50:52.400 --> 00:50:53.000
 variations.

00:50:53.740 --> 00:50:54.700
 A melody

00:50:54.700 --> 00:50:55.800
 with multiple

00:50:55.800 --> 00:50:57.300
 themes and

00:50:57.300 --> 00:50:57.900
 variations.

00:50:59.900 --> 00:51:00.300
 You never

00:51:00.300 --> 00:51:00.880
 get bored.

00:51:01.060 --> 00:51:01.700
 Exactly.

00:51:02.200 --> 00:51:03.000
 There's an

00:51:03.000 --> 00:51:04.100
 infinity to

00:51:04.100 --> 00:51:04.300
 it.

00:51:05.019 --> 00:51:05.680
 And some

00:51:05.680 --> 00:51:06.200
 of these

00:51:06.200 --> 00:51:07.019
 themes and

00:51:07.019 --> 00:51:07.660
 variations

00:51:07.660 --> 00:51:09.960
 may resonate

00:51:09.960 --> 00:51:11.840
 more with

00:51:11.840 --> 00:51:12.900
 certain hearers

00:51:12.900 --> 00:51:13.600
 and some

00:51:13.600 --> 00:51:14.380
 with others.

00:51:15.960 --> 00:51:16.680
 There is

00:51:16.680 --> 00:51:17.440
 one gospel,

00:51:17.580 --> 00:51:17.920
 we want to

00:51:17.920 --> 00:51:18.380
 affirm with

00:51:18.380 --> 00:51:18.760
 Paul in

00:51:18.760 --> 00:51:19.140
 Galatians,

00:51:19.240 --> 00:51:19.920
 one gospel,

00:51:20.200 --> 00:51:20.539
 but it

00:51:20.539 --> 00:51:21.019
 comes in

00:51:21.019 --> 00:51:22.100
 many forms.

00:51:22.640 --> 00:51:22.860
 Many,

00:51:22.980 --> 00:51:23.720
 many forms.

00:51:24.300 --> 00:51:25.160
 And this

00:51:25.160 --> 00:51:26.420
 realization

00:51:26.420 --> 00:51:27.579
 allows the

00:51:27.579 --> 00:51:28.260
 witness bearer

00:51:28.260 --> 00:51:30.119
 to particularize

00:51:30.119 --> 00:51:31.320
 our gospel

00:51:31.320 --> 00:51:31.880
 witness.

00:51:33.200 --> 00:51:33.780
 And we'll

00:51:33.780 --> 00:51:34.059
 have, I

00:51:34.059 --> 00:51:34.220
 hope,

00:51:34.320 --> 00:51:34.680
 further

00:51:34.680 --> 00:51:35.280
 occasion to

00:51:35.280 --> 00:51:35.760
 speak about

00:51:35.760 --> 00:51:35.960
 this

00:51:35.960 --> 00:51:36.780
 particularization

00:51:36.780 --> 00:51:37.079
 or this

00:51:37.079 --> 00:51:38.139
 customization

00:51:38.139 --> 00:51:39.940
 or perhaps

00:51:39.940 --> 00:51:40.300
 best,

00:51:40.400 --> 00:51:42.079
 personalization

00:51:42.079 --> 00:51:43.400
 of the

00:51:43.400 --> 00:51:43.900
 gospel to

00:51:43.900 --> 00:51:44.119
 hear.

00:51:44.200 --> 00:51:44.480
 We'll talk

00:51:44.480 --> 00:51:44.840
 about that

00:51:44.840 --> 00:51:45.119
 more.

00:51:45.119 --> 00:51:46.679
 just as,

00:51:47.059 --> 00:51:47.739
 I've got to

00:51:47.739 --> 00:51:48.019
 do some

00:51:48.019 --> 00:51:48.359
 Bible

00:51:48.359 --> 00:51:48.779
 translator

00:51:48.779 --> 00:51:49.019
 because

00:51:49.019 --> 00:51:49.440
 Richard's

00:51:49.440 --> 00:51:49.559
 here,

00:51:49.859 --> 00:51:50.239
 just as

00:51:50.239 --> 00:51:50.639
 Wycliffe

00:51:50.639 --> 00:51:51.159
 Bible

00:51:51.159 --> 00:51:52.019
 linguists

00:51:52.019 --> 00:51:53.299
 translate

00:51:53.299 --> 00:51:53.920
 scripture

00:51:53.920 --> 00:51:55.079
 into the

00:51:55.079 --> 00:51:55.599
 language of

00:51:55.599 --> 00:51:56.219
 their readers,

00:51:57.380 --> 00:51:58.079
 so we

00:51:58.079 --> 00:51:58.819
 as witness

00:51:58.819 --> 00:51:59.219
 bearers

00:51:59.219 --> 00:51:59.699
 similarly

00:51:59.699 --> 00:52:00.579
 do a

00:52:00.579 --> 00:52:01.039
 work of

00:52:01.039 --> 00:52:01.880
 translation

00:52:01.880 --> 00:52:03.559
 into the

00:52:03.559 --> 00:52:04.299
 vernacular

00:52:04.299 --> 00:52:05.339
 and even

00:52:05.339 --> 00:52:05.839
 into the

00:52:05.839 --> 00:52:06.500
 resonant

00:52:06.500 --> 00:52:07.500
 idiom

00:52:07.500 --> 00:52:08.639
 of each

00:52:08.639 --> 00:52:09.279
 hearer.

00:52:09.280 --> 00:52:10.320
 That is,

00:52:10.540 --> 00:52:11.500
 we select

00:52:11.500 --> 00:52:12.720
 lovingly

00:52:12.720 --> 00:52:15.300
 and curiously

00:52:15.300 --> 00:52:16.620
 the variation

00:52:16.620 --> 00:52:16.960
 of the

00:52:16.960 --> 00:52:17.760
 gospel melody

00:52:17.760 --> 00:52:18.860
 according to

00:52:18.860 --> 00:52:19.580
 the ear

00:52:19.580 --> 00:52:20.720
 and the

00:52:20.720 --> 00:52:21.540
 heart of

00:52:21.540 --> 00:52:22.280
 the hearer.

00:52:23.720 --> 00:52:24.140
 You see,

00:52:24.540 --> 00:52:24.980
 what do they

00:52:24.980 --> 00:52:25.380
 like?

00:52:26.460 --> 00:52:27.019
 Do they like

00:52:27.019 --> 00:52:27.320
 Bach?

00:52:27.360 --> 00:52:27.780
 I'll play it in

00:52:27.780 --> 00:52:28.120
 Bach.

00:52:28.800 --> 00:52:29.320
 Do they like

00:52:29.320 --> 00:52:29.780
 ragtime?

00:52:29.880 --> 00:52:30.260
 I'll play the

00:52:30.260 --> 00:52:30.700
 gospel in

00:52:30.700 --> 00:52:31.220
 ragtime.

00:52:32.220 --> 00:52:32.700
 What do they

00:52:32.700 --> 00:52:33.060
 like?

00:52:33.180 --> 00:52:33.820
 What will

00:52:33.820 --> 00:52:34.300
 reach their

00:52:34.300 --> 00:52:34.740
 heart?

00:52:35.220 --> 00:52:35.519
 What will

00:52:35.519 --> 00:52:36.280
 be resonant

00:52:36.280 --> 00:52:36.660
 for them?

00:52:36.660 --> 00:52:37.800
 I continue

00:52:37.800 --> 00:52:38.940
 to be haunted

00:52:38.940 --> 00:52:39.639
 by an

00:52:39.639 --> 00:52:40.019
 illustration

00:52:40.019 --> 00:52:40.599
 of this

00:52:40.599 --> 00:52:42.340
 unbelievable

00:52:42.340 --> 00:52:43.280
 versatility

00:52:43.280 --> 00:52:44.260
 and adaptability

00:52:44.260 --> 00:52:44.599
 of the

00:52:44.599 --> 00:52:44.960
 gospel.

00:52:45.639 --> 00:52:46.519
 I'll end

00:52:46.519 --> 00:52:46.820
 with that

00:52:46.820 --> 00:52:47.000
 and then

00:52:47.000 --> 00:52:47.200
 we'll have

00:52:47.200 --> 00:52:47.920
 some questions.

00:52:48.599 --> 00:52:48.880
 It comes

00:52:48.880 --> 00:52:49.099
 from the

00:52:49.099 --> 00:52:49.619
 early years

00:52:49.619 --> 00:52:49.860
 of my

00:52:49.860 --> 00:52:50.099
 ministry

00:52:50.099 --> 00:52:50.519
 here at

00:52:50.519 --> 00:52:50.740
 Yale

00:52:50.740 --> 00:52:51.720
 when a

00:52:51.720 --> 00:52:52.220
 speaker,

00:52:52.639 --> 00:52:53.340
 the theologian

00:52:53.340 --> 00:52:53.780
 musician

00:52:53.780 --> 00:52:54.179
 Jeremy

00:52:54.179 --> 00:52:54.679
 Begby,

00:52:55.320 --> 00:52:55.940
 paused his

00:52:55.940 --> 00:52:57.159
 talk and

00:52:57.159 --> 00:52:57.400
 there happened

00:52:57.400 --> 00:52:57.659
 to be a

00:52:57.659 --> 00:52:58.340
 grand piano

00:52:58.340 --> 00:52:59.079
 that was

00:52:59.079 --> 00:52:59.460
 sitting on

00:52:59.460 --> 00:52:59.840
 the stage

00:52:59.840 --> 00:53:00.000
 that they

00:53:00.000 --> 00:53:00.119
 hadn't

00:53:00.119 --> 00:53:00.480
 moved away.

00:53:00.559 --> 00:53:00.659
 He said,

00:53:00.760 --> 00:53:00.860
 oh,

00:53:00.940 --> 00:53:01.400
 this is

00:53:01.400 --> 00:53:01.720
 handy.

00:53:02.539 --> 00:53:03.099
 He walked

00:53:03.099 --> 00:53:04.099
 over to

00:53:04.099 --> 00:53:05.260
 it and

00:53:05.260 --> 00:53:08.099
 he played

00:53:08.099 --> 00:53:08.900
 this,

00:53:08.940 --> 00:53:09.780
 illustrating

00:53:09.780 --> 00:53:10.780
 this point

00:53:10.780 --> 00:53:11.139
 that we're

00:53:11.139 --> 00:53:11.840
 trying to

00:53:11.840 --> 00:53:13.039
 make about

00:53:13.039 --> 00:53:13.760
 the versatility

00:53:13.760 --> 00:53:14.539
 and the

00:53:14.539 --> 00:53:15.300
 inflecting of

00:53:15.300 --> 00:53:15.720
 the gospel

00:53:15.720 --> 00:53:16.039
 and different

00:53:16.039 --> 00:53:16.440
 things.

00:53:16.980 --> 00:53:17.159
 Alan,

00:53:17.220 --> 00:53:17.679
 can you play

00:53:17.679 --> 00:53:18.019
 that about

00:53:18.019 --> 00:53:18.440
 as loud

00:53:18.440 --> 00:53:19.159
 as it

00:53:19.159 --> 00:53:19.480
 will go

00:53:19.480 --> 00:53:19.940
 so people

00:53:19.940 --> 00:53:20.179
 can hear?

00:53:20.179 --> 00:53:22.059
 Very, very

00:53:22.059 --> 00:53:23.280
 flexible tune

00:53:23.280 --> 00:53:24.599
 like the gospel

00:53:24.599 --> 00:53:25.019
 itself.

00:53:26.240 --> 00:53:26.780
 Wonderfully

00:53:26.780 --> 00:53:27.700
 improvisable

00:53:27.700 --> 00:53:28.139
 by the

00:53:28.139 --> 00:53:28.420
 spirit.

00:53:29.700 --> 00:53:30.220
 Here it is

00:53:30.220 --> 00:53:30.700
 in its kind

00:53:30.700 --> 00:53:31.139
 of basic

00:53:31.139 --> 00:53:31.480
 form,

00:53:32.019 --> 00:53:32.900
 what I

00:53:32.900 --> 00:53:33.200
 call the

00:53:33.200 --> 00:53:33.760
 crematorium

00:53:33.760 --> 00:53:34.139
 form.

00:53:34.139 --> 00:53:45.460
 But suppose

00:53:45.460 --> 00:53:46.259
 Bach had to

00:53:46.259 --> 00:53:46.940
 improvise that,

00:53:47.059 --> 00:53:47.299
 what would

00:53:47.299 --> 00:53:47.659
 it sound

00:53:47.659 --> 00:53:47.920
 like?

00:53:54.920 --> 00:53:55.420
 This is

00:53:55.420 --> 00:53:55.839
 Jesus'

00:53:56.000 --> 00:53:56.319
 joy of

00:53:56.319 --> 00:53:56.619
 man's

00:53:56.619 --> 00:53:57.019
 desiring.

00:53:57.019 --> 00:53:57.239
 grace.

00:53:57.860 --> 00:53:58.980
 And of

00:53:58.980 --> 00:53:59.159
 course,

00:53:59.420 --> 00:54:00.259
 he always

00:54:00.259 --> 00:54:00.739
 wanted to

00:54:00.739 --> 00:54:01.259
 write Amazing

00:54:01.259 --> 00:54:01.619
 Grace.

00:54:01.619 --> 00:54:15.779
 is

00:54:15.779 --> 00:54:16.059
 finest music

00:54:16.059 --> 00:54:20.539
 or

00:54:20.539 --> 00:54:24.940
 what

00:54:24.940 --> 00:54:25.000
 would

00:54:25.000 --> 00:54:25.199
 he have

00:54:25.199 --> 00:54:25.339
 done

00:54:25.339 --> 00:54:25.500
 with

00:54:25.500 --> 00:54:25.639
 it?

00:54:25.719 --> 00:54:26.119
 What

00:54:26.119 --> 00:54:30.139
 about

00:54:30.139 --> 00:54:30.519
 Mozart?

00:54:30.519 --> 00:54:30.659
 What

00:54:30.659 --> 00:54:31.500
 would

00:54:31.500 --> 00:54:53.659
 Or maybe someone in Chicago in about 1930.

00:55:01.500 --> 00:55:17.260
 What about easy listening, Amazing Grace?

00:55:17.260 --> 00:55:28.699
 I used to play this sort of stuff in airports.

00:55:28.699 --> 00:55:56.699
 I think it got removed because it was such bad taste.

00:55:56.699 --> 00:56:03.699
 Or even works as ragtime.

00:56:03.699 --> 00:56:10.699
 There you go.

00:56:10.699 --> 00:56:23.699
 There you go.

00:56:23.699 --> 00:56:30.699
 I can barely listen to this without getting emotional.

00:56:30.699 --> 00:56:35.699
 It's the versatility of the Gospel.

00:56:35.699 --> 00:56:42.699
 It's the first time to learn how to communicate it such that it's modulated along,

00:56:42.699 --> 00:56:48.699
 you know, from the melody, along a theme and variation that reaches the heart of the other.

00:56:48.699 --> 00:56:53.699
 That's how the Gospel is heard, as good news.

00:56:53.699 --> 00:57:23.699


00:57:23.699 --> 00:57:24.699
 Sorry.

00:57:24.699 --> 00:57:25.699
 Oh, okay.

00:57:25.699 --> 00:57:26.699
 Thank you, team.

00:57:26.699 --> 00:57:30.699
 Move with dispatch and Lord willing, we'll see you next week.

00:57:30.699 --> 00:57:32.699
 Thank you.

00:57:32.699 --> 00:57:33.699
 Thank you.

00:57:33.699 --> 00:57:34.699
 Thank you.

00:57:34.699 --> 00:57:35.699
 Thank you.

00:57:35.699 --> 00:57:36.699
 Thank you.